865: Chapter 861: Heading to Mount Tian!
865: Chapter 861: Heading to Mount Tian!
The Tianshan Sect has always been a prominent orthodox sect in the Martial Arts World, and it’s quite famous in martial arts novels!
According to rumors, the martial arts of the Tianshan Sect are so extraordinary that they resemble celestial techniques.
Therefore, the Tianshan Sect has always been an object of admiration for martial artists…
The Tianshan Sect also has a distinct characteristic: it has very few disciples.
A master often takes in only a handful of disciples, and each disciple is always a person of exquisite appearance.
Thus, no matter how much martial artists pursue it, it is to no avail.
Of course, these anecdotes are but rumors circulating in the Jianghu, and the overexaggeration in martial arts novels has mythologized the Tianshan Sect.
However, the truth is entirely different!
In reality, what people call the Tianshan Sect is merely a façade pushed out by the Heaven Gate, which does so for its own embellishment purposes!
After Heaven Gate’s packaging, the Tianshan Sect became a sect admired by martial artists.
However, Heaven Gate itself, the force behind the Tianshan Sect, does not have a good reputation…
Although Heaven Gate is known only by a small subset of martial artists, this minority is very aware of the sect’s shortcomings.
Heaven Gate is ostentatious but fails to restrain its disciples, leading Inner Sect Disciples to cause chaos and oppress common folk.
The leaders of Heaven Gate turn a blind eye to their disciples’ misdeeds, adopting a laissez-faire attitude.
It is evident that this sect is in a state of disarray!
In recent years, Heaven Gate has sought to expand its influence among martial artists by recklessly recruiting disciples.
However, it merely increases the number of disciples without sincerely teaching them martial arts.
Even the teaching of Wind Flow Strength is selective, with partial knowledge deliberately withheld…
Heaven Gate falsely labels such disciples as “Outer Gate Disciples,” but in reality, it is simply afraid that too many disciples will master the full version of Wind Flow Strength, thereby undermining its control!
This reprehensible practice has caused many Outer Gate Disciples to harbor resentment toward Heaven Gate…
Subsequent developments made it even harder for the Outer Gate Disciples to accept!
Inner Sect Disciples of Heaven Gate have always been arrogant, showing utter contempt for Outer Gate Disciples and frequently bullying them!
The bullied Outer Gate Disciples, in better cases, suffer severe injuries, while in worse cases, die on the spot!
Whenever such incidents occur, Outer Gate Disciples gather Inner Sect Disciples to seek justice from the Heaven Gate Sect Leader.
Yet, the Sect Leader always sides with the Inner Sect Disciples, further deepening the Outer Gate Disciples’ disappointment and disloyalty toward Heaven Gate.
This time, the situation has escalated even further!
The Heaven Gate Sect Leader, merely for the sake of gambling, completely disregarded the lives of the Outer Gate Disciples.
First, he deliberately provoked them, then instructed the Inner Sect Disciples with the family name Dai to record the death toll among the Outer Gate Disciples…
How much injustice can one endure?
The more tightly compressed a spring is, the stronger its rebound becomes!
Upon learning the truth, the Outer Gate Disciples of Heaven Gate could no longer sit idly by.
Thus, the moment someone raised their arm to rally, a significant number of disciples immediately responded!
On the very night Ye Tian revealed the truth to the other Outer Gate Disciples, he gathered some twenty or thirty disciples.
Following Li Hui’s further efforts, nearly all the Outer Gate Disciples of Heaven Gate were assembled—138 in total!
These hundred-plus Outer Gate Disciples were no ordinary martial artists; they had all trained in Wind Flow Strength and were proficient in manipulating the force of nature.
With such a coalition of martial artists, no individual or faction could underestimate them!
“Against Heaven Gate!” “Against Heaven Gate!” “Against Heaven Gate!”…
Under Ye Tian’s leadership, the martial artists chanted slogans as they marched in unison toward Heaven Gate along the mountain trail.
Because Heaven Gate’s entrance was highly concealed, the guide was not Ye Tian but Li Hui!
Li Hui, well-acquainted with the terrain, led the martial artists forward!
Right behind Li Hui was Ye Tian!
Ye Tian’s Qinggong was astonishingly high; he followed closely behind Li Hui without his feet ever touching the ground.
Just as Ye Tian’s body was about to touch the ground, he borrowed the power of the dust stirred up by Li Hui’s movements and leaped forward once more.
Originally, Ye Tian did not master flight techniques, but with this maneuver, he appeared to be flying!
The Outer Gate Disciples trailing behind Ye Tian were all in awe and discussed it excitedly!
“Ye Tian’s abilities are so remarkable; it seems we have a real chance this time in going against Heaven Gate!”
“That’s right; this time, we must make Heaven Gate’s leaders pay the price, especially with a skilled fighter like Ye Tian on our side!”
“Heaven Gate’s Inner Sect Disciples may act high and mighty, but in truth, their skill is unremarkable.
How could they possibly compete with Ye Tian’s prowess?”
…
The strength Ye Tian showcased reassured everyone and gave them a newfound sense of security.
Of course, this was not Ye Tian deliberately showing off!
Right behind Ye Tian were the four elders—Ye Zhihuan, Ye Zhiran, Ye Zhicang, and Ye Zhirong.
Among all present, their martial prowess was second only to Ye Tian.
Although the Ye family elders hadn’t known Ye Tian for long, they understood his character well!
Ye Tian was not someone who enjoyed flaunting his martial arts talents.
The reason he demonstrated profound Qinggong in front of the disciples was not to show off, nor was it to make others feel assured, but simply to warm up!
The journey to Heaven Gate was fraught with uncertainty, unpredictable life and death.
Ye Tian’s expert Qinggong techniques helped invigorate his blood, ensuring he would respond to enemy attacks from any angle or in any form with utmost decisiveness!
Ye Tian’s actions naturally inspired the three Ding brothers.
Upon seeing Ye Tian’s burning fighting spirit, they were exhilarated!
“Boss is fired up now; Heaven Gate is really in for it!”
“As long as Boss keeps up this spirit, what is Heaven Gate to us?”
“When it comes to protecting those he holds dear, Boss is always invincible.
We, the martial artists of Night King Hall, know this better than anyone!”
The Ding brothers couldn’t stop praising him.
Whether it was the Ye family elders or the Ding brothers, all had just recovered from a prior battle and hadn’t fully regained their strength.
Yet, inspired by Ye Tian, everyone was brimming with confidence for the impending war!
The Heaven Gate Outer Gate Disciples were similarly filled with optimism.
Though their Qinggong wasn’t as polished, they refused to fall behind and tightly followed Ye Tian.
Heaven Gate’s Inner Sect Disciples, including their Sect Leader, amounted to only twenty or thirty people.
Though their power was formidable, they were at a significant numerical disadvantage!
On the other hand, nearly 140 Outer Gate Disciples had gathered.
With so many people, even four fighting one Inner Sect Disciple would suffice…
Moreover, they had skilled fighters such as Ye Tian and the Ye family elders present.
With their strength surpassing that of Heaven Gate’s Inner Sect Disciples, how could they not succeed?
“Everyone, we’ve almost entered Heaven Gate’s territory.
There might be disciples lurking around here, so please exercise caution starting now!”
At the halfway point of the mountain, Li Hui stopped and addressed the crowd.
In truth, most of the martial artists present were Outer Gate Disciples of Heaven Gate, so they were familiar with the way into the sect.
Even the Ye family elders had been to Tianshan before…
Among those present, only Ye Tian had never been to Heaven Gate.
As he looked around, he saw lush greenery, mountains, and water enveloped in mist, giving the place an ethereal appearance.
Although Ye Tian wasn’t well-versed in the mysteries of geomancy, he could tell from the scenery that this was indeed a place of great feng shui!
Li Hui led everyone to an antiquated building.
Looking at the signboard on the building, Ye Tian saw the three words “Tianshan Sect” written prominently!
This was supposedly the famed Tianshan Sect featured in martial arts novels!
However, the building lacked vigor; its bricks and tiles were severely weathered, and the supposedly grand Tianshan Sect contained not a single person!
Ye Tian found this peculiar and wondered aloud, “Is this the famed Tianshan Sect?
Why does it feel like it’s fallen into decline?”
Li Hui chuckled and replied, “It’s not just a feeling of ‘decline’; it truly has fallen into decline!
In the past, the Tianshan Sect enjoyed more popularity, but after the martial arts craze waned, this place saw fewer visitors.
Just look at the quietness of Tianshan City, and you’ll know.”
“Hehe~~~ Every sect has its own hard-to-recite scripture, it seems!”
Ye Tian laughed as well.
The once-admired façade of the Tianshan Sect pushed by Heaven Gate now seemed unworthy of even being maintained…
Li Hui added, “The secret passage to Heaven Gate is behind the Tianshan Sect.
If there were more people here, we wouldn’t be allowed to enter the passage with so many people.
But luckily, the Tianshan Sect is deserted now, so there’s no hindrance!”
Saying this, Li Hui led the crowd to the back of the Tianshan Sect, where there was a waterfall.
Li Hui passed directly through the waterfall!
Ye Tian marveled and said, “The secret passage is inside a waterfall; most people wouldn’t guess that.
No wonder Heaven Gate remains hidden from the world!”
Li Hui, however, spoke uneasily, “Ye Tian, once we enter this secret passage, it’s likely we’ll encounter Heaven Gate disciples blocking our way.
A battle could break out at any moment, so we must stay cautious!”
As Li Hui spoke, the Outer Gate Disciples of Heaven Gate all hunched their shoulders…