Azure Cloud Main Peak, Sect Master Hall of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.
Inside the grand and imposing hall, Jian Wushuang stood at the head position as usual, his presence solemn and dignified.
Unlike the time Gu Chengxing had come days earlier, four or five additional figures now stood below in the hall.
At the forefront was an extremely aged man whose aura was close to exhaustion, like a lamp running out of oil.
He was Shan Hong, elder of Transcendent Peak.
Today, Jian Wushuang had summoned the Peak Masters to discuss an important matter. Shan Hong happened to have business with the Peak Master as well, and thus the matters coincided.
At this moment, everyone’s attention rested on Shan Hong.
“Elder Shan Hong, must it truly be so?” Jian Wushuang’s face showed helplessness, as though weighed down by a difficult decision.
Shan Hong smiled faintly, relief and serenity evident in his expression. “Sect Master, there is no need to persuade me further. My heart is set.”
“Three days from now, I will depart and return to Great Yu. In my final days, I wish to look upon my homeland once more.”
Jian Wushuang let out a soft sigh, words lingering on his lips yet never spoken.
Behind Shan Hong stood another elderly man, equally aged yet brimming with vitality. He spoke, “Elder Shan Hong, why must it be so? Sword Apex Peak still has one Void-Breaking Divine Pill. Take it. Even if you cannot break through to the Void Shattering Realm, it can at least extend your lifespan by 1,000 years. I will fetch it shortly.”
The speaker was Feng Wujing, Peak Master of Sword Apex Peak.
Shan Hong hurriedly raised his hand to stop him. “Peak Master Feng, no need, no need.”
“That pill should be reserved for one who truly needs it. Do not waste such a treasure on this old cripple. It would be a reckless squandering of heaven’s gift.”
“Besides, I have lived long enough. There is nothing in this world I still cling to.”
As he spoke, Shan Hong looked toward Jian Wushuang and said quietly, “I wish to walk this world once more, to see its scenery, to gather the fragments of memories I once left behind.”
“I also wish to try and comprehend the true meaning of transcendence. In the final stretch of my life, I want to be as carefree as I was in my youth.”
Jian Wushuang closed his eyes and nodded. After a long silence, he said softly, “Elder Shan, may your journey be smooth.”
Shan Hong’s face lit up with a gratified smile. “Thank you, Sect Master, for granting my wish.”
“Then Shan Hong departs today. If fate allows us to meet again after many years, we shall raise wine together in joy.”
The others behind him wore varied expressions. They all cupped their fists and said in unison, “Elder Shan, may your journey be smooth.”
Shan Hong had stayed at the Azure Cloud Sword Sect for less than 1,000 years, yet he was widely respected. Though his cultivation realm was lower than anyone present, that did not diminish the regard they held for him.
“Let us all strive onward! Hahaha—”
A hearty, aged laughter echoed from Shan Hong as his figure gradually faded from the Sect Master Hall.
Once his presence vanished, the most dejected among them was Chen Wunian, Peak Master of Thunder Punishment Peak, also known as Little Alchemy Peak.
All sizes of pills within the sect had long been supplied by Thunder Punishment Peak.
Chen Wunian let out a deep sigh, his face heavy with sorrow, wrinkles etched deeply across it.
Thunder Punishment Peak had relied greatly on Shan Hong. Shan Hong’s mastery over the Way of Flora was profound, allowing him to cultivate and nurture ancient, rare spiritual plants with ease.
In the past, Chen Wunian would occasionally slip up to the summit of Transcendent Peak and into Elder Shan’s medicinal field to “borrow” a stalk or two of herbs. Cough. Every so often, he would find a reason to interact with him.
Over time, the two became close friends. Sometimes they would sit and discuss the Dao. Sometimes they would drink together. At times, they would even venture out to fish day and night.
As a Peak Master, Chen Wunian had been among the first to learn of Chen Wuxin’s death.
Yet he had chosen to conceal it, not revealing it immediately.
He knew clearly that once Shan Hong learned of Chen Wuxin’s passing, he would not be able to remain at Transcendent Peak.
At such an age, how many old friends could one still have? Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
Whether publicly or privately, he had not wished for Shan Hong to leave.
Feng Wujing patted Chen Wunian’s shoulder, glanced at the sky, and shook his head. Having grown up together as close companions, they understood each other’s thoughts with a single glance.
Behind them stood a man and a woman.
The man was Zhen Wuqing, Peak Master of Sword Formation Peak, at the 1st stage Void Shattering Realm. A master of sword formations, he bore the appearance of a middle-aged man, with ordinary features and a cold temperament. He preferred solitude.
The woman was Liu Wuyan, Peak Master of Ethereal Peak, at the 1st stage Void Shattering Realm.
She appeared no older than her twenties, with the charm of a young married woman. Her face was alluring, her figure exaggeratedly curvaceous, her presence striking and provocative. Yet her eyes were sharp, her temperament reserved and noble, like a brilliant red lotus blooming in water. The contrast made her even more captivating.
At this moment, she seemed largely indifferent to what had just transpired.
Although the Peak Masters were of the same generation, she was several thousand years younger than the others and had only lived a little over 1,000 years. Her style was bold and avant-garde.
She stepped forward and said bluntly, “Sect Master, can you now explain exactly what caused that old fellow Chen Wuxin’s death?”
Her tone carried little reverence.
The others were long accustomed to her nature and paid it no mind.
Jian Wushuang nodded, carefully choosing his words. “Peak Master Chen… one hundred years ago, comprehended the ultimate state of the Transcendent Wind and stepped into the 1st stage of the Three Forbidden Realms, the Forbidden Life Realm.”
“What?!” The crowd was shocked.
“He entered the Three Forbidden Realms?”
Zhen Wuqing, who had remained silent until now, reacted first. His eyes gleamed. “Senior Wuxin glimpsed destiny?”
Liu Wuyan first felt shock, then something about the phrasing struck her oddly. She glanced sideways at Zhen Wuqing with a subtle, probing look.
Jian Wushuang nodded gravely. “It happened one hundred years ago.”
“He said that day he grew curious about the future. So he spent 10,000 years of lifespan to take a look at destiny.”
“At the Forbidden Life Realm, one possesses 100,000 years of lifespan. Losing 10,000 years should have been insignificant.”
“But no one knows what he saw. His nearly full lifespan drained overnight to less than 100 years, and his cultivation fell to the Nascent Soul Realm, unable to advance further.”
Feng Wujing and Chen Wunian exchanged stunned glances.
“Before his lifespan was exhausted, he came to me and told me this matter.”
“Did he say anything else?” Liu Wuyan asked seriously.
“He only said, ‘Calamity approaches, and the root of all change began 3,000 years ago.’ Beyond that, he could not reveal more.”
“Three thousand years ago…” Liu Wuyan fell silent. She had not yet been born then.
She turned to Feng Wujing and Chen Wunian. “Old Feng, Old Chen, do you know?”
The two elderly men exchanged looks, thought for a moment, then both shook their heads.
Zhen Wuqing suddenly spoke again. “I might know something.”
All eyes turned to him.
“Three thousand years ago, the Great Zhou Empire was extremely powerful for a time, nearly dominating the Desolate Domain. But like a paper tiger, it collapsed under a light breeze. Its national fortune declined steadily afterward and now stands on the brink of ruin.”
“At the same time, not long after, a previously unremarkable force began to rise mysteriously.”
“Which one?”
“The Heavenly Divination Sect?” Liu Wuyan frowned.
Jian Wushuang interjected, “Yes, the Heavenly Divination Sect.”
“I have investigated for over a month. At present, the scope can only be narrowed to the Heavenly Divination Sect and forces of the Demonic Sect. But the most likely culprit is the Heavenly Divination Sect.”
“I do not know how they achieved it, but they have quietly altered the situation of the Desolate Domain.”
Zhen Wuqing’s expression grew heavier. “No wonder… no wonder these past 3,000 years have been so strange.”
“No peerless geniuses emerging. No supreme treasures appearing. No secret realms or inheritances surfacing. No ancient ruins opening.”
“Too peaceful. Too stable.”
“In 3,000 years, there should have been the rise and fall of sects, struggles among empires. Cultivation is a path of contention. How could everything remain untouched?”
“Is it truly the Heavenly Divination Sect? What are they trying to do?”
Feng Wujing stepped forward. “Sect Master, how much time remains before this so-called calamity?”
“At most 15 years,” Jian Wushuang replied.
“Sect Master, then give your orders,” Chen Wunian said firmly, setting aside his earlier grief. “You did not summon us merely to inform us.”
Jian Wushuang’s eyes flashed. The plan he had contemplated for a long time was about to be formally set in motion.
“What about Transcendent Peak?” Liu Wuyan suddenly asked.
Feng Wujing considered. “Transcendent Peak has only existed for less than 1,000 years and lacks foundation. Its Peak Master is only a teenage youth. It cannot intervene in matters of this scale. Let it develop freely.”
He vaguely remembered that his own True Disciple of the Sect had mentioned days ago that the position of Peak Master had been passed to Transcendent Peak’s sole True Disciple. He had not paid much attention.
“No,” Zhen Wuqing said calmly. “I believe Transcendent Peak is extremely important.”
“Ten years ago, Senior Chen accepted one disciple, his only True Disciple. There must have been a reason.”
He lifted his eyes, staring at Jian Wushuang.
Jian Wushuang shook his head. “I do not know the reason. But I can tell you this: at the final moment, Peak Master Chen guided his disciple Gu Chengxing to comprehend the Transcendent Dao.”
The hall fell silent in shock.
After a long pause, Liu Wuyan spoke, her tone carrying confusion yet tinged with faint excitement. “Gu Chengxing… that boy is only about twenty this year, isn’t he?”
Jian Wushuang said calmly, “He is 19.”
…
ps: Recent Character Summary.
Sect Master — Jian Wushuang, 3,000 years old, 1st stage Forbidden Life Realm of the Three Forbidden Realms, at its peak. Evaluation: Unmatched under heaven. One sword can slay the heavens.
Peak Master of Sword Apex Peak — Feng Wujing, 8,000 years old, 2nd stage Void Shattering Realm.
Peak Master of Thunder Punishment Peak — Chen Wunian, 8,000 years old, 2nd stage Void Shattering Realm.
Peak Master of Ethereal Peak — Liu Wuyan, 1,000 years old, 2nd stage Void Shattering Realm. Her realm does not match her age. Explanation will follow later.
Peak Master of Sword Formation Peak — Zhen Wuqing, 4,000 years old, 1st stage Void Shattering Realm.
Peak Master of Transcendent Peak — Chen Wuxin, 5,000 years old. Gu Chengxing always believed Chen Wuxin was only 2,000 years old. In truth, he was 5,000 years old.
Elder of Transcendent Peak — Shan Hong, 5,000 years old. Though he had consumed many lifespan-extending treasures, 5,000 years was already his limit. In other words, his end was near. Peak Nascent Soul Realm.
Protector Elder of Thunder Punishment Peak, and the leading Hidden Agent of the Sect within the Heavenly Divination Sect — Zhang Lan, 6,000 years old, Peak Nascent Soul Realm. True cultivation: 2nd stage Void Shattering Realm.