Chapter 151: Becoming a Disciple of the Supreme Spirit Palace
Chapter 151: Becoming a Disciple of the Supreme Spirit Palace
“No rush. After you get familiar with Lou Ri City, you can still search for people. Let me explain Fallen God Ridge’s structure. Few live here – the upper four palaces have barely anyone. Besides us two, only eight remain. The middle four palaces have double that number, totaling twenty. The lower four palaces double again to forty. Including you, our entire ridge has seventy souls.”
Cheng Lingyu chuckled awkwardly. “That’s shockingly few. How about Lou Ri Ridge’s population?”
“Lou Ri City holds five thousand people total. Lou Ri Ridge claims one-fifth of that.”
Cheng Lingyu blinked. “Five thousand’s not bad! I heard Heavenly Palace barely reaches ten thousand.”
“Those five thousand include elders, children, and women. Only three thousand seriously pursue cultivation, most with average talent. Still, we’ve got exceptional individuals – our city’s foundation. Every so often, geniuses emerge as signs of prosperity.”
“There’s clearly a gap with Heavenly Palace, but catching up isn’t impossible.”
The elder fixed him with a stare. “Remember this: never tell disciples from other branches you came from Fallen God Palace.”
“Others don’t know?” Cheng Lingyu tilted his head.
“Only the city lord and our branch master know. The city lord holds supreme authority here. Then come the nine branch masters, each governing twelve palaces. Your direct entry into Fallen God Palace stays secret unless our master chooses to inform the city lord.”
“I see. How should I introduce myself to other branch disciples then?”
“You’ll receive an upper four palaces token. That insignia alone commands respect.”
The upper four palaces marked elite status. Though Fallen God Ridge ranked weakest among nine ridges, earning its upper palace token remained prestigious. Normally, ascending from lower to upper palaces proved nearly impossible. Cheng Lingyu’s portal teleportation counted as special recruitment.
“Elder, what comes next for me?”
“At dawn, I’ll take you down. You’ll understand then.”
They conversed through the night atop the mountain. The elder answered some questions about Lou Ri City, ignored others. Cheng Lingyu didn’t press – being new left him with limited inquiries.
Morning brought swirling white mist and undulating clouds. Descending through layered vapors, Cheng Lingyu found himself suspended between two cloud seas – an utterly novel experience.
Hundreds of zhang downward, the mountain’s hue shifted from black to purplish-black. At five hundred zhang depth, a vivid violet line split the ridge: pitch-black above, gradually brightening purple below.
The elder remained silent, guiding him down another three hundred zhang to a massive protruding stone. Its flattened surface bore an ancient formation.
“This teleportation array sends you outside the second palace,” the elder explained as they stepped onto the pattern. “Use this same array for return trips.”
“How far between first and second palaces?”
“A thousand miles.”
“What?! That’s… how…”
Cheng Lingyu could hardly believe that two neighboring palaces were a thousand miles apart. With twelve palaces in Fallen God Ridge, didn’t that mean over ten thousand miles from base to peak?
The old man said, “I told you—Xiyun Divine Mountain is vast beyond imagination.”
“But it doesn’t look that big from outside,” Cheng Lingyu argued.
“After crossing Rising Moon Gate, the space shifts. What you see isn’t real. Xiyun Divine Mountain exists in a special realm, appearing far smaller externally.”
The old man triggered the formation. A flash of light swallowed them, and they vanished.
Instantly, they materialized on another giant stone bearing a teleportation array—now a thousand miles from their starting point.
Stepping out, Cheng Lingyu gazed upward. The serpentine mountain range coiled like a dragon, vanishing into clouds. Towering divine trees pierced the sky while spiritual birds wheeled through misty peaks, the scene utterly otherworldly.
Purple cliffs shimmered with Spiritual Light. Thick spiritual energy permeated the air, invigorating his lungs and amplifying his strength with every breath.
Thirty miles ahead loomed Supreme Spirit Palace. The structure towered hundreds of feet, its sacred light dwarfing the landscape like a celestial titan.
Cheng Lingyu’s jaw dropped.
Swirling mists veiled the palace, divine light coiling around it like glowing halos. Above the colossal palace doors hung a golden plaque blazing with the words “Supreme Spirit Palace”—each character radiating majesty that made Cheng Lingyu’s soul tremble.
This was Fallen God Ridge’s heart—where the master secluded himself for cultivation and governed their sect.
“Proceed,” said the old man, smiling at the palace.
“What about you, elder?”
“I guard these mountains. Have you forgotten?” The elder retreated into the teleportation array, watching silently.
Cheng Lingyu hesitated. “How do I activate this array to ascend?”
“No activation needed. Step in, and it will carry you up or down automatically.”
“Thank you, elder.” Before Cheng Lingyu could ponder further, the old man vanished.
Flying toward Supreme Spirit Palace, Cheng Lingyu felt buoyant amid the dense spiritual energy. Moments later, he stood before the monumental hall, awe-struck.
Fallen God Ridge’s upper four palaces housed only ten members. Excluding himself and Elder Shi Shouxin, just eight disciples occupied the three lower palaces. Such grandeur felt unnervingly empty.
Approaching the massive doors, Cheng Lingyu announced, “New disciple Cheng Lingyu of Lou Ri City reports!”
His voice echoed through cavernous halls like crashing waves.
“Enter.” A thunderous voice shook the air, its oppressive might nearly buckling Cheng Lingyu’s knees.
“How impressive,” Cheng Lingyu thought, taking a deep breath as he slowly entered the Supreme Spirit Palace.
The massive structure revealed a smaller palace at its center after he stepped inside. After walking hundreds of feet, Cheng Lingyu reached this secondary palace. Finding it empty, he pressed onward.
Upon crossing the second palace door, he froze in surprise—a third, even smaller palace stood a hundred feet ahead. The three nested palaces, shrinking in size, created an otherworldly layered effect.
Passing through the third door, Cheng Lingyu entered the tiniest palace, still dozens of feet wide. At its center sat a stone chair radiating multicolored light, holding an ethereal and illusionary figure that flickered like mist.
Approaching the hall’s center, Cheng Lingyu bowed. “Disciple Cheng Lingyu greets the master.” He’d dispelled his true essence before entering the first palace door, hiding his aura completely.
“You came from above?”
“Yes, master.”
The figure on the stone chair gradually solidified, revealing true features. Though Cheng Lingyu kept his head lowered, he glimpsed the man’s face—a black-robed middle-aged man with sharp brows and piercing eyes, radiating Arrogance and an unforgettable silent charisma.
To the black-robed man’s eyes, a lightly shimmering Gray Figure of Elder Shi Shouxin hovered behind Cheng Lingyu, invisible to the disciple himself.
“Never speak of your origins in Fallen God Palace to anyone—not even disciples of my Fallen God branch or other palace masters.” The cold sounds brooked no resistance.
“Understood. But if questioned…?”
“Say you’re from Fallen God’s Second Palace: Supreme Spirit Palace.”
“I’ll remember.”
“Look up.”
Cheng Lingyu tensed as he raised his head. The master’s Gaze seemed to strip him bare—every thread of blood and flesh, every meridian and acupuncture point laid exposed.
“I am Han Cang, master of the Fallen God branch. Will you join my teachings?”
The sudden offer stunned Cheng Lingyu. Reacting swiftly, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed. “Disciple Cheng Lingyu honors his Master!”
Han Cang gave a faint nod. “Rise. Our Fallen God branch is small. You have one elder brother—he’s gathering news and should return by afternoon.”