people on earth

Wuchen Island, main peak.

In the early morning after the rain, the white-haired and youthful-looking headmaster was meditating on the top of the mountain. The morning mist was like a thin veil, the breeze was blowing gently, and everything was quiet.

It’s a pity that this peace and quiet was soon broken.

"Xu Shulou?" The head of the sect looked at the guy who suddenly appeared in front of him, "What are you doing sneaking around in your own sect?"

"I rushed back from Lingxiaomen overnight," Xu Shulou pulled the head into a corner, "Don't let Wei Xuandao find me."

The headmaster sighed: "What did you do?"

Xu Shulou paused: "What can I do? Uncle Master, please don't always make malicious assumptions about me."

"Then let me ask you another way. What are you going to do?"

"..." Xu Shulou said shyly, "I have an unwelcome request. I would like to invite you to visit the master of Lingxiao Sect."

The headmaster said expressionlessly: "Why don't you go and pay your respects yourself?"

"I can't."

"You're too modest. You're very capable."

“…”

The head sect leader rolled his eyes at this troublesome disciple. Xu Shulou had hurried back after saying goodbye to Xiao Ya, but he did not look tired at all. He was wearing a fairy-like skirt made of spiritual brocade that was as bright as smoke and clouds, and the hem of the skirt was embroidered with weeping crabapples. He was waving a flowery folding fan in his hand, and his eyes sparkled when he looked at people seriously. At this moment, he was smiling at him flatteringly.

The headmaster could only sigh: "Why?"

"I found that no one in Lingxiao Sect has met the Sect Master for a long time," Xu Shulou expressed his suspicions, "I wonder if something happened to him, maybe... it has something to do with Wei Xuandao."

"Aren't you overthinking it? It's common for cultivators to be in seclusion for a hundred years." The head of the sect understood what she meant, but he didn't quite agree. "Lingxiao Sect is a big sect. If such a ridiculous thing really happened, how could they hide it? Besides, he is a cultivator in the Tribulation Crossing Stage. Even if he was injured, he is not someone that Wei Xuandao and his ilk can beat."

"I also hope that I am overthinking, but I always feel that Wei Xuandao has a conspiracy. But if I visit alone, the sect master may not see me. You are different. You used to have a good relationship, and he owes you a favor of protecting the law," Xu Shulou thought, "If he doesn't even want to see you, then something really happened."

"What about Wei Xuandao?"

"Just leave him here first. He doesn't dare to do anything rash on Wuchen Island. But we'd better hide the soul-summoning flag," Xu Shulou suggested. "If you're worried, let my master come and keep an eye on him."

"You have made all the arrangements for Chang Yu and me." He felt that he was too unimpressive as the head of the sect. "Who is the junior after all?"

Xu Shulou heard that this meant he was willing to agree, so he smiled and bowed: "Thank you, uncle."

Her smile was so brilliant that the Sect Leader suddenly felt itchy to try. It would have been fine if he had accompanied Wei Xuandao in studying the Soul-Calling Banner, but before he had even studied for a few days, Xu Shulou had given him a new job.

"Why do you always give me something to do when you go out?"

"Uncle Master..."

The head of the sect waved his hand, not wanting to argue with her: "Forget it, forget it. If I can help you dispel your suspicions, I can also go and see that old guy. When do you plan to leave?"

"The sooner the better," Xu Shulou thought for a moment, "I promised Junior Sister that I would take her to the Feiyingmen auction."

“…”

———

Lingxiao Gate.

Xu Shulou stepped into the sect master's retreat cave. It was quiet and peaceful here, and it was indeed a good place for retreat.

Upon hearing that the head of Wuchen Island was coming to visit, the door of this cave was finally opened.

Xu Shulou almost thought that his suspicion was nonsense, and then he noticed that the round platform in front of him for people to meditate was empty, with only a strange disciple standing beside it. When he saw the two of them, his eyes flickered.

"Who are you?"

The disciple did not answer, but bowed to them.

The head of Wuchen Island was surprised and shouted, "Ling Li, where is you?"

"Here." A calm voice came from deep within the cave. The two followed the sound and walked through a long dark mountain path. Suddenly, the view in front of them opened up and they discovered that there was another world inside the cave. There was a stone cave with a jade platform in the middle. A beam of sunlight sprinkled down from the top of the mountain onto the jade platform.

There was a man sitting on the stone platform, with calm eyebrows and an indifferent expression. It was Ling Li, the leader of Lingxiao Sect who had disappeared for a long time.

Xu Shulou knew at first sight that he was not an imposter.

The pressure from a cultivator in the Tribulation Crossing Stage cannot be faked by others.

Obviously, there were no chains or spells restraining him. His body was full of spiritual energy, and the jade platform under him was also carved from spiritual jade that could nourish spiritual energy.

He was indeed in seclusion practicing.

Xu Shulou breathed a sigh of relief.

Ling Lizheng looked at the head of Wuchen Island: "After all these years, your temper hasn't changed at all."

The head of the sect was quite concerned: "It's been so many years, your injury hasn't healed yet?"

"I have recovered," the sect leader shook his head, "but I chose to stay in seclusion and concentrate on overcoming the tribulation. This time, I just want to succeed."

The head of the sect nodded: "I see."

"Tell me, what do you want to see me for?"

The head of Wuchen Island looked at Xu Shulou, who had come up with a bunch of conspiracies out of thin air, and gestured, "You come."

Xu Shulou felt a little ashamed: "It's my fault. I thought you were held hostage or even murdered by Wei Xuandao and others, so I asked the headmaster to come and visit you."

"Why do you think that?"

"I heard that you haven't shown up in decades and only communicated with your disciples through voice. I thought that voice was an imposter."

Ling Li said, "That voice is definitely not mine."

Xu Shulou was slightly startled: "What?"

"It is indeed Junior Brother Wei who is handling the affairs of the sect on my behalf. I tacitly allowed him to impersonate my voice."

"Why?"

"I'll leave all the affairs of the sect to them. If it would be more convenient to use my voice, then I'll leave it to them."

"Why don't you handle the affairs of the sect anymore?"

"I used to spend too much time on these trivial matters. If I want to ascend now, I must concentrate on the great way." He glanced at the head of Wuchen Island indifferently, "If it wasn't you who came today, I wouldn't open the door."

"...Master," Xu Shulou frowned, "Did you...have a conversation with Uncle Zhang Baihe a few months ago?"

"No."

Xu Shulou's eyelashes trembled: "Didn't you scold him for his low cultivation level and told him to practice harder?"

"Of course not."

"Master," Xu Shulou clenched his fist, "Are you sure Wei Xuandao can shoulder this responsibility?"

"Stop talking," Ling Li shook his head, "Just treat me as if I am no longer an ordinary person and don't bother with worldly matters from now on."

Xu Shulou refused to stop talking: "But, did you know that Uncle Zhang Baihe was murdered? Did you know that Fan Yang and Fan Zhi once used your orders to do evil? Did you know that Wei Xuandao has an evil technique in his hand? That technique has already harmed Uncle Zhang, and it may harm others. He is even planning to use the soul-summoning flag. Can you just ignore all this?"

"These things will only disturb my mind and will not help me ascend."

The head of Wuchen Island sighed and said, "I haven't changed, but you have."

"Nothing has changed. I was wrong before, but I just figured it out now."

"But..." Xu Shulou looked at him and questioned, "How can you just ignore it?"

"What does it matter whether I take care of it or not? Heaven and earth are merciless and treat all things as straw dogs. All things have their own fate," Ling Li asked, "Why do I have to take care of it? If I had successfully ascended to heaven decades ago, wouldn't they have to take care of these things themselves now?"

"you……"

"It's not that I haven't contributed to Lingxiao Sect, but there has never been a saying in the world of cultivation that those who are capable should do more work," Ling Li said with a steady tone, "Everyone has a different path. I won't interfere with you, and you don't have to question me."

Xu Shulou found it ironic. After hearing that he had not appeared for decades, countless possibilities flashed through her mind, such as hostage-taking, murder, and even the scenario of the owner of Xuanwu Tower being secretly replaced by someone. She returned to Wuchen Island overnight and asked the head of the sect to "rescue" him, but the truth was so simple that it seemed a little ridiculous.

It was not as Xiao Ya guessed, that the sect leader gave the order to kill the possessed Zhang Baihe.

It was not as Shu Lou guessed, he was assassinated.

Even if Wei Xuandao had other plans, they were not aimed at him.

It’s not that he can’t manage it, he just doesn’t want to.

He did not send anyone to kill Zhang Baihe, nor would he save Zhang Baihe. Zhang Baihe was not in his eyes.

There is no hardship, no conspiracy, he just doesn't want to.

Xu Shulou felt sad for Zhang Baihe: "But, Uncle Zhang is your fellow apprentice. He was a man of clear mind and gentle spirit, but he was eventually driven into a state of evil by Wei Xuandao and committed suicide... How could you not care? You didn't even bother to ask a question?"

"Look, have the immortals in heaven ever cared about the people on earth?" Ling Li looked at them levelly, his eyes neither sad nor happy, "In order to ascend to immortality, I should also abandon these distracting thoughts."

The immortals in heaven? The people on earth?

Who stipulates that natural immortals are more important than people on earth?

With such thoughts in mind, can he really ascend to heaven?

Xu Shulou stared at him for a long time, and the head of Wuchen Island looked at her with some worry, as if he was worried that she would not be able to accept this fact.

But she finally just sighed softly: "I am the one who offended you today, just pretend that I have never been here, please... continue to practice."

Ling Li stopped talking, as if waiting for them to leave.

"Don't worry about these things, I will." When he reached the cave entrance, Xu Shulou stopped and looked back at the jade platform. "If one day I find out that Wei Xuandao deliberately harmed someone, I will make sure he dies under my sword."

Ling Li did not respond to her.

But she didn't say this for Ling Li to hear.