By the time Jing Jiu returned to the Shenmo Peak, the white cat had already woken up.
He couldn't continue his nap after the commotion on Bihu Peak.
It was his responsibility to guard the Thunder-Soul Wood, and Liu Ci couldn't replace him.
He felt relieved after making sure that Jing Jiu didn't take the Thunder-Soul Wood with him.
As the cat woke up, the others would wake up as well. It was the same on the nine peaks.
As Jing Jiu was thinking of this, he reached out his finger to leave a letter for Zhao Layue on the cliff, and then left on his sword. … …
The sword landed outside Cloudy Town.
The restaurant in Cloudy Town was closed early again, because of the pot of white soup in the private room.
The horse-drawn carriage of the Gu Clan stopped in front of the restaurant. It had been for that one person for many years.
The wheels of the carriage rolled over the green stone pavement, giving off a faint sound.
Leaning against the cushion, Jing Jiu held the First Child Sword and looked at the scenery passing by outside the window, lost in thought.
The white cat crawled out from his sleeve and lifted his head to sniff. After making sure that Jing Jiu had the smell of another cat, he rubbed against Jing Jiu casually.
As he rubbed against Jing Jiu, he sensed that Jing Jiu's Cultivation state had improved significantly, so he rubbed against him earnestly.
He regretted being deceived by Jing Jiu in the State of Inherited Will back then … He should have eaten Jing Jiu when he was still weak, and he didn't even have to drink the lake water.
Jing Jiu knew what was on his mind. He reached out his hand and rubbed his head to comfort the cat.
The white cat didn't evade his touch, but enjoyed it with his eyes closed. He suddenly saw the First Child Sword in Jing Jiu's chest, feeling startled.
Did Jing Jiu intend to temper Nan Qü's sword into his own? Why didn't he do it on Yunxing Peak instead of coming out?
Didn't he worry that the Sword of the Universe would be jealous if he held it in his chest?
The cat suddenly thought of a possibility. The expression in his eyes changed abruptly, and he meowed anxiously at Jing Jiu.
I've seen those crumpled papers in the Guocheng Temple! You want Taiping Zhenren to be reborn as a sword, which is why the turmoil of the West Ocean happened later … Why do you carry the First Child Sword with you like this? Do you intend to use it to lure the Immortal out?
Jing Jiu uttered "hmm".
The white cat panicked and meowed a few times.
I can only beat that bird at most, and with the addition of Xuan Yinzi, I can't handle it!
Jing Jiu ignored it and continued to look at the scenery outside the window.
Suddenly, the sound of cats meowing came from outside the window.
It must have been a stray cat that heard Ah Da's mournful cries and thought that it was peaceful.
That should be a female cat.
Jing Jiu thought.
Elder Ah Da flew into a rage out of humiliation, he scratched his face, producing a streak of fiery light.
…
…
The Platanus Sect was located on the shore of Daybreak Lake, which was a large lake surrounded by the Eastern Ridge.
There were countless mountains in Dong Ling. They looked the same at night. Without starlight, cultivators could easily get lost.
Tonight, the clouds covered the stars, and the bonfire in a certain mountain was even more eye-catching.
It was a dilapidated temple. The light from the bonfire shone through the broken windows and doors.
From time to time, the sound of something tearing through the air could be heard as cultivators landed one after another. They walked into the temple and greeted each other. Of course, they had to first introduce themselves.
"Daoist Chu of the Three Purities Sect."
"I, Gan of the Longhu Mountain."
"He Chi of the Mysterious Heaven Sect."
"Wu Buzhi of the Purple Sky Sect."
…
…
Those who appeared in the temple that night were the representatives of the small sects and the free-traveling cultivators who were going to participate in the Clean-Heart Meeting.
They needed to exchange information on such occasions and learn more about the current situation in the Cultivation circle.
The bonfire in the temple on the barren mountain was the signal to gather.
A person was sitting in a corner of the temple. He wore a conical hat, his sleeves quivering slightly; it was unclear what his hands were doing inside.
Someone said, "I thought that the Clean-Heart Meeting this year would be postponed."
Everybody was aware that the purpose of the Platanus Sect's Clean-Heart Meeting was to invite the colleagues in the Cultivation circle to appreciate the famous bells and celebrate the birthday of the Grandmaster in name only; in fact, it had an ulterior motive.
The whole of Chaotian was waiting for the spring rain, and nobody dared act recklessly before it happened. Even the Zhongzhou School had closed its mountain; but why did the Grandmaster insist on holding the meeting as scheduled?
"It's obvious that the Matriarch wants to settle this matter while no one dares to make a move."
Wu Buzhi of the Zihao Sect said, "Cloud-Dream Mountain has closed its mountain, and it's said that the swordsmen of the Aoyama Sect are all behind closed doors. Who would care about the affairs of the Platanus Sect?"
The person in front asked, "What is the attitude of the Aoyama Sect?"
Wu Buzhi said, "The Aoyama Sect will send someone there; but it's an internal affair of the Platanus Sect. Even if the Grandmaster … is a bit confused, she can't say anything about it."
"The Aoyama Sect has always supported the Sect Master Chen. Will they let her have a mishap?"
"As the leader of the orthodox sects, it's not appropriate for them to meddle in the affairs of other sects."
"It's ridiculous. If they can't even meddle in the affairs of other sects, they can't be considered as the leader of the orthodox sects."
"What you said might be reasonable, but the Aoyama Sect is in a special situation right now. I'm afraid that they will wait and see what happens."
At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside the temple. The group of cultivators was a bit surprised. They wondered if there were any ordinary people in such a remote mountain.
The people who walked into the temple were the old and young monks who had met Jing Jiu several times before.
The old monk was getting older, and his wrinkles were getting deeper. It seemed that he had suffered a lot in the snowfield over the years.
The young monk was no longer young, and his expression was much calmer. It seemed that he no longer needed to practice the Vow of Silence.
The group of cultivators looked at the medicine boxes behind them and guessed that they were the doctor monks of the Guocheng Temple. They quickly stood up and bowed, giving up their seats by the bonfire.
The two monks declined and went to a corner to rest.
For some reason, the rundown temple became much quieter. The bonfire was blown by the night wind, making a whistling sound.
The lone cultivator with the surname Gan from the Longhu Mountain suddenly stood up. He laughed at himself and said, "It seems that I won't participate in this Pure Heart Meeting."
After saying this, he actually really left.
The rundown temple was still quiet.
The cultivators knew why the lone cultivator with the surname Gan left, and they also felt a bit uneasy.
In the past countless years, as long as something big happened in the cultivation world, the Guocheng Temple would send monks to treat the wounded and save people.
This had happened so many times that it gradually formed a pattern in the minds of cultivators. As long as the monks of the Guocheng Temple were not needed, it meant that something big was about to happen when they saw the monks of the Guocheng Temple in an occasion that did not require the appearance of the Guocheng Temple. Even the monks of the Guocheng Temple had gradually become an ominous symbol in the hearts of some cultivators.
The Grand Mistress of the Platanus Sect had never liked monks. The Guocheng Temple would never be invited to the Pure Heart Meeting, and the monks of the Guocheng Temple listened to the bell and Buddhist scriptures. They did not need the bell to clear their minds. So why did these two monks want to participate in the Pure Heart Meeting? Naturally, there was only one explanation. The Guocheng Temple felt that something bad would happen at the Pure Heart Meeting this time …
The cultivators all respected the monks of the Guocheng Temple, but none of them wanted to be treated by them, let alone be released from purgatory … No matter how good the bell at the Pure Heart Meeting was, no matter how cheap the price was, it was not worth it. That was why the lone cultivator with the surname Gan left with a bitter smile.
Thinking of this possibility, the crowd felt helpless. They decided to keep a low profile at the Pure Heart Meeting. If something went wrong, they must hide as far away as possible.
Of course, the crowd was not interested in discussing the Platanus Sect anymore. They talked about the matter that the cultivation world was most concerned about.
…
…
"If that matter really comes to an end in a few years, who will take over the position of the sect master of the Aoyama Sect?"
"It will definitely be the Sword Justice."
Hearing this answer, most of the cultivators nodded, thinking it was natural.
At that time, the Aoyama Sect would have only one figure in the Heavenly Arrival State, Yuan Qijing. He had the highest seniority and the most power, so he would definitely be the best candidate to be the sect master.
Wu Buzhi had a different opinion, saying, "The position of the Sword Justice of the Aoyama Sect is very important. If the Great Grandmaster takes over the position, who will be the Sword Justice? The most important thing is that Tianguang Peak and Shanghai Peak have been in confrontation for many years. The disciples of the Immortal Liu Ci are definitely not willing to accept the Great Grandmaster as the sect master. The young disciples of Liangwang Peak are very aggressive. If they really make trouble, even if nothing serious happens, it will not look good. Besides, the Great Grandmaster is in the late autumn of his life. I'm afraid that he is trying hard to find a way to free himself from this, so he is not interested in being the sect master. "
Someone thought it was reasonable and said worriedly, "But who else can convince the public except the Sword Justice?"
Wu Buzhi said, "You didn't witness the battle of the West Ocean. The peak master of Shiyue, Guangyuan Zhenren, killed an elder of the West Ocean in the Broken Sea State instantly, and blocked the peak master of Yimaozhai, Bu Qiuxiao, with one sword. It is said that he has reached the upper limit of the Broken Sea State and has a chance to break through the Heavenly Arrival State. I think he should be the one."
Someone said, "According to the Cultivation state, Fang Jingtian, the peak master of Xilai Peak, is also in the upper limit of the Broken Sea State and has a chance to break through the Heavenly Arrival State. It is said that he is cultivating behind closed doors. And he didn't go to the battle of the West Ocean, but was in charge of guarding Aoyama. This shows how much trust and reliance the Immortal Liu Ci has on him. Maybe his name will be in the Will."
These Cultivation practitioners had no idea that Fang Jingtian had been locked up in the hermit peaks by Yuan Qijing and couldn't come out until he reached the Heavenly Arrival State.
Someone said, "The sword comes from Aoyama, and Yunxing Peak is the Sword Peak. Does it mean that the peak master, Fu Wang, has no chance?"
Who would be the next sect master of Aoyama was the most important matter for all of Chaotian. Compared to this matter, everything else was trivial.
The discussions were quite heated, and their words were full of concern and worry.
The Cultivation practitioners were truly concerned and worried about this matter; it was because nobody wanted to see the Aoyama Sect suffer a mishap.
If Aoyama was in chaos, what would happen to the world?
The conical hat was illuminated by the fire.
That person listened to the discussions in Silence, neither lifting his head nor uttering a single word.
"Well … no matter who takes over the position of the sect master of Aoyama, it's impossible for him to be like the Immortal Liu Ci, who could illuminate the world with his sword and scare off all living beings."
The discussions suddenly stopped because of this sentimental remark. An indescribable atmosphere filled the ruined temple.
It was true that the "spring rain" would come eventually.
The Zhongzhou School had been closed off for three years, which meant that there was still one more year left.
The Cultivation practitioners in the temple were from the small sects or free-traveling practitioners, so they were no match for a powerful sect like the Aoyama Sect, and they couldn't reach it. Yet, thinking that the figure in the Heavenly Arrival State would leave, they couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
Because of this disappointment, the people left one after another before the morning sun rose.
The person with the conical hat got up and walked to the front of the two monks, asking, "Who do you think is better to be the sect master of Aoyama?"
(End of this chapter)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
