Chapter 708 - 655: Flourishing Vitality
Behind Heavenly Hero Peak, a courtyard was hidden deep within the pine forest, from which came intermittent coughing sounds.
The cold night was damp and chilly. Song Zhi’ang, with a pale and thin face, sat under the porch reading a book, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the direction of Heavenly Cry Peak, with no attention to the content of the book.
Ever since the brush with death during his Core Formation, he had lived here in seclusion, imprisoning himself within a small courtyard, almost thirty years without stepping beyond its bounds.
He feared seeing others’ pitying looks, and the concern in his mentor True Monarch Cang Huo’s eyes whenever he visited made him uncomfortable.
He wanted to say he wasn’t useless but couldn’t bring himself to utter it, because the truth... was that he was.
Over the years, he stayed here reading and cultivating, nurturing his character. When he felt strong enough, he would continue artifact refining.
The Inner Affairs Hall wanted to send him an Artifact Refining Apprentice to handle chores, but he refused.
It was then that Song Zhi’ang learned that Jiang Yuebai, who had just returned from the Yin Mountain Mine due to her status as a servant disciple, had almost been assigned to him for chores.
No wonder Jiang Yuebai always behaved so strangely towards him; perhaps it was then that she developed a bad impression of him.
Initially, he didn’t like Jiang Yuebai either, thinking that as a commoner with Five Spirit Roots, how could she be confidantes with Lu Nanzhi and Xie Jingshan? She must be someone skillful at flattery.
But later, Song Zhi’ang realized just how wrong he was.
Now, even he couldn’t help but feel a bit of respect for Jiang Yuebai, constantly using her as motivation not to give up hope.
Even if the foundation was destroyed, one must strive to the last moment; he refused to believe he’d be trapped in Early-Stage Golden Core for life.
"I wonder what lively scene Heavenly Cry Peak holds now."
Song Zhi’ang’s eyes were filled with envy as he coughed twice into his fist, remembering the times they had joyous gatherings at the mountain base of Heavenly Interence Sect.
Those were truly good times.
At this moment, a young junior sister, who his mentor recently took in, came running over with a storage bag, panting heavily.
"Senior... Senior Brother... Wang... Wangshu... I saw True Monarch Wangshu!"
Song Zhi’ang’s hand trembled as he hurriedly stood and looked outside, but there was no one, and a sour feeling surged in his heart.
The ten-year-old Si Si, with her hair tied in two buns, ran till her cheeks were red, taking a few breaths before speaking, "She’s just down the mountain. She asked me about a lot of your things, Senior Brother. Do you have a good relationship with True Monarch Wangshu? She’s really graceful, nothing like a True Monarch, just like the fairy I imagined, and she even gave me a bottle of Elixir."
Song Zhi’ang felt somewhat incredulous, "She... she asked about me?"
Si Si nodded vigorously, "Asked a lot, a lot. I invited True Monarch Wangshu in, but she said... said you don’t like her, Senior Brother. Do you have a grudge with True Monarch Wangshu? But that’s not right; True Monarch Wangshu even specifically gave this to me to pass on to you."
Si Si approached Song Zhi’ang and handed over the storage bag she held.
Song Zhi’ang’s fingers were tense as he stiffly took it, taking out a jade box that sealed a Spiritual Medicine. Opening it, a cloud-like white Immortal Ganoderma emanated a moonlight-like luminous white glow, illuminating Song Zhi’ang’s shocked face.
Inside the jade box was also a note,
[Demon Clan Immortal Ganoderma can heal your foundational damage, transform and absorb]
Immortal Ganoderma?!
Song Zhi’ang knew that the long-extinct Immortal Ganoderma was a holy medicine for treating foundational damage. Still, everyone had been searching for it for years to no avail.
The sudden appearance of the Immortal Ganoderma seemed as heavy as a thousand pounds, weighing down Song Zhi’ang’s heart, making his throat tighten and breathless.
He had no doubt it was genuine, but his heart was a jumble of emotions, and his nose stung, unconsciously reddening his eyes.
Flipping his hand to store the jade box, Song Zhi’ang’s figure moved like the wind, rushing out of the courtyard, heading down the mountain.
Si Si was staggered by the gust, turned around in surprise.
"Senior Brother... he went out?!
Under the bright moon and stars, on the mountain road from Heavenly Hero Peak to Heavenly Chief Peak.
Feeling someone approaching from behind, Jiang Yuebai stopped, took a breath, and turned with arms akimbo, deliberately saying, "Song Zhi’ang, are you looking for another argument with me?"
The night was as cool as a wash, and Song Zhi’ang, in a gray robe with an overcoat, had red eyes, disheveled hair, and was in such a state of distress, entirely unlike his former spirited self when mocking Jiang Yuebai.
He gulped, took a difficult breath to suppress the heat in his eyes.
"I’m sorry."
Jiang Yuebai was stunned.
Song Zhi’ang’s eyes showed deep remorse as he managed a faint smile, "All this time, I don’t think I’ve ever apologized for my baseless slander against you back then. Jiang Yuebai, I was foolish and arrogant in my youth, careless with my words. Please forgive my offenses."
Song Zhi’ang cupped his hands in a bow, his shoulders quivering slightly, biting his lips tightly to hide from Jiang Yuebai.
In this Cultivation Realm, it’s common to hold grudges or stab someone in the back over a single offense, so Song Zhi’ang would never have dreamed that the one to pull him from the abyss today would be Jiang Yuebai.
Compared to her openness and magnanimity, Song Zhi’ang felt deeply ashamed.
He suddenly understood why Jiang Yuebai could become the universally admired True Monarch Wangshu of the entire Earth Spiritual Realm. Apart from those who didn’t know her, anyone who had interacted with her would speak of her only with admiration and self-deprecation.
Human prejudice is like a towering mountain in one’s heart. No matter how much the person on the other side of the mountain does, the self on this side will never see, only maliciously speculate.
Even going so far as to maliciously rationalize events based on hearsay and conspiracy theories, believing everyone else is blind while thinking oneself sees the whole truth.
The breeze lifted the strands of Jiang Yuebai’s hair on her shoulders, and the moonlight, blocked by dark clouds, sprinkled over the mountain forest. Jiang Yuebai smiled elegantly, unrestrained and with no burden in her heart.
"I accept your apology. I also apologize to you; I wasn’t very nice with my words before. Don’t mind it, quickly absorb the Immortal Ganoderma. I still have matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first."
Jiang Yuebai turned and walked away, casually waving her hand, like bidding a momentary farewell to an old friend.
The bright moonlight elongated Song Zhi’ang’s shadow. He straightened up, watching that figure transform into a gentle breeze, carrying the fallen leaves into the mountain forest, disappearing from sight.
Song Zhi’ang wiped the moisture from the corner of his eye with his sleeve and couldn’t help but smile. His entire face, freed from darkness, gradually brightened.
"How did I become like Wangchen, so unusual, so unusual..."
Song Zhi’ang turned and headed toward Heavenly Hero Peak, striding forward with vigorous steps.
*
Half a month later, at dusk, two thunderclaps suddenly resounded on Heavenly Cry Peak. At the same time, Shi Xiaowu and Jiangg Ziying broke through the Core Formation barrier, beginning their tribulation crossing.
Jiang Yuebai had long prepared everything for them.
Especially for Shi Xiaowu, who was in the Dream Realm, facing the encirclement of Evil Dao Cultivators. His senior sister, Jiang Yuebai, single-handedly drew away the three Great Nascent Souls of the Evil Dao, leaving him to care for the severely injured master, Lii Jiuchuan.
If he couldn’t immediately form his core, he certainly wouldn’t be able to deal with the formidable enemies outside, and his master would die.
Under enormous pressure, Shi Xiaowu finally erupted, determined to use his broken body to resist the Heavenly Dao.
In the Dream Realm, Shi Xiaowu stood atop a mountain under the Great Array, unparalleled in his arrogance.
"Master, rest assured. Even if Shi Potian were to die, I would never let anything happen to you!"
"Come on, I will now invoke the Core Formation Heavenly Tribulation. Let’s see if the heads of you Evil Cultivators are hard, or if my destiny, Shi Potian, is harder!"
Covered in blood, Shi Potian took out the crumpled small portrait of Qii Yue, gave it one last look, and resolutely began his tribulation crossing right there.
*
Outside the Dream Realm, True Monarch Cang Huo couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, who would have thought that this kid who only knew numbers has such domineering bones? So interesting, so interesting. What a dream demon, let me borrow it for fun sometime, and let me put Ling Guanghan in there to have a look."
Lii Jiuchuan could only rub his forehead in speechless dismay, asking Jiang Yuebai beside him, "Am I this useless? Just two Nascent Souls and I’m gravely injured and unconscious?"
Qii Yue blushed with embarrassment, nervously watching Shi Xiaowu’s true self, seated in the array.
Yun Shang focused her eyes on her nose, her nose on her heart, keeping quiet with lowered head and fiddling fingers.
Jiang Yuebai guided Shi Xiaowu’s internal energy circulation with Divine Sense Threads, smiling, "It’s a dream, all a dream, Master. Don’t take it seriously."
Li Shen Zhi grumbled, "In Shi Xiaowu’s dream, I was the one to be crazily blinded and slapped in comparison. Sect Master, at least you are a respected Master, I... hehe."
The tribulation crossing began. With Jiang Yuebai there, Lii Jiuchuan didn’t feel nervous at all. He even invited Qii Ming to have tea together atop Heavenly Chief Peak while waiting for the tribulation to end.
Qii Ming, reluctant to be mistaken as Qii Yue’s father due to Qii Yue’s early use of the Youthful Appearance Elixir, had also taken it early, so he still looked under thirty.
Having been with Lii Jiuchuan for many years, he had absorbed a lot through experience and observation, becoming more poised and reserved. Although he was only in the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, he always seemed to have the momentum of a Golden Core Master.
Lii Jiuchuan, without any airs, personally poured a cup of tea for Qii Ming, handing it over, "Bear with it a little longer. After this Fuyao Immortal Conference is over, I will personally protect you to aid your core formation."
Qii Ming was overwhelmed with favor, receiving the teacup with both hands, "The Sect Master treats me like a master and a father. I dare not ask for anything, but indeed I can’t bear to leave the Sect Master and Heavenly Interence Sect, so then trouble the Sect Master."
Lii Jiuchuan nodded with a smile. Qii Ming had been too cautious before, hesitating even when opportunities were right in front of him. Thankfully, he had learned to strive for what he wanted, influenced by his sister Qii Yue over the years.
Everyone was growing, everyone was changing, with Heavenly Interence Sect flourishing more and more.
Lii Jiuchuan was also reluctant to let go of such a thriving Heavenly Interence Sect, wanting to make it even better under his care. As the thought crossed his mind, Lii Jiuchuan couldn’t help but turn the ring on his hand.
Inside it, were the cultivation avatars and Divine Split Method Jiang Yuebai had given him.
Perhaps, it was worth a try!
After several busy days, both Shi Xiaowu and Jiangg Ziying successfully crossed their tribulations and began to stabilize their cultivation.
Jiang Yuebai intended to rest for a few days before heading to Guiyuan Sword Sect and Vajra Platform, but a letter from Mountain and Sea Building made her extremely anxious.
[Baipu Domain, Snake Village, Lv Ying in trouble]