Xinhong City, Da Kong Mountain.
This was a famous scenic area in Tianlu Prefecture.
Da Kong Mountain sat in a low-lying basin, surrounded by mountains on all sides. It was often cloudy and rainy, fostering lush vegetation. The valley was perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist. Standing on Da Kong Mountain, enveloped by fog, one would feel as if they were "lost deep in the clouds," experiencing an ethereal sensation like being in an Immortal Realm among the heavens. This was how Da Kong Mountain got its name.
Atop the highest peak of Da Kong Mountain stood a quaint Daoist temple, another of the mountain's famous attractions. When the dense fog rolled in, it would swirl around the temple, making it seem as if it were floating in the clouds. For this reason, it was named "Cloud-Picking Temple."
At this moment, on a treacherous peak behind Cloud-Picking Temple, an elderly figure clad in a simple Daoist Robe sat upon a large, flat bluestone. A single step forward or backward would lead to a bottomless abyss.
Yet the old Daoist's expression was utterly serene as he assumed the "Five Hearts to Heaven" posture.
Above him, the gentle morning light spilled down. Below, the bluestone was shrouded in thick clouds and mist. This made the old Daoist look like an old god riding the clouds, radiating an aura of carefree transcendence and True Self.
About half an hour later, the old Daoist finished his seated meditation.
WHOOSH!!
Suddenly, his chest swelled high as he sucked a massive amount of air into his body. The pure white clouds and mist were pulled by the powerful suction, streaming endlessly into his body through his mouth and nose.
HAAAA!!
When his lungs were filled to their utmost capacity, the old Daoist exhaled slowly. His breath was long and scorching, causing the cold morning air on the peak to vaporize and spread in all directions.
Swallowing clouds and spitting mist.
After finishing this simple training routine, the old Daoist rose to his feet. Like an agile old ape, he climbed down from the steep peak and returned to the nearby Cloud-Picking Temple.
A young apprentice, who was sweeping the temple courtyard with a broom, said upon seeing the old Daoist return, "Master, I heard your phone ring just now."
The old Daoist nodded, returned to his room, and picked up an old-fashioned cell phone. He saw a call from an unknown number.
He frowned and called the number back.
"Ling Heng."
An old but powerful voice came from the phone.
Hearing this voice, the old Daoist, Zhang Ling Heng, felt his pupils constrict. His body subconsciously snapped straight as he asked in a solemn tone, "Why are you calling me?"
"Ling Heng, how many years do you have left?" the old voice on the phone continued.
Hearing this question, Zhang Ling Heng fell silent for a moment before finally sighing. "I can feel it... It will be within the next year or so. It could even be tomorrow."
"Is that so? Without achieving Saint Awakening, once a century passes, all is but fleeting smoke. In another two years, few from the old generation will be left."
The old voice seemed to be lamenting, yet also somewhat lonely.
"At least this era of peace and prosperity has fulfilled my wishes. Even if I were to pass on tomorrow, I would have no regrets," the old Daoist Zhang Ling Heng spoke calmly. It seemed that knowing his end was near did not frighten him.
"A peaceful and prosperous era? A pity that a crisis lies hidden behind this prosperity," the old voice said faintly.
"I was just about to ask you... what exactly is going on with the recent turmoil in the Martial Arts Realm?" Zhang Ling Heng said with a frown.
"Ling Heng, back then you were just a hair's breadth away, but ultimately, you did not succeed. A century has passed; all is smoke and clouds. But though the body dies, the heart remains. The meaning of life lies in the inheritance of the Spirit. Before your end, pass on the flame of your Martial Dao. This era needs your will. This land needs Saint Awakening Level Martial Artists. This is our farewell. After you return to the heavens, we shall meet again in the nine hells."
The old voice did not answer Zhang Ling Heng's question, instead speaking these words slowly before hanging up the phone.
Listening to the dial tone coming from his phone, Zhang Ling Heng fell into silence.
Just then, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside his door.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Zhang Ling Heng said.
The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man in a Daoist Robe rushed into the room.
"Master," the middle-aged man said in a low voice, "someone just delivered a formal calling card!"
"Who is it?" Zhang Ling Heng asked.
"Red Falcon Fist, Zhou Yuanjue."
Hearing this name, Zhang Ling Heng was slightly taken aback. He recalled the words of the old voice from the phone call he had just finished and couldn't help but sigh in wonder:
"Time, fate, destiny... The will of heaven follows its own course."
...
...
「Three days later.」
Zhou Yuanjue and Li Qingxuan stood at the foot of Da Kong Mountain, gazing up at Cloud-Picking Temple, which was faintly visible amidst the clouds and mist on the summit, resembling a palace in the heavens.
"Wow!! I've been in Tianlu Prefecture for two years and had no idea there was such a beautiful place here!!"
"Yeah, yeah! Shrouded in clouds and mist, it really is like an Immortal Realm!"
"And the air is so fresh! Just one breath makes you feel better. Hey, if I bottled the air here and sold it online, you think I could make a fortune?"
"Tch, are you obsessed with money or what?"
"..."
Beside Zhou Yuanjue and Li Qingxuan, a group of four or five fashionably dressed young men and women walked together, their voices full of laughter. They appeared to be young people out on a holiday trip.
"Are you guys here for sightseeing too? Want to join us?" a cute, round-faced girl in the group noticed that Zhou Yuanjue and Li Qingxuan were in casual clothes and seemed to be around the same age, so she extended a warm invitation.
"No thank you, little sister. We're not here for fun," Li Qingxuan said with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents.
"If you're not here for fun, then what are you doing at Da Kong Mountain?" the others in the group asked, looking at the pair curiously.
SCREE!!
Just then, a mournful cry that sounded like a lament echoed from between the deep mountains and misty clouds.
"It's the cry of an ape!"
Hearing this sound, the group of young men and women immediately broke into a commotion.
"Da Kong Mountain is home to monkeys! They're a protected species, and people say they're very intelligent. Sometimes they come down the mountain to beg for food from tourists. If you give them some, they'll obediently pose for photos with you. If you're lucky, you might even see the extremely rare White Ape! I specifically brought some fruit and bananas; they'll definitely love them!" one of the boys said with a laugh.
"That's a great idea!"
Hearing this, everyone instantly grew excited and turned to look in the direction of the ape's cry.
Faintly, they could see that deep within the mist-shrouded mountain forest, branches were swaying. An agile figure seemed to be swinging from one branch to another, rapidly approaching the foot of the mountain.
"It really is a monkey!" the young men and women cheered.
"Wait, is that monkey... wearing clothes?" a sharp-eyed girl with an oval face said in surprise.
"No way. Why would a monkey be wearing clothes?"
The others were puzzled by her words, but as the agile figure drew closer, many were shocked to see that it was indeed wearing clothes—and a Daoist Robe, at that.
Wait?!
That wasn't a monkey at all! The figure bounding down the mountain with such incredible agility was clearly a person!