Please, Young Master, Slay the Demon!
Chapter 282 - 70 I Know, But I Won’t Say [Request for Monthly Ticket!]

Chapter 282: Chapter 70 I Know, But I Won’t Say [Request for Monthly Ticket!]

"Shu Mountain ah..."

Watching the figures of the youngsters in the field, Elder Sun suddenly sighed deeply:

"For some reason, Shu Mountain has become increasingly disadvantaged after losing the Demon Suppression Tower, the struggle for key resources has been harsh. The sect’s strength has gradually diminished. If it was any other Sect, it probably would have gradually declined and exited the stage of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. This would be in accordance with the laws of nature. However, every couple of decades, Shu Mountain always has one or two exceptionally talented individuals who would rise up and bear the banner for Shu Mountain."

He was also expressing a general rule of the Immortal Cultivation World, regardless of how prosperous an Immortal Sect once was, it will gradually recede from the historical stage following its peak to decline transitions.

There is nothing to mourn about this, it has been the same throughout the ages, like the Heavenly Star Divine Sect of the past, how could there be an Immortal Sect that remains undefeated for eternity?

However, Shu Mountain, after experiencing thousands of years of prosperity, suffered a heavy blow. When it should have gradually exited, there were always one or two people standing on the steps of the historical stage, carrying Shu Mountain on their backs and refusing to let it step down.

"Indeed, sixty years ago there were Ah Feng, Daoist Yan, and that man, and sixty years later we now have Jiang Yuebai, Xu Ziyang, and Chu Liang..." Elder Huang nodded in agreement: "How striking the similarities."

"It’s like the embers of a fire. You think it’s about to turn into ashes, but with a gust of wind, it can radiate a dazzling light again." Elder Sun continued.

"Perhaps this is the inheritance of the Sect’s spirit." Elder Huang mused, "One exceptional individual can protect the Immortal Sect for hundreds of years, one Divine Artifact can protect the Immortal Sect for thousands of years, only the spirit is capable of an eternal inheritance."

"The spirit of Shu Mountain..." Elder Sun muttered.

"Where is Wang Xuanling? Speak up!"

"..."

Just as the two elders were deeply contemplating, a haughty shout suddenly came from the side, causing them both to fall silent.

They saw Empress Feng looking up, viewing Wang Xuanling with the bottom of her jaw, "Little Wang, there’s no need for you to frown so intensely. I won’t be against you once I become the Chief."

Wang Xuanling’s face paled significantly, and after a long time, he finally spoke, "There is no need for you to act so arrogant now, the bet we originally made was made under the condition that if your disciple wins the Chief position, I would hand over the position of Chief Disciple to you."

Empress Feng recollected it and indeed that was the case.

Because when she and Wang Xuanling were arguing and made the bet, Wang Xuanling was concerned that his Silver Sword Peak disciples wouldn’t have a chance against her Jade Sword Peak’s disciples in direct competition and would perhaps get eliminated before even facing each other.

So, the stipulated bet was about whose disciple would win the Chief position.

Although Chu Liang has defeated Xu Ziyang now, Wang Xuanling has only lost his hopes of winning, but he has not necessarily lost the bet yet.

Thinking carefully about it in the past now became Wang Xuanling’s lifeline.

"Humph." Empress Feng was not unreasonable, she nodded, "Then we shall wait and see."

After a pause, she turned to Daoist Yan, "However, whether my disciple wins or Yan Zi’s disciple wins, it will be the same, our two peaks are one family."

Daoist Yan’s pupils visibly contracted, his lips moved slightly, it looked like he was about to say "Who is family with you?"

But in the end, he still held back, turned his head and pretended he didn’t hear what she said.

Wang Xuanling sat there feeling stifled and abruptly rose into the air and descended to the arena.

At this time, Xu Ziyang had just finished being treated by the disciples of the Pill Furnace Hall. He seemed a bit weak as he got down from the stage. Seeing Wang Xuanling’s gloomy face, he bowed his head in acknowledgement, "Master, your disciple failed to secure a victory."

"How are your injuries?" Wang Xuanling asked.

"Only external injuries, nothing major." Xu Ziyang replied.

"That’s good to hear." Wang Xuanling did not criticize him, but only said: "A temporary defeat means nothing, just don’t take it to heart."

"Your disciple understands..." Xu Ziyang looked up at his master. He could see that Wang Xuanling’s face was filled with unhappiness... even a bit hurt. This was the first time he had seen such a look on his master’s face after all these years.

Xu Ziyang’s lips moved, he didn’t know whether he should say something or not.

Master, it would be better if you don’t take it to heart.

...

The failure this time did not strike Xu Ziyang as strongly as one might expect, having never experienced defeat since he embarked on his path of cultivation, he was considered the hopeful prospect for the revival of Shu Mountain Sect.

Both the world outside and himself within had placed enormous pressure upon him, like a constant heavy burden on his shoulders.

However, at the moment when he just fell to the ground, images from his childhood suddenly emerged in his mind.

Back then, he would laze around lolling about on the grassy lawn behind Jade Sword Peak, watching the white clouds drift across the azure sky, feeling as carefree as those floating clouds.

Such a mood had only appeared in those times.

When he started exhibiting extraordinary talent for cultivation, the expectations placed upon him by his master and Shu Mountain grew increasingly higher. Sometimes, expectations were an even heavier force to bear than commands.

Restoring the glory of Shu Mountain seemed to have become his destined task.

When he fell to the ground defeated, he felt an inexplicable sigh of relief. It turned out that he didn’t have to bear the responsibility of carrying forward Shu Mountain alone, others could also share the load.

Perhaps someone else might even do it better than him.

As for Chu Liang, Xu Ziyang always had a favorable impression of him.

Although he was a rather upstanding person himself, he didn’t despise Chu Liang’s style, and even admired his unconventional ideas and free-spiritedness.

Losing to such an opponent did not seem so hard to accept.

Of course, it was necessary for him to take this defeat as a lesson and grow stronger from it.

He would still dedicate himself to diligent cultivation in the future, even though he did not exactly lose this battle because of his cultivation level. At least one thing he learned from this battle was to never underestimate any opponent.

When a lion hunts a rabbit, it still uses its full strength.

Throughout the entire competition, he remained at a disadvantage because he had underestimated Chu Liang at the beginning. Wave after wave of attacks came at him, and he never fully recovered from that initial setback. In fact, there were still some moves that he had not even been able to unleash.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but that he lost the initiative with his first misstep, and Chu Liang never gave him an opportunity to recover. In the arena, Chu Liang would deliberately steer clear of fatal blows. When they reach the Nine States, who would still show leniency?

All these were things to be retrospectively analyzed. He did not dwell on them too much. Now, he walked back upright into the ranks of Jade Sword Peak.

The contest for the day had come to an end, and the audience began to disperse one by one. Only the disciples of Jade Sword Peak waited here, all looking at him with concern.

Everyone knew that their Eldest Senior Brother had never lost before. Today, he was defeated, and that too under the principle of the weak overcoming the strong, which had everyone worried about him.

But Xu Ziyang’s composed demeanor as he walked towards them had a certain ease, "Let’s go."

"Huh?" Xu Ziqing paused for a moment, "Where to?"

"Back to Jade Sword Peak, of course." Xu Ziyang patted her head, adding, "I feel like having hot pot."

"Hehe." Seeing that her elder brother did not seem to be crushed by defeat, Xu Ziqing immediately laughed and said, "Sounds great!"

The siblings walked side by side, surrounded by a large group of junior siblings, heading back to Jade Sword Peak. On the way, Xu Ziyang turned his head and whispered to Xu Ziqing, "Chu Liang is indeed impressive. If you like him, I’ll support you."

"Huh?" Xu Ziqing’s eyebrows shot up, "What are you talking about, brother?"

Her reaction startled Xu Ziyang, "Aren’t you..."

"How could I possibly like Senior Brother Chu? He already has a fiancee." Xu Ziqing declared confidently.

"Really?" Xu Ziyang asked, "Who is it?"

"Hehe." Xu Ziqing smiled smugly, "I know, but I’m not telling you."