CHAPTER 57: 57. A LONE BOAT IN THE VAST RAGING SEA, ROCKING AND SWAYING—WHERE IS IT HEADING?

The Stone Seat Elder knew that he was close to death. He was stuck at the Ninth Layer of Refining Profound, always feeling that he was just a step away from breaking through to the "Crimson Palace Realm." However, the "Crimson Palace Realm" required, besides continued absorption of Profound Qi, a suitable "external blood" as the main ingredient to refine the "Crimson Palace Pill."

This blood could be from advanced demon beasts or others.

Of course... if it’s not suitable, you can try, but the success rate will be very low.

The Stone Seat Elder tried twice and failed both times.

Not only did he fail, but it also left him nearly on his last breath.

The path of cultivation is inherently a defiance against the heavens, full of obstacles—this is common.

The Stone Seat Elder resigned to fate, all he sought for the rest of his life was to find a worthy successor for his legacy.

But... there were many twists and turns. Because of a very personal thought, unexpected complications arose, leading to a pile of messy, unsolvable affairs.

He was about to die.

The backup plans he prepared inexplicably vanished.

Full of anger, he went to Paperman Peak to meet with the Puppet Sect Leader.

However, it seemed the Puppet Sect Leader knew he would come and dismissed everyone, waiting for him in a not-so-spacious but odd Paperman Pavilion.

In front of the pavilion, a row of red lanterns dimly illuminated the paper mannequins crafted into red men and green women underneath, eerily smiling.

Behind the screen, a paper figure sat and spoke in an aged voice, "You’ve come?"

The Stone Seat Elder was astonished and said, "You’ve come?"

The paper figure waved its hand, and the doors and windows of the pavilion closed with a "bang, bang."

The aged voice continued: "Gu Tianyang is almost insane; it was my doing. Otherwise... Although he’s narrow-minded and lacks the big picture, he wouldn’t be so muddleheaded to attack your adopted son at this time, let alone... dare to attack you."

The Stone Seat Elder: ...

The aged voice eerily said: "I used to trust him, but that year, after a long setup, I finally provoked the ghost cultivator hidden within the sect, but because of him... it fell short!

Now there must be ghost cultivators still lurking within the sect. At this time, he actually wants to secure an elder position for his grandson. Do you think he deserves to die?"

The Stone Seat Elder, having experienced much, suddenly understood it was just another layer to the situation; all he believed in was manipulated by others, making him see only what they wanted him to see.

"Leader, what should this old man do?"

The aged voice suddenly said: "Actually, normally, your life limit, when reached, cannot be reversed. But now, there’s still a slight chance if you cross it, you can enter the Crimson Palace Realm."

The Stone Seat Elder was taken aback, suddenly lifting his head, and the deadening in his heart started showing traces of new life.

The aged voice said: "I can’t, but deep within the Evil Land resides an old earth-binding ghost cultivator.

I plan to offer you and the entire line of Shadow Puppet Peak, now useless, to the ghost cultivator.

The shadow puppets are significant for Evil Land, and you have endless ghosts to summon there, a perfect match."

The Stone Seat Elder: ...

He deliberated for a long time and then said, "I understand, the Leader wishes to ally with the ghost cultivator."

The aged voice said: "I intended to eliminate them, but unfortunately, I discovered that deep within the Evil Land is that old demon; although the demon cannot leave the core of the Earth Demon, it makes the ghost cultivators invincible.

Moreover, we lost the war with the fox demons, and we need allies.

The multi-tailed man-eating fox demons’ power is beyond imagination, so we need to establish the Fox Slaying Alliance.

Shadow Puppet Peak is what was agreed upon."

The Stone Seat Elder said, "Then... Leader, how will you explain to all the sect disciples?"

The aged voice said: "It was the fox demons, the fox demons killed Gu Tianyang, the fox demons killed everyone, we were too late to support Shadow Puppet Peak, and the ghost cultivators took the opportunity to rescue you, that’s the truth."

The Stone Seat Elder said, "No wonder... no wonder you don’t care about the infiltrating fox demons..."

The aged voice said: "Though Shadow Puppet Peak will be given away, I still need to leave a seed.

Seat Elder, tell me, to whom did you pass on your legacy?

I simply do not believe you only passed it to Shi Peng."

The Stone Seat Elder sighed gently and slowly revealed the name "Song Yan."

The paper figure behind the screen seemed slightly surprised but nodded nonetheless, then beckoned.

The Stone Seat Elder approached.

The two whispered secrets.

When the Stone Seat Elder left, the aged look on his face had slightly faded, his skin was still wrinkled, his hair still gray, but his eyes held a hint of "hope" and "expectation."

If one can live again, who would refuse?

...

...

Clap clap clap...

Gu Tianyang felt extremely uneasy, a sense of inexplicable irritation pounding in his chest.

He got up and was about to fly to South Bamboo Peak when he suddenly saw an Inner Sect Elder from Paperman Peak arrive, dropping off three corpses.

Gu Tianyang recognized the corpses as disciples of the Puppet Sect!

And there was still ghostly aura lingering on these corpses, but the wounds had a strangely familiar feel.

He examined them closely and suddenly remembered.

Although the wounds on these corpses were different, they were inflicted in the fastest and most direct way through the chest, just like his deceased grandson, and the ghostly aura confirmed...they were retrieved from the Evil Land.

His expression began to change.

He suddenly looked up, seeing an Inner Sect Elder from Paperman Peak watching him, saying, "The cause of death has been identified."

Gu Tianyang shouted angrily, "Who?!"

The Inner Sect Elder from Paperman Peak said, "Fox demon."

"Fox demon?"

"The fox demons enchanted these disciples, leading them to commit suicide in the Evil Land, trying to incite conflict between us and the Evil Land. They want to fish in troubled waters and observe the two sides suffer."

"Damn fox demons!"

Gu Tianyang’s anger burned fiercely. He always knew there were infiltrating fox demons, but he never connected it to his grandson’s death.

"Peak Master Gu, it’s tonight." After the Inner Sect Elder spoke, he handed over a map, "The Sect Leader has discovered the fox demons’ location, and tonight we launch a surprise attack to let those fox demons pay with blood."

"I understand." Gu Tianyang nodded.

The Inner Sect Elder said, "Quick decisions."

Two streaks of rainbow light shot away into the distance, reaching a remote area, Gu Tianyang indeed saw that figure far away.

That figure seemed to merge into the ominous fog, into the darkness.

The figure turned around, his pair of eyes revealed a gentle smile.

"Tianyang, you’re here, the fox cubs are over there..."

"Thank you, Sect Leader!"

Gu Tianyang felt an intense agitation within, his rationality somewhat blurred, as he swiftly darted forward, just reaching the side of the Sect Leader, when suddenly a fearsome force from an absolutely unexpected angle, and an absolutely unexpected person attacked.

"Sect... Sect Leader?"

In the darkness, those blood-red eyes embedded in shadows showed a playful smile.

"Old Gu, actually I have quite a few things to say to you, but I’ll wait until you’re dead to say them to your corpse."

"Your body, I... shall gladly accept it."

Boom!!!

...

...

Thunder roared, exploding at dawn, even the cave mansion trembled slightly.

Song Yan rose from the couch, pushed aside the two long legs draped across his waist, looked up at the sky, yawned and lay back down.

A little while later, Fu Hongmian got off the bed to cook porridge, and when the aroma of rice filled the cave mansion, Song Yan woke the Empress.

Fu Shirong glared at him fiercely.

Song Yan simply loved watching this fiery-tempered woman’s tantrums.

He smiled and ruffled the Empress’s hair.

"Why have you not gathered recently?"

Fu Shirong asked.

Song Yan lifted her chin and said, "Have you thought about it?"

"Pah!"

The Empress displayed a look of disgust and disdain.

Not far away, Fu Hongmian shouted, "Song Lang, stop deliberately provoking the Empress. We all know you’re a good person, you’d rather slow down your cultivation than harm us."

Song Yan laughed heartily, then got out of bed, dressed, ate, and practiced Shield and Blade Xuan Skill for a while in the cave, before grabbing an oil-paper umbrella and heading to the Skinning Cave Mansion as he did every day.

Mountain rain flowed freely through the gaps in the stone steps, hanging like small waterfalls.

Song Yan heard footsteps not far away, turned his head, and called, "Junior Sister."

Wang Susu, somewhat lost in thought, raised her head at the sound, then quickly walked to Song Yan’s side, walking alongside him.

Song Yan asked, "What’s wrong? You seem down."

Wang Susu lowered her head and said, "Nothing."

Song Yan asked, "What’s really going on?"

Wang Susu said softly, "My thoughts are... even someone as talented and wise as our Skin Master eventually shows signs of aging, with their time coming to an end, unable to break the mortal’s lifespan limit.

Then... for us with such inferior Profound Roots, will we ever have a chance to reach the end of the Refining Profound Realm and glimpse the scenery on the other side?"

Then, without waiting for Song Yan to answer, she continued, "Even if there is a chance, it’s probably on the main peak of Paperman Peak, above the main vein of the Profound Vein, with abundant Profound Qi, Spirit Pills... too bad we cannot go there.

We servants from birth, how can we ever have a chance to reach the main vein?"

Of the Puppet Five Peaks, only Paperman Peak is on the main vein, the rest are on the secondary veins, and South Bamboo Peak is a remnant of the secondary vein...

Wang Susu finished speaking, then said no more, changing to a routine smile.

Her umbrella was red.

A small red umbrella, like a boat in the stormy sea during the abrupt rain, swaying.

The two walked silently, soon arriving at the Skinning Cave Mansion.

"We’re here."

Wang Susu smiled and put away her umbrella.

Song Yan looked inside and said, "Your Skin Master hasn’t arrived yet today."

Wang Susu giggled and said, "He’s our Skin Master."

They sat opposite each other and began working on today’s shadow puppets.

Soon, a red figure appeared at the door.

Wang Susu thought Shi Peng had come, turned her head to look, but was surprised to see an unfamiliar Inner Sect Disciple.

This Inner Sect Disciple scanned the interior, his gaze landing on Song Yan, and said, "Are you Song Junior Brother?"

Song Yan rose, puzzled, "Senior Brother, are you looking for me?"

The Inner Sect Disciple smiled and said, "The Sect Leader found a rare Exotic Beast and wants to invite some potential Skin Masters to take a look. Skin Master recommended you, come with me."

Song Yan was taken aback.

This was very sudden.

The Inner Sect Disciple said, "The Void Ship is at the cliff top, the Skin Master is also there, let’s go."

Wang Susu looked at Song Yan with envy.

Song Yan nodded.

Since the teacher is there too, it’s not a big issue, just go and see.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"You’re welcome."