Starting at Hogwarts, Logging into Elden Ring

Of course, Li Xuanjian’s invisibility talismans weren’t without their merits.

His talismans could completely conceal scent, footsteps, and even aura itself—far superior to a Disillusionment Charm, which merely altered one’s coloration to blend in with the surroundings.

That said, it also depended on who was casting the Disillusionment Charm. In the hands of someone with overwhelming magical power, the spell could achieve true invisibility.

And when Arthur cast it, there was no need to even discuss the comparison—even Dumbledore himself wouldn’t be able to detect anything amiss.

Arthur and the others had come to the Eastern lands to travel, so the flying carpet moved at a leisurely pace. Li Xuanjian wasn’t in any rush either; he hadn’t returned to his homeland in many years, and this was the perfect chance to admire the country’s magnificent scenery.

Though the carpet wasn’t fast, it flew in a straight line through the air. Before long, they arrived at Mount Emei—landing directly at the summit.

Following Li Xuanjian’s guidance, Arthur guided the carpet down into the backyard of a small, unremarkable Daoist temple.

Arthur’s gaze immediately turned toward the cliff bordering the courtyard. There, he sensed faint spatial fluctuations—clearly the entrance to the Mount Shu Sword Sect.

No one would ever imagine that the entrance to one of the Eastern lands’ five great sects was hidden in the backyard of such an inconspicuous little temple.

Compared to the grand Buddhist temples Arthur had seen along the way—places like Pure Yang Hall—this nameless Daoist temple could only be described as shabby.

Perhaps this was Daoism’s philosophy of non-contention made manifest.

Two young Daoist cultivators were meditating in the courtyard. Only when Arthur lifted the Disillusionment Charm did they finally notice the group.

"Who goes there? How dare you trespass into the rear courtyard!"

Both sprang to their feet at once, instantly on guard.

Li Xuanjian stepped forward and produced his identity token.

"It’s me. Mount Shu’s Seventy-Two Peaks—Jade Script Peak. Disciple of Daoist Qingxuan, eldest disciple, Li Xuanjian."

Arthur raised an eyebrow beside him, silently muttering to himself. He’d heard of Wudang’s seventy-two peaks—but Mount Shu did it too?

And judging by Li Xuanjian’s rugged build, Arthur felt something like Pure Yang Peak would suit him far better. Jade Script Peak sounded far too refined—much more fitting for Lin Luo.

The two young Daoists immediately bowed.

"Mountain-guard disciples pay respects to Senior Brother!"

They didn’t seem particularly surprised. The sect had already informed them that Li Xuanjian would soon be returning from his travels.

What puzzled them was why he’d brought three outsiders—two of whom were clearly foreign women.

The Eastern cultivation world was notoriously insular. If not for Li Xuanjian’s presence, the two Daoists might’ve already started driving them away.

Noticing their scrutiny, Li Xuanjian explained,

"These are friends I met during my travels. They’re accompanying me to pay a visit to my master—and to see some of our homeland’s scenery."

In truth, it was Li Xuanjian who had invited Arthur to Mount Shu. Arthur’s curiosity about the Eastern cultivation world made him readily accept.

Otherwise, Arthur would already be on his way to Kunlun to hunt phoenixes.

After learning their background, the two gatekeepers didn’t stop them, allowing Li Xuanjian to lead the group into the sect’s blessed cave realm.

Calling them mountain guardians was generous—really, they were doorkeepers, responsible for registration and notifications.

The true defense lay in the ancient formations set up by Mount Shu’s elders.

Intruders would be trapped by maze formations—lost visitors would be gently guided out, while hostile ones would face lethal arrays.

With Li Xuanjian’s identity token, Arthur and the others passed through without resistance.

After emerging from the mist, Arthur finally saw the full scope of the Mount Shu Sword Sect.

Li Xuanjian hadn’t exaggerated—there truly were seventy-two peaks within the blessed realm.

Yet Arthur and the others showed no visible shock.

This quietly surprised Li Xuanjian. Every first-time visitor he’d brought before had marveled at the realm’s scale. None had remained so composed.

What Li Xuanjian didn’t know was that Arthur’s Zen Garden, after repeated expansions, already spanned hundreds of thousands of square meters.

This blessed realm, impressive as it was, covered only around eighty thousand square meters—hardly enough to astonish Arthur.

If total area were counted, Mount Shu’s realm was still larger, since the Zen Garden was flat land without towering peaks.

At that moment, Arthur was actually communicating mentally with Hermione and Ranni, discussing whether to add a few mountains to the Zen Garden.

Oblivious to this, Li Xuanjian flew ahead on his sword, guiding them toward Jade Script Peak.

Seeing the short distance, Arthur didn’t bother with the carpet or broom. He cast a flying spell—the one Voldemort used, turning his lower body into black mist—and carried the two girls after him.

From above, Arthur noticed not all seventy-two peaks were inhabited.

When he asked about it, Li Xuanjian explained that Mount Shu wasn’t as flourishing as it once had been.

As the nation developed and living standards rose, the days when families sent children to sects out of desperation were long gone.

With the cultivation world increasingly hidden from public view, fewer people even knew it existed—naturally, fewer disciples were recruited.

At present, nearly half the peaks stood unoccupied.

The great sects didn’t mind. Prosperity among the people was a good thing. Their philosophy had always been quality over quantity—without talent, cultivation was merely wasted time.

Besides, fewer volunteers didn’t mean fewer geniuses.

Sect members now often traveled the world, seeking worthy successors.

Unlike Britain’s wizarding world, which—after devastating wars with the Church centuries ago—was forced to gather wizards together just to survive, and still hadn’t fully recovered.

As Li Xuanjian led Arthur toward Jade Script Peak, a streak of sword light suddenly shot toward Arthur.

A furious shout followed from the peak itself:

"Which demon dares pursue my disciple and trespass into Mount Shu? Do you think Mount Shu stands empty?!"

Li Xuanjian immediately recognized his master’s voice and felt utterly helpless.

Wasn’t that backwards? Pursuing him was acceptable—but trespassing Mount Shu wasn’t?

So his life mattered less than the sect’s dignity?

...Well, to be fair, Mount Shu probably was more important.

Still—could his master be any less reliable? Arthur had merely followed him, yet somehow became the pursuer?

The culprit was Arthur’s flying spell.

When flying, the lower body transformed into black mist, leaving a dark trail in the air.

That alone was enough for Daoist Qingxuan to mistake Arthur for a pursuing demonic shadow.

Without hesitation, Qingxuan summoned his refined life-bound flying sword and slashed toward Arthur.

Li Xuanjian wasn’t worried about Arthur being hurt.

He was worried about his master—and sincerely hoped Arthur wouldn’t beat him too badly out of courtesy.

Arthur didn’t counterattack.

He realized this was a misunderstanding and simply caught the flying sword with one hand.

What Arthur considered simple looked anything but simple to Qingxuan.

Qingxuan’s face went pale in shock.

He was at late-stage Soul Transformation—just one step from the peak.

And yet Arthur had effortlessly seized his life-bound sword.

In Qingxuan’s eyes, this was an utterly invincible enemy.

Without hesitation, Qingxuan released a distress signal into the sky.

Then he shouted at Li Xuanjian,

"Run, disciple! I’ll hold him off!"

He immediately formed a sword seal, preparing to detonate his life-bound sword.

Arthur felt violent energy surging beneath his palm and quickly suppressed it with raw magical force.

The detonation failed—Qingxuan suffered backlash instead.

Seeing this, he began forming another desperate seal.

Arthur glanced at Li Xuanjian.

"Uncle... maybe you should tell your master to calm down?"

Hearing Arthur speak so casually, Qingxuan froze.

Something was off.

Arthur didn’t sound like an enemy.

Before Li Xuanjian could answer, Qingxuan asked cautiously,

"Xuanjian... do you know them?"

Li Xuanjian nodded quickly.

"Master, they’re friends I met outside. They came back with me as guests. I invited them to Mount Shu."

The tension in the air finally cracked.

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