Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

The team stayed at the Mountain Lord Temple for two days.

Although no one wanted to linger in this place haunted by an evil wraith and fraught with danger, nine had died in battle, and dozens were injured, several cultivators grievously so. It was impossible to abandon them.

The defensive array within the main hall was activated to its strongest state, but it failed to impart even a sliver of security to everyone.

Such arrays could not fend off the invasion of evil wraiths; otherwise, so many cultivators would not have been lured out of the hall to be sucked dry into mummies alive.

The morale of the team plummeted to rock bottom.

A trace of dissatisfaction arose among many toward the Overmountain Association's ferrymen.

"The Purple Mansion pays 3,000, Qi Cultivation 10,000," they had paid a hefty price, yet the journey was met with one setback after another, not to mention the loss of troops and large expenditures.

Pills, talismans, magic artifacts…

Had the casualties among the ferrymen not been so severe, it's likely that someone would have already raised objections.

The Mountain-Breaking Team arrived under White Fur Peak amidst a weird atmosphere.

The name White Fur Peak was pretty common, even somewhat vulgar, but this peak, soaring into the clouds, was the last checkpoint on the way to the West Sea Spirit Domain.

Once White Fur Peak was crossed, one could enter the West Sea Spirit Domain!

"Fellow Daoists…"

The leading cultivator with the last name Xu stopped in his tracks and said solemnly, "We can only accompany you up to here; you'll have to make your own way over White Fur Peak."

No sooner had his words fallen than the cultivators in the team exploded with rage.

"Just up to here?"

"Are you kidding me? Isn't the West Sea Spirit Domain beyond White Fur Peak?"

"What the hell, return our Spirit Stones!"

"Does the Overmountain Association have any credibility left?"

"I disagree!"

All the pent-up grievances burst forth at that moment.

Everyone glared at the Xu surnamed cultivator, the atmosphere teetering on the brink of confrontation.

"Hmm?"

The Xu surnamed cultivator's expression darkened, and the imposing aura of a high-tier Purple Mansion cultivator suddenly erupted, silencing all dissent.

"If you don't agree, take out the Legal Pact and look at it."

He swept a fierce gaze over the cultivators, saying, "Delivering you here fulfills the contract."

His mood was terrible and it showed with no attempt at politeness.

Five out of ten ferrymen had died in battle, a significant loss for the Overmountain Association.

Such a loss could not be recouped just from taking the guide fees from 300 people.

As the leader among the ferrymen, the Xu surnamed cultivator would have a hard time explaining upon his return.

"How could that be!"

One of the Purple Mansion cultivators immediately took out the Legal Pact from his Storage Bag: "It clearly states that it is up to the West Sea Spirit Domain!"

The Xu surnamed cultivator sneered, "White Fur Peak is part of the West Sea Spirit Domain. What's the problem with me ending here?"

White Fur Peak part of the West Sea Spirit Domain?
Your next journey awaits at empire

This obviously hit a blind spot in the knowledge of many; the cultivators couldn't help but exchange glances.

One of the cultivators hesitated, then said with a bitter smile, "Fine."

He truly knew that what the Xu surnamed cultivator said was correct; White Fur Peak was indeed within the territorial boundaries of the West Sea Spirit Domain.

It was directly related to the ancient Yulong Pact set up by the three Great Monsters and the True Immortals of the four major Sects.

Thus, although the actions of the Xu surnamed cultivator were unconventional, they indeed did not violate the Legal Pact.

"May the roads rise up to meet you," the Xu surnamed cultivator clasped his hands together and lightly said, "Until we meet again!"

After speaking, he and the other ferrymen turned around and embarked on the return journey the way they had come.

Leaving behind a group of cultivators, standing in silence.

"Cough, cough!"

After a moment, a cultivator coughed twice and said, "I will go ahead, let us meet again in the future."

No one knew what he was thinking, but the Purple Mansion Superior, as if whipped into action, quickly stowed the Guardian Mountain Rhinoceros into his Spirit Beast Pouch and then sped toward the mountain peak in front with the fastest body technique he could muster.

In the blink of an eye, he became a tiny dot in the distance.

As the saying goes, "When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter." With this lead, several other cultivators also bid farewell and left.

The Ferryman had just left, and this Mountain-Breaking Team had fallen apart!

However, the majority of cultivators did not scatter in disarray; they grouped together in threes and fives, discussing how to traverse the formidable three-thousand-foot-tall peak that lay ahead.

The Overmountain Association's Ferryman might be somewhat of a swindler, tricking everyone at the final leg of the journey.

But the Xu-surnamed cultivator had already explained the situation at White Fur Peak to everyone beforehand.

To enter West Sea Spirit Domain, one must cross White Fur Peak, because aside from this peak, constantly covered with snow and solid ice, all other areas are the territories of Great Monsters or Demon Kings.

The Ferryman leading the way through the Jade Dragon Mountain Range chose a route that avoided these territories as much as possible.

Naturally, everyone could choose to bypass White Fur Peak and take another route.

They would simply have to bear the consequences themselves.

White Fur Peak was fraught with dangers as well, not just the extreme cold and the ice and snow but also creatures such as Ice Xiangs and Snow Demons harboring on the mountain.

Some cultivators were used to solitude and, despite knowing the risks, hesitated to team up with others.

Therefore, they chose to depart alone.

Many cultivators were well aware that the final barrier wasn't easily breached; otherwise, the Xu-surnamed cultivator wouldn't have bothered to clarify the situation.

Strength in numbers, they decided to band together for warmth.

Large groups with varied interests are hard to organize, but small parties are still better than lonely risk-takers.

At least in times of danger, there could be mutual assistance and support.

Several Purple Mansion cultivators, along with over a dozen high-tier Qi Cultivation practitioners, made up quite a decent team.

More than two hundred cultivators in total formed eleven teams.

But there were a few who were "left over."

They were either not welcomed by any team or did not take the initiative to join one.

Such as Wang Chen and Li Yian.

This made the two of them stand out as exceptions!

"Taoist Friend Li..."

Just then, a young cultivator with peach-blossom eyes came over and said to Li Yian with a smile, "Our team is short of a Purple Mansion, and we welcome you to join us."

In fact, his team already had five Purple Mansion Superiors and over twenty Qi Cultivators; they really wouldn't miss Li Yian.

But the young cultivator's eyes spun craftily, his intentions quite apparent.

This fellow had had his eye on Li Yian for some time.

"Unless it's a Golden Core cultivator, it's impossible for one or two people to cross White Fur Peak!"

He "kindly" reminded, "Those who left earlier will surely regret their decision."

"Thank you,"

Li Yian replied indifferently, "I would like to try on my own."

She took Wang Chen's hand.

The young cultivator's eyelid twitched, he snorted coldly, and then turned and walked away.

Soon, one team after another left, heading towards the treacherous White Fur Peak.

Even those cultivators who were not taken in by any team teamed up to face the challenge on their own.

They also invited Wang Chen and Li Yian but were likewise turned down.

In the end, the only ones left at the starting point were Wang Chen and Li Yian.

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The first update is here.