Chapter 97: Revitalizing a Broken Dream - Cultivation World (97% complete)
"Useless trash," the sect master of the Xuantian Sword Sect cursed in a deep voice.
"Didn't we expect this from the start?" A gentle response came from the shadows behind him.
"Ancestor." The sect master of Xuantian Sword Sect bowed respectfully, the gloom on his face dissipating slightly.
Canmeng coldly stared ahead.
Despite losing everything, he remained unusually calm, with only his increasingly somber aura betraying his deep-seated resentment.
"So be it. He has done a lot for me over the years. Let him be buried with honors."
"Yes." The sect master of Xuantian Sword Sect responded in a low voice, turning his gaze to the distance.
Shen Suqi did not kill him in the end; Fang Hong was left with only a breath.
But since our ancestor said to give a grand funeral, then... let's give a grand funeral.
"So that's Xiao Fei's apprentice?" Canmeng suddenly asked, and before the answer could be given, she continued with a mocking tone, "Back then, you were kind enough to let the Xiao family be wiped out."
"Ancestor!" The Xuan Tian Sword Sect Master hurriedly explained, "I did my best, but the Xiao family seems to be protected by the Heavenly Dao, and there are always some who slip through the net. I thought they couldn't cause any trouble, so I stopped suppressing them, but I never expected..."
"I don't listen to nonsense." Canmeng glanced at him. "Get lost."
As the Xuan Tian Sword Sect Master stepped down, he heard Shen Suqi shouting for him to be a witness, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
As he left, Canmeng was about to turn around when she heard several young and clear voices ring out in succession.
"Junior Su Xiaoyao has come to pay respects to Daoist Canmeng regarding the matter of demonic energy afflicting the world."
"Junior Xiao Tingyuan, due to the thousand-year karma of my master, has come to pay respects to Daoist Canmeng."
"Junior Jiang Yun has come to pay respects to Daoist Canmeng regarding the case of the Jiang family's massacre."
"Junior Helian Yi has come to pay his respects to the Nine Ancestors."
Canmeng paused, and the gentle, jade-like mask crumbled little by little.
He slowly turned his head. His Tribulation Transcending stage cultivation allowed him to perceive things very clearly. He could see the mockery in the eyes of those arrogant young cultivators, the astonishment on the face of the Xuan Tian Sword Sect Master, and the bewilderment of the Sword Sect disciples.
After hiding for so many years, it has finally been exposed.
But so what?
He was once a highly regarded prodigy, steadily pursuing immortality, but he was born in an era of declining fortune. Now, with his lifespan coming to an end, he has no other choice.
Looking at these young faces, he had wondered more than once why they were so lucky. A Nascent Soul cultivator in their early twenties—such an enviable youth! If the Dao Ancestor was so selfless and benevolent, why didn't he appear two thousand years ago? Why couldn't he be the one to receive this favor?
He also had many questions, but he never regretted his choice; he believed in striving for what he didn't have.
Shen Suqi was handed over to Shui Fan for care. Su Xiaoyao led the confrontation with the Xuan Tian Sword Sect Master. Just when they thought the stalemate would continue, a shadow slowly approached from afar.
The man walked with a leisurely gait, his dark green robe fluttering in the breeze. Only when he got closer could one see his unusual appearance.
Canmeng wore a dark green robe, which made his face look exceptionally white. His hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were all snow-white. His eyes were extremely gentle, with the corners of his eyes slightly curved downwards, always looking like he had a smile in them. But if you looked closely, there was not a trace of warmth in his eyes. They were as cold as the snow in winter, chilling you to the bone, and even the surrounding air seemed to cool down.
He stood beside the sect leader of the Xuantian Sword Sect.
Su Xiaoyao sensed something was wrong and exchanged a glance with Helian Yi, whose thin lips were slightly pursed and his expression was solemn.
Damn it, I'm in the tribulation stage.
She had imagined the worst-case scenario where they would face a tribulation, but when they actually faced the pressure, they truly felt the terror of the suppression of their cultivation levels—they couldn't even sense each other's presence when they were face to face.
"Are you looking for death?" Canmeng said softly.
"Give it a try," Su Xiaoyao said casually, and made her move before she even finished speaking.
The illusory image of the bronze cauldron stood tall and upright, complementing her as she gathered all the spiritual energy.
Helian Yi followed closely behind, his twin curved swords gleaming like the moon.
Xiao Tingyuan quickly formed hand seals, and Jiang Yun's three banners flew together.
They simultaneously unleashed their deadly moves, their attacks swift and fierce.
However, as the spiritual energy approached, the cyan figure remained motionless, with only a seemingly thin layer of poisonous miasma rising around its body.
The powerful spiritual energy dissipated quietly upon touching the barrier.
A cold laugh rang out, and a burst of energy suddenly exploded, sending the four people flying backward.
Canmeng scoffed, "Ants."
The poisonous mist condensed into four dark green longswords at his fingertips, each pointing at them.
So this is the kind of person who gets the favor.
"Old man." Su Xiaoyao coughed up a mouthful of blood. "When I get to your age, my achievements will be more than ten times greater than yours."
The sword tip hovered, and Canmeng smiled faintly: "Then you'd better have the ability to live to my age."
Su Xiaoyao returned the smile: "It's a pity you won't be able to see it."
Canmeng's smile froze; she couldn't understand where Canmeng's confidence came from.
Suddenly, a golden light pressed down like Mount Tai, bringing terrifying pressure. Before Canmeng could escape, her spine was bent by the invisible force.
He couldn't hold on and collapsed to his knees, the sound of his bones cracking clearly audible.
His expression changed drastically, and he looked up with great difficulty despite the immense pressure.
The red figure in the golden light was clearly the Dao Ancestor's disciple from the Tianyan Academy's image.
No, that's not right!
It can render a Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator utterly powerless...
It was clearly the Dao Ancestor himself!
He endured the oppressive force, blood seeping from the corner of his eye, and hoarsely questioned, "Why?"
Jun Huilian chuckled: "There aren't so many 'whys' in the cultivation world. It's all about the survival of the fittest. Aren't you the one who understands this best?"
“I see…” Canmeng suddenly smiled with relief.
During his tribulation-crossing stage, he faintly touched upon the laws of heaven and earth, and finally saw the golden light of merit emanating from Jun Huilian's entire body.
He had resented his lack of favor, but now he understood.
No one has ever been favored; he simply lost, lost to the schemes of Heaven, lost to the Heavenly Dao Ancestor.
That's good. The cultivation world is still the same cultivation world he knows, where profit is paramount and the strong are respected.
As the golden light faded, Jun Huilian gracefully landed, leaving no trace of this person in the world.
She crossed her arms and looked at the group of young people who were grimacing as they got up.
"You've got guts, haven't you? Didn't you think about what would have happened if the little octopus hadn't sent the message in time and I hadn't arrived?"
While wiping away the blood, Su Xiaoyao smiled obsequiously, "Senior is awesome! Senior knows everything! I feel completely at ease with you by my side!"
She rubbed her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
Shen Suqi was bound by the contract and could only fight one-on-one, but they were different. After learning that they were about to face an old monster who was at least at the Mahayana stage, they never thought of confronting him head-on. They had already bribed the little octopus to send a message to Jun Laiye.
“We’re only in our early twenties, and he, an old man thousands of years old, isn’t even ashamed to attack us. Since that’s the case, don’t blame us for calling in reinforcements. Let’s make good use of the resources around us.” Su Xiaoyao felt no shame at all, just like Helian Yi would never refuse the convenience brought by the Helian family in order to prove himself.
"That's right." In fact, even if they gritted their teeth and went ahead, Jun Huilian wouldn't stand idly by.
This is a promising talent she personally nurtured; they've even become her apprentices. How could she let outsiders bully them?
Looking at Su Xiaoyao's vibrant smile, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
With this matter settled and her mission accomplished, Jun Feibai had urged her multiple times through the contract, and she had also walked the final stretch of the road with the younger generation.
Jun Huilian smiled and waved to the young people: "Happy graduation, your 'tool' senior is heading back first."
Su Xiaoyao gave him a warm send-off, then turned to the Xuan Tian Sword Sect Master, whose face was ashen.
“You have a good grandson who can finish the path you didn’t complete.”
After saying that, she turned her face away and stuck out her tongue: "Why does what I said sound like a villain threatening someone?"
“Then threaten me.” Helian Yi straightened his clothes, stepped forward and faced the Xuan Tian Sword Sect Master. “You know what to do. Taking the initiative will at least save your life.”
"You want to annex the Nine Sects?" The sect master of the Xuantian Sword Sect seemed to have aged decades. After the initial disbelief, his emotions gradually calmed down.
"No, not at all." Su Xiaoyao raised her hand to indicate, "The Xuantian Sword Sect will continue to be passed down under my leadership."
"Or you could choose a tragic end for yourself." Jiang Yun's gaze was icy, and the soul-summoning banner was shrouded in black mist. "You can go to the banner and repent to the wronged souls you indirectly caused to die."
The sect leader of the Xuantian Sword Sect was dejected; he had no other choice.
"I have only one request." Finally, he looked at Fang Hong, who lay motionless on the ground, and said, "Hand him over to me."
Today's outcome is all because of this fool's momentary lapse of judgment; he should at least have fulfilled the ancestor's last instruction.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
