Chapter 95: Chapter 95 - The Stagnation Salve and the Ancestral Sanctum

Su Bai returned to Clear Cloud Peak.

He entered his hut and closed the door.

For the next three days, the winners were allowed to rest before the sect summoned them again for special training.

For a moment, the surroundings became quiet.

Su Bai sat down at his table and let out a slow breath.

After a while, Su Bai opened his system inventory.

Earlier, he had taken the opportunity to sign in at the training ground. Now, inside his system inventory, a small jade container had appeared.

Su Bai looked at it.

[Stagnation Salve]

[Description: A high-grade medicinal salve smeared on the body to forcibly numb the muscles and suppress Qi circulation. It makes the user incredibly sluggish.]

Su Bai stared at the description for a moment, then he nodded.

He knew this item.

Stagnation Salve was not a low-level medicine. In fact, it was difficult to refine because the effect had to be controlled carefully.

If it was too weak, it would not suppress the Qi properly.

If it was too strong, it might damage the meridians or leave the patient half-paralyzed for several days.

Normally, healers used it on wounded disciples whose Qi was unstable. It could numb the muscles, slow down circulation, and prevent energy from running wild while injuries were treated.

To ordinary disciples, it was an indirect life-saving medicine.

To Su Bai...

It was probably direct assistance.

Su Bai carefully stored the Stagnation Salve.

At that moment, a familiar presence appeared outside the hut.

Su Bai immediately stood up and walked out.

Lu Canghai was already standing in the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

"Master," Su Bai greeted, clasping his hands and bowing.

Then he said sincerely, "This disciple has achieved victory. Thank you for training me these past days."

Lu Canghai looked at him, then the old man’s lips slowly curled.

"My disciple," he said, "you won without fighting. Why do you look somewhat disappointed?"

Su Bai froze.

For a moment, he was actually speechless.

Lu Canghai stared at him for a breath longer, then he burst into laughter.

"Gahaha! You used to avoid trouble like it had teeth, but now you are disappointed no one chose to bite you."

Su Bai coughed softly.

"Master, this disciple only wanted to test the results of training."

"Of course," Lu Canghai said, still laughing. "A very righteous excuse."

Su Bai decided not to answer.

Lu Canghai finally waved his hand.

"Do not worry. You will have your fill of fighting during the gathering of factions. Those bastards always turn everything into a competition."

Su Bai’s expression changed slightly.

For some reason, those words did not comfort him.

Lu Canghai saw his expression and laughed again.

The two stood beneath the old pine tree.

For a while, Lu Canghai asked about the competition. Su Bai answered honestly, though he carefully avoided mentioning anything too strange about wanting to breathe more poisonous mist.

Lu Canghai did not expose him. That was the mercy of a good master.

After a while, Su Bai asked, "Master, how will the sect train us next?"

Lu Canghai’s eyes changed.

Instead of answering immediately, he looked at Su Bai for a long moment.

Then he asked, "You brat, what exactly did you do at Slumbering Ancestor Peak?"

Su Bai paused. He did not understand how this question was related to the sect’s training.

Still, he answered.

"Master means the Twilight Qi?"

Lu Canghai’s eyelids twitched.

Su Bai continued calmly, "This disciple found a way to absorb the Twilight Qi there. So I absorbed what I could." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Lu Canghai stared at him.

Su Bai thought for a moment, then added, "Afterward, the atmosphere of the peak seemed cleaner."

The courtyard became quiet.

Lu Canghai’s mouth opened slightly. Then closed. Then opened again.

For a rare moment, the old man looked genuinely speechless.

Lu Canghai stared at him for several breaths.

Then he suddenly laughed.

"Gahaha! Good! Good! As expected of my disciple!"

The old man slapped his thigh.

Then Lu Canghai stroke his beard and say, "Do you know what the Twilight Qi was doing to the ancestors?"

Su Bai shook his head.

"I only knew it was harmful."

"Harmful, yes," Lu Canghai said. "But also inevitable. The ancestors are old. Their vitality leaks, their lifespan decays, and their bodies are already close to the end. The Twilight Qi gathered around them because of that decay, but once it became too dense, it also worsened the leakage."

Su Bai understood. It was like a wound attracting rot, and then the rot making the wound worse.

Lu Canghai continued, "After you absorbed the Twilight Qi, the decay surrounding them lessened. Their remaining lifespan stopped leaking so quickly."

Su Bai froze.

"So..."

"You helped extend their remaining years," Lu Canghai said.

Su Bai fell silent.

He had gone there to sign in and absorb useful energy. In the end, he had accidentally preserved the ancestors.

His expression became strange.

’Their shelf life had been extended...’

Su Bai corrected his thoughts.

’Their honorable remaining lifespan had been stabilized.’

Still, the meaning was the same.

He should probably visit regularly to keep them fresh.

’No. To help maintain their condition.’

Lu Canghai did not know what Su Bai was thinking. If he knew, he might have slapped him with a cloud palm.

The old man continued, "Because of this, the ancestors agreed to open the Ancestral Sanctum."

Su Bai looked up.

"Ancestral Sanctum?"

Lu Canghai nodded.

"It is a sealed dimension belonging to Radiant Sky Sect. Its entrance is located within Slumbering Ancestor Peak."

Su Bai was stunned.

He had never heard of this. There had been no record of it in the Grand Archives.

Seeing his confusion, Lu Canghai said, "Do not be surprised. The Ancestral Sanctum is not something everyone can know. Even most elders only know the name, not the details."

Su Bai listened seriously.

Lu Canghai’s voice became slower.

"The Ancestral Sanctum is a controlled artificial dimension built by the sect’s founders. It is not a natural Mystic Realm. It belongs entirely to the sect."

Su Bai’s eyes moved.

"It is only opened during absolute emergencies, major sect milestones, or when the sect decides to train disciples with extraordinary potential," Lu Canghai said.

Su Bai asked, "Is it difficult to open?"

"Very difficult," Lu Canghai said. "The seal requires an unimaginable amount of pure ancient Qi to unlock. If the Sect Master tried to open it by himself, he would be drained dry."

Su Bai’s expression turned serious.

Lu Canghai continued, "Only the ancestors can open it safely, but even for them, doing so requires burning a portion of their remaining lifespan."

Su Bai’s brows moved.

"Lifespan?"

"A few months at least," Lu Canghai said. "Sometimes more, depending on how long the Sanctum remains open."

Su Bai fell silent.

That was not a small price. For old ancestors already near the end of their lives, even a few months could be precious.

Lu Canghai saw his expression and smiled.

"Do not look so heavy. Before, opening it would have been costly. Now, thanks to you, the ancestors have preserved far more than that."

He stroked his beard.

"You gave them years. Spending a few months to train the five disciples entering the Mystic Realm is something they accepted willingly."

Su Bai finally understood.

The sect’s special training was possible because the Slumbering Ancestor Peak had changed.

This was not merely a reward. It was a return of favor.

Su Bai nodded seriously.

"Then this disciple should visit Slumbering Ancestor Peak regularly."

Lu Canghai looked at him.

Su Bai continued, "If Twilight Qi gathers again, I can absorb it."

Lu Canghai laughed.

"Gahaha! If you do that, the ancestors may become so happy they open the Ancestral Sanctum every year."

Su Bai smiled helplessly.

He knew his master was exaggerating.

Probably.

Lu Canghai leaned back and continued, "As for what is inside the Sanctum, you should know a little before entering."

Su Bai sat straighter.

Lu Canghai raised one finger.

"First, the Qi inside is extremely dense. It has been sealed and compressed for centuries. In some areas, the Qi has condensed into liquid pools."

Su Bai’s eyes brightened.

Lu Canghai raised a second finger.

"Second, the walls of the Sanctum contain the original inheritances of the founders. The original martial arts, cultivation insights, and Dao carvings left behind when the sect was first established."

Su Bai’s expression became more serious.

Lu Canghai raised a third finger.

"Third, there are specialized environments inside. Elemental biomes created by the founders to temper disciples."

He looked at Su Bai.

"Lightning zones. Lava chambers. Extreme cold regions. Heavy pressure caverns. Wind corridors. Sword scar cliffs. Poison marshes."

Su Bai’s eyes slowly changed.

Lu Canghai continued, "Those biomes are controlled for training, but controlled does not mean safe. They are designed to force breakthroughs, sharpen techniques, and expose weaknesses."

Su Bai nodded.

That was exactly what he needed.

A good environment.

For ordinary disciples, this was harsh training.

For Su Bai, this was a buffet with rules.

Lu Canghai added, "Finally, the Ancestral Sanctum also serves as the sect’s last refuge. If Radiant Sky Sect ever faces destruction, the Sanctum can become a hidden bunker for disciples, inheritances, and elders."

Su Bai’s heart moved slightly.

So it was not merely a training ground.

It was also the sect’s final shelter.

That made sense.

A sect that had lasted for so long would naturally have a place like that.

Su Bai looked toward the distant direction of Slumbering Ancestor Peak.

For the first time since the competition ended, his mood became clear.

Su Bai slowly smiled.

This was exactly what he needed