Chapter 77: Divine Martial Gate Destroyed

"Puchi", Hongzhi suddenly opened his mouth, spurted a mouthful of fresh blood, his body tilted, and he was about to fall to the ground.

"Uncle-master, uncle-master, are you alright?" Wei Yuning jumped in fright, hurried forward and held him up.

Hongzhi opened his eyes, weakly chuckled: "I never thought my Xuanbing would have a day of leaking heavenly secrets, haha, it was worth it."

"Uncle-master, what does leaking heavenly secrets mean? Could it be Senior Xu Ye…?" Wei Yuning asked.

"Idiot, fool, I can't say it. Good thing my cultivation is low, otherwise I'd suffer a big loss. Damn, they didn't warn me in advance, just came straight at me, cough, cough…"

This was the first time Wei Yuning saw Hongzhi swear.

He finally understood what Hongzhi was talking about, his heart was greatly shaken, and he also understood why this hunting expedition had brought Senior Xu Ye along.

Afterwards, the two dared not mention what had just happened and began chatting casually.

After a period of breath regulation, Hongzhi's complexion regained its rosy hue, and his mood was excellent.

"Hongzhi uncle-master, you say the sect so recklessly attacks immortal envoys; if the Heavenly Realm truly flies into a rage, what should we do? Are you really not afraid of retaliation from those in the Heavenly Palace?"

"I don't know either, but since the patriarchs dare to do it, they surely have a countermeasure; it's not something we lowly disciples should worry about." Hongzhi said.

Hongzhi's words were less a comfort to Wei Yuning than a comfort to himself.

As time passed second by second, Wei Yuning saw the outside light grow brighter and his mood grew more tense. Hongzhi, the manager sitting opposite, was the same; the two had long lost interest in conversation.

"Uncle-master, it's almost noon; why don't we go check Lotus Peak? They might have already returned!" Wei Yuning suddenly said.

"No need, when the plan was made that day, Patriarch Xuanfengzi said he would notify us after success." Hongzhi said.

"Maybe they forgot us; they're all inner-sect patriarchs, we… our cultivation is so low, perhaps it was just an offhand remark!" Wei Yuning said.

"You don't understand; the patriarchs wouldn't just say things casually!" Hongzhi said firmly.

"Or maybe they were too rushed and didn't have time to notify us!" Wei Yuning said hesitantly.

"... What you say could be possible; let's go, let's go to Lotus Peak!"

As soon as the two stepped out of the minor teleportation array, Hongzhi sensed something was off.

"The protective formation of Lotus Peak has also been activated; I'm afraid you were right!"

Centering on the Hall of Falling Snow, the entire building complex of Lotus Peak was hidden in the wind and snow filling the sky; just a few steps outside the minor teleportation array lay dense snow particles as fine as sand, and the white-haired wind emitted a wailing, strange cry.

Wei Yuning tried to walk forward a few steps when a strange wind suddenly struck, pushing him several meters away, nearly pushing him onto the cliff edge; at the same instant, his hair and eyebrows became covered in white frost.

"Useless, this is the sect's ice storm formation, combining the spiritual energy of the spirit stone veins below and also making use of Lotus Peak's unique climate; even a Golden Core cultivator would find it hard to approach. The sect… the sect might really have suffered a major disaster!" Hongzhi said with a solemn expression.

Since they couldn't enter, the two had no choice but to turn back and then go their separate ways, each lost in thought.

Hongzhi was the external affairs manager of Guest Arrival Peak, handling plenty of work each day. Wei Yuning was similarly responsible for the entire Hundred Flowers Garden, with dozens of people relying on him for their meals.

No matter how anxious and flustered they felt inside, life had to go on.

In the afternoon, Hongle sought Wei Yuning. The alchemy room urgently needed to produce a batch of healing medicines, but the herb garden's herb quality was substandard, so he wanted to get a batch from the Hundred Flowers Garden.

Wei Yuning naturally had no objection, after all he wasn't providing them for free.

They worked until evening before Hongle's matter was finally settled. This transaction yielded sixteen mid-grade spirit stones in income; if used sparingly, it would cover the Hundred Flowers Garden's annual expenses.

Wei Yuning's good mood didn't last long; Thus line: Ye Ying sent a message.

"Young Master Wei Yuning, thank you for your care over the past days. To avoid causing you further trouble, I and Senior Sister Qiugu have already left the Cloud Hidden Sect. As for where we're going, I think you know, and you also know my divine sense marker; if you ever pass through that place, please contact me. I… I will miss you! Moreover, Uncle-master Yunyan sent word that the mountain gate of the Divine Martial Gate has been destroyed, and the disciples have vanished without a trace. That's all. Take care! Thus line: Ye Ying."

"Wait, there's also me, kid; if you come, remember to bring the Moon Beast, hehe!" The message ended with Qiugu's voice bursting out.

Although I knew they would definitely leave, I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. However, having already experienced a parting once, this time Wei Yuning's state of mind became much calmer.

Judging by the time, his two nominal dao companions were certainly still in the Spirit Beast World. But he had no intention of replying; he only silently wished in his heart: "Safe travels!"

At this moment he understood what Hongzhi uncle-master had said: cultivation is fundamentally a solitary journey; although the world of immortals has various dual cultivation techniques, forming a partnership does not hinder one's progress and may even aid it, but once married, cultivators, burdened by many ties, find it hard to achieve great accomplishments and lose much of their vigor.

Appearing to have gained a partner, in reality they had merely gained a fetter.

If they were ordinary mortals, or simply gave up on further advancement, taking a dao companion would be perfectly fine; but a true cultivator may have affection, yet can remain unattached to emotion.

When he first heard those words, Wei Yuning did not take them to heart. Only now did he grasp Hongzhi's deep meaning.

Mutual moistening with saliva, better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes!

In the external affairs office courtyard of Guest Arrival Peak, Wei Yuning met Hongzhi and told him the situation of the Divine Martial Gate that Thus line: Ye Ying had reported.

Hongzhi remained silent for a long time, then finally said: "This matter is known to both of us; no matter how outsiders spread it, let's just pretend we don't know. Let's go back and cultivate diligently!"

Habitually returning to Wind Lotus Court, he only then remembered that his two "dao companions" had already left.

He came to the pavilion, sat down, and looked at the small lake outside the courtyard gate; the lone lotus stood, fine snowflakes fluttered down, and he felt an unprecedented loneliness, as if he were the only person in the whole world.

In a daze, he entered a wondrous state.

Around him everything remained unchanged, yet he was no longer himself, becoming an illusory existence.

He originally thought he had entered the perspective of the Golden Ancient Pine again, but then realized it wasn't, because in this world he could move freely.

What's more strange, the movement was instantaneous—one second he was at the courtyard gate, the next second he could be inside the house, with distance completely losing its restriction.

This mysterious state caused Wei Yuning to forget time and also forget his own abnormality, as if he had been born this way.

Winter passed, the cold season ended, and the time arrived at February, also known as the Plowing Month.

The mundane mortals of Pixiu Island began a year's busyness.

Although the sect's disciples are not afraid of the bitter cold, going out on windy, snowy days is always inconvenient; now that the weather has warmed, whether seeking the Dao and visiting friends or taking sect missions, they have all entered an active period.