Leave This Room

The sea was calm on the south coast.

An old man with white hair and a weathered face, wearing a Daoist hat, stood proudly on the Divine Radiance Stone.

He gazed at the exceptionally clear sea, where plump fish occasionally leaped out of the water, creating a vibrant scene.

For some reason, the gentle and amiable old man always had a stern expression.

Beneath the boulder he stood on, a male cultivator in a simple Daoist robe stood respectfully by his side. His appearance and demeanor were unremarkable; if placed in a crowd, he would easily blend in and become difficult to spot.

Yet this seemingly ordinary man is none other than the chief disciple of the First Elder before him, and the senior disciple of Tian Shu Peak— Chen Fan.

His life story is as ordinary as his name. Despite his unassuming and unpretentious nature, he has not been remembered by many people, even though he holds a position that is unimaginable to most.

However, he was indeed the only disciple in the Xuanxiao Sect with the cultivation level of the Void Glimpse Realm. Even though the Immortal Ancestor Temple had personally invited him to establish a sect on the Divine Mountain, he still did not choose to leave Tianshu Peak.

His reason was simple: he felt he was still far, far away from his master. Since he couldn't graduate, how could he have the face to become someone else's teacher?

There was a time when he thought that breaking through to the Void Realm meant being on par with his master. But after actually breaking through to the Void Realm and meeting the Heavenly Arts First Seat, he realized that he had been like a frog in a well, looking at the sky from the bottom of a well.

He gazed at his master's thin back, his eyes filled with boundless admiration. In his eyes, the Heavenly Arts First Seat was the highest mountain of the Xuanxiao Sect, and would surely be the longest river as well.

"Why does Master still look so worried when he sees the Flying Fish in Clear Water?" Chen Fan asked.

After the True Immortal Zhengyang brought the Immortal Island to this place, the Corrupting Evil of the southern coast disappeared, and the fish in the sea seemed to know that the water here was better, so they flocked here and even squeezed onto the shore.

The residents of nearby towns were naturally overjoyed by this bountiful harvest. Sea fish were a rare commodity for humans on land, and to prevent the infiltration of evil spirits, they could only be caught in a very small number of sea areas strictly controlled by the sacred mountain.

But even the Evil Warding Department couldn't find anything wrong with these sea fish that came ashore.

This is an effect that no cultivator at the Void Glimpse Realm can achieve; only those at the Heaven Awakening Realm can do it. People are filled with fervent hope. One Heaven Awakening Realm cultivator is enough to keep Evil Demon away from their lair. If there are two or three, the day when the evil spirits are eradicated will be just around the corner.

This is also why Chen Fan was puzzled by the First Elder's troubled expression.

"Xiao Fan... has anyone left the island today?"

The First Elder did not answer his beloved disciple's question directly, but instead looked up at the solitary island on the horizon. From any angle, it appeared to be a peaceful, idyllic island, yet his exceptional eyesight failed to detect a single person.

He knew very well that this peace was merely a facade, a deceptive illusion.

"Seven disciples left the island today, all of whom left on their own after gathering enough fortuitous opportunity," Chen Fan reported truthfully.

"Only seven...?" the First Elder muttered to himself.

"Seven is the most we've had in the past four days," Chen Fan replied.

"I know." The First Elder didn't look away; his tone became even more serious. "There were 360 cultivators who entered the island, plus the 100 uninvited cultivators who were later let in by True Immortal Zhengyang. That means there are nearly 500 people on the island. Conflict was inevitable, so how come only a few came out? What's even more unusual is that, apart from those who came out on the night of Ming Dao's death, almost none of them tore off the talisman when the situation was urgent..."

Chen Fan remained silent for a moment upon hearing this, then replied:

"Perhaps the island isn't so dangerous; many people form alliances, so situations where there's no choice but to flee rarely occur."

His explanation made sense, since no one could see what was happening on the island through the barrier of the Heaven Awakening Realm.

In fact, some people share the same concerns as the First Elder, but since some people have been able to come out and bring back enormous wealth that cannot be seen in the Five Continents, it shows that the Immortal Island is indeed a place where opportunities and dangers coexist, and the opportunities far outweigh the dangers.

Putting yourself in their shoes, probably no one would be willing to leave so soon. Even if they couldn't win the final inheritance, it wouldn't be a loss to take more treasures. After all, who would complain about having too many treasures? Therefore, most people just think that those who like to think the worst are worrying unnecessarily.

"Sigh..." the First Elder sighed deeply, "Let's hope so..."

Chen Fan knew his master very well. He knew that his master's sigh at this moment was not because he agreed with his statement, but because he did not want to waste any more words arguing with him.

Chen Fan suddenly felt a little ashamed. His master hadn't shown him this attitude for many years. He looked simple and honest, but he had always been his master's most obedient and trusted disciple.

"Xiao Fan, you never seemed to question your teacher before, did you?"

Chen Fan thought to himself, "As expected," and quickly bowed, explaining:

"This disciple did this because he didn't want Master to worry too much. Master has worked hard all his life. Now that the True Immortal Zhengyang has descended, all Evil Demon in the four seas are at peace. Master can take this opportunity to rest for a few days and not have to worry about worldly affairs anymore... This disciple would never disobey Master's wishes."

You're so thoughtful.

The First Elder turned around and finally revealed a faint, aged smile.

The old man often smiled, as if that was the secret to his longevity, but Chen Fan could tell that this smile was completely different from the old man's previous smiles.

"Your achievements today are precisely because you listen to me. Let me tell you one thing: you would never have your own ideas like your fellow students. Therefore, you have implemented what I taught you the best, and thus you are the one who has achieved the most."

"It's all thanks to Master's excellent teaching."

Chen Fan's words were not flattering, but rather heartfelt.

"Of course, otherwise, you must be incredibly talented, kid." The First Elder raised an eyebrow. "When I took you as my apprentice, you were almost thirty years old, and you were still a bookworm who had been kicked out of a bookstore."

Faced with those unbearable memories, Chen Fan could only awkwardly raise his hand and agree.

"You've already reached the Void Realm, and are considered a person of influence throughout the Five Continents. Logically, I should have let you go long ago. But I'm worried. You're completely obedient to me, and you're still as honest as you were at thirty. Wouldn't letting you go be harming you?"

"Master is right. Chen Fan to serve Master with a broom and dustpan for the rest of his life."

Chen Fan knelt on one knee to show his loyalty.

He had no interest in the outside world. Following a respected elder and delving into the path he loved in his own private space was all he desired.

"Get lost! So many of your junior brothers have graduated and become their grandmasters. You still want to cling to me for life? Aren't you ashamed?" The First Elder glared, puffing out his beard, and was quite blunt. "The five-hundred-year period is almost over. Who will you blame if I die?"

Chen Fan was also speechless at this strange old man. Although there were many disciples on Tianshu Peak, none of them stayed by their master's side like he did, so their relationship was naturally incomparable.

"What do you mean by five hundred years? There will be no problem once you break through to the Heavenly Awakening Realm. Haven't you already prepared a backup plan? That Junior Brother You Su, he can definitely get you the Heavenly Awakening Spiritual Light." Although Chen Fan doesn't often leave the peak, he still knows You Su.

"Looks like you really intend to cling to me for the rest of your life." The First Elder and sighed bitterly.

Chen Fan chuckled and scratched his head sheepishly.

"Tianshu Peak has beautiful scenery, great benefits, and is perfect for cultivation. More than half of all the world's Technique Method are recorded here. Of course, I want to stay on Tianshu Peak for the rest of my life. Master, please don't send me away."

The First Elder laughed out of anger, "It seems you're not blaming me, but Heavenly Arts Peak behind me. Have you considered that once you become the Peak Master, no one can drive you away from Heavenly Arts Peak?"

Chen Fan, who had been smiling obsequiously, was startled by these words, and his smile froze.

He had been by the First Elder's side for over two hundred years, but this was the first time he had ever heard the words "you will become the Peak Master".

This was an outcome he had never imagined, because in his heart only this old man was worthy of being the Peak Master, and because he had never thought that this old man would actually die one day.

"Master, don't try to fool me. I'm not the naive boy you used to easily scare anymore. This Heavenly Arts Peak was renamed after your title; no one else is worthy of it. Besides, this position is tough and tiring, and I have no interest in it. You should just wait patiently for Junior Brother You to bring you the spiritual light, then break through to the Heavenly Awakening stage and continue leading our Heavenly Arts Peak to become bigger and stronger," Chen Fan coaxed gently.

"Do you really think I don't know about those strange Technique Method you've secretly created?" The First Elder narrowed his eyes and sighed. "You obey me because you're smarter than them all. You know that what I teach is correct, so you're obedient. But you're not entirely honest either, because none of your mischievous junior brothers and sisters dare to explore the areas you've secretly dabbled in."

Chen Fan's eyes widened in astonishment; he had never imagined that the old man had seen all of his research.

"I..."

"Weren't you scared by me if you hadn't said anything? Why are you stammering now?" The First Elder glanced at Chen Fan with a mischievous smile.

Chen Fan was utterly speechless. "Since you knew, why didn't you stop me?"

"Why should we stop it? The Immortal Ancestor brought the Way of Technique Method five thousand years ago, but its development has stagnated ever since. Without someone as reckless as you, how can we break through these shackles?"

"I haven't achieved anything significant, I'm not that great..."

The First Elder gave him a sneer, "You certainly know how to pat yourself on the back."

Seeing that he had been exposed, Chen Fan didn't bother to pretend anymore. "These Technique Method are all the same, they're not interesting at all. This is my only hobby, and all my years of Heart's Blood have been done on Heavenly Arts Peak. Master, please don't expel me from the sect!"

"Sigh... worrying about you was unnecessary." The First Elder shook his head helplessly, then turned his gaze to the sea and said calmly, "After I die, you will be the next Peak Master Heavenly Arts Peak. However, Heavenly Arts Peak cannot bear your surname. It's not that I look down on you, but your title is too unpleasant and does not deserve the title of the number one peak in Technique Method."

Chen Fan's lips twitched, but there was nothing he could do. His title was Venerable Mortal Arts, and for the prestigious Heavenly Arts Peak to change its name to Mortal Arts Peak was simply beneath him.

"What I call 'concealing one's talents and keeping a low profile' is what I do. Otherwise, how can I humbly do what I love?"

"Say what you want, I'll definitely die before you. How history is written is up to you." The First Elder stroked his beard and sighed, "Just leave me some dignity."

"Master... you really want to go find him? He's at the Heaven Awakening Realm... if you really think there's something wrong with him, at least wait for Junior Brother You to retrieve the Heavenly Awakening Spiritual Light for you before making a move."

Chen Fan was no fool. The only person in the world who could make his master think of death was the True Immortal Zhengyang, and he didn't even dare to address that person by his title. Although he knew that his master had set up soundproofing Technique Method around them, he was still worried that he wouldn't escape the ears of someone at the Heaven Awakening Realm.

You've got one thing wrong.

The First Elder suddenly turned to look at his beloved disciple, his eyes as vast as the ocean before him, the roaring sea breeze making his Daoist robe flutter.

"I never authorized anyone to go to the island to retrieve that spiritual light."

"Because... you know your days are numbered and there's no hope of a breakthrough?" Chen Fan asked tremblingly.

The First Elder immediately staggered, wanting to slap his disciple who had exposed his true colors, and angrily said:

"Because I don't need it!"

"Awesome! He truly deserves to be my most admired master!"

Chen Fan immediately gave a thumbs-up as if praising an old man, and said eagerly, "Then why bother looking for the Heavenly Awakening Spiritual Light? With you here, isn't that enough? Please teach me quickly. I have a feeling that once I reach the Heaven Awakening Realm, my idea will definitely come true!"

Seeing his disciple's eager expression, the First Elder coldly poured cold water on his enthusiasm:

"I can't teach it."

Chen Fan paused, then chuckled awkwardly, "Is there anything in this world you can't teach?"

The First Elder shook his head again, "I really can't teach him."

Chen Fan knew that his master would never keep anything from him; if his master said he couldn't teach him, he really couldn't.

His thoughts split open like a melon, and he quickly understood why his master was different from those who worried unnecessarily.

Because the Venerable Tian Shu is the second person in the world who might have glimpsed the Heaven Awakening Realm, he is also the only one qualified to question the True Immortal Zhengyang.

Chen Fan's heart inexplicably raced, and he became inexplicably nervous.

"But I can't be sure... Perhaps my cultivation is too shallow to see the whole picture, or perhaps I really didn't see wrong. So I'll wait three more days. If the situation is still the same, I will break the island's restrictions at all costs."

The First Elder calmly stated his decision. Chen Fan knew that his master was not discussing it with him, but rather informing him. This arrogant old man had always been like this.

"Don't blame me if Tian Shu Peak is destroyed in my hands in the future," Chen Fan muttered softly.

The First Elder once again suppressed the urge to slap his beloved disciple. A warmth filled his heart, and he knew that Chen Fan was using this to awaken his will to live.

However, even if he could glimpse a sliver of the secrets of heaven when facing someone at the Heaven Awakening Realm, he would still be doomed.

"Don't be so smug. If True Immortal Zhengyang had no problem, you wouldn't be the one to become the Peak Master."

The First Elder stood with his hands behind his back, the vast and mighty sea crashing against the boulder beneath his feet, yet he remained unmoved by the wind and waves.

"If anything happens to him, don't bother coming to collect his body. He'll probably be reduced to ashes anyway. In short, stay away from him and don't drag Heavenly Arts Peak down with you. A gentleman takes revenge even after a hundred years, understand?"

Chen Fan lowered his head, clenched his fists, and remained silent.

The master and apprentice stood there, one tall and one short, letting the sea breeze blow for a long time.

"Master!" Chen Fan suddenly called out.

"Don't say such mushy things, you..." The First Elder casually agreed, but was interrupted by Chen Fan.

"You want me to take charge on my own? Does that mean I've already mastered the craft?"

The First Elder hesitated, unable to utter a word of denial; Chen Fan was indeed his most valued disciple. Before the storm arrived, the old man finally decided to speak his mind:

"If you cultivate diligently, you might still have a chance to surpass your master."

Chen Fan smiled calmly upon hearing this, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and said:

"Now that I have completed my apprenticeship, I will no longer call you Master, but rather Venerable Tian Shu. To be honest, Venerable Tian Shu 'Technique Method in magic is unparalleled, but I have long felt that your Technique Method Venerable Tian Shu too rigid and conventional, like living in a house where, no matter how tall you are, there is always a ceiling blocking your view. Therefore, I dare to ask Venerable Tian Shu to teach you a move."

Upon First Elder was filled with emotion, feeling both resentment at being criticized by his disciple and pride in his disciple's achievements. He spoke slowly:

"I've let you research for so many years, have you found a way to break through the ceiling?"

Chen Fan finally looked up, a surprisingly sharp glint in the eyes of this unassuming man, and he smiled with unwavering certainty:

"No, let's just leave this room."