Chapter 132: Great Accomplishment Appears Incomplete

Mount Zhuo, true to its name, boasts no magnificent scenery, no grand imposing presence, and no spiritual energy. It is utterly unremarkable. It is ordinary, almost desolate, resembling a wilderness. With withered vines, ancient trees, and cawing crows silhouetted against a blood-red setting sun, it exudes a somber atmosphere, utterly unlike a main peak of an immortal sect. On Mount Zhuo, there are only broken walls and ruins, endless rubble, overgrown weeds, and thorny bushes everywhere; even the mountain paths have vanished. In the sky, seven or eight figures flew by. As they passed this area, they all paused, then descended.

These were several young disciples, all in their early twenties. Seeing that someone had come to this desolate main peak, which had been deserted for years, in search of immortal destiny, they were greatly surprised and came over to investigate. "Greetings, Elder Li." There were both male and female disciples among them. After bowing to the old man, they all scrutinized Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue. "Senior, what kind of test will we undergo?" Ye Fan asked about the trials they would face.

The frail and emaciated old man, the sole remaining disciple of Mount Zhuo, named Li Ruoyu, shook his head and said, "Actually, there's no need for a test. No one has come here for many years. If you insist on staying, you've all passed."

Nearby, the seven or eight young Tai Xuan disciples chuckled. They couldn't understand why these two would choose a declining main peak. "I reckon their aptitudes are dreadful, making it impossible for them to be chosen by any other main peak. That's why they came here for a test. These two are trying a little trick to stay, but they don't realize it's utterly useless. Once you choose this peak, you can't join any other main peak. Over the years, there have always been those who thought themselves clever, but they all ended up leaving sheepishly."

These young disciples whispered and scoffed. They belonged to the adjacent main peak, whose lineage was currently flourishing.

Ji Ziyue, her fair face smeared like a kitten's, her large eyes still full of spiritual energy, glanced at the disciples, then looked at the old man and said, "Senior Li, please proceed with the proper test for us." "There's no need..." Li Ruoyu shook his head. "Elder Li, since they want to be tested to prove themselves, why not give them a chance?" The disciples nearby chuckled. "Yes, perhaps they truly possess immortal bones and can bring glory to Mount Zhuo in the future. Elder Li, please test them to see what they're capable of."

This was also a sign of Mount Zhuo's decline. Had it been any other prosperous main peak, they would never have dared to interject like this; even attempting to ascend would require prior notification. However, it also indirectly showed that the old man had a very good temper. "Very well," Li Ruoyu nodded. Frail with age, he shuffled out of the dilapidated temple.

At the summit of Mount Zhuo, rubble lay everywhere, with no intact buildings. Amidst the ruins, there was an open area with nine steps paved with jade stones. Though time had passed and years had flown by, the jade remained crystalline and undamaged, appearing soft and gentle. "So it's the nine-step heavenly ladder test," a female disciple remarked with surprise.

Li Ruoyu, as Mount Zhuo's only disciple and elder, sighed with emotion, "Five hundred years ago, every Tai Xuan Sect disciple yearned to climb the nine-step heavenly ladder and become a Mount Zhuo disciple. How glorious those days were!" "There really is a nine-step heavenly ladder! I'd heard rumors but never imagined it was on Mount Zhuo." "Now, the nine-step heavenly ladder is almost buried in dust. This place is deserted, long stripped of its former glory. Who would want to climb the nine-step heavenly ladder now?" "This place is nothing like it used to be, deserted and long in decline." The seven or eight young disciples whispered, dismissive and scornful in their words.

"Back then, how many brilliant and astonishing talents ascended this ladder, taking pride in it..." Li Ruoyu sighed. "Elder Li, you shouldn't always dwell on the past," several young disciples chuckled, quite unconcerned.

"The so-called test is just climbing these nine stone steps?" Ji Ziyue was curious, finding nothing special about such a trial. "Indeed. Go ahead and try it," Li Ruoyu nodded. "Future genius of Mount Zhuo, let's see if you can pass the test. Make sure you stay steady; don't fail to even cross the first step."

The young Tai Xuan disciples chuckled, believing Ji Ziyue and Ye Fan were merely trying to be clever and doubted they could pass the test. Unfazed by their ridicule, Ji Ziyue stepped lightly, like a fluttering butterfly, towards the nine-step heavenly ladder.

The so-called nine-step heavenly ladder was constructed from nine types of ancient jade, each with a different color. It emitted no dazzling divine light, only a faint, shimmering glow.

Ji Ziyue stepped onto the first jade step, and green ancient jade light shimmered, emanating outwards. She appeared very relaxed. As she took another step, the second jade step immediately glowed with a red hue, tinged with crimson light. She felt pressure and her brows furrowed slightly. When her third step landed, pure blue light from the ancient jade cascaded down, becoming crystal clear. She felt her steps grow heavy.

Fourth step, fifth step... By the seventh step, she found it hard to move, feeling as heavy as a mountain, her body drenched in sweat. Unbeknownst to her, Li Ruoyu had already shown surprise when she ascended the third step of the heavenly ladder, and by the time she reached the seventh step, he was utterly dumbfounded.

"Thud!" As Ji Ziyue's eighth step fell, ancient jade radiated light. The purple jade heavenly ladder was under her feet, and she felt as if she were carrying the vast sky, breathless under the immense pressure. "Thump!" Her ninth step landed, and she stood on the final step. Immediately, ethereal music resounded, five-colored light soared to the sky, and seven-colored divine rays appeared. She successfully ascended the nine-step heavenly ladder, and Mount Zhuo displayed a myriad of unusual phenomena.

"This..." Li Ruoyu's face was filled with shock, his body trembling slightly. He could barely believe what he was seeing. He muttered to himself, "In the past, I heard that anyone who could reach the seventh step was considered an extraordinary genius. I don't even know if anyone has ever ascended the ninth step in Mount Zhuo's history." Nearby, the young disciples all looked incredulous. None of them had expected such a result: the declining Mount Zhuo had truly welcomed a peerless genius.

Ji Ziyue understood the situation and was immediately filled with regret. She had thought she needed to step through every single step of the heavenly ladder, never imagining it wasn't necessary at all. She secretly stuck out her tongue, then muttered gloomily, "Oh no, I didn't want to show off here. What am I going to do now?" "This can't be right. Is her aptitude even better than those of the ancient sages?" "After all these years, the nine-step heavenly ladder must be largely damaged, otherwise how could she have passed all of them?" The young disciples all found it hard to believe.

Just then, a streak of green light flew from the main peak ahead. A middle-aged man, forty to fifty years old, descended and cupped his hands towards Li Ruoyu, saying, "Greetings, Senior Brother Li." "Greetings, Martial Uncle," the young disciples nearby bowed to the middle-aged man. "I just saw an unusual phenomenon flash across Mount Zhuo and came to investigate. What happened?" "Martial Uncle, just now..." Several young disciples quickly recounted what had transpired. "What?!" The middle-aged man was also shocked.

Figures flickered, and another seven or eight individuals descended. They were all white-haired and also from the main peak ahead—Star Peak. After learning the situation, everyone showed expressions of surprise. They then invited Li Ruoyu aside, looking as if they found something difficult to say.

Not just Li Ruoyu, but even the young disciples nearby guessed their intentions. They were clearly astonished by Ji Ziyue's aptitude and wanted to recruit her as a disciple of Star Peak.

"I understand what you mean," Li Ruoyu sighed. "Mount Zhuo is in decline now. For such a talented individual to remain here would truly hinder her cultivation. As long as she is willing, you may take her with you."

The old men all cupped their hands to Li Ruoyu in thanks. Taking a disciple in such a manner made them feel somewhat abashed.

In an instant, Ji Ziyue was completely surrounded by the elders of Star Peak. Each of them looked incredibly benevolent, nodding continuously as if admiring a precious treasure. "Hey, hey, hey, esteemed white-bearded elders, could you please not smile like that? Why do you all seem like big bad wolves?" Ji Ziyue grumbled softly, displeased. The elders chuckled, unbothered. They took turns speaking, praising Ji Ziyue greatly and describing Star Peak's glory, openly stating their intention to accept her as their disciple. "I only want to join Mount Zhuo; I'm not interested in other main peaks." "Mount Zhuo has been in decline for many years, with no significant legacy remaining, while Star Peak is extremely prosperous, currently ranking among the top three of the hundred and eight main peaks." "But, I genuinely have no interest in Star Peak."

Nearby, the young disciples were all dumbfounded. With elders urging her so earnestly, someone was actually completely ungrateful and indifferent. If word got out, it would surely drop jaws. It truly was infuriating to see how some people were treated compared to others.

"You must be aiming to learn the legendary secret art, aren't you? But its lineage has been broken for many years, so you won't gain it by staying here," the elders gently persuaded her, taking turns to speak. "Once you join Mount Zhuo, you cannot join any other main peak, but disciples of other main peaks can choose again." "Yes, you can certainly join our Star Peak first. If the legacy here reappears, you can always return." The disciples nearby felt uneasy; they had never imagined that the elders of Star Peak would humble themselves so much just to recruit a disciple. It was truly incomparable.

"Let me think..." Ji Ziyue had inadvertently stolen the spotlight, which wasn't her intention. Her bright, intelligent eyes darted around. "Alright then, I can join Star Peak, but don't let them talk nonsense." She pointed at the young disciples nearby. She wanted to remain low-key within the Tai Xuan Sect and didn't want to attract attention too early. "You can rest assured..." The elders of Star Peak all chuckled.

Ji Ziyue knew that as a super-sect, the Tai Xuan Sect would certainly investigate the identities of its new disciples. She wasn't particularly concerned; even if they found out, it wouldn't matter much. As long as she could remain hidden for a few months, temporarily out of sight of those in the Ji family who wished her harm, that would suffice. She figured that even if the Tai Xuan Sect eventually uncovered her true identity, they would surely turn a blind eye, and might even use the opportunity to forge connections with the Ji family's elders. The final outcome was that Ji Ziyue would discreetly join Star Peak and become their disciple. "There's still another person; let's see his aptitude." Everyone present was also very interested in Ye Fan's potential. He had come here with Ji Ziyue, so he might also be a genius.

Ye Fan had completely sealed his Sea of Suffering, making it as unyielding as divine iron, without a ripple. He certainly didn't want to carelessly expose his unique constitution. "With the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, his potential must be extraordinary..." Before the person beside him had even finished speaking, Ye Fan had already stepped onto the first rung of the heavenly ladder. With a flash of green light, he was sent flying back several meters, landing on the ground. "This... he couldn't even clear the first step?!" "Such aptitude is too..." The people nearby stopped speaking, feeling utterly speechless. "Junior brothers, please make an exception and take him into Star Peak as well," Li Ruoyu interjected on Ye Fan's behalf. "This..." The elders of Star Peak pondered for a moment, but ultimately nodded. Having snatched away a genius, they felt obliged to consider Li Ruoyu's feelings. "Thank you for your kindness, seniors, but I do not wish to join Star Peak. I only want to stay here," Ye Fan said, bowing to them.

The elders present all exchanged glances. What was happening today? When had Mount Zhuo become so appealing that the exceedingly prosperous Star Peak was repeatedly rejected? The previous genius's arrogant defiance was perhaps understandable, but now even a young man whose aptitude was questionable was acting this way. It was truly a blow to them. Meanwhile, the young disciples nearby were almost frantic. Back then, they had endured countless hardships and various trials to stand out among the crowd and become disciples of Star Peak. Yet today, people continuously ignored Star Peak, which greatly disturbed them. A genius doing so was one thing, but even such a young man acting this way—how could they bear it?

Ji Ziyue blinked her clever, bright eyes and smiled, "It's good that you're staying here too..." This peak was their true objective, and only that particular secret art interested them.

Eventually, the Star Peak contingent departed on streaks of light and vanished. Mount Zhuo grew quiet and desolate, with only Ye Fan and Li Ruoyu remaining.

As night fell, starlight poured down like water from a distance. Star Peak, in the foreground, appeared incredibly ethereal, enveloped in endless radiance. Ye Fan gazed into the distance, feeling a little surprised. Star Peak actually seemed to attract the myriad stars in the sky, concentrating endless starlight. The area glowed hazily, with light flowing like water, resembling a celestial realm.

Li Ruoyu stood at the summit of Mount Zhuo and said, "That is the legacy of Star Peak. It uses the starlight from the heavens as its source of power. Cultivating it to its extreme allows one to even communicate with the stars, drawing their essence into the body to achieve a supreme immortal physique and unparalleled combat power." "I believe Mount Zhuo is not inferior to Star Peak and will flourish again," Ye Fan said. He was indeed interested in the power of the stars, but he valued Mount Zhuo's secret art more.

"Five hundred years ago, Mount Zhuo was shrouded in immortal mist, enveloped in auspicious glows, with majestic palaces and towers situated upon the clouds. Masters emerged in abundance, a true land of outstanding talents and spiritual energy. Alas, it gradually declined..." "How exactly can the legacy reappear? That heavenly ladder..." Ye Fan suspected that the nine-step heavenly ladder might contain the secret art's lineage.

Li Ruoyu shook his head and said, "The entire main peak is the scripture itself. The legacy is not in the nine-step heavenly ladder. Only when Mount Zhuo shines brightly, with its light reaching the sky and immortal energy swirling around it, will the legacy reappear." "Must it be so?" Ye Fan was somewhat skeptical.

"In tens of thousands of years, there has only been one exception," Li Ruoyu sighed. "An ancient sage once obtained the cultivation method for the secret art when the legacy had not yet appeared. His ultimate achievements rivaled those of ancient grand cultivators, and his magical power was unparalleled."

"How did he get it?" Ye Fan's eyes immediately lit up.

"No one knows. Before his death, he only spoke twelve words."

"Which twelve words?"

"Great perfection seems flawed; great abundance seems empty; great skill seems clumsy..."