A sage master under the pine tree imparted the Dao and taught longevity.

Within the sound transmission stone, Bai Pu's figure gradually emerged.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Chen Chuan recounted in detail how Xiao Jin had been poisoned and how the Xuan Yin Cave had sent people to coerce him.

Bai Pu remained silent for a long time after listening.

"Junior brother," Chen Chuan called out.

Bai Pu raised his head, his expression complicated: "Senior brother, it's not that I'm unwilling to help, but to be honest, the sect can't possibly be unaware of what the Xuan Yin Cave has been doing all these years."

But it's true... the Xuan Yin Cave pays the most spirit stones to the sect every year compared to all the other affiliated academies.

Chen Chuan remained silent.

Bai Pu continued, "Our ancestor is in seclusion, and the three elders have gone north to the Demon Realm. If I rashly step forward, not only will I not be able to help my senior brother, but I will also give others ammunition to criticize me."

He paused, as if making a decision: "However, I do know the antidote for the poison in this Soul-Devouring Pill."

Chen Chuan's eyes flickered.

"This poison is made by using the resentment of vengeful spirits as a catalyst, supplemented with dozens of other poisons, and is extremely cold in nature. To counteract it, one must use a highly potent and yang-like elixir."

Bai Pu's speech quickened: "Among them are three main ingredients—【Red Sun Lingzhi】, 【Fire Pattern Vermilion Fruit】, and 【Blazing Sun Flower Stamen】, all of which are top-grade fire-attribute spiritual plants."

Where can I get it?

Bai Pu glanced at him and slowly said, "The Great Jin Kingdom."

Chen Chuan remained silent.

It was the Jin Dynasty again.

"These three spiritual plants are almost extinct in the Qian Kingdom, except for the lava mountains in the northern border of the Great Jin Kingdom where they still grow wild." Bai Pu said in a deep voice, "Senior brother, if you want to go, I can't stop you, but there is one thing you must remember."

"Junior brother, please speak."

"The Great Jin Kingdom is now teeming with demonic cultivators. If your identity is exposed on this trip, I'm afraid you'll be in grave danger."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly: "Thank you for telling me, Junior Brother."

Bai Pu opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed and said, "Senior brother, take care."

The light from the sound transmission stone dimmed.

Chen Chuan sat alone in the hall, gazing at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, remaining motionless for a long time.

……

At 3:45 AM, Chen Chuan summoned his disciples to the main hall for a meeting.

Shu'er, Shen Mo, and Lai Fu filed in and saw their master sitting in the main seat with a solemn expression. They all felt a chill run down their spines.

"Please sit down," Chen Chuan said gently.

The three of them took their seats as instructed, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

Chen Chuan's gaze swept over the three young faces, and he slowly said, "I've called you here today because there's something I need to clarify with you."

He recounted the reason for Xiao Jin's poisoning, the threat from the Xuan Yin Cave, and the conditions offered by Wu De, without omitting a single word.

Shu'er's face gradually turned pale.

When she heard Wu De say, "If there is no antidote, you will die in seven days," she suddenly stood up, tears streaming down her face.

"Master!" She knelt down with a thud, tugging at Chen Chuan's sleeve. "Let's just agree to them! Junior Brother Xiao's life is more important! So what if we turn a blind eye? What could be more important than Junior Brother Xiao's life?"

Chen Chuan didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly.

Shu'er cried, trembling all over: "Master, Shu'er begs you... Junior Brother Xiao... he's only a teenager..."

Shen Mo sat to the side, his lips pressed tightly together, his face showing struggle.

He didn't know what to say at this moment. Agreeing to the demonic cultivator's conditions would be tantamount to pushing Songjian Sect into an abyss of no return, but if he didn't agree, Senior Brother Xiao would only have one way out: death.

Only Shu'er's sobbing could be heard from inside the hall.

After a long silence, Chen Chuan slowly spoke.

"Shu'er." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power. "Raise your head."

Shu'er raised her tearful eyes and looked at her master.

Chen Chuan looked at her, his gaze gentle yet firm: "People of the demonic path are untrustworthy. Today, I promised to turn a blind eye to his evil deeds, but tomorrow I will have to transfer the evil spirits for him, and the day after tomorrow, Songjian Sect will have to cover up his murderous acts."

He paused, then continued, "By then, Songjian Sect will no longer be Songjian Sect. Your Junior Brother Xiao's life is a life, but what about the lives of those innocent people harmed by demonic cultivators?"

Shu'er was stunned.

"I know you've spoken too harshly," Chen Chuan sighed softly. "But those who cultivate the Dao have things they will and things they will not do. If we disregard morality today to save Xiao'er's life, how will he face us when he wakes up in the future?"

Shu'er's tears welled up again, but this time, she did not argue.

Shen Mo suddenly stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Master, this disciple is willing to go to the Great Jin Kingdom with you."

Chen Chuan glanced at him and shook his head: "Your cultivation is still shallow, you won't be of any help if you go. Staying in the temple and sharing the burden with your senior sister Shu'er is the greatest help you can give your master."

Shen Mo opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

Chen Chuan stood up, walked to Shu'er, and reached out to help her up.

"Shu'er," he said gently, "I'll be entrusting Songjian Sect to you during these days after I'm gone."

Shu'er desperately held back her tears and nodded vigorously.

Chen Chuan then looked at Shen Mo and Lai Fu: "You two assist Senior Sister in guarding the mountain gate. If there is any emergency, you can send people to Bixia Valley and Jin Dao Wu for help. Hall Master Lu and Hall Master Lei are both righteous people and will certainly not stand idly by."

"We will remember!" the two replied in unison.

Chen Chuan turned and went into the inner room, and a moment later took out an exquisite porcelain bottle.

He opened the bottle cap in front of the three of them and took out a pill the size of a longan. It was smooth and lustrous, with a faint milky white luster flowing across its surface.

"This is a Foundation Establishment Pill," Chen Chuan said slowly. "I obtained it by chance many years ago and have treasured it ever since."

All three of them were stunned.

Although they had never seen the value of the Foundation Establishment Pill with their own eyes, they had heard their master talk about it.

Even a thousand second-tier spirit stones couldn't buy one, and an ordinary cultivator might never see one in their entire life!

Chen Chuan put the pill back into the bottle and solemnly handed it to Shu'er.

"If I, your teacher, do not return for ten days..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Take this pill with you and Junior Brother Shen to the Qingyuan Sect and ask your Uncle Bai to take you in. With this pill as a gift, he will not refuse."

Shu'er could no longer stop her tears.

"Master!" She threw herself into Chen Chuan's arms, hugging him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

"You must come back! You promised Shu'er you would come back!"

Chen Chuan gently patted her back, his voice softening: "Silly girl, I haven't even seen you get married yet, how could I not come back?"

Shu'er cried even harder.

Chen Chuan gently pulled Shu'er away from his arms, wiped away her tears, and smiled, "Alright, stop crying. I'm not going to my death. I'm just going to gather a few medicinal herbs. I'll be back when I get them."

He straightened his robes and strode towards the palace gate.

He suddenly stopped at the threshold.

"Shu'er".

"Disciple is here."

"Take good care of your junior brother Xiao."

"Disciple...yes!"

Chen Chuan nodded slightly and strode out of the palace gate.

Outside the palace, snow was falling heavily.

He affixed the talisman, and with a light touch of his toes, his figure swept into the vast snow like a lone goose, disappearing from sight in an instant.

Shu'er chased after him to the palace gate, gazing at the sky where her master had disappeared, repeating in her heart over and over again—

Master, you promised Shu'er.

You must come back!