Chapter 45

Outside the Falling Cloud Cliff, a crowd gathered. Among them were people dressed in white, blue, and purple.

Among the crowd were the two highly revered elders of the Northern Cold Sect's main peak, Elder Yun and Elder Li, who rarely showed their faces.

They, along with Tieyun and nine other purple-robed disciples, were all gathered in the void above the Falling Cloud Cliff, standing in certain positions as if ready to form an array, their expressions solemn.

Feng Tian, He Shaoqing, Han Yucheng, and others were also at the base of the cliff, their blue robes fluttering. At this moment, almost all the initial disciples who were cultivating at the Falling Cloud Cliff had emerged from their seclusion.

In the distance, many disciples from the Eight Tribes were watching from afar, including Lishui, who looked particularly anxious.

The night before last, Lishui delivered food to Amu as usual, but Amu did not return.

Lishui thought Amu might have been delayed, so he waited patiently. However, even as the sun set and the moon rose, Amu still did not return.

Feeling something was wrong, Lishui hurriedly reported to Tieyun.

Upon hearing this, Tieyun came to the Falling Cloud Cliff and immediately realized that Amu had not emerged from his seclusion since morning.

Tieyun, being more experienced and composed than Lishui, knew that Amu might be on the verge of successfully cultivating his immortal root.

Cultivating an immortal root is the first step in becoming an immortal, so it was normal for the initial cultivation to take a long time, especially when the quality of the root was about to be perfected and the first surge of cultivation energy was refining the body.

Thus, Tieyun sat in meditation, waiting patiently.

However, what Tieyun did not expect was that after three days and three nights, there was still no movement from the Heavenly Numbered Cave.

Feng Tian and others happened to emerge from their seclusion at this time. Upon hearing that Amu was likely attempting to perfect his immortal root and had not emerged for three days and three nights, they also waited here.

However, after another day and night, Amu still showed no signs of movement.

Although Tieyun, a high-level cultivator, had a divine sense that could cover a hundred miles, he could not penetrate the restrictions of the various caves on the Falling Cloud Cliff, including the Heavenly Numbered Cave.

After waiting for another half day, Tieyun, not daring to make a decision, personally reported the matter to Han Qianli.

Upon learning of this, Han Qianli frowned deeply.

Generally, it should take no more than two or three days to perfect an immortal root, and even in special circumstances, it should be completed within four days. For Amu to remain in seclusion for nearly four days and four nights, something unusual must have happened.

However, Han Qianli had no good solution, as the talisman key to the Heavenly Numbered Cave was with Amu, and no one in the Northern Cold Sect, except for the reclusive grandmasters, could enter.

Unless they used powerful magical treasures to forcibly break through, but that would certainly harm Amu.

Thus, Han Qianli ordered the two elders, Yun and Li, from the Heavenly Peak, as well as Tieyun and the other ten disciples, to stand by outside the Falling Cloud Cliff, ready to form the Northern Cold Sect's Black Tortoise Array to deal with any unexpected situations.

At the same time, Han Qianli hesitated for a moment, then took out a black pill from his storage bag.

"The Nine Nether Soul Retrieval Pill!"

Upon seeing the pill, Tieyun was greatly alarmed. The Nine Nether Soul Retrieval Pill, which could retrieve a soul even from the netherworld, had the power to break the cycle of rebirth and bring the dead back to life.

This pill, left by the Northern Cold Sect's founder, was not something an ordinary cultivator could refine. It was almost a divine pill, and the entire Northern Cold Sect now had only three left. Possessing this pill was like having an extra life.

"If anything happens to Amu when he emerges from seclusion, immediately give him this pill! Then report back quickly!" Han Qianli did not say much, but his expression was serious.

Tieyun did not ask any more questions. What else was there to ask?

Even the "Nine Nether Soul Retrieval Pill," which had been passed down for nine thousand years, was brought out, indicating that the Northern Cold Sect would spare no effort to ensure Amu's safety.

Following Han Qianli's orders, Tieyun quickly gathered people and notified Elders Yun and Li, who gathered at the Falling Cloud Cliff.

However, even after waiting for nearly three more days and three nights, the Heavenly Numbered Cave remained silent.

Hearing that Amu had been in seclusion for seven days and seven nights, many Northern Cold Sect disciples came to watch, wondering if he was about to cultivate a ninth-grade immortal root.

Among them, Lishui, Feng Tian, and others who had a relationship with Amu were worried, while others like Deng Yan and Zhao Xian hoped for Amu's misfortune.

After another two days and two nights, there was still no movement.

Tieyun's expression was very anxious, and even the two elders, Yun and Li, who were sitting in the void, had furrowed brows.

Both were at the peak of the initial stage of the Supreme Spirit realm, absolute experts in the Northern Cold Sect. However, neither had ever seen such a situation. Even for a slightly stronger than human cultivator, it was impossible to remain in seclusion for nearly nine days and nine nights.

"Could Amu have perished in the Heavenly Numbered Cave?"

Many Northern Cold Sect disciples began to think this, and some even started to leave, losing interest.

"Looks like our genius is about to fall!" In the crowd, Zhao Xian whispered to Li Tong beside him, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Both had just been released from a three-month seclusion and happened to encounter this event, looking quite excited.

They both hoped Amu would not emerge, to satisfy their hatred.

However, most Northern Cold Sect disciples still hoped Amu would be safe, as everyone understood what a once-in-a-millennium cultivation genius meant for the Northern Cold Sect.

If the Northern Cold Sect could produce a Soul Realm cultivator in the future, although they might not surpass the Northern Immortal Sea, they could certainly surpass the Heavenly Wasteland Sect and the Snowfall Pavilion.

A Soul Realm cultivator, even at the initial stage, could ensure the prosperity of the Northern Cold Sect for two to three thousand years.

As long as Amu cultivated his immortal root, he would become an immortal, and the path of cultivation would be smooth. The Northern Cold Sect would certainly benefit from him in the future.

Therefore, rational people understood the significance of Amu, who could cultivate an immortal root in just three months, and they all waited anxiously.

However, no one could help, as cultivating an immortal root and perfecting it was more dependent on talent and destiny.

Just as everyone was anxious, a few beams of light suddenly appeared in the void.

Immediately, there was a chorus of exclamations on the Falling Cloud Cliff.

It turned out that the ones who arrived were none other than the Northern Cold Sect's leader, Han Qianli, and the three peak leaders: Mei Wangnan of the Southern Peak, Bai Yifeng of the Sunset Peak, and Ice Fairy of the Heavenly Purple Peak.

This was the first time these four top figures of the Northern Cold Sect had gathered at the Falling Cloud Cliff. Amu's influence was truly great!

Seeing this, Tieyun hurried over, his expression anxious. "Sect Leader, Junior Brother Amu has not emerged from seclusion!"

Han Qianli nodded, his brows slightly furrowed. In fact, among everyone, Han Qianli knew the importance of Amu the most. He was more anxious than anyone, but he did not show it.

"Wait another hour. If Amu still does not emerge, force all the disciples in seclusion here to break their seclusion! Then, the four of us will break the restrictions of the Heavenly Numbered Cave together!"

Han Qianli's tone was calm, but everyone understood the meaning behind his words: they would rather damage the Falling Cloud Cliff and affect other Northern Cold elites to save Amu.

Upon hearing this, Tieyun's expression changed slightly. Forcing a disciple out of seclusion before completion could lead to a regression in cultivation or even a mental breakdown.

Currently, there were fifteen Northern Cold elite disciples cultivating at the Falling Cloud Cliff, including Han Bingyi and Mei Lingfeng, who had eighth-grade immortal roots. Their cultivation potential was not inferior to Han Qianli. The cost of saving Amu seemed too high.