Chapter 190 Law Enforcement Elder Guards the World (3)

The three elders arrived quickly, having already learned of the deaths of Elder Qing Shu and Bai Tang on their way. They all wore expressions of sadness and sorrow.

“Sect Master.”

The Sect Master, Qi Jianhong, gestured for the three elders to sit down.

“Earlier, I divined the future and foresaw a great catastrophe looming over the world. Our major sects of cultivation will also face a calamity of unprecedented proportions within a millennium. The deaths of Qing Shu and Bai Tang are just the beginning. In the divination, I could scarcely discern any hope,” said the Sect Master in a solemn tone.

As the Sect Master spoke, the expressions of Chang Shan, Yan Hui, and Juan Bai grew increasingly grim. The loss of one elder and one elder’s direct disciple was already a heavy blow for the Divine Movement Sect. Now, with the Sect Master predicting such a dire omen, it felt like adding insult to injury.

Juan Bai spoke up, “Sect Master, can you determine the source of this disaster?”

Chang Shan furrowed his brow. “Is it a calamity from the mortal realm or the immortal cultivation world?”

Yan Hui added, “Sect Master, is there truly no hope left? Shouldn’t we try divining again?”

The Sect Master responded heavily, “I’ve already exhausted my cultivation to perform one divination. Now, this is our only option. If we can find even a glimmer of hope, it may save both the mortal realm and the immortal cultivation world!”

Since the Sect Master had spoken thus, the elders naturally wouldn’t dissuade him. Meanwhile, Bai Tang, currently concealed, listened to their discussion while hiding her presence.

Qi Jianhong was a master at the middle stage of the Tribulation Crossing realm and had exceptional skills in divination. Yet, with each calculation, his expression became increasingly grave. The other elders present couldn’t help but feel a sinking sensation in their hearts.

It wasn’t until they saw a hint of joy on the Sect Master’s face that they breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, immediately after, the Sect Master spat out a mouthful of blood, and a halo of light flashed around him. His cultivation plummeted from the middle stage of the Tribulation Crossing realm to the middle stage of the Mahayana realm. In his attempt to grasp the divine secrets, he had dropped an entire realm.

Chang Shan quickly took out a spiritual pill and fed it to the Sect Master.

After calming his breath, the Sect Master’s expression became peculiar. “Though I’ve lost a significant realm of cultivation, fortunately, I’ve discerned a glimmer of hope.”

“Sect Master, your sacrifice is admirable,” Yan Hui said respectfully.

Chang Shan asked, “Where does this glimmer of hope lie?”

Juan Bai added, “Sect Master, your expression seems unusual. Does it contain some mystical significance?”

The Sect Master nodded, pointing to the soulstone belonging to the original Bai Tang. “I’ve determined that this glimmer of hope lies within Bai Tang.”

The others exchanged puzzled looks, utterly astonished.

Yan Hui asked, “But wasn’t Bai Tang gone? Why does hope still reside with her?”

“Because someone has reincarnated in her body. A person from another realm is the key to breaking this deadlock,” said Bai Tang as she withdrew her concealment, holding Qing Shu’s corpse.

The group was shocked beyond measure. Considering their levels of cultivation—the Sect Master at the middle stage of the Tribulation Crossing realm, Chang Shan at the middle stage of the Mahayana realm, and the other two at the middle stage of the Unity realm—it was astounding that they hadn’t noticed someone eavesdropping.

“You are the glimmer of hope I divined,” acknowledged the Sect Master.

“When did you arrive here?” Yan Hui inquired.

Juan Bai added, “Junior Sister Qing Shu…”

Chang Shan inspected Bai Tang’s pale face, the blood at the corners of her mouth, and her blood-stained body. “Let me examine your body.”

Since it was the Sect Master’s divination, there couldn’t be any mistake.

Bai Tang set down Qing Shu’s body and allowed Chang Shan to examine her. She said calmly, “When I arrived, Qing Shu was already dead. As for the original Bai Tang, she encountered an opportunity and went to another world. Whether she will return remains uncertain. This body is already ruined, with all internal organs shattered, spiritual roots destroyed, and spiritual platform shattered.”

Chang Shan nodded, using his spiritual energy to repair Bai Tang’s body. Even if this body could be restored, it couldn’t cultivate anymore.

Bai Tang continued, “They had terrible luck, stumbling into an array formation that imprisoned the ancient ferocious beast, Taowu. Unfortunately, you lost several promising disciples, as well as Elder Qing Shu and the original Bai Tang. Fortunately and unfortunately, because of my arrival, not everyone perished, but those who survived are a bunch of crooked melons and cracked jujubes¹.”

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1. TL/N: 
   [ 群歪瓜裂枣 qún wāi guā liè zǎo : crooked melons and cracked jujubes ], metaphor for ugly/ repulsive people or things ↩︎