Chapter 105: Departing Down the Mountain

Chapter 105:

“Your aptitude is even better than I anticipated; it’s likely not just a simple mid-grade spiritual root. I suspect you may possess some hidden constitution. With such a special constitution, achieving Foundation Establishment should pose no significant challenges for you.”

Chen Luo remained silent.

He didn’t have any hidden constitution but rather harbored a multitude of hidden knowledge within his mind.

However, explaining this would be difficult, so he decided to let them assume it was indeed a hidden constitution.

“I wish for you to deliver this painting to Northriver Village in the Luxury Nation and give it to a family named Qi. If they have descendants with spiritual roots, take one as your disciple and guide them on the path of cultivation. If not, consider it fate’s end, and you may leave freely.”

With a wave of Daoist Wuwei’s hand, the scroll gently floated into Chen Luo’s hands.

“This painting contains my insights from breaking through to Foundation Establishment, serving as an advance payment for your task,” explained Daoist Wuwei.

As Chen Luo accepted the scroll, he could distinctly feel its extraordinary nature. It now made sense why there were significantly fewer paintings in the cultivation room—Daoist Wuwei had been gifting them away.

The only question was whether Bai Su, who left earlier, received one too. And if she did, what task did Daoist Wuwei entrust her with?

“You should depart today. Your mission has already been arranged.”

After handing over the scroll, Daoist Wuwei seemed to have resolved a karmic entanglement, appearing visibly relieved.

“The sect may not necessarily face calamity. After accumulating resources for so many years, the sect leader undoubtedly has hidden cards unknown even to me. If we can endure this crisis, you should return then, and I will accept you as an Inner Sect disciple.”

“Shizun, aren’t you leaving?” Chen Luo asked, unable to resist, as he placed the scroll into his bag of holding and glanced at Daoist Wuwei.

Earlier, Daoist Wuwei had made it clear that there was no deep attachment between him and the sect. Now, having allowed his disciple to depart, why wouldn’t he leave himself? If the peak lords of Tianming Peak and Tianlu Peak could depart, there was no reason for the peak lord of Wu Dao Peak not to do the same.

Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile appeared on Daoist Wuwei’s face.

“It’s true that my bond with the sect is minimal, but Wu Dao Peak was left to me by my teacher. In the path of cultivation, there are always things one cares deeply about.”

Chen Luo fell silent upon these words.

He bowed respectfully to Daoist Wuwei and subsequently took his leave.

As the main hall doors slowly closed behind him, Chen Luo felt a mix of emotions.

Daoist Wuwei might not have been an ideal Shizun, but he was indeed a person with depth and substance. He had his own convictions and cherished values, which evidently outweighed his own life.

Leaving the main hall, Chen Luo returned to the cemetery at the rear of the mountain.

Afterward, he gathered his belongings: placing the pill furnace and some medicinal herbs from the alchemy room into his bag of holding, along with additional materials for drawing talismans.

“Dear fellow Shixiong, may we meet again if fate allows.”

Standing amidst the cemetery, Chen Luo glanced at the surrounding graves and silently bid them farewell.

He had initially thought he would spend a significant amount of time at the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, never expecting to leave just after one year.

The seeds of trouble within the sect were sown long ago. Influenced by self-interest, those in power chose to overlook the signs. Perhaps they believed that with a Pill Formation patriarch present, no harm could come. Often, it is only at the eleventh hour that one realizes the severity of what was neglected.

With his belongings packed, Chen Luo visited the Mission Hall to accept an assignment for guarding outside the sect.

Elder Brother Huang, who used to issue tasks, was nowhere to be seen. It was unclear whether he had already gone down the mountain last year or if, like Chen Luo, he took up a mission to depart now.

Token in hand, Chen Luo first headed to the Blue Rain Pavilion.

Huang Ying was still awaiting his response; he couldn’t waste her time. He had matters to attend to himself and thus couldn’t accompany her immediately. Moreover, being not truly from the Luxury Nation, even if he went with Huang Ying, he wouldn’t know where to find his home.

“Take care, Shixiong,” Huang Ying bid farewell to Chen Luo.

“You too.”

After a moment’s thought, Chen Luo retrieved a bottle containing high-grade Qi Nourishing Pills and handed it to Huang Ying. Since their entry into the sect, this shimei had been immensely helpful to him. Without Huang Ying, his path in cultivation would not have been so smooth. Although she also benefited significantly along the way, Chen Luo believed these gains were rightfully earned through her abilities. Even without him, she could have achieved similar success; it was merely a matter of degree.

“This is…” Huang Ying’s pupils slightly widened.

As soon as she saw the medicinal pills, she realized instantly that her elder brother hadn’t abandoned pill concocting but had already become an alchemist. This further strengthened her belief that Chen Luo would indeed reach Foundation Establishment. Being both a first-rank talisman master and alchemist, with such skills, he could forge his own path towards greatness, irrespective of the sect’s support.

“Focus on your cultivation diligently. In the cultivation world, strength is fundamental.”

“Shixiong, I…”

Holding the porcelain bottle, a wave of emotion flickered in Huang Ying’s eyes.

She opened her mouth instinctively, yet when words reached her lips, she found herself at a loss for what to say.

“What is it?”

“Just take care of yourself.”

“I will, you too.”

The wind blew gently as they parted ways, each heading on their separate journeys.

In the end, they would part ways as strangers.

After bidding farewell to Huang Ying, Chen Luo visited the Merit Bestowal Grounds one last time and purchased some items using his remaining spirit stones. It was uncertain when he’d have such affordable opportunities again after leaving the mountain this time.

On the Merit Bestowal Grounds, several newly admitted disciples were diligently practicing their cultivation.

For them, the turmoil outside seemed distant, with many not even aware of it.

Chen Luo spotted the young disciple who had asked him for directions earlier. Since joining the sect, his cultivation base had advanced significantly, now reaching the second level of Qi Refinement. However, at this strength, in the face of a sect-level war, he was no different from an ordinary person. One could only wonder how the sect would plan to protect them.

Chen Luo didn’t engage further; he himself was already vulnerable. The most he could do was subtly remind these newcomers to stock up on resources. This was the extent of what he felt capable of doing.

With his spirit stones nearly depleted, Chen Luo turned to descend the mountain.

This time, he truly was leaving.

Halfway down, at the site where the broken cliff once stood, Chen Luo effortlessly leaped across to the opposite side. Although still in the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, unable to fully command sword flight, he could manage short aerial movements. What once required a suspension bridge was now easily traversed without need.

Indeed, he had grown stronger.

“Leaving the mountain, youngster?” a voice called out.

Following the sound, Chen Luo saw Xianhe Chengfeng perched atop the peculiar rock, just as before.

The lifespan of a demonic beast far exceeds that of human cultivators. Xianhe Chengfeng, despite being only a second-stage demonic beast, had already surpassed the typical lifespan limit of Foundation Establishment cultivators, living for over six hundred years. He practically grew up within the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, raised by the previous generation’s sect leader from Wu Dao Peak. Everyone on Wu Dao Peak referred to Xianhe Chengfeng as a second-generation disciple, and this was no exaggeration.

“Greetings, Uncle-Master Chengfeng.”

Chen Luo paused, respectfully bowing to Xianhe Chengfeng. He still remembered the aid provided during their joint mission.

“Going down the mountain is well and good, but…”

As he observed the respectful Chen Luo before him, Xianhe Chengfeng suddenly felt a sense of emptiness. Leaving his unspoken words hanging, he flew back onto the peculiar rock, standing on one foot with eyes closed, seeking respite.

There were many things he could not change, nor did he possess the ability to alter them.

For Chen Luo, Wu Dao Peak served as a place to seek immortality and learn divine techniques. But for Xianhe Chengfeng, it was home—just like Daoist Wuwei, he never left, choosing instead to remain behind.

“Take care, uncle-master.”

With another bow, Chen Luo turned and began descending the mountain.

After a long moment, Xianhe Chengfeng opened his eyes, watching Chen Luo fade into the distance, and murmured:

“Don’t forget to come back and visit.”