Outside, as the boys walked away from the Supreme Elder's chamber, a strange chill ran down Dao Wei's spine. He stopped, glancing over his shoulder at the darkened hall. It was empty, yet the feeling of being watched lingered.
He shook his head, brushing it off as residual anger over the elder's reprimand. But as he made his way toward the Ghost Peak, that ominous feeling refused to leave him.
"Detention, huh?" he muttered to himself, gazing up at the foreboding peak looming in the distance. Let them think I'll just sit there quietly.
Under the burning midday sun, Dao Wei stood by the path leading to Ghost Peak, his arms crossed and a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Lu Shen moved with such a casual grace, his green robes billowing with each step. Beside him was Wei Jun standing with his grin wide and unapologetic. His eyes sparkled with the same reckless mischief that had led to their current predicament.
"Second brother," Wei Jun greeted, clapping a heavy hand on his shoulder, "how does it feel to be 'officially' punished for our 'unofficial' fun?"
Dao We chuckled, rolling his eyes. "What did I expect? 'That' Elder Ji and his lot seem to always have it out for me. The others barely got a slap on the wrist, and here I am, being sent to the inferno beneath the Ghost Peak."
"Hehe, Ghost Peak!" Lu Shen drawled with mock reverence. "A fitting place for a 'menace' like you, don't you think?" He grinned. "Though, I'd argue this whole thing is nonsense."
"Typical," Wei Jun muttered, crossing his arms. "They're scared of what he could become if they didn't keep throwing obstacles in our way. The Grand Elders think they can control us."
"Control… control who?" Dao Wei scoffed, looking toward the shadow of the Ghost Peak towering in the distance. "They can try. Anyway, let's see if they're willing to come down there themselves to enforce it."
Lu Shen raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "Well, second brother, since they're so desperate to make you suffer, we are definitely joining you. They might've sentenced you alone, but that doesn't mean we can't make this little... 'punishment' into something more entertaining."
Dao Wei smirked, nudging him with his elbow. "So, you two really don't care about what those stuffy old men think, huh?"
"Please," Wei Jun scoffed. "The Grand Elders would faint if they ever caught a glimpse of us 'actually' serious. We're here to make sure they know their intimidation doesn't work on us—or on you, second brother."
Lu Shen gave a dramatic sigh, feigning disappointment. "If they think a couple of days at the Ghost Peak is enough to break the Sword Childe, they're underestimating us 'greatly.'"
Dao Wei gave a lazy nod, but curiosity flickered in his eyes as he glanced at the treacherous landscape ahead. "So what's the real story of this place? You two have trained here before?"
Wei Jun scratched his chin, looking up at the shadowed, jagged cliffs. "Ghost Peak… now that's a place with a 'history.' This isn't just any mountain, second brother."
"Brutal," Lu Shen added with a grin. "Some say it was once a realm of the divine—back when even the skies bowed to the Immortal Kings. The peak is cursed with ancient wrath, the kind that seeps into every crack and crevice. You'll feel it the moment you step inside."
Dao Wei's eyebrows arched, intrigued. "Wrath of the Immortal Kings, you say?"
"Precisely," said Wei Jun, gesturing toward the peak. "The peak isn't merely a mountain; it's alive with memories of old battles, old grudges. Underneath flows a river of molten lava, they call it the River of Undying Flame. They say it burns hotter than dragon's breath, and the heat alone is enough to push one to madness."
Lu Shen nodded solemnly. "That's just the first level."
"The 'first' level?" Dao Wei's expression darkened with excitement. "What's beyond it, then?"
"Ah, second brother," Wei Jun said, winking. "You think the Grand Elders would tell you that?" He looked over at Lu Shen, who chuckled before continuing.
"Legend says there are ten layers beneath the Ghost Peak," Lu Shen explained, his voice dropping low. "Each one fiercer, more unforgiving than the last. But only the most reckless ever venture past the first layer. The farthest anyone's ever gone is the fourth. They say every step deeper is like walking into the flames of the ancient gods themselves."
Dao Wei gave a low whistle, but his eyes gleamed with challenge. "And what's supposed to happen if someone reaches the tenth layer?"
Wei Jun grinned, his eyes gleaming. "Those who reach the final level, if they survive, forge what the ancient masters called a 'God Body.' One that rivals steel, impervious to flames or frost. But the price…" He smirked. "Well, let's just say most who go too deep don't come back. Not as themselves, anyway."
"Even the strongest cultivators have been driven mad by the peak's torment," Lu Shen added with a conspiratorial grin. "The deeper you go, the more it… changes you. Tests you. It pulls your darkest thoughts to the surface."
A God's Body was known as the unbreakable body. This was because to form one, one needed to break the old one while being refined by the Undying Flames—a feat not even the gods were willing to endure.
Wei Jun laughed, nudging Dao Wei. "What do you say, second brother? Think a 'detention' assignment is enough to send you crying back to the council?"
Dao Wei snorted, clenching his fists. "If the Grand Elders think a little heat and a river of fire will make me yield, they're as foolish as they are arrogant."
Wei Jun raised his fist in agreement. "Exactly. Let's show them that 'we' are the true descendants of the Nine Realms, not some council of ancient fools afraid of shadows."
Lu Shen nodded, smirking. "So, second brother, do we press on? Or are you getting nervous?"
Dao Wei returned their teasing with a smirk of his own, cracking his knuckles. "If we're here, we're going all in. The Ghost Peak might not know it yet, but it's about to be taught a lesson it'll never forget."
With shared, defiant grins, the three brothers turned toward the path leading to the Ghost Peak. The sun beat down on them, but even its intense heat was nothing compared to the challenge that awaited them beneath the cursed mountain. And with every step they took, the ominous heat seemed to grow, as if the Ghost Peak itself was watching, waiting to see if these reckless young men were truly worthy of its secrets.
The path to the Ghost Peak wound through a twisted forest of withered trees, their gnarled branches stretched out like skeletal hands against a sky tinged with dark clouds. The air grew thicker with each step the brothers took, and a strange stillness settled around them. Even the wind seemed to fear this place, moving in hushed, uneasy whispers.
As they neared the base of the mountain, the full form of the Ghost Peak came into view. It towered over them, an ancient monolith jutting up from the earth like a dark spear piercing the heavens. Jagged cliffs and rough-hewn stone gave the mountain a severe, almost malicious appearance, as if it held grudges from centuries past and was unwilling to release them. Shadows clung to every crevice, shifting as though alive, and a faint, ominous glow pulsed from deep within, hinting at the lava river flowing far below the surface.
The very air seemed charged with an oppressive energy that weighed down on their shoulders, each step feeling heavier than the last. It was more than just gravity—it was as if the mountain itself radiated an invisible force, pressing down on them, testing their resolve before they even set foot inside.
"Feel that?" Lu Shen whispered, his usual bravado replaced by an awe he couldn't quite hide.
"It's like the mountain's alive," Wei Jun muttered, his voice low, almost reverent. "Like it's watching us."
Ahead of them, the entrance to the Ghost Peak yawned open like the mouth of some ancient beast, jagged rocks framing the cave in a way that resembled fangs. A chill ran down Dao Wei's spine as he looked into the dark, seemingly endless tunnel. Faint flickers of red light pulsed from deeper within, casting eerie, shifting shadows that seemed to move on their own. He could feel the intense heat radiating from the ground itself, creeping up through his boots and making the air around him shimmer.
Around the entrance, strange symbols were carved into the stone, remnants of ancient runes from a language long forgotten. They twisted and turned in unnatural shapes, each stroke rough and aggressive, as if etched by a hand in great pain or anger. Their meaning was lost to time, but their power lingered, adding to the foreboding energy of the place.
The brothers stepped closer, and the air grew thick with the scent of sulfur, mixed with an acrid bitterness that clawed at their throats. It was a harsh, almost toxic smell, as if the mountain itself was exhaling its hatred of intruders.
A faint rumbling sound echoed from deep within the mountain, steady and ominous. It wasn't loud, but it resonated through the ground, vibrating up through their feet and into their bones. It was like the heartbeat of some ancient creature, slow and unyielding.
Wei Jun glanced at Dao Wei, a nervous smirk tugging at his lips. "I wonder if the Grand Elders have ever actually been here. Seems a bit intense for something they consider 'punishment.'"
Dao Wei said nothing, his eyes fixed on the entrance. The oppressive force seemed to push against him, testing his will. Yet he felt a strange thrill as he looked into the darkness, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
"Once we step inside, the layers will begin," Lu Shen murmured, his voice serious. "The first layer is mostly heat, a precursor. But each layer gets harsher. The fourth… well, if the stories are true, it's enough to break even seasoned cultivators."
Dao Wei smirked, masking his apprehension. "Then we'll give it something new to remember."
As they crossed the threshold, the world seemed to shift. The shadows thickened, the flickering red light deepened, and the air grew almost unbearable. The force pressing down on them intensified, and the sound of bubbling lava echoed up from the depths. It was as though they had entered a different realm entirely, a world of darkness and heat, ruled by the mountain's ancient wrath.
Dao Wei felt the air tugging at his very spirit, challenging him to prove his strength. This was no ordinary place, he realized—it was an arena, a crucible designed to test the worthiest of souls. And for the first time, he understood why so few dared to enter.