The first explosion shook the earth before Lin Xue could even draw his sword.
A wave of spiritual energy swept down from the mountain, bending the trees and sending clouds of dust across the ancient road.
Snowfall reared beneath him.
Lin Xue immediately grabbed the reins.
“Easy.”
The white horse trembled beneath his hands.
Ahead of them, Qingyun Mountain disappeared beneath a veil of black smoke.
The once-peaceful mountain gates were surrounded by flickering crimson formations.
Several peaks were obscured by clouds of spiritual energy, while streaks of light flashed across the sky.
Sword qi.
Talismans.
Forbidden techniques.
Someone was fighting inside the sect.
Lin Xue’s heart tightened.
“How many?”
Mo Yuan’s eyes swept across the mountain.
“At least several hundred.”
“How can you tell?”
“The formation.”
He pointed toward the enormous crimson barrier stretching across the mountain.
“It’s not meant to keep people out.”
Lin Xue’s expression changed.
“It’s keeping people inside.”
Mo Yuan nodded.
“Whoever created it doesn’t want anyone escaping.”
Another explosion thundered across the mountain.
Lin Xue’s face became cold.
“Then we don’t have time.”
He dismounted.
Mo Yuan followed.
“Stay behind me.”
Lin Xue shook his head.
“No.”
Mo Yuan frowned.
“I can protect you.”
“I know.”
Lin Xue drew the sword from his waist.
“But I’m not helpless.”
For a moment, Mo Yuan simply stared at him.
Then he nodded.
“Stay within my sight.”
“That I can promise.”
The two moved toward the mountain.
As soon as they crossed the first boundary, a wave of killing intent struck them.
Lin Xue raised his hand.
A golden talisman appeared between his fingers.
“Break.”
The talisman burst into light.
The invisible pressure shattered.
Mo Yuan glanced at him.
“Your cultivation has improved.”
Lin Xue’s expression remained calm.
“It hasn’t.”
He looked toward the burning peaks.
“It’s the same cultivation I had before.”
Mo Yuan understood.
“The difference is that you aren’t suppressing yourself anymore.”
Lin Xue didn’t answer.
In his previous life, he had spent years hiding his abilities.
Ji Chen had often told him that being too powerful would make other nobles uncomfortable.
So Lin Xue had deliberately concealed his cultivation.
He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
They climbed rapidly.
The deeper they went, the more signs of battle they found.
Broken swords.
Scattered talismans.
Bloodstained robes.
Several unconscious disciples lay beside the road.
Lin Xue stopped.
One of them was barely breathing. Get faster updates on g.com.
He knelt and placed two fingers against the disciple’s wrist.
“He’s alive.”
Mo Yuan crouched beside another.
“So are these.”
Lin Xue immediately took out several healing talismans.
He pressed one against the injured disciple’s chest.
Golden light spread through the young man’s body.
The disciple slowly opened his eyes.
“Senior…”
His voice was weak.
“Who attacked us?”
The disciple’s eyes filled with fear.
“I don’t know.”
“They came from the eastern peak.”
“They wore black masks.”
Lin Xue’s expression tightened.
“How many?”
“Too many.”
The disciple coughed.
“They were looking for something.”
“Something?”
“Yes…”
His breathing became uneven.
“They kept asking…”
“Where is the Heavenly Mirror?”
Lin Xue froze.
Mo Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
“The Heavenly Mirror.”
Lin Xue knew that name.
Every major cultivation sect possessed ancient spiritual artifacts.
Qingyun Sect’s most sacred treasure was the Heavenly Mirror.
According to legend, it could reveal fragments of the past and future.
But the artifact had never been activated for centuries.
Lin Xue stood.
“Why would anyone attack the sect for it?”
Mo Yuan’s gaze darkened.
“Because it may be connected to the Oracle.”
A chill passed through Lin Xue.
The Heavenly Oracle.
The Soul Lotus.
The Heavenly Mirror.
Too many pieces were beginning to connect.
“Mo Yuan.”
“Hm?”
“If the Heavenly Mirror can reveal the past…”
“…then perhaps it can tell us who changed the Oracle.”
Mo Yuan looked toward the burning mountain.
“Then we need to reach it first.”
A scream suddenly echoed from above.
Both men looked up.
A group of masked cultivators descended from the clouds.
At their center was a man dressed in dark red robes.
He carried a curved blade covered in black spiritual energy.
He looked down at them.
“Lin Xue.”
Lin Xue’s expression changed.
The man laughed.
“So the reports were true.”
“You really did leave the capital.”
Mo Yuan stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The man ignored him.
His eyes remained fixed upon Lin Xue.
“Your rebirth has already caused enough trouble.”
Lin Xue’s blood ran cold.
Mo Yuan’s sword was instantly drawn.
The man’s smile widened.
“Don’t look so surprised.”
“We’ve been waiting for you.”
Lin Xue stared at him.
The man raised his blade.
“The same person who sent the assassins to the Ghost Manor.”
The surrounding cultivators suddenly attacked.
“Mo Yuan!”
“I know.”
The Ghost King’s sword flashed.
A wave of black spiritual energy exploded across the mountain path.
Lin Xue raised his hand.
Hundreds of golden talismans appeared around him.
“Formation—Nine Heavens.”
The talismans transformed into chains of golden light.
Several masked cultivators were trapped instantly.
Mo Yuan moved through the battlefield like a shadow.
His sword struck with terrifying precision.
One enemy after another was forced backward.
Lin Xue watched him for a moment.
In his previous life, he had only heard rumors about the Ghost King’s strength.
Now he finally understood.
Mo Yuan wasn’t merely powerful.
He was terrifying.
A masked cultivator suddenly appeared behind Lin Xue.
His blade descended.
Lin Xue turned.
Too slow.
Before the blade could reach him—
A black figure appeared between them.
Mo Yuan blocked the strike.
The impact sent both swords flying apart.
“Lin Xue.”
“I’m fine.”
Mo Yuan’s eyes remained cold.
“You hesitated.”
“I was distracted.”
“Don’t.”
Lin Xue almost smiled.
“You’re worried.”
Mo Yuan didn’t answer.
Instead, he turned toward the masked man.
The assassin’s eyes widened.
“You…”
Mo Yuan raised his sword.
The man immediately retreated.
But Lin Xue noticed something.
A familiar symbol was embroidered beneath the man’s collar.
A golden dragon.
The imperial emblem.
His heart sank.
“Mo Yuan.”
“I saw it.”
The assassin suddenly laughed.
“Too late.”
He crushed a black talisman.
The mountain trembled.
A gigantic crimson formation appeared beneath their feet.
Lin Xue’s eyes widened.
“This formation…”
“It was prepared beforehand.”
Mo Yuan grabbed Lin Xue’s wrist.
“Run.”
But the ground beneath them collapsed.
Both fell into darkness.
As they disappeared beneath the mountain, the masked man watched from above.
He slowly removed his mask.
A familiar face emerged.
One Lin Xue had seen countless times in his previous life.
The man’s lips curved into a cold smile.
“Welcome back…”
“Young Master Lin.”
End of Chapter 10