“We greet you, Senior!”
The elders were momentarily stunned but quickly bowed, not daring to show any disrespect.
With the patriarch absent from the sect, offending this person could have severe consequences.
“No need for formalities, rise,” Ambrose Lu said calmly.
“Thank you, Senior.”
The elders straightened up and glanced at Mark Gu, then at each other, unsure of what to say. Mark’s behavior was undeniably odd.
After a moment of silence, the pressure grew as Ambrose remained silent. Finally, one elder gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and bowed.
“Senior, your words of wisdom have greatly enlightened us. We have come today to present you with gifts as a token of our gratitude…”
With that, the elders raised the large packages in their hands, their faces showing sincere smiles.
At this moment, Mark Gu was in a state of confusion and panic. Since meeting Ambrose Lu, he had witnessed many of Ambrose’s mysterious methods and held a deep-seated reverence for him.
Ambrose lightly stepped on Old Turtle and asked, “So, what enlightenment did my words bring you?”
“Ah,” Old Turtle winced in pain, his face contorted.
He knew Ambrose was punishing him.
“Uh, Senior, you may not know, but I used to cultivate step by step, fearing any mistake. Now I believe that in the path of cultivation, one must take bold steps. No matter what, we must act boldly. Taking risks might lead to miracles, while being timid will only result in mediocrity!”
“Indeed, and this wisdom is also crucial for crossing tribulations. It’s like a powerful calming pill. I believe I can safely pass the lightning tribulation now. I used to be terrified of it, but now I see it as nothing more than a minor obstacle! This is the power of belief!”
“Haha, as cultivators, we should defy the heavens, fear nothing. Even if we fail, death is the worst that can happen. So what if we die?”
“……”
Listening to the elders’ bold declarations, Mark Gu’s heart raced. Oh no, these elders have lost their minds.
He nervously glanced at Ambrose Lu, only to find Ambrose looking back at him, causing him to lower his head in fear.
But Ambrose’s next words left Mark stunned.
“Yes, very good.”
Hearing this, the elders beamed with joy and bowed deeply to Ambrose.
“However, I did not say those words. Any consequences are not my responsibility. You can take your gifts back.”
With that, Ambrose kicked Old Turtle’s shell into the nearby bushes and turned to walk back into the courtyard.
The elders were puzzled, unable to make sense of it.
Didn’t Mark Gu say it was the Senior who said it? Why is the Senior now denying it? This is confusing; they need to sort it out.
“Old Mark, get up already. You gave such a grand salute to the Senior early in the morning, even sliding on your knees. You really went all out,” an elder said, helping the bewildered Mark Gu up with a smile.
Mark snapped out of it, forced a dry smile, bowed to the elegant courtyard, and left quietly, feeling somewhat relieved.
It seemed the Senior didn’t intend to hold it against him, merely stating it was unrelated to him and not exposing him in front of the elders. That was a relief.
“Uh.”
The elders were momentarily stunned but quickly placed their large packages at the courtyard entrance before leaving one after another.
The gifts had to be given; whether the Senior accepted them was his business, but whether they gave them was theirs.
………
The next day.
Mark Gu returned to the elegant courtyard.
“Senior, please inform the Master that I, Mark, may leave the Eastern Region soon. If the Master needs anything, he can freely command the other elders in the sect.”
Mark respectfully addressed the turtle shell on the ground.
Old Turtle extended his head and limbs, leisurely saying, “Leaving the Eastern Region? What for?”
Mark smiled sheepishly, “With the Master’s help, I am now an Elemental Infant. And in a little over two months, Nathan Zhang, the patriarch of the Carefree Courtyard in the Western Region, will face his Ascension Tribulation… A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wish to observe it.”
Old Turtle transformed into a human form, his eyes rolling, “Are you sure it’s the Ascension Tribulation?”
“Indeed,” Mark bowed.
“Wait here.”
Old Turtle said and entered the courtyard.
“Master, that kid Mark said someone in the Western Region is about to face the Ascension Tribulation. Should we go take a look?” Old Turtle asked from outside the house.
“What’s so interesting about the Ascension Tribulation?” Ambrose’s voice soon came from inside.
Old Turtle respectfully smiled, “Master, you surely remember that when I descended to the lower realms, I passed through the Ascension Passage of this realm.”
“And then?”
“Master, you may not know, but the other end of this realm’s Ascension Passage has been blocked by sects from the Four Directions Immortal Realm. Anyone who ascends is killed.” Old Turtle cautiously explained.
“Oh?”
The next moment, Ambrose appeared in front of Old Turtle.
Old Turtle took half a step back and explained, “It seems that a cultivator from this realm who ascended earlier offended someone they shouldn’t have. So, they sent people to block this realm. I was in a hurry to see you, so I didn’t investigate further.”
Ambrose said quietly, “Regardless of the reason, those sects dare to block the Ascension Passage, cutting off the path to immortality for lower realm cultivators. This is akin to killing one’s parents.”
Old Turtle smiled wryly, “Some sects are in remote areas, far from the Immortal Emperor’s oversight. Even if the higher-ups of the Four Directions Immortal Realm know, they often turn a blind eye to such matters.”
“When I was in the Immortal Realm, I established the Immortal Code, stating that no sect in the Four Directions Immortal Realm should block the Ascension Passage from any world… I’ve been gone for a million years, and now they dare to overstep. Very well.”
Ambrose’s voice grew colder.
Old Turtle shivered in fear and hurriedly bowed.
He rarely saw Ambrose angry, but when he was, it was like the sky was falling!
The kinder he was usually, the more ruthless he became when angered.
“Those four seem to need a lesson. As Immortal Emperors, they’ve done nothing for a million years?” Ambrose said indifferently.
“Ahem,” Old Turtle coughed, knowing Ambrose referred to the four Immortal Emperors of the Four Directions Immortal Realm. He said with difficulty, “Master, I mentioned before that their own situations aren’t great… They might find it hard to manage such matters… Besides, many sects have connections with the higher-ups of the Immortal Realms, making it difficult for such issues to reach the four Immortal Emperors.”
Ambrose glanced at him, “It seems you’ve grown bold enough to make excuses for them.”
“Master, please calm down!” Old Turtle prostrated himself in fear, tightly protecting his back. His shell couldn’t withstand another blow.
Ambrose flicked his sleeve and walked outside.
“Let’s go, we’ll take a look.”
……
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