Book Three: Dominion of the Legendary Saint

“No one will ever learn the most valuable lessons in life until he goes through his own journey. For after all, experience is the truest source of wisdom.”

“We’re now all on our own.”

When Qai heard everything, his thoughts were suddenly turned into chaos.

Even if the Precious Tree Sect had been a home to him just for a short while, it could be said to be the place where Qai had gained a much detailed and much clearer knowledge so far about the ways in the cultivation world.

Old Bu may have given him the ‘starting’ knowledge, but the old cultivator had always been vague.

So if there was one good thing that the Precious Tree Sect taught Qai, it was the deeper understanding of this world.

Qai obviously came from a world very different from where he was currently at. And his first stop when he appeared was apparently a backwater place which was completely clueless of the ways of the Immortal Dao.

So when he stepped his foot in the Precious Tree Sect, he felt that he found the right place to start.

But perhaps fate played him for a fool.

Now, the Precious Tree Sect was disbanded—but he still wanted to know more while in it. And it was evidentl in his mind that he wanted the sect to be the place where he could experience more.

Qai had still not seen much about the clans under its jurisdiction. He had not known many of its disciples. He had not even known many of its elders.

But it seemed those thoughts would no longer be possible—not in the meantime.

“Elder Li, if I may ask, what about you? What are you going to do now?”

The elder paused for a moment and took a deep breath before he gave an answer.

“Apparently, it may be something related to you.”

“Me!?”

“Yes. It is also one of the reason why I came to look for you today. In truth, there are more than half of our disciples in this part of the war who are still clueless of what happened to the sect. But I came here first to tell that to you because of my personal decision.”

Qai was a bit taken aback.

He was certain that he was nothing special in the eyes of Elder Li. So how could the elder put him into consideration in the former’s decision.

“You should know that when the Shu Clan was decimated, Shu Liang actually had no where to go. Her master, Elder Meng, apparently was one of the casualties of the battle.”

According to the elder Shu Liang came to him and said she wanted to follow him to wherever the elder decided to go.

“But my plans are quite simple.”

From here the elder looked at Qai meaningfully.

“I am going to your Kamaria Island and seal the Teleportation Array on that side so that no one else would go there.”

Qai was shocked.

His initial thoughts centered on his parents and Little Xi.

“No one stands now as its protector. So I will go there to act as one. I would look for fortune in there while our sect bide time. Perhaps after a 60-year lifecycle, I might try to repair the Teleportation Array and start looking for other sect members here in our Crimson Edge Continent.”

Qai took a deep breath after he heard Elder Li’s plans.

“Elder, did Shu Liang still agreed to follow you?”

“Yes. She said, she found some good treasures there during the Trial by Fire and wanted to head back there as well to focus on her cultivation.”

Thinking of the elder’s decision, Qai was tempted to join the former to check on his family. But he had just left the island for measly few years and had not achieve much yet.

And should he stay there for the next 60 years, he felt that he would miss a lot of opportunities as a young cultivator to grow in the bigger stage.

Elder Li saw the hesitation in Qai’s eyes so he went on to explain further.

“I am not telling you this to invite you to come with us. I am just implying that you won't be able to go there until I unseal the Teleportation Array from the island’s side.”

“Senior, will there really be no other way to get there without the Teleportation Array?”

“Well, there are still 2 other ways. One is to become a Nascent Soul cultivator and cross the ocean. Perhaps, that way, it may just take a month to fly towards the island.”

When Qai heard the first option, he felt dismayed.

He was certain that it was impossible for him to become a Nascent Soul stage cultivator shorter than 1 60-year life cycle.

“The other is to use an Artefact ship with speed comparable to that of a Nascent Soul stage. However, I am pretty sure that none in this continent has one in possession.”

Qai sighed.

If it were really impossible to go back, then, in his mind, there was only one thing left to do.

He stepped forward and bowed deeply before Elder Li.

“Senior, if I may be bold, I have a request to make.”

Elder Li, on the other hand, was taken aback by Qai’s sudden gesture.

“Speak.”

“Senior, I have a younger sister. Her name is Little Xi. Please take her in as a servant. I taught her all my knowledge about my body refinement method and my cultivation technique as well ever since she was young. But since she wouldn't be able to get out of the island any time soon, I can only rely on your help to guide her in her progress.”

“How old is she now?”

“Senior, she’s 10 years younger than me. And she definitely started cultivating earlier than me. If it would be impossible to take her in, then senior, please give this to her and at least teach her how to remove its restriction the same way as you taught me.”

As he said those words, Qai took one of the storage pouches in his possession which contained a bunch of Spirit Stones, medicinal pills, the first 3 Jade slips he got and some other treasures.

“Senior, I don't know if this would interest you as well. Back in my village, I left a bit of legacy when I shared a little of my body refinement method. If my thoughts were correct, there would now be plenty of children in my village who might also be good seeds to teach cultivation.”

From Qai’s words, Elder Li could clearly guess what Qai meant.

“Senior elder, if our Precious Tree sect is rebuilding, then there is a good chance that perhaps every 10 years, senior will find a talent or two in Kamaria Island.”

The elder smiled after listening to Qai.

Somehow, the elder saw in him a concerned disciple and an unselfish leader.

“Alright, I cannot promise you anything. But I’ll definitely consider your suggestion. And as for your sister, I’ll bring her this storage pouch and perhaps Shu Liang might be interested this early to take in a disciple herself. I’ll be sure to put in a good word for her.”

“Thank you, senior.”

Before departing, Elder Li told Qai that if he wished, he could now leave his station. If not, he may continue to join the war but as a rogue cultivator and not as a Precious Tree Sect disciple—and also strictly reminded him to switch on a new robe and not to use the sect robe in the meantime.

Of course, Qai had no longer any interest entangling with Devil Dao cultivators. He was intent on leaving as well.

Thus, right after Elder Li left, he took a glance once more around the hill.

He smiled when he recalled how he stupidly called himself the ‘lord of the hill.’

After removing all the Array formations that he arranged, he went on his way towards the Crag Brothers.

Evidently, there would be no more Precious Tree Sect to return to.

In his mind, he would definitely miss his own little valley in the East mountains of the sect—and of course, the sect’s Treasury Hall and the Cultivation Pagoda.