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In the Valley of Souls, the woman, did something she had never done before, she kneeled down, pleading for help. No sound answered her plea, only an ancient sigh echoing through the mist before the woman.
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It was a beautiful day morning. There was not a cloud in sight. The breeze rolling down from the mountain was cool and gentle. It was a perfect day to ascend the mountain.
At the base of the mountain stood their parents. Watching silently as their children prepared. They looked small against the vast green slope, the mountain towering like an ancient beast above them. Though the parents knew that, in the heart and years, these were still children, they also knew something had changed. Each of them were now cultivators, something that set them apart from the mortals. That was why, with hearts torn with fear, the parents said nothing to stop them.
Song Ming stood beside them, his arms folded, his expression unreadable. He would go with them for part of the way, to the clearing, just to make sure everything was in order.
They started early, the morning mist still coiling between the bamboo trunks. Each had a small pack strapped to their back — food, water, spare clothing. Long Tianyu had his twin swords — the Shadow Pulse Twinswords — strapped across his back. Alongside them, a tightly packed bundle of supplies rested against his shoulder. Chen Ji also brought two tents since they would very likely need it for the path up was long.
As they gathered in the clearing, Song Ming stood before them with a proud smile. "You've all come far," he said, his voice steady but warm. "From children with no strength at all, to cultivators walking your own path. I'm proud of every one of you.''
He clasped his hands behind his back as they bowed deeply to him, his eyes glinting with pride and just a trace of worry. "Good luck, all of you," he added softly, watching them turn toward the mountain.
The higher they went, the more the mountain began to change. The paths thinned, winding into uneven ridges. The familiar groves of Shadowjade Bamboo began to fade away. The air grew cooler, thinner — and the vegetation around them began disappear.
Long Tianyu leaned toward Hua Qingqing, who was walking in front.
He whispered something, a mischievous glint in his eyes. She blinked, turned her head slightly — and then her eyes widened in shock.
"LOOK OUT!" she screamed suddenly, startling everyone.
The others froze, spinning around, eyes scanning the bamboo forest for danger. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then Long Tianyu grinned widely and yelled, "Last one out of the bamboo has to kneel before this eldest brother!"
And before anyone could process what was happening, Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing burst forward. Their qi surged to their legs, the ground beneath them cracking slightly as they shot up the mountain in a blur of motion.
Eyes gleamed dangerously. A thunderous explosion of footsteps followed as everyone launched forward. The earth split beneath their takeoffs, dust and bamboo leaves scattering. Yet, since they hadn't gathered their qi beforehand, most could only rely on raw physical strength.
Xiao Chi, who had been at the back, screamed a string of profanities as he tried to catch up. "Tianyu, you bastard! Wait till I—!"
But the two at the front were already far ahead, their figures darting between the thinning bamboo.
Long Tianyu ran with a wide grin plastered across his face, the twin swords bouncing lightly against his back. The wind whipped through his hair and clothes, making his robes flutter. Despite the heavy bags strapped to them, neither he nor Hua Qingqing seemed burdened — their bodies now far stronger than before, tempered through months of cultivation.
They leapt over roots and jagged stones, the sound of their steps echoing in the empty stillness. Fallen bamboo, long weathered and gray, lay scattered across the ground, maybe remnants of storms from long ago.
"Still behind me?" Hua Qingqing called teasingly without looking back.
"Don't get ahead of yourself!" Long Tianyu shouted.
Their laughter echoed up the slope.
The climb grew steeper. The bamboo forest began to thin completely now, giving way to bare rock and scattered tufts of stubborn grass. Here and there, small clusters of mountain lilies swayed in the wind. Hua Qingqing caught sight of them as she ran.
Then they broke through the last of the bamboo.
The sudden openness made them stop in their tracks.
They were halfway up the mountain — but what lay below took their breath away. The entire valley stretched out beneath them, vast and endless. The village looked tiny. Beyond that, the misty expanse of the lowlands shimmered under the sun, fading into the horizon.
For a long while, neither spoke.
When the others finally caught up, their breaths were steady — their cultivation made such a sprint easy now. Still, they stood side by side, gazing down at the world they had known all their lives, suddenly realizing how small it truly was.
"This…" Hua Qingqing murmured. "So this is what Xiancheng look like from here."
Long Tianyu smiled faintly, his expression unusually calm. "No. This is only halfway."
Behind them, Xiao Chi's voice broke the silence — loud and indignant.
"You bastard Long Tianyu!"
He stomped closer, glaring. "You think I'd kneel just because of some bet?"
Long Tianyu turned, his grin returning instantly. "Oh? You mean to say you've forgotten our deal already? Eldest brother doesn't forget such things."
"Keep dreaming."
Before anyone could stop them, the two lunged at each other.
Their movements were sharp, fast — but playful. Dust rose where their feet struck. Xiao Chi's strength had improved, but Long Tianyu's reflexes were sharper, his qi smoother and more controlled. The clash was short-lived. With a deft twist, Long Tianyu sidestepped and hooked Xiao Chi's leg, sending him tumbling backward.
The others burst out laughing. Hua Qingqing clapped once. "You really asked for it, Xiao Chi."
"Bah!" Xiao Chi spat out a mouthful of dirt, standing up with a scowl. "You used qi!"
Long Tianyu shrugged, feigning innocence. "I did? Must've been instinct."
''Humph'' Xiao Chi snorted.
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End of chapter 19 - Up The Mountain