Chapter 485: The Elders Go Into Closed-Door Meditation, Elder Ruyan Is Worried
Chu Kuangren and the White-Robed General returned to the Illusive Mirage.
By then, Shang Qingxue had already awakened and was daydreaming under a hut. She eventually snapped back to reality once she sensed Chu Kuangren’s return.
“Greetings, Sect Leader.” Shang Qingxue came and greeted Chu Kuangren.
“How are you?”
“No big issues now. By the way, Sect Leader, have you unlocked the Heavenly Punishment Seal?”
“Yeah.” Chu Kuangren nodded.
Shang Qingxue was overjoyed. “That’s great!”
Then, she noticed the White-Robed General and became curious. “So, this senior…”
For reasons unknown to her, Shang Qingxue could sense an inexplicable connection to the White-Robed General.
“Qingxue, allow me to introduce him to you. This is the White-Robed General, who is also your ancestor.”
“What?!” Shang Qingxue was stunned.
“Heh. I’ll let him explain how everything came to be.”
Chu Kuangren laughed and left the White-Robed General and Shang Qingxue to their privacy.
After all, it would be too much for anyone to take in if they learned that one of their ancestors was very well alive and was standing before them.
“This is my gift to you.”
White-Robed General did not know what better way to start the conversation than to hand Shang Qingxue his gifts first.
Shang Qingxue could not help but gasp at the ice-based treasures before her. The freezing energy emanating from them made her physique incredibly excited.
“What a wonderful array of treasures. Could this orb be the Deep Sea Freezing Orb? Legend says it possesses the ability to enhance any ice-based cultivator’s cultivation speed. And this sword — it’s at least a Sage Ruler Weapon, or perhaps it can even be classified as a Boundary Weapon…” Shang Qingxue was shocked at the treasures that were laid out before her.
“These are immensely helpful for your cultivation. Please keep it.”
After that, the duo was finally able to break the ice, and they started chattering away.
The White-Robed General recounted the stories of how he had gotten Chu Kuangren’s help in locating Shang Qingxue and how he had recently joined the Black Heaven Sect.
Not far away.
By a flower garden.
Chu Kuangren was grinning. “It looks like they’re getting along just fine.”
With the help of his spiritual thought, nothing on the Illusive Mirage could escape past him. Although he had left the White-Robed General and Shang Jingxue to their privacy, Chu Kuangren was still curious how it would all play out. He just could not control his nosy tendencies.
After a couple of days, the White-Robed General seemed to get along just fine with Shang Jingxue.
Shang Jingxue did not have a reason to distance herself from the White-Robed General anyway. Who would not want a strong ancestor who came bearing so many gifts for them?
Besides, hearing the White-Robed General’s love story with the Lou Kingdom’s princess moved her so much that she shared a greater affection and admiration for the White-Robed General.
The same went for the White-Robed General.
Reconnecting with his descendants was his wish for countless years. Now that he had fulfilled that wish, the White-Robed General seemed much more at peace. He was no longer the cold and distant person he once was. Although he still wore a mask, Chu Kuangren could still sense his warmth through the general’s eyes.
Back at the Black Heaven Sect, while Chu Kuangren was handling the orthodoxy’s affairs, he also began researching on how the Acheron Manor had gotten the stone tablet.
At the same time, the Black Heaven Sect was becoming stronger. Having long ascended into the Boundary Sage Realm, Elder Ruyan and the elders were supposed to live in seclusion and focus on building their foundation to ascend into a Sage. However, as Chu Kuangren was bound by the Heavenly Punishment Seal, the elders needed to help him oversee the Black Heaven Sect.
On this day, in the Longevity Hall.
The elders went to see Chu Kuangren.
“What? All of you are planning to go behind closed doors to prepare for Sagehood?”
Chu Kuangren was dumbfounded.
If these elders, with Elder Ruyan included, all went behind closed doors, how could he alone take care of the entire orthodoxy?
Were they kidding around?!
“Rest assured, Sect Leader, we have already decided on the people who would replace us. Besides, with the Black Heaven Sect’s resources, it won’t take long before we complete our closed-door meditations. At most, we’ll be Sages after a little more than ten years,” Elder Ruyan said as she submitted a name list to Chu Kuangren.
It was the names of the disciples whom she had elected as the next elders of the orthodoxy. It had already been discussed with Chu Kuangren on a previous occasion.
Even so, Chu Kuangren was reluctant. Although there were candidates who could readily replace the elders, Chu Kuangren had gotten used to working with them. Such a drastic change would surely need some getting used to.
However, Chu Kuangren could not say much. It was a sacred matter that concerned the elders’ ascension into Sages, so he could only nod in agreement.
…
Elder Ruyan left and arrived in a small compound within the Black Heaven Sect. It was where her residence was.
The compound only contained a simple wooden abode and a row of gnarly trees.
She laid down some restrictive spells and intended to begin her closed-door meditation.
However, Elder Ruyan was having a hard time finding peace. “Can the Sect Leader manage it? Although we’ve arranged for some replacements, it would surely be a mess since everything was handed over to the Sect Leader within such short notice.”
It was not that Elder Ruyan lacked confidence in Chu Kuangren. She knew he was more than capable of managing the orthodoxy. However, Elder Ruyan could not help but worry.
“Oh, right. I forgot to inform the Sect Leader that the ore veins that are being developed by the Four Seas Firm and Black Heaven Sect are ready. Besides, we also need his approval on the Horizon Wing Sect’s request to send a few disciples over for an exchange. Their Sect Leader is still waiting for a reply…”
Elder Ruyan was about to meet Chu Kuangren for these matters.
Suddenly, she halted her footsteps midway and smiled bitterly. “I’ve already promised myself to isolate myself in peace. Why am I dwelling over these matters?”
As Elder Ruyan was in charge of most matters in the Black Heaven Sect for the past few years, it was difficult for her to get accustomed to loosening up even for just a moment.
“Elder Ruyan, it’s me, Lan Yu.”
At that moment, Lan Yu’s voice came from outside her residence.
“What’s the matter?” Elder Ruyan walked out and saw Lan Yu standing below one of the gnarly trees.
“Elder Ruyan, Master has sent me to deliver you some items.”
Lan Yu retrieved a small box that contained a batch of tea leaves.
“The Sect Leader is gifting me some tea leaves? What a coincidence. How did he know that I love drinking tea?” Elder Ruyan was surprised.
“Master acknowledges your contribution to the orthodoxy over all these years. He wishes to repay part of the favor with these tea leaves.”
“Please let the Sect Leader know that I appreciate his gift.”
“Alright. If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave.”
“Have a pleasant trip back.”
After sending Lan Yu away, Elder Ruyan went into her wooden abode and retrieved a jug of water.
“Since the Sect Leader has taken the trouble to deliver these, I might as well try it.”
Elder Ruyan murmured. She proceeded to brew the tea leaves, its fragrance immediately permeating throughout the abode.
Unsure if it was just an illusion, Elder Ruyan could feel her spirit lifted after inhaling the tea’s fragrance. That was when she stared into the tea and noticed a mystical form of Daoist Rhymes flowing within. She exclaimed in shock, “How do these tea leaves contain such a mystical form of Daoist Rhymes?!”
She carefully lifted her teacup and took a sip.
A surge of insight suddenly flooded into her mind, amplifying her understanding of the Dao.
As the mystical Daoist Rhymes flowed within her body, it accelerated her ascension into the Sage Realm.