Black Beast Mountain Range outskirts, Proud Sword Sect disciples’ assembly point.
Wang Yi’s eyes snapped open.
In an instant, he shot into the air, his expression filled with alarm as he looked toward a spot dozens of li away. Thick smoke billowed from that direction. The spiritual power explosion from earlier was at least at the late Nascent Soul stage.
In truth, Wang Yi had sensed the evil python’s appearance half an hour ago.
However, he had not intervened.
Over the past several decades, he had brought batches of disciples to the Black Beast Mountain Range for training every year.
He had encountered this Nascent Soul realm evil python several times before, but they had always minded their own business and coexisted peacefully.
The training disciples would not provoke it either, so nearly every group returned safely to Proud Sword Sect.
It was as if they had a tacit understanding—neither side disturbed the other.
This time, he had assumed the evil python had simply emerged as usual.
He hadn’t expected it to be engaged in a battle with another powerful being.
But why had the conflict suddenly erupted after the python had been stationed in that area for over half an hour?
Wang Yi pondered in mid-air, debating whether he should recall the disciples who were still completing their missions.
After all, he was only at the mid Nascent Soul stage.
If he got involved in a fight between two late Nascent Soul powerhouses, he might not be able to protect the disciples.
If any had not finished their tasks, they could simply make them up next time.
While he was still hesitating, a streak of flowing light shot out from the explosion site toward the assembly point.
Wang Yi narrowed his eyes and was about to strike the light down when he suddenly stopped after getting a clear look.
There was actually a person wrapped inside that flowing light!
Wang Yi flashed forward, rapidly closing the distance.
Finally, he caught the person steadily in his arms.
Lowering his head for a closer look, he saw a face covered in blood and grime…
The facial features and build looked like Yun Hao…
Once he confirmed the identity, Wang Yi’s heart filled with dread.
If an inner sect disciple died during a training mission under his supervision, it would become his problem no matter what—even if he had nothing to do with it directly.
Moreover, he had no idea which elder or hall master this disciple belonged to.
He grew anxious and immediately sent a strand of spiritual power into Yun Hao’s body to check his injuries.
After a moment, Wang Yi’s expression turned somewhat strange.
Although Yun Hao was covered in blood, his injuries were not serious.
His internal organs were slightly displaced, but they were slowly shifting back into place.
He would recover fully in at most half a day.
Wang Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
It was good that this ancestor hadn’t met with any real accident, or he himself might have been in serious trouble.
………….
Yun Hao felt himself lying in someone’s arms, with a gentle stream of spiritual power flowing through his body.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Wang Yi’s figure came into view, and he let out a breath of relief, finally feeling somewhat at ease.
Earlier, when he had faced that evil python alone, although he had seemed to plan every step and lured the giant python into his trap, any single misstep would have led to certain death.
Even though he had successfully escaped, he was still shaken.
What if the Hunyuan Pearls hadn’t killed the evil python?
Those pearls were his only trump card.
If they had failed, he would have been nothing more than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
Now that Wang Yi was by his side—a Nascent Soul realm powerhouse—the danger would be much lower.
Yun Hao opened his eyes and gave Wang Yi a weak smile.
“Thank you for saving me, Senior Brother…”
Wang Yi looked at the weakened Yun Hao and nodded gently.
He cast a cleaning technique on him and fed him a medicinal pill.
Then he descended to the ground and placed Yun Hao in a relatively comfortable spot on the spirit ship.
“Why did you come flying over from the sky? Were you caught in that explosion?”
Yun Hao was startled.
It seemed Wang Yi still didn’t know that he had been the one fighting the evil python…
He hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“I was still hunting demon beasts, trying to hone my combat experience.
Suddenly, a loud boom rang in my ears and I became dazed for a moment.”
“By the time I recovered, Senior Brother had already caught me.”
He had no intention of telling the truth.
The Clear Mist Flower was precious, and he currently lacked the strength to protect it.
The fewer people who knew about it, the better.
Moreover, the giant python had taken the Hunyuan Pearl explosion directly to the head.
Even if it hadn’t died, it must have been heavily injured.
The fact that it hadn’t chased after him was the best proof.
Wang Yi stroked his chin in thought for a moment.
Sensing the spiritual energy fluctuations from the explosion site and confirming that the suspected late Nascent Soul powerhouse had finished its clash with the evil python, he ultimately decided to let the sect disciples continue their training.
He looked at Yun Hao with a smile and gave him another healing pill.
“In that case, you can rest and recover on my spirit ship for now.
Once the other disciples finish their missions in the afternoon, we’ll return to the sect.”
Yun Hao nodded lightly and offered a salute.
“Then I’ll be troubling Senior Brother.”
He had already completed the mission of slaying five Miye Deer.
There was nothing left for him to do, so he had no objections to Wang Yi’s arrangements.
He gently sensed the Clear Mist Flower inside his qi sea and smiled with both relief and excitement.
This time truly was a narrow escape from death. I hope Senior Sister will like this flower.
He really wanted to see Senior Sister’s smile.
The two of them sat cross-legged inside the ship for the entire half day.
Only after all the disciples had returned in the afternoon did the group set off majestically toward Proud Sword Sect.
…………..
The scene shifted to the previous night, at the back mountain of Proud Sword Sect.
A slightly aged and hunched figure appeared on the back mountain.
The owner of that silhouette looked like a candle flickering in the wind, liable to be extinguished at any moment.
Lin Xian looked at the scene before him, forcefully rousing his spirits.
Still carrying traces of exhaustion and weariness, he spoke:
“Western Peak Elder Lin Xian has come to pay his respects to the Sect Master.”
Space rippled, and Jiang Shu’er appeared before him with a complicated expression on her face.
She still remembered this elderly man who now seemed on the verge of burning out.
Hundreds of years ago, when he was still a child, he had smilingly carried her in his arms and taught her some spells.
Back then, he had been in his prime, full of vigor and spirit like the sun at noon.
And now, he was about to leave her side.
“Uncle Lin, there’s no need to be so formal.
Please come to my cave residence so we may talk.”
Lin Xian smiled and gently shook his head, declining her invitation.
He then took out a Five-in-a-Row board, two meditation cushions, a pot of clear tea, and two teacups.
Using his spiritual power, he turned a nearby rock into a makeshift table, found a clean spot, and sat down.
He looked up at Jiang Shu’er.
Jiang Shu’er walked over and sat down gently across from Lin Xian.
The two of them sipped tea and played Five-in-a-Row together.
Piece after piece was placed, just like hundreds of years ago when a little girl would pester a strong man to play with her.
After another piece was placed, Lin Xian spoke without preamble.
“I’ve found a good family for Yu’er.”
Jiang Shu’er looked at the board, thinking of ways to break his formation.
“If Yu’er can find a satisfactory husband, that would naturally be wonderful.”
“That child is truly good, truly good.
High immortal aptitude, kind nature, responsible, and full of affection.
With him taking care of Yu’er, I can be at ease.”
Jiang Shu’er remained silent and continued playing with Lin Xian.
She had already seen the solution to the board, yet she deliberately left openings, unwilling to break it.
As Lin Xian spoke, a long-lost smile appeared on his face.
He was genuinely very satisfied with Yun Hao.
He felt he had finally secured a future for Yu’er.
But then, as if thinking of something, his aged brows furrowed slightly, and his tone grew worried.
“That child is good in every way, except that his heart is too kind and his nature too soft.
After I’m gone, if no one covets my possessions it will be fine.
But if someone grows greedy, I’m afraid he will be bullied.”
Jiang Shu’er listened quietly.
She already understood why Lin Xian had come to see her in the final days of his life.
She spoke calmly:
“Uncle Lin, there is no need to worry.
As long as that child does not commit any grave mistakes, I will naturally protect him.”
“Excellent!”
The two continued playing.
Most of the time it was Lin Xian speaking alone, praising how Yun Hao had excellent immortal aptitude and would surely surpass him in the future if nothing went wrong.
He also mentioned that the child had no ambition and would probably live a peaceful life within Proud Sword Sect, never getting involved in those troublesome matters.
The more Jiang Shu’er listened, the more her nose stung with emotion.
She knew Lin Xian was about to depart…
Finally, Lin Xian let out a soft sigh.
“Yun Hao is the final hope I’ve found for Yu’er, and he is also my half-successor.
If something major truly happens in the future—something even you, Sect Master, cannot resolve—”
“I only ask that you expel him and Yu’er from Proud Sword Sect.
That way, the two of them can live freely without any restraints.
It would be for the best.”
With those words, Lin Xian placed his final black piece, then slowly faded away from the back mountain.
Jiang Shu’er stared at the unfinished pot of tea and the incomplete game of Five-in-a-Row, lost in a daze.
She knew this was Lin Xian’s final act of protection for Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu—just as her own master had exhausted every last bit of his energy to safeguard her at the final moment of his life.
A gentle breeze blew past, tousling her black hair against her face.
She came back to her senses and gazed in the direction of Western Peak, murmuring softly:
“I understand… Uncle Lin.”