Chapter 251: Entering the Mountain Together

“Ah! I almost died holding it in!”

Feeling much relieved, Yun Yanshui hurried back and sat beside his sister with a refreshed expression.

Yun Yanshuang couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

“Uncle Yanshui, please watch your image! It’d be so embarrassing if someone overheard you,” Yun Wenrun muttered, pouting.

“Little girl, what do you know about being embarrassed?”

Seeing his niece tease him, Yun Yanshui playfully pinched her cheeks, which made Yun Wenrun puff them up and feign anger, acting as if she was about to “fight” him.

“That’s enough, Wenrun. Stop messing around with Uncle Yanshui. The competition is about to begin,” Yun Wenyu interjected, gently pulling her sister back and chuckling.

“Hmph! Uncle Yanshui, I’ll deal with you later!”

Reluctantly, Yun Wenrun backed down but not without pretending to be upset.

After showcasing Wu Kingdom’s rewards to the audience, Dong Zilong leaned toward one of his trusted aides and transmitted his thoughts telepathically.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. A barrier has been discreetly set up around Tianqing Mountain.”

“What about my children?”

“The Third Prince has escorted them away. By now, they should be off the mountain and far from this place.”

“And the ancestor?”

“The ancestor killed the fifth one. He has likely entered Tianqing Mountain by now.”

“Killed the fifth one, huh? That wretched old thing!”

Hearing that his ancestor had devoured one of his loyal subordinates, Dong Zilong’s expression darkened further.

This time, he was determined to get rid of that monstrous relic of the past.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I now announce the start of the Five Nations Competition!”

Dong Zilong stood up, suppressing his emotions, and declared in a resonant voice.

“Please, all spiritual descendants from each nation, proceed into Tianqing Mountain. A flag has been hidden within the mountain, and whoever retrieves it will be declared the winner.

“To ensure fairness, I have not disclosed the flag’s location to Wu Kingdom’s own spiritual descendants. If anyone doubts me, I am willing to swear upon my Dao Heart!”

With that, cheers erupted as spiritual descendants from the five nations surged toward Tianqing Mountain’s entrance.

“Miss Yanshuang, shall we depart as well?”

Ye Xiaolin and Lu Shanglin turned to Yun Yanshuang after seeing the other nations’ descendants heading into the mountain.

“Alright,” Yun Yanshuang replied.

After bidding her brother farewell, she led her nieces, Yun Wenyu and Yun Wenrun, to join Ye Xiaolin, Lu Shanglin, and the rest of Yue Kingdom’s group.

“Your Majesty, we will take our leave,” Li Qing and the other imperial cultivators said to Baili Xi.

“Return quickly and safely,” Baili Xi instructed.

“It’s time,” Yun Yanshui muttered as he watched the spiritual descendants of the five nations head toward the mountain to vie for the hidden flag.

He rose slowly and made his way to a shadowy corner of the venue.

After consuming a Disguise Pill, his appearance transformed. When he stepped back into the sunlight, he looked exactly like Wu Kingdom’s Third Prince—Dong Jian.

Tianqing Mountain Entrance

A group of Wu Kingdom rogue cultivators managed the entrance, operating teleportation formations to send spiritual descendants into the mountain. They cautioned everyone to be careful, warning of the wolves, tigers, and demons lurking within.

One by one, the descendants entered the mountain, including Yun Yanshuang, Yun Wenyu, and Yun Wenrun.

“Th-Third Prince? Why are you here?”

A Wu Kingdom rogue cultivator noticed the disguised Yun Yanshui and froze in shock.

“Is there a problem?” Yun Yanshui asked, his tone sharp.

“Your Majesty instructed you to escort the other princes and princesses out of Tianqing Mountain. Why have you returned?” the rogue cultivator asked in a low voice, glancing around nervously to ensure no one else overheard.

“I’ve already sent them away.”

“Then why…”

“I have someone to kill.”

“Who?”

“Why ask so many questions?”

Seeing Yun Yanshui’s irritation, the rogue cultivator quickly shut his mouth, clearly intimidated.

“Activate the teleportation formation and send me in!”

“But… without the Emperor’s order…”

“What? Are you defying me?”

“I wouldn’t dare!”

The rogue cultivator stammered, trembling under the pressure of the disguised Yun Yanshui. Forced to comply, he activated the teleportation formation and sent the “Third Prince” into Tianqing Mountain.

After sending the “Third Prince” into Tianqing Mountain, the uneasy Wu rogue cultivator hurried back to the venue.

“Your Majesty, I have a matter to report!”

Arriving before Dong Zilong, the rogue cultivator bowed deeply.

“What is it?”

Dong Zilong, leisurely sipping tea, inquired softly.

“The Third Prince… he entered Tianqing Mountain alone!”

Crack!

Dong Zilong’s hand trembled, and the porcelain teacup he held shattered instantly.

“What happened? Wasn’t he supposed to escort the other princes and princesses down the mountain and away?”

Suppressing his anger, Dong Zilong asked in a low tone.

“I… I don’t know, Your Majesty. The Third Prince insisted on entering the mountain, saying he had someone to kill! I dared not refuse and had no choice but to comply…”

“Useless! Gather your men and enter the mountain at once. Protect him at all costs!”

“If anything happens to him, I’ll hold you accountable!”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty!”

Terrified, the rogue cultivator quickly retreated to assemble capable fighters to enter Tianqing Mountain and ensure the Third Prince’s safety.

Inside Tianqing Mountain

A divine light descended, striking the ground and scattering dust and ash. Leaves swirled as the impact sent ripples through the surroundings.

As the light gradually faded, Yun Yanshui’s figure emerged.

“So, this is the interior of Tianqing Mountain. That old monster must be lurking somewhere in here, preparing to feast on the spiritual descendants from the five nations,” he murmured, surveying the dense forest before him.

The mountain was shrouded in mist, with poisonous miasma thick in the air. From the depths of the forest came the occasional roar of beasts and the sinister whispers of malevolent spirits.

Yun Yanshui stood motionless, his voice barely audible as he contemplated.

Suddenly, from beneath his feet, a mass of black smoke erupted, taking the form of a ferocious ghost that lunged at him with a shrill scream.

Yun Yanshui remained still, letting the low-level ghost collide with the invisible barrier surrounding him. The Solar Essence Wheel within his body activated.

The barrier flared into searing golden flames that incinerated the ghost instantly, leaving behind only ashes that dispersed into the wind.

Paying no heed to the defeated ghost, Yun Yanshui extended his spiritual senses, searching for Wu Kingdom’s spiritual descendants. He intended to use them as pawns to achieve his goals.

As his senses spread out, the landscape within several kilometers became as clear as a painting in his mind. Every movement, no matter how subtle, was relayed back to him.

After a long search, he located three spiritual descendants from the Yun family, led by Yun Yueru, locked in a fierce battle with a monstrous beast.

The beast, as powerful as a cultivator at the first stage of Qi Refinement, was a terrifying opponent. Two of the Yun descendants had been severely injured, but Yun Yueru, with her exceptional strength and mastery of spear techniques, managed to slay the beast within a few exchanges.

Satisfied with his discovery, Yun Yanshui moved swiftly toward Yun Yueru’s location.

“This beast was incredibly strong. If it weren’t for Sister Yueru, we’d have been in grave danger!”

One of the injured Yun descendants, clutching his wounded arm, approached the beast’s massive corpse and spoke with lingering fear.

“Enough talking. Dispose of the body,” Yun Yueru said coldly, shaking off the beast’s blood from her fiery red spear, the Fire Lin Spear.

She walked to a large tree, sat down, and pulled out a perfumed silk handkerchief to carefully clean her weapon.

In the next instant, Yun Yueru’s eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, she thrust her spear backward with immense force.

Clang!

From the shadows, a sound of metal clashing rang out, followed by sparks.

Her full-powered thrust had been blocked effortlessly.

“What’s this? Do you even dare take the life of a royal prince?”

A cold voice emerged from the shadows. Stepping forward, the disguised Yun Yanshui revealed himself as the Third Prince, Dong Jian.

“Third Prince?” Yun Yueru’s voice was filled with both surprise and suspicion as she stared at him.