Volume 1 Volume 6 Chapter 37

Volume 6 Chapter 37: Shura’s Return

After the masters and sect leaders of the Righteous Alliance finished their discussion, they each returned to their own courtyards, worried and deep in thought.

Among them, Mr. Liu and the two masters, Zizhen and Li Fulu, talked a bit more before flying back to their own courtyards.

On the way, Mr. Liu frowned, looking very troubled. When he learned about the secrets and goals of the "Ming" organization years ago, he found it unbelievable and serious, but he did not panic. In his eyes, with twelve masters working together and the "Four Spirit Sky Map" as a solution, everything was under his control.

However, as time went on, the appearances of the Eight Wilderness Hall, Beast Madness cultivators, and Southern Wasteland demon beasts made the Righteous Alliance, formed to eliminate the "Ming" organization, struggle to cope. Their strength was wasted, and actions against the "Ming" organization were delayed. Decades passed, and while the various chaos that emerged were dealt with one by one by the Righteous Alliance, there was only one or two years left until the "Ming" organization achieved its goals. At this critical moment, the key to dealing with the "Ming" organization—the "Four Spirit Sky Map" was also lost, and for the first time, Mr. Liu felt that the situation was beyond his prediction and control.

The two strategies discussed at the meeting—to fully search for the whereabouts of the "Ming" organization and Zhang Xusheng—seemed to have goals and solutions, and they appeared simple. However, those with clear insight understood that these measures were merely to reassure people. The Righteous Alliance had searched for the "Ming" organization and Zhang Xusheng for over a hundred years without any success, so what could they find in these last two years? Even if they found Zhang Xusheng with the "Four Spirit Sky Map" during this time, the "Ming" organization had been planning for tens of thousands of years. Who could easily deal with them?

The strategy was correct, but fundamentally, it was useless.

Sadly, even Mr. Liu, who often prided himself on his wisdom, could not think of any other way. All that remained was to do what he could and hope that fate would suddenly favor them.

"If in these last two years, we still cannot find the ‘Ming’ organization and Zhang Xusheng, it will truly be a disaster. Compared to that, the previous nine disasters were just minor troubles. But if that happens, how many lives will remain on the Shenzhou Continent? The entire human society will likely disappear from the Shenzhou Continent."

Thinking of this, Mr. Liu’s face showed more signs of worry and helplessness. Back then, when he captured the four great Mythical Beasts, he did not see such changes.

Lost in thought, Mr. Liu returned to his courtyard, but saw Xu Qingfan standing in front of the yard waiting for him.

"Qingfan, is there something wrong?"

During this time, because of the "Four Spirit Sky Map" matter, Mr. Liu paid much less attention to Xu Qingfan. Besides the times he went deep into the Southern Wasteland thinking Xu Qingfan was dead and when Xu Qingfan just returned and they discussed important matters, they had no contact.

Of course, Xu Qingfan had only just returned a day ago.

Xu Qingfan was about to say something when Mr. Liu remembered something, and his tired expression deepened. He pushed the door open and said, "Let’s talk inside."

Xu Qingfan nodded and followed Mr. Liu into the courtyard. They did not go inside the house but sat at a stone table under a willow tree.

Mr. Liu thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Did you come to find me about Jin Qinghan and Dongfang Qingling’s disappearance?"

Xu Qingfan replied with a bitter smile, "Yes, I’ve been back for just one day and only just learned about their disappearance."

Mr. Liu nodded and said, "I know. I told them not to tell you for a while. You just faced a life-and-death danger, and I don’t want anything to happen to you again soon. I was thinking of coming to find you tonight to teach you a secret method so you could meditate for a while, but it seems they didn’t listen to me. So, are you going back to the Southern Wasteland?"

Xu Qingfan nodded slightly and said quietly, "Junior Brother Jin and Junior Martial Sister Dongfang are willing to do this for me. I have no reason to hide here and wait safely for them to return. They might be in danger right now and need my help. Even if something unexpected happens to them… at the very least, I want to bring back their remains and give them a proper burial."

Although the words were soft, they were filled with determination.

Mr. Liu sighed lightly. After many years of observation, he understood Xu Qingfan very well. He knew that Xu Qingfan seemed carefree, but once he made a decision and believed he was right, no one could change his mind. Considering the current conditions in the cultivation world, Mr. Liu felt unsure; even if he protected Xu Qingfan now, what would happen two years later? For a moment, even someone as steadfast as him felt a bit disheartened, so he did not stop him but asked, "Who do you want to bring with you to the Southern Wasteland this time?"

Xu Qingfan frowned slightly, then smiled and said slowly, "Just me alone, no one else. In fact, I could have brought Little Gold back by myself last time, but I was afraid of the power of the heavenly level demon beast. I thought it would be safer with more people, so I took Junior Brother Jin and the others with me, which ended up putting Junior Brother Jin and Junior Martial Sister Dongfang in danger. I will not make that mistake again."

Seeing Mr. Liu frown as if he wanted to say something, Xu Qingfan added, "I still have eight ‘Sky Escaping Talismans’ you gave me. I won’t be in danger."

Mr. Liu sighed and said, "Many dangers cannot be escaped with a ‘Sky Escaping Talisman.’"

Xu Qingfan remained silent, but his expression was still resolute.

After a brief silence, Mr. Liu suddenly asked, "Since you’ve made your decision, why did you come to find me at this moment?"

Xu Qingfan asked, "As far as I know, in the two months after I went missing, you searched the Southern Wasteland three times for my trace. I want to know, during these three explorations, did you find any sign of Junior Brother Jin or Junior Martial Sister Dongfang? Or notice anything unusual?"

Mr. Liu smiled slightly and said to Xu Qingfan, "I know what you want to ask. I did not find any bad news about Jin Qinghan and Dongfang Qingling that I kept from you. If I had, I would have told you to stop you from going to the Southern Wasteland."

Hearing Mr. Liu say this, Xu Qingfan slowly let out a breath; he was worried that Mr. Liu might hide some bad news from him.

Just as Xu Qingfan was about to take his leave, Mr. Liu continued, "Right now, the Southern Wasteland must be in chaos due to the battle between the nine-tailed demon fox and two kylins. Although the kylin is the strongest among beasts, it would be very difficult to deal with the cunning nine-tailed demon fox. Therefore, the disturbance in the Southern Wasteland will not be any less than in other places on the Shenzhou Continent. Moreover, since you released the two kylins, the nine-tailed demon fox surely holds a great hatred for you. This time, as you enter the Southern Wasteland, the danger is even greater than last time. Originally, because of my promise to you and my grudges with the nine-tailed demon fox, it would have been fine for me to go with you to the Southern Wasteland, but I have other important matters in these two years. Tomorrow, I and the other old folks will leave Ronghua, so I won’t be able to take care of you. Even in the next two years, we old folks will rarely return to Ronghua Mountain. Everything in these two years will have to rely on you alone. Be careful in everything."

Hearing Mr. Liu’s words, Xu Qingfan was slightly taken aback and asked, "But may I know what matter could require you and all the masters to take care of it personally, but you are not confident it will succeed?"

Xu Qingfan asked this not out of panic about Mr. Liu not being there for him, but because Mr. Liu had taken good care of him over the years. Seeing the weariness and helplessness in Mr. Liu’s eyes, he was simply expressing his concern.

However, Xu Qingfan did not expect that such a casual question would uncover a great secret and conspiracy that had existed in the cultivation world for thousands of years.

Mr. Liu, upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s question, hesitated for a moment, then sighed again and said, "Well, I will tell you. After all, there are only two years left. If I don’t tell you now and you become confused two years later, wouldn’t that be a pity? Besides, you have the right to know now. Even if I don’t say it, Zhang Hualing will tell you in the next few days."

Under Xu Qingfan’s confused gaze, Mr. Liu asked, "Have you been wondering over the years what the letter Liu Huaxiang asked you to deliver to Zizhen contained, that it caused the Righteous Path to quickly unite and form the Righteous Alliance? After the Righteous Alliance was established, why did we old folks completely ignore the conflicts between you younger ones and the Eight Wilderness Hall or Beast Madness cultivators, instead focusing solely on finding traces of ‘Ming’? It seemed as if the deaths of many cultivators in the Righteous Alliance mattered less than a single piece of information about the ‘Ming’ organization. Why did we also imprison and refine the Four Mythical Beasts, which are an important part of the Heavenly Way, without fearing retaliation from the Heavenly Way?"

Xu Qingfan nodded; this was exactly what he had been confused about all these years. He never expected Mr. Liu to tell him the whole story today, and he felt a spark of anticipation. The worried and tired feelings he had all day because of Jin Qinghan and Dongfang Qingling began to fade away.

Under Xu Qingfan’s gaze, Mr. Liu suddenly smiled gently and slowly said something that seemed off-topic, "Well, Zhang Xusheng, I am indeed not as good as him."

As Xu Qingfan was puzzled, Mr. Liu suddenly looked down and met Xu Qingfan’s eyes, then asked, "Let me ask you, how much do you know about the Shura Clan from back then?"