"That's right! We were nearly finished. The strongest fighters of the Human Race had been wiped out. If it weren't for the Sanqing Saint Heir, I fear the outco would have been sealed."
"If we'd lost that battle, the entire Divine Province would have been in danger!"
The tavern buzzed with discussion, the rumors growing more outrageous by the minute. So said the Sanqing Saint Heir was the reincarnation of a Great Emperor who had awakened his past self at the critical mont to sweep away the Demon Race. Others claid his background was unfathomable, with true immortals protecting him from the shadows, ready to step in and suppress all enemies in tis of crisis.
"So, has the threat from Demon Sea Island truly been lifted?"
"Demon Sea Island is gone, just a field of ruins now. I went to look not long ago; there's nothing left."
"The entrance to the Demon Realm has been completely sealed! Not a single demon can get in now. From now on, there will be peace!"
"That's wonderful! The Sanqing Saint Heir is incredible, a true hero to the entire Divine Province."
"A hero he certainly is… It's just a pity that Heaven always envies the talented!" a cultivator sighed from a corner of the bustling tavern.
Upon hearing this, others imdiately gathered around, their curiosity piqued. "What happened?"
"Haven't you heard?" the cultivator said grimly. "The Sanqing Saint Heir overexerted himself in that battle. His injuries were so grievous that they proved untreatable."
His words sent a shockwave through the room.
"Is this true?"
"What a terrible sha! The Sanqing Saint Heir is a peerless genius! If he had lived, his future accomplishnts would have been limitless, enough to make all of Nanzhou look up in awe."
"Throughout history, those with near-demonic talent have rarely t a good end. This is to be expected."
"'Expected,' my ass! Can ordinary geniuses even be ntioned in the sa breath as the Sanqing Saint Heir? He's a hero of the Human Race! Without him, would you still be sitting here making such callous remarks? You'd have been chopped up and eaten by the Demon Race long ago! This is the work of blind, unjust Heavens!" a man roared, slamming his fist on the table as he berated the previous speaker.
The rest of the crowd, filled with righteous indignation, turned on the man, who was so frightened he scurried away like a mouse.
Just then, a flash of blue light illuminated the street outside. An old man in a blue robe entered the tavern, and hearing the discussion, he chuckled in exasperation. "What is all this nonsense? Who said the Sanqing Saint Heir is dead? He isn't dead, he's just fallen into a deep slumber because of his severe injuries."
The crowd was stunned into silence. "Is that really true?"
"How could it be false?" the blue-robed elder replied. "I've just co down from Spirit Turtle Peak, where I was paying my respects!"
The crowd surged with excitent. "Can we go too?"
"Of course," the old man said. "Mount Sanqing is currently open to all. As long as you don't disturb the Sanqing Saint Heir, anyone can go to pay their respects."
In an instant, the crowd dispersed, rushing out of the tavern.
***
In those days, several other major events shook the Cultivator World. For instance, the funeral for Perfected Daoxuan of Mount Shu, who fell in the battle of the East Sea, was scheduled. A funeral was also to be held for Elder Sikong, a powerful Earth Immortal from Qingtian Dongtian who also perished in the battle. The old Heavenly Master of Mount Longhu and the forr Pavilion Master of Shan Hai Dongtian had also fallen. Even the esteed Sanqing Immortal Sect had lost Earth Immortals.
It was only as this news spread that the wider world of cultivators began to truly comprehend how brutal the battle had been. Nearly all the Earth Immortals who went to fight had died. In exchange for their sacrifice, the Demon Race's entire army had been annihilated. The news was t with a somber silence from countless people.
「Mount Shu.」
「Immortal Cloud Peak.」
In life, Perfected Daoxuan had cared little for fa or fortune. He was a detached soul who preferred tranquil cultivation, so his funeral was kept exceedingly simple. He had died at the hands of the Demon Emperor, his Essence Blood burned away completely until it scattered as a rain of blood across the sky. With no body left to bury, it was a funeral for his robes alone.
Still, many great figures from the Cultivator World attended. Every major Cave Heaven sent important representatives, such as the Teaching Heavenly Master from Mount Longhu, a position roughly equivalent to the Peak Master of Mount Shu's Disciplinary Peak. Also in attendance was one of the three Deputy Pavilion Masters of Shan Hai Dongtian, a figure of extrely high status comparable to a Deputy Sect Master. Every Immortal Sect showed the utmost respect for this highly esteed master who had sacrificed himself to fight the demons.
Zhuo Canglang ca in person, though his own injuries had yet to heal. Of all the Immortal Sects, only the Sanqing Immortal Sect's Master deigned to attend personally. Everyone was shocked by this, but they were soon reminded of the old rumors: that Zhuo Canglang had called Perfected Daoxuan 'godfather' for years, and that he had even once nearly run away with Mount Shu's forr Saintess. At that thought, his presence made perfect sense.
***
The funeral proceeded smoothly. Mount Shu traditionally practiced cloud burials. It was said that the Sea of Clouds Pavilion at Mount Shu's peak led to a mysterious and unknowable realm, a boundless place that could grant the deceased eternal rest, free from all worldly disturbances.
May you walk the path well! the crowd silently wished. They watched as the robes Perfected Daoxuan often wore drifted down into the sea of clouds between the cliffs. The garnts bobbed on the high-altitude winds, rising and falling until they vanished from sight, almost as if soone were ascending to beco an immortal.
WHOOSH!
A fierce mountain wind suddenly swept across the cliffside. Two figures appeared, one after the other, their gazes fixed on the floating robes in the depths of the cloud sea. Their expressions changed drastically. "Where is he?"
Their auras were imnse, suffused with the unique rhythm of the Immortal Path. At their glare, even the mountain winds dared not howl. They were two powerful Earth Immortals.
Li Hanqiu, the Peak Master of Qingling Peak who was officiating the funeral, was stunned. "Two Ancestral Masters, you've returned?"
The two Earth Immortals ignored him, their voices sharp. "Cut the pleasantries. Where is Daoxuan?"
Li Hanqiu glanced toward the robes sinking into the sea of clouds and said nothing.
Understanding his silence, the two n looked as if their souls had fled their bodies. "We truly have returned too late!"
"Even if you had returned earlier, it would have been useless," Zhuo Canglang said. "Godfather didn't die on Mount Shu. He perished in the East Sea…"
His words were, of course, hardly appropriate for the occasion.
The two Earth Immortals turned to him, their eyes flashing with a cold light. "The battle of the East Sea… why did it end like this? Why couldn't you wait for us to return before taking action?"
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