Invincible Beyond Heavens: Cultivating With A Broken EXP System - Chapter 148: Reason for the Decline of Heaven Mandate Peak!

Chapter 148: Reason for the Decline of Heaven Mandate Peak!

The Heaven Mandate Peak Head let out a long sigh.

“I knew you would ask this sooner or later.”

His gaze drifted into the distance, and a trace of bitterness entered his voice.

“Fifty years ago, a demonic force rose within the Southern Martial Domain. That sect was known as the Iron Blood Sect. Its strength surpassed that of any of the Four Great Sects…”

It turned out that fifty years ago, a demonic force known as the Iron Blood Sect rose to power and wreaked havoc across the Southern Martial Domain.

The sect acted with extreme cruelty. Their methods were vicious and calculating, and they showed no regard for life. If anyone offended them in the slightest, entire clans would be slaughtered without mercy. Worse still, they frequently abducted Martial Artists and subjected them to grotesque and immoral experiments that defied all human decency.

That era became the darkest Chapter in the history of the Southern Martial Domain. Blood flowed like rivers and corpses piled into hills. During the height of the Iron Blood Sect’s reign of terror, no fewer than eight hundred thousand, and perhaps even close to a million, Martial Artists lost their lives at their hands.

At first, the cultivators of the Southern Martial Domain endured in silence, restrained by fear of the Iron Blood Sect’s overwhelming power.

However, as the devastation grew more severe, they gradually came to understand a grim truth. If the Iron Blood Sect were allowed to continue unchecked, the entire Southern Martial Domain might be reduced to ruin.

In response, the Four Great Sects united and called upon the heroes and righteous forces of the region. Together, they launched a grand crusade against the Iron Blood Sect.

The decline of Heaven Mandate Peak began during this very campaign.

In one decisive battle, Heaven Mandate Peak was ambushed by the Iron Blood Sect. At the same time, traitors within their ranks secretly sabotaged them and delivered critical intelligence to the enemy. As a result, most of Heaven Mandate Peak’s top experts perished in that clash. The losses were catastrophic.

Yet even such heavy casualties alone would not have reduced Heaven Mandate Peak to its current state. The true cause of its decline lay not only in external assaults, but within its own walls.

As the foremost among the Four Peaks of Martial Ascension Gate, Heaven Mandate Peak had long enjoyed the highest status and the richest allocation of resources. This privileged position had quietly bred resentment within the other three Peaks, namely Earth Pillar Peak, Profound Mystery Peak, and Human Origin Peak.

While Heaven Mandate Peak remained powerful, the other Peaks suppressed their jealousy and dared not act against it. However, once Heaven Mandate Peak was gravely weakened by the war, the balance that had once restrained those hidden ambitions began to crumble.

As Heaven Mandate Peak weakened, the other three Peaks began to nurture ambitions of their own. They no longer concealed their desire to seize the position of leader among the Four Peaks.

From that point onward, subtle suppression turned into open hostility. During successive Four Peaks Tournaments, the disciples of Earth Pillar Peak, Profound Mystery Peak, and Human Origin Peak tacitly joined forces to target the disciples of Heaven Mandate Peak.

They obstructed them at every turn, ensuring that Heaven Mandate Peak could not achieve respectable results.

Without strong performances in the Four Peaks Tournament, Heaven Mandate Peak’s standing within Martial Ascension Gate steadily declined. As its reputation fell, talented new disciples became reluctant to join.

At the same time, poor tournament results meant that Heaven Mandate Peak received fewer cultivation resources from Grand Ascension Peak, the central authority of the sect.

With insufficient resources, the disciples’ growth slowed. With weaker disciples, tournament results worsened further. This vicious cycle tightened like a noose around Heaven Mandate Peak’s neck.

What had begun as heavy wartime losses eventually became prolonged decline, until the title of head of the Four Peaks was finally taken by Earth Pillar Peak.

That was the hidden truth behind Heaven Mandate Peak’s fall.

After listening to the full account, Li Yun’s expression darkened with indignation.

“Heaven Mandate Peak shed blood to resist the Iron Blood Sect, yet when it was gravely wounded, the other three Peaks did not offer help. Instead, they pressed down even harder. That is truly excessive.”

The Heaven Mandate Peak Head’s eyes flashed with a cold light at the memory of those events, though the emotion quickly faded.

“Let the past remain in the past,” he said calmly.

Then he looked at Li Yun with a steady gaze.

“Li Yun, I hope you can create a miracle, but I also understand that miracles are born from effort, not wishful thinking. In these six months, I will devote myself fully to cultivating you.”

With a wave of his sleeve, he produced a token.

“Here are one million Contribution Points. Go to the Contribution Hall and exchange them for whatever treasures you require for your cultivation.”

“Thank you, Head.”

Li Yun accepted the Contribution Points without false modesty. He cupped his hands and spoke with firm resolve.

“Rest assured, I will not disappoint you.”

“I believe you will not,” the Heaven Mandate Peak Head replied with a faint smile. “You may return now.”

“Yes.”

Li Yun nodded, turned, and walked out of the Heaven Mandate Hall.

After stepping outside, he did not head toward the residence that the Heaven Mandate Peak Head had arranged for him. Instead, he went straight toward the Martial Library. His plan was clear. First, he would claim the Earth Rank martial art he had earned.

After that, he would visit the Contribution Hall to exchange for treasures that would aid his cultivation. Finally, he would return to Heaven Mandate Peak’s Martial Arts Pavilion to study its techniques. Only after making thorough preparations would he enter secluded cultivation.

The Martial Library stood on a mountain to the east of Martial Ascension Gate.

Within it were stored all the Earth Rank martial arts that Martial Ascension Gate had collected since its founding. Its importance to the sect was beyond question.

Li Yun had imagined that such a vital location would be a grand and imposing structure, perhaps guarded by layers of formations and countless experts.

However, when he arrived, he found that his expectations were completely mistaken. There was no towering palace, no magnificent hall. Before him stood only a simple two story wooden building, plain and unadorned.

That modest wooden structure was the Martial Library.

Li Yun blinked in disbelief, then let out a soft breath and walked toward it.

He had barely taken a few steps when a faint and ethereal voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

“Young fellow, why are you not cultivating properly? What brings you here? Do you not know this is a forbidden ground of Martial Ascension Gate? Trespassers are executed.”

Li Yun’s heart tightened. He turned sharply.

Behind him stood a white robed old man who had appeared without warning, smiling faintly as though he had been there all along.

“An expert.”

Li Yun’s pupils shrank.

To approach within five meters without him sensing even the slightest fluctuation of aura was no simple feat. If the old man had not spoken, Li Yun might never have realized he was there. That alone proved the old man’s cultivation was unfathomable, very likely no weaker than the Heaven Mandate Peak Head.

So this was the true guardian of the Martial Library.

Li Yun finally understood why there were no visible guards around such an important location. With an expert of this level overseeing it, additional manpower was unnecessary.

Suppressing his shock, Li Yun did not dare show the slightest disrespect. He cupped his hands and bowed deeply.

“I am Li Yun…Greets senior!”