Under the breathless gaze of the crowd, the immortal master let out a furious shout and stopped the massive flaming boulder with a single hand!
Two immense forces collided in an instant.
Countless small fragments burst from the giant flaming rock. Seeing that they were about to shoot downward, the immortal master made another move!
With one hand, he slowly hoisted the giant flaming rock aloft, while the other instantly unleashed rays of white light, annihilating the showering debris below.
In mere breaths, an apocalyptic catastrophe was dissolved into nothingness.
After a brief daze, the mortals of Great Li broke into tears of gratitude.
One after another, they kowtowed toward the figure in the sky, shouting continuously, “Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving our lives!”
The existence of immortal cultivators was no secret in the Great Li capital. After all, immortals descended from time to time. Many years ago, there had even been an incident where an immortal flew into a rage and rivers of blood flowed.
Thus, when this immortal master stepped forward to save the entire city, the mortals felt both immense gratitude and a touch of trepidation. After all, it was often said that in the eyes of immortals, mortals were no different from ants. Yet now, an immortal had actually taken action to save the lives of ants. How could anyone not be astonished?
The mortals across the city knelt in droves, not daring to rise.
Having dissipated the impact of the massive flaming rock, the immortal master casually hurled it toward the uninhabited wilderness outside the city.
Amid the tremendous tremors of the ground, he swiftly flew toward the central volcano.
Before long, the billowing black smoke from the volcano slowly dissipated. The violent volcano calmed once more.
Across the world of Great Li, everyone who witnessed this scene could not help letting out cheers of survival.
The Great Li Emperor led the populace to form ranks in the city, awaiting the immortal master's arrival.
Unfortunately, they waited for three days and three nights, but the immortal master never appeared.
The Great Li Emperor felt anxious and uneasy, wondering if he had done something wrong. For days on end, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Not until seven days later did someone report that a small mountain had suddenly risen from the flat ground outside the city, and someone seemed to be living on it.
Upon hearing this, the Great Li Emperor was shaken. Knowing this was the handiwork of immortals, he hurriedly led an entourage there.
Regrettably, when they arrived before the mountain, an invisible barrier seemed to block them, preventing them from advancing a single step further.
“Those with affinity may meet. Those without, please return,” a teenage girl said timorously to the emperor.
In the ranks of officials, Grand Academician Su jerked his head up the moment he heard the voice. Seeing clearly that the speaker was indeed his younger sister, Su Yuqing, his legs nearly gave out, and he almost slumped to the ground.
Fortunately, a quick-witted friend beside him supported him.
“Scholar Su, could it be you recognize this fairy maiden?”
Scholar Su felt his mouth run dry; though he possessed a bellyful of learning, he could not utter half a word at this moment.
Having summoned the courage to dismiss the civil and military court officials, Su Yuqing could not help breathing a sigh of relief.
She patted her chest, glanced toward her brother among the departing crowd, then looked back at the thatched cottage up the mountain, feeling somewhat troubled.
Not long ago, this immortal master had suddenly descended upon the scholar's manor. Claiming she possessed immortal affinity, he brought her to this mountain without another word. Afterward, he even imparted an immortal art, instructing her to cultivate in peace.
But her mind was in complete turmoil—how could she possibly have the heart to cultivate!
After turning it over in her mind, Su Yuqing plucked up her courage, went to the thatched cottage on the mountain summit, and knocked on the door.
The door opened on its own. The immortal master was hovering cross-legged in midair, eyes closed in quiet cultivation.
“What is it?”
“Greetings, Immortal Master.” Su Yuqing first kowtowed in greeting, then summoned her courage and said, “Please allow me to return, Immortal Master. This lowly girl has no desire to seek immortality or pursue the Dao. I only wish to accompany my family and live out the rest of my days in peace.”
Such words coming from a teenage girl seemed completely out of place. Yet set against Su Yuqing’s unique temperament, they somehow felt entirely natural.
After uttering these words, Su Yuqing’s heart pounded furiously. She had seen with her own eyes how the immortal master had neutralized the meteorite’s might with a single hand. If she were to anger him... No, the immortal master had stepped in to save so many people in the city. He must be a good person, right? Su Yuqing thought to herself.
The immortal master did not reply.
The thatched cottage on the summit fell into an eerie silence.
Only after a long while did he slowly speak: “Immortal affinity can never be forced. If you truly do not wish to cultivate, I will not compel you. However, when you watch your loved ones die tragically before your eyes in the future, do not regret it.”
Su Yuqing froze slightly, and then her face went deathly pale. “Loved ones die tragically?”
The immortal master did not explain, merely closing his eyes once more. “You may go.”
Su Yuqing only felt a gust of wind sweep past, and in an instant, she found herself outside the thatched cottage.
The door shut with a heavy thud, leaving Su Yuqing utterly bewildered.
In a daze, she made her way down the mountain path, but her mind was entirely filled with the immortal master’s words.
Just as she was about to step beyond the immortal mountain’s boundaries, she hesitated again.
‘The immortal master surely wouldn’t lie to me. Loved ones die tragically...’
For some reason, the terrifying scene of black volcanic clouds blotting out the sun and sky resurfaced in Su Yuqing’s mind. A shudder ran through her as realization struck. In a flurry of panic, she turned around and sprinted back toward the thatched cottage atop the mountain.
“Immortal Master, will the central volcano erupt again?” she called toward the door.
Not the slightest sound came from within.
Su Yuqing tried to push the door open, but it would not budge in the least. Anxiety mounted in her chest, yet she dared not act insolently before an immortal.
With a thud, Su Yuqing fell to her knees and kowtowed. “Immortal Master, this girl is willing to follow at your side and cultivate earnestly!”
Still, there was no response.
Su Yuqing gritted her teeth and held her posture, remaining completely motionless.
As the daughter born late in life to the old scholar, Su Yuqing had been showered with boundless affection from the moment she was born. Delicately pampered, she felt unbearable soreness all over her body after only a cup of tea’s time, on the verge of collapsing.
Yet she seemed to envision the scene of Great Li being utterly destroyed after another volcanic eruption. Her eyes grew resolute, and she stubbornly gritted her teeth and held on.
One shichen, two shichens... until four or five shichens had passed, her consciousness began to blur.
Finally unable to hold out any longer, she fainted.
Before she lost consciousness, she seemed to hear the sound of the cottage door opening.
Su Yuqing had a dream.
In her dream, the Li Realm met its doomsday. Plumes of volcanic smoke shot straight into the highest heavens. Magma flowed unchecked, and no living beings remained upon the earth. It was truly like purgatory.
This horrifying scene jolted her awake from the nightmare.
“Did you see clearly? That is the Li Realm’s future,” the immortal master before her said faintly.
“Please save the Li Realm, Immortal Master!” Without her realizing it, Su Yuqing’s eyes had grown wet with tears. Once again, she kowtowed and pleaded.
“I can save it for a moment, but not for a lifetime,” the immortal master let out a long sigh filled with sorrow and compassion.
Chapter 805