Chapter 248: I Came Late

Translator: Tim Editor: Chrissy

"I need to stop him, I must stop him..." These words echoed in Luo Ying's mind. She realized, with a surge of despair, that she couldn't even scream. She was powerless to intervene, only able to watch the towering sword mountain.

Although unfamiliar with the "sword mountain and sea of fire," Ye Mo showed no fear. He was a cultivator; fear of this would negate his training.

Ye Mo followed Jing Xi and her companions to the training grounds. From afar, he saw the imposing sword mountains. He frowned; the height posed no challenge. He could easily reach the summit using his Wind Control technique.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his heart. He looked around, sensing the proximity of someone he cared about. He instinctively extended his spiritual sense, but found nothing.

"What? Afraid? Leave, then," sneered a nun beside Jing Xi, her face dark and unpleasant. Ye Mo wondered if she was the ugliest woman in the sect.

He ignored her. Her presence with Jing Xi implied complicity.

Thirty or so nuns surrounded the sword mountain—likely all of Serenity Sect's nuns. Ye Mo looked up at the mountain, a massive triangular structure resembling a spear-shaped tower.

Thin, silvery-white blades protruded from the mountain, angled upwards, three blades per row, spaced thirty centimeters apart. It was clear ordinary people couldn't climb it.

Ye Mo frowned. The mountain was trivial for him; he could easily reach the top by tapping a blade. For others, it would be far more difficult.

He reflected, however, that even his method wasn't effortless. Besides himself, who could utilize Wind Control to ascend nearly one hundred meters?

Jing Xian frowned. "Shi Mei, why is it so tall? Isn't it usually around twenty meters?"

Ye Mo instantly understood Jing Xi's manipulative tactic.

Jing Xi calmly replied, "Shi Jie, the height adjusts to the disciple's talent. Susu is our sect's genius, so I chose this one according to regulations."

Turning to Ye Mo, she added, "You can give up. Otherwise, you must climb to the top barefoot, then descend the opposite side. You must step on at least one blade per row of three. A missed step or blade disqualifies you."

Ye Mo's face hardened, though he could ascend step-by-step using Wind Control. While inconvenient, it wasn't a significant obstacle. He couldn't move too quickly, however; Jing Xi would undoubtedly invent another excuse.

His changed expression was meant for Jing Xi. It conveyed nothing threatening, yet it still registered his displeasure.

Jing Xi sneered, noting his reaction. "Since you came here to insult me, continue. Even if you want to leave, I'll kill you."

Jing Xian, seeing Ye Mo's distress, attempted to intervene, but he interrupted, "Jing Xian Qian Bei, please record this."

He handed his phone to Jing Xian, fearing Jing Xi's treachery. He wasn't afraid of the sword mountain, but he was suppressing his anger. He wasn't yet strong enough. At stage four or five, he would simply apprehend Jing Xi and retrieve Luo Ying. He wouldn't have to climb this ridiculous mountain.

Ye Mo removed his shoes and stepped onto the first blade. Blood immediately welled up.

Several less courageous nuns screamed and covered their eyes.

Jing Xi sneered and instructed a nun, "Bring Susu here." The thrill of revenge filled her. She wanted Susu to witness her lover's suffering.

Ye Mo also sneered. With his abilities, his foot shouldn't have bled on the first step. The blades wouldn't have been sharp enough until much higher. This was deliberate. He sensed more traps on the mountain. If he appeared unharmed, Jing Xi would trigger something. Jing Xi knew of his formidable qing gong. Even with further tricks, he wasn't afraid, but he feared Jing Xi would invent reasons to prevent him from seeing Luo Ying.

While Luo Ying worried, someone opened the door and escorted her to the training grounds. She rushed to the scene, where Ye Mo was already over forty meters high, having ascended more than one hundred steps.

Ye Mo focused chi on the soles of his feet. Even with Wind Control, the slow, deliberate ascent was challenging. After ten meters, however, he found a rhythm. By focusing his chi and utilizing Wind Control, he could continue unscathed.

He maintained a tight spiritual focus on Jing Xi, sensing additional traps. Every ten meters, he deliberately made himself bleed.

Jing Xi was ecstatic at the sight of blood, sneering. She overestimated him. Bleeding on the first step meant he couldn't finish. There was a scarier "sea of fire" to come. She didn't believe he could complete the challenge. "Jing Xin, I finally got my revenge!"

Luo Ying arrived, pale-faced. The sight of the blood made her mind go blank. She wanted to scream but restrained herself, fearing she would distract Ye Mo.

"Susu, this friend is truly devoted. He dares to climb the sword mountain for you. Although Shi Shu does this for your well-being, but..." Jing Xi said expressionlessly, noticing Susu's arrival.

"Shi Shu, please let Ye Mo come down, I beg you..." Before she could finish, a large splash of blood fell.

Ye Mo's spiritual sense was focused on Jing Xi, unprepared for Luo Ying's sudden appearance. Luo Ying's frail form, pale and desperate, caused his focused chi to waver. The blades sliced deeply into his feet.

He knew the situation had deteriorated. He wanted to kill Jing Xi for tormenting Luo Ying, but knew it wasn't the time; she was stronger.

"Argh..." Luo Ying, overwhelmed by the sight of blood, wept uncontrollably, kneeling before Jing Xian.

"Leader Shi Bo, please let Ye Mo go. I beg you, Susu will do it for him..." She knew begging Jing Xi was futile, so she pleaded with Jing Xian.

Jing Xian sighed, wanting to help Luo Ying up, but Luo Ying clung to her leg, sobbing.

"Jing Xi Shi Mei..." Jing Xian began, but Jing Xi interrupted smoothly, "Shi Jie, if we break sect rules, how will we survive? And in the back mountain…"

The words "back mountain" stopped Jing Xi short, causing Jing Xian's face to pale; she dared not speak further.

Ye Mo's heart warmed at Luo Ying's plea, yet her sorrow caused him even greater pain. The blades cut deeper, but he quickly composed himself, refocusing his chi and accelerating his ascent.

"Susu, wait for me. I'll take you away." Ye Mo's calm voice reached Luo Susu's ears. She looked up at him, joyous.

Was this the man from her dreams? Why did his words feel so natural and undeniable?

Seeing Luo Ying's focus shift entirely to Ye Mo, Jing Xi's eyes turned cold. "You filthy pair! I won't let you live happily." She descended the opposite side with shocking ease. No one had ever completed the sword mountain so smoothly. Even Jing Xian was amazed; she never expected him to climb step-by-step.

Luo Ying remained focused on Ye Mo. As he approached, she felt an ever-growing certainty that he was the man from her dreams. As he reached the bottom, she rushed to embrace him, tears streaming down her face.

Her earlier suspicions were entirely dispelled by his willingness to endure the sword mountain for her. Suddenly recalling something, she squatted quickly. "Ye Mo, your feet…"

Ye Mo lifted Luo Ying and examined her face. "Sorry, Master. I came late…"