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nChapter 66: An Ape

nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nWhen he saw the haughty man and white bloused woman falling into the abyss, Su Zimo was finally clear about one thing.

nThose that fall into the abyss will definitely not die.

nSince the two of them possessed a variant spirit root and the peak master of Ethereal Peak already knew about it, there was no way they would be allowed to die.

nHowever, Su Zimo did not know what those who fell into the abyss would encounter.

nShifting horizontally, Su Zimo dodged from the crane’s line of sight and continued speeding up the peak.

nEven though he only had one hand, his feet were as nimble as his fingers after he removed his shoes. Digging themselves into the wall of the peak, he continued climbing steadily.

nThe crane had extremely sharp senses. With a swift flap, it appeared above Su Zimo’s head and cried out, looking at him with a taunting expression as though mocking his little play of trying to dodge it.

nThe man and crane had finally met.

n…

nOn a peak enshrouded with spirit qi elsewhere, two grace middle aged cultivators sat opposite to one another. They were both clad in white robes and one of them had a flying sword emblem engraved on his sleeve while the other had a hexagon emblem.

nBoth of them were sipping tea lazily.

nBeside them stood a skinny child who was relating something excitedly.

n“Hmms? Variant spirit root? Two of them?”

nOne of them placed his teacup down and turned around to ask, his expression slightly changed.

nThe skinny child nodded furiously.

nThe other cultivator asked, “What spirit roots were they?”

n“One is wind and the other is ice.”

nAt that, the two cultivators exchanged glances and smiled, apparently pleased.

n“Wen Xuan, your peak’s about to produce two more geniuses.”

nThere were six peaks to Ethereal Peak where the highest amongst them was the true Ethereal Peak that was visible to the outside world.

nSurrounding it were five other peaks – Spirit, Elixir, Talisman, Array and Weapon.

nThe cultivator known as Wen Xuan – the one with a flying sword emblem embossed – was the peak master of Spirit Peak.

nThe other person was Xuan Yi, peak master of Array Peak.

nNaturally, anyone who could be a peak master was definitely a Perfected Golden Core.

nEven though all the peaks had their specialties, Spirit Peak was the strongest amongst them with the most disciples. Because they valued cultivation realms the most highly, everything they learned and imparted were killing techniques.

nIf there were variant and heaven spirit roots, they would most likely be selected by Spirit Peak.

nWen Xuan smiled and stood up. “I’ll go take a look and see how many tribulations of the Life and Death Stage those two can pass.”

n“Don’t worry. Those with variant spirit roots are blessed by providence. They’ll naturally be able to pass the tribulation of life and death,” A teasing expression flickered by the eyes of Peak Master Xuan Yi as he joked, “Look how anxious you are. Where’s your poise as a peak master?”

n“Come, join me to take a look.”

nWith a hearty laugh, Wen Xuan tugged at Xuan Yi’s wrist and wanted to leave together.

nShaking his head, Xuan Yi ducked away and laughed. “I’m not going. Won’t I be giving myself troubles by watching your Spirit Peak take all the good talents away?”

nRight then, a chubby fat child ran over in a huff.

n“P-Peak master! T-T-This is bad!”

n“Mmm?”

nBoth peak masters exchanged glances, looking surprised.

n“Why are you here too, junior brother?” The skinny child asked.

nSweating from head to toe, the fat child waved his lumpy hand and cried out, “Peak master, the spirit testing gate exploded!”

n“Exploded?”

nXuan Yi and Wen Xuan looked at one another confused.

nWen Xuan asked, “Why would it explode? Someone destroyed it?”

n“No.”

nThe fat child shook his head before nodding fervently. “Yes! Wait, no. No!”

nBoth peak masters were thoroughly confused.

n“Just what in the world happened! Speak properly!” Wen Xuan hollered with a solemn expression.

nThe fat child could not help but recall the words of that scholar. Instinctively, he repeated, “It might be because the spirit testing gate had been enduring the rough weather for such a long time without proper maintenance, that’s why it broke apart…”

nBam!

nWen Xuan flicked the fat child on the head.

n“Ow!”

nClutching his head, he pursed his lips sadly.

n“What nonsense.”

nXuan Yi could not hide his smile as he chuckled. “Who taught you that? I’m sure you didn’t think up that on your own, right?”

n“A scholar told me that,” The fat child replied, “But I think what he said makes sense too. And he was even kind enough to have me remind the sect to take care of our old structures so that…”

nBam!

nYet another flick.

nInstantly, a big, swollen bump appeared on the forehead of the fat child.

nHe was almost bursting into tears as he asked with teary eyes, “Peak master, why are you hitting me?”

n“You’re too silly, child. One day, you might even end up counting money for the man who sells you out,” Xuan Yi did not know to laugh or to cry.

nWen Xuan spoke sternly, “Tell me the entire series of events. Do not hide anything from me.”

n“There was this scholar carrying a bow and saber. He came before the spirit testing gate and it displayed a Fire spirit root,” The fat child answered.

n“Carry on.”

n“But, the spirit testing gate did not allow him to enter. The scholar then continued barging through and the spirit testing gate exploded.”

nWen Xuan and Xuan Yi frowned and exchanged glances, still confused.

nWen Xuan asked right away, “Are you sure it was a Fire spirit root?”

n“Yes!”

nThe fat child replied instantly, “Peak master, you’ve got to believe me! Even though I’m stupid, I can still tell that it’s a Fire spirit root!”

n“That’s strange,” Xuan Yi could not figure out what happened.

nAfter a moment of silence, Xuan Yi spoke, “Wen Xuan, I’ll accompany you to see just what is up with this scholar.”

nWithout the use of any spirit weapons, the both of them soared through the skies and with a flip of their robes, carried the two children with them towards the front of the peak.

nBefore long, all four of them arrived at where the spirit testing gate was.

n“It’s indeed broken.”

nXuan Yi stared at the lump of rocks beneath him where the spirit testing gate once stood and murmured silently.

nWen Xuan asked, “Where is that scholar?”

n“Eh? He’s gone,” The fat child looked around.

nSuddenly, Xuan Yi replied, “No, they’re up the peak. The Eight Distresses Formation of the abyss has already been activated. Yes, those two with the variant spirit roots are there already.”

nWen Xuan asked hurriedly, “How many tribulations have the two of them gone through?”

n“They’ve already passed two, life and death. You can rest easy now, right?” Xuan Yi chuckled.

nAfter pausing slightly, Xuan Yi shook his head. “Wait, the bow and saber carrying scholar isn’t going through the Eight Distresses Formation. He might have left already out of fear.”

nWen Xuan harrumphed gently. “This unknown lad appeared and destroyed our Ethereal Sect’s spirit testing gate and left just like that? Brazen!”

n“Caw, caw!”

nRight then, the hurried calls of a crane rang out from beyond the clouds.

nWen Xuan and Xuan Yi looked up.

nFar above, a figure was shifting nimbly around the walls of the peak without falling off. Even while dodging the attacks of the crane, the figure was still climbing to the peak rapidly!

nEven with the eyesight of a Perfected Golden Core, they could not see clearly due to the distance between them and the tip of the peak.

n“Xuan Yi, look! There’s an ape!’ Wen Xuan said as he pointed to a black shadow on the peak.

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