Chapter 263: Xinjing Valley
"Alas, the Chu Family has wronged you. But now, on behalf of the Chu Family, I welcome you to return. To come home to the Chu Family!
This matter is settled. I'll have the arrangements made. If anyone dares to object, I'll twist their head right off!" Chu Tianshan said, his tone utterly serious.
"Suit yourself. I don't care about any of this," Chu Feng said, turning to leave.
When Chu Feng was about ten meters away, Chu Tianshan called out to him again.
"Wait. What's the story behind that sword on your back?" Chu Tianshan asked curiously.
"No story. It's just a sword," Chu Feng replied.
"That can't be right. It looks like the Heaven-Slaying Sword, the one wielded by the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor over three hundred years ago!" Chu Tianshan said.
Chu Feng turned his head and looked back at Chu Tianshan. "How do you know?"
"Ha! So it's true. To think the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor's Heaven-Slaying Sword ended up in your hands. It seems you've inherited his legacy as well. No wonder you've improved so quickly, kid. Even Chu Wuji was no match for you," Chu Tianshan said.
"You could put it that way," Chu Feng said.
"Then you must know the Heaven-Slaying Sword Technique, right?" Chu Tianshan asked.
"Of course," Chu Feng answered. 'There's no reason to deny it.'
"Damn, so it's really true? But didn't they say the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor had already ascended?"
"It's true. He didn't ascend. He died," Chu Feng replied.
"What? Even he died? Could it be true, just as the records say... that in this era, the path of the Martial Dao has been completely severed, making it impossible to ascend?" Hearing this, Chu Tianshan was overcome with despair.
His expression darkened, and he sighed again and again, looking utterly dejected.
'If that were true, then even if he recovered his strength, he wouldn't have many years left.'
'A being as incredible as the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor had been unable to break through to the Golden Core Realm, ultimately stalling at the Nascent Soul Realm with a lifespan of only a few hundred years.'
'In the end, he had simply turned to dust, vanishing into the mists of history.'
"Kid, to think you carry such a profound legacy... That would make the Heaven-Slaying Sword Emperor your master! Wait, I have some Celestial Soul Grass." Snapping back to his senses, Chu Tianshan saw Chu Feng walking away and hurriedly called out to him.
'He had no choice. If I don't stop him, he'll be gone.'
Chu Feng had been about to ignore him and leave, but he stopped when he heard Chu Tianshan's words.
"What? You have Celestial Soul Grass?" Chu Feng asked in astonishment.
"Of course. Come with me," Chu Tianshan said, then turned and started walking.
Without a moment's hesitation, Chu Feng followed. Though Chu Tianshan's pace was quick, Chu Feng had no trouble keeping up.
Both moved with incredible lightness, as if using Qinggong, covering over ten meters in a single stride.
Despite his injuries, the old man's speed was not the least bit slow. Soon, the two of them reached a spot on the edge of the summit.
Just ahead lay a cliff. Peering over the edge, they saw a boundless abyss below.
"Follow me. It's just down here," said Chu Tianshan.
With that, the man leaped straight off the edge.
'The hell? Is he committing suicide?' Chu Feng thought, raising an eyebrow. Even so, he followed.
As he descended, however, he saw that there were numerous wooden stakes below that he could use as footholds.
When he landed, Chu Feng was utterly stunned by the sight that greeted him.
"There are so many... Are these all...?" Chu Feng was astounded.
Here at the bottom of the valley, he never expected to find such a dense carpet of Celestial Soul Grass.
"That's right. It's the same Celestial Soul Grass you described," said Chu Tianshan.
"Where did you get all this?" Chu Feng asked in amazement.
"Our Chu Family once made this valley our main encampment, precisely because of the Celestial Soul Grass here. This herb is an enormous aid to Cultivation, as it allows one to quiet their mind."
"That's why our ancestors named this place Xinjing Valley," Chu Tianshan explained.
"It's true, this place does have a calming effect. There's hope for you now. With all this Celestial Soul Grass, your injuries can be healed," Chu Feng said.
"Wonderful! This is truly wonderful. After all these years, I had nearly given up hope. I never thought I'd see a glimmer of hope again at a time like this," Chu Tianshan said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Chu Feng, you must promise me you'll return to the family," Chu Tianshan urged.
"What's that got to do with me?" Chu Feng said.
"Of course it has to do with you! The very survival of the entire Chu Family depends on you. With you, the Chu Family won't fall. Without you, it likely only has a few years left," Chu Tianshan said with a sigh.
"So? What's that got to do with me?" Chu Feng retorted.
"I know you still hold a grudge, but please, consider this old bag of bones begging you," said Chu Tianshan.
"Enough. Stop trying to guilt-trip me. Don't pull that act on me; I'm not buying it. Do whatever you want. Just tell me, do you want me to heal your injuries or not?" Chu Feng said, his patience wearing thin.
Chu Feng had no desire to know or care about any of the Chu Family's affairs.