A Heavenly Court armor-clad soldier approached the barrier to examine the contents on a stone tablet. One, two, gradually more soldiers gathered around, forming a small crowd. Shi Chun, to make it easier for them to see, pushed the tablet closer to the barrier, wearing an ingratiating smile.
As he kept smiling, he suddenly felt something amiss. The soldiers' expressions seemed a bit off. Some soldiers were glancing at each other, some comparing the two of them with the contents on the tablet, while others cast peculiar looks at them.
One soldier voiced his thoughts, "You have to admit, the characters carved on this stone tablet have some flair. Did you specially train for this?"
Chen with the Beard remarked, "I heard they came from the Exile Lands. Over there, it's normal to carve writings on the ground or stones, as paper and ink aren't commonly used."
"Oh, that explains why they're so tanned."
"But why are they claiming to be from Xuan Prefecture? Old Chen, are you sure you haven't mistaken them?"
Chen with the Beard replied, "I wish I could doubt myself, but do you think I can mistake them? Even if there are plenty of tall people, and I mistook that big guy, I wouldn't mistake that enormous blade. If you can find a second one like it in the Heavenly Rain Meteor Conference, I'll swallow this blade!"
"What are these two fools up to? Are they playing a trick on us or trying to deceive us?"
"What good would deception do them?"
The puzzled soldiers couldn't make sense of it all, so they replicated the method—grabbing another stone tablet and carving their reply. Although their writing wasn't as high quality as those uneducated inside the barrier, it was still legible. The reply was straightforward: "People from Wukang Mountain, what are you trying to pull?"
Seeing the writing, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were dumbfounded. They even pointed out the sect's name. Denying recognition would be over-the-top deceit, wouldn't it?
Wu Jinliang felt his heart racing. But Shi Chun quickly adjusted, pretending to re-read the stone tablet and suddenly acting as if he'd realized a mistake. He scratched off the word "Xuan" and replaced it with "Sheng." Then he added a few more words.
Upon showing it again, the revised content mirrored the original: "We are from a sect on the Sheng Prefecture side, seeking the Xun Gate for Sheng Prefecture and have lost our way. We humbly request the Heavenly Generals to point us in the right direction. Our earlier mistake was a slip of the pen."
Shi Chun's smile grew sweeter now, and Wu Jinliang nodded repeatedly, bowing with clasped hands, continuously pleading.
Understanding dawned on the group of soldiers, and they realized the confusion. They kindly refreshed the stone tablet and wrote: "Follow the barrier back along the way you came. The next Xun Gate is your destination." They even added a guiding gesture, genuinely thoughtful.
A soldier beside them mused, "Why are they going back to the Xun Gate they came from?"
"No idea," responded one.
"Maybe they want to linger at the doorway until it's time to head home," suggested another.
"Isn't this against the rules?" someone else queried.
"As long as it has nothing to do with the contest," clarified one, "it doesn't count."
"It doesn't count."
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang expressed great gratitude, bowing repeatedly as they backed away, conveying profound appreciation.
Shi Chun also grabbed the tablet, unwilling to leave evidence behind or risk suspicious destruction on the scene.
Once they had distanced themselves, following the soldiers' guidance, Wu Jinliang, perplexed, remarked, "Strange, how did they know we're from Wukang Mountain? Have we met them before?"
Shi Chun sneered, "What's so strange about it? It's all because of you."
Wu Jinliang immediately objected, "Chun, that was your plan, don't blame me for it! How's it my fault?"
Shi Chun elaborated, "Why not? They've probably seen us before, at least during assembly. No, it's not about me. In a sea of people, I don't stand out that much. But you, being that tall, with that big blade, you can't go unnoticed. Anyone who's spotted you before won't likely forget."
Wu Jinliang couldn't deny the logic, reluctantly acknowledging it. Similar issues had occurred because of his conspicuous presence, leading to some embarrassment. Yet, he wouldn't concede verbally, seeking loopholes, "Remembering me is possible, but how would they know our sect?"
Shi Chun, unwilling to argue further, shattered the tablet once they reached a secluded hillside and pointed to the terrain, "We'll detour around; continue moving that way."
They knew well the position of their entry Xun Gate, being the closest upon their departure. Avoiding it to prevent recognition, they needed no guidance from those Heavenly Court forces. Returning was not an option. After evading the soldiers' view, they pursued their journey to the next Xun Gate.
Trailing behind Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, crouched low, whispered, "What if they recognize us at the next gate?"
Shi Chun replied, "Then we'll use the same tactic as before. I refuse to believe everyone at every Xun Gate would recognize you."
Thus, the pair bypassed the prior Xun Gate, adhering to their original route, dashing along the barrier.
Towards midnight, they finally encountered another Xun Gate. Just as anticipated by Shi Chun, nobody there recognized them.
Using the same communicative approach, they found a slight hiccup as the soldiers here seemed disinterested. Not wanting to bother seemed part of it, alongside not knowing where Xuan Prefecture entered. Reluctant to investigate for two strangers, they eventually succumbed to Shi Chun's persistence and Wu Jinliang's sincerity, gathering the courage to confirm the Xuan Prefecture entry Xun Gate. It was ten gates away from this one.
Expressing immense gratitude, the duo departed enthusiastically, embarking on a lengthy journey.
A goal made the journey less daunting than aimless wandering.
Days passed, and meetings with others were ignored as they pressed forward, an arduous long trek unfolding for three days. At dawn on the third day, they finally located their target Xun Gate, confirming with the local guards to ensure no mistake.
The duo moved away from the barrier, leaping onto a hillside with their backs to the gate, gazing out across the barren expanse.
Shi Chun directed, "The folks from Xuan Prefecture probably headed that way. A sweep of nearly ten thousand people—finding them shouldn't be hard."
Wu Jinliang hefted his massive blade onto his shoulder, roaring, "Let's go!"
The two took off, tracking signs like clustered footprints, the massive group's traces left behind daily in plain sight as they moved, needing no disguise.
This closely matched Shi Chun's earlier assumptions—locating the Xuan Prefecture entry Xun Gate streamlined finding the Primordial Origin Sect. Their earlier efforts checking the gates were not wasted at all.
Periodically consulting maps, they advanced steadily onward.
Meanwhile, violence surged unabated; bodies continually appeared within the martial arena, perpetually fetching others to claim the deceased.
Empty seats grew within. Some sects had lost every disciple in attendance. With no reason to remain, grieving sect members left dejectedly, but some chose to stay and observe further.
Elder Ke Yizong of Wukang Mountain fervently wished Elder Jian Lingzhen from Falling Moon Valley would leave, given their entire contingent fell. What purpose kept him? Yet, Jian Lingzhen remained, occasionally throwing glances of lingering ire.
Unaffected by circumstances, Wukang Mountain’s Sect Leader Bian Jixiong’s anger was impotent.
As for Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, Elder Ke had lost track wholly. Nobody watched the massive "Ultimate Mountain and River Map" continuously. The duo remained hidden, presumed to be hiding until conclusion, thus slipping from attention until realized later.
Countless glowing spots on the map made regaining track difficult unless investing money, a move Elder Ke lacked interest in spreading or spending on them, instead inclined to direct resources towards Bian Weiying’s position.
Bian Weiying's situation concerned him enough. Observing known skirmishes with Stone Cloud Mountain’s people and the extensive use of talismans visible through the mirror, they exhausted their charms’ limited supply. The state conflicted with Wukang Mountain's stipulated survival strategy, yet commands during distant campaigns often flex, absent full context to judge accurately.
From Young Master Nan’s reserved vantage point, increasing nobility gathered nightly due to intensified competition. Involved sects aroused intrigue as their participants engaged in fights visible onscreen, heightening noble audiences' interest.
Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan attended numerous nights too, noting Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang's disappearance on the map.
Miao Dingyi ceased appearing. Mother and daughter occupied half-hour stays, extending perhaps another half, before generally departing.
Interrupted while departing once more, the arena’s unexpected noise drew their attention.
"Shi Chun?"
"Isn't that the big guy with Shi Chun and the giant blade?"
"Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang."
The names resonated particularly for the mother and daughter pair, prompting closer observation. Three fleeing figures bearing injuries suddenly obstructed by two others adorned in chestnut-colored attire. The robust figure brandished the ostentatiously large blade to block passage, displaying arrogant demeanor.
These presumptive Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang couldn’t be anyone else; the two watched intently.
A sect leader fresh from his sect observed the heightened whispers mentioning "Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang." After briefly watching, he approached his group’s seating, querying a nearby elder, “Who is Shi Chun?”
The attending elder elucidated promptly.
Needless to say, Elder Ke and others from Wukang Mountain found themselves bewildered, perplexedly scanning around. Why did everyone know Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang? When had the two become so renowned?
Rumors not only spread their names but even detailed their origins as from the Exile Lands. Disseminated initially by a few and, through duration, reaching most audience members paying attention.
In the esteemed pavilions, numerous domains lords occupied seats. With cross-continent skirmishes escalating, curiosity drew them, swelling attendance.
Amid its review, the arena’s collective chanting piqued suprise at those dignitaries. Who commanded this level of respect and recognition? Surprising, even Sheng Prefecture Domain Lord Wei Mo appeared slightly baffled. Familiar with the reflected figures, he never learned their identities, remaining unaware that broader circles knew. What compelled these two to reemerge?
“Who are Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang?” demanded a perplexed domain lord, the mirrored segment depicting five figures.
In reply: “Those two noticeably darker fellows.”
“Curious why I’ve never heard of them, remarkable figures indeed.” The domain lord found his unfamiliarity unsettling, suggesting an anomaly.
(End of Chapter)