"Really? Yuan Jing achieved the Saint Venerable realm through a secret technique? Pfft, that's truly laughable. My sister has always been proud. To think that when the moment came, she still feared death and strayed onto a crooked path—"
It had been three days since Yuan Jing was resurrected and underwent her tribulation.
The place where everyone stood was still that piece of land that had been on the verge of collapse.
But now, it was no longer shattered into pieces.
The previously pitch-black, dim sky now displayed the sun, moon, and stars.
—Except for the absence of living beings, everything else was indistinguishable from an ordinary world.
That day, after True Person Yuan Jing completely reformed her body, she asked Zong Shou only one thing—she owed this realm a great debt that could not go unpaid.
Then the earth began to heal and reconstruct; mountains, rivers, and seas manifested successively.
The shattered laws also regenerated, allowing this world to gradually recover.
In just a few short days, this realm had stabilized completely.
It was still somewhat weak, but the disaster of collapse was gone.
The few people present finally confirmed the current realm of True Person Xuan Shuang.
It was not the Zenith realm; she did not possess such vast divine might.
Zong Shou listened silently, his expression solemn. But in his mind, he muttered that Yuan Jing likely didn't face her tribulation out of fear of death back then.
Rather, the situation for the Cangsheng Dao at that time was extremely grim, making it imperative to quickly secure a certain level of combat strength. It was a forced measure—
However, at this moment, he kept his mouth shut and offered no rebuttal.
After restoring this world, Lin Xuan Shuang immediately questioned him about the situation in the Cangsheng Dao and the Cloud Realm.
During this time, he had roughly understood the temperament of his current Master.
Any contradictory words now would not only be useless but would also invite negative consequences, akin to seeking his own death.
Listening to these words laced with a hint of mockery, Zong Shou knew just by tapping his heel that the relationship between these sisters was apparently not very harmonious, making him even less inclined to speak.
After this remark, a shadow of sorrow crossed Xuan Shuang’s face again: “Has my Cangsheng Dao truly declined to this extent? Is Wei Xu still the Grand Master of the Cangsheng Dao now? Truly incompetent—”
Zong Shou let out a small, wry laugh, finding it exceptionally amusing to watch this young girl lecture him with such earnestness, like a little adult.
As for Wei Xu, Zong Shou certainly did not think this Senior Brother was incapable; on the contrary, he considered him a man of great vision and strategy.
To be able to restore the glory of the Cangsheng Dao after the death of Xi Zi, the subsequent passing of several Saint Realm experts within the sect, and the combined suppression by the other major factions—and to see new blood emerge in the Saint and Divine realms, gradually solidifying the foundation—was truly extraordinary.
It was just a pity that Heaven did not grant him the time. If the spiritual tide in the Cloud Realm had surged a thousand years later, perhaps the Cangsheng Dao would truly have the strength to contend with the other major powers.
Xuan Shuang snorted coldly and then asked Zong Shou again.
“So, Disciple, you intend to go to the Nine Desolation Death Prison to rescue your mother, and because the Saint Realm experts of the Cangsheng Dao could not be reached, you came here alone with the Xuan Ming Gold Page?”
Zong Shou bowed slightly: “Precisely. I request Master’s assistance, Zong Shou!”
Nearby, Jing Yin couldn't help but twitch the corner of her lips.
These two people had clearly never met before. One called Master with immense intimacy, and the other called Disciple without the slightest hint of awkwardness; it was entirely natural.
“The Lu Family’s Nine Desolation Death Prison—Xi Zi once visited it, seeking an exotic Heaven and Earth Seed, but returned disappointed. Helping you go there is merely a small matter. My life was saved because of you; even just to repay that kindness, I should naturally grant your wish.”
Having said this, True Person Xuan Shuang gave a cold sneer: “But you, fellow, are far too reckless. Do you truly not value your life? Did none of your elders inform you of my current situation? Did you truly believe that the power of the Cangsheng Dao could not save me? As for Xuan Jing, it is understandable. But with the sisterly bond between Xuan Xuan and myself, even at the cost of our lives, we would have tried everything to restore me. Yet, neither Xuan Jing nor Senior Brother Xiu Guan could do anything. And you, a mere Immortal Realm junior, dare to act so boldly? With just those few drops of Duotian Huanye, you dared to revive this Dowager Empress?”
Zong Shou was covered in a cold sweat. How could he not know the danger he had just faced?
Recalling it now sent shivers down his spine.
It was indeed more than just reckless; performing this resurrection technique without fully understanding the situation had nearly caused both of them to perish right there.
He also blamed Wei Xu for not explaining things clearly back then; he had assumed his Master had simply perished in an ordinary tribulation.
“Enough! I can’t even be bothered to lecture you. Consider it a blessing in disguise. I truly did not expect that there would be such an astonishingly talented figure in the Cangsheng Dao. This Fine Rain Golden Wind Tribulation varies from person to person. Even Senior Brother Xiu Guan, with his Zenith Realm cultivation, was deeply wary and retreated. You, a person just entering the Immortal Realm, managed to pull through solely using your own power, without relying on external artifacts.”
This time, Zong Shou had utilized the Star Dao Seed and the Ten Absolute Dao Annihilation Sword Formation.
However, these two things were closer to his innate divine abilities than external objects.
As Lin Xuan Shuang spoke, she suddenly broke into a radiant smile, the coldness vanishing from her voice, leaving one dizzy and enchanted.
“If it were anyone else, no matter how high their cultivation, the outcome might have been worse than yours. Though you were reckless, it can barely be called a great fortune amidst misfortune. It’s just a pity about those Tianyuan Zhaosheng Pills; they tasted excellent. But if used in my Cangsheng Dao, they could surely have added several more Saint Realm experts to our sect—”
“Yes! Truly a pity!”
Zong Shou sighed and nodded, responding with genuine agreement.
The heartache in his heart was indescribable. If not for the fact that their lives were intertwined just moments ago, whether he would have been willing to part with them to save his Master remained uncertain.
Thinking carefully, he probably would have. He couldn’t let the Immortal Crystals and the seven drops of Duotian Huanye go to waste.
But this time, he had truly gone from being wealthy to penniless.
Lin Xuan Shuang, perhaps sensing Zong Shou's current thoughts, let out a cold snort.
“You suffered heavy losses in spiritual materials this time, but I will certainly compensate you in the future. Why are you feeling the sting?”
She then inquired, “Why is it that you cannot contact the elders of the Cangsheng Dao? There should be Divine Realm experts stationed within the Qiong Realm. Although your current cultivation is low, ordinary Divine Realm experts might not necessarily defeat you. Your divine sense is vast; using the secret arts of my Cangsheng Dao, you should be able to sense within twenty worlds. Why can’t you make contact?”
“I heard it is because the Yu Shu has appeared!”
After saying this, Zong Shou deliberately shot Lin Xuan Shuang a light glance. The moment his words fell, he distinctly felt her body tremble slightly.
His mother, compared to the Qiong Yu Creation Record, was naturally insignificant.
However, he disdained lying about this matter.
“It is said that the Daoist and Demonic Sects have exhausted their elites. The Sword Sect, Confucianism, and even Buddhism are involved. Master, are you trying to contact the Dao Sect?”