Bonus chapter.
Elder Wang, who was suppressing the forbidden area, saw the doubt in Chu Xun's eyes and sighed with complicated emotions.
"The Saint… is ill."
"Huh?" Chu Xun was startled.
Xiao Rongyu's beautiful eyes also revealed complexity. As the sect master of Donglin Sect, she knew some hidden secrets, including the Saint's true condition. She said softly,
"The Saint's lifespan is nearly exhausted."
More than ten years ago, the Saint had already entered deep seclusion, sealing herself in sleep to prevent the leakage of vitality. It was all to delay death by a few more years, just long enough to support Donglin Sect through its weakest period and protect the next generation.
Back then, the most promising successor to the position of Saint had been Xiao Rongyu herself.
But now,
Elder Chu was clearly the more likely candidate.
"The Saint is ill…"
Chu Xun murmured. One doubt after another unraveled in his mind.
No wonder the Saint revived yet never appeared.
With her strength, killing Qin Yu, the leader of the Immortal Dao Sect, would have taken no more than a flick of a finger. Yet she chose silence instead.
That alone revealed the truth,
Her body was already too frail to sustain any real battle.
Elder Jiang and Elder Wang He also fell silent.
From Elder Wang of the forbidden area, they learned the full truth. The Saint's forced awakening had caused her vitality to leak once more. At best, she could survive for another year.
Today, she could indeed have forcefully killed Qin Yu, or even Lu Nantian of Zhenwu Sect, but the price would have been her own life.
That exchange was not worth it.
Even if both were peak experts of the Ninth Realm of the Human Emperor, trading a Saint's life for theirs would be an immeasurable loss. Anyone with clear judgment could see that.
Chu Xun felt a trace of sorrow and regret.
He had just been relieved to know that Donglin Sect still had a Saint, yet she faded again without ever revealing herself.
Still, he did not dwell on it.
The Saint being alive was, in itself, a blessing.
If she could delay things for a year…
By then, even if he had to face a Saint, he might not be powerless.
With that thought, Chu Xun calmed down.
He nodded toward the others and said plainly,
"I'll return to the Sutra Pavilion to read."
Elder Wang He stared at his retreating back in disbelief.
Such a massive event had shaken the sect to its core. The Saint's imminent death was revealed. And yet,
You still have the mood to read?
Elder Jiang was equally stunned, then sighed softly.
"As expected of Elder Chu. Our state of mind still falls far short of his."
Upon reflection, although the news was shocking, there was nothing to be done about it. Instead of overthinking, it was better to focus on improving one's strength to prepare for what was to come.
The emotion in Elder Wang's eyes grew heavier.
He felt that the Saint's forced revival had not been in vain.
As long as Elder Chu rose in time, Donglin Sect would still have a future.
Then he asked,
"Master Xiao, how are your injuries?"
"I'm fine," Xiao Rongyu replied.
Her face was pale, but her eyes were clear. The forbidden technique had been forcibly interrupted midway, sparing her from the worst damage.
She asked in return,
"And you?"
"It's serious," Elder Wang said quietly. "I'll need to go into seclusion for some time."
His injuries from Qin Yu were severe. Recovery would take time. Fortunately, he had prepared the forbidden area in advance,
otherwise, it would have become another major problem.
---
Immortal Sect.
Forbidden land.
Qin Yu respectfully reported the events to the Saint's cultivation hall.
Silence filled the hall.
Then a calm voice descended.
"You did the right thing."
An old man with white hair and beard sat cross-legged on a futon suspended in midair. When he opened his eyes, countless scenes flickered within his pupils.
From Qin Yu's account alone, he inferred nearly everything.
"There is a Saint in Donglin Sect," he said calmly. "Her death is only a matter of time. At most a year, at least a few months."
Qin Yu's pupils contracted.
A chill rose in his heart.
The word Saint carried unbearable weight in the Eastern Region. To hear such a fate spoken so calmly was terrifying.
"But you did the right thing," the old man repeated.
Exchanging a Ninth Realm Human Emperor for a dying Saint would be a profit, but Immortal Sect had no reason to force that exchange. More importantly, Qin Yu had not pushed the Saint into fully reviving.
That alone was a wise decision.
"Do not provoke Donglin Sect within one year," the old man said.
With that, his figure vanished.
Qin Yu obeyed without hesitation.
Donglin Sect could no longer be treated lightly.
But now that their situation was exposed,
Even a Saint was not so frightening.
---
Zhenwu Sect.
Lu Nantian, dressed in solemn black robes, also reported the day's events.
The answer he received was identical.
The Saint of Donglin Sect was nearing death. There was no need to provoke her.
A dying Saint forcing a one-for-one exchange would still be terrifying. Even if she failed, severe injury would create opportunities for other forces.
No Saint wished to touch such a situation.
"Then Chu Xun…" Lu Nantian hesitated.
In the end, he said nothing more.
Thinking back carefully, Chu Xun was not as invincible as he appeared.
Killing Zhao Yong with one sword,
That was a trick.
He had borrowed the sword river from Donglin Sect's back mountain, infused with the sword intent of countless disciples. It was an unexpected strike, unleashing unimaginable power.
As for the holy weapon,
It required protection, but not excessive fear.
With the strength of the Ninth Realm of the Human Emperor, Chu Xun could still be suppressed.
Next time, he would come prepared.
With that thought, Lu Nantian retreated.
---
Shenxing Sect.
Tianji Sect.
Shennu Palace.
Nangong Clan.
All the top forces of the Eastern Region reached the same silent agreement.
The Saint of Donglin Sect was nearing the end.
There was no need to offend her.
As for Chu Xun,
Even if he grew within a single year, what waves could he truly stir?
---
Inside the Sutra Pavilion.
"Buzz!"
Chu Xun raised his arm, and the Green Ivy Sword responded.
Green vitality surged, vines wrapping around the sword body.
Even Chu Xun himself was satisfied.
The Green Ivy Sword had played a decisive role in today's battle.
"My cultivation is still short of the Ninth Realm," Chu Xun reflected. "But if I want to leave, he can't stop me."
He reviewed the battle carefully.
On open ground, if he encountered a Ninth Realm Human Emperor, he would retreat immediately, never allowing the opponent to link their attacks.
As long as momentum was broken, the opponent could do nothing.
And in the worst case,
He still had the talisman paper.
After this incident, he would not leave the mountain easily.
The Eight Desolate Palm had stalled.
If the Great River Sword Intent could be integrated further, its power would rise again.
Most important of all,
His cultivation needed to break through.
Any one of these would be enough to let him move freely within the Human Emperor Realm.
All of them required time.
Fortunately, the Saint of Donglin Sect was still alive.
This period would be quiet.
Chu Xun picked up a scripture calmly and resumed reading.
But after only a few pages,
He was interrupted once again.
...
Author's Note,
the remaining chapter will be released yesterday. I'm still a student and my exams are close so i don't have much time, i hope you guys understand.
Daily chapters will be released around this time each day (the same time this chapter was posted).
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