The sect prepared for war, the youth from three years ago

Nangong Yao came back to his senses. Seeing the elders staring at him in horror, he asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

But he soon realized that his sudden return to vigorous health must have startled the elders with the stark contrast.

So Nangong Yao opened his palm, displaying the single remaining pill, and exclaimed:

"This pill melted the instant it entered my mouth. Without even needing to be refined, it spread through my limbs and every bone in my body, permeating my internal organs at a terrifying speed and healing every injury... even some old, hidden injuries of mine were healed along with them... the efficacy of this pill is beyond anything I have ever heard or seen. Calling it an immortal pill would be no exaggeration. Could... could Sir truly be an Immortal descended to the mortal world?"

By the time he finished speaking, Nangong Yao's heart was trembling. Sir had become all the more mysterious in his eyes.

By now, the hall was so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard. The elders were all stunned by Nangong Yao's words, swallowing hard.

Did such a pill truly exist in this world?

They had witnessed it themselves: their grievously injured sect master had swallowed the pill, regained a healthy complexion, then abruptly stood up, brimming with vigor. The entire process had not even taken five breaths...

That damned, terrifying, outrageously fast recovery.

Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would have dismissed it as a tale from the Arabian Nights.

After all, Seventh Elder Jin Huashan had just said that Nangong Yao and Liu Xuan Yin would need at least several years to recover, taking medicine every single day throughout that time. Yet now...

Seeing everyone standing dumbstruck, Nangong Yao took a deep breath and said no more. Instead, he turned to press the pill into the mouth of Liu Xuan Yin, who was still unconscious.

"N-no, you mustn't, Sect Master!"

"Wait, Sect Master!"

Suddenly, the elders hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

Nangong Yao paused and looked up at them. "What is it?"

"Sect Master, this pill is far too precious. You should keep it for yourself, in case of an emergency!"

"Yes, Sect Master. The second elder will be fine."

"..."

The elders all spoke up, feeling that the pill was too precious and would be better kept in reserve.

Had Liu Xuan Yin been conscious at that moment, he would surely have said, Well, thank you all very much.

Nangong Yao shook his head at their words and pressed the pill into Liu Xuan Yin's mouth without hesitation, making the elders' hearts leap!

A few elders were so anxious that they actually rushed forward and pried open Liu Xuan Yin's mouth, hoping to retrieve the pill. But it had already dissolved.

"What do you elders think you're doing?"

Nangong Yao raised an eyebrow and demanded in a low voice.

The elders looked sheepish, though they still sighed inwardly, feeling it was a pity.

Nangong Yao said, "Even if it weren't the second elder lying here, but any one of you instead, I would still put this pill into your mouth without the slightest hesitation."

His words warmed their hearts. It was not that they were selfish; they simply thought it best for the sect master to keep the pill for emergencies.

Nangong Yao continued, "Besides, these were bestowed by Sir. That pill was meant for the second elder in the first place. How would you dare keep it?"

Only then did the elders start, repeatedly insisting that they would not dare.

"Uh."

At that moment, Liu Xuan Yin woke. As he sensed the state of his body, shock and bewilderment filled his eyes.

"Second Elder, you're finally awake! We were worried sick!"

The elders hurriedly gathered around him, looking terribly concerned.

"Uh, wait. Give me a moment." Liu Xuan Yin raised a hand and looked at Nangong Yao, somewhat dazed.

Wasn't I grievously injured?

How...?

And how is the sect master also...?

Liu Xuan Yin even suspected that he was dreaming.

Fortunately, after everyone explained, Liu Xuan Yin learned that Sir's immortal pills had saved them. He could not help feeling deeply shaken, though sorrow also filled his heart: the third elder really had perished.

"Elders, you may withdraw. Attend to your respective duties and make every preparation for the Demonic Sect's arrival."

Nangong Yao waved a hand as he spoke.

"Yes!"

Everyone withdrew.

Over the next two days.

The atmosphere in the Heavenly Dao Sect grew unusually tense and grim. Throughout the sect, disciples hurried back and forth everywhere.

Some elders went to the resource storehouse and unlocked the hidden reserves so they could be used at any moment.

Many other elders led disciples out of the sect to lay formations in advance throughout the surrounding several thousand li-illusion formations, killing formations, trapping formations, and more.

These scenes left the disciples of the usually peaceful Servant Disciple Peak deeply worried, unable to concentrate on either their work or their cultivation.

Although they still did not know exactly what had happened, they could see some clues. Perhaps war was coming; the nine tolls of the Heavenly Dao Bell two days earlier had already told them a great deal.

This might well be a crisis that would decide whether the sect lived or died.

The dining hall on Servant Disciple Peak.

It was noon when Chen Xun strolled in and took a tray to get his food.

"Chen Xun."

The disciple serving food saw that it was Chen Xun, took his tray, and greeted him. They were already quite familiar with each other.

Chen Xun nodded slightly, glanced around the empty dining hall, and said, "So few disciples are eating today. Aren't they hungry?"

The disciple's hands paused. With a bitter smile, he said, "It's not that they aren't hungry. Most of them just can't stomach any food. You must have heard those nine bell tolls two days ago. There's probably going to be a war between sects. With things like this, everyone is worried sick. How could they have an appetite?"

Chen Xun smiled. "I see. But there's no need to worry. Even if a sect war breaks out, servant disciples won't have to fight. Just stay put and take it easy."

"Ah." The disciple sighed and handed over the tray, now piled with food. "That's true enough, but things seem very serious this time... I hope our sect comes through unscathed. Here, your food."

"Thank you." Chen Xun took it and turned to find a seat.

Behind him, the disciple suddenly said, "Chen Xun, if war does break out, you'd best stay in your quarters and not come outside. When cultivators battle, heaven crumbles and earth splits. Even servant disciples like us can barely withstand a fraction of it. You have no cultivation at all. If the shock waves reach you, you probably won't survive."

"Mm." Chen Xun nodded and found a seat.

Chen Xun had picked up his chopsticks and eaten only a few bites when a disciple came over with a tray and sat beside him, smiling. "Hehe, Brother Chen, do you still remember me?"

Chen Xun turned to look at him. "No."

The disciple's face fell with embarrassment. "Brother Chen, I'm Yu Zheng! Three years ago, I came from Clear Sky City with you and Senior Brother Zhao Ting!"

It turned out that this disciple was one of the four youths Shen He had brought to the Heavenly Dao Sect along with Zhao Ting three years earlier.

Chen Xun smiled. "So it's you lot. How are things going now?"

Yu Zheng waved a hand and sighed. "Ah, you wouldn't know, Brother Chen. The other three reached their time limit not long ago. They left the sect and went back to Clear Sky City."

Chen Xun said, "Then you must be doing pretty well, since you can still stay in the sect."

Yu Zheng shook his head dejectedly. "No. It's been three years, and I'm still at the first level of Qi Refinement. If I don't break through this year, I'll have to leave the sect at year's end too."

Chen Xun nodded without speaking.

Yu Zheng set down his chopsticks and propped his chin on both hands. The boy from three years ago had matured considerably, and he said with feeling:

"I really envy Senior Brother Zhao Ting. He reached Foundation Establishment in a hundred days, while I haven't even managed to reach the second level of Qi Refinement in three years. You really have to admit that the gap between people can be enormous."

Then Yu Zheng suddenly smiled again. "Still, even if I leave the sect at year's end and return to the mortal world, with this little bit of cultivation to my name, I should be able to ride the wind and stir the waters out there. Don't you think, Brother Chen? People may be born different, but everyone has their own way to live a wonderful life. I've got a pretty good attitude about that, hehe."

Chen Xun smiled. "That's right."

Yu Zheng grinned. "What about you, Brother Chen? Are you going to stay in the Heavenly Dao Sect forever? Living in this blessed land of immortals for a long time might add a few years to a mortal's life, but don't you feel out of place among them? Don't you get lonely?"

"With your relationship with Senior Brother Zhao Ting, all he'd need to do is say a word, and you could get yourself a high-ranking official's post when you returned to the mortal world. Then you could take a few concubines. What a carefree, happy life that would be! Just thinking about it makes me drool with envy!"

Chen Xun shook his head helplessly, but smiled and said casually, "You know, that idea does sound pretty good. Looks like I'll have to give it some thought."