Chapter 195: The Ancient Grounds

Azure Ethereal Vapors Mountain, the Pinnacle of Heaven’s Reach, and the Ancestral Shrine.

The verdant forest remained as lush and vibrant as ever, with a light morning mist drifting among the trees. Dewdrops glistened on leaves, branches, and wildflowers, trembling gently in the breeze. In the distance, the crisp and melodious chirping of birds from the heart of the dense woods brought a sense of otherworldly serenity, as if one were in a celestial realm.

In this earthly paradise, a stout figure appeared on the winding path, none other than Tian Buyi.

Seemingly at odds with the surrounding beauty, Tian Buyi’s expression was somber, his gaze fixed ahead, laden with deep thoughts. Strangely, he was alone, an oddity for someone of his stature. As the head of Dazhufeng, one of the most important figures in the Azure Ethereal Conclave, it was unusual for him to privately visit the ancestral shrine, a hallowed place located in the secluded rear of the Pinnacle of Heaven’s Reach.

The mountain path was unguarded by any Azure Ethereal disciples. The silence was broken only by the soft rustle of the breeze and the bird songs. At the famous fork, Tian Buyi turned and saw the majestic eaves deep within the dense woods.

“Chime…”

A faint sound of bells and drums, resonating from the front of the mountain, echoed through the air of Azure Ethereal Vapors.

The empty, lingering echoes made Tian Buyi pause, turning to look back at the vast, azure sky stretching endlessly above.

For countless millennia, it seemed, the heavens had remained unchanged.

Tian Buyi’s face gradually calmed, and after a moment of silent contemplation, he turned and walked towards the Ancestral Shrine.

The broad stone steps lay before him. The Ancestral Shrine, unchanged, lay like a sleeping giant cradled in the forest. The great doors of the shrine were open, and the dim interior was still, even the flickering candles in the darkness seemed to be in a state of slumber.

However, just outside the shrine, standing on the stone steps, was a young man facing away from Tian Buyi. Frowning, Tian Buyi approached.

Startled by the approaching footsteps, the young man turned around, surprised to find someone else there. Both Tian Buyi and the young man, Lin Jingyu, stared at each other, taken aback.

Tian Buyi recalled that he had heard from his disciples that Lin Jingyu had been guarding the Ancestral Shrine, allegedly for someone, though the identity of that “someone” was unknown. However, Tian Buyi was not in the mood to ponder this. His relationship with Lin Jingyu was not amicable, and they exchanged a glance, neither speaking immediately, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Finally, Lin Jingyu coughed lightly and asked in a low voice, “Uncle Tian, why are you here so early?”

Tian Buyi glanced at him, then shifted his gaze to the dim interior of the Ancestral Shrine. “I’m looking for someone. What are you doing out here so early?”

Lin Jingyu’s face flickered, a hint of a bitter smile crossing his lips as he glanced inside but did not answer. Tian Buyi said calmly, “Is someone inside? Is it the Sect Leader?”

Lin Jingyu nodded. “Yes, Senior Brother Daoxuan is inside… He ordered me to stand guard. No one is allowed to enter without his summons.”

Tian Buyi snorted coldly. “I remember you are a disciple of Longshou Peak. Why are you here, guarding the Pinnacle of Heaven’s Reach for Daoxuan?”

Lin Jingyu’s face paled, and he lowered his head, remaining silent.

Ignoring him, Tian Buyi stepped onto the stone stairs. Lin Jingyu, startled, moved forward and asked, “Uncle Tian, what are you doing?”

Tian Buyi replied indifferently, “I came here to enter. I need to speak with the Sect Leader.”

Lin Jingyu furrowed his brows. “Uncle Tian, Senior Brother Daoxuan has said he does not wish to see anyone. Without his permission, no one is allowed to—”

“I am not a disciple of the Pinnacle of Heaven’s Reach!” Tian Buyi interrupted coldly.

Lin Jingyu fell silent, unable to respond.

Tian Buyi continued up the stairs, entering the shrine. Lin Jingyu, though initially hesitant, stopped and watched Tian Buyi’s stout figure, his eyes glinting.

Stepping through the high threshold, a subtle scent of sandalwood greeted him. From the depths of the hall, a shadow slowly emerged, pushing the light back outside the Ancestral Shrine.

Tian Buyi paused, then slowly walked deeper into the shrine. As his footsteps echoed, his expression changed.

Gigantic red-lacquered pillars stood in the hall, supporting the grand structure. Yellow drapes hung from the ceiling, many of them aged and worn, adding a sense of ancient solemnity to the place.

Time seemed to have frozen here.

The shrine was utterly silent, save for the sound of his footsteps echoing through the shadows. Farther in, a large altar table burned with countless incense sticks, their tiny flames watching over the shadowy figure moving through the hall.

Rounding the largest pillar and passing the drooping yellow drapes, Tian Buyi finally stopped.

Before him was an open space, with three rows of cushions, each row containing seven. In the center of the first row sat a familiar, motionless figure. Before the cushions, a large altar table was laden with offerings and a large censer, curiously holding only three thin incense sticks, their smoke rising gently.

Through the smoke, countless spirit tablets could be seen in the shadows, each with inscriptions, neatly arranged in the darkness.

Tian Buyi’s face grew serious and respectful, facing the spirit tablets of the Azure Ethereal Conclave’s ancestors. He looked at the familiar back for a moment, then silently approached.

Daoxuan’s body moved slightly but did not turn.

Tian Buyi walked to the altar, looked at the countless shadowed spirit tablets, took a deep breath, and drew three incense sticks from a pouch beside the censer. He carefully lit them, took a step back, and reverently bowed three times.

The place where Daoxuan sat was only six feet from the altar, but the dim light could not reach him. In the shadows, he slowly raised his head, Tian Buyi’s back now facing him.

Suddenly, from the depths of the darkness, a ghostly light flared, followed by a sound like an ethereal howl. Instantly, all the candles and incense lit up, except for the three in Tian Buyi’s hand.

Tian Buyi, having completed his bows, stepped forward to place the incense in the censer, but halted, his hand suspended in mid-air.

The hall fell into a deathly silence, two figures frozen, one standing and one sitting. The yellow drapes, moved by a slight breeze, fluttered and then stilled.

Outside the Ancestral Shrine, Lin Jingyu, lost in thought, suddenly looked up, his face showing surprise as he gazed into the silent, dark shrine.

Once a quiet, sleeping hall, it now seemed like a waking beast, coldly opening its eyes.

※ ※ ※

After an unknown amount of time, the mysterious ghostly lights in Daoxuan’s eyes faded, as suddenly as they had appeared. The eerie eyes closed, and the solemn hall softened. The candles dimmed, returning to their original faint glow.

The three incense sticks in Tian Buyi’s hand still burned, their tiny flames flickering in the darkness. Ashes, like white wisps, fell from the incense, landing on his hand.

Tian Buyi’s expression remained indifferent. He looked at the ash on his hand, stood silently for a moment, then shook off the ashes and respectfully placed the incense in the censer.

Six thin incense sticks now burned, their smoke rising gently.

Without a word, Tian Buyi bowed again to the spirit tablets, then slowly turned to face the seated figure.

“Brother Daoxuan,” he said, his eyes filled with a mixture of surprise, anger, and pain, “We meet again!”

Daoxuan’s face, half-shrouded in shadows, showed no reaction, remaining as still as before.

Tian Buyi, after a moment, walked to Daoxuan’s side and sat on another cushion, less than three feet away.

Silence reigned in the hall.

※ ※ ※

In the southern frontier, the Blackened Peaks of Ten Thousand Mountains.

As they walked, the eerie wailing grew louder, accompanied by an icy wind that felt like knives. Only the profound cultivation of Gu Li and Jin Ping’er protected them from the madness-inducing howls and the biting cold.

Despite the increasing malevolence, they encountered no danger or ambush as they reached the valley and the entrance to the Ancient Devil’s Cave. The eerie silence of this desolate place, devoid of vicious beasts and venomous creatures, made it seem paradoxically safe…

Gu Li and Jin Ping’er stood on a small hill, looking at the ancient, dark cave, seeing the stone statue at its entrance.

Both were frowning, the unexpected calm causing them more worry.

Jin Ping’er pointed to the cave. “That is the Ancient Devil’s Cave. I saw the Beast God emerge from it when I was tracking a black-robed figure here.”

Gu Li nodded, surveying the surroundings. The cave was surrounded by steep cliffs and sinister rocks, with a thick, black cloud hovering above. The place was a dead end, with no escape.

After a moment, Gu Li said, “Should we go in?”

Jin Ping’er hesitated, then nodded. “We’ve come this far; we can’t turn back now. Let’s go.”

Gu Li looked at her, noticing her pale face and evident unease. Even the usually mischievous little monkey, Xiaohui, on his shoulder, was unusually quiet.

Jin Ping’er, sensing something, smiled at Gu Li. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Gu Li nodded and led the way. Jin Ping’er followed, the fierce wind and chilling cold intensifying as they approached the cave.

They realized the source of the cold wind was the cave itself. As they neared, the light dimmed, blocked by the black cloud above.

The stone statue at the cave’s entrance gradually came into view.

Though the journey was short, it felt long. When they reached the entrance, the sky had darkened, and the warm sunlight was gone.

Gu Li slowly approached the statue, the dim light casting a soft glow on it.

Millennia of weathering had turned the once smooth, beautiful surface rough. How many eyes had gazed upon it, quietly, in the passage of time?

The flow of time is relentless, erasing the initial feelings and memories, leaving only fragments of legends to be spoken of by future generations.

The once beautiful and heroic image, now faded in the face of time.

The cold wind swept past, and the centuries-long gaze seemed to pale in comparison to the fleeting regret.

A gentle touch on his shoulder, and the sound of Xiaohui, brought Gu Li back to reality. He had been lost in the statue’s gaze.

Shaken, Gu Li turned to Jin Ping’er. She had warned him, and he wondered about her hidden strength.

Turning, he saw Jin Ping’er facing the cave, her back to the statue, not looking at it.

“What are you doing?” Gu Li asked, frowning.

Jin Ping’er smiled. “This statue is very powerful. Didn’t I tell you?”

Gu Li frowned, took a deep breath. Xiaohui, impatient, jumped onto the statue, climbing to its head.

Gu Li’s face changed. “Xiaohui, come here.”

The monkey looked at Gu Li, scratched its head, and reluctantly returned. Jin Ping’er laughed, “Why scare the monkey? It was just playing…”

Before she could finish, Jin Ping’er noticed Gu Li, who, after adjusting his clothes, respectfully bowed to the statue.

“Why are you bowing?” Jin Ping’er asked, surprised.

Gu Li, his face indifferent, didn’t answer, but gave the statue a deep, final look, and turned. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

The dark, windy cave loomed before them.

Jin Ping’er, following Gu Li, looked at the bored Xiaohui, then at Gu Li. “Why did you bow?”

Gu Li paused, then continued, saying, “The legacy of the past, even if forgotten, deserves respect.”

Jin Ping’er, puzzled, tried to ask more, but Gu Li approached the cave. She hurried to catch up, warning, “Last time I was here, there was a ferocious spirit. Though the Beast God probably eliminated it, the cave entrance might still…”

Her voice trailed off as both stopped. In the dark, cold vapor rose, forming a massive, roaring figure.

Jin Ping’er sighed, shaking her head. “Now you see, there is a powerful, angry spirit here!”