The two soon arrived at Timely Rain Peak to seek out the Second Elder.
The Second Elder was an elderly woman with streaked white hair and deep lines etched around her mouth, but it was clear she had once been a striking beauty.
Thanks to the prior greeting from Yu Shizun, the Second Elder’s attitude was exceedingly warm. She even handled the necessary procedures for Cai Lian herself and handed her a storage ring exclusive to deacons, which contained an identity token, women’s deacon robes, and other items.
As expected, the assignment was to guard the Misty Rain Pool.
The Misty Rain Pool had two dedicated guarding deacons who rotated shifts—one on duty for half a month at a time, which meant half a month of free cultivation there. It was better than the perks for even Upper Peak disciples, making it an enviable plum job.
After Deacon Wu’s removal, many deacons from Rain God Peak had their eyes on the spot. The Second Elder had planned to install one of her own people, but Yu Shizun had spoken, and she didn’t dare disobey.
A Supreme’s word was absolute!
Even Grand Elder Ye Long, who had reached the Nine-Star Mystic Venerable realm, couldn’t withstand a single exchange against Yu Shizun!
Yan Zhen’s Primeval Ashen Land could deal heavy damage to Ye Long, but if unleashed on Yu Shizun, it would simply be blocked without inflicting any harm.
The pair returned to their cave abode on Rain God Peak. Cai Lian changed into the women’s deacon robes. The loose fabric draped over her alluring figure, but it couldn’t fully conceal her pronounced curves, lending her an air of tantalizing uniform allure. Yan Zhen’s eyes lit up at the sight, and he circled her excitedly several times like a puppy spotting a treat.
Cai Lian grew a touch bashful under his intense gaze but held her Female Monarch poise, arms crossed beneath her chest as she turned her face away.
Yan Zhen slipped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his hand gently caressing her slightly rounded pregnant belly. With a grin, he murmured, “My wife looks so beautiful.”
Cai Lian’s heart turned to honey at his words, though she let out an arrogant little huff.
Mentor Yu Xuan watched the scene and wondered if she should acquire a set of women’s deacon robes—or perhaps even elder robes. Yan Zhen clearly had a taste for this sort of thing. If she wore something like that during their intimate moments—
She clamped her thighs together discreetly and reined in her wandering thoughts.
Long Ying, less attuned to the nuances, simply fumed inwardly that Yan Zhen was such a lecher, always clinging to Sister Cai Lian. Why couldn’t he lavish some attention on her? After reverting to her true form, she had a killer figure too! Really!
The loli was far from pleased.
“Sister Cai Lian is taking over Deacon Wu’s post, and her shift hasn’t ended yet. Another deacon is covering for now, so Sister Cai Lian can start immediately. It’s a perfect chance to stabilize your mystic power in the Misty Rain Pool after your breakthrough.”
Cai Lian inclined her head slightly. “Are you three planning to cultivate in the Misty Rain Pool?”
Yan Zhen shook his head. “I need to make a trip to Wind King Peak first to retrieve the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.”
“In that case,” Cai Lian replied, “this Monarch will accompany you there before heading to my post at the Misty Rain Pool. A little time won’t matter.”
“I’ll come along too,” Long Ying said. “Yan Zhen, with all the buzz around you right now, showing up unannounced is bound to stir up trouble.”
“I shall go as well!” Yu Xuan added.
“…”
—I’m just here for a one-on-one challenge. Do we really need to bring the whole entourage?
Still, with all three women insistent, Yan Zhen relented and let them tag along.
Wind King Peak lay right beside Rain God Peak. Its disciple peak was Crimson Mist Peak, and its elder peak was Giant Mist Peak. Gu Tiange, as a personal disciple of Wind Supreme, normally resided atop Wind King Peak, and gaining an audience wasn’t easy.
Fortunately, Yan Zhen carried a Supreme Token.
Even though it belonged to Yu Shizun, it was enough to jolt the gatekeeping disciples. Their looks shifted from scorn to sycophancy as they scurried off to report.
A typical Middle Peak disciple at the Mystic King Realm wouldn’t have gotten the time of day—after all, every gatekeeper in the Seven Peaks had some tie to Wind Supreme, however tenuous.
In his previous life, Yan Zhen had shelled out a Tier 5 pill as a bribe just to get through. Of course, after he decisively trounced Gu Tiange back then, that same disciple had smilingly handed him a Tier 6 spirit herb of considerable value.
Even in a sacred land like this, the ways of the world held sway—and if anything, the bigger the power, the more they mattered.
Moments later, a biting gust whipped up. Two young men flew in on swords from midway up the slope and alighted at the gate.
Accompanying the stone-faced Gu Tiange was a dashing youth with a sword at his belt.
Wind Supreme had accepted three disciples altogether. The eldest served as the Tenth Elder of Wind King Peak. This one was the second disciple and also Wind King Peak’s Chief Disciple—a Half-Step Mystic Ancestor Realm cultivator named Feng Tuo.
Feng Tuo’s gaze locked first onto Cai Lian and Mentor Yu Xuan, clearly captivated by their beauty and bearing. It then drifted to Long Ying, where he noted the pair of small horns atop her head with evident surprise.
Gu Tiange, for his part, ignored the two stunning beauties and the cute one entirely, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Yan Zhen.
“Junior Brother Yan Zhen,” he said. “Here to honor our agreement?”
Only then did Feng Tuo turn to Yan Zhen, exclaiming in surprise, “You’re that Yan Zhen—the one who tamed the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire and injured Rain God Peak’s Grand Elder?”
Yan Zhen paid him no mind, keeping his stare on Gu Tiange alone. “I need Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, Senior Brother Tiange. Do you have it on hand?”
Gu Tiange nodded frankly. “One remains. Win, and it’s yours.”
“I’ve got a Wind-Thunder Crystal as well,” Yan Zhen replied, “spoils for the victor.”
“Agreed. Where shall we fight?”
“If you’ll lead the way, Senior Brother Tiange.”
“…”
Gu Tiange glanced silently toward the nearby Crimson Mist Peak. As the disciple peak, it boasted numerous training arenas.
Without further ado, he soared off on his sword toward one of those arenas halfway up the mountainside.
Yan Zhen kicked off with his toes and streaked after him in a bolt of lightning.
Feng Tuo started to call out a greeting to the women, but they breezed past without a glance and followed suit. Sighing in resignation, he trailed behind.
The commotion swiftly drew a crowd of disciples, who gathered to gawk and speculate. Word spread that Wind Supreme’s newest personal disciple, Gu Tiange, was set to duel someone from Rain God Peak, sparking keen interest. When they realized it was the Yan Zhen making all the recent headlines, the excitement boiled over.
The arena was a broad circle ringed by spectator seats. The two combatants faced each other across the open space. Gu Tiange drew his weapon first.
His blade was the 6th-Tier Mystic Sword Azure Rainbow, a gift from Wind Supreme himself. Wielding it to unleash Sword Six could threaten even Mystic Lords—something not even Feng Tuo took lightly when it came to his junior brother!
Yan Zhen, however, refrained from summoning his Extreme Tyrant Sword, opting to fight barehanded.
Gu Tiange’s eyes sharpened as he angled his sword tip toward the ground. “I won’t hold back. I trust you’ll give it your all too, Junior Brother Yan Zhen.”
Extreme Flame Mystic Power began to rise slowly from Yan Zhen’s body, threads of electric arcs crackling across its surface.
“Come at me, Senior Brother Tiange,” he said. “Let you feel the might of the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire!”
Feng Tuo leaped down into the arena with a flourish. “I’ll officiate this duel for you both. Rest assured, I won’t show favoritism to Junior Brother Tiange—no need for more words. Are you both prepared? Then… let the duel begin!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than ferocious gales roared to life around Gu Tiange. He drew back the Azure Rainbow Sword with agonizing slowness, channeling immense mystic power into it until the blade blazed with radiant light.
“Sword Four: Wall Breaker!”
Power fully gathered, he thrust forward—only to find Yan Zhen had vanished from in front of him. A chill prickled at his back. Before he could whirl around with his sword, Yan Zhen’s hand, sheathed in purple lightning, pressed lightly against his shoulder.
—So fast!
That was the only thought in Gu Tiange’s mind.
