Chapter 78 The Young Prodigies (1/2)
Wang Bugui and company toured the mountain and took their time to enjoy the scenery as they walked slowly to the peak of Mount Tai. Due to the unique viewing angles and terrain, they really felt as if the mountain dwarfed other peaks. They could see the lands around the mountain clearly, and they instinctively stopped to feel its immense majestic aura.
”After walking for a while, I really feel that this mountain has an overwhelming aura. It's no wonder that kings and emperors from the past would choose to pay their respects to the Heavens at this place. One could really feel on top of the world and all powerful here,” Wang Bugui could not help but marvel at the exquisite beauty of this place. If Mount Kunlun was a vast land of snow and boundless, then Mount Tai was majestic and overpowering.
Yu Wude and the other two nodded. After climbing up the highest peak of Mount Tai, all of them could feel lofty aspirations stirring within themselves, and they could even begin to sense another Realm. They had a sudden telepathic understanding and they either began to meditate, go through their moves or try to make sense of a new technique. All the other practitioners who passed by looked at them, and they had mixed feelings about Wang Bugui and his sworn brothers. Some of them thought that these four would be tough opponents, while others tried to guess their identities.
The fat youth who sat cross legged kept inscribing obscure and mysterious talismanic words, and one could sense an ancient and powerful aura emanating from him even from afar. Two of his companions at his side were practicing their moves. One of them made broad and sweeping strokes that were overwhelming and powerful, while the other moved lithely. His defensive and offensive moves were connected, varied and flowing.
The last person of the group was inscrutable. He sat opposite a puppet, and Nature's aura congregated around and surrounded them. Aside from that, no one could see anything moving around them, and no one knew what kind of skill he was trying to master; there was nothing unique or any strange phenomenon that appeared. The practitioners viewed of him as the weakest of the group. He did not move even when rehearsing his moves, and he remained calm and still when trying to comprehend a new technique. Even the aura surrounding him did not enter his body.
They stopped to look at the four youths only for a little while before leaving. After all, the Gathering of Practitioners was still more important. There was a suspended piece of Pure Land above the peak of Mount Tai, and it was the gathering point for all practitioners attending the meet. Wang Bugui and company left their meditative state two hours later and grinned at each other before heading to the Pure Land which was encircled by a sea of clouds.
They flew together to the Pure Land and saw an unique, dream-like realm appear before them. Nine verdant divine peaks were suspended in the air, and eight of them surrounded the largest peak. Strange looking flora bloomed everywhere, and multi-colored aura mists circled in the air. The trees were ancient and extremely strong. There were even mysterious looking plants that looked as if they had been chiseled out from precious jade of different colors.
Many spiritual beasts prowled in the woods, and many divine birds circled in the air, occasionally giving out loud cries. Divine lights of many colors cut through the skies, and many practitioners kept appearing in their sight as they flew toward the main peak with artifacts in hand. Their long robes flowed in the wind and they enlarged their divine artifacts as they hurried over to the holy mountain.
This amazing scene made one feel as if one had been transported back to ancient historical times when various immortals gathered at a divine place, and many techniques were as eye-catching as the next. Wang Bugui and company followed the others. Wang himself stepped onto air and bounded up to the main peak.
Lyu Hao and Zhao Changge, on the other hand, stood on their weapons and traversed the skies alongside each other. Yu Wude lay in a semi-prone position on a mysterious looking map of a formation, as if he was a sleeping arhat. Moments later, they arrived at the chief peak. There was a flight of limestone steps, and a huge palace stood at each side of it. The steps itself led to a huge parade square.
”Haha, welcome to the Gathering of Practitioners, my fellow practitioners!”
A handsome man in white robes cupped his fists and came forward to welcome them just as they landed. There was a line of similarly dressed people behind him, and they greeted the practitioners as well. The man in white robes, who seemed to be in charge, spoke again. ”I'm Lu Qianchen from the Sect of the Nine Heavens. May I know what sect you come from, my fellow practitioners? Forgive me for asking, but I have to report to my superiors about the attendance from the various sects.”
The four sworn brothers had a good first impression of Lu Qianchen. ”I'm a recreational practitioner,” Wang Bugui spoke up first.
”Zhao Changge of the Dragon Spear Sect,” Zhao Changge replied as he returned the man's greeting.
”I'm also a recreational practitioner, but I'm from the line of the Overpowering Halberd. My name is Lyu Hao,” Lyu Hao said, as he greeted the man in a similar fashion.
”I'm from the lineage of Gui Guzi, and I'm Yu Wude from the School of Diplomacy,” Yu Wude added, also returning the man's greeting.
Lu Qianchen nodded and smiled as he heard them. ”Not only do you possess great strength, Brother Wang, you're also keeping a very low profile. Brother Zhao, since you're from the Dragon Spear Sect, I believe your master must be Sage Huo Heng. Brother Lyu, the lineage of the Overpowering Halberd is extraordinary. It was created by Xiang Yu, the Warlord of Chu, and the demonic God of War, Lyu Bu, also originated from this line. As for you, Brother Yu, I didn't expect you to be from the line of Gui Guzi. The art of diplomacy and negotiation of your family is really profound.”