CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43, FORCING THE WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN

Bai Jin laughed heartily and said, "That’s great, I was feeling bored myself. Come on, let’s go fishing together, senior brother."

Fish? Bai He’s eyes lit up. Ever since he arrived at Kunlun Mountain, he had been subsisting on dew and air, living quite a tough life and hadn’t eaten his favorite fish for a long time. He envied how carefree his senior brother was, even able to go out fishing.

Shi Ji asked, "Senior brother, may I come along?"

Bai Jin laughed merrily and said, "It wouldn’t be right not to take junior sister along! I don’t have any skills in preparing fish, let us go together."

Shi Ji chuckled and said, "If senior brother does not mind, then I shall join, though I’m not very skilled."

The three of them reached a creek at the foot of the mountain and sat directly on the grass to fish.

Shortly after, Bai He couldn’t bear the loneliness and secretly used a spell. Soon after, big and small fish came one after another, making fishing an utter joy.

Shi Ji demonstrated impressive culinary skills, and the aroma was enticing.

After a while, the satiated trio sat under the shade of a cool tree, lazily listening to the chirping of birds in the forest.

Bai He burped contentedly and said enviously, "Upper Pure Peak is really nice, Yuqing Peak is too boring and too quiet, just me and the master."

Bai Jin comfortingly said, "Once master attains Sainthood, he will recruit more disciples, and then Yuqing Peak will be lively."

Bai He’s eyes brightened, and he exclaimed, "Really? Master is close to achieving Sainthood, today Senior Brother Duobao visited our Yuqing Peak."

Bai Jin expressed surprise, "Duobao? What did he go there for?" Knowing that on usual days Duobao would avoid the Second Master as much as possible, why would he suddenly show up today?

Bai He nodded and said, "He discussed Saint Dao with master, saying master needs to craft the number one Holy Artifact in Heaven and Earth, which upon obtaining Heaven and Earth’s recognition and descending Merit can make one a Saint. I think what he said made sense."

A sudden thought struck Bai Jin, recalling how Duobao had also visited Shangqing Palace this morning and behaved quite oddly. Could he be trying to give ideas for achieving Dao to his master and second master?

Bai Jin’s pupils dilated suddenly, realizing something was wrong. Duobao is endangering my major support. If the attempt to achieve Dao fails, who knows what dreadful consequences might arise!

Bai Jin immediately stood up, transforming into a beam of green light and flying towards Upper Pure Peak.

Under the tree, Bai He puzzledly said, "Huh~ why did senior brother leave?"

Shi Ji, looking in the direction of Shangqing Palace, thoughtfully said, "Let’s go and see too."

"Okay!" Bai He stood up, and the two rode an auspicious cloud towards Upper Pure Peak.

Midway up the mountain, a grand voice rang out, "Junior brother, please halt!" A barrier of Upper Pure Immortal Light appeared, separating Heaven and Earth.

In front of the barrier, a flash of green light transformed back into Bai Jin’s figure, as he stared down at Duobao on the mountainside saying, "Senior brother, what are you trying to do?"

Duobao, hands behind his back and Daoist robe fluttering elegantly, responded, "Nothing really, just that master is in seclusion contemplating the Saint Dao. It would be better for junior brother not to disturb him."

Bai Jin said sternly, "Senior brother, I have always respected you, even if there are conflicts between us, I accept being at a disadvantage. But Saint Dao is not child’s play, what if something goes wrong with master, can you bear the responsibility?"

You accept being at a disadvantage? When have you ever suffered loss! Duobao, unable to suppress the anger resurfacing from their previous conflicts, said with a stern expression, "Bai Jin, what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that I would harm our master?"

"Did you come up with the idea to rashly guide master towards achieving Dao?"

"Just a suggestion."

Bai Jin angrily said, "Senior Brother, do you think you can conceive the Saint Dao on your own?"

Duobao angrily retorted, "Bai Jin! Why do you think I can’t come up with it? You can guide Nuwa to become a saint, but I can’t even make a suggestion to our Master?"

Me?! Bai Jin felt a tightness in his chest. Has the eldest senior brother lost his mind? Is this really something to fight over?!

With his head lifted and chest puffed out proudly, Duobao declared, "Bai Jin, don’t think you are the only chosen one, the only one who can understand the Saint Dao. We can too."

This confrontation startled all the disciples at Upper Pure Peak, who came out one after another to watch the developments from a distance.

At the mountainside, Long-Eared Ding Guangxian, Ling Ya Immortal, Qiu Shouxian, and other outer disciples excitedly shouted, "Well said, Eldest Senior Brother!"

"Saint Dao, we too can conceive it."

"Eldest Senior Brother is truly the chosen one."

...

With a slight smile on his face, surrounded by all immortals, Duobao reveled in the Dao he sought, where he alone was supreme above and below the heavens.

Bai Jin took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Senior Brother, what if I must pass?"

Duobao looked at Bai Jin confidently and said, "You can try!"

Bai Jin raised his hand in a sword-finger gesture towards the sky. Shoo~ shoo~ shoo~ shoo~ Four Immortal Swords flew out from his sleeves, standing erect and circling Bai Jin — Qing Ming, Qingyu, Qing Xiao, and Qingyun.

Bai Jin said gravely, "Be careful, Eldest Senior Brother.

When the four swords combine, the Qingtian emerges!" In dealing with Senior Brother Duobao, Bai Jin had no choice but to use his strongest method.

The four Immortal Swords instantly soared into the sky and collided above Bai Jin’s head, merging amidst a burst of divine light into a sword shining with green light, its hilt bearing the grand characters ’Qingtian’.

With the emergence of the Qingtian Sword, heaven and earth responded, and thunderous rumbles filled the sky as clouds tumultuously rolled.

Instantly pale, Bai Jin sweated profusely and trembled all over. As a heavenly sword, the appearance of the Qingtian Sword summoned the power of ten thousand li of heaven and earth, the immense pressure like the weight of a world upon him. His mind sensed every detail within ten thousand li — every flower, every stone, every drop of water, all transforming into Sword Intent and integrating into the Qingtian Sword, terrifying and domineering.

Bai Jin focused his mind on Duobao, as the formidable forces of heaven and earth crushed down on him, heaven and earth zeroing in.

Duobao’s face changed, shocked by the heavenly sword above. This feeling was like an inevitable heavenly punishment, undefendable and inescapable.

Bai Jin clenched his teeth and bellowed, "Strike!"

The Qingtian Sword fiercely slashed down, the green barrier shattering like torn fabric, turning into a sweeping gale.

"Counter Strike!" Duobao shouted, with an Immortal Sword appearing behind him that defied the heavens, transforming into the Heaven and Earth Sword as it fell and the Heaven-defying Sword as it rose. The clashing of the two blades resounded like a thunderous quake, the dazzling green light shining like the Great Sun, the mighty Sword Qi distorting the surrounding space, blurring visibility.

Below, numerous Outer Disciples screamed out and quickly covered their eyes with their sleeves, ducking and dodging as the sword light reigned violence, leaving sword marks all along the mountain path, with some unlucky disciples bleeding on the spot.

Thud~ thud~ Bai Jin retreated several steps, feeling a heaviness in his chest and spewing a mouthful of fresh blood, his body shaking. Using the Heavenly Sword was already a strain; the immense power of Heaven and Earth rebounding upon him, severely injuring him in an instant.

Amidst the twisted green sword light in the sky, four Immortal Swords descended, revolving around Bai Jin.

Duobao also staggered back two steps, his face flushed for a moment before it faded, the Immortal Sword descending and hovering beside him.