Chapter 381 - 200: I Told You to Look at Me

With that, Ye Xuantian’s figure vanished in a flash, disappearing from sight as if he had never been there at all.

Gu Yun then cast his profound gaze downward. Below him, mountain peaks like sharp swords pierced a sea of clouds. Spiritual Qi swirled amidst the drifting white clouds, creating an ethereal, almost celestial, atmosphere. His deep eyes seemed to pierce the very void, his sight extending for tens of thousands of miles.

The next moment, his body moved like a soaring dragon. Swift as lightning, he tore through the sky high above the Nine Heavens, heading for Celestial Thunder Dao Peak.

Some time later...

As Gu Yun flew high above the clouds, he caught sight of a familiar scene. ’Hm? What’s that?’ He furrowed his brow slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Far below, under the vast Void Celestial sky, stood a young man in a white shirt. His face was resolute, and his brow held a look of unyielding determination. A powerful True Yuan aura radiated from him, indicating he had already reached the True Martial Realm Sixth Layer. He stood before a magnificent, colossal tower that exuded a primeval aura. The sunlight pierced past him, stretching his shadow ever longer.

’The Profound Celestial Dao Tower.’ A determined glint flashed in the young man’s eyes before he stepped into the Dao Tower’s Trial Space.

The area was swarming with people, a veritable sea of bodies. The clamor was incessant.

"How many floors of the Profound Celestial Tower do you think Lin Bei can clear?" a plain-looking Cultivator in a black shirt asked.

"The sixth floor, at least," another Cultivator whispered. "He’s one of the top prodigies to rise through the Inner Sect in years."

"The sixth floor? There’s no way Lin Bei can clear the sixth floor!

Don’t forget, Senior Brother Situ from the Profound Celestial List has only made it to the fifth floor. What makes you think Lin Bei, a newly-risen prodigy, can clear the sixth?" a plain-faced Inner Sect Disciple with narrow eyes and a black shirt said doubtfully.

"You’re talking about Situ Qingtian?

Heh. Senior Brother Situ is strong, but Senior Brother Lin Bei isn’t necessarily any weaker. Time sifts through talent like great waves washing sand.

The new wave can always overtake the old, and each generation is stronger than the last. Back in Situ Qingtian’s day,

Senior Brother Gu’s name was barely known in the beginning. He didn’t even break into the top ten of the Outer Sect tournament. But as time went on, he came from behind to become the strongest person of his entire generation,

suppressing all his peers and becoming an unparalleled prodigy in the Sect, second to none but the Eldest Senior Brother himself!" This came from a Cultivator in a white robe with a square-shaped face. He held a folding fan, had a slender build, and carried a scholarly air, his eyes filled with admiration.

...

’It’s that kid...’ High above, suspended in the Nine Heavens, his body wreathed in a hazy light and exuding a terrifying aura, Gu Yun’s eyes glazed over with a trace of nostalgia.

The young man challenging the Profound Celestial Dao Tower was none other than the one he had chanced upon and saved in a small city back when the Profound Celestial Sect was at war with the Ancient Nether Sect.

He never expected that after joining the Sect, the boy would leave everyone else in the dust. Now, he had already reached the True Martial Sixth Layer and become one of the top figures in the Inner Sect.

’How quickly time passes.’ In that fleeting moment of nostalgia, Gu Yun seemed to touch upon some deeper insight. Imperceptibly, his understanding of something profound deepened.

After one last glance at Lin Bei, his figure flickered and vanished.

Soon, after traversing the void, Gu Yun spotted a colossal mountain peak through the drifting clouds. It was magnificent and massive, with arcs of thunder crackling across its surface and profound array patterns carved into the stone.

’Celestial Thunder Dao Peak. I’m finally here.’

WHOOSH!

Moving like a bolt of lightning, his figure tore through the sky with a whistle, instantly landing atop the summit of Celestial Thunder Dao Peak.

"Hm?"

At that very moment, an Elder in secluded cultivation felt something. He was in a cave dwelling on Celestial Thunder Dao Peak, a place rich with Spiritual Qi. He had a wizened face with a weathered brow and flowing white hair, and wore a robe embroidered with Dao patterns. Terrifying arcs of thunder coiled around his body. His figure flickered and instantly vanished from the cave.

Gu Yun stood on the summit of Celestial Thunder Dao Peak. Behind him was a grand palace that glinted with lightning and emanated a primeval aura, giving one the oppressive feeling of facing a ferocious beast.

’Master isn’t here...’ Gu Yun murmured, sensing not a single presence within the Celestial Thunder Hall.

He had come to the Celestial Thunder Hall first precisely because he wanted to see his master, Sikong Zheng, the Peak Master of Celestial Thunder Dao Peak, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. But now, there was no sign of anyone.

Gu Yun then turned and walked to the edge of the summit. He gazed down at the pavilions perched on the cliffs below and the drifting clouds. Disciples of Celestial Thunder Dao Peak zipped between the mountains on streams of light, while other Cultivators practiced Magic and Martial Techniques in the training grounds.

So much had changed.

Gu Yun sighed with emotion.

Hm?! Gu Yun’s brow twitched. His immense Spiritual Sense detected something. Ripples spread through the void behind him, and an old man emerged. He wore a robe with Dao patterns, his face was wizened with a weathered brow, and his white hair flowed freely.

"Greetings, Elder!" Gu Yun said. Seeing the man’s Dao-patterned robe, the Dao Rhythm he exuded, and the immense Magical Power within him, Gu Yun guessed he had to be one of the Elders of Celestial Thunder Dao Peak.

"You are... Gu Yun," Lin Zhenyue said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice as he looked at the familiar yet somehow different figure before him.

Gu Yun nodded, his expression placid. "I am," he said softly.

"Your aura!

You’ve broken through to the Tongxuan Realm?!" Lin Zhenyue exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. He could feel the young man’s Magical Power, as vast and boundless as a misty sea, and an aura so terrifying it made him tremble.

"I was fortunate enough to have a breakthrough during my travels," Gu Yun said with a faint smile. "Elder, has Master not yet returned to the Sect?"

’Fortunate?’

Lin Zhenyue’s weathered eyes flew wide open, his beard bristling in shock. ’Unbelievable!’ If he remembered correctly, this kid Sikong Zheng had taken as a disciple was only around forty years old. To break through to the Realm of Tongxuan at such a young age... he was a true monster!

’As for his claim of being "fortunate,"’ Lin Zhenyue dismissed it completely. ’How could something like this be chalked up to fortune? Without peerless talent, how could anyone step into the Tongxuan Realm at such a young age? And that aura, the one that made even me tremble... his strength had to be absolutely terrifying. How could any of that be mere fortune?’

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent! My Celestial Thunder Dao Peak truly produces one generation of prodigies after another!" A broad smile broke out on Lin Zhenyue’s aged face as he laughed heartily.

Then, Lin Zhenyue added calmly, "The Peak Master is still in Central Earth. He won’t be back for a while."

"Central Earth, I see. Thank you for telling me, Elder," Gu Yun said, giving a respectful cupped-fist salute.

"It’s no great secret. And now that you’ve broken through to the Tongxuan Realm, it’s time you knew a few things.

Central Earth today is not what it once was. It has become a land of war," Lin Zhenyue said softly, stroking his salt-and-pepper beard. "The Peak Master has been on the front lines there."

"Elder, you’re referring to the invasion from the outer worlds," Gu Yun said softly, the pieces clicking into place.

"You already know?" Lin Zhenyue’s beard bristled and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Senior Brother Ye mentioned it to me once," Gu Yun replied.

"Ah, so it was young Ye..." Lin Zhenyue said with a look of understanding. "You two... you are truly the rising stars of our Sect."

"Young Gu," Lin Zhenyue said suddenly, "since you’ve just entered the Tongxuan Realm, how about a little spar with me? Perhaps I can even help you consolidate your new Cultivation."

"A spar?"

"Elder, is that really necessary?" Gu Yun replied, giving the old man in the Dao Patterned Robe a strange look. ’The Magical Power I sense from him is only at the Tongxuan Realm Early Stage. I could have easily handled that level of strength back when I was at the True Martial Realm Peak, let alone now.’

"What’s the matter? Afraid I’ll hurt you?"

"Don’t you worry about that. I’ll control my power. I guarantee I won’t make things too embarrassing for you," Lin Zhenyue said with a confident expression.

’He just broke through to the Tongxuan Realm, so his Cultivation is likely only at the Tongxuan Early Stage as well,’ he thought. ’And while his aura does make me tremble, I’ve been in the Tongxuan Realm for over a century. I know the various applications of Magical Power at this stage like the back of my hand. I’m naturally quite confident.’

’I might even be able to offer this junior of my Celestial Thunder Dao Peak a few pointers.’

"If you insist, then I’ll do as you wish, Elder," Gu Yun said softly, an expression of exasperated amusement on his face.

"Go on, make your move," Lin Zhenyue said, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. He raised one hand slightly, projecting the sage-like bearing and dignified air of a true grandmaster.

"Me first?" Gu Yun gave the Elder a strange look. ’If I attack first, how could he possibly withstand it?’ He then said aloud, "Perhaps it’s better if you go first, Elder."

"Hmph. In that case, I won’t be polite."

The instant his voice fell—

BOOM!

The next moment, gnarled arcs of lightning danced in Lin Zhenyue’s eyes. The immense Magical Power in his body surged like coiling dragons and snakes. A terrifying Dao Rhythm wreathed his form as a tyrannical might erupted from within him!