Chapter 341: Would Her Years of Hard Work Be for Nothing?
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation.
Yu Zhao carefully listened to Sect Master Ji Yuan’s words. Reflecting on the identities of Qing Kui and She Jun, she roughly pieced together the events that had transpired.
Quan Ye’s identity had been exposed, and the Demonic Race could no longer sit still.
But Quan Ye, misled by memories of his past life, believed that leaving with them would lead to a life of ease and command. Little did he know, he had made a disastrously wrong choice.
The Demonic Race already had a Fu Xi; Quan Ye was no longer the sole inheritor of the Azure-Dragon Posterior Lineage. This meant his special bloodline would not aid him but instead lead him into peril.
The Demonic Race had no moral scruples about harming their own. They adhered to the primal law of survival: the strong prey upon the weak.
Yu Zhao could only wish Quan Ye luck, hoping he would hold on for a while longer and not die too soon.
“Little Zhao.”
Master Qing Yan approached her and gently called out.
“Sect Master,” Yu Zhao replied, as though she hadn’t heard Qing Yan, and turned to bow to Sect Master Ji Yuan. “Sect Master, I have a matter I wish to request your guidance on.” Sect Master Ji Yuan glanced at Master Qing Yan, who looked visibly worried, and then at Yu Zhao, who remained composed. He chuckled inwardly.
Qing Yan, oh Qing Yan, even you must face this today!
With a wave of his hand, he said, “Come, let’s discuss this inside.”
He took a couple of steps toward the Great Hall, then seemed to suddenly notice Master Qing Yan still lingering. “Master Qing Yan, the matter is resolved. You may return now.”
Master Qing Yan glared at him but spoke softly to Yu Zhao, “Little Zhao, if you ever face difficulties, you can always seek me out.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Master Qing Yan,” Yu Zhao replied, her tone laced with evident indifference.
Not wanting to agitate her further, Master Qing Yan reluctantly departed.
Yu Zhao, Zhou Jin Yue, and Sect Master Ji Yuan entered the Great Hall together.
Sect Master Ji Yuan took his seat, clearly in high spirits. “Yu Zhao, what troubles you? Tell me about it.”
Zhou Jin Yue quietly observed Yu Zhao.
Yu Zhao had never mentioned encountering difficulties before. If this wasn’t an excuse, then it must be a major problem she couldn’t solve on her own, one she had to approach seriously.
Within the Five Elements Dao Sect, there were only two people Yu Zhao trusted completely: Zhou Jin Yue and Sect Master Ji Yuan. So, without avoiding Zhou Jin Yue, she seized the opportunity to ask about the mystery of ascension that had been troubling her.
The smile froze on Sect Master Ji Yuan’s face.
Zhou Jin Yue’s pupils shrank as she instinctively looked at him.
Sect Master Ji Yuan’s once-calm eyes turned sharp, fixing on Yu Zhao with a gaze that carried silent intimidation and pressure. However, his imposing demeanor quickly softened, and his expression turned dejected.
“I should’ve known you’d be the first to notice this issue. Go on, tell me how much you’ve discovered.”
A thunderous roar echoed in Zhou Jin Yue’s mind.
Her master’s words were an implicit admission: there was indeed a problem with the ascension pathways of the Cultivation World!
Yu Zhao contemplated briefly before speaking. “The spiritual energy in the Cultivation World is growing increasingly thin, making it harder for cultivators to reach the Great Perfection stage of Divine Transformation.”
Sect Master Ji Yuan merely grunted, refraining from elaborating.
This gave Yu Zhao the confidence to continue. Her next words flowed smoothly.
“Additionally, the Heavenly Ladder has inexplicably disappeared, severing the path to ascension.”
Though Sect Master Ji Yuan remained composed outwardly, a storm raged in his mind.
How had Yu Zhao uncovered this greatest secret of the Cultivation World?
Within the entire Five Elements Dao Sect, only two people—including himself—knew of this, and even Master Qing Yan was kept in the dark.
Fortunately, Yu Zhao wasn’t his direct disciple, or he might have suspected himself of revealing this secret in a careless moment, like talking in his sleep.
If he had made such a blunder, the consequences would’ve been catastrophic.
Zhou Jin Yue, well-versed in her master’s habits, noticed his calm face but the subtle twitch at the corner of his eyes. His stiff, upright posture confirmed it: Yu Zhao’s claims were no idle rumors.
Shock and confusion clouded Zhou Jin Yue’s mind.
If ascension was no longer possible, wouldn’t her years of cultivation be for nothing?
“Senior Sister Zhou? Senior Sister Zhou? Senior Sister Zhou!”
“Ah!” Zhou Jin Yue jolted awake at the sound of Yu Zhao’s worried voice, meeting her concerned gaze.
She forced a smile. “I’m fine.”
Sect Master Ji Yuan saw Zhou Jin Yue’s pale, distracted face and was deeply distressed. “Jin Yue, would you like to step outside and rest?”
“No, I wish to stay,” Zhou Jin Yue said resolutely.
Though the revelation had shaken her, she refused to avoid the matter. Additionally, guilt and heartache stirred within her.
As the grand senior sister of the sect, she should have shared her master’s burdens. Instead, she remained oblivious while Junior Sister Yu Zhao carried immense pressure, tirelessly seeking answers.
She felt she had failed in her duty.
After some thought, Sect Master Ji Yuan agreed that it was better for Zhou Jin Yue to stay. Turning to Yu Zhao, he regarded her with both exasperation and admiration.
“Yu Zhao, you’re entirely correct. Both issues are indeed real.”
Hearing this, Yu Zhao felt a sense of relief, as though a heavy weight had been lifted.
“The sect’s ancestors noticed over a thousand years ago that spiritual energy in the Cultivation World was waning and implemented various measures to counteract it, though with limited success.”
“The peace between the Human Race and the Demonic Race, despite past grievances, largely aims to preserve the Cultivation World’s balance.”
“While outsiders see the stability of the One-Sect Two-Schools Four-Factions, they remain unaware that it is a deliberately maintained equilibrium.”
Only a few could cultivate for centuries and rise to the peak of the Cultivation World, and fewer still were ignorant of the underlying crises. The centuries of peace were not due to any single faction’s strength but the collective effort to maintain harmony.
This revelation left both Yu Zhao and Zhou Jin Yue astonished.
No wonder sects rarely engaged in all-out conflicts, and even tensions between Demonic Beasts and cultivators were kept in check. It all stemmed from such considerations.
Sect Master Ji Yuan asked gravely, “Since you are aware of the Cultivation World’s plight, do you have a solution?”
Yu Zhao shook her head honestly.
She had no leads at present. Knowing the root of the problem was one thing; finding a cure was another.
Sect Master Ji Yuan had anticipated this and handed her an authority token.
“You’ve identified the issues plaguing the Cultivation World, so perhaps you can uncover a solution. This token grants you permission to seek guidance from the Grand Elder. She might provide the insights you need.”
Yu Zhao’s eyes lit up.
She had long known of the reclusive Grand Elder of the Five Elements Dao Sect but had never had the chance to meet her. If granted an audience, even a few words of guidance could prove invaluable.
Gratefully, she accepted the token.
Sect Master Ji Yuan reminded them, “This matter is of utmost importance. Do not reveal it to outsiders.”
Even Zhou Jin Yue, one of the most resolute disciples of her generation, had been deeply shaken by the revelation. If word got out, chaos could ensue, with unthinkable consequences.
Both Yu Zhao and Zhou Jin Yue solemnly vowed to keep the matter confidential. Only then did Sect Master Ji Yuan feel a bit more at ease, though the waves stirred by Yu Zhao’s discovery would linger for a long time.
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This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation