Chapter 993, Tai Shan
Chapter 993, Tai Shan
Translator: Jon
Translation Checker: Silavin
While running away, Lu Ye took a look at the ten-point map.
He certainly couldn’t lure so many insectoids to a place where many people gathered such as a city. Otherwise, there would be a lot of casualties. After all, many commoners lived in cities.
Soon, he set his eyes on a plain where there were no people or places to hide. It was a wonderful place where they could destroy the insectoids.
The next moment, he sent a message to Feng Yuechan and asked her to inform the Devoted Ones about it.
Presently, a gap had opened up in the Grand Defensive Ward as many cultivators of the Devoted Ones turned into rays of light and left. From afar, the sight of so many rays of light shooting across the air looked stunning.
The Devoted Ones was a Tier-Two Sect with an ample heritage and many disciples. After they learned from Feng Yuechan that there was an insectoid attack in their territory, they immediately made a move.
They also ordered the Sects and families under their wing to cooperate with them.
In the meantime, the news of an insectoid attack at Mount Mi was spread through different means. Some people didn’t believe it at first. After all, the incident took place too suddenly, so no one knew if it was true.
But as time passed, the news was gradually verified. Those doubtful cultivators finally confirmed that an insectoid attack had broken out.
Soon enough, the cultivators within a radius of 1,000 kilometres around Mount Mi started taking action.
On a mountain at the back of the Devoted Ones stood a figure in silence. If a disciple of the Sect was there, he would recognise that the person was the Deputy Sect Master, Yu Guanjia.
The Devoted Ones was a Tier-Two Sect. As the Deputy Sect Master, Yu Guanjia must be fairly powerful.
What was strange was that he appeared somewhat anxious. He seemed to be waiting for someone.
The person who could make a powerful cultivator like him wait nervously must be even mightier.
As the wind breezed through Yu Guanjia, he seemed to be walking down memory lane. Suddenly, he let out a sigh.
Others had no idea why an insectoid attack had suddenly broken out at Mount Mi, but the moment he learned of the news, he knew that a major event had started taking place.
The insectoid attack was meant to attract the attention of those from the Devoted Ones. Presently, other than Yu Guanjia, who was the Deputy Sect Master, only the Sect Master, who had been on a retreat for a long time, and three other Elders stayed in the Sect. The other Divine Ocean Realm Masters had left the place to deal with the insectoids.
It could be said that the Devoted Ones’ defence was the weakest at this point.
The incident happened earlier than Yu Guanjia had expected. Therefore, after making some arrangements, he quickly came to this place and waited for a certain someone.
Suddenly, a ripple spread in front of him. As that happened, a figure abruptly appeared before his eyes.
Although Yu Guanjia had already expected it, he was still surprised, thinking that this person had grown even stronger. He wasn’t aware of the person’s presence before the latter showed up.
The person’s face was concealed with a face mask, which was divided into black and white in half. However, the line where black and white met seemed blurred, which was a strange sight.
“My Lord!” A shocked Yu Guanjia quickly saluted the person.
If anyone saw the scene, they would be astounded. Yu Guanjia was the Deputy Sect Master of a Tier-Two Sect. Considering that the Sect Master had been on a retreat for a long time, it could be said that Yu Guanjia was in charge of the entire Devoted Ones. His authority was only surpassed by the Sect Masters from Tier-One Sects in Bing Zhou.
But now, he respectfully saluted another person and even called him the Lord.
“I haven’t seen you in years. You’ve become more powerful,” said the Lord impassively.
“Thanks for the compliment, my Lord.”
The Lord turned to look in a different direction. “Is he still on a retreat?”
He was talking about the Sect Master of the Devoted Ones.
Yu Guanjia replied, “He has been on a retreat for eight years.”
The Lord snorted. “He must be senile. How is he able to shatter the shackles of the Divine Ocean Realm on his own when it’s not the right time yet? It’s not easy to achieve that.”
Yu Guanjia was surprised upon hearing that.
Given their cultivation, they were most concerned about the shackles of the Divine Ocean Realm. Every Divine Ocean Realm Master could feel that there was a path beyond their current Realm, but no one had yet to find it. Many people were on a retreat just like the Devoted Ones’ Sect Master for this reason, but none of them had achieved anything.
Yu Guanjia had tried to do that as well, but he had discovered nothing.
However, the Lord’s words seemed to suggest that he knew something.
Although Yu Guanjia didn’t dare to ask any questions, the Lord saw through his mind and said nonchalantly, “Don’t overthink it. You’ll find out about it when it’s the right time.”
“Yes.”
“Is she around?” asked the Lord.
“I obeyed your order and told her not to make a move. She blew her top for this matter. However, I gave her an order using my position as the Deputy Sect Master.”
The Lord smiled. “Her Daughter is out there battling against the insectoids. She’s naturally concerned.”
“Feng Yuechan?” Yu Guanjia was surprised, feeling that the Lord was almighty as nothing could be hidden from him.
“I’ll visit her to get something,” the Lord said and turned to walk forward in a particular direction.
Yu Guanjia quickly cupped his fists. “Please don’t hurt her, my Lord!”
The Lord never stopped in his tracks. Only his chuckle was faintly heard. “You still love her, don’t you? Many years have passed, and her Daughter is now a Real Lake Realm Master. Why haven’t you put down the matter yet?”
Yu Guanjia remained silent with a bitter expression. After all, some things couldn’t be put down easily.
“Don’t worry. I’ll leave after taking something from her. I won’t hurt her.”
Only then did Yu Guanjia let out a sigh of relief upon hearing that.
The Lord sauntered forward. Presently, around 70 per cent of the Devoted Ones’ disciples had gone out to deal with the insectoid attack, so the Sect was no longer bustling with noise. No one discovered his presence along the way.
It wasn’t until two hours later that he reached the top of a Spirit Peak.
Looking at the familiar sight before his eyes, the Lord seemed to be walking down memory lane.
Many years ago, he would frequently visit this place, but he usually followed a certain someone instead of being on his own.
At that time, he was an important subordinate of that person whose name was famous throughout the entire Jiu Zhou.
Decades had passed just like this, and many things had changed. The Lord didn’t expect to come here again in such a way this time. He couldn’t help feeling somewhat melancholic.
There was a finely built house on the usually serene Spirit Peak. Outside the house was a yard that was surrounded by fences. Purple flowers grew along the fences. It was as though the fences were wearing a layer of purple clothes.
The Lord could see a woman with a solemn expression sitting in the yard. She seemed to be sending someone a message.
[I suppose she’s talking to Yuechan.] He just walked forward without concealing his presence.
The woman in the yard immediately lifted her head vigilantly.
Naturally, she was wary of someone who appeared in the Sect all of a sudden. But soon, she became shocked and doubtful as she sized up the person.
Although the person was wearing a face mask which concealed his face, she could still immediately recognise his figure.
Her shock soon turned into disbelief.
The Lord walked into the yard and looked silently at her. Since he was wearing a face mask, his expression couldn’t be seen. However, his eyes showed that he was smiling.
“Tai Shan?” the woman asked in a trembling voice.
The Lord lifted his hand and took off the mask, revealing an ordinary face as he flashed a smile at the woman. “We haven’t met for ages, Senior Sister Qiu.”
There weren’t many women with the surname Qiu in the entire Devoted Ones. The only person who could live here who was also a Divine Ocean Realm Master was none other than Qiu Min, an Elder of the Sect.
Rarely any cultivators of the current generation had heard of her name before. That was because she had been living reclusively for the past decades and had never left the Devoted Ones. Even within the Sect, her presence was hardly felt. Some disciples didn’t even know there was such an Elder in their Sect.
However, the older cultivators were familiar with her name.
It wasn’t that she had done anything that amazed the world. The main reason was that she married an incredible man and even gave birth to a Daughter for him. The man’s name was Feng Wujiang!
Qiu Min was Feng Wujiang’s Wife and Feng Yuechan’s Mother.
Decades had passed, so she couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Tai Shan again. She looked dazedly at the familiar face before her eyes. Although such a long time had passed, the man’s appearance didn’t seem to have changed. It was just that he had become more sedate, and there was a layer of mystery around him.
She remembered that among Feng Wujiang’s subordinates, Tai Shan was the most active one. He also admired Feng Wujiang the most.
A moment later, she said, “But… aren’t you…”
“Dead?” Tai Shan put on a smile. “Senior Sister, you’ve never seen my corpse before, so why are you sure I’m dead?”
“Your Brand dissipated.” Qiu Min frowned.
It was easy to find out if a person was dead or alive. If his Brand was still around, he was alive. On the other hand, if his Brand was gone, he was dead.
Naturally, Qiu Min had Tai Shan’s Brand. After all, they were on good terms decades ago.
However, his Brand vanished following the epic battle decades ago. That was why she was certain Tai Shan was dead.
But at this moment, Tai Shan, who was supposed to have lost his life decades ago, showed up in front of her alive and kicking, which made her flabbergasted.
After giving it some thought, she realised what had happened. “Did you erase your Battlefield Imprint?”
Apart from losing one’s life, the only possibility that a Brand was gone was that his Battlefield Imprint had been erased. It was difficult to achieve that. Even if a cultivator made a mistake and was kicked out of the Sect, he would only lose his identity as the Sect’s disciple while the Battlefield Imprint would remain. After all, it was granted by the Heavens.
Although it was hard to achieve that, it didn’t mean it was impossible, especially when Tai Shan had been Feng Wujiang’s subordinate for years. Feng Wujiang had showcased many moves that no one had seen before.
“You’re still so intelligent, Senior Sister.” Tai Shan smiled, confirming her speculation. “Aren’t you going to invite me to have a seat inside?”
Only then did Qiu Min come to her senses and extend her hand.
“This place still looks the same. Nothing has changed.” Tai Shan looked around. As he spoke, he met eyes with an anxious Qiu Min. Knowing what was on her mind, he shook his head. “Big Brother Wujiang was indeed killed. I was the one who buried his corpse.”
The hope in Qiu Min’s eyes went out in an instant.