Night of Despair

'But even so... the Fear Shadow I summoned should have given me some feedback upon disappearing. Yet, I didn't detect anything all night long.'

Yu Hong looked at the desolate ground around him. For a moment, he fell into deep thought.

It wasn't until daytime that the surroundings of the attic became clearer.

This place was situated in a basin.

Mountains surrounded it on all sides, their gray-white bodies resembling high walls that blocked most of the light.

The only convenient entrance and exit was through the ground tunnel on the floor.

Taking a deep breath, Yu Hong was unsure if his impulsive decision to become Yu Xuezi's disciple was the right one.

This apprenticeship felt like a child's play; he didn't hesitate, and the other party was equally hasty. They quickly decided on the relationship upon just meeting, with little understanding of each other.

Had it been before, Yu Hong would never have acted like this, but at that time, Yu Xuezi's methods were astonishing. Plus, he was a bit speechless and at a loss under the pressure of the approaching Ultimate Sun, so he just followed along.

But exactly what the other party's intentions were, he couldn't say.

'Regardless, as long as it helps me suppress the Ultimate Sun, nothing else matters. Surviving, that's the most important thing.'

Wandering around the attic and sweeping some dust, Yu Hong remained alert, setting up small dust-free arrays in various places.

Staying in the place arranged by the other party was basic etiquette. But that didn't mean he completely trusted the arrangements.

After setting up the array and establishing an embedded array to isolate Red Value Radiation, Yu Hong finally sat down to rest.

"Junior Brother Yu Hu. Are you awake? It's time to go to the Master." Bai Sheng's voice came from outside the attic.

Yu Hong quickly stood up, walked to the corridor, and looked downstairs through the window.

At the edge of the ground tunnel entrance, Bai Sheng was standing there in white clothing, carrying a long sword, waving his hand upwards.

He immediately went downstairs, and the two of them set off together, continuing along last night's path through the underground passage.

They soon returned to Wanxue Palace.

Unlike last time, this time they met Yu Xuezi in a quaint and quiet meditation Taoist Palace.

Yu Xuezi had changed clothes, wearing a green Daoist robe embroidered with silver carp and dragons, a crown of jade dragon scales on his head, holding a white horsetail whisk, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, meditating with closed eyes.

He only slowly opened his eyes when Yu Hong and Bai Sheng were within ten meters.

"How is it? How did you rest last night?" Yu Xuezi's gaze on Yu Hong was like viewing some indescribable hope, his eyes straightforward and fervent.

"It was fine, but something unusual happened when I woke up this morning..." Yu Hong described in detail the situation he encountered.

He was consistently candid, hiding nothing.

Because the thing he hated most was misunderstandings caused by concealment.

"Is that so?" Yu Xuezi was taken aback, then nodded indifferently. "It's okay, the issue is minor. Ever since the Heavenly Venerates sealed the Star Disaster, small insignificant things like this occasionally appear. Don't worry, they disappear quickly on their own. Many predecessors were initially concerned too, but after careful research and investigation, they found it was just a simple illusion with no harm, so they stopped paying attention."

"Really?" Yu Hong was astonished.

"Indeed," Bai Sheng nodded with a smile. "Junior Brother, there's no need to worry. You'll get used to it in the future and understand."

Since both of them said it was fine, Yu Hong said no more.

Afterward, Yu Xuezi had Yu Hong follow him in reciting a Daoist Scripture called the Spirit Snow Scripture.

Reciting gently or firmly a hundred times, time reached noon.

Bai Sheng led Yu Hong to have lunch together.

The massive dining hall, size of a football field, had only three of them sitting down for a meal.

Splat.

Bai Sheng placed a plate of brownish-yellow mud-like mixture in front of Yu Hong.

"Sorry, because of our bodily structure, we eat different things than you. The energy meal supply machine also broke down long ago. We mixed some backup nutrient liquids with dry rations to make you a meal, please make do with it for now." He apologized.

Yu Hong looked at the plate of brownish-yellow mush with a pungent smell, chuckled dryly, and was about to decline.

Suddenly, his gaze focused, seeing a bathtub-sized dark red eyeball on the wall behind Bai Sheng and Hei Ying, which had appeared out of nowhere!

The eyeball embedded in the wall turned left and right, seemingly scanning everything in the dining hall.

Blood sluggishly oozed from beneath the eyeball, but it was indifferent, still wriggling, its surface reflecting a moist sheen.

The seeping blood trickled down the wall, emitting a pungent stench.

"Look behind you!" Yu Hong stood up abruptly, stepping back a few steps, urgently reminding.

Bai Sheng and Hei Ying were startled, turned to look back.

"Behind us, there's nothing there? What is it, Junior Brother Yu Hu?" Bai Sheng turned back, looking confused, questioned puzzledly.

Hei Ying also glanced back and then mirrored his confused expression toward Yu Hong.

Yu Hong looked at the enormous eyeball on the wall and then at their oblivious expressions.

"You all, can't see it?"

The two exchanged glances, showing rather puzzled looks.

"See what? What's going on with you, Junior Brother?"

Yu Hong wanted to explain, pointing at the eyeball on the wall, but in the next instant, everything blurred before him, and the eyeball vanished at once.

It was as if everything he had just seen was an illusion.

Even the blood water dripping on the ground and the stench had entirely vanished without a trace.

"Are you alright?" Bai Sheng waved a hand in front of Yu Hong.

"I-I'm fine..." Yu Hong was now vaguely feeling something was wrong.

But he didn't know if it was his issue or theirs.

Those strange things... Could they really be as Yu Xuezi described, all normal phenomena?

He explained to them the scene he saw.

But they showed even more bewildered expressions.

"Honestly, we've lived here for hundreds of years, and have never encountered what you described." Bai Sheng stated.

"It should be the regular minor issues Master mentioned." Hei Ying added.

Seeing them unconcerned, Yu Hong could only let it go, secretly increasing his vigilance.

After the meal, the afternoon continued with scripture recitations.

Then in the evening, return to rest.

The rhythm was unhurried, continuously repeating.

Yu Xuezi didn't teach any Cultivation Technique, only persisted in making Yu Hong recite scriptures.

This went on for more than two weeks.

One morning, after finishing the scripture recitations, Yu Hong was about to get up and have lunch with Bai Sheng.

"Wait. Yu Hu, stay here," Yu Xuezi spoke, eyes closed.

"Yes." During this period, Yu Hong focused on reciting scriptures, not thinking about any other matters, sleeping and rising early every day. Not only did he no longer see those previous visions, but his Inner Strength in the Chaotic God Heavenly Eye Scripture also naturally grew stronger.

Seemingly, this tranquil cultivation was also greatly beneficial to him.

Soon, after Bai Sheng and Hei Ying saluted and left the Taoist Palace.

In the Taoist Palace the size of a football field, only Yu Xuezi and Yu Hong remained.

"Yu Hu. During this time, I've observed that your essence hasn't been tainted by the Evil Path and Demon Technique. Your mindset has been largely restored. Beneath the appearances, your inner nature is indeed upright and kind."

Yu Xuezi's seated posture silently shifted around to face Yu Hong.

"Therefore, from now on, of the two Cultivation Techniques on you, the one involving the eyes can continue, but the other cannot be practiced simultaneously." Yu Xuezi stated, his expression becoming solemn.

"To be honest, I took you as my disciple for my own reasons."

"We should be clear with each other. You come from an unknown origin, with an unknown identity, although your aptitude is good, rationally, I shouldn't have rashly accepted you, but... this is essentially an exchange."

"Exchange?" Yu Hong questioned.

"Yes," Yu Xuezi nodded. "The three of us as master and disciples shouldn't have come to this Mining Star, yet we've stayed here for over a hundred years. If there are no other surprises, we may stay here for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, unnoticed and unknown, possibly eventually forgotten."

He sighed.

"If I alone was so, that would be fine, but there are also Bai Sheng and Hei Ying. They are still young. If they do not achieve the Immortal Realm, they might die of old age at five thousand, spending their entire lives on this lonely Mining Star."

"So... my arrival, could it change all that?" Yu Hong speculated.

"Yes... there's hope," Yu Xuezi frankly nodded. "Your aptitude surpasses them tenfold. Even starting from scratch, you have a great chance of breaking through to the Immortal Realm. According to Qinghe Mountain's rules, by grooming an Immortal, I can re-earn a qualification to apply for an assignment spot. Leaving here would be easy."

"I see..." Yu Hong realized. "Then, may I ask Master, how many years does it typically take to cultivate to the Immortal Realm?"

"Though you have your own cultivation, you'll have to start from scratch; therefore, the soonest would be around three hundred years." Yu Xuezi replied.

Three hundred years...

Yu Hong had considered it for a long time but didn't expect it to be this long.

"Of course, reaching the Golden Core Stage will allow you to step into Imperfection-Free status. By then, with my assistance, severing the connection with the Ultimate Sun would be a simple matter, so no worries." Yu Xuezi smiled.

"...." Yu Hong wasn't worried about that, but rather if, in three hundred years, Yiyi, Ku Chan, Quan He, and the others would still be around...

Moreover, could the Source Disaster really wait for him for three hundred years?

From Agrius's tone, it seemed unlikely.

"Before practicing, I need to clarify things with you to avoid any lingering doubts that prevent a mind clear as a mirror." Yu Xuezi said, "Additionally, the Qinghe Mountain Cultivation Technique is not to be spread externally. If someone with exceptional aptitude emerges, you may apply to establish a separate sect and take them under your wing."

These were standard school rules, which Yu Hong quickly agreed to.

"Next, I will teach you the most orthodox Foundation Establishment Technique of Qinghe Mountain—the Qingyuan Heavenly River Miao Technique."

Yu Xuezi gently took out a scripture from his large sleeve, handing it over to Yu Hong.

"Take it, study it carefully, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask."

At this moment, when the other party just pulled out the scripture, Yu Hong was entirely stunned.

Because that scripture was covered in dark red, foul-smelling flesh. The thin white bones formed the edges and corners of the book, and mold-spotted, blood-stained rotten flesh constituted the cover.

Yet Yu Xuezi acted as if he saw nothing, still smiling as he held the scripture, handing it over.

Just looking at the scripture, Yu Hong felt a bizarre sense of dizziness continuously crashing into his mind.

An indescribable and powerful strange spiritual power spread from the scripture, like an awl, desperately trying to penetrate into his brain.

This place...

Had issues!!!

At this moment, he was one hundred percent sure of this!