Chapter Twelve: Leaping the Dragon Gate

Longmen Mountain, located to the north of the Tai Xuan Sect, nestled among a maze of peaks.

The resurgence of Longmen was a true momentous event for the Tai Xuan Sect. At the command of the Holy Maiden, from the outer gates to the inner sanctum, from disciples to elders, tens of thousands rushed to Longmen Mountain without hesitation.

“Brother Hao, you’re incredible! You’ve even drawn the Holy Maiden to back you up. Now, no one in the Tai Xuan Sect dares to lay a finger on you.”

Huang Liang was brimming with excitement. “I’ve noticed many people’s eyes have changed when they look at you. If you can ascend Longmen, you’ll be the only hope left for our Tai Xuan Sect.”

Walking along the path to Longmen Mountain, Lin Hao finally exhaled deeply.

He was bold and decisive in battle, yet not reckless. He dared to make a move within the Tai Xuan Sect because he had his reliance.

That reliance was Longmen. His actions simply showcased his innate talent. He refused to believe everyone in Tai Xuan Sect was against him, that all were scheming to climb the social ladder through him.

In this world, everything had multiple facets, and so did people. Where there are people, there is the underworld; where there is the underworld, there is conflict; where there is conflict, there are stances.

Different people, different stances—he was gambling.

Ren Baichuan’s intervention and the Holy Maiden’s decision both proved his gamble was right.

Before Longmen Mountain stretched a vast plaza, capable of holding tens of thousands.

It seemed no one had come here for a long time; the plaza was covered with mountain dust and yellow leaves, casting a desolate air.

At the forefront stood a mountain, at its base to its summit were ninety-nine stone steps. At the peak was a towering, majestic stone gate, nine zhang tall, its surface crystal clear. Even from afar, one could feel an invisible pressure emanating from it.

The plaza was packed with people, buzzing with discussion.

Lin Hao became the center of attention; all eyes fixed on him, their expressions varied—confusion, surprise, anger, murderous intent, but mostly hope.

Led by the Holy Maiden, hundreds of elders at the Transformation Realm gathered. The resurgence of Longmen was indeed a major event for the Tai Xuan Sect.

Lin Hao had reached the foot of the mountain. His gaze was sharp as he looked up at Longmen, densely carved with countless names.

Those were the prodigies. To have one’s name etched on Longmen was every young person’s dream and pride.

Starting from the first zhang and ascending, the names thinned out with each height. By the ninth zhang, there were only four names, one of which stood out prominently. It stood alone in the middle of the ninth zhang, distanced clearly from the others, like a dazzling star that blinded onlookers.

That name was: Lin Han!

Crack! Lin Hao’s fists clenched involuntarily, a flood of emotions surging within.

His mother’s frailty and sorrow on her deathbed, her eyes as desolate as a setting sun, had always been sealed like a blade in his heart.

That unknown younger brother, that martial clan with deep roots, and the Marquis of the Nation who shook the Great Xia—all were wounds to him and his mother.

“If you see me as a disgrace and want my life, then I will use this life to fight you.”

Lin Hao’s black hair flowed wildly in the wind like a dormant beast about to awake.

A broad hand fell on his shoulder, pulling his thoughts back.

He turned to see a serene smile and quickly cupped his fists in salute. “Elder Ren.”

“Are you ready?” Ren Baichuan asked, knowing Lin Hao’s identity and thus understanding the cause of his earlier reaction.

Not only Ren Baichuan but the entire Great Xia was now talking about the abandoned son of the Marquis.

“Yes.”

Lin Hao nodded firmly.

“Do you know what Longmen is? Why so many cannot even reach the first zhang of Longmen?”

Ren Baichuan asked.

“Please enlighten me, Elder.”

Lin Hao held great respect for the old man before him. He was a man whose mindset transcended the mundane. Without his help earlier, Lin Hao might have already died at the hands of Li Qingchuan and his son.

“Longmen is an extraordinarily special stone,” Ren Baichuan explained. “There are 120 Longmen stones throughout Great Xia—each of the 108 sects has one, and the rest are in the imperial capital, controlled by martial clans and the royal family.”

“Longmen naturally exists, blessed by the Heavenly Dao, emitting a powerful magnetic field. In Great Xia, Longmen is the sole standard for testing talent. Its magnetic field generates intense gravity. The higher you ascend, the stronger the gravity becomes. Those who leap Longmen cannot manipulate their true qi and must rely solely on their innate potential to push their limits.”

“See those ninety-nine stone steps? They are merely the path to Longmen. The steps themselves are affected by Longmen’s magnetic field and bear immense gravitational force. Once someone steps on them, the gravity manifests. For most, reaching the ninety-nine steps and leaving their name in the first zhang region is already commendable.”

“No one from Tai Xuan Sect has ascended in three years, but I believe you can.”

Ren Baichuan spoke earnestly, carefully explaining Longmen to Lin Hao.

Suddenly enlightened, Lin Hao truly understood what Longmen was.

Previously, he had only heard a rough idea from Huang Liang.

He looked up at Longmen once more, stepping forward with unwavering determination, directly onto the stone steps.

Boom…

An invisible pressure descended from Longmen onto Lin Hao’s body. As Ren Baichuan said, once stepping onto the steps, the test had begun.

Clack, clack, clack…

Every step Lin Hao took on the stone stairs echoed crisply. In the blink of an eye, he had leisurely reached the ninetieth step.

“Ninety already? He seems to be handling it easily.”

“He looks effortless. When I leapt Longmen, I collapsed at the seventieth step.”

“Do you think he can really ascend Longmen? If so, it would mean we have hope to participate in the Hundred Sects Tournament.”

As the disciples in the plaza started to stir, Ren Baichuan shouted, “Silence! No more talking.”

The old man’s attachment to Tai Xuan Sect ran deep. Born and living here, he truly considered it home. Lin Hao had become the sect’s last straw, and he would not allow anyone to disturb him.

Not only Ren Baichuan, but the Holy Maiden and many elders of the Transformation Realm were now tense, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on the young man climbing.

Standing on the ninetieth step, Lin Hao felt changes within himself.

“The pressure grows stronger, but the oppression from Longmen seems to have activated my Supreme Divine Veins. Seven veins are autonomously operating, precisely using Longmen’s gravity to temper my body.”

A thrill surged in Lin Hao’s heart. The pressure from Longmen was, unexpectedly, beneficial.

“Why is he not moving? Could he have reached his limit?”

Everyone was tense. Whether hoping for Lin Hao’s success or anticipating his failure, none could remain composed.

“Hmph! If you fail, death is inevitable,” Li Qingchuan sneered coldly in his heart.

“Brother Hao, keep going!”

Huang Liang clenched his fists, shouting encouragement silently. He was the most anxious of all. Lin Hao’s success meant not only his own survival but also Huang Liang’s life.

If Li Qingchuan wanted to kill Lin Hao, he would certainly not spare Huang Liang either.

Just as many thought Lin Hao had reached his limit, he made a move that stunned everyone.

Under a barrage of shocked gazes, Lin Hao paused, then, like an arrow loosed from a bow, he swiftly leapt over the remaining steps and arrived beneath the Longmen Gate itself.