Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 699 - 629 Shattered Heart

"I should go now."

Jun Qianzi turned his palm sideways, revealing four Fierce Explosion Divine Talismans that had been hidden between his fingers all along. If Lian Xuanyao made any move, he would activate all the talismans, directing the explosive power in four different directions. Even if Lian Xuanyao managed to break away from suppressing the flood disaster and kill him in the blink of an eye, it would still be impossible to intercept all four Divine Talismans. The surviving common people of Xingzhou, the cultivators from the Academic Palace who came to support the garrison, and the civilians from nearby states and counties would inevitably suffer heavy casualties.

Using the Divine Talismans as a threat, Jun Qianzi descended towards the transparent corridor below, lining up with Zhao Ming and the others.

Lian Xuanyao looked down at them calmly from above.

SWOOSH—

Streaks of light sped forth. Imperial Palace Tributor Shen Tuyu and Garrison Commander Lin Hongbo led their men, arriving rapidly. Without a word, both drew their swords and slashed at the corridor. Sword Qi crisscrossed, tearing through the sky.

Feng He, shrouded in black armor, drew the giant sword at his waist with one hand, instantaneously unleashing two hundred-meter-long slashes of Sword Qi to counteract them.

With the explosion’s roar and the surging wave of energy, the translucent corridor finally dissipated, and the figures of Zhao Ming and the others standing within it vanished completely.

"..."

Shen Tuyu braked hastily, his figure suspending in the air where the corridor had been, his expression nearing distortion. The Chaotic Wind had destroyed spiritual energy communication in several areas and sealed off most long-distance probing methods. After receiving the news, they rushed to Xingzhou without delay. Seeing the breached embankments along the upstream sections of the Yellow River on their way, they desperately accelerated, only to find they were still a step too late.

"Jun Qianzi is also a person from Yu Country! How could he go to such lengths?!" Qi Ji, the Vice Commander of the Town Patrol Office, couldn’t help but speak with a trembling voice as he looked down at the vast yellow floodwaters and the completely erased Xingzhou City.

No one answered. Veins throbbed on the back of Shen Tuyu’s sword-holding hand. After a moment, he finally relaxed his grip, squeezing out two words through gritted teeth, "Rescue people."

"Mm."

Lin Hongbo nodded and efficiently began issuing orders, directing everyone to partake in rescue efforts. Cultivators dived towards the water below in search of survivors, bringing them to nearby hills with higher terrain for refuge. Some cultivators even tried to use water-pumping magic to channel the floodwater into underground tunnels as quickly as possible. However, they found it had little effect; the floodwaters contained a significant amount of Nine Nether water, which was highly resistant to magic and difficult to influence or interfere with. This left them no choice but to switch tactics and reinforce the embankments instead.

"Master."

Shen Tuyu flew towards the Mountain Master, filled with guilt and about to say something, when he was shocked to see Light Dust continuously falling from Lian Xuanyao’s sleeves. He felt as if struck by lightning, a strangled sound catching in his throat.

Lian Xuanyao smiled gently. No longer caring whether the charred, wretched state of his arm was exposed, he elegantly sheathed his sword. "Help me down."

He descended slowly, leaving the Gang Wind Layer, and with Shen Tuyu’s support, landed on the hilltop of Ta’an Village.

More and more people arrived: not just Xi Yangyu and Chen Danqiu, who had stayed behind at the Academic Palace, but also Su Feng, Cui Yixian, and others who had been on the East Sea Heavenly Battleship.

Amid the peach blossoms in the woods, the Mountain Master sat on a broken, fallen, dry tree trunk. His face was calm, surrounded by people whose expressions were heavy with grief. Formless, radiant particles of Light Dust continuously fell from the Mountain Master’s sleeves. Beneath him, the deadwood, as if receiving heavenly dew, sprouted new buds from its cracked bark. These buds grew and flowered in an extremely short time. The scent of flowers spread, and the atmosphere was tranquil, yet the expressions on the faces of Xi Yangyu and the others grew even more sorrowful.

The yellow-robed eunuch who had arrived with the Imperial Palace Tributors stepped forward a few paces, bowed deeply, and spoke softly, "His Majesty is on his way."

"Mm." The Mountain Master nodded, then turned to address the people from the Academic Palace. "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all determined by heaven. Don’t look so mournful. There are some things I need to instruct you on.

"During our recent conflict, I investigated the auras of everyone in Zhao Ming. Jun Qianzi’s realm in talismanic study has reached the pinnacle. The next time you encounter him, you must be extra cautious. Perhaps you can use Abnormality One, Fifteen from Dongjun Tower to counteract him.

"That cultivator named Feilian is over seventy years old; his body rejuvenated due to practicing the Zhou Kingdom’s Chu Gui Skill.

"However, this rejuvenation is only superficial and doesn’t affect his lifespan. Moreover, casting the skill vigorously in a short period will cause his physical age to rapidly regress.

"Next time you encounter him, you can try to drag out the fight..." His voice remained calm as he dictated the arrangements for after his death. "After I die, Chen Danqiu will succeed me. All matters of the Academic Palace shall be decided by him."

"Teacher," Chen Danqiu said, his eyes bloodshot, clearly not caring about these arrangements. "Let’s go back to Dongjun Tower. There must be a way to interrupt the Heavenly Person Five Decays!"

"It’s too late." The Mountain Master shook his head and chuckled softly, but then he coughed violently. The blood he coughed up turned into points of light and evaporated before it even hit the ground. Not only that, but the skin on the back of his hand also began to peel off, inch by inch, scattering in the wind.

HUMMM—

A stream of light descended. Emperor Yu, accompanied by a group of Imperial Palace Tributors, landed in the forest. Witnessing the scene, grief welled up in the Emperor, and he said sorrowfully, "Mountain Master, your student has arrived too late."

"Your Majesty, please rise." The Mountain Master extended his hand, releasing a faint telekinetic force to stop Emperor Yu’s gesture of respect.

In those years, when the Holy Empress took charge of the court, she ruthlessly persecuted members of the Li Yu Royal Family to consolidate her rule, showing no mercy even to her own descendants. At that time, Emperor Yu, merely the son of a Prince, was so clever and sharp as a child that the Holy Empress’s nephews listed him among those to be wary of. He nearly died under mysterious circumstances.

At a critical moment, he took refuge in the home of Lian Xuanyao, who was then the Academic Palace Director. By performing the disciple’s rites and being accepted into the Academic Palace, he narrowly escaped disaster.

For Emperor Yu, the Mountain Master was a kindly elder, but also much more. He was a great umbrella shielding against wind and rain, a colossal mountain standing firm against the heavens. No matter the hardship, as long as the Mountain Master was there, the sky of Yu Country would not collapse.

「Until now.」

"Your Majesty," the Mountain Master said warmly, "there are some matters I would like to advise you on."

"Please speak, Teacher," Emperor Yu replied with utmost solemnity. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Firstly, Taihao Mountain cannot be trusted," the Mountain Master said, his voice grave. "Yu Country, along with Zhou, Jing, the Turkic states, and other nations, are being provoked into conflict by Taihao Mountain. War is inevitable. No compromise, concession, or appeasement can change Taihao Mountain’s determination to destroy us—to annihilate the Academic Palace and obliterate Yu Country."

"...Your student understands."

Actually, Emperor Yu had never understood why Taihao Mountain was so insistent on waging war, but hearing this, he could only nod.

"Secondly, Taihao Mountain and Zhao Ming are aligned in their goal of destroying Yu Country. In fact, Zhao Ming’s operations may very well have received aid from Taihao Mountain."

The Mountain Master coughed, then continued, "Although Zhao Ming and the others are said to have used underground tunnels to infiltrate the heartland of Yu Country, consider this: for them to work unceasingly for over a decade, constructing beneath the states and counties of Yu Country, all without detection by the garrison and without leaving any trace, there must be collaborators within the court assisting them, helping to cover their tracks.

"There are traitors among the high-ranking court officials. Not just one, but a group—including those who seem the least likely to betray Yu Country.

"Please be extra cautious, Your Majesty."

This statement alone was enough to stir a tempest in the court of Yu Country. Emperor Yu nodded gravely. "Your student understands."

"Thirdly..." The Mountain Master paused, words catching in his throat. He looked around at his gathered disciples. A fiery will to defend Yu Country burned in all their eyes; they were fully capable of taking up his banner and carrying on his legacy.

There was no need for further admonitions. After finishing these last few matters, he would trust them.

With the support of his disciples, the Mountain Master slowly stood and walked towards the outskirts of the peach grove. With every step, another crack appeared on his body.

CRACK—

The Mountain Master stopped and looked down at his chest. His chest had split open. Skin and clothes alike disintegrated into ash, revealing a heart riddled with holes, its vessels formed entirely of spiritual energy, which alone sustained the flow of blood within.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

Footsteps sounded. Li Ang, soaked to the bone, approached from down the mountain. He had suppressed his injuries and had just climbed up from deep within the earth. Seeing the Light Dust continually falling from the Mountain Master’s body, his throat constricted, rendering him speechless.

Even Mo Si’s magic could not heal a collapse rooted in the Divine Soul.

The Mountain Master lifted his head, a gentle smile on his face. "Can one live with a broken heart?"

Memories long sealed surfaced in his mind. Without waiting for Li Ang to reply, he laughed heartily, pushed away the supporting hands of his disciples, and soared into the sky, flying eastward.