Chapter 266: Sun Observation, Yang Awakening

The other disciples looked up.

'Martial Uncle Changle's good friend?'

Cheng Shiyan nodded slightly and continued in a low voice. "He also said the disciples must prioritize preserving our lives. We must not die for his sake, nor provoke further conflict with Yellow Luminary Peak."

As his voice faded, the valley grew even quieter.

Still young, Hua Liuli was finally unable to hold back. Tears slipped silently down her cheeks, and she bit her lip hard, refusing to cry out loud.

Ning Ya pursed his lips tightly, lowering his head to gaze at Liu Changle's stone coffin.

Cheng Yu took a deep breath. "Even at the end, Martial Uncle was still thinking of us," he whispered.

Zhao Lingzhi nodded gently.

They all knew Liu Changle had been forcing himself to hold on for the past two years.

Ever since he clashed with that figure from Yellow Luminary Peak on the Dragon Transformation Immortal Roll to defend Sun Observation Peak, his Dao Platform had suffered severe trauma, decaying day by day thereafter.

He had never mentioned to anyone just how severe his injuries were.

He only ever said, "Sun Observation Peak will be fine. I have made arrangements."

It wasn't until the day his spiritual energy suddenly began drifting out from his secluded retreat that the disciples forced their way into the stone chamber, only to discover he had already passed away in meditation.

"Despite such a blood feud... Martial Uncle still told us not to fight..."

Zhu Qingjian shook her head.

If they stayed here, Yellow Luminary Peak would never let them off.

If they went down the mountain to become Loose Cultivators, they would inevitably be devoured by higher-level experts.

Furthermore, Sun Observation Peak still possessed a great deal of cultivation foundation...

"The cultivation world is precisely like this—ten thousand demons vying for supremacy, a hundred ghosts walking the path. The slightest misstep will leave you with a shattered body and pulverized bones," Cheng Shiyan murmured softly. He walked slowly to the front of the stone coffin, raised his hand, and gently closed the lid.

His movements were incredibly light, as if he were afraid of disturbing the person inside.

The moment the lid closed, it let out a muffled, heavy thud.

"Seal the formation," Cheng Shiyan said in a low voice.

Zhu Qingjian stood, forming hand seals to send a streak of spiritual light into the grand formation.

The formation patterns lit up one after another before fading back into silence, shielding the stone coffin within.

The six of them stood in silence for a long time.

In the end, it was Cheng Shiyan who spoke first, his voice calm. "You have all heard what the letter said. Those who are willing may go down the mountain. Those who are not... follow me to take temporary shelter."

He turned around and looked at Cheng Yu and Zhao Lingzhi.

"The two of you are still young. Although your cultivation foundations are not shallow, you haven't seen much of the world's malice. After going down the mountain, find a small market town, conceal your names, and perhaps you can live out your days in peace."

Cheng Yu kept his head down, silent for a long time.

Zhao Lingzhi was also silent.

Cheng Shiyan did not rush them.

After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Cheng Yu finally raised his head. He took a deep breath, walked up to Cheng Shiyan, and bowed deeply. "Senior Brother Cheng, I... Lingzhi and I will head down the mountain now."

His voice trembled slightly, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "For all these years, Sun Observation Peak has taken great care of us, but now..."

He couldn't finish his sentence.

But Zhu Qingjian and Cheng Shiyan exchanged a glance, naturally knowing what he meant.

Now that both of Sun Observation Peak's Dao Foundation cultivators had died and Yellow Luminary Peak was eyeing them like a hungry tiger, their identities as disciples of Sun Observation Peak had instead become a burden for Cheng Yu and Zhao Lingzhi.

Zhao Lingzhi also stepped forward and bowed to Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian.

She didn't speak, only silently lowered her head.

Cheng Shiyan looked at her without any harsh reprimand and simply nodded. "Alright. The two of you will leave tonight."

Cheng Yu and Zhao Lingzhi looked at each other and knelt down, kowtowing three times toward the stone coffin. They then bowed to Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian before getting up and walking down the mountain without looking back.

Their figures were quickly swallowed by the mountain mist.

Once the two figures completely disappeared from sight, Cheng Shiyan turned around. Only Hua Liuli and Ning Ya remained.

Hua Liuli wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and stood up straight. "I'm not leaving."

Her voice was choked with tears, yet it was unusually resolute. "I was born among refugees, rescued by Master, and raised by Sun Observation Peak. Now that the peak is in peril... I am even more unwilling to leave. Besides... if I go down the mountain to become a Loose Cultivator, won't I just be devoured clean if I fall into the hands of those higher-level experts? It's better to die on this peak. At the very least, I can guard Master and Martial Uncle's graves."

Behind her, Ning Ya added, "Me too."

Cheng Shiyan looked at them for a few breaths and finally stopped trying to persuade them.

He let out a long sigh and whispered, "But I don't know whether Martial Uncle's good friend is truly trustworthy, or if he will actually come."

Zhu Qingjian wasn't looking at them. Her gaze remained fixed on the distant ridgeline, looking at who knew what.

Right at that moment, she suddenly furrowed her brow.

"Hm?"

Noticing her reaction, Cheng Shiyan asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Zhu Qingjian didn't answer immediately. She simply raised her head slowly, looking toward the distant horizon.

There, a brilliant yellow had suddenly flared up among the clouds.

That yellow arrived extremely fast. At first, it was merely a thin, shallow halo, but in the blink of an eye, it spread rapidly like ink dropped into water, dyeing half the sky a dusky yellow.

Cheng Shiyan's pupils contracted slightly.

Hua Liuli and Ning Ya also paled.

"A cultivator is coming? Someone from Yellow Luminary Peak?"

Zhu Qingjian shook her head. "No."

Her gaze narrowed slightly. "They are coming from the direction of Cyan Pool Peak."

Before her voice even faded, a mass of mist rose up and swept closer from within that distant brilliant yellow sea of clouds.

The mist was dense and carried a heavy, oppressive aura as it churned and gathered, gradually forming the silhouette of a person.

That person came treading upon the clouds, approaching from afar before lowering his cloud right in front of Sun Observation Peak.

The newcomer was dressed in a dark cyan Daoist robe with a white jade ring bound at his waist. He had a lean face, slightly high cheekbones, and long, narrow eyes that carried a hint of shrewdness.

This person was precisely Cyan Pool Peak's cultivator, Zhao Heju.

His cultivation had already reached the Twelfth Floor of Qi Circulation, and he had formed his Dao Platform. He was originally the most outstanding figure among this generation on Cyan Pool Peak.

Compared to Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian, however, he was still somewhat inferior.

In the past, whenever he saw Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian, he would invariably cup his hands and address them as "Senior Brother" and "Senior Sister," his words always carrying a degree of politeness.

But today, Zhao Heju's expression was cold and his tone distant. Standing before Sun Observation Peak, he didn't even bow to the two of them.

He merely swept a glance over the grand formation, looked at the stone coffin, and slowly spoke. "Daoist Friend Cheng, Daoist Friend Zhu. I trust you have been well since we last met."

Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian exchanged a look.

Zhu Qingjian's face remained impassive as she simply asked, "Daoist Friend Zhao, is there a reason you have come to our Sun Observation Peak today?"

Zhao Heju stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his tone flat. "I have come under my master's orders to conduct a transaction with Sun Observation Peak."

"A transaction?" Cheng Shiyan frowned slightly. "May I ask what kind of transaction?"

Zhao Heju didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took two slow steps forward, his gaze landing on the low-lying spiritual field upon the mountainside not far away.

That spiritual field was only twelve mu in size and merely of the Fifth Grade. It was one of the last remaining assets of Sun Observation Peak.

The spiritual rice and spiritual medicine planted in the field were of passable quality. Although they couldn't compare to the fertile spiritual fields of the Upper Peaks, they were enough to support the most basic cultivation needs of Sun Observation Peak's disciples.

Further up was the main peak of Sun Observation Peak.

Coiled about the mountainside was a spiritual vein. Although it was only of the Fourth Profound grade, it was precisely this vein that made the spiritual energy on Sun Observation Peak more than twice as dense as the outside world.

Cultivators practicing upon this spiritual vein yielded twice the result with half the effort.

Zhao Heju withdrew his gaze and calmly stated, "Cyan Pool Peak is willing to offer two fifth-grade Spiritual Artifacts and five bottles of fifth-grade spiritual pills in exchange for the twelve mu of spiritual fields on Qieman Mountain, as well as that Fourth Profound spiritual vein on the main peak of Sun Observation Peak."

The moment these words came out, Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian's expressions changed.

Hua Liuli and Ning Ya couldn't help but show anger on their faces as well.

Spiritual fields and spiritual veins were the lifeblood of a peak.

With spiritual fields, one could grow spiritual plants and spiritual medicine, which gave the sect an income and provided the disciples with pills for cultivation.

The spiritual vein was even more important. It was exactly because of the spiritual vein that the spiritual energy on Sun Observation Peak was more than twice as dense as the outside world, allowing cultivators practicing there to get twice the result with half the effort.

Now that Cyan Pool Peak wanted to "trade" for Sun Observation Peak's spiritual fields and spiritual vein, it might look like a transaction on the surface, but in reality, it was looting a burning house—an attempt to embezzle Sun Observation Peak's century-old foundation.

Cheng Shiyan's expression was icy, and he didn't reply.

Suppressing her anger, Zhu Qingjian said deeply, "Daoist Friend Zhao, the spiritual fields and spiritual vein are the foundation upon which our Sun Observation Peak stands. Forgive us, but we cannot make this trade."

Zhao Heju merely shook his head slightly, his tone revealing a hint of impatience. "You don't need to be in such a hurry to refuse. This transaction is not solely the intent of my Cyan Pool Peak."

Saying that, he reached into his sleeve and took out a token.

The token was about three fingers wide and completely dark cyan, with intricate cloud patterns carved along the edges. Branded on its front was the character for "Yang."

"Sun Observation, Cyan Pool! Both are governed by [Yang Awakening Upper Peak]." Zhao Heju's tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable finality.

"This transaction has already been approved by Elder [Liu Zhi] of the Upper Peak."

Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian looked at each other, their eyes filled with both anger and shock.

An elder of Yang Awakening Upper Peak?

To think that Cyan Pool Peak could actually mobilize such a figure.

The two of them had no choice but to suppress their anger.

Cheng Shiyan said deeply, "The spiritual fields and spiritual vein are too valuable. As disciples of Sun Observation Peak, we do not have the right to execute this transaction. We still have a martial uncle in our sect who is traveling abroad, and he will be arriving in a few days. We must trouble the senior brothers of Cyan Pool Peak to go back and report this. Once that martial uncle returns, our Sun Observation Peak will send someone to extend an invitation."

These words were already an obvious concession.

Zhao Heju, however, only chuckled lightly and shook his head.

He casually tossed the token into the air.

The token hovered in mid-air, suddenly shining down a beam of white light.

Within the white light, a human figure emerged.

The moment that figure appeared, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth suddenly plummeted.

He looked rather young, appearing to be in his twenties, with a handsome face. Yet, his brow and eyes exuded a majesty completely incongruous with his age.

A layer of spiritual light, hazy with water, gleamed around his body, and faint ripples flowed around him, as if the entire world were enveloped by his aura.

Dao Foundation.

This was the magical avatar of a Dao Foundation figure.

Zhu Qingjian and Cheng Shiyan's hearts chilled simultaneously.

"It is the master of Cyan Pool Peak, Daoist Jushui."

Hua Liuli and Ning Ya also couldn't help but take a step back.

The young man looked at them quietly for a moment, then spoke.

"Sun Observation Peak has already lost in its struggle against Yellow Luminary Peak. The two Dao Foundation cultivators in your sect have both fallen. These spiritual fields and spiritual vein are extraordinary items. Since you lack the power to protect them, they will inevitably be swallowed by other Upper Peaks. Handing them over to my Cyan Pool Peak is still better than having them snatched away by a lower peak governed by some other Upper Peak."

That voice echoed in the valley, its tone undeniable.

Cheng Shiyan took a deep breath, forcing himself to say, "The spiritual fields and spiritual vein are the foundation of our Sun Observation Peak's establishment... If they are..."

"There are no 'ifs'." The figure's voice was flat, but it already carried a bit of coldness. "Since Elder Liu Zhi has given his consent, this is no longer a matter you can refuse."

After he finished speaking, the beam of white light slowly withdrew, sinking back into the token.

Zhao Heju reached out to catch the falling token. Looking up at Zhu Qingjian and Cheng Shiyan, a hint of smugness showed in his eyes.

"Daoist Friend Cheng, Daoist Friend Zhu, you both understand the Upper Peak's intentions by now. If you still have any misunderstandings, you naturally can go to Yang Awakening Upper Peak to seek advice and ask."

He paused, his voice dropping slightly lower. "Two Dao Foundation cultivators have fallen, and who knows where that martial uncle of yours is. Even though the spiritual fields and spiritual vein are precious, beneath this Dragon-Revering Sect, you simply cannot protect them."

He smiled slightly. "Rather than waiting for another Upper Peak to forcefully seize them in the future, it is better to take this chance to exchange them for some practical benefits now. This is already a grace from Elder Liu Zhi."

Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian didn't respond.

They knew what Zhao Heju said was the truth.

The Upper Peaks were exalted. Just those two words alone were enough to suppress all their struggles.

The Dragon-Revering Sect had nearly two hundred peaks, twenty-eight of which were Upper Peaks.

Becoming an Upper Peak meant having a Dao Foundation Perfection cultivator under its banner, possessing a Second Grade Spiritual Artifact, as well as Second Grade spiritual fields and a Second Profound spiritual vein, or even having more than five Dao Foundation cultivators.

Even beyond this Dragon-Revering Territory, placed in the vast Land of Nine Palaces, they would be considered behemoths.

Now that an elder of an Upper Peak had spoken, Sun Observation Peak likely wouldn't be able to keep these spiritual fields and spiritual vein.

Seeing them stay silent, the smile on Zhao Heju's face deepened a few degrees.

He turned around as if to leave, but then suddenly stopped and looked back. "You had best think quickly. Elder Liu Zhi's patience is no greater than that of the person from Yellow Luminary Peak."

Having finished speaking, he prepared to tread upon the clouds and leave.

Cheng Shiyan and Zhu Qingjian both remained silent.

Zhu Qingjian lowered her head. Her gaze landed on the stone coffin, and she stayed silent for a long time.

She remembered the phrase "prioritize preserving your lives" from Liu Changle's letter.

She remembered the promise to "protect Sun Observation Peak" that she had just made before the stone coffin.

She gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "If we cannot hold onto the spiritual fields and spiritual vein, staying in the Dragon-Revering Territory will only become increasingly difficult. With the cultivators of Yellow Luminary Peak looking down on us so aggressively, it seems... it is time to take our junior martial brothers and sisters and leave the Dragon-Revering Territory."

Before she could finish her sentence, a streak of lightning suddenly exploded in the distance.

The lightning arrived incredibly fast. Almost the instant it exploded, it tore across the horizon and cleaved through the clouds, illuminating the entire brilliant-yellow-stained sky in a stark white.

Where the lightning passed, a human figure was illuminated within the void.