Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Coming Back Alive
Once one has beheld the vastness of the sea, waters elsewhere seem lacking by comparison; once one has beheld the mists of Witch Mountain, all other clouds appear dull and lackluster.
Even surrounded by myriad blossoms, I lack the desire to turn back for a single glance.
Perhaps this is because of the path of cultivation, or perhaps because of you!
This poem “Thoughts of Separation” was so moving to Wang Chen because of the profound emotions embedded within the epitaph he read at the stone pavilion, that he solidified the poem into talismans to pay tribute.
It was also his way of expressing an apology for inadvertently entering the valley and disturbing the peace of the departed.
Unexpectedly, Chang Chun saw it.
In the face of this Purple Mansion Superior’s inquiry, Wang Chen did not dare to be negligent and hastily replied, “I heard it when I was young, from a wandering Taoist who called himself ‘Yuan Zhen.’
Such a poem was not something that could be composed by someone of his age or status.
Chang Chun clearly did not think Wang Chen was the author either.
Wang Chen would not dare concoct such an easily exposed lie in front of this Purple Mansion Superior!
Nor did he want to be accused of plagiarism.
In the world of immortal cultivation, great power lies within oneself, and few people value literary grace.
“Yuan Zhen.”
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Chang Chun nodded, “He must also have been a remarkable person, it’s a pity we never had the chance to meet.”
He sighed, “I am familiar with the ocean, but not with Witch Mountain, nor have I ever witnessed the magnificence of the clouds there.”
Drawing a deep breath, the Purple Mansion Superior reached out and plucked a peach blossom.
With a clench of his fist, the branch instantly turned into a peach wood token.
He tossed it to Wang Chen, “If you can return alive in half a month, come see me here again.”
What?
Wang Chen accepted the peach wood token in a daze—what did he mean by returning alive?
Before Wang Chen had a chance to ask,
“Go now.”
With a wave of Chang Chun’s robe, he sent Wang Chen out of the valley with a gentle breeze!
Effortlessly and without the slightest trace of worldly dust.
Stepping into the stone pavilion, he sat cross-legged next to the gravestone, laying a long flute across his knees.
He gently caressed the gravestone and softly said, “Qiu, was it you who brought him here?”
“This poem is truly beautiful, I cultivate both because of the path and because of you.”
“Sadly, you are no longer here.”
“Do you know? Your sister almost dismantled my entire cave mansion.”
“I don’t blame her, for she is your only kin.”
Speaking slowly and meanderingly, the Purple Mansion Superior had a gentle gaze and a soft tone, as if sitting beside him was not a cold tombstone but a living, breathing person.
After a long while, the low sound of a flute filled the valley.
Thousands of peach trees bent their branches, countless petals fell like rain, a melody of the surging sea, expressing endless emotions.
The face is gone without a trace, but the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.
Carried by the wind out of the valley, Wang Chen returned to the stream strewn with peach petals, picked up the bucket he had left behind, but had no mind to catch fish anymore.
He was mulling over the words Chang Chun had said.
This Purple Mansion Superior would not speak such cryptic words to Wang Chen for no reason; there must be meaning behind them.
So, the question arises.
What will happen in this half month?
Wang Chen, full of confusion, had just returned home and set down the bucket when he received a crane message.
A summon from his sect.
The crane message demanded that he rush to Sunset Peak immediately, with penalties for tardiness according to the sect rules!
Wang Chen realized that this was probably related to what Chang Chun had mentioned.
He never expected it to come so quickly!
After taking off his Spirit Beast Pouch and ensuring that Yuanyuan was settled, he left his house once again.
Summoning his Willow Leaf Flying Boat, he headed for the top of Sunset Peak.
Having just reached the lecture platform, he saw streaks of light descending, as Inner Sect Disciples who had received the message were continuously rushing over.
The number of cultivators appearing before the Lecture Platform was growing!
Gathered in groups of three or five, they whispered among themselves, many displaying tense expressions.
There were also many people inquiring about what exactly had happened.
Under normal circumstances, only major events would lead the Cloud Sun Sect to issue a disciple summons.
Because the truth was not clear, it was inevitable that everyone felt anxious.
But the answer was revealed a half-hour later.
By this time, nearly two thousand Inner Sect Disciples had gathered at the lecture platform, a massive crowd.
Then Elder Mo Yangping, one of the three Elders, took to the platform and announced that in three days, Sunset Peak would participate in the “Cleansing Realm” operation, and all disciples who received the Crane Message were included in the conscription.
This summons was compulsory in nature, with refusal or evasion dealt with as defection from the sect!
After Elder Mo’s announcement, the entire place burst into an uproar.
Especially those disciples from Purple Mansion families found it hard to accept.
Since the event had come so suddenly, and everyone was unprepared along with the compulsory conscription, it was impossible not to worry about being used as cannon fodder.
Usually, the Outer Sect would be cannon fodder for the Inner Sect, and the Sunset Peak lineage was a small pawn within the Inner Sect.
Nobody wanted to be a cannon fodder pawn!
Immediately after, Elder Mo Yangping told all the disciples that the Cleansing Realm operation would be personally led by Golden Core True Person Mu Qingqiu, with the Cloud Sun Sect deploying seventy Purple Mansion Supernals and thirty-five flying warships for support.
Hearing there was a Golden Core True Person, and so many Purple Mansion Supernals and flying warships.
Everyone’s hearts, which had just been raised, were immediately put at ease.
Mu Qingqiu, known as the “First Sword of Heaven Cloud,” had swordsmanship so powerful it dominated the entire range of Heaven Cloud Mountain, and no one dared contest her edge.
With her at the helm, and the main force of the Cloud Sun Sect in full deployment.
These Inner Sect Disciples.
Their biggest role would probably be to cheer and clean the battleground.
After all, within a hundred thousand li, there was no opposing force that could compare with the Cloud Sun Sect!
That meant they were very safe.
In the end, Elder Mo Yangping stated that the main target of the cleanse were the Evil Wraiths, urging all disciples to be ready to battle the Evil Wraiths.
And there would be accolades according to merit, with very generous rewards!
After the meeting dispersed, the disciples of Sunset Peak left one after another.
Wang Chen also returned to his own estate.
The first thing he did after getting home was to take out all the Talisman Paper and Spirit Ink from his Storage Bag.
He put his full effort into crafting Evil-Repelling Talismans and Amulets!
In dealing with Evil Wraiths, Evil-Repelling Talismans and Amulets were indispensable, and with the Cloud Sun Sect clearly gearing up for war, there would certainly be a huge demand for these two kinds of Magical Talismans.
Under such circumstances, the prices for Evil-Repelling Talismans and Amulets were bound to soar.
Wang Chen planned to seize this opportunity to make a tidy sum of Spirit Stones.
Last time during the Heaven Cloud Immortal Gathering, when he was selling Talismans at his stall, he met an Outer Sect Disciple who specialized in flipping Magical Talismans and Magic Artifacts, so he could earn a reasonable profit for the Magical Talismans he crafted without having to endure the extortion of city merchants.
It’s worth mentioning that this person could also procure relatively cheap Talisman Crafting materials.
With money coming in and going out, Wang Chen felt that if he didn’t earn seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones this time, he would be letting down his own Great Perfection Talisman Crafting Technique!
Three days later, Wang Chen once again arrived at the top of Sunset Peak.
And in the midst of the lecture platform, he boarded a Cloud Sun Flying Warship.
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