Chapter 287 The Mysterious Shadow

The culture here was indeed quite profound, yet it gave Ethan an indescribable feeling. The closer they got to Misty Ridge, the stronger this feeling became, much like when he had faced Phoenix before.

"By the way, Misty Ridge is so vast. How do we know where Phoenix is?" Sarah thought of a crucial question and reminded Ethan.

"I already asked Carlos before we came. Phoenix practices alone in a small wooden hut at the top of Mystic Peak," Ethan explained to Chloe and Sarah, pointing to a towering peak ahead.

"Alone? With his status, doesn't he have any disciples to accompany him?" Chloe asked.

"I don't know. To find Phoenix, we need to climb to the top of Mystic Peak," Ethan said, though he knew that finding Phoenix wouldn't be as easy.

However, Ethan wasn't worried about returning empty-handed. Since Phoenix had invited Ethan to Misty Ridge, he wouldn't refuse to see him. However, as Ethan led Chloe and Sarah higher up Mystic Peak, he soon realized why so many people had failed to meet Phoenix. The last two or three hundred meters of the peak had no artificial paths, only cliffs and jagged rocks, refraining ordinary people from climbing.

"Are you saying Phoenix lives up on that cliff? How does he get up there?" Sarah asked, looking up at the towering cliff in frustration after asking around the nearby area, where both tourists and staff said there was no path to the summit and it wasn't open to the public.

"It's getting dark. Let's find a place to stay for the night," Ethan said with a wry smile, glancing at the setting sun in the distance.

"Don't worry. All seem to have rooms for guests. As long as we have money, we can stay anywhere," he added. 

Chloe nodded in agreement.

Ethan spent a lot of money to book two rooms closest to the summit. Actually, few tourists stayed overnight as the rooms there were expensive.

For Ethan, who wasn't short on money, this was a minor issue.

After dinner, Ethan took Chloe and Sarah for a walk in the courtyard, which was open to tourists. They enjoyed the mountain moonlight while observing the towering peak.

"Do you think Phoenix is testing you by living in a place that ordinary people can't reach?" Chloe asked suddenly.

"Testing me? Do you think a cliff can stop me from reaching the summit? If you two weren't with me, I would have climbed up tonight!" Ethan replied confidently.

Ethan smiled, as he knew scaling such a cliff was not beyond his capabilities.

"Are you saying we're a burden?" Sarah glared at him.

"That's not what I meant. How about you two rest in the room while I go up alone?" Ethan suggested.

"No way! We came all this way with you; we want to see the view from the top and meet Phoenix, too! After all, not just anyone gets to meet him," Sarah pouted and refused immediately.

"Is there any way you can take us up there with you?" Chloe clearly didn't want to stay behind either.

"Then we'll have to wait until tomorrow morning," Ethan said helplessly, abandoning the idea of climbing at night.

After enjoying the moonlight in the courtyard with Chloe and Sarah, Ethan led them back to their rooms. Chloe and Sarah shared one room, while Ethan had a room to himself.

Taking advantage of the night, Ethan continued to practice his ZF knack. To his surprise, his progress here was much slower than in other places. Normally, the denser the forest, the more abundant the spiritual energy, which should aid in practice.

Ethan felt as if an invisible force was preventing him from absorbing the ambient energy. Although this force couldn't completely stop him, it significantly hindered his progress.

"What is this force that's blocking my practice?" Ethan pondered, unable to find an answer.

At that moment, he suddenly felt the Sun and Moon Beads vibrating, alternating between cold and hot as if they were trying to break free from his grasp.

Ethan quickly stopped his practice and held the beads tightly in his hands.

"Who's out there?" he shouted, sensing a force trying to wrest control of the beads from him, and the source was just outside the door!

Simultaneously, Ethan rushed out, but the courtyard was empty and silent, with no sign of anything unusual.

"What's going on? Did I imagine it?" Ethan was about to turn back when he felt a sudden gust of wind behind him. A black figure darted towards him like a phantom.

"Who are you?" Before he could see clearly, the figure was already upon him. Ethan quickly threw two silver needles in defense.

A muffled grunt came from the figure. The shadow twisted in mid-air and fled towards a corner of the courtyard.

"He is so fast! If I hadn't reacted quickly, he would have succeeded in attacking!" Ethan marveled at the figure's skill and chased after him.

But soon, Ethan found the shadow had already scaled the wall and disappeared into the woods.

After a brief hesitation, Ethan climbed the wall and continued the pursuit.

In the dense forest, the two figures raced through the trees. Soon, they reached a cliff with no way forward.

"Stop, I give up. Don't chase me anymore!" The shadow, seeing no way out, stood still. To Ethan's surprise, it was Jesse!

"You're the young man from the restaurant in Everglow City?" Ethan suddenly remembered the voice and widened his eyes in astonishment.

Seeing his identity exposed, Jesse removed the black mask from his face.

"Hello!" Jesse smiled and nodded at Ethan.

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