Chapter 698: Northward

The Three Overlords have been passed down for a millennium, which means these three factions once had powerhouses in the Divine Sea and True Lake Realms.

They also possessed the secret to breaking through the Cloud River Realm's bottleneck.

This was something other sects in the Dragon-Soaring Realm did not possess.

But even the cultivators from these three sects saw their cultivation levels decline with each successive generation after the Heavenly Chasm appeared.

Li Sa of the Imperial Heaven Sect had already reached the pinnacle of cultivation, the peak of the Cloud River Realm, more than two hundred years ago. For all these years, he had been trying to comprehend the secret of the True Lake Realm, not just for himself, but also to find a path for cultivation for the entire Dragon-Soaring Realm. Ultimately, however, his efforts were insufficient.

As of today, his lifespan was exhausted, and he passed away in meditation, which evoked endless sighs of regret. When the news spread, all the major sects in the Dragon-Soaring Realm were shaken.

"Senior Li Sa is gone," someone sighed, "and Master Fahua of the Vajra Temple probably won't live much longer either."

In terms of age, Master Fahua was even older than Li Sa. That master had truly witnessed the might of a True Lake Realm powerhouse; in the era he was born, the Dragon-Soaring Realm still had True Lake Realm cultivators.

The reason he lived longer than Li Sa was mainly because the cultivation method of the Vajra Temple focused on tempering the physique, and vigorous vital energy naturally led to a longer lifespan.

However, it is assumed that he, too, is nearing his end.

The passing of each venerable senior was not merely a temporary loss for the cultivation world, but also represented the erosion of the Dragon-Soaring Realm's foundation.

The Imperial Heaven Sect had such figures, the Vajra Temple had such figures, and the Haoran Academy also had such figures. For cultivators, who had not reached their own limits but had reached the end of their path due to the limitations of heaven and earth, it was undoubtedly a very tragic thing.

If the Dragon-Soaring Realm continued to undergo such anomalies, perhaps one day the entire group of cultivators might cease to exist.

"To Senior Li Sa!" Someone stood up, holding a wine cup, bowed deeply towards the direction of the Imperial Heaven Sect, and spilled the wine onto the ground.

"To Senior Li Sa!" Everyone followed suit, and the atmosphere in the tavern became heavy for a while.

To say nothing else, his two centuries of solitary meditation, solely to find a future path for the Dragon-Soaring Realm's cultivation world, that dedication alone was enough to command respect, even though he ultimately failed.

The heavy atmosphere did not last long. Most cultivators had open minds, and with one person's voice ringing out, the somber tavern became lively once again.

"Have you all heard? Half a month ago, the Overlord Saber Manor in Fengzhou was breached, Ye Ying was killed, and nearly everyone from the Ye family, old and young alike, was wiped out. It was truly tragic."

"Who did it?" someone asked.

"That's not entirely clear, but it's said that the Divine Will Sect was behind it."

"Those two factions have long-standing grievances, so it's not surprising the Divine Will Sect acted. It's just a pity about the Overlord Saber Art. I hear it was an incredible saber art. With the Ye family gone, I'm afraid the Overlord Saber Art will cease to exist in this world."

The topic suddenly shifted to the Overlord Saber Manor. Lu Ye merely listened quietly, and Ye Liuli didn't show much reaction either.

However, from what they heard, the world only knew that the Overlord Saber Manor had been breached, but they didn't know that he, Ye Liu, and Ye Liuli were still alive, nor were they aware that the Divine Will Sect had suffered significant losses at the Overlord Saber Manor, with even Deputy Sect Master Pang Wanhai dead, along with two elders.

This was not surprising. The Divine Will Sect had more enemies than just the Overlord Saber Manor. With such heavy losses this time, they naturally wouldn't publicize it, and it was even less likely for Lu Ye to spread the news, so these matters were temporarily kept hidden.

The cultivators engaged in lively discussions, covering a wide range of topics, and their conversations shifted very quickly. After all, most of these casual discussions were not about their personal experiences but merely served as conversational fodder.

After discussing the Overlord Saber Manor, they then spoke of an unusual phenomenon that had appeared in Nanzhou some days ago, where a divine weapon had emerged, causing countless cultivators to fight fiercely, resulting in rivers of blood. It was said that even the Haoran Academy had been alarmed by this event.

As for who ultimately acquired the emerged divine weapon, no one seemed to know.

Then they spoke of the Heavenly Chasm in the far north, where there seemed to have been some unusual activity in recent years, with some claiming to have seen rolling shadows within the chasm...

Rumors about the Heavenly Chasm had circulated continuously in the Dragon-Soaring Realm for eight hundred years.

Because the changes in the Dragon-Soaring Realm began with the mysterious appearance of the Heavenly Chasm. Over eight centuries, the upper limit for cultivators had fallen from the Divine Sea Realm to the True Lake Realm, and now to the Cloud River Realm, as if the spiritual essence of the entire world had been continuously draining away with the chasm's presence.

Although the Heavenly Chasm had appeared eight hundred years ago, it had remained fixed in the sky of the far north without significant change. This attracted countless cultivators who traveled there to observe it, and even led to the birth of a sect called the Heavenly Chasm Sect.

The main headquarters of the Heavenly Chasm Sect was located in Xuez州 (Snowy State), not far from the Heavenly Chasm. Cultivators in the Heavenly Chasm Sect all believed in one truth: that the Heavenly Chasm was a divine gift, and by comprehending its mysteries, cultivators could find the path beyond the Cloud River Realm.

Regarding this, most cultivators in the Dragon-Soaring Realm scoffed at the idea, but many cultivators who had reached their own limits harbored the thought of giving it a try and went to comprehend the mysteries contained within the Heavenly Chasm.

It was precisely because of this that the Heavenly Chasm Sect was a mixed bag of individuals, but it was undeniable that there were many powerful individuals within the sect, many of whom were elderly cultivators at the ninth layer of the Cloud River Realm, and some even believed that the current foundation of the Heavenly Chasm Sect was in no way inferior to that of the other three overlords.

The cultivators in the tavern were still deep in their discussions. Lu Ye had already paid for his food and drink, and taking Yiyi and Ye Liuli, he exited the North City Gate, summoned his Spirit Boat, and continued northward.

In mid-air, a streak of light swiftly darted past. It was a shuttle-shaped flying spirit artifact. Upon the artifact sat a short man whose face was as pale as paper. Judging by the fluctuations of aura from his body, he was clearly a ninth-layer Cloud River Realm cultivator.

However, this person seemed to have suffered a severe injury; his aura was extremely weak, and while flying, he would occasionally spurt out a mouthful of blood mist. The flying spirit artifact would also shake violently, nearly falling from the sky.

"Damn it! Damn it!" The man spat out the blood in his mouth and cursed through gritted teeth.

He never expected that what he had thought was a great opportunity would instead lead him to such misfortune. It wasn't an opportunity at all; it was a vengeful spirit claiming lives!

Several times, he had wanted to discard the thing he had obtained at great personal risk a few days ago, because his current condition was entirely caused by that object.

But every time he took out the object and tried to discard it, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

After all, although the object was dangerous, he could indeed feel the terrifying power it contained. That was definitely not power a Cloud River Realm cultivator could wield.

It was truly a rare treasure. How could he willingly discard it, just like that?

In recent days, he had sought out all the renowned medical cultivators nearby, but none were able to alleviate his injuries.

Now, only one last hope remained: Snowy State's Medicine Valley, the Little Divine Healer.

Northward he went!

At the Imperial Heaven Sect, the atmosphere within the sect had been somber in recent days. Li Sa's passing was undoubtedly a significant blow to the Imperial Heaven Sect. Cultivators were generally open-minded, and life and death were commonplace. It wasn't to the extent that all sect members would wear mourning clothes for one person's death, nor was there an overly elaborate funeral. Instead, some high-ranking members of the Imperial Heaven Sect laid Li Sa's body to rest in a secluded spot, ensuring he rested in peace.

Huang Liang, the current Sect Master of the Imperial Heaven Sect, had been busy with this matter for the past few days, only finishing today.

Stepping out of the mausoleum where Li Sa's body was laid to rest, Huang Liang said softly, "I shall depart now. I leave everything within the sect in your care."

Deputy Sect Master Kui Yuanshan said, "Sect Master, perhaps I should go instead."

Other elder-level cultivators also offered to go.

No one knew why Huang Liang suddenly had the idea to visit the Heavenly Chasm at this time.

Huang Liang shook his head. "I'll only feel at ease if I go myself."

He didn't say much more.

When Li Sa passed away, Huang Liang was by his side because, in terms of status, he was Li Sa's direct disciple.

At that time, Li Sa had already sensed that his end was near and was preparing to impart some final words.

But just as he was giving his last instructions, he suddenly stared blankly towards the north, a look of horror appearing in his eyes, and then he stopped breathing.

Recalling that scene, Huang Liang vaguely felt that in the final moments of his life, his master must have seen something.

Only something like the Heavenly Chasm in the north could have captured his master's attention like that. So, after finishing Li Sa's funeral arrangements, Huang Liang decided to go take a look at the Heavenly Chasm.

He wanted to find out what his master had truly seen before his death.

With that said, he summoned his spirit artifact and soared into the sky.

At the Vajra Temple, chants of sutras, accompanied by the crisp tapping of wooden fish, echoed. As a major sect with a thousand years of heritage, the atmosphere within the Vajra Temple was undoubtedly solemn and dignified.

In the deepest forbidden area of the Vajra Temple, a young novice monk was sweeping fallen leaves on the ground. Suddenly feeling something, he looked up and was startled.

He saw that a withered, emaciated figure had appeared before him at some point. The figure was so thin it looked like skin stretched over bones, with layer upon layer of wrinkles on its face, and covered in dark spots. Only its eyes shone brightly like stars.

The figure had appeared silently and now stood before the young novice monk, quietly gazing northward, its brows furrowed, and its two long, snow-white eyebrows twitched.

"Ma... Master Ancestor?" The young novice monk finally recognized the figure's identity and quickly bowed.

This was none other than Monk Fahua, who had been in secluded meditation within the Vajra Temple's forbidden area for three hundred years. The young novice monk had never seen him, but who else would dare to appear in the forbidden area at this time but the Master Ancestor?

But when the young novice monk looked up again, there was no one there.

The frail old man who had just been before him had already vanished.

"A g-ghost?" The young novice monk was startled, his face turning pale, and he quickly dropped the broom in his hand and ran outside, yelling, "It's haunted! It's haunted!"

Shortly after, a group of senior monks arrived upon hearing the commotion, each with a robust physique and abundant vital energy.

After a thorough search, they finally confirmed that their Master Ancestor was gone.

The monks were completely bewildered, and no one knew why their Master Ancestor had left seclusion without a word and vanished.