The canopy of trees started to grow thinner as they started exiting the Forest of Remorse. Now, they could see huge divine mountains that seemed to pierce through the heavens. Darkness eroded the mountains and murky clouds covered the peaks as lightning rained down everywhere.
"We're almost there now. Stick close and prepare to engage against any danger!" Aunt Fang commanded the rest of the group.
'This turbulence must've been caused by the recent mysterious realm that was found', she thought to herself.
'So that's the Tianshan mountains', Tang Lin thought.
Cold winds blew across their bodies as they crossed the border between the Forest of Remorse and Tianshan mountains. Due to the dense clouds in the sky, barely any sunlight could reach the base of the mountains.
*Achoo*
Despite his physique being stronger than the past, the biting cold was relentless.
"Cover yourself in qi", Fang Yue reminded next to him.
Starting to circulate his qi, he could feel his body rejuvenated and warmth encompassing every inch on his body.
"Phew, I feel much better now", he said.
"Prepare to trek the mountain! The other participants should have already arrived, since we were delayed", Aunt Fang yelled.
As they climbed up the mountain, a purple ominous light could now be seen fluctuating violently. The mysterious realm's energy was slowly seeping outwards as Tang Lin felt like his spirit strained from the pressure. Although, his crimson energy somehow repelled this force soon after, which made it easier for him to breathe.
***
At the top of the mountain, people were gathering.
"Is the Fang clan still not here yet? The mysterious realm is about to open", someone asked with a slight disapproval.
He was the young master of the Yan clan, Yan Xue and was a genius on par with Fang Yue. With short dark-green hair, he stood out among the crowd in an aloof manner.
'Luckily, the Ye clan aren't contesting the treasures within this mysterious realm. They're already far too powerful as the overlord of the Dongshan Yu province', thought Yan Zhong, the elder who was supervising the Ye clan's current expedition team.
"What are you talking about? We're here now", Fang Rong replied as she pulled herself up.
Meanwhile...
'Ah, I shouldn't be looking, but I want to keep looking', thought Tang Lin as blood drizzled down his nose.
He was looking up at Fang Yue's rear as they climbed up, trying to stop himself from grinning.
'Shit, even I think that I'm acting like a pervert', he thought.
"Tang Lin, we're here now", she said as she reached out her hand to pull him up.
"I didn't see anything", he gasped as he wiped his nose, afraid that he had been caught.
"What are you talking about? We've arrived at the summit of the mountain, where the mysterious realm is now", she replied with one eyebrow raised.
"You can go to the Xu family now. They're already here", Aunt Fang ordered him.
It was obvious that she didn't like him and the only thing that protected him was Fang Yue's curiosity in him.
"Xu Yi, we've found one of your servants lost in the Forest of Remorse on our way here" she says, pointing at Tang Lin.
Elder Xu Yi didn't respond as he listened to Xu Ming, who had noticed Tang Lin, speak up.
"Huh? So, you're not dead yet. You must've gotten lucky and saved by the Fang clan", Xu Ming said in an arrogant tone.
"What are you talking about? Isn't he a part of the Xu family's servants?" asked Aunt Fang.
"Yes, but do you think he's even worthy to serve our Xu family? We don't need him anyway, he's a cripple with no qi or physical strength, due to his constitution. All he had was his beautiful mother, but even that couldn't save him from his demise", he replied mockingly.
'Huh, but didn't he use qi on his way here with us', Aunt Fang thought to herself.
"Lies! I saw with my own eyes that he's not weak-..." Fang Yue protested.
"You may enter now!" interrupted a loud voice.
It seemed like it was the guardian spirit overseeing the trials within the ancient inheritance's realm. The sealed rift in space slowly enlarged as people started flooding in..
"Hmph, you'll see soon enough how worthless he is", Xu Ming responded as he entered the realm with the other servants and his brother, who ignored their quarrel.
'Tsk, just wait and see my ass. I'm going to fuck up all of you and your brother's opportunities in this ancient inheritance', thought Tang Lin, who had managed to keep himself calm, despite Xu Ming's provocations.