I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Jiang Yuebai was startled to see Xie Jingshan in the backyard of the Mountain and Sea Building on Chaosheng Island. He looked pale, his breath weak, clearly still recovering from serious injuries.

And such serious injuries, that even the elixirs from the Mountain and Sea Building couldn’t heal him all at once?

Old servant Luoo Tingzong from the Xie Family stood beside Xie Jingshan, full of concern, and when he saw Jiang Yuebai, he advised further.

"You’ve found everyone you need; can’t you lie down inside to talk? You’ve injured your foundation and need proper care, or else you’ll be ruined."

Xie Jingshan relaxed only after seeing that Jiang Yuebai was unharmed, letting Luoo Tingzong assist him back to the room.

"Elder Luoo, the guards outside..."

"Don’t worry, the Old Ancestor is also on the island, so who dares to come knocking for trouble?"

Only then did Xie Jingshan nod in agreement, leaning against the headboard as Luoo Tingzong took out an elixir and fed it to him.

After finishing, Luoo Tingzong walked up to Jiang Yuebai and whispered, "Come outside first."

Jiang Yuebai nodded solemnly, glanced at Xie Jingshan, and followed Luoo Tingzong out.

Luoo Tingzong explained the situation roughly to Jiang Yuebai, handing her two portraits, "These two should not be from the Earth Spiritual Realm. In this realm, as long as the young master gives his name, no one would dare risk being hunted by the Mountain and Sea Building to harm him."

"The Mountain and Sea Building has already activated all connections to search for these two, but to no avail. The Old Ancestor is very concerned about their backgrounds; if it involves the Upper Realm, the Mountain and Sea Building might not afford to offend the forces behind them."

Jiang Yuebai understood this point; the Lu Family was a prime example.

"Are they looking for me?" Jiang Yuebai furrowed her brows and asked.

Luoo Tingzong nodded, "The young master said so. As for why, not even the Old Ancestor was told specifics; he must tell you this personally."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, "I understand, thank you, Elder Luoo."

"Our young master towards you... Never mind, I believe you’re a good kid and won’t put our young master in a difficult position. I’ll be outside guarding; call me if anything happens."

Jiang Yuebai frowned slightly, cupped her hands in thanks, and entered the room to find Xie Jingshan.

"The door has..."

Before Xie Jingshan could finish speaking, Jiang Yuebai already found the inner sound insulation array switch and activated it.

Jiang Yuebai turned to look at Xie Jingshan leaning against the headboard; he now appeared pale, with hair cascading behind him, lacking the usual vitality and silliness, gaining instead a measure of calm and dignity.

This incident was a tremendous blow to Xie Jingshan himself. He probably had never faced such a life-and-death crisis from childhood nor encountered an overwhelmingly powerful opponent against whom he had no strength to fight back.

Moreover, he had watched helplessly as the person who fought desperately to save him died right in front of him.

Thinking of these, Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but sigh.

"Do you want some water?"

The room was silent, and Jiang Yuebai asked.

Xie Jingshan shook his head, his voice hoarse, "Sit down. Elder Luoo must have told you the broad strokes; those two are looking for something in the Secret Realm of the Wind and Cloud Meeting."

"There are many things in the Secret Realm of the Wind and Cloud Meeting; why did they come to you first?" Jiang Yuebai felt puzzled.

Xie Jingshan shook his head slowly, "Even I don’t know their source of information. They did indeed come to me first and were very sure I had obtained..."

Xie Jingshan paused, turning to look at Jiang Yuebai, who remained clueless.

Xie Jingshan smiled bitterly, "Originally, I wanted to secretly cultivate and eventually surprise you, overshoot you, but ultimately it was just me being too naive."

"I acquired a Sword Pill left by the Ancient Sword Saint in the Bronze Maze. Initially, I thought they were after this Sword Pill, but later they said it wasn’t and mentioned another woman. That person finally looked northward, so I guessed it was you, most likely you."

Jiang Yuebai instantly thought of the Five-Colored Beads; among the things she gathered in the Secret Realm, only this bead held the most value, far surpassing even the inheritance of the Ancient Rong Demon’s Demon Art and Vine Bracelet.

Xie Jingshan saw Jiang Yuebai’s expression and realized she indeed carried the item those two sought.

"They clearly have means to detect that item, but they also mentioned once sacrificially refined, you must be alive to hand it over; if you die, they can’t obtain it. During this time, I’ll stay on the island recovering; my grandfather’s here, too. Stay here until those two are found, don’t wander off; it’s too dangerous."

"Uncle Kuan..." Xie Jingshan painfully furrowed his brows, paused, then continued, "Uncle Kuan is a Late-Stage Golden Core Sword Cultivator, not listed on the Golden Core Stage Sword Cultivator rankings, but his strength definitely ranks among the top ten Golden Core Cultivators in the entire Earth Spiritual Realm. That individual, only at Early-Stage Golden Core cultivation, within less than a quarter of an hour, had Uncle Kuan cough, cough, cough..."

Xie Jingshan began to cough violently.

"Alright, don’t talk about it; I understand the situation, nothing we say now helps, focus on recovering."

Xie Jingshan grasped Jiang Yuebai’s wrist tightly, staring at her as he asked, "You don’t intend to stay, right?"

Jiang Yuebai withdrew her hand, pondering Luoo Tingzong’s earlier words as she sat by the bed.

"I can hide here for months, perhaps even a year, but we can’t keep hiding if they aren’t found, right? Moreover, they’re from the Upper Realm; unless I hand over that item, this matter won’t end."

"I can’t hand it over; it’s also crucial for me. Giving it up out of fear would mean destroying my own path and cutting off my cultivation journey, so from the moment they targeted me, it was a fight to death."

Xie Jingshan lowered his gaze, fists gradually clenching at his side, never feeling so powerless, especially recalling what his grandfather said...

His grandfather said, let him endure this time. After all, the matter doesn’t concern him; don’t drag the whole Mountain and Sea Building into this.

His seemingly omnipotent grandfather even spoke these words.

Jiang Yuebai smiled slightly, "Xie Jingshan, surely you understand, I can’t stay and let the Mountain and Sea Building and your grandfather protect me; this is my issue alone, like those ruthless North Sea criminals, unattached, once killed, they evade without incident."

"Sometimes, I envy you having family around; but facing such matters, it’s more carefree being alone. Don’t worry, I’ve never feared anyone since childhood. If I can fight, I fight; if not, I run, hide and cultivate for a while, and then fight again. Eventually, I’ll defeat them."

"Moreover, we’ve never been to the Upper Realm; who knows if those two truly have powerful backing, perhaps they’re merely two Loose Cultivators? There’s no need for undue worry, so take it easy, soldiers come, we resist, water flows, we obstruct."

Xie Jingshan’s fists clenched tighter, voice deepening, "Do you never know how to feel fear? Do you understand the feeling of being near death yet powerless?"

"I do, many times." Jiang Yuebai answered calmly.

Xie Jingshan shuddered, focusing his gaze on Jiang Yuebai.

Jiang Yuebai said earnestly, "Xie Jingshan, do you realize you live in a fake yet wonderful world? Do you genuinely believe that just by not sleeping daily that I’ve reached where I am today? I’ve faced many near-death situations, almost killed by Lin Xiangtian at the sect entrance—you’ve seen it."

Xie Jingshan’s pupils contracted.

Jiang Yuebai continued, "If you develop fear from a bit of setback, don’t blame me for looking down on you. And there’s one thing I truly despise about you."

"You have the resources everyone envies, yet pretend to be noble and rely on your skills to cultivate, seemingly independent, while actually benefiting everywhere from family resources. If you’re really capable, change your name, get a new face, and see who still offers you any respect?"

"You’ve realized terror now, so why don’t you exploit the resources you have to strive for strength enhancement? If I had your backing, all time squandered on earning money would be used for cultivation, and I’d be a Golden Core Master by now."

"Had you willingly set aside your frail sense of pride earlier, ignoring others’ opinions, perhaps you would have beaten those two into a pulp. If others claim you’re privileged and rely on your family, wouldn’t you retort, ’Are you envious? Next lifetime, choose better parents!’"

Xie Jingshan chuckled bitterly, fists gradually unclenching.

"I won’t talk to you anymore; take your time to heal; I’ll stay on the island for a few days and see you again tomorrow."

Xie Jingshan nodded without saying anything else; Jiang Yuebai’s decisions were unchangeable.

After Jiang Yuebai left, Luoo Tingzong entered, seeing Xie Jingshan lost in thought and silently accompanying him.

Xie Jingshan remained in a daze the entire afternoon, until dusk when seemingly resolving something internally, taking a deep breath and returning to his senses.

"Where is my grandfather? I wish to go apologize to him, and from now on... Please, Elder Luoo and my grandfather, assist me greatly."