Chapter 5 — The Secret Behind the Jade

Even though I've never met them before, in the entire sect, someone with this kind of temperament... "Van... Van Triet Immortal Venerable?" I called out with a trembling voice, my legs were weak, I almost knelt down. It's done, it's done! I secretly took the spirit grass to feed the old horse, but was actually caught by the Immortal Venerable! "No need." A cold, clear voice rang out, like the sound of jade colliding, without any emotion. An invisible force supported me, making me unable to kneel. I froze in place, still holding the spiritual herb in my hand, not knowing what to do, my heart pounding. His eyes glanced at Lao Thanh who was barely alive, then looked back at me, those pale eyes did not reveal any emotion. "It has almost exhausted its lifespan, the spirit grass is useless." Just a simple sentence, as if recounting a truth. I felt bitter in my heart, because I knew… he was right. “I… I know.” I bowed my head, my voice lowered, "He's too old, he can't eat solid food... I just... just want his last few days to be a little more comfortable." Inside the barn, it was completely quiet. Only the sound of Lao Thanh's heavy breathing echoed softly. I could feel Tien Ton's eyes still resting on me. After a few breaths passed, he suddenly spoke and asked an irrelevant question: "Where did that thing on your neck come from?" I was stunned and reflexively raised my hand to cover my chest. I always hide the piece of jade in my inner shirt. How do you know? "It's... I found it when I was little." I answered honestly, not daring to raise my head. He was silent again. The air seemed to freeze. Just when I was so nervous that my palms were sweating, I heard him calmly say one sentence: "If you find it, keep it well." After saying that, he turned around and left. The skirt of the shirt was as white as moonlight gliding across the dirty ground, without leaving any dust behind. The figure gently...disappeared. As if it had never appeared. I stood rooted to the spot, it took me a long time to regain my composure. The back of his shirt was soaked with cold sweat. You... did you just ask about the jade piece? You… recognize it? Old Thanh rubbed my hand with difficulty, startling me awake. I looked at it, then raised my head to look in the direction where Tien Ton had just disappeared, my heart was in turmoil. The day the grand opening ceremony took place, the scene was extremely bustling. The square in front of the mountain gate was filled with people, countless young girls and boys came from all over, dreaming of cultivating immortals, one after another to check their spiritual roots. On the high platform are the seats of high-ranking people in the sect. In the center position is Van Triet Tien Ton. He was dressed in a pure white robe, his expression was pale, as if all the noise below had nothing to do with him. I, just a handyman disciple, could only stand far away in the corner of the square, raising my head to look at the high platform. The sunlight was so harsh that I couldn't see Tien Ton's face clearly. I just felt that figure... as distant as the clouds in the sky. I raised my hand to touch the piece of jade on my chest, it was warm, as if responding to me. "Don't look anymore, it won't be your turn to look." A high-pitched, bitter female voice rang in my ear - it was Ly Binh, my roommate in the laundry area. She was always jealous because I had been treated like a "heavenly spirit" for a few days before. "That's Immortal Venerable Van Triet! Even true inner sect disciples rarely meet him! Who do you think you are? Just someone collecting animal dung!" Her voice was full of sarcasm and contempt. I didn't pay attention to her. His eyes unconsciously turned towards the high platform. At that moment — Bee! The piece of jade on my chest suddenly jumped, without warning! An extremely small stream of thoughts, but carrying strong rejection and disgust! The goal - is to head towards the high platform! I was startled. Dismissive? Disgusted? Aim

Who? On the high platform... there is only Tien Ton! The piece of jade that repels Immortal Venerable Van Triet? Why? I remember that day, Tien Venerable asked about the jade, and its unusual silence when he appeared... Could it be that... they used to know each other? Even… there was animosity? Before I could think clearly, the square rang out with a loud cheer that shook heaven and earth! "Thien Linh Root! Heavenly Spirit Root again!" "Fire Element! The light is terrifyingly strong!" I saw next to the spirit stone measuring root, a young man wearing a brocade, handsome appearance, standing proudly and full of spirit. In front of him, the spirit stone was emitting a dazzling red light! The elders on the high platform nodded continuously, looking joyful. "Good! Very good!"