Chapter 181: The Gathering Shadows

Azure Ethereal Peak, the Great Bamboo Summit.

Since the end of the Azure Ethereal Conflict, many days had passed. The once tumultuous battlefield, now gradually calmed, as all traces of the struggle were quietly erased by the people tending to the aftermath.

On that fateful day, countless lost friends and family, and the corpses piled high on the Pinnacle of Heaven, stretching from the summit to the base, much like a scene from the Netherworld of legend.

Perhaps it was due to fortune; the Great Bamboo Summit, the lineage with the fewest members, had not lost a single disciple in the conflict. However, nearly everyone was injured, even Tian Yixi, who stayed behind on the Great Bamboo Summit to activate the Heavenly Fate Seal, appeared extremely weary. Among the disciples, Wu Dayi, the second disciple, and He Dazhi, the fourth, were the most severely wounded. After these days, they were still bedridden but, fortunately, their injuries did not involve broken bones. After personally examining them, Tian Yixi declared that they only needed rest and recuperation. With time, their injuries would not hinder their cultivation.

Yet, despite this, the atmosphere on the Great Bamboo Summit was solemn. The disciples had been unable to feel joy for several days, and even Tian Yixi himself had a perpetually furrowed brow.

Early that morning, Tian Yixi was summoned by the Sect Leader Dao Xuan to the Pinnacle of Heaven for a meeting. When he returned at noon, his round, plump face was dark and gloomy, his eyebrows knotted together as if permanently locked in a frown.

Around midday, Tian Yixi ordered all the Great Bamboo Summit disciples to gather at the Hall of Tranquility. Even the bedridden Wu Dayi and He Dazhi were brought there, supported by others and seated on the side.

The usually quiet Hall of Tranquility was now filled with people. Tian Yixi’s wife, Su Ru, stood beside him. Her beauty remained, though her left hand was wrapped in white bandages, indicating she had also been injured in the conflict.

Tian Yixi paced back and forth in the Hall of Tranquility, glancing at the disciples, who were either sitting or standing in a row. His voice low, he said, “I have called you here today for no other reason than the matter of the ancient Immortalbane Nexus.”

The disciples’ expressions were serious, but few showed surprise, as they had likely guessed the reason. Tian Yixi exchanged a glance with Su Ru, then looked at the disciples and continued, “This morning, the Sect Leader summoned me again, and with me was only your Aunts Shuiyue from the Lesser Bamboo Summit. I’m sure you can guess what was discussed: the destruction of the Immortalbane Nexus. You must keep this absolutely secret, under no circumstances should you let a single word slip out.”

The disciples exchanged glances. Finally, the eldest disciple, Song Daren, cleared his throat and said, “Master, you know us well. We would rather die than divulge a single word about such a significant matter.” He hesitated, looking at Tian Yixi, and lowered his voice, “Master, not only have you and Auntie reminded us multiple times, but the Sect Leader and those from the Pinnacle of Heaven have also delivered this message four times. Could it be… that they do not trust us, or even you and Auntie?”

Tian Yixi’s brows furrowed, and he shouted, “How dare you! What gives you the right to question the Sect Leader and our elders?”

Song Daren’s face paled, and he bowed, “Yes, I have erred.”

Su Ru, standing to the side, sighed and intervened, “Enough, enough. These are the instructions from the Sect Leader, and given the importance of the destruction of the Immortalbane Nexus, it is understandable that he is being cautious and repeatedly reminding us.”

Tian Yixi turned away, silent, and the disciples bowed, “We understand, Master.”

Su Ru looked at each disciple, her voice soft, “I know you may feel wronged, that the Sect Leader and the elders do not trust you. But, in truth, this is all due to the gravity of the situation. After the recent battle, the Azure Ethereal Conclave’s reputation soared, surpassing all others in the righteous path. This was because the Sect Leader, wielding the Immortalbane Nexus, defeated the Beast God on the Pinnacle of Heaven. The significance of the Immortalbane Nexus is clear to all of us.”

Su Ru smiled bitterly, “But who could have predicted that the divine sword would…” She paused, steadying herself before continuing, “On that day, outside the Illusory Moon Grotto, only the Great Bamboo Summit disciples and a few Lesser Bamboo Summit female disciples witnessed the destruction of the sword, besides the Sect Leader and a few senior masters. For the sake of our sect’s reputation and standing, the Sect Leader’s repeated reminders are justified. Do not take it to heart, just remember to keep this a secret.”

The disciples, in unison, replied, “We understand, and we will follow your commands, Master and Auntie.”

Su Ru turned to Tian Yixi, whose expression remained heavy. He waved his hand, “Remember what your Auntie has said. Now, you may leave.”

The disciples bowed and departed, with Song Daren and Du Bishu helping Wu Dayi and He Dazhi. Soon, the hall was empty, leaving only Tian Yixi and Su Ru.

Su Ru, noticing Tian Yixi’s increasingly somber expression, walked to his side, whispering, “What happened? Did the Sect Leader scold you again?”

Tian Yixi snorted, “He didn’t just scold me. Even Shuiyue, who he respects, was scolded. What does that make me?”

Surprised, Su Ru asked, “What? The Sect Leader scolded even Aunt Shuiyue?”

Tian Yixi’s face grew more agitated, his pacing quicker, his brows more tightly knit.

Worried, Su Ru said, “Don’t worry too much. The Sect Leader is just anxious…”

Tian Yixi interrupted, “If he is truly anxious, even if he scolds me a thousand times, I wouldn’t care!”

Startled, Su Ru asked, “What did you say?”

Tian Yixi muttered, pacing faster, his anxiety growing. Su Ru, even more worried, urged, “Tell me, what do you mean?”

Tian Yixi stopped in front of Su Ru, silent for a moment, then said, “These days, Dao Xuan has summoned me and Shuiyue multiple times, repeatedly reminding us to keep the secret. But recently, I’ve noticed something strange about him.”

Surprised, Su Ru asked, “Strange, how so?”

Tian Yixi frowned, “Have you ever seen Dao Xuan scold someone easily before?”

Su Ru shook her head, “The Sect Leader is of high virtue and character. He never shows anger lightly.”

Tian Yixi nodded, “Exactly. But after the battle, his temperament seems to have changed. He becomes irrationally angry over trivial matters, cursing or blaming others. I suspect he was affected by the Immortalbane Nexus’s malevolent spirit during the battle with the Beast God.”

Su Ru’s face changed, “Stop talking!” She quickly checked outside, then whispered, “This is a secret of the Azure Ethereal Conclave. You cannot speak of it casually!”

Tian Yixi sighed, “I am not speaking lightly. During the battle, Dao Xuan disregarded my warnings and activated the Heavenly Fate Seal, enhancing the Immortalbane Nexus’s power. But the ancients warned of its malevolent energy. I believe both Shuiyue and I share this concern, but we dare not speak of it.”

Su Ru, after a long silence, said, “Even so, with the Immortalbane Nexus destroyed, the Sect Leader, though affected, will likely recover with time, as he is of great virtue and power.”

Tian Yixi, still grave, said, “I hope so. If not, the Azure Ethereal Conclave will face dire consequences.”

Su Ru, sighing, asked, “What happened to the Immortalbane Nexus after its destruction?”

Tian Yixi replied, “I inquired with a senior. Dao Xuan took the broken pieces into the Illusory Moon Grotto, forbidding anyone from entering. No one knows what happened to the sword. Perhaps it can be repaired?”

Tian Yixi laughed, shaking his head, “We can’t worry about the sword. Today, I heard a strange story on the Pinnacle of Heaven.”

Curious, Su Ru asked, “What strange story?”

Tian Yixi shrugged, “You won’t believe it. Many disciples and elders died in the battle and are being honored in the Jade Purity Hall. But the Sect Leader only appears briefly there, instead, he goes to the Ancestral Shrine to mourn an old caretaker who died. The weirdest part is, the memorial tablet he placed in the shrine is blank!”

Shocked, Su Ru asked, “What happened to the old caretaker? Why is the Sect Leader so upset?”

Tian Yixi scoffed, “No one knows. But some young disciples say the old man died suddenly. The Sect Leader was shocked, then furious, and eventually placed the blank tablet in the shrine. This is strange behavior.”

Su Ru, more puzzled, sighed, “Is the Sect Leader really losing his mind?”

Tian Yixi, laughing coldly, said, “Whether he has or not, he doesn’t listen to anyone. He ignores the Jade Purity Hall and instead focuses on the blank tablet. This behavior will lead to disaster for the Azure Ethereal Conclave.”

Su Ru, silent, looked out at the empty, blue sky, the wind bringing the sound of bamboo, adding to the loneliness.

******

On the Pinnacle of Heaven, the Ancestral Shrine, the same solemnity and silence as always. The shrine stood tall, the surrounding forest green, as if the recent battle had no impact.

Missing was the old caretaker, and on the dim altar, a blank memorial tablet.

Lin Jingyu, kneeling in mourning, burned paper money in a fire pit, two white candles and three incense sticks creating a gentle smoke. He looked up at the blank tablet, his sorrow deepening.

Placing the tablet in the shrine was the Sect Leader’s decision, despite opposition from the elders. Lin Jingyu, surprised, asked the Sect Leader, “Do you know his name?”

The Sect Leader, answering, “Do you know his name?”

Lin Jingyu, following the old man for ten years, knew nothing of his past. The Sect Leader seemed to know something but did not share. Lin Jingyu, though curious, dared not press further.

One day, the Sect Leader entered the shrine, and Lin Jingyu, recognizing the footsteps, greeted him. The Sect Leader, his voice low and strained, asked, “Is he well?”

Lin Jingyu, puzzled, answered, “I have been tending to him diligently.”

The Sect Leader, in a cold laugh, said, “It’s fitting you do so. He taught you well. I wonder if I will be remembered when I die.”

Lin Jingyu, feeling a chill, left the shrine. Outside, he felt a sense of relief, realizing the oppressive feeling inside. He walked around, waiting for the Sect Leader, but saw him leave for the Illusory Moon Grotto.

Returning to the shrine, Lin Jingyu found the blank tablet, with new incense burning and more ashes. He pondered, then looked up at the silent, blank tablet, wondering…