NOVPUB
Chapter 141: The Dangerous Dragon Back Mountain
Dragon Back Mountain is a harsh and unforgiving place, especially in its central region. While the Everlasting Silent Forest is feared for the mysterious disappearances of those who venture into it, Dragon Back Mountain is known for its treacherous landscape, filled with steep cliffs and deep gorge. Strange phenomena in the area have cemented its status as one of the continent’s forbidden zones.
Aldrian that now walking toward the mountain’s center, could now experience the dangers firsthand. The deeper he ventured, the more difficult and steep the terrain became, with the landscape growing increasingly unpredictable. He had to be cautious of sudden gusts of wind that could sweep him off the cliff’s edge, and he also sensed the energy becoming more chaotic as he pressed on.
The wind began to sting his skin but thanks to his hardened body, he remained unscathed. Behind him were Xin Haotian and Duke Valiard, both using their energy to shield themselves from the harsh environment. They eventually reached a narrow path with a towering cliff on the left and a ravine on the right, only wide enough for them to walk in single line. The path was dimly lit by moonlight, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Without hesitation, they continued forward, taking slow and careful steps. The wind, blowing toward them from the front, grew stronger, making each step feel heavier. Despite this, Aldrian still refrained from using his energy to protect his body. He sensed something unusual as they ventured deeper into the mountain’s central region.
"This wind contains a high level of comprehension of wind laws. It’s truly amazing. This place could be a sanctuary for wind element cultivators, but the wind is so intense that they’d be shredded to pieces before they could comprehend anything," Aldrian thought.
"Letting the wind hit my body, I can feel the energy and its laws. It’s truly useful for increasing my own understanding of the wind element." He glanced at the deep ravine beside him, its bottom obscured by darkness.
When they finally made it past the narrow path, they reached a flat rock field at the edge of a gorge. There, they spotted an artificial land bridge spanning the chasm. The bridge was wide enough for three adults to stand side by side, which would seem ordinary anywhere else.
The problem was that the wind here seemed alive. As soon as it sensed approaching life, it grew even stronger. Xin Haotian had already formed a thin shield around himself using his mastery of light laws, keeping him protected. As for Duke Valiard, he had activated his peak heaven-grade defensive artifact, layering it with his own energy.
The sound of the wind slashing through the air was terrifying, its power reaching the peak of the King stage and continuing to rise. Aldrian felt all of this with an eerily calm expression, unfazed despite the situation. His clothes were already torn in several places, and blood began to trickle from multiple cuts across his body, yet he remained still.
Xin Haotian and Duke Valiard both glanced at Aldrian, wondering—what would he do next?
When the strength of the wind nearly reached the Emperor stage, Aldrian finally activated his defensive artifact, a peak heaven-grade armor capable of defending against even low Emperor stage cultivators. As he activated the armor, his mind wandered to Mardred Valiard, who had passed through this treacherous region and reached the cliff that Aldrian could now see from where he stood.
"If the blueprint had something to do with how Mardred managed to pass this massive formation, then... is the blueprint like a key to entering this place?" Aldrian wondered. "But how did Mardred know it would be useful here? Did someone tell him about the blueprint’s significance, or... no, I need to put that aside for now. If the blueprint is the key to bypassing the formation, doesn’t that mean he might be the only one who can enter this place? If so, we’ll have no solution to our problem."
"The formation also enormous. It’s similar kind to the one in the core region of the Forest of Despair, the nature formation, but on a much grander scale with wind laws. I can’t use the same method I did in the Forest of Despair because of how massive this is."
While Aldrian continued to mull over the situation, the wind’s strength escalated beyond the level of a low Emperor stage and approached the mid-Emperor stage. Realizing the situation was growing more dangerous, Aldrian unleashed his golden energy to shield himself from the onslaught of the wind. Comprehending anything under these conditions was now impossible.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Aldrian froze, stunned by what he saw. The wind, which had been raging fiercely, seemed to split when it came into contact with his golden energy. Focusing intently, he noticed something shocking.
"The wind... it’s avoiding my golden energy! If my energy has this effect, then..." Aldrian glanced at Xin Haotian and Duke Valiard before extending his golden energy to cover them as well.
Both men were stunned. The overwhelming pressure from the wind vanished the moment Aldrian’s golden energy enveloped them. They had been on the verge of retreating, especially as Duke Valiard’s armor had already begun to show signs of damage under the middle Emperor-level wind.
"I’m not sure why, but it seems my energy can neutralize the wind here," Aldrian said calmly. "Stay close to me, and we can move forward."
With Aldrian leading the way, they resumed their journey across the bridge, which stretched 700 meters. For cultivators this distance would normally be trivial, but in the face of the relentless slashing wind, crossing it became an almost impossible challenge.
The bridge bore witness to past failures—bloodstains marked various sections, and shattered artifacts lay scattered, remnants of those who had tried to pass before them. Aldrian suspected these were left behind by members of the Badin family or other unfortunate souls who had dared to venture this far.
"What a poor bunch." He thought.
After crossing the bridge, they arrived on the other side of the gorge, facing a vast, rocky field. The field was scarred with deep slash marks, testaments to the power of the wind that raged through this area. Bones and fragments of skulls were embedded in the rocks, further signs of the deadly force that had claimed many lives. Beyond the field lay the towering cliff, their next challenge before reaching their destination, where Aldrian could sense the blueprint’s presence.
This place felt like a region of carnage, littered with scattered remains, as if the wind itself had torn the bodies apart. The aura of death was thick here, lingering in the air. Aldrian then sensed something new—something he’d only glimpsed in his visions but had never encountered in real life. The death aura that had settled over this place for so long had created an ominous energy, something intangible yet deeply unsettling. As Aldrian tapped into this strange energy, he felt as though he was glimpsing into the essence of death itself.
His natural curiosity urged him to comprehend this eerie energy, but he had more pressing matters at hand. Determined to return and comprehend further another time, he pressed on. By the time they reached the base of the towering cliff, the wind had intensified to the strength of a peak Emperor stage. If Aldrian withdrew his golden energy now, it would mean the end for all three of them. n𝚘𝚟pub.𝚌o𝚖
Aldrian glanced at Xin Haotian and Duke Valiard.
"Now we need to climb this cliff," Aldrian said. "I’m not sure what awaits us as we climb, or what lies beyond, so be careful."
Duke Valiard looked uneasy. "Young master, I feel like I’m just a burden to you. I should head back and wait. You’re wasting your energy by dragging me along."
"You’re not a burden," Aldrian replied. "Besides, don’t you want to meet your elder brother?"
"But—"
"Just let him help us," Xin Haotian interjected. "We just need to take care of ourselves. Aldrian seems unbothered by all this, haven’t you noticed? Look at him."
"Yes, Duke Valiard, you should be as shameless as him," Aldrian teased with a smirk. "Like I said, don’t worry. Let’s get climbing."
Without waiting for a reply, Aldrian began ascending the cliff, with Xin Haotian following closely, ignoring the sarcastic remark. Duke Valiard sighed but joined them. For cultivators at their level, climbing the cliff was a relatively simple task, especially with Aldrian’s golden energy shielding them from the harsh winds—the most dangerous element in this region.
Aldrian’s energy consumption remained highly efficient, and thanks to his large dantian, which held far more energy than what was typical for someone at the High Earl stage, he didn’t need to replenish it until now. And if the need arose to replenish his energy, he could do so without difficulty. When he had tested it earlier, he found that the chaotic energy in this area could be absorbed as easily as any other.
They climbed for at least five hours, with only the pale moonlight illuminating their path. When they finally reached a flat patch of land, Aldrian stopped, although they weren’t at the mountain’s peak yet. Before them is an artificial cave carved into the side of the cliff. Its walls were polished with a kind of white stone, but cracks lined its surface, suggesting it had been abandoned for a long time.
"We’re close," Aldrian said, his eyes fixed on the cave. "The blueprint is inside."
