Chapter 24: Guest from Afar

One month had passed since the beginning of Xu Mo's journey.

The entire sect was decorated, as today had been declared a holiday. The reason? The arrival of important guests for whom the sect had been meticulously preparing.

Inside the Sect Master's Hallway.

Inner Sect Elders stood in line, while the Sect Master, hands clasped behind his back, displayed a rare hint of nervousness. The Ancestor had yet to appear.

Boom!

Everyone became alert at the sudden explosion. Some flew outside to investigate, while others extended their divine sense. What they witnessed left their jaws hanging in sheer shock.

A lone figure floated in the sky, draped in a grey-colored gown, his hair and robes swaying lightly in the wind. Yet, despite his striking presence, he was momentarily ignored, as all eyes were fixed on the unfolding phenomenon above.

Xu Mo, who had been eating the food brought by a guard, was also alarmed.

Was the sect under attack?

That was his first thought. Unfortunately, he was unable to witness the historical moment that would be etched in the memories of these people for decades to come.

"Long Chen, I will be going into hibernation for as long as the guests remain. Remember, do not try to contact me." The soul within the ring on Long Chen's left hand left these instructions. Before Long Chen could fully grasp what was happening in the sky, his master's voice—laced with an uncharacteristic unease—made his anxiety spike.

Above the Hidden Dragon Sect, the very fabric of the sky had begun to crack.

Boom!

Another explosion rang out. But this time, as everyone's focus zeroed in on the disturbance, a singular thought emerged in their minds.

Why does it feel like someone is punching?

Many disciples practiced punching techniques, and similar sounds were often heard when they trained with wooden dummies. But never in their wildest dreams had they imagined they would witness a day when someone punched—not a training dummy, not a human, not the ground—but space itself.

And space, like a fragile piece of glass, cracked further. The fissures widened, until a gap large enough for a carriage of eight to pass through easily had formed.

Many lowered their gazes as the sunlight pouring through the tear became unbearable, yet they still tried to carve this moment into their hearts.

By now, all the elders had arrived, led by the Sect Master. A sigh of relief escaped him upon confirming the Ancestor's presence. Without hesitation, he used his movement technique, teleporting a short distance to appear behind the Ancestor before offering a respectful salute.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Ancestor!"

His voice rang loud enough to divert the disciples’ and elders’ attention towards him and the figure standing before him.

"What? Ancestor?!"

"Does our sect have someone even stronger than the Sect Master?"

"I thought the Sect Master was the strongest, yet even he bows before the Ancestor."

Long Bai also hurried forward and saluted.

The Ancestor ignored them.

"He is still as arrogant as he was in his youth," the Ancestor muttered before addressing the gathered sect members. "Everyone, prepare yourselves. The guests are about to arrive."

As if in response to his words, the cracks in the sky suddenly shattered apart, as though kicked open from the other side.

A strange scene unfolded. Despite it being daytime, a gaping black hole loomed above. Though it appeared as though the clouds were being swallowed, in reality, the hole existed far below their level.

The aura emanating from it sent shivers down the spines of many cultivators.

"What... is this?" Long Chen muttered, his features darkening under the overwhelming pressure.

Clip-Clop, Clip-Clop, Clip-Clop...

"Wait... Do you hear that? Doesn't it sound like horses galloping?"

"Hmm... yes. And not just one."

The elders, including Long Bai, tensed. The feeling radiating from the black hole was something even the Sect Master had never made them experience.

Even the smallest pebbles trembled from the reverberations of the approaching force.

The wait was over.

From the distant horizon, a grand procession emerged, moving with an almost surreal majesty. Four massive carriages advanced steadily, each drawn by creatures that vaguely resembled horses—if horses could tower over men like mountains and exude an aura that made the air itself tremble. Their obsidian-black hides shimmered faintly, their powerful frames rippling with unnatural strength as their hooves cracked the earth beneath them. These were no ordinary beasts; their mere presence sent waves of pressure through the gathered spectators.

Yet, it was the carriages themselves that truly stole the breath of all who watched. These were not mere transports but moving fortresses, their gleaming, otherworldly metals reflecting the dim sunlight in an eerie dance of light and shadow. Towering wheels, each as large as the gates of a sect, crushed the dirt path effortlessly, leaving behind deep, runic imprints.

Every inch of the carriages was a masterpiece. Strange, ancient symbols pulsed faintly across their surfaces, exuding a profound mystery. The wood—if it could even be called that—held the deep, rich hues of celestial iron, gleaming as if kissed by dragon fire. Engraved into their gilded frames were fierce yet elegant beasts, their eyes glowing with an eerie intelligence, as though alive.

Each deliberate movement of the procession resonated with the earth, an unseen force humming in harmony. The winds, once steady, now whispered in hushed reverence, as though the heavens themselves acknowledged the arrival of an entity beyond mortal reach.

[Where do we land?]

"Let's just head directly to the peak."

The Ancestor communicated with the entity inside the carriage and flew ahead. Behind him, the fleet of carriages followed. The Sect Master departed as well, leaving Long Bai in charge of handling the remaining affairs.

Wei Han, watching from the ground, remained lost in thought. He had tried interrogating Xu Mo, but the latter had only responded with cryptic words: "You'll know when the time is right."

"Could he be related to the Sect Master?" Wei Han wondered. After all, the ones targeting both Xu Mo and the girl were elders from the inner and outer sects.

Meanwhile, Xu Mo worried that something had happened to the sect. Limping towards the iron bars, he tried to shake off his unease. His recent Qi dissipation had deprived him of his sense of smell—an effect described in the technique he was cultivating. He had been systematically drawing out his Qi, and only when he lost all five senses—touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste—would he truly awaken.

Sense the hopelessness. Feel the world turn against you.

But Xu Mo refused to become an emotionless machine. He wanted to remain human. For the first time, he resisted the transformation the technique sought to impose on him. And in some strange way—

It was fun.