Chapter Fifty: Entering the Celestial Grace Mountains Once More

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When Li Xingyu learned that their destination was once again the Celestial Bestowal Mountains, he was struck by a strange feeling. Was he truly so fated to be drawn to this mountain range? His arrival on Nastar had first brought him to its vicinity, and it was within these very mountains that his true cultivation journey had begun, living there for over three years. After completing the cultivation method he had brought from Earth, it was again among these peaks that he discovered relics left by the First Emperor of Qin, which granted him the subsequent techniques, the storage ring he now wore, and several other items whose uses were yet unknown. Now, the destination was again the Celestial Bestowal Mountains, and judging by the map provided by Chief Mu, they would venture deeper than ever before. What would he encounter or gain this time? The anticipation filled him with excitement. Could there truly be some immense fortune awaiting him within these mountains?

Though Li Xingyu found the Celestial Bestowal Mountains both mysterious and eerie, he would never have returned alone without sufficient strength. Yet now, with Mu Chenhua and his companions leading the way, there was little left to worry about. These were some of the most elite individuals in the Celestial Bestowal Empire, each hailing from ancient and noble families. The Mu clan, in particular, traced their lineage back to the earliest days of the Celestial Bestowal Grasslands, once ruling the region and still holding sway over it. Their knowledge of the mountains, both current and historical, surely far surpassed his own. If they dared to journey into the heart of the mountains, what reason had he to be overly concerned?

Furthermore, just three years prior, Chief Mu and three others had ventured deep into this range and lingered for quite some time. If four could enter and return unscathed, and now with even more companions—and Li Xingyu himself having reached the early stage of Spirit Condensation—he felt even more at ease. Although half his true energy was still required to suppress the remaining energy mass formed from the jade ginseng within him, his displayed strength had more than doubled, alleviating any worries about his own capabilities.

By now, the four had already passed the mound and the grove where Li Xingyu had first awakened on Nastar. Discreetly, he inquired and learned that locals referred to this mound and its trees as the Altar of Heaven, said to have once been used for rituals by cultivators—though precisely how, no one knew. Since the cultivators' departure, it had fallen into disuse. Along the way, Li Xingyu conversed with his companions, exchanging cultivation insights but also inquiring mainly about the Celestial Bestowal Mountains. As he was not considered a native of the empire, his curiosity raised no suspicions. Mu Chenhua answered most of his questions, with the others occasionally supplementing, providing him with detailed and precious information—much of it ancient lore passed down within noble families, far more valuable than anything he could have gleaned from books. Even some secrets unique to the Mu clan surfaced, news to the other three families present.

The group of eight rode across the Celestial Bestowal Grasslands. It was not grazing season, and Mu Chenhua had carefully selected their route, so they encountered neither herders nor much wildlife. This reminded Li Xingyu of the strange bird he had met upon first arriving. Inquiring with Mu Chenhua, he learned that this bird was unique to the Celestial Bestowal Mountains, living mostly at the foothills. Ferocious and highly territorial, it was rare for two to be found within ten thousand miles of each other. This bird, called the Lingpeng, was said to possess a trace of the spirit beast Kunpeng’s bloodline, making it a formidable foe that even innate masters would avoid.

"How does Young Master Li know about the Lingpeng? Have you visited the Celestial Bestowal Mountains before and encountered one?" To everyone’s surprise, the usually silent Mistress of the Linglong Sect spoke up to question Li Xingyu. The others were less surprised by her question than by the fact that she had initiated conversation with him at all—some even wondered if she had taken a liking to the young man.

"A few years ago, when I first arrived in the Celestial Bestowal Empire, I did indeed visit the grasslands and the mountains, drawn by the many tales surrounding them. But upon experiencing their mystery and strangeness, I dared not venture too deeply alone, only exploring within about ten miles before leaving. Just as I was departing, I encountered the Lingpeng. Witnessing its ferocity and immense power as it attacked other creatures left me deeply shaken, so I merely observed from a distance and took care not to attract its attention at all." Li Xingyu glanced at the Mistress of Linglong, puzzled by her sudden interest, but answered simply. Of course, he omitted the part where he had killed the Lingpeng with a laser gun.

After Li Xingyu spoke, the others showed no surprise, and Chief Mu was already aware of his previous visit to the grasslands. Though they all knew Li Xingyu might not be telling the whole truth, none cared to press the matter, and the Mistress of Linglong asked nothing further. The group continued their conversation as they journeyed toward the mountains, making no haste. After all, they had already waited three years—there was no need to rush now. With their experience, they knew well the dangers ahead and the importance of conserving strength and maintaining peak condition.

Through these conversations, Li Xingyu finally understood why the Celestial Bestowal Mountains were considered so mysterious. According to legend and ancient records, in the distant past, the mountains did not exist at all—they were raised by the power of cultivators who came to Nastar, and thus named "Celestial Bestowal." The grasslands encircled by the mountains bore the same name, and the empire itself had been founded with the aid of cultivators for reasons now lost to history. Although no cultivators had resided in the mountains, powerful ones took turns guarding the area for unknown reasons, strictly forbidding entry and protecting the region with formidable arrays. When the cultivators departed, the arrays were removed, but for tens of thousands of years, no living creature had ever returned after entering the mountains—until the last ten thousand years, when some gradually ventured in and returned safely. Strangely, during all that time, no animal dared approach the mountains, and investigations by the royal family and the great clans yielded no results.

At last, one morning, the group reached the Celestial Bestowal Mountains. By chance or design, the spot they had chosen to enter was the very route Li Xingyu himself had taken years before. If this path truly was the safest, it spoke to his incredible luck back then. Gazing at the mountains he had left years ago, Li Xingyu felt a sense of familiarity tinged with greater awe than before. Perhaps it was because he now understood more of the mountain's mysteries and dangers—or perhaps his enhanced cultivation made his senses keener.

After tethering their horses at the foot of the mountains, Mu Chenhua once again emphasized the perils that awaited them and the methods for dealing with them, especially as they ventured deeper. Led by Mu Chenhua, the group began their ascent on foot: Mu Chenhua at the front, followed by the two members of the Ouyang family, then Li Xingyu, then the two from the Qin family, and finally the two from the Linglong Sect. Li Xingyu knew that the first ten miles of this approach were safe, so he was not overly alert at first. Once they passed the area where he had once cultivated, however, he became fully vigilant, as the path ahead was unknown to him—and not only to him, but to the others as well, who all advanced with heightened caution.

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