Chapter 56: Two Peaks

Within the dream paper lies the forested sea of the plateau; within the sea paper dwells the spirit of the abyss.

The Forested Sea of the Plateau is, in truth, only a name for a place—its real meaning refers to Twin Peaks.

The three people across from them called out “Peak Master,” which confirmed that Gu Yi had not misremembered what little Yiyi had once said.

"Gu Yi! Focus! Although it’s just two at the Meditative Realm, and one at the Heart Establishment Realm, I sense something very strange!"

The figures moved like ghosts, wielding spears with no discernible pattern. Their spiritual energy was both forceful and overwhelming, and it seemed as though the very spiritual power of this withered grassland was being slowly siphoned away by them.

"Kill the Xu people! Avenge the Peak Master!"

With a sudden shout, one of them gripped the long spear in both hands, and the spear instantly split into dozens of afterimages. Working in tandem with his companion, countless spears materialized above their heads, and the very wind swirling around them grew sharper from the spiritual energy.

The Seventh Princess stepped in front of Gu Yi. "You are wounded. Fall back for now. These three are formidable with their spears!"

Gu Yi, too, was startled. In truth, since leaving Little Yuan Mountain, he had encountered many adversaries, but none whose swordplay or techniques matched the sheer might of these two with their spears.

That was why the Seventh Princess wore such a grave expression.

"Kill!"

A downpour of spear-formed spiritual energy descended.

The Seventh Princess channeled her power outward, both palms generating a violet shield that barred the way.

The relentless clang of strikes battered the frail-looking young woman.

"I’ll attack!"

"Wait!" The Seventh Princess halted Gu Yi, a cautious look on her delicate face. "You are not to act recklessly. Stay behind me and do not move!"

Across from them, it was the woman at the Heart Establishment Realm who truly concerned her.

As she spoke, she unleashed the spiritual energy within her, spinning as her skirt flared, dissolving all the spear energy into nothingness. Then, leaping into the air, arms spread, she drew her sword and thrust downward as she landed.

The Seventh Princess had reached the Spirit Guard Realm, though her command over her power was still unrefined, as if she had only recently broken through.

Her sword energy cleaved forth with a thunderous crack, and soon she was locked in battle with the two strange opponents.

"Cross the spears!" the black-skinned woman, watching the fight, suddenly called out.

The Seventh Princess’s left palm was about to strike her foe’s back, but his companion blocked with a spear in the nick of time. Both were sent flying, coughing up black blood, but they were wounded.

Gu Yi watched, reminded of his own duel with Fan Ling that day.

Though the Seventh Princess lagged in swordsmanship, her cultivation was far superior, and after several exchanges, she naturally gained the upper hand.

Yet something felt amiss to her.

She retreated to Gu Yi’s side. "Something is wrong. Those two are only at the Meditative Realm—how can they wield such vast spiritual energy? The force behind their spears is monstrous, impossible for their realm."

"I know," Gu Yi replied, as if finding family. "They’re not using their own spiritual energy, but that of this grassland."

"What do you mean?"

"Who is your Peak Master?" Gu Yi shouted towards the enemy.

"A Xu person does not deserve to know! Attack!"

"Gu Yi, come here!" The Seventh Princess advanced, sword in hand, pulling Gu Yi behind her. "You are only at the Meditative Realm; you cannot withstand this. Don’t try to fight head-on."

"Face my sword!"

Suddenly, the dark-skinned woman sprang into action. "A Spirit Guard bullying two Meditative Realm kin—how shameless, Xu people!"

From her waist, she drew a curved blade. At her command, the grassland trembled, and dense spiritual energy surged onto her weapon.

Gu Yi frowned. This was what a true Heart Establishment Realm cultivator should be.

The Seventh Princess pressed her lips together, tracing patterns with her sword. Spiritual energy surged madly from her right hand, her sword’s power swelling severalfold.

With a thunderous clash, blade and sword collided.

For several tense seconds they dueled, until the Seventh Princess’s arm was grazed by wild energy, forcing a cry of pain from her lips. Overpowered by the mighty blade, she fell back dozens of paces, but fortunately, suffered no severe injury.

She gripped her right arm, crimson blood seeping from between her left fingers, the wound making her all the more irate. "Who are these people? I’ve never known of a neighboring nation with such attire on Xu’s borders."

Gu Yi, meanwhile, had a bold guess.

"They said three days ago their Peak Master was trapped and killed in Luyang. As a princess, do you know of any such action there?"

The Seventh Princess shook her head. "Luyang has had no such operation."

"Lies! Xu people are shameless and glib! The Peak Master went alone to Luyang to block the Xu Emperor, who dared not face him directly, but instead besieged him with soldiers. The world already knows this!"

Gu Yi began to understand.

"If I’m not mistaken, these three are people of Twin Peaks from three hundred years ago."

Twin Peaks was the name of a sect, often mentioned by little Yiyi.

The Seventh Princess was amazed. "Three hundred years ago? Twin Peaks? What does that mean?"

"Enough muttering! The Peak Master is dead—today, you two Xu people will pay with your lives!"

The withered grassland stirred over a wider area, yellowish spiritual energy rising visibly.

"What technique is this?" the Seventh Princess complained through her pain, but pressed forward, sword in hand. "Gu Yi, get out of the way!"

With a stomp, Gu Yi suddenly erupted with spiritual light, and in an instant, the surging yellow energy stopped abruptly, then veered to gather around him.

He, too, could borrow the power of heaven and earth—and more sensitively than others.

The three opponents halted as one. "You are of Twin Peaks?!"

"In a sense," Gu Yi replied, "that’s correct."

"But she’s not—I heard you just now. She’s a princess!" The dark-skinned woman pointed at the Seventh Princess, her killing intent immense. "She is a princess of Xu. I must kill her today to honor the Peak Master!"

"Gu Yi... you..." The Seventh Princess was not afraid, for she still had the strength to fight. "You are from Twin Peaks? What exactly is Twin Peaks?"

"It was the strongest sect three hundred years ago."

Yet, he felt little attachment to that era—Xu felt more real and tangible to him.

But if asked about his origins, he could indeed claim Twin Peaks as his master’s lineage.

"Explain yourself! What do you mean, three hundred years ago?" the black-skinned woman demanded.

"The answer means nothing to you, for perhaps you no longer belong to this world. The feud between Twin Peaks and the Xu Emperor has nothing to do with this princess, nor with me. Let us go."

"No! That is not enough for us to spare her!"

Gu Yi slowly moved in front of the wounded Seventh Princess. She could still fight, but her injury would worsen.

"I like her. Is that reason enough?"

The Seventh Princess’s heart skipped a beat, shyness glimmering in her eyes as she struggled to believe what she heard. What... what was he saying at a time like this?

And yet, it worked.

"Do you truly like her, or are you merely invoking the sect’s rules to buy time?" The dark-skinned woman did not lower her weapon.

"I am sincere. I am willing to stake my life here against the three of you for her, and I will not retreat."

The Seventh Princess’s face softened, and she dropped her gaze, abashed.

"She is a princess of Xu—I won’t accept words alone. You must prove it!"

With a hum, Gu Yi raised his hand to the heavens. Spiritual energy thundered forth, the grass quivering, the trees swaying, the wind shifting. A rainbow of energies converged in that moment.

"I have already said, I am willing to fight for her until my strength is spent and my life is forfeit!"

A battle spirit rose and hovered over the land, over the grassland.

The agitation of spiritual power seemed poised to trigger a great conflict at any moment.

Sensing the warlike intent, the three adversaries slowly lowered their weapons.

Clap!

"In that case..." They struck their chests and bowed low. "Genius of Twin Peaks, if you wish, then take the Princess of Xu as your own!"

Gu Yi suddenly recalled what little Yiyi had once cried: "Predecessors of Twin Peaks, please believe in me—I will pass down the bark of Twin Peaks."

The three bowed joyfully. "Twin Peaks, Little Window Peak!"

"Twin Peaks, Little Window..." Gu Yi meant to imitate their gesture, but just then a sudden gust blew by, and all three vanished without a trace.

The Seventh Princess turned again and again, searching, but found not a sign.

Gu Yi stood dazed for a moment, then lowered his eyes and finished the bowing salute he had begun. "Twin Peaks, Little Window Peak."