Chapter 930 - 654: Awakening

Whoosh——

The mountain wind carried a chill, rustling the wind banner.

Batu lay on the luxurious fur-covered stone bed, eyes closed, breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible, his face ashen, his whole being exuding a sense of impending death.

Since he had suddenly collapsed in a faint, the entire Mountain City descended into chaos.

The highly respected Great Shaman in the city had rushed over, placing his bony fingers on Batu’s pulse, leaning close to his nose to check his breath, and inspecting his complexion and eyes, meticulously gauging his life force and blood flow.

After a thorough examination, the Great Shaman furrowed his brows tightly and looked at Zashi and the others gathered around, shaking his head gravely.

"Beyond saving, prepare for his final arrangements."

As these words were spoken, the whole audience fell into instant silence.

All the descendants wore mournful expressions, heads lowered, brows furrowed, many secretly shedding tears, quietly sobbing.

Yet within this sorrow, each person’s thoughts were different.

Only Zashi stood at the front, his heart suddenly sinking, fingertips trembling uncontrollably, truly fearful, his heart filled with reluctance.

In private, Chen Sheng was his dear grandfather, who nurtured and protected him after his father’s early death, a debt as heavy as a mountain.

Publicly, their family had grown too powerful, dominating the mountains, with branches and bloodlines scattered, overseeing a hundred villages, even holding some respect in the Great Feather Grotto Heaven.

This entire foundation relied on his grandfather as the Stabilizing Needle; otherwise, the Immortal Envoys who emerged from the clan would not hold him in esteem.

Zashi was able to remain steadily in the position of heir and suppress the various powers within the clan, all because of his grandfather’s support.

If his grandfather truly left, those with ulterior motives in the clan would certainly seize the chance to divide power and exert constraints, especially those villages that had produced Immortal Envoys.

Even though he had prepared much over the years, he still felt uncertain inside.

It’s not that he didn’t understand the art of maneuvering; it’s just that this region ultimately belongs to the cultivators.

Only his grandfather was special; though a mortal, as the bloodline’s origin, he could exert influence over the clan’s Immortal Envoys.

From the bottom of his heart, he didn’t want his grandfather to pass away in the slightest.

The descendants and grandchildren standing behind, their faces drenched in tears, had eyes concealing barely detectable undercurrents.

Everyone acted like devoted grandchildren, posing appropriately, yet in their hearts, many secretly wished for the old man to let go and depart.

Once the old man was gone, the Mountain City’s power structure would be reshuffled, creating a chance to divide power, share resources, and weaken Zashi’s control, each seeking their own benefits.

The sordidness of large families never changes.

Even in ordinary households, the elderly’s passing often brings family divisions and inheritance disputes, let alone a powerful clan dominating a territory like the Mountain City?

Amidst everyone’s hidden intentions.

The throat of the Old City Lord on the stone bed gently moved as he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his eyelids subtly twitching, unexpectedly beginning to open.

"Grandpa! You’re awake?!"

Zashi rushed forward, his eyes instantly reddening, filled with shock and joy.

He hurriedly picked up the shaman medicine soup already prepared, cautiously lifting the elder’s back, placing soft sable skin beneath, speaking gently:

"Grandpa, don’t move around, drink the medicine first to hold onto your Primordial Qi and stabilize your body."

He didn’t know this aged body already housed a different consciousness.

Chen Sheng half-opened his eyes, taking in the expressions and thoughts of those around him.

He appeared calm, with no stir of emotion, fully understanding that in a large family, warmth was wrapped in interests, filial piety concealed calculations—not surprising.

He slowly raised his hand, his face seemingly regaining a touch of gentle red:

"I’m fine... all of you may leave."

As these words came out, the surrounding clan members glanced at each other, unwilling to move an inch.

Everyone remembered the Great Shaman’s earlier sentence of death.

At this moment, they assumed it was the glow before dying, none willing to leave first, maintaining the appearance of filial piety.

"Grandpa, we won’t leave, let us stay with you on your final journey."

"Yes, Grandfather, while you were unconscious, our hearts were always on edge, how could we leave just like that."

"Let us stay to accompany you."

Everyone echoed, each word under the guise of filial piety.

Chen Sheng shook his head, this body was too old, energy withered, and he felt too lazy to argue with these posturing juniors, closing his eyes.

He allowed them to stay by his side, babbling about village trivialities and street gossip.

In the blink of an hour.

The previously ashen-faced, barely breathing Chen Sheng visibly regained his vitality.

The lifeless gray-white of his face faded, increasingly showing a gentle, healthy glow, his eyes clearing from murkiness to brightness and spirit, his breath steady and long—where was there any trace of near death?

The sorrow on the clan members’ faces gradually froze, their expressions shifting from sadness to confusion, evolving into complete astonishment.

They instinctively turned their heads, all eyes landing on the nearby Great Shaman.

The Great Shaman’s face stiffened abruptly, old face suddenly flushing with shame and heat, becoming utterly uneasy.

His eyes were full of bewildered doubt, secretly frowning in thought:

"It shouldn’t be, the pulse was clearly nonexistent, Divine Soul dispersed, lifespan exhausted, the death signs clear."

"How does he now seem even more vigorous, blood and energy consolidated, not at all like a dying person?"

Faced with the collective gaze, the Great Shaman could only muster his courage, slowly stepping forward to place his bony fingers on Chen Sheng’s pulse again, focusing on re-examining.

Moments later, he withdrew his hand, coughed dryly, feigning calm with awkwardness, reluctantly covering up:

"The Old City Lord truly is blessed, with steadfast life force, miraculously surviving the brush with death, his Primordial Qi gradually stabilizing."

With these words, the atmosphere in the hall grew subtly intense.

Those who had squeezed forward, deliberately emotional and feigned sorrowful juniors, felt a rush of resentment inside.

They silently blamed the Great Shaman for having poor vision and inadequate medical skills, arbitrarily pronouncing death, causing them to stage a futile farewell performance, inadvertently revealing some of their thoughts.

Only Zashi breathed a long sigh of relief, the heart that had been suspended in mid-air finally resting.

As long as Grandpa was alive, the Mountain City’s foundation was stable, his power position was secure, and those with hidden agendas in the clan would have to continue keeping a low profile.

He turned to the others, his expression serious, speaking in a deep voice:

"Family members, Grandpa is fine now and needs quiet rest and peace of mind."

"Please all step out for now, avoid causing noise and disturbance, leave Grandpa to rest and recuperate in peace."

Seeing this, everyone had no choice but to leave, carrying their varying thoughts, bowing out one by one, gradually leaving the room.

Seeing this, everyone had no choice but to leave, carrying their varying thoughts, bowing out one by one, gradually leaving the room.

Zashi was the last to rise, giving a respectful bow: "Grandpa, I’ll take my leave now."

Chen Sheng only gave a slight nod, saying no more.

Zashi slowly turned, reaching out to close the wooden door.

"Squeak——"

A soft sound, the door closed.

The room, thoroughly quieted down.

Finally... I am alone.

Chen Sheng let out a long exhale, his whole body relaxing.

Leaning on the bed, his gaze fell on the empty doorway, beginning to slowly replay events in his mind.

This lifetime of his had a status comparable to a worldly emperor, yet indulged in pleasures until the very end of his lifespan, before developing an obsession with cultivation.

"Truly a mediocrity!"

Chen Sheng lightly sighed in his heart, never expecting that in this world, he would be such an unambitious character.

In this world’s cultivation, one needs a Spiritual Orifice, just as cultivation in the Spirit Realm requires a Spiritual Root.

"Due to lacking a Spiritual Orifice, indulgence in enjoyment, abandoning cultivation, haven’t you heard that Heaven always leaves a way?"