Chapter 431: Master |
The yellow sand howled like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts.
Luo Zhixian carried Chen Qing, relying on a Grandmaster's last control over heaven and earth's elemental energy, treading through the void in midair, covering dozens of zhang with each step.
The fierce wind tore at their robes, making them flap loudly.
Chen Qing could clearly feel that the hand gripping the back of his collar, which had been steady and strong at first, began to tremble slightly as their figure flickered through space, the strength rapidly draining away.
The fresh blood seeping from that hideous wound on his master's chest had long since soaked through the gray robe, and now with their high-speed movement, it continuously dripped down.
Nearly a hundred li of distance would have been merely a moment's work for Luo Zhixian at his peak.
But now, this hundred li seemed as long as if it had no end.
Chen Qing's heart remained suspended, as he could hear his master's breathing growing heavier and heavier.
That strange malevolent qi invading his master's body was like a disease that clung to the bone, frantically destroying his life force and devouring his martial Dao foundation.
"Master!" Chen Qing cried out in alarm.
The sensation of weightlessness instantly struck!
The two of them fell straight down from several zhang above the ground like birds with broken wings!
"Bang!!!"
The sandy ground was soft. The moment Chen Qing landed, the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Vajra Body inside him spontaneously circulated to its limit, golden light faintly appearing around his body, his muscles and bones resonating together as he forcefully withstood the enormous impact.
He only felt his internal organs violently shake, his blood and energy churning.
He immediately turned over to look.
He saw Luo Zhixian had fallen just a few chi away, his body smashing a shallow crater in the sandy ground, sending up a cloud of dust.
"Pu—!"
Luo Zhixian turned his head to the side and spat out another large mouthful of black blood, which spread across the yellow sand in a glaring dark red.
His gray robe was tattered beyond recognition, revealing the horrifying, bloodied wounds beneath. His back, which had been straight as a spear, was now hunched, and every breath affected his entire body.
The old man's withered fingers dug deep into the sandy ground, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as he struggled to prop himself up, but he only managed to slightly raise his shoulders before collapsing powerlessly again.
"Master!"
Chen Qing hurriedly rushed to Luo Zhixian's side, carefully helping his master up and letting him lean against his arm.
Where he touched, everything was ice cold.
Luo Zhixian's body was terrifyingly heavy, yet frighteningly light, as if all his vital essence had already flowed away with his blood.
Chen Qing quickly took out the jade bottle containing the Vast Origin Spirit-Nurturing Pill.
This was one of the most precious healing sacred medicines that the Que Religion had given to Tianbao Upper Sect back then.
He pulled open the stopper and poured out the pill that emanated a rich life force.
"Master, quickly take this!" Chen Qing brought the pill to Luo Zhixian's lips.
Luo Zhixian's scattered gaze slightly focused as he struggled to open his mouth. Chen Qing carefully placed the pill into his mouth.
The pill dissolved upon entering, transforming into a gentle yet powerful warm current that quickly surged into Luo Zhixian's limbs and bones.
On his paper-white face, an abnormal flush suddenly appeared, and the energy around his body seemed to stabilize slightly. At that terrifying wound on his chest, the bleeding noticeably slowed.
"Cough, cough..."
Luo Zhixian coughed up several more mouthfuls of dark blood tinged with black energy, and his breathing seemed somewhat smoother.
He slowly lifted his eyelids, heavy as mountains, his gaze falling on Chen Qing's face filled with worry.
"Master, how are your injuries? Is this pill effective?" Chen Qing urgently asked, tightly gripping his master's ice-cold hand, trying to transfer his True Origin over.
Luo Zhixian shook his head. He was doing his utmost to mobilize his remaining True Origin to cooperate with the pill's power and suppress the malevolent qi that was frantically raging through his meridians and internal organs.
He knew this was only temporary. The malevolent qi had already invaded his origin, and the Vast Origin Spirit-Nurturing Pill could only delay it, not eliminate it completely.
"A bit better," Luo Zhixian's voice was hoarse and dry. "While that malevolent qi hasn't completely invaded my consciousness yet, and this master's mind is still clear, there are some things I need to tell you."
He paused. Every word seemed to exhaust all his strength, and the wound on his chest sent tearing pain with each breath.
"If I don't say them, this master ultimately won't be at ease."
"Master..."
Hearing these words, Chen Qing's voice suddenly trembled, and his eyes instantly reddened.
How intelligent he was, how could he not hear the deep meaning in his master's words?
Luo Zhixian paid no attention to Chen Qing's emotional fluctuation, or rather, he no longer had the extra energy to comfort him.
He had to seize this last moment of clarity.
"When Li Qingyu appeared in the southwest, I already knew," Luo Zhixian slowly began, his eyes gazing toward the north. "He never leaves Great Snow Mountain lightly, and when he does, he has only one purpose."
"It must be for the Tianbao Tower, for the secrets within."
Chen Qing's heart shook, and he held his breath.
"Knowing he had arrived, I laid a killing trap," Luo Zhixian's tone was calm. "I wanted to kill that Li Qingyu in one strike."
"First, to settle the old grudge and avenge the Nine Heavens lineage... and second..."
He turned his head, looking at Chen Qing with profound eyes.
"To pave the way for you."
Pave the way!
These two words exploded in Chen Qing's heart like thunder!
His heart began racing wildly.
Could it be that Master already knew?
Knew about his hidden and profound connection with the Tianbao Tower?
Chen Qing opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
Luo Zhixian struggled to lift his other hand and waved it ever so slightly.
"Don't speak of this matter to anyone," his voice dropped even lower. "You must keep it in your heart."
"Where there's a will, there's a way..."
Luo Zhixian gasped for breath several times, and his flushed face darkened again. "Originally, I thought I could keep this person in Yan Kingdom this time, but I didn't expect him..."
A trace of regret flashed through his eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.
Planning for a hundred years, laying out strategies across thousands of li, requesting Duanmu Hua's assistance, convincing Xiao Jiuli, calculating the reactions of Di Cang and even the Ghost Witch Sect... everything had been nearly perfect.
Only, he had miscalculated the strange Night Clan malevolent qi on Li Qingyu's body, miscalculated that he would dare to refine himself into a half-evil body and employ such a desperate mutual destruction tactic.
"Now it's useless to speak more of this," Luo Zhixian took a deep breath, pulling at his wound, his brow furrowing tightly. But he endured it and continued, "Chen Qing, listen carefully."
Chen Qing nodded vigorously, tightly gripping his master's hand, "Disciple is listening to every word!"
"That Li Qingyu is extremely cautious with his life," Luo Zhixian's voice grew increasingly weak. "I'm certain he definitely wouldn't truly self-destruct. That final display of power was nothing but a smokescreen, using the opportunity to escape."
"This master didn't gamble, so I fled with you."
"Even if he doesn't die this time, he's close to it, with his dantian shattered and malevolent qi backlash."
Luo Zhixian gasped for breath, "But that Night Clan is strange and unpredictable, a variable. In the future, you must be careful."
"The Tianbao Tower contains tremendous secrets. If he's not dead, he certainly won't let this matter rest."
Luo Zhixian's gaze became extremely grave, "Originally, this master planned to return to the sect and wait until your cultivation advanced further before telling you these things, but now..."
He began coughing violently, the blood foam he coughed up containing increasingly dense black energy.
"Master!" Chen Qing gripped the old man's hand tightly.
"This master has some words you must remember."
"Please speak, Master!" Chen Qing brought his ear closer.
"First, whether Li Qingyu lives or dies, he won't appear in the short term, but you must be careful. As for today's many experts who came... Sword Lord Xiao Jiuli, though his strength is profound, is an extremely arrogant person. Without matching strength, it's very difficult to establish a true relationship with him. His intervention today was more about repaying this master's favor and honoring an agreement."
"Sect Master Duanmu Hua intervened only to repay a favor, plus matters related to Lingxiao Upper Sect's interests. Once the favor is used up, we're just strangers passing by."
"That old man Feng is after all from Taiyi Upper Sect, with a complicated position. That he could appear this time and stop Xue Li is already rare. That he doesn't kick us while we're down is already good. Don't expect too much."
Luo Zhixian said all this in one breath, his breathing even more listless, but he forced himself to hold on, extending two fingers.
"But there are two people you can trust, or rely upon."
"The first is Shen Qinghong of Lingxiao Upper Sect."
Mentioning this name, an extremely fleeting trace of complexity passed through Luo Zhixian's eyes, seeming like guilt yet also like reminiscence.
"She and this master have deep personal ties. You are my disciple. If you encounter difficulties in the future, go to Lingxiao Upper Sect to find her... Out of old affection, she will certainly look after you somewhat."
Luo Zhixian paused, his eyes growing even darker, "If you later achieve great strength... you can also help this master repay her a favor and look after her. This time I couldn't keep my appointment to go there, I hope she won't blame me."
Chen Qing nodded vigorously.
"The second person is Hua Yunfeng."
When Luo Zhixian uttered this name, his tone carried a barely perceptible sigh.
"He knows about today's events... and will certainly feel guilty. Back then, if the knot in his heart hadn't remained unresolved, if he hadn't voluntarily confined himself to Prison Peak, today's situation might not have reached this point. With guilt in his heart, he will show you extra care."
"And having previously held the position of sect master, he has also been exposed to the secrets of Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasures. If you inquire with him about deeper matters concerning the Tianbao Tower, he will tell you."
Luo Zhixian's voice grew lighter and lighter, but his speech quickened slightly.
"Originally, these secrets about Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasures should only be revealed after reaching the Grandmaster realm, but your relationship with the Tianbao Tower is extraordinary. There's no harm in knowing earlier. Go ask him... he will tell you."
"And if that Li Qingyu isn't dead, he'll certainly be a great trouble. The forces behind him, Great Snow Mountain and the Night Clan... have deeply intertwined power that's unfathomable."
Deep worry rose in Luo Zhixian's eyes, "Not something one sect's power can resist. If the situation expands in the future, the Six Great Upper Sects, even all of Yan Kingdom, might be drawn in."
"Many things are easier said than done. To truly accomplish them, who knows how much effort will be required, what price must be paid... Like this master losing his life, that's nothing unusual." He looked at Chen Qing, his gaze revealing an elder's concern.
"In this regard, don't be like this master. If the day truly comes when something cannot be done, don't let this collapsing old building... crush you to death."
These were words Luo Zhixian, solitary and upright his entire life, had never spoken before, words that bordered on retreat.
He didn't want Chen Qing to bear too much, to walk the same resolute path he had.
Chen Qing remained silent, his eyes slightly red.
Luo Zhixian seemed to want to raise his hand to wipe them away, but was already powerless.
He turned instead to continue speaking, his tone carrying regret, "This master originally planned that after returning from Lingxiao Upper Sect this time, I would help you obtain that flood dragon essence blood to completely master the Wind Snow Hidden Dragon Roar... Then, I would pass on another supreme divine technique and secret art from this master's collection... Now it seems there's no chance."
"After you return, go find my old servant. He will give you the cultivation method for that last divine technique and secret art, as well as all the notes on this master's research into the spear domain and attempts to break through to the fourth level over these years. These are all this master's legacy. Study them well."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the Meteor Star Spear lying quietly in the nearby sand.
The spear body remained simple and ancient, its dark gold patterns dim, stained with its master's blood.
"This spear has followed me for a hundred years, drunk Grandmaster blood, shattered powerful enemies' courage... Now, I pass it to you as well." Luo Zhixian's voice was as light as a sigh.
Chen Qing choked up, only able to nod vigorously.
He understood that his master's planning, from the very beginning of his schemes, had already laid groundwork for him across thousands of li.
Luo Zhixian's gaze began to scatter. He struggled to focus his vision, looking at Chen Qing one last time.
"It's a pity I couldn't personally witness Li Qingyu's death..."
His voice gradually lowered, almost inaudible.
"The martial Dao path becomes increasingly difficult the further up you go... Your future road... I fear won't be easy either..."
His eyes gradually grew cloudy, as the light and shadow of his entire life flashed by like a revolving lantern.
In his youth, he first gripped that white wax wood spear.
The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the spear tip pierced through the haze, picking up the first ray of dawn's light, illuminating the entire appearance of the jianghu.
Later he went to the northwest.
The long river met the setting sun, yellow sand filled the sky.
There, he met a woman whose eyes seemed to hold twinkling stars.
When they parted, it was spring, peach blossoms blooming brilliantly, willow catkins drifting like smoke.
For every bit of splendor in the mortal world, there is an equal measure of regret.
Afterward, Luo Zhixian made his way to Tianbao Upper Sect.
Beneath the waterfall of the cold pool, he practiced with his spear day and night.
Day after day, until he collapsed from exhaustion, the blood scabs worn into his palms forming thick calluses, layer upon layer.
Finally, the lineage master of the Nine Heavens lineage took notice of him and accepted him as a disciple.
At that time, he felt that though heaven and earth were vast, one spear was enough to measure them.
However, the sect underwent sudden changes, and he ultimately lost to Li Qingyu.
He could only watch helplessly as his master died at Li Qingyu's hands, while the traitor departed triumphantly.
For the following decades, he drifted through the jianghu, painstakingly practicing spear techniques, with only one thought remaining in his heart.
Until that battle.
The Meteor Star Spear in his hand pierced through the wind, snow, and killing intent filling the sky. The demonic head fell beneath his spear, fresh blood staining the white snow red.
The three characters 'Luo Zhixian' from then on shook all directions.
After that, for five years, he sat alone atop Thunder Listening Cliff.
Watching the sea of clouds surge and comprehending the rise and fall of spear momentum, observing lightning split the sky and capturing that fleeting instant's trajectory.
Ten types of ultimate spear intent slowly fused here, the spear domain quietly taking shape.
Yet the depression in his heart grew heavier with his advancing cultivation, a hundred years sharpening one spear, as if waiting only for one answer.
Until beside Jade Wave Pool, the moonlight like water.
The long river of the spear Dao seemed to hear a new echo in this moment.
The setting sun was lonely, but the rising sun would come again, this was an eternal truth.
A lifetime was long, yet also hurried.
Luo Zhixian's eyelids gradually grew heavy, drowsiness like lead, slowly descending.
"Mas..."
Chen Qing had just begun to speak when he felt that in the crook of his arm, the hand that had been tightly gripping his was rapidly losing strength.
That hand covered with calluses, which had once wielded the spear like a dragon, trembled lightly before finally falling powerlessly.
The wind suddenly stopped.
The yellow sand filling the sky softly fell.
Some say when a person dies, it's like a lamp being extinguished. Now this lamp had gone out.
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