Cultivating In Secret Beside A Demoness

529  He Did Everything He Could But Achieved Nothing

Jiang Hao remained silent as he listened to Lin Zhi's situation.

Lin Zhi was unaware of the secret within himself. The old lady respected him because he was an immortal disciple, but he couldn't do anything to save her in the end.

Indeed, that would be quite a blow.

However, the old lady's death was probably not solely due to the cold.

It was more likely that her time had come.

But considering Lin Zhi's experiences with his own mother, he found it hard to let himself off the hook.

He would think it was his fault and would torment himself with the guilt.

"Is there anything else?" Jiang Hao asked.

Cheng Chou nodded. " Junior Brother Lin and the others went out in search of the Blood Wish Path. Since they were over there, they conducted an investigation. Although they didn't find the Blood Wish Path, they did find another group of people. They were from Azure Mountain, and conflicts arose between the two sides."

"How did people from Azure Mountain end up over there?" Jiang Hao was puzzled.

Azure Mountain seldom approached that area because it was too close to the Heavenly Note Sect.

Cheng Chou looked embarrassed. "They also came for the Blood Wish Path. It seems they were a group of hot-headed, idealistic young individuals full of zeal to vanquish demons and evil spirits."

"So, they clashed?" Jiang Hao was surprised.

This was indeed an unnecessary disaster.

"Yes. They fought, and unfortunately, in an attempt to save Junior Brother Lin, Zhao Qingxue was knocked off a cliff. Her fate is still unknown."

"They haven't found her till now?" Jiang Hao was surprised.

Zhao Qingxue was from the White Moon Lake, and the sect would take this matter very seriously.

"Ye. It's said that there's a hidden ancient tomb beneath the cliff, and it's highly likely that Junior Sister Zhao fell into the tomb. People from the White Moon Lake have gone there, and the members of the Law Enforcement Hall and other disciples have gone as well," Cheng Chou said.

Jiang Hao knew that many of them went there for the ancient tomb.

However, going there increased the probability of finding the missing person.

"And Junior Brother Lin was brought back. He was told not to get involved because his cultivation realm is too low," said Cheng Chou. "Junior Brother Lin didn't intend to be a burden. He just wanted to stay nearby to await their updates. However, he was sent back."

Jiang Hao sighed.

Because his cultivation was too weak, Lin Zhi didn't even have the qualifications to help in the search.

Waiting there while doing nothing was humiliating.

He was safely sent back to the sect, but he couldn't do anything.

Lin Zhi was recruited into the sect by Jiang Hao. Ten years had passed since then.

He was now in his early twenties.

"How long has it been since you returned?" Jiang Hao asked.

"About a month," Cheng Chou said.

"You've been out for so long?" Jiang Hao was surprised.

He was away for five months. The beast and the others had been away for almost the same amount of time.

It seemed they spent quite a bit of their time in that tomb, but he didn't know what kind of tomb it was.

As for opportunities, there would probably be some inside.

However, opportunities were accompanied by danger, and it was hard to say if Zhao Qingxue was safe or not.

If she was dead, it would be a blow to Lin Zhi.

Many people might even resent him and look down on him because she had disappeared to save him.

A Foundation Establishment Realm genius dying to save a Lifeblood Refinement Realm cultivator would cause a storm.

Jiang Hao sighed sadly.

The Spirit Herb Garden seemed to be quite busy. He decided to wait for the outcome.

When a battle in the Sea Fog Cave began, the Spirit Herb Garden would naturally need to provide support.

However, it might not be as big of a battle as before.

Senior Sister Miao Tinglian was in charge of the Spirit Herb Garden temporarily. She was quite knowledgeable about spirit herbs, and having her take charge was reasonable.

Miao Tinglian had an exceptional position at the Cliff of Broken Hearts, and Mu Qi had become a powerful expert at the early stage of the Primordial Spirit Realm.

In the evening, Jiang Hao returned to the courtyard.

These past few months, everything had gone smoothly in the Spirit Herb Garden, and Cheng Chou had managed to establish himself in the Outer Sect's Spirit Herb Garden.

However, Jiang Hao felt somewhat despondent. If things continued this way, he might not be in charge of the Spirit Herb Garden anymore.

He wondered what his master was thinking.

'I should do something to make it impossible for my master to send me away from here. I'll continue living as a suspicious disciple.'

After returning to his house, he took stock of his gains from his recent trip.

The biggest gain was Heaven Lock, but this technique was too terrifying, and he dared not write it down.

Next were the bubbles that brought him closer to his advancement to a higher realm.

Finally, there were spirit stones.

Because they were still within the sect, they didn't dare to take too many, and each person had to share. So, there weren't many left.

There were still a few thousand, and when he added it to what he already had, it was roughly a little over thirty thousand.

He could now consider upgrading the formation around the courtyard.

Recently, the spiritual energy in the courtyard had become denser. If he didn't conceal it, it could easily cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

As a Golden Core Realm cultivator, having a formidable formation around the courtyard was understandable.

However, it was quite expensive. The last quote from the merchant was thirteen thousand. Jiang Hao was reluctant.

Jiang Hao placed the Half-Moon Blade in a corner of the courtyard.

He would need to buy a new Half-Moon Blade. It was yet another extravagant expense.

After a simple inspection of the courtyard, he sat there and waited.

He was waiting for the beast to come back.

In July, the weather was a bit hot, but the courtyard felt refreshing.

The peach tree, which was taller than the walls around, began to bloom again and attracted Xiao Li.

Jiang Hao took out the nameless manual and began to read.

The sun had set, and the moon hung in the sky.

The cool wind blew through Jiang Hao's hair.

At that moment, Jiang Hao set down the book and looked toward the entrance of the courtyard.

The spirit beast was nibbling on a carrot. "Master, you're back?"

He nodded and pointed to the wooden chair.

After a couple of hops, the beast landed on the table.

Jiang Hao didn't mind. "Tell me about Lin Zhi."

The spirit beast continued to nibble on the carrot. "Lin Zhi's return is… quite complicated."

As the beast recounted the events, Jiang Hao listened calmly.

He couldn't help but sigh. "Misfortune targets the unfortunate, and ill luck finds those in distress."

In the cultivation world, there were many unfortunate individuals. He recalled encountering Xue Yue in the Corpse Realm before and the bald Golden Core Realm cultivator in the Sea Fog Cave. Both were similar.

He had killed the former but had helped resolve her unfulfilled wish later. So, the matter was settled.

As for the bald cultivator, he had saved him once out of a sense of duty. That cultivator was willing to face death together with him.

Jiang Hao vividly remembered that bald cultivator's astonished look when he had told them all to escape.

The spirit beast confirmed that Lin Zhi had returned to his village and found the old lady. He had done everything within his capabilities to help the old woman. He had begged, fetched medicines, chopped wood, and prepared meals.

However, the people had ignored him. The doctor was indifferent. The meals he cooked were too hard for the old lady to swallow, and the house couldn't withstand the cold winter wind.

By the time the firewood burned out, the old lady had closed her eyes forever.

Her last wish had been simple. She only wanted to eat an egg once again.

Lin Zhi managed to get an egg from somewhere, but when he returned, the old lady had already passed away.

He did everything he could but achieved nothing.

"That's all. He did everything he could but still couldn't save the old lady." The spirit beast shook its

head while nibbling on the carrot.

"The meat of unlucky people is too bitter to eat. I can't stomach it."