C63 Five Stone Doors

Mount Dongjue stands alone, piercing the sky. It's the highest peak in the country and the inspiration for its name. Legend has it that this mountain was once the central hub of an ancient sect, which was eventually destroyed, leaving no trace of its protective barriers. The mountain remains because it was the sect's illusionary treasure trove, now known as the Mystic Trace Realm.

When the group from the Profound Heaven Sect arrived at the base of Mount Dongjue, the other three major sects were already there, each with about a dozen participants. Among them, Woo Zhengyang recognized two familiar faces: the peculiar brothers, Qian Fang and Qian Yuan, from the Wind Howl Sect. The brothers noticed Woo Zhengyang too, but neither party acknowledged the other.

On one side of Mount Dongjue is a natural cliff, with five stone gates of varying sizes arranged from bottom to top. The members of the four sects gathered below these gates. The stone gates dominate the entire cliff face, showcasing their immense size. However, what caught Woo Zhengyang's attention was the imposing aura of the gates. Despite their ancient existence, the overwhelming presence of these gates is palpable, growing more intense with elevation. The smallest gate at the summit exudes the most formidable pressure, and its lofty position inspires a sense of awe and reverence in many who gaze upon it.

"What was the ancient world really like? Just one stone gate exudes such grandeur!" A disciple from the Profound Heaven Sect shivered slightly as he gazed at the third stone gate, finally expressing his awe after a long pause.

Woo Zhengyang was equally overwhelmed by the gate's imposing presence. However, unlike the others, he had experienced a similar intimidation before, from the script in the preface of the "Sword Sacrificing Spell." Although the pressure from this stone gate was more immense than that of the script, it lacked the unique sharpness. Having endured that previous ordeal, Woo Zhengyang quickly adapted to the sight of the gates, eventually fixing his gaze on the highest one.

It stood like a formidable ancient beast atop the peak of the mountain, instilling a profound sense of insignificance in Woo Zhengyang. As he looked at the gate, a deep-seated feeling of inadequacy began to grow within him.

"Close your eyes and focus!" A soft command rang in Woo Zhengyang's ears, snapping him back to reality and leaving him drenched in cold sweat. Just moments ago, he had lost himself completely, his usually unyielding spirit easily shaken. He had forgotten his martial path, overwhelmed by a feeling that no matter how hard he trained, he could never reach the heights of the gate's creator.

This wasn't just a shock to the mind; it was a blow to the very heart of martial arts. If it hadn't been for that gentle reminder, Woo Zhengyang's fierce martial spirit might have shattered, leaving him with a deep sense of helplessness. Even if he worked tirelessly in the future, without the support of his martial spirit, his achievements would be limited. Without one's own conviction, how can one aspire to reach the pinnacle of martial arts?

...

"Thank you, Elder," Woo Zhengyang said, closing his eyes for a long moment. Once he regained his composure, he bowed in gratitude to Elder Zhou, who had just snapped him back to reality with a single word.

"You have great potential, but don't let it make you arrogant. The insights contained in the fifth stone gate are extraordinarily powerful. Even I dare not gaze at it for too long," Elder Zhou said calmly, though his words left Woo Zhengyang and the others deeply shaken.

To become an outer elder of the Profound Heaven Sect, one must at least reach the late stage of the Reality Condensing Stage, equivalent to an Advanced Martial Master. Such a level of mastery, yet even they dare not look at the top stone gate for long. The creator of the gate must possess unimaginable power, as this is merely one of the gates left with martial insights.

With Woo Zhengyang's experience as a cautionary tale, the other disciples were even more hesitant to let their eyes linger. Most hovered around the second and third stone gates, and those bold enough to glance upward did so only briefly. Even then, many found themselves drenched in cold sweat, quickly sitting down to meditate and regain their focus.

Woo Zhengyang was equally cautious, but he wasn't about to give up. He was deeply intrigued by ancient traditions and wasn't going to waste this opportunity. The martial arts embodied in these stone doors would challenge his martial spirit, serving as a perfect test to strengthen it. Woo Zhengyang believed that with careful handling, this was a prime chance to fortify his martial spirit.

With this in mind, Woo Zhengyang focused on the first stone door, immersing himself completely. Before he knew it, an hour had passed, and he snapped back to reality. Despite appearing to exert the least pressure, the first stone door had provided him with significant insights.

After a short break, Woo Zhengyang turned his attention to the second stone door. This time, it took him a full thirty minutes to come back to his senses, and then he moved on to the third stone door...

While Woo Zhengyang was engrossed in understanding the stone doors, disciples from the four major sects began sparring with each other. This sparring was an annual tradition among the sects. Although the outer disciples weren't highly skilled, they formed the foundation of each sect, representing the future potential of the four major sects.

Woo Zhengyang noticed this but only glanced at them briefly before returning his focus to the stone doors. Officially, it was a sparring session, but no one forgot their true purpose for being there. Once inside the Mystic Trace Realm, there was no guarantee they'd meet again, let alone fight. So, everyone held back a little. This cautious, half-hearted fighting failed to capture Woo Zhengyang's interest.

At this moment, Woo Zhengyang was already deep in contemplation at the fourth stone gate, his clothes soaked through, yet he showed no sign of retreat. This time, he spent a full four hours in meditation before he could finally gaze at the gate with a calm heart, undisturbed by any ripples of emotion.

Meanwhile, the conflict among the four major sects continued, and the students from the Heavenly Martial Academy, who arrived fashionably late, joined the fray. As the largest force in the region, the academy's students, regardless of their individual talents, outnumbered the four sects, with a total of twenty-seven participants. Their arrival made the battle even more lively, though one person remained indifferent to it all.

Woo Zhengyang's focus was now on the fifth stone gate, but he dared not linger too long. While the insights from the first four gates increased progressively, the fifth gate presented a leap into the unknown, a realm entirely different in nature. Despite his relentless efforts, all Woo Zhengyang gained was a cold sweat, with no progress to show for it.

As twilight approached and the sparring between the four sects and the academy concluded, Woo Zhengyang still had no breakthrough. Whenever his gaze lingered too long on the stone gate, he found himself trapped in the martial insights of its creator, his own understanding teetering on the brink of collapse.

After sunset, the disciples from the four sects and the Heavenly Martial Academy gathered around campfires, ready to enjoy a night free from training with good food and camaraderie.

Woo Zhengyang still showed no interest in joining. His behavior, typical of the "Outer Sect Number One Madman," was something everyone was used to, so they paid it no mind. Just then, someone approached.

"Woo, you seem really intrigued by these five stone gates!" Lyi Huamei said with a soft smile as she sat down next to him.

"These gates are quite peculiar," Woo replied, his attitude unchanged.

Even though he was aware of Lyi Huamei's hidden side and suspected she might have ulterior motives, she hadn't done anything to change his perception of her so far.

"It's said that these five stone gates were once the training grounds of an ancient sect. They correspond to different levels, from Martial Disciple to the Peak of Martial Master," Lyi explained.

"So that's how it is!"

Lyi glanced at Woo and continued, "Unfortunately, after that sect was destroyed, the top four realms were ravaged, and even the gates were damaged. Only the lowest realm remains untouched, which is where we're headed tomorrow—the Mystic Trace Realm!"

"The upper gates are damaged?" Woo asked, surprised. From the outside, they appeared intact.

"Yes, although the top four gates look fine, they lack the power to support them. You'll see for yourself tomorrow. But shouldn't you be more concerned about the Mystic Trace Realm we're entering? You're the newest member here and probably don't know much about it yet!"

"Well, I guess I'll have to rely on your guidance, Sister Lyi!" Even though Woo Zhengyang knew Lyi Huamei had her own motives, he still asked her for advice.

"Oh, you're so serious! You speak so formally!" Lyi Huamei giggled and continued to introduce things to Woo Zhengyang.