Chapter 66

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and the peak of Tongtian remained unusually calm, with no signs of disturbance. Not long after returning from Tiancang Peak that day, the news of Han Qianli's seclusion spread throughout the entire Northern Cold.

This point was somewhat strange to the two of them. For cultivators, seclusion was not unusual; it could be said to be a common occurrence. However, according to common sense, the seclusion of the Northern Cold Sect Master did not need to be known by many people. Yet, this time, Han Qianli's seclusion was known by everyone in the Northern Cold. It was as if someone was making a great effort to spread this news.

However, over the past three days, everything within the Northern Cold Sect remained relatively calm. Tie Yun temporarily took charge of all matters on Tongtian Peak, while major sect affairs were discussed by the Eight Veins. If there were truly significant matters, Bai Yifeng would make the final decision. However, such so-called major matters were few and far between.

The seclusion of the Sect Master did not concern most of the Northern Cold disciples. Those not in a position did not meddle in politics. For them, whether Han Qianli was in seclusion or not made no difference to their cultivation. After all, the Northern Sect Master was like a figure in the clouds, unreachable for the majority of disciples.

The Eight Veins were at peace, and only some people were busy with the annual sect examination. Since the examination took place every year, everything proceeded according to precedent.

Amu still went to Luoyun Cliff for cultivation every day. Although his cultivation had not advanced significantly, the injuries inflicted by Han Bingyi that night had completely healed.

With the power of demonic cultivation, Amu secretly practiced several Northern Cold Sect techniques with great ease. Moreover, due to the unique nature of demonic cultivation, the power of the techniques was even more formidable.

Lishui had been very busy for the past three days because of the examination, constantly running around for various miscellaneous tasks.

At this moment, in the quiet of the night, it was rare for Amu and Lishui to sit and chat leisurely in the small courtyard at the back of Tongtian Peak. Normally, Lishui was not here, but today, because Lishui had recited two techniques for Amu, he did not leave.

"Amu, are you going to participate in the examination?" Lishui asked.

"The examination is just a few days away? I don't have the potential to cultivate, so how can I participate? Besides, what's the point of a small examination?" Amu laughed.

"Hehe, that's true!" Lishui laughed, feeling that his question was somewhat pointless. "You're so open-minded. You don't know how every year I used to try the examination! Only last year, I didn't go."

"Hmm?" Amu was puzzled.

"I always fantasized that maybe I had successfully cultivated the root, but I didn't know it. Perhaps there would be some surprise! But I failed time and time again." Although Lishui was smiling, Amu could sense the hidden sorrow in his words.

Amu nodded helplessly, deeply understanding Lishui's pain. He imagined that every time Lishui participated, he would suffer discrimination and contempt from others, yet Lishui had persisted for so many years.

"Ah!" Amu sighed deeply, knowing that his situation could not be replicated. He could not help Lishui because Lishui did not have a demonic coffin.

"I heard that Li Ruo has excellent talent and has already completed the initial stage of root cultivation!" Lishui said seemingly unintentionally.

"Don't worry! Brother Lishui, Li Ruo won't betray you! That day, she was willing to die for me for your sake, how could she betray you?" Amu knew the depth of Lishui's feelings but did not know how to comfort him, so he half-joked.

Lishui did not say much, but he knew that once Li Ruo cultivated the root, she and he would be from two different worlds.

Ordinary people live for no more than a hundred years, aging, falling ill, and dying, ending up as a handful of yellow earth. But once a cultivator succeeds, a lifespan of several hundred years is not a problem. Regardless of other factors, such a difference in lifespan is a vast chasm.

"Don't think about it, Brother Lishui. The will of heaven is hard to fathom; we may not always be like this!"

After saying this, Amu stood up, took a long breath, and gazed at the vast expanse of stars in the sky.

For some reason, Amu suddenly felt a bit lost at this moment.

The Northern Country was destroyed overnight, and Han Qianli suddenly went into seclusion. Where were his master and Yu'er? Did they return to Liu Town, or did they go elsewhere? Besides cultivation, where was his path? Would his master come to take him?

"Brother Lishui, one day, I will leave the Northern Cold Sect!" Amu looked at the endless dark sky, as if that was his destiny.

"Um!" Hearing Amu's words, Lishui was not too surprised but nodded. "Amu, I know! You are destined to be a passerby in the Northern Cold!"

Looking at the night sky, Lishui also exhaled a long, cold mist and said, "Unfortunately, I cannot cultivate. Otherwise, you and I could roam the sea and the wilderness, wouldn't that be wonderful!"

Amu had never heard Lishui speak with such passion before and laughed. "Who can predict the future? Perhaps one day, you and I will truly roam the sea and the wilderness?"

Lishui smiled, a scenario he absolutely dared not imagine, and turned to ask, "Amu, when will you leave the mountain?"

Amu was Lishui's only friend. If Amu were not there, Lishui would lose his meaning in the Northern Cold. Although there was Li Ruo, Lishui would not drag her down. Lishui was also tired of being a cultivator child in the Northern Cold. Going down the mountain to live as an ordinary person, with what Lishui had learned, he could enjoy the glory of the world, which could also be a form of cultivation.

"When will I leave the mountain?" Hearing this, Amu was taken aback and then smiled bitterly. "Can I leave the mountain if I defeat the Sect Master?"

"What?" Hearing Amu's words, Lishui's eyes widened in shock.

Although Lishui knew that Amu was not ordinary and had seen him kill Yang Yun, most of it was due to the power of the magical treasure. Even Han Bingyi could not defeat him now, so how could he defeat Han Qianli, which seemed far off?

"Ha ha!" Amu anticipated Lishui's reaction and laughed, then patted Lishui's shoulder. "Don't worry, Brother Lishui, we have plenty of time together!"

Lishui's smile was somewhat helpless. That day on Luoyun Cliff, Han Qianli displayed his divine power, moving mountains and seas, which was a presence that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

Amu naturally knew what Lishui was thinking, smiled, and then said solemnly, "But, Brother Lishui, I will definitely defeat the Sect Master! Because there is someone very important waiting for me to come down the mountain!"

Although Lishui did not know who was waiting for Amu, seeing Amu's solemn expression, he knew Amu was not joking.

Deep down, Lishui was willing to believe that Amu could create a miracle.

"One day, Brother Lishui, I will make those who look down on us bow to us forever!" Amu's words were resolute.

But just as Amu finished speaking, a sense of danger arose in his mind, and a killing intent spread.

At the same time, a sound of breaking air, and two figures flashed toward them.

"Assassination!" The strange demonic awareness and the sensitivity of an assassin made Amu's eyebrows arch, instantly sensing the smell of blood.

Amu grabbed Lishui, and the Heavenly Black Flying Disc rose beneath his feet, transforming into a streak of light as they shot up over a hundred feet into the sky.

However, the two assassins changed their tactics rapidly. One of them almost rose with Amu the moment he shot up.

That person flicked his hand, and a blinding white light over ten feet long shot out, piercing and bone-chilling, blinding the eyes, directly aiming at Amu's chest. This was a lethal killing technique.

"Gather light into a sword, Divine Ice Sever Immortal! This is a high-level killing technique in the Northern Cold's fixed cultivation!" Lishui exclaimed in shock.