Chapter Ninety-One: The Winter Plum Grove Never Withers Through the Four Seasons

Although from the moment Bi Fang brought this young man back to the Cold Abyss Valley, he realized that the youth’s cultivation was far inferior to Ling Yan’s, and moreover, his body was afflicted by the invasion of Azure Dragon sword energy, threatening to render him crippled or even take his life at any moment.

Yet, considering the sacred sword of the Wilds in his possession, it seemed breaking the formation was not quite so unattainable.

Soon, however, his thoughts turned swiftly, and he asked with some suspicion, “Earlier, I examined Ling Yan’s wounds. Aside from the injuries caused by the qi of the Sanctuary of the Void, there was also a particularly insidious demonic energy lingering within her spiritual core, which is the main reason she hasn’t awoken these three days!”

“It’s that old villain, Gray Crane!”

Bai Mujiang’s face darkened, his eyes aflame as he roared, “It’s all Gray Crane’s fault! After Ling Yan and I escaped from the Void, weakened and wounded, he struck us down the cliff and even robbed me of a treasured artifact I value more than my own life!”

“You encountered that old Gray Crane?”

At the mention of Gray Crane, his expression transformed instantly, the calm and composure giving way to a twisted blend of shock and rage, and a shadow of worry creased his jade-like face.

“Yes, it was none other than Ancestor Gray Crane!”

“When he escaped from the Abyss of Cangwu, he was crippled by the Wargod barrier, causing his cultivation to diminish greatly. He began to devour the souls of the Wilds’ people to restore his powers, and even slaughtered disciples of the Void, framing me. That’s why Ling Yan and I were surrounded by the disciples and forced into a situation where both sides suffered.”

Upon hearing this, Saint Brahma shook his head with some emotion, sighing with concern, “Gray Crane has indeed returned. It seems the realms of the Wilds are soon to face an unprecedented catastrophe.”

Seeing the troubled expression on his face, Bai Mujiang was puzzled.

By rights, with the strength he had just displayed, he could easily dispatch the now half-crippled Gray Crane. Why, then, did he seem so fearful upon hearing Gray Crane’s name?

With this thought, Bai Mujiang boldly countered, “Senior, although Ancestor Gray Crane is an ancient demon, he was gravely wounded escaping the Abyss of Cangwu. Now, with only half his power, he’s hardly a threat.”

“If not for the sudden surge of sword energy in my body at the summit of Mount Mang in Dayong, I would have joined with Ling Yan to slay him in the cave, preventing all these tragedies.”

“But now, having offended the Sanctuary of the Void, and with the sword energy attacking me every full moon, my body is repeatedly weakened and I could be killed by the sword energy at any time.”

“Even if I wished to bring peace to the Wilds by slaying Gray Crane, my strength fails me. Alas…”

“Hmph.”

Saint Brahma regained his previous composure, listening to Bai Mujiang’s bold words with a bemused gaze, and sneered, “The Heavenly Saint Sword Technique of the Wargod Brahma Immortal is indeed peerless, but he is not the only one in this world who can save you in your hour of peril, so you need not despair.”

“Moreover, my strange demeanor earlier was not out of fear of Ancestor Gray Crane’s power. Even in the great war of gods and demons, I never considered him a threat at his peak.”

“What concerns me is the resurgence of the demon clan behind him, which may even stir the beast clan, dormant for over seven thousand years.”

Though Saint Brahma spoke with weight and certainty, Bai Mujiang was not particularly concerned about the movements of the demons and beasts.

For one so young, saving his own life was paramount; slaying demons and monsters could only be considered once his health was restored.

“Could it be that you have a way to save me, senior?”

Bai Mujiang looked hopefully at the serene Saint Brahma, a rising desire for survival stirring in his heart.

“Saving you is no problem at all.”

Saint Brahma thoughtfully stroked his chin and asked, “After the sword energy invaded you, did you take any innate spiritual treasures or the like?”

“When I used the ‘Flow Like Water’ technique to heal you, I sensed your meridians had been transformed—surely by a rare innate spiritual treasure, am I right?”

“Yes.”

After a moment’s deliberation, Bai Mujiang recalled taking the Human-shaped Ganoderma in that farmhouse on Deer Terrace Mountain.

He explained honestly, “I did take a Human-shaped Ganoderma before, and Ling Yan traded her Light Silk Firefly Fan with an old hunter for it…”

“Oh?”

Saint Brahma glanced at the still unconscious Ling Yan by the pool, shaking his head with a wry smile, “What is love, that can drive one to exchange a fortune for it?”

“Heh… heh…”

Bai Mujiang scratched his head awkwardly, at a loss for words, unsure how to reply.

Seeing the shy and slightly nervous youth, Saint Brahma teased, “Earlier by the pool, when your qi suddenly reversed and triggered the Azure Dragon sword energy, was it because you saw Ling Yan unconscious and suffering?”

“Yes!”

Bai Mujiang frowned in concern, sighing, “Seeing her sitting so quietly in the cold pool, unmoving, my heart felt more agony than being tormented by sword energy.”

“But it seems the triggering of the sword energy is also related to the chill of the pool. Still, I wonder what the origin of this cold pool is?”

“Moreover, why did you place Ling Yan in such an icy pool, senior?”

“She’s already extremely weak. To not treat her is one thing, but putting her in the water seems terribly dangerous.”

“Not necessarily, not necessarily.”

Saint Brahma gave him a mysterious smile, then swept his wise gaze over the surrounding plum grove and countered, “Bai Mujiang, you’ve been in this grove for some time now. Have you noticed anything unusual about the plum forest?”

“Of course I have.”

Bai Mujiang glanced around with the corner of his eye, replying solemnly, “When I walked out from the cabin in the woods earlier, I felt the plum blossoms blooming strangely.”

“By rights, it’s still spring, and plum blossoms usually bloom in the depths of winter. Why are they flourishing here in the Cold Abyss Valley?”

“And judging by the size of this grove, it must stretch for several miles, right?”

“Such a magnificent scene seems to violate the laws of the Wilds’ seasons and cycles.”

“Exactly, that is the crux of the matter.”

Saint Brahma explained calmly, “You are now in the Cold Abyss Valley of Eastern Wilds.”

“This valley was formed by a volcanic eruption ten thousand years ago, creating the mountain-ringed basin we see today.”