Chapter 1110: The Profound Peak Mountain Gate (II)
Kong Guxi felt the ground beneath his feet grow lighter as the portal-like opening appeared. Dark mountain ranges undulated unevenly below him, shimmering with scattered light. He glimpsed two or three figures darting about here and there, their flight lights streaking across the darkness like meteors.
It was a sight he had seen countless times before, and they were already above his sect's mountain gate. Li Ximing's back loomed before him as the newly ascended Daoist Master stared intently at the immortal pavilions below, a sight that sent a chill of dread crawling up Kong Guxi's spine.
He hunched his shoulders and tucked his hands into his sleeves, following Li Ximing as they flew a circuit around the gate. Soon, he heard the Daoist Master's words of praise, "Your gate has deep reserves and excels at shifting mountains and altering terrain. Spiritual energy thrives in every corner of this land, with many unique spirit mountains. Five of the Twelve Essences are complete, and of the Five Virtues, eight are present with three of them of the Earth Virtue. Remarkable... truly remarkable!"
Though Profound Peak Gate might not match other immortal sects in certain respects, its spirit mountains were second to none. Changxi had labored diligently for centuries, shifting mountains into Profound Peak Gate like a tireless mole preparing for winter, and the result was a mountain gate that was undeniably alluring.
"No wonder Ye Hui covets this mountain gate so deeply. His Baiye Capital Immortal Dao was only recently established. If he were to obtain this mountain gate, it would save him centuries of effort!"
Li Ximing wandered the grounds for a while and found the disciples pitifully few. Only the main hall held a handful of figures, among them his junior Li Jianglong, who was studying a jade slip intently beside a pile of books taller than himself.
Li Ximing nodded faintly and made no move to meet him. He continued his circuit, seeing many kinds of secret realms along the way, yet there was not a single spirit artifact. There was not even anything remotely connected to the Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain.
He only stopped before Profound Peak Gate's treasure vault, pausing briefly with his hands clasped behind his back as he turned to speak, "Gate Master... is there truly no Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain inside?"
Kong Guxi already understood his intent and fell to his knees, "I have never known of any Wind-Listening White Stone Mountain! If I am hiding even the smallest thing, may I die instantly and vanish from the Dao!"
Li Ximing had not truly believed that Daoist Master Changxi would leave such a spirit artifact in the vault. If so, there would be no reason to hide it from him. Thus, he said again, "Take me to the seclusion locations."