Chapter 36: The Stone Tablet of Trial
Before long, the Cloud Carriage turned into a streak of light and descended straight toward that towering mountain range.
Amidst the swirling mist, occasional roars of mountain spirits and demonic beasts could be heard.
The entire landscape gave off an ancient and oppressive aura of primordial wilderness, as though it had existed since the archaic ages.
Once they landed, Fu Yuying began contacting people from her sect, while Shen Yanzhou left the Cloud Carriage and walked toward a slightly open clearing.
Steam and mist surged around him, the peaks verdant and valleys lush, carrying the momentum of dragons soaring and tigers leaping.
A straight, magnificent waterfall poured down like a silver river from the heavens, splashing up vast sprays of mist and forming a deep pool whose bottom could not be seen.
Ahead, the mountains grew steeper and more treacherous, resembling a rift torn open across the sky.
The narrower the gorge became, the darker it grew.
At times, a chill miasma drifted outward, obscuring one’s sight.
Scattered bones lay along the ground—some belonging to beasts, others to humans.
“To reach the Forest of No Return, one must pass through this gorge. According to the original novel, a demonic beast—the Soul-devouring Flood Serpent—lurks within the dark pool here. It was once a small snake that the aged Martial God had casually saved. After countless years, it gained spiritual intelligence, shed its snake form, and transformed into a flood dragon. Even a grandmaster of the Fourth Rank, Dragon-Elephant Realm, would not be its match…”
“Normally, as long as one doesn’t disturb it, it won’t easily show itself.”
Shen Yanzhou didn’t dare approach rashly.
He merely lingered outside the gorge for a while.
The so-called rendezvous at Hidden Moon Mountain and the Forest of No Return was merely a pretext.
After arriving here, his role had already ended.
He was only a decoy—to lure Shen Tian away from the Imperial Capital.
How to deal with Shen Tian afterward was a matter for Fu Yuying and the others.
The Luofu Cloud Cavern would hardly rely on a “cripple” who had just managed to suppress the Nether Curse.
Besides, he had nearly revealed everything about Shen Tian—down to the color of his underclothes.
If even with all these advantages in time, place, and manpower they still failed to subdue Shen Tian, then Shen Yanzhou truly had no other options.
“The territory of Hidden Moon Mountain is vast. The aged Martial God’s cave residence isn’t precisely described in the original text. Wu Ruyue found it only because of her heaven-defying fortune—and because, when she was young, she accidentally obtained a wisp of the Martial God’s True Source, which stirred the inheritance hidden within his cave.”
“I have neither destiny nor divine favor. To draw out such resonance would be harder than ascending the heavens.”
“However, I remember clearly that outside this gorge lies a stone tablet left by the aged Martial God—a stone of trial meant for those deemed fated.”
“If one holds that stone tablet and passes its test, they can use the summoning formation within to enter his cave abode.”
Shen Yanzhou pondered as he walked.
Wu Ruyue had an unknown secret: when she was young and playing in the back mountain, she lost her way and accidentally fell into a pool.
There, she encountered a wisp of seven-colored divine light, which poured itself into her body.
That seven-colored divine light was none other than the legendary Martial God’s True Source.
Receiving even a thread of that power, she had her body and soul remade.
From an ordinary person, she awakened her spiritual wisdom, rapidly rose in strength, and suppressed all her peers across the provinces to become the Top Martial Champion.
Because of this, Shen Yanzhou had prepared two plans.
If he could not pass the aged Martial God’s trial, he would rely on Wu Ruyue to enter the cave instead.
If he could pass it on his own, then all the better.
“Miss, that guy seems to be up to something. I’ve been watching him wander around the mouth of the gorge—he looks like he wants to go in but doesn’t dare to…”
Chu Xiuer stood on a flat bluish stone, tiptoeing as she peered at the mist-shrouded gorge in the distance.
Shen Yanzhou strolled aimlessly nearby.
His slender figure looked as if it could be swallowed by the fog at any moment.
Fu Yuying was still communicating with the elders of Luofu Cloud Cavern.
Hearing Chu Xiuer’s words, she turned her gaze toward him, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Throughout the journey, Shen Yanzhou had always seemed calm and composed, as though everything was under his control—giving her the impression that there was no secret in this world he did not know.
Yet now, his face showed hesitation and inner conflict.
Quite a rare sight…
“The gorge is filled with demonic beasts. With his current state, he cannot even take a single step inside,” Fu Yuying said.
“I’ll keep watch over him then, lest he runs off somewhere. Without any cultivation, if a demon beast eats him, it’ll end up implicating you, Miss.”
Chu Xiuer muttered under her breath, still keeping her eyes fixed on Shen Yanzhou, afraid he might wander off.
Fu Yuying shook her head.
The more she observed Shen Yanzhou, the more unfathomable he became—like a man perpetually shrouded in mist.
Still, it was fortunate she was of upright character.
If it had been any other heir from the southern factions, upon learning of Shen Yanzhou’s secrets, they would have surely lost patience and resorted to interrogation—or even soul-searching.
Yet soon… Fu Yuying froze.
Was it possible that the reason Shen Yanzhou dared approach her so directly was because he had already understood her personality in advance?
“To cooperate with him is one thing—but to become his enemy… that would truly be terrifying.” She retracted her gaze, thinking silently.
……
The mists of Yun Prefecture were thick, and coupled with days of continuous drizzle, it wasn’t until the afternoon of the next day that Wu Ruyue and her party finally reached the outskirts of Hidden Moon Mountain.
The towering mountain range stood majestic and vast, pressing down upon the land as though capable of holding up the sun and moon.
Anyone who came here could not help but marvel at the craftsmanship of creation itself.
“We haven’t encountered any obstacles along the way. Logically, the Nether Cult should have tried to ambush us during the journey.”
“But we didn’t run into anything at all. What could be the reason?”
“Could it be that a greater ambush is waiting ahead?”
Baihu Zhou Yang was quite the chatterbox—especially now that Wu Ruyue was nearby.
Previously, he hadn’t had the chance to be around her, but now that the opportunity presented itself, he acted like a peacock showing off his feathers, constantly analyzing and speculating aloud.
Wu Ruyue was already getting irritated.
Couldn’t he be quiet for a moment?
“The courier stations along the major official roads of Yun Prefecture have been monitoring all passing caravans, and none reported anything suspicious.”
“Still, this journey has been far too peaceful.”
Another Baihu of the Chilin Guards, named Zhao Hu, nodded in agreement.
He was older than Zhou Yang.
Zhou Yang’s expression grew solemn.
“When something is abnormally quiet, there’s always something amiss. We must remain vigilant.”
After reaching the vicinity of Hidden Moon Mountain, the group abandoned their cloud vessel and proceeded on foot.
Firstly, because using the vessel would make too much noise and attract the local demonic beasts.
Secondly, the terrain near Hidden Moon Mountain contained natural magnetic currents that interfered with the vessel’s formation core, making navigation impossible.
Along the muddy paths, dead leaves drifted down.
In shallow puddles, spiders and toads occasionally crawled past.
The miasma spread with the fog, diffusing through the woods.
Birds and beasts frequently cried out above the treetops.
As one of the infamous perilous regions of Yun Prefecture, this place teemed with poisonous creatures and demon beasts.
Even seasoned adventurers dared not venture too deep.
With the possible threat of the Nether Cult nearby, everyone remained on high alert.
The Chilin Guards carefully spread out across the area.
Immortal Officer Gu Ruoxi, Chu Dao, and the others followed closely beside the senior immortal officer from the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, also surveying the surroundings.
From their palms, talismanic seals continuously flew out, disappearing into the void.
“It’s truly strange. If the Nether Cult had planned their ambush in advance, they would definitely have set up all kinds of formations to capture everyone coming to the rescue in one sweep.”
“I even brought the formation-breaking stone with me, yet I haven’t detected the slightest trace of an array along the way…” Gu Ruoxi’s brows furrowed in confusion.
“All of this reeks of strangeness.”
Chu Dao nodded as well.
Though experienced, even he couldn’t make sense of the situation this time.
The few guest retainers from the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion followed along with the group, but they didn’t seem particularly cautious.
Only Elder Mo, who had long served in the Mansion and used to accompany Shen Yanzhou in his nightly visits to the courtesan houses, looked conflicted and weary.
He had been part of the Mansion for many years and could already sense something unusual from the whispers he’d heard over the past few days.
Coupled with the secret conversation he and the others had had with several clan elders before leaving the mansion to “rescue” the Heir, Elder Mo couldn’t help but harbor doubts—could Shen Yanzhou’s abduction have been arranged by the Mansion itself?
This supposed rescue mission… might it be that the clan elders actually wished for the Heir not to return? Perhaps even preferred he die outside the capital?
“Elder Mo, you’ve always served closely by the Heir’s side, accompanying him in all his debauchery. Now that he’s gone missing, I imagine you’re the one most worried.”
A calm voice interrupted Elder Mo’s heavy thoughts.
Daoist Qingfeng spoke.
“Daoist, you jest. The Heir’s disappearance—of course we retainers are worried. Isn’t that only natural?” Elder Mo forced a smile.
The speaker was one of the guest cultivators from the Daoist sect.
He wore a white robe, his features refined and his long beard flowing gently as if accompanied by a breeze with every breath he took.
Those in the Mansion knew him simply as Daoist Qingfeng.
Daoist Qingfeng smiled faintly.
“It is enough to do what one must.”
A chill inexplicably ran down Elder Mo’s spine.
Was that a warning?
When the Heir had first gone missing, Elder Mo had assumed the Demon Suppression Princess Consort would be the one most distraught.
But her reaction afterward had been astonishingly calm.
Even the experts she had brought from Tianshui’s Qilin City when she married into the Mansion hadn’t come to assist.
Could it be that even the Princess Consort had abandoned the Heir?
“Sigh…”
Elder Mo let out a faint sigh in his heart.
Not far away, Wu Ruyue observed the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion’s guest retainers conversing and suddenly felt an inexplicable chill in her heart.
At this moment, everyone appeared cautious and tense—yet those who should have been most worried about Shen Yanzhou’s safety seemed entirely at ease, as though they weren’t on a rescue mission, but rather on a leisurely stroll.
“Has even the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion been infiltrated so deeply by the Nether Cult...?”
Wu Ruyue frowned slightly.
She took out the communication jade talisman Shen Yanzhou had given her and sent him their current location and progress.
……
“Who in the world is spreading slander against our Holy Cult?”
“The reputation we’ve spent years maintaining has been utterly ruined in just a few days—everything wasted!”
“Unforgivable! If I find the culprit, I’ll make him pay!”
In Yun Prefecture, near Hidden Moon Mountain, two figures sat quietly concealed atop a massive ancient tree whose branches were dense and sprawling.
The speaker sounded aggrieved and indignant.
He was a man in his thirties, scruffy and unkempt, wearing a somewhat tattered robe, his hair tied up haphazardly with a wooden hairpin.
“The Holy Cult already admitted that it was us, so let it be us.”
“A reputation handed to us for free—why refuse it?”
Another voice responded languidly.
This one, too, belonged to a man.
He wore a broad white robe spotless as fresh snow, his brows delicately shaped, lips strikingly red—his appearance carried a trace of effeminate allure.
“Even a bad reputation?” the scruffy man glared.
“Since when did our Holy Cult ever have a good one?” the man in white chuckled.
“Enough talk. Someone’s coming…” the scruffy man suddenly raised a hand for silence, his expression turning grave.
He possessed a unique gift—the ability to communicate with insects, rodents, and vermin.
Yun Prefecture was teeming with poisonous creatures, making them his perfect eyes and ears.
The two quickly concealed their presence.
A strong gust swept through the forest, blowing away much of the fog and miasma.
Leaves rustled wildly as a massive black shadow descended onto a clearing not far away.
It was a black roc with wings several zhang wide, and upon its back stood a young man in azure martial attire, who leapt down lightly.
His features were handsome and clear-cut, his eyes dark and bright, exuding calm strength.
“Chuidian, you’ve done well. There are many fierce beasts in these mountains—find a place to hide for now. When I blow the bone whistle, come and fetch me.”
The newcomer was Shen Tian.
Smiling faintly, he patted the black roc’s head.
The creature nodded as if understanding his words, then spread its massive wings, whipping up a violent gale before vanishing into the distant sky as a black speck.
“Hidden Moon Mountain… Shen Yanzhou, I’m coming for you.”
A glint of cold determination flashed in Shen Tian’s eyes as he strode deeper into the mountain range.
“Who is this one?”
“Could he also be here for Shen Yanzhou—the Heir of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion?”
Once Shen Tian had completely disappeared, the two figures hidden among the treetops revealed themselves again.
……
“Six thousand and one steps… six thousand and two… six thousand and three…”
“Young Master Shen, you’ve been pacing back and forth over six thousand steps now. Can’t you rest for a moment?”
Before the mist-shrouded gorge of Hidden Moon Mountain, Chu Xiuer sat on a bluish stone, her bright eyes gleaming like lacquered gems.
Propping her chin with one hand, she watched Shen Yanzhou pacing back and forth at the entrance leading toward the Forest of No Return.
At last, she couldn’t help but speak up.
Hearing her, Shen Yanzhou turned to glance her way but said nothing, continuing to pace.
He idly kicked a stone at his feet.
That aged Martial God must have had quite the mischievous streak—who would make the Stone Tablet of Trial look exactly like an ordinary rock?
Still, Shen Yanzhou had the patience for it, and he was certain the tablet lay somewhere near the gorge’s mouth—so he persisted.
From another perspective, perhaps it truly was only “the fated” who could find that tablet.
Seeing Shen Yanzhou ignore her, Chu Xiuer puffed out her cheeks in mild frustration.
But fearing he might rashly venture into the gorge alone, she widened her eyes again, keeping a close watch on him.
The sky was darkening, heavy leaden clouds pressing lower.
In the distance, a fine drizzle began to fall.
Fu Yuying and the elders from Luofu Cloud Cavern who had arrived held a final discussion and decided to lay a vast net of formations along this path leading to the Forest of No Return, waiting for Shen Tian to appear.