Chapter 873: Chapter 873: A Dilemma
Before leaving the Ji Family Great Cave Heaven, Chen Guan made a special trip to the Tear Luo Desert to see Grand Saint, Tai Hu, and Tai Lian, and provided them with some Liquid Elemental Energy, reminding them to cultivate diligently.
Grand Saint, Tai Hu, and Tai Lian were naturally both surprised and delighted, as such pure Liquid Elemental Energy was extremely beneficial to them.
After leaving the Great Cave Heaven, Chen Guan returned home and started his solitary cultivation, shutting himself off from the outside world.
Apart from gifting Ji Nanhong Liquid Elemental Energy, Chen Guan soon left home.
He gave Liquid Elemental Energy to Chen Xinghe and Chen Yulian, hoping it would help Chen Xinghe recover and allow Chen Yulian to advance further.
Chen Xinghe kept some for Chen Yulian to use, while giving his own share back to Chen Guan.
"My body is beyond saving; even such a Divine Object can hardly restore it." Chen Xinghe said with a smile, "I’ve had my moments of both prosperity and despair in this life. Now, I just want to live a peaceful life. Even if my body was intact, these items wouldn’t mean much; you should use them yourself. With these Divine Object-like Liquid Elemental Energy, you can ascend to the Ninth Awakening more quickly."
"Son, keep it for yourself. I’m not going to explore Secret Realms; it won’t be useful for me." Chen Yulian wanted to give her share to Chen Guan as well.
"Whether or not it’s useful, you should hold onto it. I have plenty here, more than enough for myself," Chen Guan said directly.
Chen Yulian wanted to say more, but Chen Xinghe stopped her and smiled, "What your son has given, just take it."
"Fine, I’ll hold onto it, and you can take it whenever you need it," Chen Yulian said as she began to put it away.
But Chen Xinghe stopped her again, saying sternly, "Wife, these things should be used, not stored. A regular family like ours isn’t suited to hoard such items."
Saying this, Chen Xinghe laughed again, "What your son has generously given, just use it; it’s time to enjoy the blessings of our son."
Chen Yulian understood after thinking for a moment, and no longer planned to hoard, slowly using the Liquid Elemental Energy while Chen Guan was at home.
Chen Guan wanted Chen Xinghe to recover, but Chen Xinghe’s foundation was destroyed, making it impossible to cultivate anew.
He hoped for Chen Yulian to become a Ninth Awakening Powerhouse, but Chen Yulian didn’t aspire to this and was unwilling to continue advancing.
Chen Guan stayed home, venturing alone to the Immortal Mountain Sect for cultivation.
Regrettably, the Secret Technique practiced by Ji Nanhong required her to travel the world continually to upgrade, otherwise Chen Guan wouldn’t let her enter the Secret Realm, just join him at the Immortal Mountain Sect.
Even with the support of the Immortal Mountain Sect’s Primordial Energy, Chen Guan’s upgrade speed wasn’t particularly fast, and over seven years passed quickly.
During these seven years, Chen Guan learned the woman’s name was "Miao Shan," the gaunt man was "Gan Shan," the big-headed youth was "Duan Shan," and the big-bellied man was "Kao Mountain."
Chen Guan thought these were likely not their real names, but titles of some kind used in the Immortal Mountain Sect.
Big-bellied man Kao Mountain was the senior among the four, gaunt man Gan Shan was the second disciple, big-headed youth Duan Shan was the third disciple, and woman Miao Shan was the youngest, the fourth junior sister.
Chen Guan didn’t know initially if this was their original ranking, or if because the Immortal Mountain Sect was down to just the four of them, they re-ordered themselves.
After more than seven years of effort, Chen Guan finally reached level 80, just a step away from the final Secret Collection Awakening, which would lead to successful Ninth Awakening.
However, the third Secret Collection is the hardest to awaken, requiring reliance on all prior foundation, experience, and insights to possibly awaken this final Secret Collection.
Chen Guan hadn’t figured it out yet; he felt free to explore the top of the giant mountain.
Atop this giant mountain were palace-like buildings, showcasing the former glory of the Immortal Mountain Sect.
However, most of these buildings are now destroyed, largely collapsed into rubble.
This wasn’t due to the passage of time; it was clear these structures were unnaturally damaged.
Many building fragments appeared as if sliced by knives or axes, showing they were indeed cut down by an exterior force.
Chen Guan immediately thought of Yu Guzi and the Jade Solitary Sword; this might have been their handiwork.
Walking and observing all the way, Chen Guan reached the mountain peak, finding few intact buildings.
Yet the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures growing on the mountaintop were more robust than those on other peaks.
In a relatively intact side hall at the mountain’s summit, Chen Guan saw Miao Shan, Gan Shan, Kao Mountain, and Duan Shan together.
A few years ago, they stopped monitoring the Jade Solitary Sword.
At present, the four were worried, sitting inside the grand hall, discussing the current situation of the Immortal Mountain Sect and their own predicament.
"The Primordial Energy within our Immortal Mountain Sect is worse year by year. This year, many Primordial Energy sources have dried up, leaving no Liquid Elemental Energy in the pools. The Primordial Energy Cloud Sea is thinning to the point of vanishing. At this rate, we can’t continue cultivating here." Duan Shan said, face clouded by misery.
"The Primordial Energy depletion within our Immortal Mountain Sect is definitely related to the Jade Solitary Sword. When Primordial Energy ceases, that’s when the Jade Solitary Sword will break free from its seal; we must act quickly," Gan Shan said.
"The foundations of the Immortal Mountain Sect are already gone; what’s there to deliberate? Even if we can prevent the Jade Solitary Sword from breaking the seal, this place will no longer be suitable for our survival and cultivation." Miao Shan noted, glancing at the once-thick clouds, which now appeared thin and scattered.
"What our fourth junior sister said is correct; it seems our sect is truly at its end, no longer sustainable." Kao Mountain sighed deeply.
"If not staying at the sect, where can we go? We four have limited power; without the sect’s protection, we’ll be hunted down by Secret Spirits of the Celestial Secret Realm," Duan Shan said, biting his lip, "Have you forgotten our master’s words? Even with his abilities, he can only contend with the weakest common Secret Spirit in the Celestial Secret Realm, with the outcome uncertain. With our limited skill, we’ll be easily defeated by any Secret Spirit."
"I wouldn’t be so sure. We’ve cultivated here for years and have grown significantly in power. Though weaker than the mighty Sky Secret Spirits, common ones aren’t necessarily our match," Miao Shan said.
"Fourth junior sister, however strong we are, we’re merely at the peak of the Tenth Awakening. Master said even the lowest Secret Spirit in the Celestial Secret Realm is Tenth Awakening, while others can reach the Eleventh or even Twelfth Awakening. We’re in a different class; it’s no real contest."
Shaking his big head, Duan Shan continued, "That Yu Guzi, from who knows where, is already so formidable, beyond us entirely. Even our master couldn’t withstand a single strike from his sword. This suggests the outer Secret Spirits are truly terrifying; risking going out would be a grave mistake."
"How can we cultivate without going out? Are we to remain here forever at the peak of the Tenth Awakening?" Miao Shan snorted coldly, "Even if we stay, once the Jade Solitary Sword breaks free, it won’t spare us."
Duan Shan became silent again, knowing Miao Shan was right; their dilemma was really a matter of being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
