The Path Toward Heaven

The old scholar had already turned into ashes. Liu Shisui bowed to his ashes a few times, and so did Xiao He.

Liu Shisui picked up the fan in the ashes and fastened it into his waist, in the meantime looking at the small sword in the sky.

The small sword flew back to his front, its tip slightly drooping, seemingly expressing its remorse and apology; it was unknown whether the sword felt that it didn’t do enough to help out.

Liu Shisui said nothing, motioning for Xiao He to get on his back.

Xiao He shook her head in disagreement, thinking that he was so badly wounded that it would be hard for him to make the descent from such a steep cliff with her on his back.

The small sword landed on Liu Shisui’s hand and changed back to a bracelet on his wrist.

Liu Shisui understood what the sword meant, as he heaved Xiao He on his back.

The bracelet flew up in the air, pulling Liu Shisui’s arm upward, and they drifted downward to the foot of the cliff.

…

…

Shortly afterward, a scholar flew over from the outside of the mountain, arriving outside the manor cave.

This scholar also wore a blue long robe, but his robe was brand new, and its color was as blue as the deep sea.

This person had a mild appearance and an exceptional aura, displaying a powerful energy, and yet having a scholarly temperament all the same. He would give anyone the impression that he had an indeterminate Cultivation state.

Seeing the ashes outside the manor cave, this scholar remained reticent for a long time, then he sighed deeply, “Rest in peace, Junior Master.”

Having said this, he walked back to the cliff’s edge, with both of his hands behind his back, and jumped up in the air, heading toward the West Ocean.

The waves on the ocean surface outside Haizhou City were like piles of snow; and all sorts of energies filled the heaven and earth there, along with whistling wind.

Hundreds of flying swords hovered quietly in the wind, surrounding the Cloud Platform.

In the places a little farther away, numerous Cultivation practitioners were riding on their magic treasures.

The cloud that had been enshrouding the Cloud Platform all year round finally showed some changes that day. Many torrents formed on the surface of that patch of cloud and were then pulled downward by an invisible force to the ocean surface and the ground, looking like a tornado.

The cloud became fog as it dropped to the ground. Haizhou City and its surrounding villages were all blanketed in the heavy fog, reducing the visibility of mortals.

Such a wonderful scene could only be created by the Wind-Rain Magic Method of the Great Marsh, and it would take a truly advanced Cultivation practitioner to summon so much cloud and fog.

The scholar considered this as he flew in that direction.

All those who saw him approach, regardless of whether they were the Cultivation practitioners riding the magic treasures or the disciples of the Green Mountain riding the swords, moved aside and bowed to him in tandem. Those who didn’t know this scholar’s identity couldn’t help but feel baffled. Until they heard the greetings, they learned that this scholar with the bookish aura was actually the House Master of One-Cottage, Bu Qiuxiao.

Bu Qiuxiao came to the frontline, and saw the middle-aged man operating the Wind-Rain Magic Method in front of the Cloud Platform, thinking that it was indeed the Great Marsh that had done this.

Chen Youtian, the Peak Master of Bihu, stood on the Tide Sword, the expression in his eyes peaceful while also looking at the revealed true nature of the Cloud Platform not far away; he was deep in thought.

Two elders of the Green Mountain Sect in the Broken Sea State stood behind him with more than two hundred disciples led by Guo Nanshan, and they were all located everywhere during the siege.

Apart from the rest of the peak masters and a few elders behind closed doors, almost the entirety of the Green Mountain Sect had come here.

Chen Youtian bowed and said, “Greetings, House Master.”

Bu Qiuxiao nodded in return, saying, “Thanks for your hard work, Cultivationists of the Green Mountain. What is the situation now?”

Chen Youtian said, “The gates of Haizhou have been closed, and the Magic Army is searching the city. It’s the scholars of your cottage who are truly working hard.”

Bu Qiuxiao had an extremely high Cultivation state, so he could see clearly through the clouds and fog the scenes around Haizhou City, especially the amulet lights with which he was most familiar.

In the vicinity of Haizhou City, the Magic Army was probably engaged in the intense battles with the enemies.

In comparison to the situation on the ground, it was quite peaceful in the sky. The Green Mountain Sect had already encircled the Cloud Platform tightly, but for some reason they hadn’t launched any attack yet.

Seeing the palace buildings in and out of sight inside the Cloud Platform, Bu Qiuxiao sighed without saying anything, thinking that this was indeed the style of the Green Mountain Sect, but there was no need for it.

If the Green Mountain Sect was determined to do something, they wouldn’t care if their opponents had prepared for it or not. On the other hand, they would like to wait until the opponents got ready and gathered all of their forces, and then struck them suddenly all at once. In their view, this was a better way to wipe out all the enemies, and more effectively.

When the Green Mountain Sect laid siege to the Cloud Platform, they didn’t attack it that day. This must have been their plan all along, because it was still quiet on the other side of the ocean. The main force of the West Ocean Sword Sect hadn’t come to their rescue yet.

Looking around, Bu Qiuxiao discovered that nearly all of orthodox Cultivation sects had come here that day, except for the Center Sect, Fruit Formation Temple, Water-Moon Nunnery, and No-Mercy Sect.

And he was fully aware that the Center Sect and Fruit Formation Temple had struck the enemies in secret even though they were not seen here openly.

Such an all-out operation would be a waste of manpower if they couldn’t manage to get rid of the most powerful backer of the Old Ones in addition to killing Xiwang Sun and destroying the Cloud Platform.

…

…

The patch of the cloud that stayed in the same place outside Haizhou City for many years had finally dropped, becoming the fog on the ground.

The Cloud Platform, an important venue for the West Ocean Sword Sect, had finally displayed its true nature.

It was a green peak, floating in mid-air; among the cliffs there were many palace buildings, and some spring streams, all of which looked magnificent.

On the peak, the disciples of the West Ocean Sword Sect and the caretakers of the Cloud Platform were busy setting up the defensive formations. It was obvious that they were in disarray.

Facing such formidable attackers, who wouldn’t panic?

The commander of the Great Marsh flew back to the frontline, asking, “Are we still going to wait like this?”

It took a lot of energy to maintain the Wind-Rain Magic Method, so his face was a bit pale even though he was one of the best in doing this.

Bu Qiuxiao didn’t say anything, turning toward Chen Youtian.

Though Chen Youtian was the peak master of Bihu, having a similar status as the commander of the Great Marsh, his status was a bit inferior to Bu Qiuxiao, the House Master of the One-Cottage.

Bu Qiuxiao let Chen Youtian make the decision, because the main force of encircling the Cloud Platform that day was the Green Mountain Sect; to put it more precisely, it was the Green Mountain Sect that had started this whole thing.

“Let’s wait. I don’t believe the West Ocean can pretend being dead forever.”

Chen Youtian said this without a second thought.

Hearing this, Bu Qiuxiao couldn’t help but have a bitter laugh inside, after knowing he was right about the fact that the Green Mountain Sect didn’t merely target the Cloud Platform that day.

However, the West Ocean Sword Sect was very powerful. If the all-out war started, how many of the Cultivation practitioners who were encircling the Cloud Platform this day would die?

Most of all, if someone like the Godly Swordsman went crazy, even the Immortal Sect Master of Green Mountain would have to avoid his initial assault; what would we do then?

All of a sudden, hundreds of sword lights were seen on the other side of the ocean.

The people of the West Ocean Sword Sect had finally come.

Even from a long distance, Bu Qiuxiao and other highly achieved swordsmen could judge the Cultivation states of the incoming people based on the sword lights.

He could vaguely guess what the West Ocean Sword Sect intended to do, so he sent a Spiritual Awareness to a place high in the sky.

Those sword lights soon arrived in front of the Cloud Platform.

The leader of the group was Tong Lu, plus two elders in the Free Travel State, and the rest were a bunch of young disciples.

Seeing the group, Chen Youtian and others felt perplexed.

The West Ocean Sword Sect had been gaining popularity in recent years. Even if their background and resources were not as profound as some other sects, they should at least be able to send an elder of the Broken Sea State.

Though Tong Lu was the personal disciple of the Godly Swordsman and very famous himself, he was still merely a young disciple.

Without exchanging any pleasantries or bowing to the masters of older generation, Tong Lu got extremely angry while seeing the scene. “What the heck are you doing here!” he shouted curtly.

Bu Qiuxiao, Chen Youtian and the others didn’t bother answering him.

Guo Nanshan arrived in front of him by riding the sword. He felt a bit sorry for him when he saw the angry look on Tong Lu’s face.

Guo Nanshan was certain that Tong Lu didn’t know the truth based on the message sent by Liu Shisui.

“Cultivationist Tong Lu, please watch this first.”

Guo Nanshan opened his palm, exposing a glowing orb.

A few surprised screams burst out in the distance.

This was the most valuable treasure of the Center Sect.

The Heavenly Retrieval Orb!