Both of them led their horses along the way. Along the way, they saw more and more people, all of whom were rushing to Spiritual Mountain to participate in the ceremony. Along the way, they also saw many stalls and shops with many passersby taking a break.
Li Chengfeng noticed that these stalls and shops all had a small flag hanging at their entrances. It was an equilateral triangle at the top and a rectangle at the bottom. The rectangle was divided into four squares and each square had an image. From left to right, from top to bottom, they were a sword, a cauldron, a hairpin and a book.
The triangular flag above had a misty mountain peak drawn on it. The peak was faintly discernible amidst the clouds and mist.
Li Chengfeng ordered two cups of tea from a tea stall and asked the owner. The owner smiled. "You may not know this but all shops at the foot of Spiritual Mountain have to hang the Spiritual Mountain Sect's flag. If you don't, you'll be in big trouble."
He asked, "What's the problem?"
The owner hesitated, then whispered, "We can't even do business!"
Li Chengfeng wanted to ask more but the innkeeper turned away fearfully. He turned to Yuehan, who was sipping her tea, and whispered, "Looks like these cultivation sects are no different from the martial arts sects in the pugilistic world."
Yuehan said, "There's a difference."
"Oh?
What's the difference? "
Yuehan said, "Fiercer, more greedy!"
Li Chengfeng clapped and laughed. "That makes sense!"
They rested for a while, then led their horses up the mountain. After another hour, they arrived at the foot of the Spiritual Mountain Sect.
At this time, at the foot of the Spiritual Mountain Sect, there was a street lined with shops, taverns, and restaurants. The entrances and backyards of each inn and restaurant were filled with all kinds of horse carriages and horses. Candidates who were about to participate in the selection and their families could be seen everywhere.
Among them, there were some young and vigorous people who patted their chests and bet that they would definitely be chosen, some hugged their families and cried bitterly, some anxiously prayed to the heavens, some pretended to be profound, drinking and singing by themselves, and there were also many merchants who shouted loudly. For a moment, on the streets, in the taverns, and in the inns, there were all kinds of people from the Boundless World, and it was extremely lively.
On the other side of the street was a quiet mountain path. Two cultivators who looked like stone statues stood in front of the path. They wore grey robes with three green stripes on their sleeves. Their hands were hidden in their sleeves and their eyes were slightly narrowed. If Li Chengfeng did not notice that they were quietly studying everyone here, he would have thought they were two stone statues.
Behind the two of them was a winding path that led up the mountain. Beside the steps was a stone block. It was no longer as majestic as the previous boundary marker. Instead, it was short and crooked, with two crooked words carved on it: Spirit Mountain.
The two words were illegible like a child's graffiti.
Li Chengfeng smiled at Yuehan. "The furthest boundary marker of the Spiritual Mountain Sect is so majestic. I didn't expect the one at the foot of the mountain to be as inconspicuous as a rock in the field."
"How dare you!"
One of the cultivators at the foot of the steps suddenly scolded coldly. "This was carved by the founder of the Spiritual Mountain Sect when he was drunk one night!
Don't be rude! "
Li Chengfeng's smile faded and he said respectfully, "I was rude.
Senior Brother, may I ask if this is the way up the mountain? "
The cultivator glanced at Li Chengfeng. "You can call me Senior Brother when you enter Spiritual Mountain's gates!
This is the way, go up. "
Li Chengfeng thanked him and winked at Yuehan. They were about to go up when the cultivator stopped them. "Sigh, we can't bring our horses up."
Li Chengfeng was shocked. "Then what about our horses?"
The cultivator gestured to the side of the street. "Go find an inn and leave it there. You can bring your luggage with you."
Li Chengfeng had no choice but to return to the street with Yuehan. However, they had only taken a few steps when they suddenly saw a silhouette colliding into Li Chengfeng.
Li Chengfeng had trained in martial arts for many years and his body had developed reflexes. He instinctively dodged and the person brushed past him, falling to the ground with a thud.
The man immediately rolled a few times on the ground, and then shouted loudly, "Ouch, I'm going to die from the collision!
It hurts, it hurts! "
In the blink of an eye, a short man appeared out of nowhere. With a wretched look on his face, he threw himself in front of the man and shouted, "Brother, brother!
Are you alright?! "
The person clutched his chest, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "My … my chest hurts, I'm afraid I'm not going to make it!"
The short man immediately turned to Li Chengfeng and cried, "You hurt my brother! Tell me, what should we do?!"
Yuehan was tongue-tied, unable to snap out of her daze.
No, no, what … what's going on?
Why do I feel like this situation is a little familiar?
Could it be … a scam?
Everyone's eyes turned to look at them. The short man perked up and asked Li Chengfeng confidently, "Tell me, what should we do?"
Li Chengfeng looked concerned. "Don't worry, don't worry, I won't run, I can't run, there are so many people here!"
The short man heaved a sigh of relief and glared fiercely. "I'm telling you, if anything happens to my brother, I'll … I'll fight you to the death!"
Someone in the crowd jeered, "How dare you behave at the foot of the Spiritual Mountain? How arrogant!"
Most of the people here were candidates for the Spiritual Mountain Sect's grand ceremony. Although they weren't chosen, everyone subconsciously saw themselves as a future cultivator of the Spiritual Mountain Sect. They all had a strong sense of justice and immediately surrounded him, ready to gang up on him at the slightest disagreement.
Li Chengfeng said calmly, "Hey hey hey, everyone, please stay where you are, I didn't say I was going to run!"
The short man was indignant. "Then tell me, what should we do?!"
Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's hurt so badly, what should we do?
Pay up! "
Someone immediately agreed, "Yes, pay up, pay up!"
The short man added, "My brother's hurt so badly, pay up!
He has to pay at least a thousand silvers! "
The crowd was in an uproar. Someone seemed to realise something and said, "A thousand silvers?
Isn't that too expensive? "
"This is … extortion?"
"Someone dares to scam at the foot of the Spiritual Mountain Sect?"
"Heh, I've learned something new today!
How dare someone do this on the Spiritual Mountain Sect's grounds? "
Li Chengfeng's jaw dropped. Oh my god!
This was a scam!
Even if he killed Li Chengfeng, he would never have thought that someone would blatantly scam at the foot of the Spiritual Mountain, the third most powerful sect in the world!
Li Chengfeng laughed angrily. How dare you scam in front of your young master?
Are you trying to show off in front of the Celestial Emperor or recite the scriptures in front of a saint?
These are all leftovers from your young master's play!
Now you're trying to scam me!
Is there any justice?
Is there any law?!
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