Chapter 2835 - 87: I Dare Not Speak Its Name

The Crane Family of Cold Mountain is known as the first family west of Yunling. Their ancestors carved out sixty thousand miles of territory amidst Chaos for the Demon clan, hence they are also considered a house of honor.

Of course, that was a long time ago.

By the time Crane Pavilion was born, the Crane Family of Cold Mountain had already faded into obscurity.

It was Crane Pavilion who emerged suddenly, advancing triumphantly, until finally reaching the Absolute Summit and reclaiming the Eternal Youth Spring, reviving the family’s prestige once again.

When he failed in his plans, handing over the Eternal Youth Spring in the Land of Shenxiao, he too met his demise, marking another decline of Crane Family.

Zhu Yi nearly lost her life on the South Heaven battlefield, her injuries were not minor; they truly harmed her longevity.

Coincidentally, as the Shenxiao Bureau opened, she set her sights on the Eternal Youth Spring.

What she desires is not a desolate and lifeless Eternal Youth Spring, but the resurrection that Crane Pavilion sought in the past—to rejuvenate the spring and continue the myth.

If the Eternal Youth Spring could be revived in her hands, it would allow her to quickly heal and regain respect in this perilous world. The Spider Family could also rise swiftly by leveraging the power of the spring.

Of course, achieving this outcome is exceedingly difficult; otherwise, in its prime, the Crane Family wouldn’t have watched the spring wither away helplessly. Crane Pavilion wouldn’t have ended up trapped in the Shenxiao Bureau, losing his way and perishing in his quest to revive the spring.

But Zhu Yi combed through scriptures, traced history, unraveling threads, and discovered something interesting—

Crane Pavilion might still be alive!

The first to conjecture this wasn’t Zhu Yi, but Crane Pavilion’s rival from the past.

He spoke atop Yunling: "If Pavilion returns, he shall play with me."

This was seen as an expression of hero admiration for hero.

Yet Zhu Yi believes there’s a certain truth hidden within.

Reviving the Eternal Youth Spring through sheer effort is certainly tough. But what if Crane Pavilion had left an arrangement? What if one could directly employ or continue his plans?

Isn’t this another form of grafting Cause and Effect?

Crane Pavilion had tasted fruits of contemplation early; Zhu Yi later awakened Lan Yin!

The layout that the Heavenly Demon Zhu Yi established in the Land of Shenxiao has only now fully unfolded.

She made numerous arrangements targeting the Eternal Youth Spring, focusing especially on Crane Pavilion. She even personally traveled to Yunling, journeyed to distant realms, found descendants of the Crane Family scattered across the world, obtained their heirloom, and wove it into a web of entrapment.

But in the contest of a game, each hides their belly, and none can predict everything.

Especially in such a multi-faceted game, a pebble drops, thousands of ripples arise.

To prevent the Human Race from taking the Knowledge and Hearing Bell, Zhu Yi, still recovering from injuries, voluntarily abandoned her own plans, prematurely taking action and confronting Master Xing Nian.

She ended up losing by a margin and nearly got killed by Master Xing Nian...

Fortunately, Immortal Court of Yuan intervened, sparing her life for a hasty escape. But she completely withdrew from the Shenxiao Bureau, losing her qualifications to play.

Yet, the players might retreat, the setup may be dispersed, but the pieces remain.

Without Zhu Yi’s support, as a piece, Zhu Lanruo must continue the game!

The pieces might just become players; the Shenxiao World indeed has Infinite Possibilities.

Facing the wizened Crane Pavilion of Yuan Xi 3922 years, the young successor Zhu Lanruo, holding the folded fan of the Cold Mountain Crane Family, stands like a quiet orchid. She captures all the attention, singularly captivating.

But she does not rush to question, instead, her voice meanders: "Crane Pavilion, losing father at an early age, raised by a widowed mother. At six learned propriety, at nine mastered scriptures. By thirty was already a peerless Demon King...his life had no true defeat, sweeping through his peers, later uniquely using ’hostility’ to achieve Dao, a feat that dazzled the ages!"

His first step into Absolute Summit involved competing with two Heavenly Demons, initially striking, then feigned defeat like a trapped cicada, only to emerge as the Yellow Sparrow, successfully reclaiming the long-lost Eternal Youth Spring of the Crane Family, renowned throughout the world!"

All Demons present listened quietly; within Zhu Lanruo’s slowly unfolding narrative, the name Crane Pavilion was no longer just an old, withered monster, but a vibrant legend, a top-tier force once truly active at the summit.

Crane Pavilion also listened in silence as she told the story, the light in his eyes lonely flickering, as if he too returned to those memorable days.

Those times, truly... were beautiful.

"Yet in the game to revive the Eternal Youth Spring, the generation-defining Heavenly Demon Crane Pavilion finally tasted his life’s only, and last, defeat." Zhu Lanruo continued softly: "The Eternal Youth Spring ultimately returned to stillness, and Crane Pavilion’s demon body was shattered, Dao Principles erased; it is said he perished both body and soul."

Crane Pavilion remained silent.

"My ancestral family scoured chronicles believing you might still exist. They thought you hid in the spring, yet unaware you were concealed in time." Zhu Lanruo said: "But until now, until your hostility towards us, juniors, became so apparent, until your game has run several rounds... I merely saw you as a silhouette of Crane Pavilion preserved in time. Even now, I struggle to believe you are truly Crane Pavilion."

"You once cast such radiant light, illuminating the entire Yunling. Every discussion of historical geniuses includes your name. When I, Lan Ruo, read your biography as a child, I praised the Three Venerables taking the spring, lamented over your defeat and death!"

With her slightly melancholic, beautiful eyes, she watched Crane Pavilion: "Though Crane Pavilion is deceased, worthy as a legend of the era. Yet this moment standing by the Eternal Youth Spring, this skeleton, who is he? If you continue Crane Pavilion’s history with this form, how regrettable it is for the name Crane Pavilion."