Chapter 6

I crouched down, and he looked up at me, his eyes filled with unhidden pain. I patted his head and said, "I am very clear about my own body. On the day of the great calamity, perhaps... do not come looking for me again, no matter the circumstances, do not come looking for me again. After those three strikes of the soul-devouring whip, I will no longer be your master."

Yet in the end, his life was the one that I hurt the most

I ruffled his hair and said, "Let's go."

I suddenly had a thought; if I am fortunate enough to survive this heavenly thunder, perhaps I should seek out Qian Gu, unravel the curse upon him, bring him back to the summit of Kongling Mountain, and enlighten him so that he may return to the path of immortality... together we would guard the peak of Kongling, I would even be willing to...

My fingers swayed along with the willow branches, yet a voice, tinged with slight anger, rang in my ear: "The calamity is approaching, and the ethereal realm is in a state of chaos. Yet, Master remains at ease, even when the disciple arrives, he seems unaware. Such relaxation of vigilance, what does Master plan to do when the heavenly tribulation arrives?"

Having settled my mind, I no longer rush my cultivation. With only this little time for practice, I cannot recover the cultivation I have exhausted over the decades. I might as well lie by the wine pool every day, sipping wine and basking in the sun, reminiscing about my glorious past.

My heart shrinks

Three great demons have emerged from Shenzhou, each one crafted by my hand

After all, these are also... the reality... Over the years, my strength has greatly diminished. If I were to perish amidst this calamity, the seal on the source of the evil energy would surely weaken. The members of the Ethereal Sect may be able to maintain the power of the seal, but if demons were to come, the evil energy would undoubtedly intensify, and I fear that the Ethereal Sect would not be able to suppress it.

I sighed for quite a while, and after much helplessness, I had no choice but to trouble the younger members of the Ethereal Sect

But what I must do is precisely the thing he fears the most

Indeed, over the past few centuries, the ethereal has been continuously evolving. Some matters are entrusted to the younger generation, and even if they are not the ones I have personally nurtured, it is still quite reassuring.

Due to the leisurely days, I took it upon myself to calculate my fortune by counting on my fingers. To my surprise, I discovered that the first major tribulation after my ascension to immortality was approaching. At that time, during the tribulation, my celestial energy would surely diminish significantly, and the source of the malevolent energy at the pinnacle of ethereality might go awry. It would be necessary for someone to take my place and suppress the malevolent energy.

I let out a sigh: "In these past few decades, I have been tormented to the brink of death by you little rascals. Who knows if this thunder will strike me dead."

He fell silent for a moment: "Is it possible to safely pass through this calamity...?"

I left my house and, before the third bolt of tribulation lightning struck, I allowed my disciples to enter my dwelling, safeguarding the seal of the source of evil energy, while I went to the Lingxu Cave, where I established a barrier, waiting for the tribulation lightning to strike down one after another

I suddenly recalled many years ago, under the dappled sunlight of a large tree, I wiped the dirt and dust from a child's face, promising him that I would protect him for a lifetime

"Neither in the morning nor in the evening." A surge of inexplicable anger suddenly arose in my heart, and with a wave of my sleeve, I unleashed a lethal strike towards the sky, "You are deliberately seeking to make things difficult for me"

I chuckled lightly: "Qian Gu, I taught you when you were young that some things are not settled just because you say so." I formed a seal with my fingertips, and before Qian Gu could react, I suddenly stood up and pressed against his chest, my fingertips glowing as they sank into his heart. He was astonished, and I smiled lightly, "It is only valid because I said so."

On this day, the weather is clear, and I am slightly tipsy from drinking. Suddenly, a wave of wickedness comes with the wind, causing the willow branches by the wine pool to sway like a young girl dancing with a slender waist

He wanted to grasp my hand, but only caught hold of my sleeve, his dark eyes revealing an unmistakable pain: "I have spent so much effort, just to one day stand shoulder to shoulder with you, my lifelong wish, only for my master..."

I actually trained my disciples to prepare for this day, but when the day truly arrived, none of my disciples were able to stand up to the challenge

Eternal silence

The pain brought to me by the heavenly thunder surpasses that of being flayed alive, yet my mind repeatedly recalls the matters of my disciples over the past decade. Although all three of my disciples have caused me much distress, upon careful reflection, they have also brought me considerable joy. Among them, the one I think of the most is Qian Gu, after all, he is my first disciple, after all...

On the day the calamity descended, I was in my study flipping through books. By chance, I turned to a page that bore a childish note I recognized, written during my childhood in a time-honored style. The crooked characters made me involuntarily smile. As I flipped back, I found a blank page, yet it was adorned with a crude sketch of a person, depicting me sleeping with my head resting on the desk.

I turned my head to glance at him, standing beside me like a figure from ancient times, his black robe blocking the sunlight. His words, expressions, and tone were reminiscent of a long time ago, as if he were complaining that I had drunk too much wine.

The summit of Lingxu Cave was flattened by a series of powerful heavenly thunder strikes. Finally, the thunder descended upon me, and I had grown weary of expending energy to protect my physical form. I sat in meditation, closed my eyes, and devoted myself entirely to safeguarding my inner elixir.

I pushed him slightly, and he clutched his chest, his face turning pale with pain as he knelt on one knee

My fingertips grazed the slightly rough surface of the paper, when suddenly a bolt of lightning struck me from the sky. I was unharmed, but the scroll in my hand had been completely incinerated.

Upon discussing with several white-bearded elders in the sect, they immediately became even more anxious than I was, hastily ordering the entire sect to make preparations. Seeing that they were well-prepared, I felt considerably more at ease.

From then on, it could no longer be accessed.

I was momentarily stunned, and when I looked up, I saw that a bolt of heavenly thunder had created a hole in my grand hall. Through the hole, I could see the sky outside, filled with dark clouds, and the second bolt of calamity was about to strike.

For ages, Qian Gu remained silent: "I will not let anything happen to you"

I closed my eyes: "You are now deeply afflicted by malevolent energy, which can easily provoke the restless evil forces sealed beneath the ethereal realm. If you still hold even a shred of respect for me in your heart, then from now on, do not come to the ethereal realm. " I said, "I am currently stationed here and have nothing to do, but if something goes wrong during the tribulation... you, and those two disciples who have sought refuge with you, must not let them return to the ethereal realm. They must never return to the peak of the ethereal realm."

Sitting alone at the summit of the ethereal mountain, I deeply feel the pain of the empty-nest elderly.

The celestial power collided with the dark clouds, striking against the impending calamity descending from the sky, illuminating the world in a brilliant light, while outside, the disciples rushing down from the mountains gasped in astonishment

The disciple who likes me the most as a master

This is a spiritual incantation. Qian Gu, remember this pain; in the future, whenever you approach the Pinnacle of Ethereality, you will experience a pain a thousand times greater than what you feel now. Before the tribulation, I will establish a barrier at the Pinnacle of Ethereality. I am not concerned about your junior brothers and sisters being able to break in; after all, they do not possess such capability, nor will they have much desire to intrude. Only you, Qian Gu.

In recent days, I have not expressed my concerns to anyone, but at this moment, having had a bit to drink, and with the arrival of Qian Gu, I feel that if I do not speak now, I may never have the chance to do so again

Change the way we interact with each other

"Nowadays, the Ethereal Sect is extremely strict regarding my tribulations, yet you are still able to sneak in quietly. It seems your cultivation has indeed improved significantly," I said. "What brings you here today? Are you trying to tease your master again? This time, I am not poisoned, so I will not let you take advantage of me."

So many years have passed, I have heard of his iron-fisted methods in the demonic path of the martial world. I know he is a decisive person at heart, but at this moment, looking into his eyes, he seems to still be that young boy who has always been by my side. The thing I fear the most in this life is driving him away.

Though he has been possessed for ages, his cultivation ultimately cannot compare to mine. With a wave of my sleeve, he was sent out of the ethereal peak.

In this moment of ambiguity, it seems that a voice, which has endured more suffering than I, is calling out in a state of hysteria: "Master! Master! Master..."

My juniors in the ethereal school, after prolonged discussions, finally invited me to a meeting, where they tactfully expressed their hope that I would not produce another immortal, but rather that I would no longer take on disciples in the future

I have agreed

I think I probably have not survived the heavenly tribulation

I do not seek anything else; I know you have always had a sense of propriety in your heart

Before I could gather more thoughts, the final thunderbolt struck, and my consciousness fell into a haze