"I'm Chu Xun!"
"I'm Chu Xun!"
Two figures appeared inside the Sutra Pavilion.
One wore black robes, the other white. Their appearances were identical, their auras identical—and most importantly, their cultivation levels were exactly the same. The two looked at each other and smiled instinctively.
"It's done."
The Chu Xun in black was the original body. He looked at the incarnation standing to his right, his gaze filled with curiosity. This avatar possessed the same cultivation realm, the same comprehension of martial arts, and the same foundations as himself.
"System!"
"Present!"
"Inject the three years of cultivation!"
Chu Xun's eyes were calm and serene. He had not forgotten that there was still an extremely important reward left—especially at this crucial moment. Even he did not know how far three full years of cultivation would push him.
"Boom—!"
The cultivation within his body began to surge rapidly.
It felt as though everything happened naturally.
As if it were the result of long years of steady practice.
There was no sense of abruptness at all.
Chu Xun was not surprised.
He closed his eyes and quietly comprehended.
If it were anyone else, suddenly gaining such a massive increase in cultivation would lead to unstable foundations and difficulty in control. But Chu Xun had spent many years immersed in the Sutra Pavilion. His state of mind and understanding had long since reached perfection—what he lacked was only cultivation. Now that it was being filled in naturally, mastery came effortlessly, without the slightest turbulence.
"Pop—!"
The Ninth Realm of the Human Emperor was broken through with ease.
And the breakthroughs did not stop.
When his cultivation reached the peak of the Ninth Realm of the Human Emperor and was on the verge of stepping into the Half-Saint realm, Chu Xun forcefully halted it and murmured:
"The remaining cultivation is not enough to support a Half-Saint breakthrough. I'll wait."
Moreover, he harbored ambitions of his own.
The so-called Half-Saint stage was something he could step into—but chose not to.
Originally, there was no such thing as a Half-Saint realm. Later on, cultivators found it too difficult to directly break through to the Saint Realm, so they compromised—stepping one foot in first, then the other, slowly entering sainthood.
To Chu Xun, this approach was completely unnecessary.
As long as one accumulated enough foundation—
One could step into sainthood in a single leap.
"Hold it."
Chu Xun whispered.
He dispersed the formation on the eighth floor of the Sutra Pavilion and looked out through the window with curiosity, wondering what major events might have occurred outside during his more-than-a-month-long seclusion.
"Whoosh!"
A figure rushed over swiftly.
It was Elder Wang He.
Before he even arrived—
Complaints had already started.
"Elder Chu!"
"You're finally out of seclusion!"
Chu Xun smiled lightly. He knew that if the matter weren't urgent, Elder Wang He would never have dared to disturb him on the eighth floor. He asked gently:
"Has something major happened in the Eastern Region?"
Elder Wang He sighed bitterly.
"If only it were just one thing. During this period, the Green Bull Demon Lord has concealed his whereabouts, but demon cultivators have begun appearing everywhere. One possibility is that the Green Bull Demon Lord is summoning his former subordinates. Another possibility is even worse—he may be spreading the demonic techniques he controls."
Chu Xun's expression grew solemn.
If it were the former, it was manageable.
But the latter—
Once demonic techniques spread, those who seek shortcuts and power without effort would become a persistent scourge to the Eastern Region. They would have to be suppressed quickly.
"However," Wang He continued, "none of this affects the Donglin Sect for now. Instead, it's the Jiang family that's in trouble."
"As the oldest family in the Eastern Region—older even than our Donglin Sect—they've long suppressed demons and evil entities. Recently, something went wrong in the Jiang family's forbidden area. Jiang Chen personally came to ask for help… hoping you would go."
Wang He carefully observed Chu Xun's expression and hesitated before adding,
"Headmaster Xiao and I… don't want you to go."
"Hmm?"
"It's too dangerous," Wang He sighed. "Even though Jiang Zhenshan has always supported the Donglin Sect, the situation now is different. Rationally, we shouldn't refuse help—but given our current state, I really don't want you to take the risk."
Chu Xun shook his head gently.
"I'll go."
He understood Wang He's concerns.
His cultivation had advanced too rapidly. Such a breakthrough would inevitably draw the attention—and fear—of Saints. This trip could very well involve ambushes and mortal danger.
But Jiang Zhenshan had treated him well.
And Jiang Chen—his eldest disciple—
For both reason and sentiment, he had to go.
"Elder Chu…" Wang He's face tightened. He tried one last time to dissuade him. "The Jiang family can probably suppress it for another month. If it really doesn't work, we can send Headmaster Xiao. She can temporarily erupt to the Ninth Realm of the Human Emperor—enough to replace you!"
"She?" Chu Xun smiled and shook his head.
The Jiang family was likely already at its limit after holding on for a month. With their foundation, one more or one less Ninth-Realm Human Emperor made no difference.
What could truly change the outcome—
Was a Saint.
At the very least, a Half-Saint.
Xiao Rongyu was simply not enough.
"No need to persuade me further."
"I've made up my mind."
Chu Xun spoke calmly.
If he had not cultivated One Qi Transforms the Three Pure Ones, he might still have hesitated.
But now—
He had confidence.
He could even send an incarnation ahead. Even if a Saint ambushed him along the way, it would not be fatal. Moreover, Saints would not stoop so low as to ambush a junior like him.
If the Donglin Sect's Saint were still in his prime, perhaps the Saints of the Immortal Dao Sect would be ready to act.
But now—
With the Donglin Saint nearing the end of his life—
They would not be petty enough to strike at this moment.
"I…" Elder Wang He sighed deeply, then said solemnly, "Please take care of your safety. This is a token. If you crush it at a critical moment, the Saint of our sect will rush over immediately!"
Chu Xun was slightly startled.
He knew just how precious this token was.
…
…
At the same time.
Jiang family.
Rumble—!
Roar—!
Deafening roars echoed from the back mountain. The shockwaves alone had reduced large areas to ruins.
After Jiang Zhenshan joined several clan elders to suppress it once more, he stood in the void, exhaustion written across his face. His gaze drifted toward the direction of the Donglin Sect, sorrow and regret filling his eyes.
At this point—
No one mocked his former hopes anymore.
Even he himself had given up.
It had been a month.
A full month since the request for help had been sent.
There had been no response.
Anyone could understand what that meant.
The Donglin Sect had no intention of sending anyone.
With a bitter smile, Jiang Zhenshan admitted to himself that his expectations had been too high. He understood better than anyone the current state of the Donglin Sect.
He had been counting on Elder Chu to break into the Saint Realm and stabilize the Donglin Sect once more.
But if Elder Chu were to leave seclusion now and encounter an ambush or accident—
Then the Donglin Sect would truly be doomed.
If he were Elder Chu, he would not choose to come at this moment.
This month of silence—
Was the answer.
"My expectations were too high…"
The silver-haired elder of the Six Clans also burned with anger, though not toward Chu Xun. He said harshly:
"If Old Ten hadn't made a mistake guarding the forbidden area, how could the Jiang family have ended up like this?!"
Jiang Zhenshan didn't want to pursue the topic. Instead, he asked quietly:
"What's the situation with the clan members?"
"They've been transferred."
Jiang Zhenshan turned back to look at the ancestral land they had lived on for generations.
Countless ancestors had cultivated here.
Quasi-emperors had risen here.
Geniuses had emerged without end.
He never imagined that in his own generation, this ancestral land would be lost.
His eyes reddened.
He nodded silently.
"It's good that they've left. As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood."
"Jie jie jie—!"
"You can't block me for much longer!"
Boom—boom—boom—!
The forbidden area trembled violently once more. Though the formation still held, everyone knew the truth.
At most—
Three more times.
The demon would completely break free.
There would be no retreat.
"Recover."
"Adjust your states."
"Prepare for the final battle in a few days."
Jiang Zhenshan spoke wearily.
The clan elders seated cross-legged in the air closed their eyes one by one, preparing to fight to the death. Heavy losses were inevitable.
But there was no way out.
Just as all illusions and hope had been completely extinguished—
A gentle voice slowly fell from the sky.
"Sorry."
"I'm late."