https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-131-The-Jade-Scroll-of-Danqing-Surprising-Retaliation-and-Reasoning/12619050/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-133-A-Strange-Visitor-and-a-Mystical-Treasure/12619055/
Chapter 132: Serious Injury, Agile Little Sky
"So, Ning Yan and Zian, their fate still hangs in the balance?" Wei Shan Hai frowned.
Moments ago, Wei Xinghe had recounted the events that had transpired during this time. This included the attempt to secretly send his wife and son away, only to be discovered.
"But Madam and Young Master should be fine. Otherwise, our opponents would have used them to threaten us by now," analyzed the Grand Steward Wei. "The question is, where are they now? Have they reached the provincial capital, or are they hiding somewhere else?"
"Regardless, we must first confirm their safety." Wei Shan Hai said, "Xiao Hai, go and arrange for someone to check on the provincial capital, and dispatch others to investigate outside the city."
"Yes, Elder Ancestor. I'll go make the arrangements now," the Grand Steward Wei replied.
In truth, they had wanted to do this earlier, but with the constant watchful eyes of the Tiancang Sect, they dared not deploy their men recklessly.
Now that the Elder Ancestor had returned, they had a pillar of support, and many things could be done with a peace of mind.
After the Grand Steward Wei left to arrange the manpower, Wei Xinghe turned to the Elder Ancestor.
"Elder Ancestor, how is your injury? When do you estimate you'll recover?"
"My injury... I'm afraid it's beyond healing," came the reply.
At that moment, a tired expression crossed Wei Shan Hai's face, and his aura rapidly declined. He seemed to have aged, and he slumped in his chair.
"Elder Ancestor!" Wei Xinghe exclaimed in alarm.
"Don't make a fuss." Wei Shan Hai waved his hand and sighed. "That Wang Cangyi's innate sword energy is indeed formidable. Although I avoided most of the damage, my heart meridian was invaded by his sword energy, and the injury is severe."
"With your strength, Elder Ancestor, you can't expel the sword energy?" Wei Xinghe asked anxiously.
"It's difficult with just my own abilities." Wei Shan Hai shook his head. "Wang Cangyi's innate sword energy is insidious, like bone-corroding poison, entwined around my heart meridian. Given our similar cultivations, I'm not confident that I can expel the sword energy without damaging my heart meridian. I can only suppress it temporarily with my true energy to prevent it from erupting."
Upon hearing this, Wei Xinghe's heart sank. "Then, is there really no other way?"
"Unless there's another Innate Realm cultivator who can help me. We'd work in tandem, with their gentle true energy protecting my heart meridian, allowing me to exert my full power and thoroughly purge the sword energy," Wei Shan Hai explained.
Hearing this, Wei Xinghe felt despair.
Aside from the fact that Innate Realm cultivators were like dragons that were heard of but never seen, rarely appearing before mortals, how could they find one in their remote location within a short time?
And even if, by some stroke of luck, such an Innate Realm cultivator appeared, allowing another person's true energy into one's heart meridian was an enormous risk.
Humans are complex, and if the helper harbored ill intentions, they could destroy Wei Shan Hai's heart meridian in an instant. Even a descended immortal might not be able to save him then.
Wei Shan Hai was well aware of the difficulty of this request. However, he remained resolute and, seeing Wei Xinghe's expression, he offered comfort: "There's no need to be so disheartened. We haven't reached the end yet. As long as I'm alive, I can protect our Wei family."
"Elder Ancestor, what will happen if the sword energy isn't purged?" Wei Xinghe asked after a moment's pause.
"Constantly suppressing the sword energy puts a lot of strain on my heart meridian. I estimate that, at most, a year from now, my heart meridian won't be able to bear it anymore, and I'll die from exhaustion," Wei Shan Hai replied.
Wei Xinghe fell silent.
He had thought that with the Elder Ancestor's return, everything would be peaceful again. He never expected the Elder Ancestor's injury to carry such a significant concern.
His previous joy vanished, replaced by the weight of this new revelation.
After a while, Wei Xinghe spoke up again, his voice tinged with desperation: "Elder Ancestor, if we use that treasure, can your injury be healed?"
"It's difficult," Wei Shan Hai shook his head. "That treasure is extraordinarily profound and not an ordinary item. It was sheer luck that I was able to comprehend the Silver Moon Battle Array and the cultivation technique I'm practicing now, and achieve the Innate Realm. I haven't been able to gain further insights from it in the past few decades, so there's no need to waste the foundation I've built up over the years."
Otherwise, his realm wouldn't have stagnated at the peak of the early Innate Realm for so long.
"But this is still an option, isn't it?" Wei Xinghe interjected hastily. "What if, Elder Ancestor, during this life-and-death experience, you gain enlightenment and reach a higher realm?"
"You... Sigh, fine, I'll give it a try.
Chapter: Rumors Spread
As discussions about the intense battle between the Tiancang Sect and the Wei Family began to circulate throughout the county, a sense of relief spread among the residents. The previous day's confrontation between the two formidable Innate Realm cultivators had been terrifying, causing everyone to hold their breath in fear. No one wanted them to engage in an all-out fight, aware that the aftermath could be devastating for the entire county. Now, knowing that the Innate Realm cultivators had restrictions on using their powers against those below their level, the townspeople couldn't help but feel a collective sense of relief.
Among those discussing the events, one person's face lit up with a subtle smile, though he quickly masked it and joined in the conversation casually. The next morning, after ensuring he wasn't being followed, he made his way out of the city, taking a circuitous route and even spending a night at his sister-in-law's house in the countryside before heading toward Jiuli Village.
Upon reaching the village, he made a beeline for Lu Qing's house and found him practicing martial arts in the courtyard.
"Lu Qing!"
"Xiao Tian?" Lu Qing looked up, surprised to see him. According to Ma Gu's instructions, Xiao Tian and the others were supposed to have dispersed and gone into hiding after dealing with the Black Wolf Gang's corpses. Why was he here?
"Xiao Tian, what brings you here?" Lu Qing asked, his heart sinking as he suspected something must have happened.
"Lu Qing, something major happened in the city these past two days, and I came to inform you about it," Xiao Tian said excitedly.
Indeed!
Lu Qing's expression turned solemn. "Come, let's talk inside."
They entered the house, where Xiao Yan was still asleep. A freshly prepared breakfast was on the table, filling the room with a tantalizing aroma that made Xiao Tian's throat constrict involuntarily. He had rushed out early that morning without eating, so the smell of food was particularly enticing.
"Xiao Tian, have you eaten breakfast? If not, feel free to have some here," Lu Qing offered, noticing his reaction.
"No, thank you. I'll tell you the news first," Xiao Tian declined, his tone insistent.
"Alright, then go ahead," Lu Qing said, not pressing further. He could sense the gravity of the matter from Xiao Tian's demeanor.
Did the Tiancang Sect and the Wei Family finally clash? Lu Qing wondered. As he was about to ask, Xiao Tian began his tale.
"The other day, the foreign warriors in the city officially declared war on the Wei Family. They gathered a large number of warriors and launched an attack on the Wei Residence..."
Xiao Tian's first sentence startled Lu Qing.
However, as Xiao Tian continued, Lu Qing's expression gradually turned from surprise to astonishment.
"So, in the end, the two Innate Realm experts didn't fight after all, sparing us from disaster. I took the opportunity to slip out of the city and come here to tell you about it."
Chapter: A Heavy Blow
After listening to Xiao Tian's account, Lu Qing fell into a long silence.
There was just too much information in Xiao Tian's words, and he needed to process it all.
Xiao Tian didn't interrupt his silence but quietly waited.
He knew that Lu Qing was no ordinary man, and his knowledge far exceeded his own.
There was no need for him to say much; he only needed to wait for Lu Qing's thoughts on the matter.
However, as he waited, the aroma of the food on the table proved too much for Xiao Tian, and his hunger grew.
Finally, his stomach rumbled uncontrollably.
This sound also startled Lu Qing out of his thoughts.
He looked at the slightly embarrassed Xiao Tian and smiled, "Brother Xiao Tian, don't be polite. Go ahead and eat something."
"Yes, Young Master Lu."
This time, Xiao Tian didn't decline and picked up a bun to eat.
After he finished two buns and a bowl of porridge, Lu Qing asked, "Brother Xiao Tian, are you sure about what you said regarding the Innate Realm cultivators being restricted from using their powers against those below their level and not being able to fight within the city?"
"Definitely!" Xiao Tian nodded seriously. "When those two Innate Realm cultivators were about to clash, a senior from the Tianji Tower intervened and announced this aloud in the Wei Residence. He mentioned something called the 'Holy Mountain Edict,' and everyone in the city heard it.
In the end, the two Innate Realm experts didn't fight, and the foreign one left angrily."
Lu Qing's fingers lightly tapped the table.
He hadn't expected there to be such a restriction on Innate Realm cultivators.
Holy Mountain, what kind of place was that?
To be able to constrain Innate Realm cultivators across the world and even make them hesitant to openly defy it...
What kind of terrifying power did this place hold?
Indeed, this world held many secrets and unknown, formidable forces.
Even reaching the Innate Realm didn't guarantee a carefree life.
However, this edict was good news for Lu Qing regarding Wang Cangyi.
At the very least, it gave him a bit more confidence when facing that man.
Of course, this didn't mean he no longer feared Wang Cangyi.
Even a cornered dog would jump over a wall, and Innate Realm cultivators weren't made of mud. Those who reached such a realm were proud and independent.
If he truly angered Wang Cangyi and pushed him to the point of killing intent, no edict would hold him back.
If he wanted to take a life, it would only take a single thought.
Could the Holy Mountain bring the dead back to life?
So, one should still hold a healthy amount of fear for Innate Realm cultivators.
"Young Master Lu, now that the Wei Family's Elder Ancestor has returned, their crisis has been averted. When can my master, Ma, return?" Xiao Tian asked.
Xiao Tian was a perceptive person.
Although he hadn't seen Wei Xinghe and her son at the mansion during the gathering, he had guessed some things from various clues and subsequent events.
He suspected that his master's disappearance was related to the Wei Family's Madam and Young Master.
"There's no rush. As you mentioned, that mysterious Innate Realm cultivator said he wouldn't let things go, and the situation in the county is still tense. Under these circumstances, it's not suitable for Master Ma to appear. Besides, he's currently in a safe place," Lu Qing replied.
Xiao Tian agreed and didn't ask further.
As long as he knew that his master was safe, that was enough.
After finishing his meal, Xiao Tian took his leave.
He wanted to return to the city to gather more information.
Lu Qing couldn't keep him, so he could only remind him to be careful.
After Xiao Tian left, Lu Qing went to wake Xiao Yan, helped her wash up, and had breakfast with her and Xiao Li before heading to the halfway mountain courtyard.
The news Xiao Tian brought was crucial, especially regarding the edict concerning Innate Realm cultivators. He had to inform his master about it.
When they arrived at the halfway mountain courtyard, his master was drying medicinal herbs in the sun.
Lu Qing relayed the news Xiao Tian had brought.
Then he asked, "Master, with your years of experience, have you ever heard of this edict, or do you know what the Holy Mountain and Tianji Tower are?"
The old doctor was also surprised to hear Lu Qing's words and was perplexed when he heard his question.
He shook his head, "I've never heard of those two names, nor have I heard of such an edict."
(End of Chapter)
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