Cultivating To Immortality

"Hmm..."

Song Yan pondered for a moment, deciding there was no need to hide Hermit Xin Shan’s words from his Master.

He said, "According to Hermit Xin Shan himself, Yang Wenxuan was the one who sent him to kill me."

"I knew it was that old dog!"

Qin Xijun was consumed by anger, her temper flaring. She was about to go confront Yang Wenxuan again: "I’ll kill him!"

"Master, don’t be hasty," Song Yan quickly stepped back, blocking her, and soothed, "Calm down."

"When I reported to the Mission Hall, I only detailed the ambush by Hermit Xin Shan and did not implicate Yang Wenxuan."

Qin Xijun frowned slightly: "Why not?"

Song Yan smiled, answering gently, "This matter involves a Mo Xu Cultivator. If it implicates the Sect, it will be truly troublesome."

"Moreover, this is merely a deduction; there is no concrete evidence."

"A rash accusation would only alert him, and we might even be bitten back, accused of slandering an Elder, and cause unnecessary trouble."

He paused slightly, his voice taking on a cold edge: "Perhaps this person intended to use Hermit Xin Shan to make me disappear. Even if it failed, he would never leave any evidence against himself."

"Hmph," Qin Xijun’s lips curved into a sneer, "He has quite the scheme! However, anything done will surely leave traces."

Song Yan took a deep breath: "This is my own business..."

"Master, please trust me to handle it myself."

Qin Xijun looked at him deeply, then slowly uttered one word: "Good."

Afterward, the two chatted on the cliff, one word after another. When the topic of Demonic Cultivators came up, she asked about the Hu Family’s fate.

Hearing the Hu Family’s end, Qin Xijun’s face showed little emotion; she was long accustomed to such matters.

The last rays of the sunset had burned to their end, the final magnificent purple rapidly being swallowed by a touch of dark blue on the mountaintop.

The mountain wind grew more biting, and the temperature on the precipice plummeted.

"Master, the Spiritual Qi here is harsh, you..." Song Yan looked at Qin Xijun’s thin, moon-white dress and couldn’t help but speak.

Although the Forbidden Land was a place for reflection, with Qin Xijun’s cultivation and status, she likely didn’t lack methods to ward off the cold. He was merely expressing a Junior’s concern.

If possible, he wondered if he could plead with the Sect Master to release her.

Qin Xijun, however, interrupted him: "Mind your own business."

"I like it here..."

"Instead, what are your plans upon returning to the Sect this time?" she changed the subject.

Song Yan pondered for a moment: "First, I’ll recuperate for a while and stabilize my cultivation. Then, perhaps, I’ll need to head to the front lines to defend against Demonic Cultivators."

Qin Xijun nodded: "With your Master not by your side, be extra careful."

"It’s about time," she suddenly said, looking up at the sky, then at Song Yan, and took half a step forward.

Qin Xijun extended her hand, but instead of habitually tapping his head as before, she lightly patted Song Yan’s shoulder, as if brushing away dust.

"Go," she withdrew her hand and turned back to face the bottomless, secluded valley.

"Cultivate well, and live well. Living... is the only way to have a future."

Song Yan nodded, bowed to Qin Xijun’s back, then turned and left.

He returned the way he came.

He saw the Elder in charge of the Sky Falcon Precipice’s penitents once more.

"Senior Martial Uncle Sun, Disciple takes his leave."

At the Restriction, Song Yan stopped and bowed again to the silent Elder.

This person should be Sun Zhengfu’s father.

What Song Yan didn’t expect was that Senior Martial Uncle Sun’s brow furrowed slightly, and he slowly shook his head: "Wait, you cannot leave yet."

"Hmm?" Song Yan paused: "Does Senior Martial Uncle have further instructions?"

Senior Martial Uncle Sun looked at him and slowly said, "It is not I who has instructions. The Sect Master just sent word that after you conclude your visit with Elder Qin, you are to immediately go to the Forbidden Land’s back mountain."

"Back mountain..."

Hearing this, Song Yan’s heart skipped a beat.

The Forbidden Land of Dragon Head Peak had the Sky Falcon Precipice as a place for reflection in the front, while the back mountain was rumored to be the Sect Master’s place of quiet cultivation.

"Now?"

"Indeed, right now. Just follow this path. You are already within the Forbidden Land’s boundaries, so the back mountain’s barrier will not stop you. A Spiritual Guide will show you the way."

Senior Martial Uncle Sun’s tone was firm and unquestionable, as he pointed to a secluded, misty path beside them.

This small path extended deeper into Dragon Head Peak, shrouded in mist, its further appearance unclear.

"Disciple accepts the command."

He agreed verbally, but his mind was already racing.

What could the Sect Master want with him?

His trip to Dragon Pool Mountain, being ambushed by a False Core Demonic Cultivator, his life lamp extinguishing, and the incident involving Granny Qin and Yang Wenxuan’s fierce fight... all these things, by rights, would seem like trivial matters in the eyes of a Golden Core Realm Cultivator like the Sect Master.

His summons now, he didn’t know the intention... Song Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

He cupped his hands in thanks to Senior Martial Uncle Sun again, then turned and stepped onto the secluded path.

As soon as he stepped onto it, Song Yan felt the scenery change once more.

Dense mist gently enveloped him, his vision extending only about ten feet, everything he saw a swirling, flowing milky white.

The Spiritual Qi was exceptionally rich and pure, almost solidifying into visible strands.

Silence enveloped him, broken only by the faint, almost imperceptible gurgle of flowing water.

Following the sound of water, the path beneath his feet gradually became clearer, and the stream’s scenery grew more distinct.

After about half a cup of tea’s time, the path reached its end.

The view suddenly opened up, the mist dispersing to both sides, revealing a valley floor.

The valley was not large, with lush vegetation and exotic flowers and plants scattered throughout. The air was filled with a crisp, refreshing fragrance of plants and the moist scent of earth.

The cold and desolate feeling from his journey here dissipated, replaced by a sense of calm.

At the end of the stream valley, a steep, massive stone wall rose from the ground, like a natural screen.

Beneath the stone wall, the stream meandered to this point, forming a small pool of water.

Beside the pool stood an ancient, unadorned bluestone monument.

The monument’s surface was smooth, but without words, and a figure stood before it.

The person simply stood casually by the bluestone monument, their figure seeming even more steadfast than the stone wall and the massive monument.

In a daze, Song Yan even felt that he himself was a part of this valley, seamlessly integrated with the stream, vegetation, and stone wall, indistinguishable.

The person wore a simple, plain long robe, his figure tall and slender.

At first glance, this person seemed to possess no Spiritual energy, appearing as a Mortal.

But when he subconsciously let his Divine Thought approach, he felt the profound, unfathomable, and majestic Aura flowing naturally from him, drawing the surrounding Spiritual Qi to him effortlessly.

Without a doubt.

This person was the Sect Master of the Cave Abyss Sect, Daoist Li Jun — Chen Linyuan.

Song Yan’s heart was solemn. He quickly stepped forward, stopping respectfully ten feet away from the person, performing a solemn Disciple’s bow.

"Disciple Song Yan of Demon Subduing Peak, greets the Sect Master."

The white-robed figure slowly turned around.

This, in fact, was Song Yan’s first private meeting with the Sect Master.

Viewed up close, Chen Linyuan’s face was unexpectedly young, his features clear and handsome, his skin like jade.

From Song Yan’s perspective, he had none of the overbearing Aura of a superior; his expression was calm, and his eyes were gentle and clear.

He did not speak, his gaze falling upon Song Yan.

This glance was unremarkable, without fluctuations of spiritual power, without the overwhelming pressure of crashing waves, and no hand seals appeared.

But suddenly, Song Yan abruptly felt an invisible, formless, strange power penetrate his body.

All his limbs and bones, all his internal organs.

Flesh, sinews, bones, and Spiritual power meridians.

Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, Sea of Consciousness.

It felt as if everything about him was under the other party’s scrutiny.

Every detail was laid bare, with nowhere to hide!

Song Yan’s heart sank, his body instantly tensing. Within his Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, Sword Qi surged spontaneously, about to erupt from his body.

However, with a thought, Song Yan suppressed it himself.

He forcefully quelled the turbulent waves in his heart, firmly guarding his mind.

He knew that if the other party wanted his life, then even if he could use the Heaven-Turning technique ten more times, there would be no way to survive.

However, this feeling of being seen through, from inside to out, without reservation, was a hundred times more unsettling than any attack.

Fortunately, this process lasted only one or two breaths before the sense of being overlooked quickly receded.

"Hmm..."

Chen Linyuan nodded: "Don’t be nervous. I was just checking if the soul within this Physical Body is truly as it was, and if anything else resides within it."

How could I not be nervous?

Song Yan exhaled a long breath, fine beads of cold sweat on his forehead, muttering inwardly.

However, with the Sect Master’s verification, a huge stone that had long weighed on Song Yan’s heart finally crashed to the ground.

He was afraid that Yang Wenxuan might use claims of him being possessed by a Demonic Cultivator to harm him.

With the authority of a Golden Core Realm Sect Master to vouch for him, there would be an explanation when the time came.

Song Yan maintained a respectful posture, saying in a deep voice, "Disciple understands; everything is at the Sect Master’s discretion."

Unexpectedly, the Sect Master fell silent.

Looking up, Chen Linyuan’s gaze was on him, then passed over his shoulder, landing on the mist in the distant valley.

His eyes flickered, as if he were merely watching a fallen leaf drifting in the stream.

After a moment, he seemed to return to his senses, withdrawing his gaze, and slowly spoke: "I did not summon you here for trivial chatter."

"Now, with Mo Xu Cultivators invading, war has broken out in the northeast of the Chu Realm. All Six Major Sects have dispatched Disciples to the battlefield to defend, and you cannot remain uninvolved."

His gaze lingered on Song Yan’s face for a moment: "Your cultivation Foundation is solid, the Dao path you Cultivate is beginning to show its sharpness, and your Heart-Nature... having been tempered by life and death, has also settled somewhat."

Chen Linyuan’s tone was calm but left no room for doubt: "Since you have returned to the Sect, you must be prepared."

"The time left for your recuperation will not be too long; at most, half a year, and the front lines will need reinforcements."

"I have already mentioned your name to Zhang Guangyuan, and you are on the list of candidates. I hope you make good use of your time, eliminate all hidden dangers, and recover as quickly as possible."

Hearing these words, Song Yan was not too surprised.

Elder Zhang Guangyuan had already hinted at this earlier in the Mission Hall, and Granny Qin had also reminded him during their conversation just now.

Now, with the Sect Master’s personal confirmation, it was simply set in stone.

The elite force of the Cave Abyss Sect, gathered from various peaks, was called Demon Subduing Peak.

With Demonic Path Cultivators now at their doorstep, going to the battlefield was simply their duty.

For Song Yan, this was also an opportunity to temper his Sword Dao and seek a Breakthrough.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his scattered thoughts, and bowed, responding, "Disciple respectfully obeys the Sect Master’s command and awaits the Sect’s deployment."

Chen Linyuan looked at him, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow, but in his eyes, there was an indescribable emotion.

He casually paced two steps forward, drawing closer to Song Yan.

As he took these two steps, the invisible pressure seemed to subtly increase by a few points.

"This time at Dragon Pool Mountain, you narrowly escaped death at the hands of a False Core Realm Demonic Cultivator, which counts as experiencing true life and death."

"Whatever method you used to achieve that, I imagine you won’t have a second chance to use it."

"Now, to ask you to leave the Sect’s protection again, to venture into the perilous battlefield, to face the true surging tide of demons, and encounter even more unpredictable powerful enemies..."

His voice paused at just the right moment, then he continued, "Do you still have the courage for it?"

Song Yan raised his head, his eyes calm: "It’s not a matter of courage or lack thereof."

"Even if the Sect didn’t ask, Disciple would still go to the battlefield to assist my fellow Disciples."

"Disciple’s Aptitude is ordinary; if I always seek stability, I will only live a mediocre life."

"If Disciple unfortunately dies and his Dao dissipates on the battlefield, then it can only mean that Disciple’s abilities were insufficient, his capacity lacking."

"He deserved to die."

Chen Linyuan watched him quietly, a faint ripple seemingly spreading deep in his eyes, but too quickly for anyone to catch.

He nodded slightly.

"Very good."

Immediately, he withdrew his gaze and turned back, facing away from Song Yan.

His eyes again fell into the depths of the stream, returning to that solitude no one could understand.

"I will not speak for you regarding your matter with Yang Wenxuan."

"Your troubles, you must resolve yourself, whether you ignore him or kill him... but not within the Sect, understand?"

With that, he raised his right hand and casually waved it gently in Song Yan’s direction, his sleeve stirring a light breeze.

Song Yan was startled, then understood.

He composed himself, and bowed deeply and respectfully to the retreating figure.

"Disciple takes his leave."

Having spoken, Song Yan did not linger. He maintained his bowed posture, slowly retreating three steps, then turned and strode away along the misty stream valley path he had come from.

Not until Song Yan’s figure completely disappeared into the swirling mist in the depths of the path did the white-robed figure before the bluestone monument move slightly.

"Dao Heart initially tempered, Sword Intent strong... Excellent."

"Hiss..."

"But that Sword Intent, it doesn’t look like something he cultivated himself."

He pondered for a moment: "But why did he use it so smoothly that day, almost as if he was born with it?"

After a moment of thought, he shook his head, pushing the question to the back of his mind.

He looked down at the monument.

"Junior Sister, this person, he reminds me of myself when I was young..."

"Sharp and pure in Dao Heart."

"Though his Aptitude is a bit lacking, and of course, he’s not as handsome as me..."

"But, it’s truly strange, he seems smarter than me, more composed than me, more like a ’person’ than me."

"I wonder what his future will hold."

He slowly sat down before the bluestone monument, a wine jar suddenly appearing in his hand. He poured some into the empty bowl before the monument.

"Eh?"

He looked at the wine jar in his hand, which was empty.

"..."

"Time to buy more wine."