145: Chapter 145 Master, may you rest in peace.

Actually, as for the position of Law Enforcement Hall Elder, if Valley Master Gongsun Buxiu wanted to give it, even if everyone else had objections, it would still just be a matter of a single word from him.

But he had already given Mo Shenggu far too much.

The condensing spirit liquid, the seclusion time in the Sect Blessed Land, a massive amount of resources, and even Luoyun Peak.

Now, if he were to continue passing down the position of Law Enforcement Hall Elder to his Personal Disciple Lin Shen, what would those in other Golden Core Realm think?

Furthermore, Lin Shen's Aptitude and talent were not bad at all. Especially in terms of Comprehension Ability, he was an absolute apex existence. At such a young age, he already possessed extremely high attainments in the Dao of the sword. If he were carefully cultivated in the future, he would definitely achieve a Breakthrough to the Golden Core and accomplish great things.

For such a talent, Valley Master Gongsun Buxiu's true thought was that he did not want Lin Shen to be disturbed by those worldly matters, nor did he want Lin Shen to be blinded by power. He only hoped that the Lin Shen before him could diligently Cultivate, strive for self-improvement, closely follow Wang Boan's cultivation speed, achieve the Golden Core as soon as possible, and become a major combat force within the Sect.

"That is fine as well..."

Hearing Valley Master Gongsun Buxiu speak thus, a smile surfaced on Mo Shenggu's face. Although he had failed to secure the position of Law Enforcement Hall Elder for Lin Shen, he had managed to preserve Luoyun Peak after all.

He knew very well in his heart that this was an exchange made using the very last shred of sentimental ties and Legacy of his Mo family lineage in Chiyun Valley.

Once he perished, people would disperse and tea would go cold. Everything from then on would require Lin Shen to face completely alone.

With eyes carrying a reluctance to part with this world, Mo Shenggu coughed twice, and another mouthful of fresh blood gushed out.

With a pale expression, he spoke weakly and gratefully to Valley Master Gongsun Buxiu: "Thank you, Valley Revered Master. In the future, I must ask you to look after everything on Luoyun Peak!"

"Naturally. Lin Shen is a good lad. Since he can inherit your mantle, I will certainly support him well in the future!"

Valley Master Gongsun Buxiu nodded, looking at the weak-faced Mo Shenggu with extreme patience.

On one hand, this was because of the Mo family's past meritorious service to Chiyun Valley, and on the other hand, it was due to his past friendship with Mo Shenggu's father.

Mo Shenggu nodded.

He did not say anything more to Valley Master Gongsun Buxiu; what he had requested was already enough. If he were to shamelessly open his mouth again, it would only ruin the very last bit of goodwill and face his Mo family had left in Chiyun Valley.

Taking a deep breath to suppress the roiling blood within his body, Mo Shenggu cast his gaze toward Lin Shen by his side.

Looking at Lin Shen beside him, who was bathed in tears with red-rimmed eyes and unable to speak for crying, a gratified smile appeared at the corner of Mo Shenggu's mouth.

He gently patted Lin Shen's hand and spoke in a weak voice: "Good child, do not cry, do not cry. Come, carry your Revered Master back to Luoyun Peak, back under that peach blossom tree, to see your Revered Master off on his final journey."

That peach blossom tree in the courtyard of Luoyun Peak had been planted by his father. It had accompanied him as he grew up since childhood, witnessing all of his growth, griefs, and joys along the way.

Now his only wish was to return to Luoyun Peak, back beneath that peach blossom tree, to lie carefree upon that rocking chair just like when he was a child.

"Yes! Revered Master!"

Lin Shen wiped the tears from his face and nodded with a heavy voice.

He lifted Mo Shenggu onto his back and, under the watchful gazes of Valley Master Gongsun Buxiu, Wang Boan, and the others, transformed into a bolt of lightning as he sped toward Luoyun Peak.

Lin Shen's speed was extremely fast.

He still wanted to fulfill this final wish of his Revered Master, fearing that Mo Shenggu would breathe his last and die midway at any moment.

Soon, strong winds surged, and a streak of lightning directly appeared within Mo Shenggu's courtyard.

"Revered Master, we have arrived!"

Lin Shen carefully supported Mo Shenggu, gently placing him onto the rocking chair beneath that peach blossom tree.

Lying on the rocking chair, Mo Shenggu let out a long sigh of relief, feeling his previously obstructed breathing instantly become somewhat unobstructed.

He greedily breathed in everything around him, gazing at the blooming peach blossom tree as memories of the past involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

This peach blossom tree bore far too many of his memories, from growing up in his early years, to losing his father in his youth, losing his son in his middle age, and losing his granddaughter in his old age...

"Father, I have failed your high expectations; I was unable to revitalize the Mo family..."

"You used to always say that I was inferior to Third Brother, but every single moment I have been proving myself, proving that I am the most suitable successor!"

"If back in that battle, neither you nor Third Brother and the others had perished, would you have chosen me for the position of the Revered Master of Luoyun Peak?"

"I do not know, I do not know, but I will know very soon, because this unfilial son of yours is coming to find you..."

Gazing at that peach blossom tree, Mo Shenggu muttered to himself. Two streams of clear tears flowed from his eye sockets, his gaze filled with attachment and reluctance to leave this world.

Lin Shen obediently stood to the side without saying much. The best course of action right now was not to initiate anything or disturb him, letting Mo Shenggu complete this final journey.

...

One day later.

Lin Shen stood amidst a peach blossom forest in the back mountain of Luoyun Peak.

Before him stood a newly made grave, with the tombstone inscribed: Tomb of Beneficent Revered Master Mo Shenggu, erected by unfilial Disciple Lin Shen.

Mo Shenggu was dead.

He died early this morning, at the hour of sunrise.

Before his death, Mo Shenggu passed down his Storage Pouch along with all the resources and treasures he had accumulated throughout his life as a Legacy to Lin Shen.

Receiving Mo Shenggu's relics, Lin Shen felt a complex mixture of emotions in his heart, with guilt being the predominant one.

There was a sentence he dared not speak aloud, nor could he speak aloud.

That was that Mo Xiaoyu was killed by him.

It was he who personally severed the very last shred of Legacy for Mo Shenggu, cutting off the inheritance of the Mo family lineage.

Although he felt guilty in his heart, Lin Shen did not regret it.

Under that situation back then, Mo Xiaoyu was clearly going to oppose him, clearly wanting to bring all of his crimes to light.

If he did not kill Mo Xiaoyu, then he would likely be expelled from the Sect by Mo Shenggu, and would very likely suffer pursuit and assassination from everyone in the Five Great Sects.

He did not want to die, nor did he want to live amidst such unknown hazards, so he had no choice but to kill Mo Xiaoyu.

"Revered Master, rest assured. The Luoyun Peak lineage will definitely be carried forward and glorified in my hands. You can go in peace!"

Kneeling before the grave, Lin Shen kowtowed to the ground, heavy with three resounding knocks.

He had kowtowed to Mo Shenggu countless times before, but every single time had carried other thoughts and intentions. Only this once was it incomparably sincere.

After heavily knocking his head three times, Lin Shen gazed at Mo Shenggu's grave, and in the end, all those myriad emotions melted into a single long sigh.

...

Five years later.

Luoyun Peak, Mo Shenggu's courtyard.

No!

Now it should be called Lin Shen's courtyard.

Lin Shen sat cross-legged in the secret chamber. A trace of lightning flickered within his pupils, and terrifying Sword Intent bloomed across his entire body.

"Five years, five years have passed..."

"Through these five years of arduous seclusion and cultivation, my cultivation has reached a point where it can advance no further. I am only a final step away from reaching for the Golden Core."

"However, before making a Breakthrough to the Golden Core, the Sanyuan Qi-Guiding Technique that I currently Cultivate is my biggest shortcoming at present."

"Therefore, if I want to Breakthrough to the Golden Core and Cultivate to a higher Realm in the future, I must first practice a higher-grade Cultivation Technique that is more suitable for me."

"Let us first see if there are any within the Sect. If there is nothing particularly suitable, it will also be time to go out for a stroll and stretch my muscles!"