214: Great changes in a century!

"Immortal Master Hong Tu?"

A hint of shock flashed in Shen Li's eyes.

This Immortal Master was also extremely murderous. The first time Shen Li traveled to Black Ridge City, he rode on Immortal Master Hong Tu's Dharma ship.

This Immortal Master Hong Tu was also a Dao Foundation Cultivator of Qingchi Mountain. It was impossible for him to betray Qingchi Mountain, so why did he stab his own Great Ancestor at such a critical moment?

Tens of thousands of questions filled Shen Li's heart.

As if seeing through the confusion in Shen Li's heart, Shen Qianqiu slowly smiled and said,

"That Yunhai True Inheritor has a Divine Ability called 'Heart-Questioning Platform'. Hong Tu didn't return to the mountain to clear his Heart Demon before attending the celebration, so evil thoughts were stirred within him...."

"heaven and earth treasure truly tempts the human heart in extraordinary ways."

Shen Qianqiu seemed unwilling to discuss it further, merely waving his hand.

"After this, you can visit Grand Master Shenqian. He will have recorded the Dao Foundation roster in the mountain, and he will naturally answer your questions. I won't say anything more here."

"What about Immortal Master Hong Tu now?"

"He's been suppressed into the Locking Madness Cave."

"The... Locking Madness Cave again?"

Shen Li murmured to himself, and Shen Qianqiu nodded calmly.

Shen Li shook his head, not wanting to dwell on the hidden secrets, and simply said gravely,

"Great Ancestor's injuries... is there truly no possibility of recovery?"

Shen Qianqiu's face showed compassion. He observed Shen Li for a long time before slowly saying,

"If I hadn't taken this step and was still a Dao Foundation Cultivator, the method to save me wouldn't be difficult; you could find it with some effort."

"However, I've taken this half-step, achieving the venerable status of Purple Mansion. My Physical Body is already extraordinary, and my Origin has extinguished.... Unless I find some special sixth-grade heaven and earth treasure to reshape this Physical Body for me, returning me to Dao Foundation.

Or, if I find a fifth-grade 'Origin Spirit' to defy Heaven and ascend to Purple Mansion.

Other than these, there is no other chance of survival.

There's no need to worry about this."

Shen Li kept this in mind and continued to ask,

"What does Great Ancestor want me to do next?"

"Are you confused in your heart?"

Shen Li sat cross-legged in the pavilion. Confused... perhaps a little, but he wanted to hear the thoughts in his Great Ancestor's heart.

After all, his current position was not high enough.

At least, it was far from as high as the Shen Family Great Ancestor's.

Some secrets were unknown to him.

The Shen Family Great Ancestor pondered for a moment, then slowly said,

"Listening to what Grand Master Shenqian and you said earlier, you are determined to make the Yellow Sand Plains your Dao field."

"Yes."

"This path is very difficult..."

"Difficult..." Shen Li was somewhat puzzled. Although there were some Yao Beasts in the Yellow Sand Plains, most of them had already been suppressed and killed, and the smaller Yao Beasts were no longer a threat.

There were many Immortal Clan forces from Qingchi Mountain, but their development speed was generally slow.

With Shen Li's current power, coupled with the Immortal Opportunity intelligence, he would soon be able to occupy most of the Yellow Sand Plains.

Just as Shen Qian said, he would be the Lord of the Yellow Sand Plains.

Whether viewed from the surface or from hidden aspects, it couldn't be described as... difficult.

Could there be... a hidden reason?

Then Shen Qianqiu slowly said,

"Beyond the Yellow Sand Plains, there is an enormous city wall, stretching for tens of thousands of miles, equipped with countless Formations, blocking the Yao Kingdom. You are aware of this, right?"

"Yes."

"Outside it are two Yao Kingdoms. One is the Wan Sheng Yao Kingdom, governed by Yao King Wan Sheng, whose actions are violent and irritable, bloodthirsty and murderous."

"The other is the Qingqiu Yao Kingdom, governed by King Qingqiu, filled with fox spirits... most skilled at captivating human hearts."

Shen Li asked, puzzled,

"Is this matter too distant for me?"

"Not distant at all." Shen Qianqiu sighed and said,

"My breakthrough to Purple Mansion was an inevitable trend, and I was forced into a dead end."

"Firstly, because I am advanced in age, and my Lifespan is nearing its end."

"Secondly, there's another point... which is the deteriorating border situation."

"Deteriorating..." Shen Li's heart suddenly began to pound.

Something that could make his Great Ancestor so worried must be extraordinary.

"Why...."

Shen Qianqiu looked at Shen Li and said calmly,

"Whose property is the Yellow Sand Plains?"

"Whose land was taken?"

"Whose Yao were killed?"

Shen Li continued to ask,

"Why didn't they make a comeback earlier, but only after decades, even after some Immortal Clans from the mountain had taken root here?"

"Because previously, even with all their might, they couldn't defeat Qingchi Mountain...."

"So now they can...." A bolt of lightning flashed through Shen Li's mind.

"For them to make a comeback, some crucial factor must have changed. For such a vast territory, let alone new Dao Foundation Cultivators, even if a few more Purple Mansion Cultivators appeared, it would be useless."

"So the decisive factor is not within these two Realms.... But... a higher Realm?"

Shen Li was stunned... he didn't even dare to utter the words 'Golden Core', only saying with a face full of horror,

"Among the Yao Race, at such a Realm, is there a Great Yao seeking to 'achieve their nature'?"

"In as little as thirty to fifty years, or as much as a century... there will inevitably be a result." Shen Qianqiu sighed.

"I wanted to become Purple Mansion... also thinking that the Shen Family's small boat could become larger, so it wouldn't be smashed onto the beach by the raging waves. What I can do is only this much."

Then, Shen Qianqiu looked at Shen Li earnestly.

"So I must ask you again here. Do you still want to make the Yellow Sand Plains your Dao field.... The time left for you is not much. Besides the two major land-based Yao Kingdoms, there are also fierce Savage Yao Race continuously rushing in!

Even if there are important figures above who are holding back this 'Great Sage', the Yellow Sand Plains will become a target of all, a battlefield full of blood.... And this situation might last for hundreds of years, or even longer!"

Shen Qianqiu looked at Shen Li.... His gaze was burning, as if with clear flames.

Only through life and death can one see true nature.

After a long while... Shen Li slowly exhaled a turbid breath.

"Does Great Ancestor know a saying?"

"Hmm?"

"The bigger the wind and waves, the more precious the fish."

Shen Qianqiu was stunned.

Then Shen Li said faintly,

"A great man should dominate, brave the wind and waves, and enter the sea to bind Dragons."

"Old master, do you think I'm uncultured and unfit for polite society?"

Then... Shen Qianqiu burst into hearty laughter.

"Good lad, with ambition and the heart of a swan, you shall soar ten thousand miles!"

Shen Li's figure gradually vanished from where he stood... leaving behind only a few scattered specks of starlight.

Wangyue Lake returned to its silence.

After a long while, Shen Bo Shu's figure slowly came forward and knelt on the ground.

He was filled with trepidation.

"Great Ancestor... it is Shen Bo Shu who has disgraced the family. The family's honor must be restored by the younger generation. Shen Bo Shu is truly a good-for-nothing."

Shen Qianqiu slowly bent down, pulled up his sleeve, and patted Shen Bo Shu's head.

Just as he did when he was young.

"Everyone has their own Opportunity... it's not your fault."

"Among all things in the world... how difficult is it to find something perfectly suitable?"

Shen Bo Shu was sobbing uncontrollably.

"If only it had been me who died back then... instead of Brother Wuxie, how good would that have been? How good!"

"How prosperous would the Shen Family be now? How did it fall to such a state!"

"Nonsense!" Shen Qianqiu exploded in anger, slapping the back of his head three times, each sound sharp.

"Without you, there would be no Shen Family! It was you who maintained order in the family, it was you who painstakingly sought good relations from all sides... it was you who managed the family, leaving me no worries!"

"How could anyone be so self-deprecating!"

"Shen Li wasn't targeting you; that was just something he said to an outsider! Don't you know, don't you know..."

"I know... I know..."

"This crying appearance... if Wuxie saw it, he'd surely beat you up again."

"Brother Wuxie...."

On the silent Wangyue Lake, there was no longer any so-called Immortal Master's reverence, or Purple Mansion's nobility.

Only an old man and a young man reminiscing about their youth.

"Urge you not to cherish the golden robe, urge you to cherish your youth."

And ten thousand miles away, Tian Zhen looked at the shattered Dharma sword, but chose not to repair it... slowly closing the box.

"Gather flowers when they bloom, do not wait until there are no flowers to gather."