Chapter 50: Dragon Martial Mountain! Part I

Yufan gently stepped forward. The flagstone path beneath his feet seemed to carry millennia of history, and every step echoed with the whispers of time.

On both sides of the stairs, ancient trees towered into the sky, their branches and leaves interweaving into a verdant canopy. Sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting mottled light and shadow that added a touch of mystery and warmth to this solemn journey.

He slowly looked up and saw a towering gate standing majestically. The three characters "Longwu Mountain" on the gate were written with vigorous and powerful strokes, resembling the roaring of dragons and howling of tigers, containing endless strength and majesty.

Above the lintel, a lifelike pattern of two dragons playing with a pearl was carved. The dragons' eyes flickered with a faint light, as if scrutinizing every traveler stepping into this place.

Yufan took a deep breath, an inexplicable excitement and reverence surging in his heart.

"Junior brother, Xingchenzi, I have a few veils here. You should both put them on to avoid being recognized," Fang Yu said gently, taking out two veils and handing them softly to Xingchenzi and Yufan.

Xingchenzi and Yufan took the veils, their fingertips brushing against the delicate and soft fabric, as if they could feel a hint of distant coolness and mystery.

They exchanged a smile, their tacit understanding tinged with a child-like excitement and curiosity.

Yufan made the first move, gently lifting the veil and slowly covering his face, leaving only a pair of eyes as bright as stars exposed, adding a touch of unpredictable mystery to his demeanor.

As for Xingchenzi, his movements were even more elegant. He gently arranged the edges of the veil, ensuring that every inch fit just right. Under the cover of the veil, his deep eyes seemed capable of perceiving all things in the world, while also hiding unknown secrets.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled rays upon them, lending a hazy and dreamy quality to this moment of donning the veils.

The two stood side by side, their postures straight like explorers about to step into an unknown world, filled simultaneously with a yearning for the unknown and a firm resolve toward challenges.

In their eyes, there was mutual trust and reliance, as well as boundless longing and anticipation for the journey ahead.

"Xingchenzi, the way you put that on is so hilarious, you look just like a..." Yufan started to say, but cut himself off mid-sentence.

***

Hearing this, the corners of Xingchenzi's mouth rose involuntarily. Those deep eyes flashed with a playful light through the gaps in the veil.

He deliberately slowed his movements, allowing Yufan to see every subtle step of his adjustment more clearly, until his face was completely covered, leaving only the outline of a meaningful smile.

At this sight, Yufan let out a sudden chuckle. The crisp and pleasant laughter echoed among the towering ancient trees, breaking the surrounding tranquility.

"Xingchenzi, the way you put that on is so hilarious, you look just like a..." Yufan half-finished his sentence, intentionally pausing with a mischievous twinkle in his eye as if searching for the most fitting description.

Finally, he smiled and added, "Just like a mysterious traveler about to unveil an ancient secret—majestic yet carrying a touch of worldly innocence."

Following Fang Yu's slightly reprimanding yet gentle words, Yufan and Xingchenzi exchanged a smile, set aside their playful banter, and officially stepped onto the stairs leading deep into Longwu Mountain.

Every step appeared even more resolute, and the flagstone path beneath their feet seemed to respond to their determination with steady echoes.

Yufan slowly stepped forward and gently tapped the carved dragon and phoenix gates, producing a dull "thud, thud" sound that resonated like the lingering chime of an ancient bell in the quiet valley.

The door pivots slowly turned, emitting a prolonged creaking sound, like a prelude intertwining history and reality.

The gates slowly opened, and a beam of intense light pierced through the crack, illuminating the faces of Yufan and Xingchenzi while reflecting the anticipation and reverence in their eyes.

A young disciple dressed in cyan robes and holding a longsword appeared before them. An extraordinary temperament was revealed between his brows, and his gaze was clear and sharp as he sized up these uninvited guests.

As Yufan's words trailed off, a flash of surprise crossed the young disciple's eyes before he regained his composure.

He looked Yufan and Xingchenzi up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on their veiled faces as if attempting to probe their true identities and potential.

The sunlight happened to spill from behind the gate, gilding the young cultivator with a golden outline and adding a touch of otherworldly aura to him.

***

"Oh? Here to apprentice?" he repeated softly, a hint of hard-to-detect testing in his tone. "Then do you know that Longwu Mountain is extremely strict in accepting disciples, and none may enter unless they possess extraordinary talent and an indomitable character? Have the two of you prepared yourselves?"

Hearing this, Yufan straightened his back, a resolute glow shining in his eyes. He bowed slightly to show respect while answering with unyielding confidence: "We know the road ahead is difficult, but following our hearts, we fear neither wind nor rain. Please test us, Senior."

When Yufan's words fell, the air seemed to freeze for a split second. Upon hearing this, a scrutinizing look flashed across the young disciple's eyes, and then his figure shifted slightly, his robes fluttering like a forest breeze as he reached Yufan and Xingchenzi in just a few steps. Holding a longsword, the tip tapped lightly against the ground, producing a crisp sound that broke the surrounding silence.

"Apprentice?" he repeated, his voice not loud yet carrying an undeniable majesty. "Accepting disciples at Longwu Mountain is no ordinary matter. Have the three of you prepared yourselves to prove your aptitude and determination?"

As he spoke, his gaze was like a torch, seemingly capable of piercing through the veils and looking straight into the depths of Yufan and Xingchenzi's souls.

Feeling this pressure, Yufan did not flinch at all. He patted Xingchenzi beside him lightly to signal him not to be nervous, and then took a deep breath.

"We certainly are prepared! We always play in high-tier lobbies—fighting celestial gods above and earthly deities below!" Yufan said as he walked. The disciple looked Yufan up and down, taking in his worn shoes and tattered clothes, and remarked, "You don't look like it at all. You look like beggars." Yufan said angrily, "Is that any way to speak?" Xingchenzi hurriedly pulled Yufan back.

Hearing this, Yufan furrowed his brows, anger flashing briefly in his eyes like morning mist blown away by the dawn breeze, but it was quickly grasped by Xingchenzi's warm hand—a strength like a spring stream that gently calmed the ripples in his heart.

He turned his head to look at Xingchenzi, only to see the latter's eyes full of understanding and reassurance, with a faint smile curving at the corner of his mouth that concealed an aloof indifference to the coldness of the world and a deep cherishing of friendship.

Xingchenzi gently shook his head to signal Yufan not to lose his temper, then stepped forward. His voice was gentle and firm, flowing like a mountain spring into everyone's heart: "Senior's words are true; appearances may deceive for a moment, but true strength and determination are as unshakeable as a boulder. Though we are dressed in rags, the fire in our hearts remains unextinguished, and our ambitions soar high.

Please enlighten us, Senior, and let us prove with our actual actions that even 'beggars' have the capability to climb to the summit of Longwu Mountain and rival the heavens and earth in brilliance."