Shou Ru Shan (Guard Like a Mountain).

It is one of the defensive secret techniques of the Tiance Mansion. It can draw upon the power of the surrounding mountains and rivers to form a defense for oneself. To attack someone protected by this technique is equivalent to attacking the mountains and rivers themselves.

It is said that those with profound cultivation in the Tiance Mansion can even mobilize the power of an entire continent to resist.

This technique is extremely powerful. But it also has flaws. The biggest problem is that once used, one borrows the power of the mountains and rivers for defense, but one’s own body also transforms into part of those mountains and rivers.

Just like Ye Hongling at this moment, unable to move or speak. She would not suffer harm, but if no one came to her rescue, she would be suppressed here forever. Until her life essence completely dissipated.

This is a perilous secret technique that should never be used lightly except as a last resort. A Golden Core cultivator burning their life force to execute this move could not be broken even by Lü Dongshan at his peak Nascent Soul Perfection back then.

Fortunately, Nian Zhaoxi’s strength was sufficiently formidable. With her meticulous methods, Ye Hongling began to be gradually peeled away from the state of Shou Ru Shan.

Finally.

At the moment the last strand of spiritual energy poured into Ye Hongling’s body, this female general who had been motionless and fused with the mountain’s power suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Her entire aura instantly weakened to an extreme point.

She was already severely wounded and on the brink of death; it was her fellow disciple’s use of Shou Ru Shan that preserved her life, but she was merely clinging to a thread.

Fortunately, Nian Zhaoxi was well-prepared.

A pill was immediately placed into Ye Hongling’s mouth, followed by a massive infusion of spiritual energy pouring into her body to help her recover.

At this moment, Nian Zhaoxi’s eyes were filled with anxiety. She had only one purpose for doing all this.

For Gu Xiu!

Gu Xiu was dead. Whether it was the divination signs or what Lü Dongshan said, both indicated Gu Xiu had died.

But… Nian Zhaoxi did not believe it!

Someone like Junior Brother Gu could not die so easily. He possessed great fortune and destiny. Even if he truly died, it wouldn’t be so silent and unnoticed! This was her trust in his fortune!

Yet such trust left her uncertain; she could only place her hopes on Ye Hongling. Although Ye Hongling had been unable to speak or move before, perhaps her perception of her surroundings remained. Nian Zhaoxi hoped to learn the truth from her mouth!

“Wake up, wake up!”

Under Nian Zhaoxi’s aid, Ye Hongling’s condition began to improve. Amidst the calls, Ye Hongling finally reopened her eyes. She immediately rose and bowed.

“Ye Hongling of the Tiance Mansion pays respects to Senior! Thank you for your rescue!”

“Ye Hongling?” Nian Zhaoxi nodded and pressed immediately, “Tell me, when you were trapped here, could you perceive your surroundings?”

“No,” Ye Hongling shook her head. “Hongling was on the brink of death when sealed within Shou Ru Shan. While sealed inside, I had no perception of anything outside.”

“Truly?”

“A thousand times true,” Ye Hongling answered urgently and couldn’t help but ask, “Might Senior deign to inform me of your esteemed name? Hongling will surely repay your kindness today in the future!”

But Nian Zhaoxi had no interest whatsoever in talk of repayment. Her brows were tightly knit together. Ye Hongling’s condition was indeed dire; her complete lack of external perception didn’t seem like a lie…

What should she do next? Little Junior Brother… Could he really be dead?

“Senior?” Ye Hongling’s inquiry brought Nian Zhaoxi back to herself. She immediately asked again, “Have you seen a white-haired cultivator?”

“White-haired cultivator?” Ye Hongling was taken aback, her mind immediately thinking of Gu Xiu. “Is Senior asking about that Qi Refining third layer rogue cultivator who wielded a wooden staff and whose aura was as steady as Mount Tai?”

Wielding a wooden staff? Qi Refining third layer rogue cultivator?

Nian Zhaoxi’s heart stirred. “Tell me in detail!”

“That fellow Daoist is also Hongling’s benefactor. We first met because of a wolf demon…” Ye Hongling found it somewhat strange, but since this person before her had saved her life and possessed unfathomable cultivation, she spoke honestly.

She recounted everything naturally: from meeting Gu Xiu, to encountering danger and meeting again, and their subsequent parting of ways.

However… listening to her words, Nian Zhaoxi couldn’t help but feel disappointment welling up inside.

She had held onto a sliver of hope because this woman faintly carried traces of Little Junior Brother’s aura. But now it seemed that was merely from having traveled together before.

“That fellow Daoist possessed extraordinary strength. Though only at Qi Refining third layer, when we first met facing the wolf demon he showed not a trace of fear, which made me feel this person was unusual.”

“Later, hiding in the mountain cave, that fellow Daoist’s strength was truly astonishing—defeating enemies above his level seemed as easy as drinking water.”

Unaware of Nian Zhaoxi’s disappointment, Ye Hongling spoke of Gu Xiu now with a hint of awe in her eyes.

Nian Zhaoxi couldn’t help but straighten her back slightly. This was about her Junior Brother Gu! She felt proud by association!

Come to think of it, five hundred years ago before Gu Xiu entered the forbidden land, he shone like a meteor; wherever he went there was no shortage of amazement and admiration. Now cultivating anew, eliciting admiration from a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator—this was only natural.

“It’s just a pity that although I recognized that fellow Daoist’s strength back then, I didn’t heed his warnings. If I had… my three senior brothers wouldn’t have…” Ye Hongling felt sorrowful.

Back then Gu Xiu had said the Red Flame Black Steed would become something enemies would exploit; yet no one took it seriously. And the final result was: All three senior brothers perished in battle; even she herself would have long turned into a wisp of a lost soul if not for that Golden Core senior brother using his life to execute Shou Ru Shan.

“Can you tell me more about him?” Nian Zhaoxi spoke up. Her spirits were equally low.

Her heart had long been filled with self-reproach; now all clues were severed; even Gu Xiu might truly be dead—it vexed her to the extreme. She only hated herself for not arriving sooner.

“Tell more?” Ye Hongling found it odd. “To be honest, I don’t know much about that fellow Daoist either.”

“You must have stayed together many days; surely over those days you learned something?” Nian Zhaoxi asked.

This… Ye Hongling looked somewhat blank. “That fellow Daoist rarely spoke. Besides, we were either traveling or hiding and cultivating; we actually didn’t talk much.”

“Rarely spoke?” Nian Zhaoxi was stunned.

How could that be! Gu Xiu had never been a quiet person; every time he was with her he talked quite a bit.

Even now Nian Zhaoxi still remembered: Five hundred years ago, every time Gu Xiu returned from his travels he would visit her Wentian Pavilion once, accompanying her on the Star-Gazing Platform all night watching stars. He didn’t just watch stars; he liked telling her all sorts of interesting things encountered during his travels—sometimes he could talk for three days and nights without stopping!

How could such a person who always had endless things to say… possibly not like talking anymore?

Ye Hongling continued, “Yes, that fellow Daoist rarely initiated conversation about anything. And judging by his demeanor he seemed like someone already accustomed to being alone.”

Nian Zhaoxi wanted to refute this, but just as she opened her mouth a sudden pang gripped her heart.

She realized! Her impression of Gu Xiu mostly remained from before he entered the forbidden land five hundred years ago!

Back then Gu Xiu was beloved by everyone in the sect—the master favored him, senior sisters doted on him, everyone was his close friend, even family with whom he shared everything without reservation.

But in the three years since returning from the forbidden land… no one spoke with him!

And he… gradually from that person who loved chatting discussing everything, who loved talking with every senior sister… slowly became someone who preferred silence, preferred quiet, preferred solitude.

All this… was because of everything he experienced after returning from the forbidden land!!!

At this moment Nian Zhaoxi’s face turned deathly pale.

Ye Hongling looked concerned. “Senior?”

“It’s nothing.” Nian Zhaoxi shook her head. “Continue please, I want to hear more about him.”

This… Ye Hongling pursed her lips. Though she didn’t know Gu Xiu’s name or origins, nor did she understand much about this terrifyingly powerful senior before her, she understood this person had some connection with that benefactor from before.

Realizing this, Ye Hongling instead felt unsure how to proceed. After pondering for a moment she still said, “Senior, perhaps it’s better not to ask further?”

“Why?” Nian Zhaoxi asked puzzled.

But then she saw Ye Hongling hesitate. “This junior fears if I say too much later Senior… might find it hard to accept…”

Hmm? Nian Zhaoxi paused then understood what Ye Hongling meant. “Did he talk about his past?”

“No.” Ye Hongling shook her head.

“Then you…”

“It’s just that fellow Daoist once told this junior one sentence.”

“What sentence?” Nian Zhaoxi asked curiously seeing Ye Hongling take a deep breath.

“That fellow Daoist once said: ‘The world’s affections are fickle, human feelings are vile… Rain sees off dusk… Flowers fall easily.'”