Chapter 395: The Ancient and Modern Recorder (6)

Su Chen realized that fifteen years had already passed since he arrived at the Heavenly Origin Sect.

Looking at the reflection on the water's surface, he became aware that he had grown old. His hair was beginning to turn gray, and the wrinkles on his face resembled the bark of a withered old tree.

A fourth-grade pill was no divine medicine. It could not grant him immortality. It had only given him a little more strength and a little more energy.

Su Chen examined the savings he had accumulated over the years.

Mm.

There were savings after all. He had not labored all these years for nothing.

...

"You want to forge a mask?"

Li Li looked at the old man in surprise. In these fifteen years, he had actually saved up so many lower-grade spiritual stones.

"With this many spiritual stones, you could easily forge a mid-grade spiritual artifact."

Li Li spoke, then looked at Su Chen with a touch of regret.

Su Chen knew Li Li was regretting that his aptitude was too poor and that he was completely unable to cultivate.

Su Chen did not mind. He simply nodded.

Li Li asked no further questions. He said, "Leave this matter to me. When the mask is finished, I will have someone deliver it to the Recorder Pavilion."

One month later, a finished bronze mask was delivered into Su Chen's hands.

Su Chen took the mask. A cool sensation passed from the metal into his fingertips. This was indeed a fine mid-grade spiritual artifact. He placed the excellent mask over his face. It covered his gradually aging features.

Another major event occurred within the Heavenly Origin Sect. The genius disciple of the Heavenly Origin Sect, Wei Wu, had died.

Wei Wu had been the most talented prodigy after Sun Ao, ranking second on the Wooden Scenery Dynasty's prodigy ranking. He had made a name for himself in his youth and had naturally been rather proud. Now that he was dead, the entire Heavenly Origin Sect seemed covered in dark clouds, as if a terrible storm was about to break.

Su Chen met Li Li once again.

Looking at Su Chen wearing the mask, Li Li smiled and said, "You had no name before, and now you wear a mask. You have truly become nameless."

Su Chen said, "Have you come because of Wei Wu?"

Li Li sighed. "The news of Wei Wu's death has already spread throughout the sect. Even you have heard the rumors. I long knew that a day like this might come... Unfortunately, Sun Ao left the sect to travel, and no news has come from him in five years. The sect feared that Wei Wu would follow in Sun Ao's footsteps and reacted a little too extremely."

There were many versions of why Wei Wu had suddenly died.

Su Chen alone had heard no fewer than ten versions.

Among them, being killed by a demonic beast or accidentally entering a forbidden ground while seeking opportunities were the normal ones. Unfortunately, the normal ones were few.

More of them claimed that Wei Wu had taken a fancy to a beauty from some other sect and tried to seize her by force, only to suffer desperate retaliation, or that he had acted arrogantly and offended people from major external sects who could not be provoked, leading to his death... Clearly, Wei Wu's reputation within the sect was not particularly good; otherwise, there would not have been so many negative comments.

Yet he was still a genius disciple of the Heavenly Origin Sect. From the sect's perspective, although Wei Wu was arrogant, he possessed the aptitude to become a future pillar of the sect.

Under Li Li's description, Su Chen slowly recorded Wei Wu's life.

Wei Wu, true disciple of the Great Elder Jin Yuan Zhenren of the Heavenly Origin Sect, had been intelligent from childhood and possessed peerless aptitude. On the path of cultivation, he left others far behind and claimed second place among the ten great prodigies of the Wooden Scenery Dynasty. His cultivation path had been smooth and unobstructed, yet his character was ruthless and arrogant. Relying on the background of the sect and his own strength, he acted with wanton pride.

He schemed against a disciple of the Imperial Armor Sect in an attempt to seize a treasure and was ultimately killed by that disciple.

The Imperial Armor Sect was not a power of the Wooden Scenery Dynasty. It was a colossal force from beyond the dynasty. Any ordinary elder of theirs could easily destroy the entire Wooden Scenery Dynasty... Wei Wu, never having suffered setbacks under the protection of his sect, knew neither the height of the heavens nor the depth of the earth, nor the principle that there were always greater people and higher mountains beyond. In the end, he was killed by a disciple of the Imperial Armor Sect. It was truly a matter for sighs.

After Su Chen finished recording Wei Wu's deeds, Li Li left.

Su Chen placed Wei Wu's life record in a prominent position, considering it a reminder for others in the Heavenly Origin Sect.

With the sect master of the Heavenly Origin Sect, one of the top five experts of the Wooden Scenery Dynasty, presiding over the sect, although Wei Wu's death was a regret, they could only let the matter rest... after all, the Imperial Armor Sect was far beyond anything they could afford to provoke.

After that... another five years passed.

By now, Su Chen had been at the Heavenly Origin Sect for twenty years. He was already over eighty. Although he had not died, his physical condition was gradually declining.

Li Li now appeared middle-aged. He had also become an elder of the sect... In these five years, countless faces had come and gone. This was the first time in five years that Su Chen had seen Li Li again.

"What has happened in the sect this time that brings you here in person?"

Su Chen knew that Li Li's status was now completely different from before. He held a respected position within the sect.

Li Li shook his head. "I did not come this time to have you record someone. I simply happened to pass by and wanted to see how you old fellow were doing."

That Su Chen was still alive made Li Li somewhat happy.

The two of them drank a couple of cups of spirit wine.

From Li Li's words, Su Chen learned news of Ruan Hongyao, whom he had not heard of for a long time.

After Wei Qiong's death, Ruan Hongyao had been filled with self-reproach. The sect master took the opportunity to send her to a major power beyond the Wooden Scenery Dynasty for ten years of training. She had only recently returned.

Perhaps the death of someone so close had taught Ruan Hongyao how to grow.

"Old fellow, you must live well. I do not want to send you off so early. That would be a great taboo."

Su Chen smiled and shook his head. "How many more years these old bones of mine can last, no one can say for certain. However, I would like to train a successor. Consider it a contribution to the sect. Even if I die one day, the position of Recorder will not be interrupted."

Li Li thought for a moment and nodded. "This is a small matter. Leave it to me."

Training an unbroken line of recorders for the sect was ultimately a good thing.

Li Li agreed.

After Li Li left, Su Chen removed the bronze mask from his face and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He had to do something. Even if it meant burning his boats, even if it was only a dying struggle, he still had to do something and not give up.

Before long, Li Li fulfilled his promise and brought a young boy to Su Chen. The boy was only a menial disciple. Now that he had the chance to meet an inner-sect elder, he was naturally overjoyed. He began to stay by Su Chen's side, carefully observing and learning.