Chapter 465 - 317: Gongsun Huang’s Request (2)

Chapter 465: Chapter 317: Gongsun Huang’s Request (2)

Ling Xiao said, "Unfortunately, while many people possess Elder Gongsun’s insight, precious few can actually put it into practice. Far more people focus their energy on fighting over resources and resorting to underhanded methods."

Gongsun Huang nodded and sighed softly. "They’re chasing the trivial and losing the essential." He then smiled at Ling Xiao. "This old man has come with a presumptuous request, one I hope my young friend will grant!"

Ling Xiao was taken aback. A man of Gongsun Huang’s power and status had no need to be so courteous with him. What’s more, he could actually sense a hint of the ’Dao’ from the old man!

The Dao models itself on what is natural. Gongsun Huang’s attitude toward cultivation seemed to resonate, however faintly, with the very meaning of the Great Dao!

’So that’s it.’ Ling Xiao realized his previous belief that there were no true Cultivators on the Canglan Continent had been too narrow. ’The Great Dao has a thousand paths and countless gates. A person could have no power at all, but by accumulating virtue and doing good their entire life, they might one day grasp a trace of the Celestial Secret and achieve immortality!’

’In that case,’ he thought, ’the Canglan Continent is brimming with Spiritual Qi. Even if they don’t understand what the "Dao" is, they are, in fact, already practicing Cultivation!’

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Ling Xiao’s anticipation for the legendary Holy Sanctuary grew. ’What kind of world could that be?’ he wondered. Noticing Gongsun Huang was still looking at him, Ling Xiao gave an embarrassed smile. "My apologies, I was lost in thought for a moment. Elder, please, tell me what it is you need."

Gongsun Huang said, "It’s simple, really. I’ve recently been feeling the signs of an impending breakthrough, but I have been forcefully suppressing it. While the Gongsun Clan has several other experts at the Sword Venerable Realm, they are all scattered and cultivating in seclusion. Therefore, I would like to ask my young friend to look after the Gongsun Clan should they face any difficulties in the future!"

Gongsun Huang’s words didn’t just startle Ling Xiao—who found them unbelievable—they also brought expressions of utter disbelief to the faces of the other Sword Emperor Realm experts and Gongsun Sword.

Everyone in the Gongsun Clan knew that the patriarch’s, Gongsun Huang’s, Divination Skill was incredibly accurate. Did his words today mean he had foreseen a time of hardship for the clan? And that this Ling Xiao would be the one to help them in their critical hour?

Instantly, the way the Sword Emperor Realm experts from the Gongsun Clan looked at Ling Xiao changed. Their reverence and trust for their patriarch, Gongsun Huang, was bone-deep; they would hang on his every word and obey him without question.

Ling Xiao’s expression was a little strange. Looking at Gongsun Huang’s transcendent, sage-like bearing, he thought, ’Is there some hidden meaning to all this?’ Still, befriending a preeminent clan held no downsides for him. Especially at such a critical juncture, news that Gongsun Huang had visited the Ling Mansion would surely not escape the notice of certain people. And by the looks of it, they weren’t trying to hide it.

By taking such a stance at this sensitive time, the Gongsun Clan was essentially declaring to the world that they were on friendly terms with the Ling Family.

Ling Xiao felt a deep sense of gratitude. He smiled sincerely and said, "Elder, you are too kind. My strength may be limited, but if the Gongsun Clan is ever in need, I will surely answer the call!"

"Hahaha, excellent! How straightforward!" Gongsun Huang let out a hearty laugh, then turned to Gongsun Sword. "Jian’er, you will stay here with young friend Ling Xiao for a while! The two of you should get to know each other well! Take this chance to experience the ways of the Mortal World; it will benefit your Cultivation!"

Gongsun Sword was stunned. He never expected his grandfather to just leave him here. "Grandfather," he couldn’t help but ask, "where... where are you going?"

Gongsun Huang smiled faintly. "I am going on a trip out to sea. I still have some unfinished business with the Sea Race. This trip is to settle those affairs, so you needn’t worry!" He then looked at the Sword Emperors who had accompanied him. "You can all return to the clan. There’s no need to worry about Jian’er here."

"But..." one of the Sword Emperors began, looking troubled. "The young master..."

Gongsun Sword was a Tier Six Sword Sect. To an ordinary person, that was an impossibly high realm. But in the eyes of a truly powerful clan, it was nothing special. Any Sword Emperor could crush him as easily as swatting a fly.

Thus, they were worried. How could they just leave the direct heir of the Gongsun Clan here? If anything happened to him, how could they possibly answer for it?

Though they were all part of the Gongsun Clan and possessed tyrannical strength, their true status was that of Household Generals and Servants! This alone spoke volumes about the Gongsun Family’s power.

Gongsun Sword’s brow furrowed. He disliked how his family always treated him like a child. "Uncles," he said, "rest assured, I’ll be fine."

Gongsun Huang also chuckled. "A fledgling eagle that never leaves the nest will never mature. Tian’er may already be a Tier Two Sword Venerable, but you tell me: can he truly support the Gongsun Clan?"

Gongsun Huang’s words silenced the few Sword Emperors who had been about to speak. Tian’er was Gongsun Sword’s father, Gongsun Tian. Despite being over two hundred years old and having reached the Sword Venerable Realm, his mind was consumed by cultivation day in and day out, and he ignored all clan affairs, large or small.

"Alright, all of you, go!" Gongsun Huang waved his hand. The men didn’t insist further. They could see that staying with Ling Xiao should be safe enough; after all, a whole crowd of powerful experts had just tried and failed to cause him any trouble. Besides, experts of the Sword Venerable Realm rarely made public appearances.

After sending his men away, Gongsun Huang stayed at Ling Xiao’s residence for two more days. The old man truly had the bearing of a great elder. During that time, he offered guidance to many people, and he didn’t hold anything back from Ling Xiao either. He told Ling Xiao a great deal about the Holy Sanctuary and shared many interesting tales from the world’s Ancient Era.

To return a favor with a favor, Ling Xiao did not disappoint. He and Gongsun Huang discussed the absorption of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and the comprehension of cultivation realms. Receiving guidance from Ling Xiao, a true Cultivator, was like a sudden, brilliant enlightenment for Gongsun Huang! Many concepts he had vaguely sensed but couldn’t articulate suddenly clicked into place, perfectly integrated.

However, this also caused his own cultivation state to improve dramatically. After just two days, he was forced to take his leave. The power that Gongsun Huang could have originally suppressed for nearly a century was now, after his recent leap in understanding, already showing faint signs of an imminent breakthrough!

If he couldn’t settle all his worldly affairs before entering the Holy Sanctuary, it would become an impediment to his future cultivation.

Gongsun Sword, who had stayed by his grandfather’s side for the past two days, had grown quiet. He could sense that his grandfather was on the verge of breaking through. This should have been a joyous occasion, but deep down, Gongsun Sword didn’t want to be separated from him.

For millennia, a saying had circulated among the hidden clans and sects: The Holy Sanctuary is as deep as the sea!

The meaning was that once you went there, you could never return. And while Gongsun Sword was confident he could cultivate to the Saint-level someday, that would take hundreds of years. Besides, reaching Sainthood... was not something one could achieve on confidence alone.

Watching Gongsun Huang’s figure rapidly disappear into the sky, Ling Xiao reached out and patted Gongsun Sword’s shoulder. "Your grandfather will be fine," he said.

"I know."

Gongsun Sword said dejectedly, "But he’s going to enter the Holy Sanctuary soon. I won’t be able to see him anymore!"

Ling Xiao smiled. ’Partings, whether in life or in death, are part of the human condition. Everyone is affected, but one must learn to accept it. For a Cultivator, as long as the soul remains, even death is merely a part of the cycle.’

......

Shangguan Yutong, Ling Yun’Er, Ye Zi, Yisha, Fengling, Chunlan, and Qiuyue—seven women of varying levels of strength—were practicing a sword technique in unison. Their coordinated footwork was so exquisite, so dazzling, it was as if they had been working together for a very long time.

Song Mingyue and Ling Su watched from the side. Ling Su’s strength was average, so she couldn’t appreciate the finer points, but Song Mingyue was secretly astounded. ’Just how many secrets does my husband have?’ she wondered.