Chapter Twenty-Five: Ziyan in Fishnet Stockings

Stepping onto the Rainbow Bridge, the dazzling colors captivated them, and the two were immersed in a landscape as poetic as a dream, gazing at the azure sea beneath their feet, utterly enchanted.

Suddenly, a sea anaconda, about ninety meters long, burst from the surface, its armored scales tougher than refined iron. It surged forward, jaws agape, launching a vicious attack. Instantly, the Rainbow Bridge emitted a radiant spectrum, and the approaching sea anaconda was annihilated, leaving not even a trace behind.

Watching the extinguished creature, Xu Xing felt a lingering fear, his heart flickering as he looked upon the boundless ocean, awed by its unfathomable mysteries.

“This happens often. If you enter the Northern Sea Academy, monsters of this caliber are merely what you deal with during regular training. The truly formidable beasts have evolved intelligence, lurking in the depths, waiting for their moment,” Hang Ri commented as they walked.

The few miles across the Rainbow Bridge were not far. Soon, they arrived at the base of Mount Shu, where the bridge seamlessly connected to the mountain.

At the junction was an empty stone platform. As they stepped onto it, the fish-scented sea breeze tousled their scattered black hair.

The wind was fierce—if an ordinary person weren’t careful, they might be swept away. The sea, reflecting the dark red sun, also mirrored the grandeur and majesty of Mount Shu.

Xu Xing raised his gaze; Mount Shu pierced the horizon, connecting earth and sky. The summit was unreachable in a single glance, its height unknown.

A flame of curiosity ignited within him—who were the unparalleled powers dwelling atop this mountain?

The mountaintop, bathed in the afterglow of sunset, was shrouded in purple mist like clouds, covering the midsection. Two stone paths, left and right, intertwined and wound upward toward the peak.

“The sunlight on the incense burner gives rise to purple smoke—what a spectacular sight!” Xu Xing exclaimed.

Hang Ri frowned and replied, “How do you know about Zhao Incense Burner and Zi Yan? That affair has been making waves lately… yet you seemed completely unaware before. Strange, indeed.”

“Huh? What? I meant the sun shining on Mount Shu, incense burning, and purple smoke rising,” Xu Xing replied awkwardly.

Hang Ri glanced at his shoes, already soaked by the surging sea water, and said, “So you can compose poetry—how… moist.”

As dusk deepened, they gazed at the winding stone path, sighed, and began their ascent.

This was the only way to reach Northern Sea Academy—unless one could fly, of course.

The journey was rough, but Hang Ri was familiar with the path, so their travel was uneventful.

Along the way, Xu Xing feasted his eyes on scenery as beautiful as jade, marveling at the wonders of the world, declaring this land peerless in mountain and water.

Hang Ri, generous for once, produced a fine wine he rarely allowed himself to drink.

They sipped wine, hummed tunes, enjoyed the sea breeze, and gazed at the stars and ocean in leisurely contentment.

Time passed quietly, and the moon hung high in the night sky, dominating most of the heavens. Only then did the two reach the mountain’s midsection.

Arriving at the waist of the mountain, the upward path ended, and a vast, plain-like area separated the ascent from the base. Some unknown force had cleaved the mountaintop from below, forming a living gully between them.

Hang Ri set down his wine jug, licked the froth from his lips, and looked at Xu Xing, speaking solemnly: “You see, the mountain’s waist forms a boundary. Legend has it a youth, seeking his beloved, split Mount Shu in two with a single stroke—creating what you see now. The upper mountain floats in the air, reserved for those who’ve achieved the Golden Core realm; only then may they enter. The lower mountain is where we reside.”

Looking up, the floating upper mountain seemed to radiate the oppressive power of that legendary youth, almost suffocating Xu Xing.

Perhaps emboldened by the wine, Hang Ri grumbled, “Everyone yearns for the upper mountain, making cultivation level so crucial.”

“This cultivation—when you haven’t broken through, you long to; once you do, you become insatiable, always wanting more power.”

They chatted as the path beneath their feet widened.

Looking ahead, the road became smooth, leading onto a flat plain. Hang Ri explained that Mount Shu had existed since ancient times; its waist formed a circle with a radius of thirty miles.

The path was easy, and after about ten minutes, they saw a giant plaque floating in midair, shrouded in ethereal mist. Faintly, the characters ‘Northern Sea Academy’ were visible.

Moving forward, they saw a wooden gate, spinning in the air, with a woman standing beneath it. Though night had fallen, someone still guarded the entrance.

By the dim moonlight, Xu Xing could barely discern her: she wore a long blue gown and held a white fan, standing motionless.

The sea breeze stirred, raising dust and fluttering her gown, revealing a slender, jade-like leg.

Squinting, Xu Xing took a long drink, savoring the wine. “Excellent wine. But why is this woman wearing fishnet stockings? Her dress is so sheer and light.”

“Fishnet stockings? That’s a high-grade Black Fiend armor, ranked Yellow. What are you talking about—fishnet stockings? How odd,” Hang Ri replied.

“And since it's your first time here, a designated person will receive you. Let me warn you: don’t get clever with the one who welcomes you, or you’ll meet a miserable end… Just behave yourself,” Hang Ri’s words grew hesitant and agitated.

The woman seemed to notice them, casting a glance before turning away.

Hang Ri turned to Xu Xing and said, “Mind your tongue. That’s Zi Yan. Don’t say anything about sunlight rising from incense burners and Zi Yan.”

Hearing this, Xu Xing stood petrified, as if turned to stone, his mind racing: This woman is Zi Yan! Could it be that all the poetry I learned had such meanings? What about ‘the sea sun is born from broken night, river spring enters the old year’? Who is Broken Night? Who is River Spring? Who is Old Year?

Xu Xing pondered inwardly.

“Zi Yan, junior sister, what luck to see you here!” Hang Ri called out excitedly under the moon.

The woman looked over, her gaze calm and emotionless, appearing cold and elegant.

Hang Ri pulled Xu Xing along, hurried to her side, straightened his clothes, smoothed his hair, exhaled softly, and smiled: “Zi Yan, you must be waiting here for me. It must have been a long wait—much appreciated.”

“No, senior brother, please go inside,” she replied coldly.

“What’s wrong? You seem like a different person.”

As Xu Xing and Hang Ri stepped through the floating wooden gate, the plaque above them blazed with brilliant golden light, illuminating the night like day. From afar, the place shone with splendor.

Hang Ri observed the phenomenon with composure; for him, Xu Xing’s arrival had caused stranger events before—this was tolerable.

Zi Yan, on the other hand, was visibly surprised, her expression shifting, tongue flicking out slightly. She looked expectantly at Xu Xing, then with joy.

She touched the pouch at her waist, retrieved a pen, and looked at Xu Xing with lively interest. “Are you new? Show me your invitation.”

Xu Xing nodded, took the envelope from his pocket, and handed it to the ‘fishnet-armored’ Zi Yan.

After reading, Zi Yan tapped the envelope with her graceful fingers, and the characters emerged, floating in the air, coalescing into a single large word: Shu.

Hang Ri remained calm at the sight of the sacred, imposing character.

Compared to Xu Xing, whose cultivation had reached the peak of Qi Refinement but lacked a legendary weapon, yet could match Hang Ri at his prime and had earned the approval of monster hunters, this ‘Shu’ character seemed rather ordinary.

Perhaps it was fate. Hang Ri drank, reflecting inwardly, and gazed at Zi Yan, thinking: Such a beauty, to possess her is the fortune of youth.