The Sword Immortal paid no mind to Jian Lin's words, his voice filled with a desperate resolve. "Does ascension matter? These villains, if I don't kill them, I'll go to hell!"
Jian Lin understood that the old man's worldview had shattered, causing him to faint from anger. However, she remained rational, remembering her vow in the Sword Immortal's cave to take good care of him.
"Master, listen to me," Jian Lin grabbed the old man's arm and whispered in his ear, "These elders are nothing. The real masterminds are the peak lords. They don't even dare to show themselves, probably waiting for the God Array to be completed before they appear. Killing these people won't change the overall situation."
In Guanlan Sect, the true power holders were the peak lords. When the alliance was formed, an Elder Hall was established to fairly and justly resolve disputes between the peaks.
The Elder Hall was comprised of twelve representatives, each nominated by their respective peaks. All matters were decided by vote, and they also supervised the conduct of the peak lords.
In the early days of Guanlan Sect's establishment, the Elder Hall fairly and justly resolved many conflicts, earning the respect of the peak lords and disciples.
As time passed, problems arose within Guanlan Sect, and the Elder Hall became a mere puppet. It now held little power, primarily handling trivial matters.
Jian Lin had initially harbored deep hatred for them, as it was the elders who had condemned her to death. However, after experiencing so much, she had come to understand who she truly should resent.
She shouldn't punish herself for the sake of unimportant people, staining her own hands with blood and accepting the punishment of not being able to ascend.
If other peak lords were present, Jian Lin would have helped the Sword Immortal kill them. But for these useless elders, it was not worth it, truly not worth it.
Jian Lin continuously restrained the Sword Immortal, reasoning with him until she managed to pull him out of the main hall and escape by sword flight.
The people of Guanlan Sect, having witnessed the Sword Immortal's power, dared not step forward to stop him, nor did anyone inquire about Yuan Shuo's death.
From that day on, Chiyan Peak descended into chaos. Disciples with capabilities either sought connections to serve under other peak lords or gathered their close friends to travel down the mountain.
The young disciples who had not yet taken a master were lost and helpless. They had initially sought a livelihood, only to find that the position of peak lord had been seized by those sycophants, making life on Chiyan Peak even more difficult.
With no other options, the young disciples suddenly heard of the Jinlin Sect in Daliang City, learning that a senior sister had defected there. The young disciples were moved. In groups of three or five, they bravely stepped out of the mountain gate to seek a path for themselves.
Much later, the war between immortals and demons erupted, plunging the Three Realms into chaos. Only Jinlin Sect, nestled in a secluded corner, managed to avoid the ravages of war.
The young disciples who had decisively left Chiyan Peak that day saved their own lives with their courage.
Returning to the narrative, after leaving Guanlan Sect, the Sword Immortal's explosive anger transformed into a state of desolation. The old man sank into a sorrowful contemplation, and Jian Lin's sword flight became erratic, yet he uttered no reprimand.
Jian Lin stole several glances, feeling pity for the old man. She slowed her pace towards the demon realm, planning to detour to Daliang City to cheer up her master.
She took the old man on a pleasure boat, and indeed, the old man, who had been in seclusion for a century, was captivated by the boat ride.
He watched merchants carrying goods board the boat, and the aloof cultivation world was suddenly filled with the vibrant energy of everyday life. The old man couldn't comprehend it, weakly arguing with Jian Lin, "It wasn't like this when I was young."
Jian Lin called out to a vendor and bought a roasted sweet potato, sharing half with the old man. "What was it like when you were young?"
The old man gazed out at the flowing clouds, smelling the sweet aroma of the roasted sweet potato, and said softly, "Cultivation emphasizes detachment and a tranquil mind, remaining untainted by the disturbances of the mortal world, practicing self-discipline, abstinence, and arduous training."
Jian Lin bit into the sweet potato and asked indistinctly, "Which do you think is better, then or now?"
The old man put the sweet potato into his mouth, thought for a moment, and slowly said, "I don't know. Seeing those greedy villains on the mountain, I thought we should return to the roots and go back to the past. But seeing this scene before me, I feel it's unnecessary."
"Master," Jian Lin patted her master's shoulder and said with an air of seniority, "As the saying goes, learning is endless. Your cultivation has only just begun."
The old man was startled, then smiled with understanding. "You ungrateful disciple, you have a way with words."
While her words were interesting, they also eased the old man's depressed mood. Yes, learning was endless. As long as he was alive, he should view the world with a humble heart.
Upon arriving in Daliang City, the old man's gaze was drawn to the bustling city, and he was even more astonished by the sheer number of rogue cultivators.
In his youth, rogue cultivators signified inferiority. Practicing and comprehending the Dao alone, without the guidance and supervision of a master, made them prone to inner demons and a great menace.
When he traveled down the mountain back then, a significant portion of his opponents were rogue cultivators who had gone astray.
Now, however, rogue cultivators had found a foothold in Daliang City. They earned their living and cultivated through their own abilities, interacting between the mortal and immortal realms, and everyone was happy and content.
Upon reaching Jinlin Mansion, the master immediately recognized the presence of Jiurong Grass from the exterior walls. His vast knowledge compelled him to exclaim, "This Jinlin Mansion is truly wealthy. If it were in my youth, someone would surely come to dig up the soil from the walls to refine elixirs."
"People still come to dig up the soil from the walls to refine elixirs. Many mortals come seeking it, hoping to use a bit of wall soil as an immortal elixir," Jian Lin explained to her master. "You see the walls are intact now, that's because Master Jin ordered them to be repaired regularly."
The Sword Immortal sighed repeatedly, "So much money, truly so much money."
As they approached the entrance of Jinlin Mansion, the gatekeeper surprisingly recognized Jian Lin. He greeted her warmly and sent someone to inform them, "Quickly notify the young lady and the son-in-law, the cousin is here."
This statement caught Jian Lin off guard. How had she become a cousin? Was it calculated based on her brother's status as a son-in-law?
Speaking of which, she hadn't even met her nominal brother yet.
After the Demon Lord escaped, he ordered one of his trusted subordinates to take over, who then assumed the alias Lin Yan and married into the Jin family.
Jian Lin had already left heartbroken by then and had not met this Lin Yan. Now, she couldn't help but feel curious. What kind of husband had the Demon Lord found for Miss Jin? Was he reliable?
A capable-looking steward came to greet them. Compared to their last meeting, this steward appeared to be in high spirits, walking with a confident stride, indicating a very satisfactory life recently.
Jian Lin asked with a smile, "Steward, how have you been lately? Is everything well within the mansion?"
"Good, all is good," the steward replied with a smile. "The young lady and the son-in-law are in perfect harmony, and the entire household is harmonious and friendly. Please rest assured, cousin."
From the steward's words, it seemed this son-in-law was not bad. Jian Lin felt slightly relieved, thinking that the Demon Lord hadn't been too careless in finding a bad man to replace him.
As they walked towards the front courtyard of the main hall, familiar scenes from the past flashed before her eyes. Before she could even sigh, Miss Jin emerged from the main entrance. Dressed in understated yet luxurious attire, her eyes were calm and resolute, as if she had undergone a profound transformation. The timid and anxious demeanor she had once displayed, using violence to mask her vulnerability, was nowhere to be seen.
It seemed she was doing well. Jian Lin's gaze swept over, and a handsome young man in a dark blue luxurious robe emerged. His build and height were similar to the Demon Lord's. Standing there, he was a perfect match for Miss Jin.