Chapter 65: Even If I, the Ancestor, Die of Exhaustion...

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Even If I, the Ancestor, Die of Exhaustion...

Even though the man before her was short, emaciated, and ancient—looking as if he had one foot in the grave—hearing his domineering words, Yu Su fell into a daze. It was as if she could once again see that aloof, arrogant figure from over seven thousand years ago. Wielding a Long Halberd, he had single-handedly stormed the gates of the Dao Yuan Sect to seek justice for his beloved disciple. Right in front of their Creation Realm founder, he had pinned three Celestial Being patriarchs to the cliffside, leaving them for dead before striding away.

Recovering from her daze, Yu Su remembered that the man before her was no longer the illustrious Qiye Demon Monarch from all those millennia ago. Now, every second he remained awake consumed what little remained of his Creation Origin.

She hastily reined in her Heart Spirit and quickly, clearly recounted the entire sequence of events.

After finishing, she bowed her head in respect. "How exactly we should resolve this matter still requires your final decision, Grandmaster."

The old man fell silent after listening to her.

"Ah, Rong."

After a long while, he let out a protracted sigh. For the first time, a look of profound nostalgia appeared on his withered face.

"Even though her Soul Lamp has been extinguished for over ten thousand years, I have always had this feeling—that she is still alive..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he shook his head as if he didn’t quite believe it himself, moving past the topic. After pondering for a moment, his gaze sharpened. He looked at Yu Su, seemingly having made a decision.

"Go! Go find this Guo Jing and ask him.

"Find out the truth. Consider it fulfilling this old man’s dying wish."

Yu Su nodded. She hesitated for a second before asking, "Then, Grandmaster, how should we treat him...?"

He shot her a glance. "Put away those petty schemes. Our Celestial Demon Sect hasn’t fallen so low that we need to rely on others’ lingering sentiments for protection.

"That holds true regardless of what history he might have had with the sect."

"But..."

Yu Su had barely uttered the word before she was suddenly locked onto by a terrifying, oppressive aura. She instantly felt as though she had been plunged into an icy abyss.

"There are no ’buts’! The Celestial Demon Sect has stood strong for a hundred thousand years, and it has never relied on the charity of outsiders!"

His voice rang out like a tolling bell, shaking her to her very core.

Influenced by the sheer presence of a Creation Realm expert, Yu Su felt a fire ignite within her chest. She couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of pride in being a disciple of the Celestial Demon Sect.

He was right!

The sect’s legacy spanned a hundred thousand years. It had always stood tall as one of the top sects in Jiuzhou, never relying on the alms of outsiders. It was the relentless self-improvement of every generation of disciples. The formidable might of the Celestial Demon Sect was forged with their blood and lives!

Even though the sect was currently facing a succession crisis and would very likely have to endure the vulnerable position of lacking a Creation Realm grandmaster to hold the fort, she believed they could overcome any hardship.

Her heart surging with passionate resolve, Yu Su bowed respectfully. "Your disciple realizes her mistake. Thank you for your guidance, Grandmaster."

He nodded. "You may go now."

He waved his hand, and Yu Su bowed before taking her leave.

Standing at the mountain’s peak with his hands clasped behind his back, the old man watched her receding figure before gazing up at the firmament. He stood there for a very, very long time. Only when Yu Su was completely out of sight did he finally tear his eyes away from a shapeshifting cloud in the sky.

Glancing at the foot of the mountain to confirm she was truly gone, the arrogant, domineering expression on the old man’s face instantly vanished, replaced by sheer, unabashed indignation.

"Guo Jing!

"Damn you, Guo Jing! So you’re the bastard who stole my junior sister’s heart!

"You caused so many of my junior brothers to die of broken hearts with their regrets unresolved, and you doomed me to a lifetime of solitude!

"And now that I’m old, you think I’ll let you look after the Celestial Demon Sect?

"Do you think I have no pride left?!"

After hurling a few insults, he still didn’t feel satisfied. The old ancestor angrily added a few more lines.

"Even if I work myself to death, bleed my very last drop to protect this sect, and drain the final shred of my Creation Origin, I will never need the charity of a romantic rival!

"Hmph! Absolutely not!"

Muttering to himself, the ancestor turned and walked toward the stone doors of his cave dwelling. As he walked, he rubbed his aching neck.

"Sigh! I’m getting old... I have to accept it!

"Back in the day, when my junior brothers and sisters and I played staring contests where whoever blinked first was a little turtle, this old man could sit motionless for three days and three nights without breaking a sweat."

One step. Two steps. Three steps.

When he reached the stone doors, he looked back at the vibrant, energetic disciples at the foot of the mountain, then thought of his own weathered and aged face. He let out a helpless sigh.

"Whatever. Before I die, the Celestial Demon Sect won’t need anyone’s protection.

"After I pass, if he insists on caring for the sect out of lingering sentiment, well, I’ll be dead anyway. It’s not like I could refuse him even if I wanted to.

"Right?"

As he muttered this, a new thought crossed his mind, and he couldn’t help but frown.

"If he still cares about the past, he will definitely lend a hand when the sect faces danger.

"But what if he doesn’t?"

Shaking his head, he quickly dismissed the idea.

"No! Impossible! My junior sister had incredibly high standards.

"Back then, I was elegant, strikingly handsome, and peerlessly charming. In the entire sect, no one in my generation could rival me, except for her.

"If she couldn’t even fall for someone as magnificent as me, then the guy who actually won her favor couldn’t possibly be some scumbag with terrible character, right?"

He nodded to himself in agreement.

"Yes... that’s right. Thinking about it that way sets my mind at ease."

As he nodded, he suddenly froze, nearly spraining his frail neck—which, having suppressed all his power to conserve his Origin, was no different from a mortal old man’s.

"What do I mean, ’sets my mind at ease’?

"What is there for me to worry about?!

"I made it sound like I’m begging him to look after the sect!

"Hmph! Even if I die..."

RUMBLE! The heavy stone doors slid shut, muffling the old ancestor’s voice until not a single trace of sound could be heard.

Three days later.

That afternoon, Su Han was in his courtyard, figuring out how to combine his skills for maximum bamboozling effect, when he suddenly felt the Communication Jade Talisman inside his ring vibrate slightly.

He took it out and saw the character ’Guo’ engraved on it. He knew it was the old beggar looking for ’Elder Guo’. He channeled a sliver of Spiritual Power into it. The moment the connection was established, the old beggar’s voice came through.

"Elder Guo."

"Yes?" Su Han replied, altering his voice to match Elder Guo’s. "What is it?"

"Elder Guo, two people just arrived at the branch looking for you. As per Elder Wang’s instructions, this junior has them waiting in the main hall."

Su Han paused for a moment. "Two?"

"Yes, two," the old beggar confirmed. "One man and one woman."

Su Han nodded. He figured that the middle-aged Daoist Nun, who had refused to reveal her name, might have brought a junior along this time. He just wondered if that junior was as gullible as Zhao Yang. If they were... he might find a chance to bamboozle them too.

"Understood. I will be there shortly."

Sending his reply to the old beggar, Su Han cut the connection. Looking at the Communication Jade Talisman in his hand, he couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

"New information already? This nun is pretty efficient!"

Wait!

They were looking for Guo Jing!

The moment this thought struck him, realization dawned on Su Han. He glanced down at the Communication Jade Talisman—yes, it was the one designated for Guo Jing.

So... it wasn’t the middle-aged Daoist Nun?