Legend of the Great Sage

Chapter 1432: The Winds Rise

“Since no one has any objections, the debate ends here. Li Qingshan will join the army as soon as possible!”

Dai Mengfan swung her hand, and all the doors and windows suddenly opened up. Sunlight poured in silently, exposing the dust floating through the air.

The Direct Disciple hall was silent. The direct disciples all had various different expressions, like they had yet to recover from their shock.

An inner disciple had actually achieved what they could not, claiming the first senior brother’s Xuanming dwelling and inheriting everything inside. How was that possible? How did he do it? Since when did Ao Xuan become so agreeable?

They were unable to believe or understand it, but this was the reality. The only logical explanation was he had obtained help from elsewhere, and it was extraordinary help too. However, this was the territory of the Myriad sect, so the greatest suspect was the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance in the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes!

It was said that the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance would meet with him whenever he visited the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes. That was without a doubt the most concrete evidence. That had to be it. The kid must have been connected to the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance. It was no wonder why he had the courage to act so arrogantly as soon as he joined the sect.

When they thought of that, they instead felt slightly better inside. When they looked at Li Qingshan again, they immediately found him to be a little mysterious. The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance never left that place and never had any contact with regular people, so just what was his background?

“Junior brother, I’ll give you another month to prepare. That’s my limit.” Ge Xing patted Li Qingshan on the shoulder. “Sigh, if it weren’t for the circumstances, I really can’t bear to see a man of talent like you joining the battlefield!”

Li Qingshan smiled. “Thank you, senior brother. A month is enough.”

Ruan Yaozhu rode away on her deer, leaving the Direct Disciple hall alone. She possessed quite the grace of just completing what she was tasked with, without sticking around to claim credit for everything.

After walking for a while, she turned around and asked, “What are you following me for?”

Li Qingshan followed her in the distance. “About this… there’s something else I’d like your help with.”

The nine-coloured deer said, “Hey kid, you better not take this too far! Do you know just how irritating you are? Unless you hand us the jade box… ouch!”

Ruan Yaozhu smacked her over the head in exasperation. She grumbled loudly, “Even Le Tian and Pi Yangqiu were compensated for what they did, yet we’re the only ones who busied about for nothing. How is that fair?”

Ruan Yaozhu ignored her. She said to Li Qingshan, “Talk!”

“I really can’t find anyone else that I can rely on for this.” Li Qingshan smiled and pointed at Li Fengyuan on his shoulder. “I’m going to be joining the battlefield soon. Could you take care of him for me?”

Ruan Yaozhu said in surprise, “You’re not taking him with you?”

“It’s so dangerous, so why’d I bring him with me?”

“I want to go too!” Li Fengyuan flapped his wings unhappily.

“Be quiet. Why don’t you undergo the fourth heavenly tribulation first? You better not drag me down!” Li Qingshan said bluntly.

The coldness and loneliness of the Xuanming dwelling was not suited for a phoenix. The Hundred Herbs garden was the best choice.

“Alright then.” Li Fengyuan became dispirited. He had only just arrived in the Human realm. He had not even adjusted to the laws of the world yet!

“Alright.” Ruan Yaozhu kept talking to a minimum, but she still ended up agreeing to the request.

There was no one else around in the alleyway, so it was quiet. The purple vines crept across the wall, blooming brightly.

Li Qingshan gazed at her. He wanted to say something, but he faltered.

Ruan Yaozhu said, “What else?”

Li Qingshan said, “When it comes to someone like me, it’s always about ensuring debts are completely settled, whether it’s debts of gratitude or grievances, as they’re both a burden. Whether it’s payback or repaying kindness, it’s all for the sake of relieving this burden.”

Ruan Yaozhu said, “So your benefactors and your enemies are no different to you, right?”

“Hah, of course not! My benefactors are all living well, while my enemies are basically all dead. It’s just that if I become burdened with too many things, I won’t be able to make it far.”

Even if a person possessed the strength to uproot mountains, they could still collapse under the strain of countless emotions that were fine like dust. That was why he still stuck to certain principles, whether it was cutting down the enemy or repaying kindness tenfold. Only like that could he continue moving on with ease. If he could not continue any further one day and collapsed on the road, he did not want to be laughed at, nor did he want anyone to shed tears for him.

“So?”

“So you might as well accept it!” Li Qingshan took out the jade box. A tremendous sum that could even tempt Human Sovereigns lay inside, yet he was basically all too eager to give it away right now.

Ruan Yaozhu hesitated slightly, and the nine-coloured deer held back her urge to speak up. A while later, she sighed gently. “Bring it over!”

Li Qingshan indicated for Li Fengyuan to grab the jade box and bring it over to Ruan Yaozhu’s hand. Afterwards, he just perched boldly on the deer’s antlers.

The nine-coloured deer glanced at him. She was overjoyed right now, so she did not bicker over a trifle like that. Hmph, only because you’re a phoenix!

As if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, Li Qingshan clasped his hands and turned around with ease, off to make preparations for the upcoming battle.

Ruan Yaozhu held onto the jade box and gazed at his figure. She wondered whether he would turn around to look at her, which would put her in a different mood. However, he did not. He vanished at the end of the alleyway.

She suddenly became rather despondent. “Jiu’er, the path of cultivation sure is lonely!”

The nine-coloured deer said, “Yeah, he’s a natural cultivator, a steel-hearted bastard.”

Li Fengyuan objected to that, “Who says?”

Ruan Yaozhu smiled gently and asked, “What’s your name?”

“My name is Li Fengyuan.”

“Li! Did you take his surname?” Ruan Yaozhu asked curiously.

“Of course! He’s my first father!” Li Fengyuan said proudly.

“Father!” Ruan Yaozhu laughed out of surprise.

……

At the same time, in the towering Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes, the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance took all of this in, including the thoughts of everyone in the Direct Disciple hall. He watched him leave Myriad city and vanish into the ocean. Various sentiments weighed in his heart.

He was not heartless or ungrateful, much less without any desire, yet he was capable of picking up and letting go of matters without letting it weigh him down. A disposition like that was truly rare. It was no wonder why he had been chosen.

The winds rose as breezes over grasslands, ending between the ranks of grass. From the deep mountains and marshes, dragons and snakes sprang forth. Heroes emerged from the ranks of grass.

Upheaval was imminent and threats of death would be unavoidable, as the Seven Great Sages would never admit defeat, nor could anyone completely destroy them. So-called suppression was just a temporary ceasefire. Even the gods and buddhas of the nine heavens were probably aware of that.

This child is probably the root of upheaval. It’s time to contact master!

The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance arrived on the highest floor of the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes. A while later, the Myriad formation that enveloped the city abruptly halted. All of the spiritual qi gathered towards the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes. The pearl on the ceiling began to shine even brighter than the sun. A streak of light rushed into the air, penetrating the barriers of saṃsāra and conveying a message to beyond the Nine Heavens.

Everyone in the city looked up in surprise.

No one could see this. They all had no idea what was happening. Only the direct disciples understood that the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance was sending a message to the two sect masters as well as the grand sect master. Because the laws of saṃsāra were far too powerful, even the immortals that had “leapt out of the six realms of saṃsāra, no longer residing within the five elements” would be affected.

However, this was even more surprising, as this would only occur in times of crisis, like when they could not hold off invading enemies. However, it had already been several tens of thousand years since such chaotic times. It was basically impossible for the Myriad sect to be attacked again. However, just what else was there that could rival the sect being under attack in terms of importance?

The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance gazed at the sky. I’ll let master make the decision about whether to sell out this kid or not.

However, that would come at the risk of personal death and destruction of the sect. The seven of them were also renowned for their gratitude and vengefulness!