Chapter 315 - 184: The Might of Evergreen

Chapter 315: Chapter 184: The Might of Evergreen

Li Daoyi was different. He was exceptionally gifted in both talent and intellect; all he needed to reach his full potential was time.

After hearing Xu Ran’s words, Zhang Zhentian pondered for a moment before nodding. "I understand," he said.

He then studied Xu Ran for a moment before speaking. "I went to see my grandfather earlier. He told me to come check on you, Senior Brother. He said you’ve always been timid and afraid of death, and that the situation before might have frightened you."

He smiled faintly as he spoke. "It seems my grandfather was overthinking things. After spending so much time with you, Senior Brother, I can tell you’ve been changing. You’re not the same person you were when you first joined the sect."

Hearing this, Xu Ran’s eyes went wide. He curled his lip and said:

"Your grandfather lost an argument with me the other day. He’s just being a sore loser and badmouthing me behind my back. It’s true that I’m afraid of death, but how could a small-time situation like that possibly scare me?"

The sect’s Sect Protection Array had been designed and upgraded by his very own Little Xiyue; he had more confidence in it than anyone else.

Zhang Zhentian looked at Xu Ran’s expression and chuckled. "Don’t blame my grandfather, Senior Brother. That’s just how he is. But he was right about one thing—I really have matured."

He looked at Xu Ran with great seriousness. "So, it’s alright for you to be afraid of death, Senior Brother. From now on, I’ll be here to protect you."

Xu Ran stared at Zhang Zhentian, who was now smiling happily. He was taken aback for a moment, not expecting him to say something like that.

The image of that little brat from the Instructor Hall flashed through his mind. ’I never would have imagined this day would come,’ he thought.

He was touched, but then his thoughts turned to True Monarch Flowing Clouds. ’That old coot. Can’t win an argument, so he has to go and embarrass me in front of his grandson.’

He made a mental note of this. In the future, he’d have to make a point of bringing up Little Xiyue more often in front of him.

Xu Ran was a man of action. Just a few days later, he sought out True Monarch Flowing Clouds, planning to invite him for a drink and, incidentally, share a few more stories about his dear Little Xiyue.

But to his surprise, True Monarch Flowing Clouds said he had no time, as he had something important to attend to.

In response to Xu Ran’s questions, a rare look of seriousness appeared on True Monarch Flowing Clouds’s rugged face. He spoke in a deep, rumbling voice:

"You know as well as I do that the sect is in a precarious position. Isn’t it because we lack true powerhouses?"

"If that boy Zhentian reaches the Divinity Transformation Stage, we won’t have to fear all this petty rabble."

"That’s why I have to work harder to build up his foundation. An old friend sent me a message a few days ago about the discovery of some Divinity Transformation Ruins. I’m going to see if I can find some opportunities for Zhentian there."

Xu Ran looked at the driven True Monarch Flowing Clouds. This was a grandfather thinking of nothing but his grandson’s path of cultivation. Xu Ran couldn’t bring himself to dampen his enthusiasm, so after offering his blessings, he personally saw him off from the sect gate.

He, too, hoped Zhang Zhentian could break through to the Divinity Transformation Stage soon. Unlike Shen Wuchen, Zhang Zhentian’s combat prowess had always been among the best of his peers in the same realm. His breakthrough would be a massive deterrent to the Profound Pure Sect’s enemies.

Zhang Zhentian was currently at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, and he hadn’t been there for long. It would take at least several hundred years for him to even reach the threshold of the Divinity Transformation Stage, and actually breaking through would likely take much longer.

However, with a grandfather like True Monarch Flowing Clouds constantly searching for opportunities to build his foundation, Zhang Zhentian would surely save a great deal of time on his breakthrough once he reached the threshold of Divinity Transformation.

Xu Ran watched True Monarch Flowing Clouds’s departing figure, and his thoughts turned to Zhang Zhentian. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly:

’A kid doted on by his grandfather is a truly fortunate thing.’

*

*

*

Just as Li Daoyi had told Lu Mingchen the other day, True Monarch Xu Teng’s self-detonation seemed to have opened the floodgates in the Cultivation Realm.

Within days, numerous voices rose up across the Cultivation Realm, all blaming Ye Shan and the Profound Pure Sect.

Not only that, but a month later, dozens of Cultivators gathered before the Profound Pure Sect’s gates. They shouted that their relatives had died from the affliction and demanded that the Profound Pure Sect compensate them for their losses.

The group of several dozen Cultivators was led by three at the Nascent Soul Stage; the rest were a mix of Golden Core, Core Formation, and Purple Mansion Cultivators. It was an imposing assembly.

More importantly, they were highly agitated. Despite knowing the Profound Pure Sect’s strength, they were utterly fearless, acting as though they had no fear of death.

At first, the Profound Pure Sect exercised restraint, but when the other party initiated an attack, the sect stopped holding back and retaliated.

One would assume that with the Profound Pure Sect’s might, they wouldn’t suffer any casualties against a group with only a few Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

However, life is unpredictable. Some things happen so suddenly they are impossible to foresee.

True Monarch Flowing Clouds, on his way back from exploring the Divinity Transformation Ruins, encountered another group that had just arrived at the Profound Pure Sect’s gates. Among them was a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator who, like True Monarch Xu Teng, had very little of his lifespan remaining.

That man made the same choice as True Monarch Xu Teng. Without a second word, he charged the Profound Pure Sect’s gates and self-detonated.

True Monarch Flowing Clouds was not as fortunate as Supreme Elder Zi Yun. Having ascended via the Flying Immortal Stream, he was unable to withstand the close-range self-detonation of a Nascent Soul True Monarch and perished on the spot.

When Xu Ran heard the news, his face instantly went pale. ’Just over a month ago, I was planning to invite him for a drink and a friendly argument... How could this happen so suddenly?’

But he had no time to dwell on it. He immediately rushed toward Celestial Sea Peak.

He thought of Zhang Zhentian.

’True Monarch Flowing Clouds was my junior brother’s only family. My junior brother... he...’

By the time he reached Celestial Sea Peak, Zhang Zhentian was not crying. He walked out of the sect gate, his face devoid of all expression.

「Three days later.」 A piece of news sent shockwaves through the Cultivation Realm.

Outside the Profound Pure Sect, the Evergreen Sword Saint had single-handedly battled five Nascent Soul True Monarchs—two at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage and three at the Nascent Soul Early Stage. All five had fallen.

When the news spread, it caused an uproar. Everyone had assumed that the man once known as the Golden Core First Person of the Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm would fade into mediocrity after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, becoming no different from any other ordinary Nascent Soul.

Such a thing was common. The Cultivation Realm had seen countless cases of cultivators who were brilliant at the Golden Core Stage, only for their dominance to fade after they reached the Nascent Soul Stage.

The Evergreen Sword Saint’s performance during the campaign against the Demon Race had seemed to prove this. While still powerful, he could only display absolute dominance in one-on-one combat; he had appeared helpless when facing two opponents of the same realm.

His subsequent victories had only been possible with the coordinated support of Wuchen True Monarch.

Who would have thought that after such a short time, the Evergreen Sword Saint who had once so thoroughly dominated his peers that they could barely breathe would reappear, more powerful than ever before.

This was a battle at the Nascent Soul Stage, no less.

No one could understand what had happened to the Evergreen Sword Saint, or why he had suddenly become so powerful.

On that day, even from hundreds of miles away, one could feel the endless killing intent radiating from the Life and Death Reincarnation Law.

A single glance was enough to feel the aura of death contained within, striking fear into the hearts of all and making them shudder uncontrollably.

After cutting down the five Nascent Soul cultivators, the Evergreen Sword Saint stood drenched in blood. With an air of absolute supremacy, he stared forward and roared at any others who dared to approach:

"Those who move against my Profound Pure Sect will be slain."

The sheer power radiating from him terrified everyone. The crowds that had gathered scattered in an instant.

It wasn’t just the outsiders; even the members of the Profound Pure Sect trembled at the sight of the Evergreen Sword Saint in such a state.

At True Monarch Flowing Clouds’s funeral, Zhang Zhentian still did not cry. With a resolute expression, he declared to everyone present:

"I will protect the sect. As long as I am here, a tragedy like this will never happen again."

That night, in the deep and quiet hours, he came to Xu Ran’s Cave Mansion.

The moment he saw Xu Ran, this man who had remained so strong finally let his composure break. With red-rimmed eyes, he spoke in a soft voice:

"Senior Brother... I don’t have a grandfather anymore."