Martial Peak - Rise Of The Human Emperor-Chapter 70: The Gates to the Unknown

The ruckus had reached a fever pitch. A sea of cultivators surged forward like a tidal wave, their voices buzzing in anticipation. Yet, their advance was halted—not by terrain or fear, but by the firm blockade of the three great sects.

Encircling the Bloody Battle Gang's mining zone in a perfect three-kilometer radius, the disciples and elders from High Heaven Pavilion, Storm House, and the Bloody Battle Gang stood like an immovable wall. They didn't speak, but their presence alone was enough to send a clear message: none shall pass.

Yang Kai blended quietly into the stream of onlookers. His steps were steady, his demeanor calm, but beneath that serenity, his heart pulsed with excitement.

When he lifted his eyes toward the center of the encirclement, he spotted five familiar figures—Elders of the High Heaven Pavilion. Their faces were flushed, not from heat, but from a heated argument. They were engaged in a tense standoff with representatives from the other two factions.

Among them, a tall, broad-shouldered man exuded wild excitement. That was Hu Man, the aggressive representative of the Bloody Battle Gang. In contrast, a scholarly figure stood beside him, emanating a peaceful aura—Xiao Ruohan, the Master of Storm House, trying desperately to de-escalate the tension.

Snippets of whispered conversations floated through the crowd.

"That tall brute is Hu Man from the Bloody Battle Gang..."

"And the calm guy next to him is Xiao Ruohan from Storm House. They're all gathered here for the same thing."

"What's even going on?"

"Haven't you heard? The Heaven's Cave Inheritance has been found right here!"

Someone gasped audibly. "The Heaven's Cave Inheritance? What's that?"

Yang Kai's ears perked up. But he wasn't alone—every cultivator nearby sharpened their attention.

A middle-aged man with gleaming eyes and a smug expression began explaining, clearly enjoying the spotlight.

"The Heaven's Cave Inheritance is a legendary site left behind by a supreme expert before they passed. It's said to contain divine treasures, ancient pills, cultivation methods lost to time... and possibly even their life's legacy!"

Gasps and murmurs surged like a wave through the crowd. The sheer mention of such a thing ignited greed and ambition in every heart.

As the details spread, Yang Kai's mind spun in a different direction.

(So, this is how it begins...)

Though still new to this world, he was no stranger to these developments—not with the lifetime of cultivation novel knowledge he carried from his previous life. He'd read of secret realms, divine inheritances, power struggles... and how every great protagonist's journey took its next leap in such a scenario.

This... this was that moment for him.

He might not have deep roots in this world yet. He might not be the most powerful, or even the most noticed. But he knew enough. The Heaven's Cave Inheritance was not just a lucky opportunity—it was the turning point.

Suddenly, the gathered leaders began organizing their plans. The top three factions, now unable to ignore the lure of the inheritance, decided to each send one elite disciple to scout the cave.

From High Heaven Pavilion: Su Yan.

From Bloody Battle Gang: Long Jun.

From Storm House: Fang Ziji.

The three disappeared into the cave's mouth, tension thick in the air.

Hours passed, dragging into half a day before they returned. One by one, each disciple reported their findings to their sects. Their expressions were unreadable, their words cautious, and the results? Vague but promising.

Eventually, orders trickled down to the common disciples.

Yang Kai, still masked among the crowd, followed his fellow sectmates toward the pavilion elders. Among them, familiar faces popped up—Su Mu and Li Yuntian, waving him over.

"Yang Fellow Apprentice!" Su Mu called cheerfully.

Yang Kai nodded with a half-smile. "You came too, huh?"

"Of course! Something this big... who could miss it?" Su Mu grinned.

Li Yuntian leaned in, eyeing Yang Kai curiously. "You've been gone for 20 days. Where've you been?"

Yang Kai shrugged nonchalantly. "Had some personal matters to deal with. Oh, and thanks for sweeping up my log cabin while I was gone."

Su Mu blinked. "We cleaned the outside, sure... but we never stepped inside your place."

"Eh?" Yang Kai's brow furrowed. "Then... who cleaned it?"

Su Mu chuckled. "Don't look at me. Half these guys don't even fold their beds, let alone clean someone else's log cabin."

Before Yang Kai could ponder more, a thunderous voice silenced the chatter.

"Silence!"

Wei Xitong's presence was enough to quiet 2,000 disciples instantly. His sharp gaze swept across the sea of faces like a sword's edge.

"You all know why we're here," he began. "The Heaven's Cave Inheritance... a miracle this world hasn't seen in a thousand years. The Great Han Dynasty has never been blessed with one, and even we, the elders, have only heard of them in legends."

The old man's voice grew heavy with meaning.

"Such a place will hold countless treasures—rare pills, forgotten martial arts, profound techniques, weapons... and the most valuable of all, the inheritance of the cultivator who left it behind!"

The words ignited fire in every heart. Hope, greed, ambition—burning as one.

"But," Wei Xitong warned coldly, "the greater the opportunity, the greater the danger. Inside, you may die from traps, beasts, even your own sectmates."

The warning struck like a slap. Several disciples looked visibly shaken, their fiery resolve cooling rapidly.

Wei Xitong narrowed his eyes. "What? Are you scared now? Good. You should be. But if you don't take this chance, someone else will. Will you let that happen?"

A hush fell across the crowd—followed by growing whispers of determination.

"I won't miss this chance!" a disciple cried.

"Even if I die, I want to try!"

"We must go!"

Wei Xitong smiled grimly. "That's what I like to hear. Now then. All disciples over 30, step to the side!"

A third of the group shuffled aside.

"You cannot enter. The restrictions in the cave prevent those above 30 or in the Immortal Ascension Boundary from entering."

Cries of dismay echoed, but Wei Xitong remained unmoved.

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

Next, he pointed at another cluster. "Those below Initial Element Stage—step aside."

A smaller group complied, silently accepting their exclusion.

Only about 300 to 400 disciples now remained eligible.

"To those who stay—remember, this choice is yours. Once inside, we cannot guarantee your safety. If you die, no one will be blamed but yourself."

Even so, not one person left.

"Good. Now listen carefully. What we know is limited, but you must be prepared."

He explained: the cave was rich in World Energy—ideal for cultivation. But each disciple would be teleported to a different starting point. The only way out was through hidden exit points scattered inside. Miss those, and you might be trapped forever.

Finally, he said, "Because the Bloody Battle Gang found the cave, they will enter first—50 disciples. After six hours, our High Heaven Pavilion and Storm House will follow."

"But beware—they may not be your allies. The temptation of treasure can twist anyone's heart. You may find yourself stabbed in the back if you're not careful."

This final warning sent chills down many spines.

"However," Wei Xitong declared, "if you encounter fellow High Heaven Pavilion disciples inside, help one another! Survive together. Am I understood?"

"Yes!" came the thunderous reply.

"Then go. Meditate, prepare yourselves. When the time comes, we will begin."

Li Yuntian's face drooped in visible disappointment as he cast a jealous glance at Su Mu and Yang Kai. "Young Su, Yang Fellow Apprentice... I can't go in," he said with a long sigh. His voice carried the weight of regret.

Li Yuntian was at the ninth layer of the Tempered Body Stage—so close to qualifying, yet just barely missing the mark.

Su Mu smirked, clearly not planning to offer any comfort. "Who told you to be so lazy in your cultivation? You reap what you sow! Just look at Yang Fellow Apprentice. He's been working his tail off and now he's already at the peak of the Initial Element Stage!"

He turned to Yang Kai with curiosity lighting up his face. "Right, what level exactly are you at?"

Yang Kai calmly replied, "Peak."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Su Mu and Li Yuntian both blinked at him in disbelief, as if the words had knocked the air from their lungs.

"P-Peak of Initial Element? Already?!" Su Mu sputtered.

Li Yuntian's mouth opened slightly, but nothing came out. His eyes screamed monster! loud enough.

It took a moment before either of them recovered.

Su Mu exhaled deeply, shaking his head. "I have to cultivate harder... If this keeps up, I won't even be able to see your back anymore."

Meanwhile, Li Yuntian forced a wry smile. "Yang Fellow Apprentice, I won't bother you any longer. You'll probably need time to restore your energy before heading in."

He left quietly, clearly feeling the sting of falling behind.

Yang Kai nodded, then moved away from the chatter to find a quiet spot beneath a weathered boulder. Sitting down cross-legged, he let out a slow breath, calming his thoughts.

He closed his eyes and began adjusting his breathing, gathering the ambient World Energy around him to stabilize and refine his strength.

At the peak of the Initial Element Stage, he was ready.

The beginning of something bigger. More dangerous. More rewarding.

He clenched his fists, a faint smile curving on his lips.