I Can Devour Spirits

Ximen Kankan chuckled and said, ”Duan Rong, I’ll tell you, I only guessed half of it. Half of it was copying the path, and the other half was just like the last few times when I hit a cliff. It’s the same logic as gambling; if you dare to gamble, you have to be bold. If you go wrong, just turn back.”

Xiao Yu laughed, ”Kankan did well this time; I’ll give you an extra pancake later.”

Ximen Kankan said, ”What pancake?! I want meat!”

Duan Rong looked at the misty stone stairway in the valley and said, ”Let’s go! Once we cross this valley stairway, we should be there.”

The group had been wandering like headless flies in the mountains for several days, and finally seeing they were about to arrive, they all felt a sense of relief.

They climbed up along the valley stairway.

After walking a few dozen feet, they rounded a large stone, and the stairway suddenly turned. After climbing further for a short time, they saw an enormous, towering stone gate looming like a celestial gate amidst the swirling mist.

Duan Rong leaped onto a stone pillar beside the stone gate, climbed to its top, then jumped, gripping the top of the stone gate with one hand and hanging there. Looking closely, he saw three characters like human figures, engraved like iron hooks into a large stone, shrouded in mist: Taiyi Sect.

Duan Rong felt a rush of joy, loosened his hand, and gracefully landed on the ground. Looking at his companions, who were expectantly watching him, he said, ”It’s the mountain gate of Taiyi Sect; we’re here!”

Xiao Yu and Shen Mizi exchanged a glance and happily held hands for a moment.

The group passed through the mountain gate and continued climbing the stairs.

After just a few steps, a figure suddenly flickered in the mist, causing the fog to tumble.

The group saw a dark figure not far away, who shouted in a deep voice, ”Who goes there? Why have you entered my mountain gate?”

Duan Rong’s eyes shifted, and he said, ”We are new registered disciples.”

The dark figure stepped forward a few paces, emerging from the mist. It was a slender young man in a Daoist robe, with a sword strapped to his waist.

The Daoist robed youth glanced at Duan Rong and said, ”Sect Cloud Scroll?”

Duan Rong took out the Sect Cloud Scroll from his inner pocket and handed it over. The scroll contained Duan Rong’s basic information and a simple portrait.

The Daoist robed youth looked at the portrait in the scroll, then gazed at Duan Rong twice, and finally glanced at the two large seals at the bottom: one of the sect and the other of the Divine Cloud Prefecture’s office.

The Daoist robed youth closed the Sect Cloud Scroll, handed it back to Duan Rong, and then glanced at the three people behind Duan Rong.

Ximen Kankan, Xiao Yu, and the others, upon seeing his gaze, also prepared to take out their respective Sect Cloud Scrolls.

”No need, go on up.”

With that, the Daoist robed youth leapt, disappearing into the mist without a trace.

Duan Rong, being the closest, still didn’t see which way the youth had fled.

Duan Rong thought to himself, ”It’s indeed a sect; even a Mountain Gate Guardian’s lightweight skills are remarkable.”

The group continued upward along the stone stairway, unsure of how long they climbed, the stairs seemed endless, continuously emerging from the mist.

Suddenly, a strong wind rose, and the mountain mist rolled dramatically, presenting a magnificent sight.

As the mist dispersed, rays of golden light suddenly shot through the cracks in the clouds, creating a celestial scene.

The cloud and mist scattered with the wind, and the golden light gradually expanded until, before long, a golden sun hung in the clouds, shining directly upon them.

Momentarily dazzled, they steadied their vision to find the end of the stone stairs not far away. They instantly dashed forward, crossing the final step.

Above the stairs was a vast open platform.

The four were like four tiny ants upon it.

On the vast platform, there was nothing but a towering stone like a mountain, standing at the edge of the cliff, with four large characters engraved in gold dust: Taiyi Generating Water.

The strokes were majestic and varied!

The group was still staring at the massive stone, in awe of its grandeur and majesty; the sunlight made the Taiyi Generating Water characters shine brilliantly.

At that moment, eight figures suddenly appeared from various directions, drawing their longswords and encircling Duan Rong and the others.

”Who goes there? What’s your purpose in climbing the mountain?” one of them, appearing slightly older, scanned Duan Rong and his companions, asking sternly.

Now unshrouded by mist, Duan Rong took in the sight of these people. Each had hair tied up with a crown, stood dignified, and were all of similar height.

Duan Rong inwardly sighed: Indeed, the guardians of the sect are its facade.

Duan Rong smiled, ”Senior brothers, we four are new registered disciples, delayed by some days for various reasons. Here are our Sect Cloud Scrolls.”

The man accepted the scroll Duan Rong offered, sheathed his sword, and inspected the scrolls of all four one by one. Only then did he wave his hand.

With that gesture, the flashing swords vanished, and the remaining seven sheathed their Cold Swords as well.

The man said, ”You may go.” He raised his hand, pointing to a direction, and said, ”Registered disciples report to the Lower Courtyard.”

Upon finishing, he leapt skyward like a spirited crane, vanishing in a blink.

The others almost simultaneously disappeared.

This time without the fog obscuring, Duan Rong and his companions watched the few figures leap upward, and when they looked again, there was no sign of them.

Duan Rong and his companions were amazed, clicking their tongues.

”So fast!?”

Following the indicated direction, they walked to the edge of the large platform, where they saw two descending stone stairways.