Mortal Bones

Chapter 6: Leaping the Dragon Gate, Black Dragon Elder Guards the Mountain Gate

“White Spirit Bones are also known as false spirit bones. While cultivation is technically possible, the progress is agonizingly slow. One might spend decades without ever breaking through to the Door Opening Realm. In truth, it’s barely a step above having no spirit bone at all.”

Zhao Linglong sighed heavily.

“If I test positive for a White Spirit Bone, does that mean I’m barred from becoming a disciple of the Seventh Peak?”

Xu Taiping hesitated, but the question gnawed at him until he finally gave it voice.

To his mind, the Pill his grandfather had left him was potent enough to carve his name onto the Spirit Bone Stele, but deceiving the Qingxuan Sect’s direct examination was another matter entirely.

After all, he knew the stark truth: he possessed no spirit bone at all.

“Technically, yes. But Taiping, you were chosen by the Spirit Bone Stele. Even if you don’t possess a heaven-defying Heavenly Spirit Bone, you’re guaranteed to have at least a Gold Spirit Bone, or at the very worst, a Profound Spirit Bone. A White Spirit Bone is simply out of the question.”

Zhao Linglong asserted with absolute certainty.

“Your Senior Sister Linglong speaks the truth. Those favored by the stele generally hold Gold or even Heavenly Spirit Bones. There’s no need to fret, Junior Brother.”

Dugu Qingxiao smiled, lightly patting Xu Taiping on the head.

“Exactly! And even the worst-case scenario isn’t the end of the world. Disciples with White Spirit Bones are granted three years to cultivate at the foot of the mountain. Pass the trials then, and the doors of the Seventh Peak will open for you.”

Zhao Linglong chimed in cheerfully.

“Mn.”

Xu Taiping nodded, forcing a tight, unconvincing smile.

Knowing he wouldn’t be immediately cast off the mountain, even as a White Spirit Bone, untied a small knot of tension in his chest.

…

A moment later.

Qingxuan Sect, Dragon Gate Hall.

The grand hall sat perched atop a suspended mountain. Below it, the slopes were a riot of blooming flora, teeming with exotic beasts and rare birds. The path winding toward the peak was treacherous and sheer; had Zhao Linglong and Qingxiao not been escorting him, Taiping doubted he could have scaled it in a week.

“Who approaches?”

The moment their boots touched the sprawling courtyard, an ancient, oppressive voice rippled outward from the grand hall, washing over them like a physical wave.

“Seventh Peak, Dugu Qingxiao.”

“Seventh Peak, Zhao Linglong.”

“Sixth Peak, Xu Ziyan.”

“Paying our respects to the Black Dragon Elder.”

The three seasoned disciples immediately announced themselves, dipping into deep, reverent bows.

Though completely ignorant of this Elder’s reputation, Xu Taiping didn’t miss a beat. Mirroring their absolute deference, he cupped his hands and bowed low toward the shadowy entrance.

Lin Buyu, however, remained an island of unnatural calm. She stood completely still, uttering not a single word.

“For what purpose do you ascend my hall today?”

The ancient, commanding voice echoed once more.

“Junior Sister Ziyan of the Sixth Peak and I have each retrieved a disciple chosen by the Spirit Bone Stele. Before returning to our respective peaks, we humbly request the Black Dragon Elder to test their spiritual foundations.”

Qingxiao answered, his tone laced with profound respect.

“Enter.”

The singular command drifted out from the cavernous depths of the hall.

…

Inside the hall.

This is… the Black Dragon Elder?

The moment he crossed the threshold, the breath vanished from Xu Taiping’s lungs.

Seated dead center in the vast room upon an immense cattail leaf was an unbelievably colossal figure. Even sitting cross-legged, the man loomed so large that Xu Taiping felt as though he were staring down the base of a flesh-and-blood mountain.

But the sheer scale of the being wasn’t the most terrifying part. Despite wearing a finely tailored purple silk robe over a humanoid torso, the creature’s neck ended not in a human face, but the nightmarish, fanged maw of a vicious river flood dragon.

“The Elder’s true form is a spirit flood dragon of the Xunyang River. He cultivated for five centuries to attain a human form, eventually pledging loyalty to our sect’s founding ancestor to become one of our guardian spirit beast Elders. He looks fierce, but his heart is kind. You don’t need to be afraid.”

Anticipating Taiping’s shock, Zhao Linglong had hurriedly leaned in to whisper the explanation.

“Mn. I’m not afraid, Senior Sister.”

Xu Taiping nodded.

In truth, his reaction was sheer, untainted awe rather than actual terror.

“Junior Sister Ziyan. What a delightful coincidence.”

A young man draped in pristine white robes sauntered out from the shadows beside the Black Dragon Elder, trailing a richly dressed adolescent boy behind him.

“Senior Brother Jin?”

Xu Ziyan’s brow furrowed in immediate, undisguised distaste.

“Why are you here?”

Qingxiao demanded, dispensing with all pleasantries.

Taiping didn’t know the history between them, but the sudden drop in temperature made it glaringly obvious: his Senior Brother and Sister despised this newcomer.

“I was subjugating demons in the Tianlang Nation a few days ago, and by pure chance, I discovered their young prince possesses a spirit bone. I brought him up the mountain and came to the Black Dragon Elder to have it appraised.”

The man’s lips curled upwards into a smug smirk.

Throughout the entire explanation, he hadn’t spared a single glance at Qingxiao. Instead, his eyes roved brazenly over Ziyan and Linglong, assessing them like prized cuts of meat.

“It’s been a few years. Who would have thought Junior Sister Linglong would blossom into such a fine young woman.”

His smile took on a distinctly greasy, sinister edge as he locked eyes with her.

“Jin Hezhi, if you’re tired of using those eyes, I can carve them out of your skull right now.”

Qingxiao stepped laterally, perfectly eclipsing the man’s line of sight.

“Oh? I’d love to see you tr—”

“Hold your tongues.”

Just as Jin Hezhi bristled for a fight, the Black Dragon Elder’s eyes snapped open. Two terrifying, slit-pupiled golden irises flared in the gloom.

“This is not the Seventh Peak, nor is it the First Peak. This is my Dragon Gate Hall.”

The Elder’s suffocating gaze dragged over the two sparring men, freezing the blood in their veins.

“Understood.”

Qingxiao and Jin Hezhi instantly backed down, dipping their heads.

“Bring the children forward for testing.”

The Black Dragon Elder reached into his voluminous sleeve and withdrew a smooth dragon pearl.

The pearl was the size of Taiping’s head, impossibly clear and resembling a sphere of flawless, transparent amber. A soft, cyan halo pulsed from its center, sending ripples of visible energy into the surrounding air.

Concurrently.

Xu Taiping, Lin Buyu, and the lavishly dressed princeling arrayed themselves before the towering Elder.

“You three. Step forward one at a time and press your palm against the pearl.”

Cradling the dragon pearl in his palm, the Elder’s heavy gaze swept over the three initiates.

“I shall go first!”

Before the echo of the Elder’s words faded, the silken-robed prince swaggered forward and slammed his hand onto the pearl.

The Black Dragon Elder’s brow twitched at the brazen display, but he held his tongue.

“Close your eyes and focus your mind. Do not open them until I give the command.”

Delivering the cold instruction, the Elder’s body suddenly flared with brilliant gold. Ribbons of golden qi spiraled down his arm, pooling into the dragon pearl before surging outward to enshroud the young prince entirely.

Vzzzz…

A low thrum vibrated through the air. The dragon pearl erupted in blinding golden brilliance, while phantom flames licked fiercely at the edges of the sphere.

“A Fire Element Gold Spirit Bone! It’s actually a Fire Element Gold Spirit Bone! Hahaha!”

Watching the spectacle, Jin Hezhi threw his head back and burst into thunderous, triumphant laughter right beside Qingxiao.

The Black Dragon Elder’s scowl deepened at the raucous outburst, yet he didn’t silence the man. To the Elder, the Qingxuan Sect acquiring a disciple bearing a Fire Element Gold Spirit Bone was a genuine cause for celebration.