701: Chapter 216_5 701: Chapter 216_5 In such circumstances, everyone could only choose to bury some of the deceased’s personal belongings in Spirit Mountain.
This was Cao Zhen’s first visit to Spirit Mountain.
As he walked among the mountains, gazing at each grave and tombstone, a profound sense of heaviness suddenly overcame him, and his mood grew increasingly oppressed.
Inside Spirit Mountain, disciples from various peaks had laid to rest their masters or elder fellow disciples at their own peak’s designated areas.
Moreover, in most instances, disciples of the Hundred Peaks Sect who had died in battle would opt to be buried at their respective peaks within the bounds of the Spirit Mountain cemetery.
As they interred those who had died for the Hundred Peaks Sect, cries of mourning resonated in unison for a time, forming a continuous lament.
“Master, rest assured, the Hundred Peaks Sect held its ground!”
“Master, look, the Hundred Peaks Sect is still here, Master…”
“Master, your disciple will surely avenge you, I swear…”
After burying those who had perished in the battle, Cao Zhen went alone to the front of the Brave Spirit Bell.
He then took out an engraving tool and meticulously etched the names of the valiant souls from the Hundred Peaks Sect who had fallen that day onto the bell.
After completing this task, he did not immediately return to Four Treasures Peak.
Instead, he wandered alone throughout the Hundred Peaks Sect.
He was now the Sect Leader of the Hundred Peaks Sect, no longer just an individual, no longer someone who only needed to take care of a few disciples from Four Treasures Peak.
Unbeknownst to him, he found himself at Seven Star Peak before he knew it.
“Chao Zi Zai…
I wonder how he is now.”
Cao Zhen, reminded of the anguished Chao Zi Zai on Spirit Mountain, began ascending the mountain.
Though Seven Star Peak had risen considerably in ranking after the Hundred Peaks competition, the day to select disciples had not yet arrived, so it was the same disciples at Seven Star Peak.
As he climbed Seven Star Peak, from afar, he could hear the voice of Chao Zi Zai continuing to echo.
“Our master sacrificed himself for the Hundred Peaks Sect, for our Seven Star Peak, for every one of us!
Master always said his lifespan was nearing its end, but in fact, Master could have lived a few more years.
In these few years, what if Master had broken through another level?
His lifespan could have been extended.
He did this to ensure that we could live well and rejuvenate Seven Star Peak!
To allow us to make greater contributions to the Hundred Peaks Sect in the future!
To console the spirit of our master in Heaven, we must only enhance our cultivation.
This level of cultivation is still insufficient!”
Finally, Cao Zhen saw Chao Zi Zai, who, along with all the disciples of Seven Star Peak, was fervently cultivating.
Chao Zi Zai had his back to him, and Cao Zhen couldn’t see his face clearly.
The disciples of Seven Star Peak, upon seeing him, did not greet him but continued their earnest cultivation until Cao Zhen spoke softly.
“Old Chao…”
At the sound of these two words, Chao Zi Zai immediately turned around, and Cao Zhen finally saw his current state.
His rough face was fierce, his eyes bloodshot, and he appeared intensely stern.
Despite the dire situation, there was no hint of dejection about him, but rather a sense of madness, an obsession with cultivation.
“Old Cao…
no, Sect Leader…” When Chao Zi Zai saw Cao Zhen, he finally stopped supervising his junior disciples and stepped forward to meet him.
“Old Chao, cultivation need not be rushed.
Sometimes haste can hinder progress; they know that they’ve cultivated enough.”
Cao Zhen glanced at the disciples of Seven Star Peak and walked away, with Chao Zi Zai following closely behind.
After covering some distance, Cao Zhen gazed at every plant and tree of Seven Star Peak, where visions of his past conversations and dealings with Deng Qixing flashed before his eyes.
Everything seemed like it happened only yesterday, and while Seven Star Peak remained as it was, Deng Qixing was no more.
“Old Chao, actually, all of this is my fault.” Cao Zhen sighed once more and murmured, “If I had not left the Hundred Peaks Sect, they wouldn’t have attacked us, and Peak Master Deng would not have had to sacrifice himself.”
“No, Old Cao, this isn’t your fault.
They clearly had their sights set on the Hundred Peaks Sect a long time ago.
Even if they didn’t attack us this time, what about the future?
As long as there are experts absent from the Hundred Peaks Sect, they would surely attack.
This is not your fault.
If blame must be assigned, blame the Red Refinery Demonic Sect, the Sun and Moon Demon Sect, and the three Immortal Sects of the Great Lai Dynasty.
What I hate is…”
As Chao Zi Zai spoke, he suddenly stretched out his hand and fiercely struck a large tree.
With this punch, he did not use any mana but simply pounded the tree with his fist.
Even so, the tree shook violently and emitted a dull thud.
“I hate my own uselessness, that I have not reached the Golden Core Stage.
Knowing that Master was going to besiege the Hundred Peaks Sect, yet because I wasn’t a Golden Core, I could only watch from the sect gate as Master departed, only to be told later that Master had been sacrificed!
If I had been at the Golden Core Stage, I could have stood with Master to defend our Hundred Peaks Sect…
I despise my weakness!
Cultivation is the only thing I want to pursue now, and then, to avenge my Master!”
“We will avenge Peak Master Deng’s death, and not just his—all of our grievances, we will seek retribution for them.
Blood debts must be paid in blood!”