452 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 452: Within the Blessed Sanctuary of Pine Waves [Previous Chapter] [Table of Contents] [Next Chapter] He dreamt a dream at the beginning, where the scene seemed to encapsulate all his beautiful imaginations. The great path had been achieved, and he stood atop the towering mountains, overlooking the flourishing scenery of Chu and Qin, along with those familiar, cherished faces... The ages of each disciple were frozen in the moments he remembered most fondly. The twenty-something Bai Mu Han and Zhan Yuan walked arm in arm at the foot of the mountain, enthusiastically discussing and selecting their favorite store location. At the pavilion halfway up the mountain, Kan Lin and Bai Xiao Sheng were in a heated argument over a chess move, their faces flushed, while Zhang Shi Shi, carrying fragrant tea, shook his head with a smile, admitting he couldn't handle these stubborn old friends. Outside the pavilion, in the empty space, Zhan Qiu, Chu Wu Ying, Zhao Yao, Qin Si Guo, Qin Si Zhao, and a large group of five- or six-year-old children were shrieking, laughing, and playing, reveling in pure childhood joy. In the back mountain, teenagers like Gu Ji, Qin Wei Yu, He Yu, among others, were soaring with swords, racing to outdo each other, their hearty laughter echoing far and wide. There were also Yu Jing, Pan Rong, Huang He, and many more... This world felt like paradise, with every heart unburdened and free, drifting in friendship and ease, joy untainted by worry. Watching them, he couldn't help but smile, nodding slightly. "Husband!" A fragrant breeze came from behind, and he turned to see Min Niang leading Yue Er, Dai Er, and Kan Qin towards him. These women, in their prime, were enchanting and alluring. With open arms, they seemed like weary birds returning home, embracing him and sharing amusing tales from their chambers. As he embraced his beloved wives, he noticed a red-dressed woman trailing behind them. It was none other than the exquisite and solitary Chu Hong Shang, whose mere presence captured all eyes. "Why is she here too?" In his heart, as he pondered, Chu Hong Shang's beautiful eyes twinkled with a teasing glance. Playfully, she chided, "You, as a father, how could you not even look at your son?" "My son?" He was a bit muddled. "Are you dazed?! You've even forgotten your own son!" Min Niang scolded, pulling him by the hand to stand before Chu Hong Shang. In her embrace, indeed, lay a delicate red swaddle, cherished carefully. "My son? Ours?" Still in disbelief, he pointed at himself and then at Chu Hong Shang. This only angered the temperamental Yuan Ying ancestor, who shoved the swaddle at him with a tearful reproach, "It's with my dog!" With that, she turned and ran off, leaving no trace. "My son, mine and hers?" Caught between joy and shock, he hurriedly removed the blue veil on the swaddle. His gaze fell on the face of Duo Luo Nuo before his possession. The face, crude and scarred, was now absurdly sucking on a pacifier. They locked eyes... Min Niang leaned in, gently tickling his whiskers while saying, "Smile, say 'Daddy.'" "Heh heh," Duo Luo Nuo, in his coarse, grating voice, laughed as obnoxiously as he did back in the day. Terrified, he dropped both the swaddle and himself down the mountain, and the dream collapsed immediately. "What nonsense is this!" Qi Xiu wiped his forehead, drenched in cold sweat. "Huh?" He intended to sit up, only to find nothing solid beneath him. Upon closer inspection, he realized he was on a blue cloud blanket, and below stretched an endless sea of trees. All the trees were a certain type of pine, with no other species mixed in. A dense, tangible spiritual energy weaved between them, bringing waves of pine sounds. In this world, there was only the gentle rustling of pine trees, pristine and timeless, as if nature intended it so. Were it a painting, Qi Xiu's insight could see nothing to alter. He inhaled deeply, spiritual power flooding his limbs and bones, an overwhelming comfort making him want to groan. Only then did he realize his cultivation abilities had returned to normal. A quick sense revealed that the spiritual energy here was of the fifth tier. "Have I exited the trial?" Instinctively, he reached for his chest, and sure enough, the trial wooden token was gone. Though puzzled, he couldn't concern himself with these matters now. The intense pain from his wounded nape demanded his attention, but even so, he couldn't afford to dwell on this distressing trial. Confronted with the scenery, a name sprang to his mind, causing his entire being to tense. "Pine Waves Sanctuary! There's no mistake; this is the legendary foundation of the Nan Gong family in Qi Nan City, the fifth-tier Pine Waves Blessed Land!" Having spent years in Qi Yun White Mountain, he had naturally heard tales of the Pine Waves Sanctuary—a retreat for Nan Gong Mu, the Deity Transformation patriarch, and nearing the pinnacle of the fifth tier. Qi Xiu knew the Nan Gong family had moved him here from distant Ji Xia without his knowledge; the reason could only be He Yu. "Having killed He Yu, does Nan Gong Mu plan to thank me personally?" He found that unlikely. "Or perhaps silence me? Oh…" He gasped, the stab wound from He Yu flaring with sharp pain. Strangely enough, He Yu struck precisely where, years ago after a battle at the military station market, Qi Yun's law enforcement cultivators had dealt him a blow with a hand blade, exact in every detail. That blow from the Gates of Death had long been his most terrifying memory, unchallenged even by He Yu's stab, which left him with no fear, just soul-deep agony. Gently caressing the wound, Qi Xiu sensed it might never heal, perhaps becoming his sole 'Achilles' heel,' or rather, his singular 'gate of death.' Amid the surging pine waves, he seemed alone. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, there was no hiding from fate. Disinclined to ponder how the Nan Gong family would handle him, he meticulously reviewed his trial experience. An Si Yan, the 'Fourth Generation Master of Chu Qin,' was dead. Xi Yu, the victim of the infant theft, was also dead. The entire trial felt like drifting with the flow; witnessing death from one person to the next without involvement, each victor in turn holding no relation to him. Until He Yu emerged, until he became the next target... What did he gain? Besides a slight understanding of the path to forming a nascent soul, it was simply a minor reflection on human nature. He asked himself, "If the situation were reversed, if killing He Yu guaranteed my ascension to the great path, would I make the same choice?" The conclusion was complex. Perhaps he would first seek evidence of He Yu's wrongdoing for a valid claim. Maybe he would silently wait for conflicts to arise with others to profit, or wait for the day He Yu came seeking him... In any case, he certainly wouldn't act like He Yu, brandishing a blade behind someone without a word, opting instead for more pretense... Faced with the allure of the great path, his determination was no sturdier than a single hair when compared to He Yu. Recalling words he said when he killed Wei Cheng Qian to save Luo Xiao Xiao, "We're humans, not beasts." A beast acts on instinct; humans need a justification for their conscience—nothing more. A sudden gale swept through the Pine Waves Sanctuary, the ancient trees clattering loudly. Qi Xiu felt himself lifted by the wind; a fleeting glance offered no clear view before his feet touched the ground, standing before an ancient pine. This ancient pine wasn't particularly tall but exuded incredible vitality. Its gnarled branches opened into flourishing needles, its canopy dipping in the front, rising in the back, almost bowing in welcome or smiling at valued guests. Layered pure wood spirit energy emanated from it, palpable with a touch, radiating a vast vitality of the wood element. "Child…" An old man's form slowly materialized beneath the tree. His robe naturally resembled Qi Yun's attire. Though elderly in demeanor, his face bore no wrinkles, his hair and beard jet-black, an image of vigor. Upon closer inspection, he bore some resemblance to Nan Gong Zhi, yet his expression was much kinder. "Qi Xiu greets the Patriarch!" When the elder addressed him as 'child,' Qi Xiu recognized the voice as belonging to Nan Gong Mu, who had once saved him and Chu Hong Shang from the depths of Black River Peak's false Six Paths. With no further ado, he bowed deeply, "The Patriarch saved my life years ago, and I've long regretted not repaying the favor. Now…" Before he could finish, Nan Gong Mu raised a hand, chuckling, "I've heard you're good with flattery. Heh heh, no need to schmooze this old man. The matter is urgent; let's skip the pleasantries. I summoned you for help." He had encountered a few Deity Transformation patriarchs before—such as Gui Zheng and Nan Gong Mu—each amiable and unpretentious, lacking the pressure often exerted by some Nascent Soul cultivators, making it easy to take a liking to them. "How could I not serve?" Helping a Deity Transformation patriarch was not an opportunity he could refuse, naturally agreeing without hesitation. "Hmm..." Nan Gong Mu nodded, his expression suddenly turning grave. Qi Xiu perceived a breeze, and the ground suddenly had an additional corpse. "This is?" The tattered grey robe on the corpse matched He Yu's exactly. Heart pounding, Qi Xiu glanced in confusion at Nan Gong Mu. "You just killed him in the trial ground. What, don't recognize him?" "But the one I killed was..." He had fainted after killing He Yu, unaware of the origin of the mummified figure. "You mean the one I killed wasn't He Yu?!" In all honesty, he would recognize He Yu even if reduced to ashes. Judging by the skeletal structure of the corpse, it couldn't be He Yu. But surely a Deity Transformation patriarch would not jest about this, leaving Qi Xiu momentarily bewildered. "Heh heh, this is both He Yu and not He Yu," Nan Gong Mu's gaze settled on the dried corpse at his feet, a cold smile playing at the corner of his lips. (To be continued)