“Take this pill, rest for two months, and the injuries I dealt to you will no longer be an issue.”
“Do you think the downfall of the Moon-Gazing Sect is my doing? Let me tell you, without my intervention, none of the sects around here, including the Moon-Gazing Sect, would have survived.”
“Master...”
After a pause, Bai Qiuran's gaze seemed to drift into the past, lost in thought. He added, “After my master ascended, the strongest senior brother in the sect was only at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. As for me, even if I fought desperately, I could probably only bring down a beginner in the Nascent Soul realm.
And our group of weak disciples controlled the richest resources of the sect in the Nine Provinces and Ten Lands at that time. It’s said that a man is innocent but has the jewels, but you think our lives were all that great?”
“What a beautiful child.” Bai Qiuran placed a bottle of medicinal pills in front of the elder of the Golden Core stage.
“Thank you for the generous gift, senior.”
The disciple lowered his head, unable to say a word. Seeing this, Bai Qiuran shook his head and turned to the nearby elder of the Golden Core stage.
“You take charge of the sect from here on out. The request to join the Righteous Dao Alliance will certainly fail this time, but if you fight hard, in a few hundred years, there might still be an opportunity. I suggest you focus on real cultivation and pay attention to the matters of the cultivation world. If your strength is insufficient, don’t think about manipulating the empire behind the scenes.”
“Hmph.”
“Thank you for the generous gift, senior.”
“If you pose like that, perhaps if you recorded it with a spirit stone, you could win some prize in that photography competition thing in the Immortal City.”
After a moment's thought, Bai Qiuran seemed to return to the past, his eyes a bit vacant. He continued, “After my master ascended, the strongest senior brother in the sect was only at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.
As for me, even if I put my life on the line, I could only take out a beginner in the Nascent Soul realm. Our group of low-cultivation disciples, however, held onto the richest sect assets in the Nine Provinces and Ten Lands at that time.
It's said that a man is innocent but has the jewels; you think we were living a good life?”
“Yes.” Bai Qiuran nodded and said, “Let’s take Ruo Wei for another couple of rounds, see if we can find her something to do, then we’ll head back to the mountain. This journey didn’t yield any leads on breaking through Foundation Establishment; it seems my chance hasn’t come yet.”
Bai Qiuran thought for a moment and replied, “Look, one has a water spiritual root, the other has a dragon bloodline that controls wind and rain, both are water attributes. The ultimate manifestation of water in nature is, after all, the sea—‘the sea embraces a hundred rivers and expands with tolerance.'”
“How’s that? Not bad?” The elder of the Golden Core stage bowed deeply. Bai Qiuran nodded in reply without reservation. Tang Ruowei puffed up her cheeks in jealousy, while Bai Qiuran glanced her way before returning his gaze.
The elder of the Golden Core stage bowed deeply again. Bai Qiuran continued, “Let’s take Ruo Wei for another couple of rounds, see if we can find her something to do, then we’ll head back to the mountain. This journey still didn’t yield any leads on breaking through Foundation Establishment; it seems my chance hasn’t come yet.”
“Yes.”
“Ah, for that matter…” Su Xiangxue said, “He may become the first Grand Elder-level figure of the Demon Sect in thousands of years. At that time, I can help you keep an eye out.”
Don’t look at the Azure Nether Sword Sect as a great practitioner of justice; in the world of cultivation, merely relying on the words "justice" isn’t enough to stand firm. Bai Qiuran nodded and said, “We’ll take Ruo Wei for another round, see if we can find her something to do, then we’ll return to the mountain. This journey didn’t yield any breakthroughs on Foundation Establishment; it seems my chance hasn’t come yet either.”
The elder of the Golden Core, angry, spoke back, “How did you figure out this would suit me? Those three disciples in your sect were killed by my disciple, and it was because you acted first against her! Even before you did anything, she warned you.
I only taught her the killing move—do you think my disciple should just stand there and get slaughtered? A lot of your sect’s disciples and elders being devoured by that big demon was due to you trying to deal with those fox demons and frame them, trying to control the national fate with your plots.
Ultimately, your sect’s downfall has the most to do with your incapable leader’s plans.”
“Take this pill, rest for two months; the injuries I dealt to you will have no lasting impact.” Su Xiangxue rolled her eyes at him and asked, “If you’ve handled all your business, it’s time to return to the Azure Nether Sword Sect, right?”
Bai Qiuran once again rose, preparing to leave, but upon seeing the unusual expressions from the surrounding disciples, he asked, “What? Do you have something to say?”
After arriving, Bai Qiuran coincidentally caught Su Xiangxue helping Zuo Yanfeng change clothes. Zuo Yanfeng's armor had been destroyed in previous battles against two other disciples of the Moon-Gazing Sect, and her clothes were also in tatters. However, the modest clothing worn by other disciples of the Harmony Sect was too revealing for this innocent girl. So, Su Xiangxue let Zuo Yanfeng change into her attire, as their heights and builds were quite similar.
“Master…”
Su Xiangxue then added, “He will likely become the first-level Grand Elder of the Demon Sect union in thousands of years, and I can keep an eye on him for you.” Don’t look at the Azure Nether Sword Sect as being an authoritative faction in the righteous path, but in the world of cultivation, simply relying on "justice" is not enough to endure.
Bai Qiuran nodded in agreement, “Let’s bring Ruo Wei for another round, see if we can find her something to do and then head back to the mountain. This time, the trial still didn’t bring any hints toward a breakthrough in Foundation Establishment. It seems my fortunes have yet to arrive.”
With a glance, he added, “I heard that the last leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect came back from the wilds after successfully transcending the tribulation and is returning soon.”
“Besides, there are still things to give you,” Su Xiangxue stated, snapping her fingers. Suddenly, a disciple of the Harmony Sect walked in, dressed appropriately, suppressing her alluring presence, carrying a wooden tray with some materials inside.
Bai Qiuran shook his arm slightly. “What’re these?”
His expression morphed into surprise as he noticed Zuo Yanfeng’s enchanting figure immediately transforming as soon as she slipped into a gown. Yet, she still held on to her high ponytail, combining beauty with a touch of heroism.
He gazed at the young man nearby and said, “The three disciples from your sect were killed by my disciple because you acted first against her. Before striking, she even gave you a warning. Should my disciple just stand there, waiting for death? Your sect’s master, elders, and half of the disciples were devoured by that demon because you sought to harm the fox demons, setting them up and accusing them in an attempt to use them for alchemy and control the nation. In the end, the blame for your sect’s fate lies wholly with your overconfident leader’s schemes.”
“Ah,” Bai Qiuran remarked, seeing the discontent and displeasure evident on the faces of the Moon-Gazing Sect disciples around.
Their expressions expressed both anger and helplessness, but Bai Qiuran paid them no mind, continuing his words, “I’ll be frank with you; I am an esteemed disciple of the Azure Nether Ancestor. This year, I’ve been around for over three thousand years.
In the early years of the Azure Nether Sword Sect’s establishment, my master, who had few rivals in the cultivation world at the time, indeed lived a more comfortable life than you. I must admit that.
However, by the time my master founded the Azure Nether Sword Sect, he was already at the Transcendence stage, and mere decades after establishing the sect, he soared to the heavens, leaving behind intricate arts, countless materials, vast mountain grounds, and the rest of us third-rate disciples.”
They looked on, and Bai Qiuran’s voice resonated, “I’ll be honest; merely relying on justice for survival doesn’t hold firm in the cultivation realm.”
The elder of the Golden Core bowed deeply yet again, cupping his hands in respect.
“Good,” Bai Qiuran said with a smirk. Balancing his posture, he added, “As you may know, there have been considerable betrayals among allies, with various factions struggling against one another. Following my master’s ascension, those demons and magic cultivators that he previously repressed began directing their resentment toward the sect he established, the Azure Nether Sword Sect. During our toughest times, our sect comprised only twenty to thirty disciples, leading us to abandon the land my master bequeathed us, aimlessly wandering the Nine Provinces and Ten Lands for two to three hundred years, reduced to near extinction.”
Suddenly, voices arose in the hall as a figure broke into the conversation: “You think the downfall of the Moon-Gazing Sect was at my hands? Do you even know that you wouldn’t have even survived the storm?”
“Fool, don’t die before my tribulation!”
“Who on earth has the audacity to speak against me?”
An uneven chorus of voices joined.
“Hold your tongues!”
Yet amidst all this uproar, determination overtook some spirits as the previous confidence seeped from them, realizing the truth of both past and present conflicts among their ranks.
Through spiteful and spiteful remarks, Bai Qiuran walked away, shaking his head as laughter faltered behind him. The mood shifted silently, focusing now more so on what was essential—a future of survival and growth amidst adversity.
In all these conversations, Bai Qiuran affirmed his own stance — that one must learn from past mistakes and rise again, proving that the tribulations faced were not just burdens, but real tests of their resolve and character.
And so, as Bai Qiuran prepared to leave, he turned to his disciple, humor lining his features, and said with a grin, “We’ve settled on a name for you—let’s call it Yearning.”
With that, the gates to a new journey opened.