A few more months passed, and the ten thousand mu of new fields were blanketed in fresh green, flourishing with the spirit of spring.
Xu Xian had also finished his labor.
He summoned Li Qingshan, the elders of the Elixir Hall, and Elder Yao.
Yao Xiaoxiao came along as well.
On an ordinary day,
He officially handed over these ten thousand mu of spirit fields to the sect. Under the witness of Li Qingshan, the current Sect Master, the Elixir Hall was put in charge of their maintenance.
Ten thousand mu of spirit fields were already worth a fortune, but these ten thousand mu were created from burial soil nourished by immortal blood. The soil was far more fertile than that of ordinary spirit fields, and the spiritual aura within was at its peak.
What’s more,
Tens of thousands of immortal plants were currently growing upon them.
Given time,
Under the nourishment of these immortal and spirit plants, the spiritual energy here would surely burst with vitality. When it eventually fed back into the Wendao Sword Sect, the spiritual energy of the entire sect’s territory would undoubtedly see a significant increase.
Its value
was immeasurable.
And yet Xu Xian,
this sword cultivator who had been known for his greed in his youth, had simply handed it all over just like that.
This level of generosity
truly gave Elder Yao and the elders of the Elixir Hall a great shock.
Yao Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, was relatively calm.
Little Grand-Uncle had always been a very, very good person.
As for Li Qingshan,
he had known Xu Xian the longest and understood his character perfectly.
He wasn't surprised by Xu Xian's actions, but like his martial uncles, he felt a deep worry in his heart.
This Little Martial Uncle he had brought back would likely be leaving the sect before long.
He did not voice his thoughts.
He accepted this grand gift with pleasure.
In the name of the Sect Master and on behalf of the Wendao Sword Sect, he thanked Xu Xian for his contribution.
It was a formal gesture.
With this matter settled,
Xu Xian no longer had any lingering chores in the mortal world.
Only a myriad of regrets rose in his heart, yet he had no choice but to reconcile with himself and helplessly let them go.
The magnificent mountains and rivers,
the old friends of the past—
once he departed, he did not know when he would return.
Years ago, when he left home to cultivate, he returned to find that everything had changed. People were gone, and things were different.
Today, if he were to ascend and leave the sect, what would he find upon his return? Surely, the world would have transformed beyond recognition.
On his handsome and refined face, his eyes always held a hint of sorrow.
That day,
Li Qingshan sat with him for a short chat.
Li Qingshan watched the clouds with his hands behind his back and asked, "The mountain has been piled up, and the fields have been planted. What's next? What else do you need to do?"
Xu Xian took a deep breath and said meaningfully, "Settle all mortal affairs and save all those who are pitiful."
Li Qingshan didn't understand and was left confused. "What do you mean?"
He understood the part about mortal affairs.
But saving the pitiful?
Who were the pitiful ones?
He didn't know.
Xu Xian bathed in the long wind, looking at the sky as he spoke leisurely, "Fanzhou... how many years has it been since a real immortal was last seen?"
Li Qingshan knit his dark brows, falling into silent contemplation.
Xu Xian continued to himself, "Ten thousand years? Thirty thousand? The world outside is whispering that the seal of the Sky Gate is beneath the mountains of the Wendao Sword Sect. Some even say that as long as Wendao does not fall, the path to immortality will never appear."
Li Qingshan's expression darkened.
Xu Xian suddenly looked sideways and asked, "Do you believe it?"
Li Qingshan was startled. The explanation that was on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back down, and he shook his head blankly.
"I don't know!"
After saying that, he lowered his gaze and added, "Perhaps..."
Xu Xian squinted and smiled. "It's true."
Li Qingshan's brows furrowed even deeper.
He thought to himself that Xu Xian indeed knew the inside story. At the same time, he was absolutely certain that their guesses were correct: this Little Martial Uncle truly intended to reopen the Sky Gate and ascend to the heavens.
Xu Xian sighed softly and remarked, "So, you can't blame those people for hating our Wendao Sword Sect. After all, it really was our sect that severed their path to the heavens."
"To sever someone's path to immortality is as grievous as killing their parents. Don't you think they're quite pitiful?" Xu Xian suddenly asked.
Li Qingshan didn't know how to respond, so he simply asked back, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Xu Xian said casually, "Nothing much. I just feel like it's time to give the world an account."
Li Qingshan became even more confused, realizing he could understand Xu Xian less and less.
Xu Xian raised his hand, his wide sleeve falling back as he pointed toward the area outside One Sword Gorge. He said somewhat out of the blue, "Tell me, wouldn't it be quite nice if I built an Ascension Platform over there?"
Li Qingshan remained in a daze and asked instinctively, "A what?"
Xu Xian acted as if he hadn't heard, stroking his chin as he affirmed his own idea. "Yes, it's actually quite good. Then it's settled."
After speaking,
he glanced sideways and patted Li Qingshan's shoulder.
"I'm off!"
Then,
he walked away.
He left Li Qingshan standing on the mountain peak, stunned and blowing in the cold wind.
After a long while...
An Ascension Platform?
Saving the pitiful?
Giving the world an account?
He still couldn't figure it out.
He furrowed his brows and muttered, "What the hell?"
...
On a rare day of leisure, while Xu Xian was sipping tea under the old locust tree, several streaks of light flashed from afar and landed in front of his cave dwelling.
One,
two,
...
five.
Before Ye Xianyu even entered the courtyard, she shouted, "Little Eleven, hurry up and come welcome your guests!"
Xu Xian was speechless.
Listen to that.
Still using those wild words.
He didn't stand up, remaining seated as he looked toward them. "Why have you all come?"
They were very close,
so there was no need for formalities.
Jiang Wanyin walked forward, her skirt swaying as she led the way. She asked gently, "What, are we not welcome?"
Xu Xian quickly said, "I wouldn't dare."
Jiang Wanyin sat across from Xu Xian, with Lin Fengmian following close behind. Ye Xianyu took charge, picking up the pot to pour tea.
Yao Xiqiao leaned against the roots of the old tree, seemingly wanting to play the part of a handsome gentleman.
Lei Yunche squatted on a nearby stone stool, looking bored.
Xu Xian...
felt a bit uncomfortable.
Because everyone's eyes were fixed on him, looking him over again and again.
Jiang Wanyin took a small sip of tea and stated their purpose. "Qingshan said you want to build something called an Ascension Platform outside the mountain gate? Is this true?"
Xu Xian didn't deny it, but he couldn't help but gossip about Li Qingshan in front of them. "That man has such a long tongue, longer than any village gossip..."
Ye Xianyu cut in, as assertive as ever. "Don't change the subject. Tell us, what do you mean? Is there really a Sky Gate sealed under our sect? Do you plan to reopen it? What does an Ascension Platform mean? Are you going to become an immortal? Or are you letting others become immortals?"
Ye Xianyu asked a whole string of questions in one breath, leaving Xu Xian stunned.
His eyes were wide open.
Ye Xianyu urged, "What are you looking at? I'm asking you a question!"
Xu Xian remained composed and said, "Could you not ask them one by one? You've asked so many, which one should I answer?"
Ye Xianyu: "..."
Lei Yunche jumped down from the stone stool and sat next to Xu Xian. He said solemnly, "Little Eleven, it's been four hundred years. There are some things you can finally tell us, right?"
Lin Fengmian stroked his long beard, squinting as he added, "Indeed, Little Eleven. If you're going to become an immortal, you have to give us a hand. We'd like to take another step forward too, haha!"
Looking at the expectation and confusion in everyone's eyes,
Xu Xian hesitated for a long moment...
"Fine. I was planning to find you all after I finished the work at hand. Since you're all here today, it saves me the trouble. Let's lay everything out."
The others exchanged glances, their anticipation growing even stronger. Even Yao Xiqiao leaned his body slightly toward Xu Xian.
Xu Xian scanned the group, rotating the cup in his hand as he tested the waters. "Should I explain it one thing at a time?"
Everyone remained silent,
listening with bated breath!
Rate on N.U.
