âSo the two Sky Palace disciples are here as well?â Gujian Qingshuang asked. Ye Dongliu, Granny Mu Hua and Ye Buzhiqiu were behind him with expressions that were too obviously calm.
âYes, Tianming needs some ore veins to cultivate, so he came to find me. He wanted me to help him speak to the chief instructor.â Jiang Qingliu smiled. Then he directed a doubtful look toward them. âWhatâre you four here for? Is something the matter?â
The matter of ore was a painful topic for Gujian Qingshuang, so he avoided it. With a solemn look, he said, âQingliu, a grade-eight divine herb has appeared near Elderpond City. However, the group of wargodeans, Supracloud Sanctuary, and the Blueblood Starocean have all discovered its location. The sun emperorâs youngest son, Li Haochen, is teaming up with them as well.
âDaoyi ran into them. Their intention was clearly to snatch away our divine herb. Weâve discussed it with our friends from the Empyrean Sword Sect and Group of Celestial Maiden Halls. Weâll defend our treasure and give the invaders heavy injuries.â
Gujian Qingshuang continued, âWeâve decided to have Granny Mu Hua stay behind and guard the sect. The Sixth Sword Branch will go out to battle, and we may need the Azuresoul Tower. I heard you were in secluded cultivation, but the glory and survival of the sect is most important. Weâre setting off now, so follow along!â
Gujian Qingshuangâs stern tone made it clear this was an order, not a request. His meaning was obvious when he mentioned the Azuresoul Tower. Jiang Qingliu may not have been strong, but the special properties of the tower were irreplaceable. As one of the six Swordbearers, there was no reason Jiang Qingliu could give to escape it. Otherwise, he could even be deemed guilty.
Gujian Qingshuang had already overcome his internal struggle and made the most cold-blooded decision. Fortunately, Tianming hadnât revealed he could eavesdrop. This man wouldnât be trustworthy even if the Empyrean Sword Sect wasnât around.
Jiang Qingliu frowned and immediately raged, âOutrageous! This is our land! Itâs not even in disputed territory, and itâs quite close to us here! If they even dare to snatch that, arenât they saying that the whole Azurecloud Divine Tree is theirs? â
âCorrect, this is the one time we canât back down!â Ye Dongliu added.
âQingliu will naturally not refuse and shall throw himself into hell or high water for the sect. Let me go prepare,â Jiang Qingliu said.
Tianming froze when he heard that. Was Jiang Qingliu so eager to die? Gujian Qingshuang and the rest, on the other hand, sighed in relief and revealed satisfied smiles.
âOh, wait!â Jiang Qingliu had just taken two steps when he turned around. âChief instructor, when will the divine herb ripen?â
âTwo months or so.â Gujian Qingshuang didnât overthink it before replying.
âTwo months? So thereâs still time.âŠâ Jiang Qingliu thought for a moment, then said, âYou all go first, chief instructor. Iâll set off in one month. I wonât miss the battle.â
âYou have something on?â Gujian Qingshuang frowned.
âYes! Iâve been stuck at my current level for more than eighty years now. I used to think itâd be my lifeâs limit. However, Iâve recently had some inspiration and felt my divine will improving. I feel like if you give me a month, Iâll be able to kill more enemies when the time comes.â
âYou can break through in a month?â All four of them were stunned.
âYes, but Iâll need some help from the Azuresky Bridge,â Jiang Qingliu said.
âFine!â The four exchanged a look.
Honestly, Ye Dongliu and Granny Mu Hua were so old that their cultivation had begun wasting away. Breakthroughs were something they had long forgotten. Gujian Qingshuang had reached his peak too long ago as well, leaving only Ye Buzhiqiu any hope for growth.
For people of their tier, breakthroughs were a fantasy. Once accomplished, their status would greatly change. Hence, they were doubtful of Jiang Qingliuâs confidence. Disdain even creeped into their hearts. To them, Jiang Qingliu had grown full of himself after getting two Sky Palace disciples.
âDonât worry while youâre trying to break through. If you fail, donât waste time here. We need the Azuresoul Tower,â Gujian Qingshuang said.
âDonât worry, one month will be enough.â Jiang Qingliu pounded his chest confidently.
âWeâll leave first then.â Gujian Qingshuang gave his group a look.
After they turned away, their expressions grew much colder.
âBreak through?â They were all at their lifeâs peak. If a single month would be enough to surpass it, then others were just embarrassing themselves. It seemed more and more like a figment of Jiang Qingliuâs imagination. However, they couldnât force things when he had said that. The divine herb really hadnât ripened yet, after all.
âWait.â Jiang Qingliu spoke up as they were leaving.
âWhat?â
âCan you stretch the rules a little for Tianmingâs ore veins? Maybe the Greenjade Mountainâs ore veins? Itâs mostly abandoned and not much of value is left inside, I believe.â
âFine. bring him there. If you need to go outside, make sure to protect the Sky Palace disciples.â
âNo need to be polite. If our foundations werenât so shallow, we wouldâve answered any request of you Sky Palace disciples. I hope you can understand,â Gujian Qingshuang said.
âI do, I do.â
Thus, the four flew away. Three left the sect, while Granny Mu Hua returned to her Third Sword Branch to âprotectâ the sect.
âUrgh. They want master to accompany you just for an ore vein. They want to kill him.â Yu Ziqian spat.
âEvery word that comes out of their mouths is one that canât be trusted.â Tianming rolled his eyes.
âMaster, donât you have any better tricks? If you could break through, then pigs can fly.â Yu Ziqian was anxious.
âWhat choice did I have? I can only try buying time,â Jiang Qingliu said.
âThen what happens in a month?â
âWeâll see.â Jiang Qingliu turned to Tianming. âFind someone to bring you to the ore vein, Iâm going into secluded meditation.â
âOkay. The Group of Celestial Maiden Hallsâ Auntie Niu is still here.â Tianming smiled.