Chapter 142: Rising Moon Gate
Chapter 142: Rising Moon Gate
Lan Xiaozhu smiled gently and softly said, “Keep going. You and Miss Mei’er have deep connections.”
Cheng Lingyu looked puzzled. He’d assumed his recent brush with death would involve Yu Wuchen, yet it unexpectedly tied to Miss Mei’er.
This surprised him, though not unpleasantly.
With Lan Xiaozhu still injured, Cheng Lingyu steered the Sky Boat away swiftly.
Before leaving, he retrieved Ouyang Lie’s storage ring containing the Lanling Holy Palace’s bamboo plate.
Though their ordeal had been perilous, the rewards were staggering – three storage rings from the Divine Martial Sect’s top experts.
The Martial Arts Spirit Master’s ring remained sealed, resisting Cheng Lingyu’s attempts. Inside lay treasures: a superior-grade spirit sword, a mid-grade spirit artifact copper bell, and the holy palace plate – each priceless.
Zhou Zhengyu and Ouyang Lie’s rings held further riches.
Nearing Xiyun Divine Mountain, Cheng Lingyu delayed inventory checks to avoid complications.
By midday, Lan Xiaozhu’s wounds had mostly healed. She joined Cheng Lingyu at the Sky Boat’s edge, their shoulders touching. Shared danger had deepened their bond.
Cheng Lingyu held her slight frame, staring ahead at the colossal gateway.
“The inner mountain gate of Lou Ri City?”
“Likely. Crowds gather there.”
The structure featured two massive stone pillars – hundred-foot-tall cylinders wider than five men. Dragon-phoenix carvings twisted around their surfaces, strange patterns glowing faintly.
From afar, the arch between pillars shimmered with illusions: coiling dragons, phoenixes mid-flight, spreading-winged birds, and auspicious qilins. Though mere projections, their sacred aura felt tangible.
After incense-burning time, they reached the gate’s periphery. Thousands milled about – mostly young cultivators seeking Lou Ri City, escorted by older mentors.
Stowing the Sky Boat, Cheng Lingyu led Lan Xiaozhu through the thrumming crowd. Snatched conversations revealed key details:
This was the Rising Moon Gate, named for the lunar ascent visible through its arch at dusk. Beyond lay Xiyun Divine Mountain’s territory – a zone where flying magical artifacts failed and teleportation spells sputtered. The thousand-mile crossing demanded raw personal power.
Many present didn’t meet Lou Ri City’s disciple recruitment standards. True Martial Realm hopefuls lingered despite warnings: those below Soul Martial Realm risked fatal consequences forcing passage.
Cheng Lingyu noted veterans who’d waited weeks without advancing. His discreet inquiries uncovered truths:
Xiyun Divine Mountain’s true name was Fallen God Mountain – a place even deities avoided. Ancient calamities had split it; one half lay in Tianyang Empire’s western wastes, the other on Shadow Star Continent.
Later, as years passed, the Fallen God Mountain in the far west became known as Xiyun Divine Mountain, while another Fallen God Mountain on Shadow Star Continent was called Eastern Fallen God Mountain by cultivators of Tianyang Empire.
In truth, Eastern Fallen God Mountain had another name locally – it was also a peculiar place.
Xiyun Divine Mountain was rumored cursed due to a fallen “god”. Outsiders knew little details, only that strange events plagued those who entered Rising Moon Gate, making it forbidden lands where danger lurked constantly.
This made many linger outside Rising Moon Gate, seeking companions for safety in numbers.
All arriving cultivators shared one goal – becoming disciples of Lou Ri City.
But with limited disciple quotas, competition grew fierce – no one wanted others clearing this final hurdle to become their obstacles.
Why didn’t they slaughter each other then?
Simple – Lou Ri City had warned disqualification awaited those with poor conduct.
Moreover, being within Xiyun Divine Mountain’s range meant fights outside Rising Moon Gate couldn’t stay hidden.
Thus many tried eliminating rivals during this final stretch, breeding mutual distrust and schemes.
Understanding this, Cheng Lingyu shook his head.
“Human nature’s selfish darkness proves more terrifying than I imagined.”
Lan Xiaozhu said, “This is why Caiyun trained you – major sects have crueler competition. Unprepared means elimination.”
Cheng Lingyu smiled bitterly, sharpness gleaming in his eyes.
“Don’t worry. When facing reality, I won’t hesitate.”
After half-hour’s observation, cultivators began entering Rising Moon Gate.
Cheng Lingyu smirked, pulling Lan Xiaozhu through despite curse rumors.
Upon entering, strange sensations flooded Cheng Lingyu.
Unstable space-time ripples hindered flight, while invisible currents and whirlpools threatened to drag them – troublesome though not deadly.
Ahead, wind pillars churned dust beneath gloomy skies.
“Lingyu, doesn’t ‘Rising Moon Gate’ sound odd?”
Their closeness had shifted how they addressed each other.
“How?”
Lan Xiaozhu said, “Lou Ri City comes after Rising Moon Gate – feels reversed.”
Cheng Lingyu chuckled. “Often moons rise before sunsets. Passing here first mirrors sun-moon transitions, embodying nature’s mysteries.”
“Your thinking differs fascinatingly from others.”
Conversing leisurely, they advanced slowly – speed being impossible here.
After ten miles, Cheng Lingyu felt weightier steps.
“Supergravity field?”
Lan Xiaozhu looked surprised.
With thousand-mile distance, full supergravity would exhaust anyone.
Cheng Lingyu assessed quietly. “Tenfold gravity – manageable.”
Ahead, cultivators crawled slowly while others approached behind.
Cheng Lingyu strode easily, dragging Lan Xiaozhu like walking flat ground.
Howling winds accompanied them. Two hours later at fifty miles, gravity rose fifteenfold.
Lan Xiaozhu frowned. “Fifty-mile increments? Twenty stages over thousand miles means hundredfold gravity – Soul Martial Realm cultivators couldn’t endure.”
Cheng Lingyu said, “Lou Ri City accepts Soul Martial disciples. They wouldn’t set impossible trials.”
Beyond gravity’s strain, no dangers arose until nightfall.
Hazy light-globes floated mid-air, mist-shrouded like muted moons.
Here, thirtyfold gravity made each step laborious, draining cultivation and stamina.
Lan Xiaozhu murmured, “Strange… they resemble moons.”
Cheng Lingyu said, “Perhaps Rising Moon Gate’s namesake.”
Producing Source Pearl, Cheng Lingyu saw mineral patterns glowing, reacting to the orbs.
Channeling true essence, his mind flashed images of orb interiors.
“Essence of lunar splendor manifests Thousand Moons in Sky.”
Thrilled by Source Pearl’s message, Cheng Lingyu declared, “Xiaozhu, I’ll try absorbing this moonlight essence. Wait here.”
“Be careful.”
Nodding, Cheng Lingyu eyed the nearest orb.
Coiling energy, he leaped against thirtyfold gravity towards it.
Dark aura flashed as magic knife slashed the orb’s defenses.
Blade met white mist exuding bitter cold – yet orb remained intact.
Shocked, Cheng Lingyu fell back, unable to hover mid-air.