Chapter 5

Time had passed for half a month.

Zhou Shu lay stiffly, like a living dead person.

The news that his meridians were completely broken and he could no longer cultivate had already spread. Many of the disciples who used to be close to him had vanished, never visiting him.

On the contrary, a few disciples who harbored deep resentment had come to see him several times, their eyes filled with unmasked smugness, as if all their usual frustrations had been vented.

Zhou Shu could sense all of this, but he did not care.

A green robe fluttered by, and Liu Yuzhe walked to the bedside, his eyes filled with much regret. "The Nine Cloud Canopy has already been refined. Although its quality is slightly below the fifth rank, it is still powerful enough. The True Thunder Sect will definitely not get the upper hand. Once the matter with the True Thunder Sect is settled, I will go to the Immortal Return Market to seek revenge on Luo Ming."

Zhou Shu was startled. This was something he was particularly worried about, and it had actually happened.

A fifth-rank magical treasure and a less-than-fifth-rank magical treasure were two different concepts, and the difference was not just a little. The Unfathomable Sect might very well lose because of this.

A complete defeat.

He wanted to warn, but he could not speak or make any movements.

"Disciple, wait well. After I reach the Golden Core realm, I will search all over the Eastern Victory State for the spiritual medicines to repair your meridians. You will definitely get better," Liu Yuzhe said softly, then left with a heavy heart.

There were indeed spiritual medicines in the cultivation world that could repair meridians, but obtaining them was far beyond what Liu Yuzhe could do. Even the entire Unfathomable Sect might not be able to achieve it.

Not long after, another figure approached, holding a string of silver-tailed fish that had been roasted to a golden brown.

"Hey, Zhou Shu, we agreed to go fishing together next time. Why did you let me do it alone?"

The roasted fish was rubbed against Zhou Shu's nose, and the fresh, fragrant fish oil smeared all over his face.

Yang Hei tore off a piece of fish meat and stuffed it into his mouth. "Zhou Shu, get better soon. Life isn't as enjoyable without you."

Yang Hei muttered for a while.

He suddenly stood up and shouted, "What they say outside, about your meridians being completely broken and you can't cultivate, and a genius turning into a waste, is all bullshit! I have no talent either, but didn't I open two hundred meridians? It's all thanks to you teaching me. If I can do it, why can't you? Even without meridians, you can still cultivate, right?"

"Even if you can't cultivate, you still have your master and me. As long as I am in the Unfathomable Sect, I will never let you be bullied!"

Yang Hei said heavily and turned to leave.

Although Zhou Shu could not speak, a wave of warmth suddenly surged in his heart.

Friendship is not about strength, but about character. Strength can be cultivated, but character cannot be changed. Teaching the heart method he had deduced to Yang Hei was indeed the right decision.

"I don't need your protection. Don't worry, Yang Hei. I will still be the same in the future," he silently repeated, with a hint of a smile.

Even though his body could not move, he would not waste time. Every day, he would deduce and calculate, using up his divine sense.

As a direct disciple, the scripture hall of Tianyun Peak was completely open to him. Since he entered the sect, he had read many scriptures, which were firmly etched in his mind and would not be forgotten.

He calculated and deduced back and forth, trying to find new ways from these scriptures to protect himself and develop and grow.

Before his meridians recovered, his spiritual energy was destined to be pitifully small, and it would be difficult to even cast spells normally. But he was clear that cultivators did not necessarily have to rely on casting spells.

He would never give up on cultivation.

At the center of the three peaks, the Heart Inquiry Hall.

The hall was dozens of zhang high and extremely spacious. The golden tiles shimmered with a dazzling light, and the dark red wooden walls, which had stood for a thousand years, exuded a profound and enduring sense of weight.

A pure black golden-threaded nanmu plaque hung at the door, inscribed with the four large characters "Inquire the Heart."

Many cultivators gathered in the hall, including the three peak masters and over thirty Foundation Establishment disciples. In the center stood an old man in black.

The old man was thin but towering like a mountain, his aura subtly permeating, making those around him involuntarily submit.

He was the hall master of the Heart Inquiry Hall, the sect master of the Unfathomable Sect, and the only Golden Core cultivator of the Unfathomable Sect, Gao Bai.

Gao Bai surveyed the surroundings, his expression slightly solemn. "In two hours, the True Thunder Sect will launch a large-scale attack. This time, they have prepared for a long time and have joined forces with two other sects. There are three Golden Core cultivators and nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Immediately, a wave of shock rippled through the crowd. The faces of the many Foundation Establishment disciples turned pale, and they were all at a loss.

"Three Golden Core cultivators, what should we do, what should we do?"

"Is it over? Will our Unfathomable Sect be destroyed?"

"Is it still in time to escape?"

Hearing the commotion, Gao Bai's brows furrowed, and he issued a stern rebuke, his voice like a great bell,震撼人心.

The crowd immediately fell silent.

"I have already told you all this. Why are you still so panicked when the time comes?"

Gao Bai slowly said, "The fifth-rank magical treasure Nine Cloud Canopy has been successfully refined. Even if more Golden Core cultivators come, they cannot break through the Heart Inquiry Hall. You don't need to worry. From now on, everyone follow my instructions."

The cultivators breathed a sigh of relief and waited for orders.

"Old Mo, Liu Yuzhe, Aunt Yun, the Three Elements Spirit Array in the Heart Inquiry Hall has been set up. You will guard the array eye and must not leave for a moment."

"Yes, Hall Master!" the three responded in unison.

"Ten Foundation Establishment disciples will be dispatched to bring all the disciples from the three peaks to the Heart Inquiry Hall within two hours, without missing a single one. Other Foundation Establishment disciples will enter the Spirit Array and wait for commands."

"Should the miscellaneous disciples be brought as well?"

"I said, without missing a single one! Every disciple is a treasure of our Unfathomable Sect and cannot be abandoned!" Gao Bai's voice grew louder, the echo lingering.

"Yes, Hall Master!"

Ten Foundation Establishment disciples filed out and went to gather the disciples from each peak.

Suddenly, the hall was bathed in light, and the Three Elements Spirit Array had taken shape. The three peak masters each sat cross-legged in a corner, with many spirit stones piled around, continuously providing spiritual energy to the central position.

Other disciples entered the array, each occupying a position, their expressions solemn.

Gao Bai sat at the center of the array, his brows lowered and eyes closed, preparing to face the battle that would determine the life and death of the sect.

An hour and a half later.

The Foundation Establishment disciples returned to the hall, each followed by a group of Qi Condensation disciples, both inner and outer sect members, even the miscellaneous disciples were not left behind.

Liu Yuzhe, sitting in the west corner, scanned the crowd and immediately felt a surge of anger. "Liu Shan! Where is Zhou Shu? Why didn't you bring Zhou Shu?"

"Ah..."

Liu Shan hurriedly knelt on the ground, panic-stricken. "Peak Master Liu, I went to the top of Tianyun Peak but couldn't find Junior Brother Zhou. I thought he had already been brought back by his fellow disciples, so I..."

A strange look flashed in Liu Shan's eyes, and a hint of joy crept into his heart. He had always envied Zhou Shu, and now that he had the chance, he deliberately did not look for Zhou Shu, hoping that Zhou Shu would die at the hands of the True Thunder Sect.

"You're lying!"

Liu Yuzhe stood up abruptly. "Zhou Shu can't even move on the peak. How could you not find him? It's clearly intentional! If you won't go, I'll go and bring him over myself!"

"Sit down."

Gao Bai slowly opened his eyes. "Yuzhe, this concerns the life and death of the sect. You cannot leave the array eye for a moment."

Liu Yuzhe said resentfully, "Liu Shan! Go again. If you can't find Zhou Shu, don't come back!"

Gao Bai said indifferently, "There's less than half an hour left. Even if you go, you won't be back in time. There's no need to go again."

"But, Zhou Shu..."

Liu Yuzhe sat down heavily, his expression complex.

"Everyone has their own fate. This is his fate."

Gao Bai lowered his eyelids and said no more.

At this moment, a tall young man suddenly rushed out of the Heart Inquiry Hall and ran toward Tianyun Peak, almost madly.

The disciples were stunned, staring at the young man's back in silence for a long time.