The next day, the sky was gray and gloomy, the clouds retreating, replaced by a heavy cover of dark clouds. A somber atmosphere filled the space between heaven and earth.
All the disciples of the Sacred Sect bore heavy hearts, as if a stone pressed down on each of their chests.
Black robes fluttered in the wind as the disciples, clad in dark garments, gathered solemnly around the Sacred Sect’s ancestral hall.
This was the sacred resting place for the spirits of the fallen, the eternal home for every martyr who had devoted their lifeblood to the Sacred Sect over its ten-thousand-year history.
The ancestral hall stood atop a mountain peak in the east, as high as the sect’s main peak, the highest honor the sect could bestow. Yet, such honor could only be attained after death.
At the front stood Lin Fan, shoulder to shoulder with the sect leader, gazing at the rows of stone tablets ahead. The youth of these fallen disciples was fragile, their lives as fleeting as a blooming flower. Perhaps they never imagined their time would end so soon, without even experiencing the joys of life.
“Master…” Murmured Mu Bingshan, her hand trembling as she gently touched the cold stone tablet. The carved words upon it pierced her heart like a sharp blade.
“Master…” Her beautiful face had lost all color, her heart torn open like it had been scraped by a blunt knife. It hurt deeply, piercingly.
But she could not cry. She was now the leader of Jiulan Peak; she had to be strong and lead her juniors forward.
“Master…” Her lips quivered, her strength finally failing her. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. As a royal princess of the empire, she had once been hunted as a child, left to die in the icy wilderness. At the moment of her despair, a warm pair of arms had lifted her up and brought her to this warm mountain.
Here, she had never thought of returning, only wishing to quietly stay by her master’s side. But now, with her master gone, she could no longer hold back her sorrow.
“Master, I will fulfill your final wish. Rest in peace.” Bowing her head, tears soaked the ground. A woman known for her icy demeanor, she now wept bitterly.
The disciples of Jiulan Peak also wept softly, their most beloved sect leader had left them.
Other disciples of the Sacred Sect stood with bowed heads in grief; these were their fellow brothers and sisters.
“The Sacred Sect, a ten-thousand-year-old sect, has endured countless trials. But remember this day—three hundred and eighty-six of our fellow disciples sacrificed their lives defending our sect. They are heroes of the Sacred Sect, contributors to our legacy. They shall be honored in the ancestral hall, remembered by future generations.” Yan Hongyu declared solemnly, his voice ringing out across the sect.
Lin Fan was deeply moved. These disciples might not have possessed great cultivation, but they deserved the utmost respect.
Disciples in black robes carried spirit tablets with sorrowful expressions, stepping into the ancestral hall and carefully placing the tablets inside.
Lin Fan sighed, reaching up to pat the small chick perched on his shoulder. Usually lively, the chick now lowered its head, chirping softly.
The chick seemed to sense Lin Fan’s sorrow, sharing in his grief.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo…”
The chick gently nudged Lin Fan’s cheek with its little head, as if trying to comfort him.
Lin Fan stepped beside Mu Bingshan and softly said, “Everyone must die, but some deaths weigh heavier than heaven and earth, while others lighter than a feather. They died for the sect, and their names will live on in the hearts of future disciples. Don’t grieve too much, my junior. Fulfill your master’s final wish, so she may rest in peace.”
“Thank you, senior brother.” Mu Bingshan nodded, her expression slowly regaining composure.
Lin Fan gazed into the distance, wondering how much sorrow Xinfeng must be feeling now.
With the sect leader dead and Elder Liang gone, he alone must now bear the heavy burden of leading the disciples of Jiuxiao Sect. Lin Fan wondered if Xinfeng could endure it.
“Sigh…”
In the Xuanhuang World, the weak were trampled like grass, but the loss of a loved one was still a deep sorrow.
A few days passed.
The disciples gradually emerged from their grief and threw themselves into rebuilding the sect. A new wave of cultivation swept through the Sacred Sect as countless disciples devoted themselves to training.
Perhaps this tragedy had deeply impacted them, making them realize their own weakness and igniting a desire to grow stronger to protect the sect.
Lin Fan understood this, though perhaps too late. If he had realized this earlier while in Cangling Province, perhaps the Saint Demon Sect wouldn’t have perished.
Even the mightiest sects may one day fall, facing the brink of destruction.
But as long as he lived, such a fate would never befall his sect.
Gong Bingye’s injuries had healed.
Lin Fan had originally intended to send her back, but Zhiao, the little girl, had begged and cried, while Zhang Erdou and others had pleaded on her behalf.
Finally, not wanting to argue further, Lin Fan allowed her to stay, taking on the role of an outer sect disciple.
During Lin Fan’s absence over the past few months, Nameless Peak had undergone a major transformation. It was now bustling with people like a marketplace, selling goods commonly found in ordinary cities.
These items were quite popular within the Sacred Sect.
Lin Fan simply let things be. Yet seeing Gong Bingye, he felt a strange sense of unease. Still, he had to admit, he admired the woman.
She was bold, daring, and full of ideas.
As for her wanting to sleep with his “pure and innocent” body? That was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Who was he? A peerless figure across the universe…
Alright, enough bragging. Time to raid the sect’s treasure vault.
After ten thousand years of accumulation, the Sacred Sect’s treasure vault was bound to be immense, filled with treasures that would drive anyone mad. Just recalling the sect leader’s pained expression, Lin Fan could imagine the splendor inside.
The thought alone was enough to excite him.
Before long, Lin Fan arrived at the treasure vault, hidden within a secret cave beneath the main sect peak. A lingering aura guarded the entrance, likely left behind by the sect leader to deter intruders.
But Lin Fan possessed the sect leader’s token, so the barrier yielded without resistance.
“Is this the treasure vault?” Lin Fan stood before two stone doors, curiously examining them. Especially the two characters carved above the entrance.
“Treasure Vault.”
Lin Fan shook his head in disbelief. “Whoever carved this must have been a true genius… Isn’t this just shouting ‘No treasure here, really!’? If some lucky guy stumbled in and saw these words, he’d immediately know this was the treasure vault.”
At that moment, the token in Lin Fan’s possession floated out, emitting a beam of light onto the stone doors.
“Boom… Boom…”
The stone doors slowly creaked open, and Lin Fan’s heart raced.
He could already smell the scent of treasures…
Thick and rich…
Without hesitation, he stepped inside, eyes widening at the sight before him.
A money-hoarding miser… Definitely a money-hoarding miser…
Treasures were densely packed on shelves, and the spiritual energy within the vault had condensed into a tangible, thick mist.
It was far more advanced than Jiuxiao Sect’s.
The far-western lands were known to be barren—perhaps not without reason.
The Sacred Sect’s location was rich beyond measure, so of course, treasures would abound.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage