Chapter 535: Coldness and Desperation

"Senior, are you unaware of the beast tide? It seems you've been in secluded cultivation here for many years and are completely oblivious to the outside world, aren't you?" the middle-aged cultivator murmured after a long exhale.

"From your tone, things outside must be quite grim!" the man said, a hint of curiosity entering his otherwise indifferent voice, as if piqued.

The middle-aged cultivator was momentarily speechless. "Grim" barely began to describe the situation outside! It truly seemed the other party was an ancient being who had been in seclusion for untold years. How else could he be ignorant of a major event that occurred more than two decades ago? This realization, however, put him more at ease. Given the Senior's cultivation and status, it was unlikely he would bother to harm mere juniors like them. What could they possibly possess that such a powerful being would covet?

With this thought, the middle-aged cultivator responded with even greater deference: "Senior, the beast tide occurred over two decades ago. I was still a Qi Condensation cultivator at the time, and while I didn't witness it firsthand, I heard accounts from my sect elders. It's said that tens of thousands of demonic beasts from the Abyssal Sea suddenly surged forth one day without any warning. They then swept straight to Qi Yuan Island, completely encircling Blackrock City and launching a relentless assault. Despite the island being defended by several grand formations, thousands of cultivators, and a number of Nascent Soul stage seniors, it was breached after several days. Only a very small number of cultivators managed to escape amidst the chaos; all other human cultivators perished on the spot."

As the middle-aged cultivator recounted the events, a shadow of sorrow crossed his face.

"Such a thing happened! What came next? Did the demonic beasts retreat to the abyss?" The man's voice showed a flicker of shock, but quickly reverted to its usual detached tone.

"If they had retreated to the abyss, things would have been much simpler. After turning Blackrock City into ruins, the abyssal beasts surprisingly split into several groups, led by some high-tier demonic beasts, and began to sweep through other human villages and towns. Although most residents had received advance warning and abandoned their homes to hide, many cultivators and mortals still met tragic ends. Within half a year, all human settlements in the waters around Qi Yuan Island ceased to exist, completely wiped out. And it didn't end there; while most of these demonic beasts returned to the abyss, some high-tier ones, possessing considerable intelligence, began to relentlessly hunt down and devour hidden humans. It's said that soon, most of the mortals in the outer sea were killed or injured, and more than half of the human cultivators were lost. The survivors could only flee far from the waters near Qi Yuan Island, seeking refuge on remote islands, constantly hiding. Today, Qi Yuan Island has become a gathering place for high-tier demonic beasts; as soon as they get any news of human cultivators, they will mobilize again to eradicate us." The middle-aged cultivator's expression grew increasingly sorrowful.

For a moment, the mysterious man's voice remained silent, seemingly stunned by the news, as if struggling to process the information.

"Heh heh! How ironic," the man finally spoke again, a cold chuckle escaping him. "So, in the Outer Star Sea, we cultivators have become the hunted, just like the demonic beasts once were." His words, laced with sarcasm, caught the cultivators off guard.

The man, however, seemed disinclined to elaborate. He then posed several more questions: "Qi Yuan Island had several Nascent Soul stage cultivators guarding it; surely they didn't all perish in the beast tide? Why aren't they stepping forward to lead now? And since such a cataclysm occurred on Qi Yuan Island, did the Inner Star Sea not react? Did they not send any reinforcements? Or has this place been completely abandoned by those from the Inner Star Sea?"

Each question was sharper and more incisive than the last. The middle-aged cultivator knew some of the answers, but others he simply could not provide. After a moment of consideration, he cautiously replied: "During the beast tide that year, I heard that two Nascent Soul stage seniors perished, but most of the elder seniors still managed to escape. Although there has been no news of them since, some rumors suggest they are planning a grand operation to launch a decisive counterattack on Qi Yuan Island. As for the specifics, I am unaware. Regarding the Inner Star Sea, all communication has been completely severed since the beast tide began, and no one knows if they are aware of the details here. As for reinforcements, we certainly haven't seen any. Perhaps, as Senior said, this place has indeed been abandoned by the Inner Star Sea." As he spoke the last sentence, a gloomy expression crossed the middle-aged cultivator's face.

It seemed that the cultivators who had survived the beast tide had, perhaps unconsciously, developed resentment towards the Inner Star Sea's indifference and lack of response.

The man's voice fell silent once more, only to ask leisurely a moment later: "Since it's so dangerous, why aren't you juniors staying safely in your residences? Why run out so rashly? Are you trying to commit suicide?"

Hearing the man's words, the middle-aged cultivator's face clouded with worry, but before he could offer an explanation— The yellow-clad maiden, who had been standing quietly behind him, suddenly darted forward, her expression wavering.

"Senior, my father, due to improper cultivation, suffered a reversal of his true essence and tangled meridians; he is now paralyzed. With your vast powers, Senior, you must surely have a way to save him! If you can save my father, I, your junior, am willing to serve you as your humble servant for the rest of my life to repay your immense kindness!" The maiden's pretty face was filled with desperate pleading, and her large, clear eyes were already glistening with tears, on the verge of spilling.

The other men and women were greatly surprised by her words, exchanging bewildered glances. Only the middle-aged cultivator felt a flicker of emotion, but his mouth immediately reprimanded her without hesitation: "Xing'er, what nonsense are you speaking? Senior Brother has been bedridden for years; his condition is beyond human remedy. Our trip to find spirit herbs is merely to alleviate his suffering slightly. Even if Senior's powers are truly divine, there's no cure." Although the middle-aged cultivator spoke mercilessly, his face subtly held a peculiar expression.

"True essence reversal, tangled meridians. It seems like another case of someone foolishly trying to rush their cultivation," the man said lazily after a cold chuckle. "They must have attempted to force cultivation of a higher-tier technique before reaching the required level, leading to these symptoms."

This expert, without even seeing the patient, had accurately deduced the cause of the symptoms. A flicker of joy immediately crossed the middle-aged cultivator's face!

"Senior truly possesses keen insight," the middle-aged cultivator complimented first, then asked with utmost concern, "My Senior Brother indeed brought this calamity upon himself due to his eagerness in cultivation. May I ask if Senior knows of any secret methods that could save him?" It seemed he and this Senior Brother had a good relationship.

"These symptoms are nothing, of course, but why should I tell you?" the man said, seemingly seeing through the other's thoughts and scoffing impolitely. "Do you think I would offer help for no reason?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged cultivator froze, his face flushing then paling. His lips moved several times, but no words came out. The yellow-clad maiden, however, heard a sliver of hope in his words. A blush rose on her cheeks. Gritting her teeth, she knelt with a soft thump before the light screen. Then, with a resolute expression, the delicate maiden declared:

"I, your junior, Gongsun Xing, swear here that as long as Senior can cure my father, I am willing to serve you as your slave for life, with no ulterior motives. If Senior is still uneasy, I will allow you to impose a restriction spell on me first, before you treat my father." As soon as she finished speaking, the maiden bowed towards the light screen and kowtowed three times, then remained kneeling motionless, her face etched with unwavering determination.

Despite her youth, the yellow-clad maiden displayed an incredibly unyielding character.

"Foolish girl, what are you doing?" the middle-aged cultivator exclaimed, a mixture of shock and anger in his voice. "What kind of status does Senior possess? How could he possibly take an interest in an 'ugly girl' like you?"

The other men and women also came to their senses and quickly tried to dissuade her. But the yellow-clad maiden ignored them, remaining stubbornly on her knees, as if she would not rise until he agreed.

"Uncle-Master, please don't say anything more," the maiden said calmly, shaking her pale head. "I am an inauspicious person by birth; my mother died in childbirth because of me. My father, wanting to cleanse my meridians and bone marrow, forcibly cultivated the sixth layer of the Azure Spirit Profound Art, which led to him being bedridden for years. Now is the time for me to uphold my filial piety. As long as my father can be cured, I am willing to serve this Senior for life, without any complaints."

"Girl! Are you trying to threaten me? If I don't act, will you remain kneeling forever?" The man scoffed coldly, his voice suddenly chilling.

"I wouldn't dare, Senior; I have no intention of threatening you whatsoever. Senior just now saved our lives; Gongsun Xing is already endlessly grateful! But since my father became bedridden, we have sought out many fellow seniors for treatment, yet none possessed the art of rejuvenation. Now, from your tone, Xing'er understands that curing this ailment seems to be a mere trifle for you, which is why I am pleading so earnestly. I have no other intentions, Senior, only hoping you can fulfill my filial piety!" Having said these words, the maiden was already half-sobbing, and choked back another kowtow.

A profound silence fell from the direction of the light screen.