Chapter 201: Lone Venture into the Western Mountain

Jun Laoye stood solemnly, his entire body shimmering with lightning, but deep inside, anxiety churned. He spoke to Nantian Yijian through voice transmission. "Little Jian, let me take over! It's my turn. I can't sustain this burst for much longer."

Nantian Yijian looked at him with admiration. "Ugh... a full suit of armor, and a body covered in lightning... It's enviable and awe-inspiring. Why have I never seen you wear that armor before, Little Jun? I don't have as many spells or equipment as you. Make sure you hype me up later, alright?"

"I know, I know... you'll get your moment, but this is my stage now. Play a tune, quickly," Jun Laoye responded anxiously as his energy surged. Standing tall, he shouted with conviction, "I am Jun Laoye of the Central Continent! The Dao of the Spear is the true essence of cultivation I pursue!"

Hearing him, Nantian Yijian struck the guqin's strings with force. "Commoners, rejoice once more! Before you stands the giant from the Central Continent, Jun Laoye, the Heavenly Lord Jun. He pursues the Dao of the Spear..."

Jun Laoye stood in the giant's palm, unleashing all his pressure and presence. Yet, unlike Lu Chen, he had never come across miraculous events, nor did he have the backing of a group of powerful cultivators. Even at full strength, his aura was merely a backdrop to Lu Chen’s brilliance.

Jun Laoye opened one eye and saw most cultivators focused on Lu Chen. Those who glanced at him only did so occasionally before quickly returning their gaze to Lu Chen.

Something's off... Why is everyone looking at Little Lu? Is the energy I'm releasing not strong enough?

Clenching his Heavenly Dao spear, he gritted his teeth and pushed his power higher.

No, I have to do something... I can't let all the glory go to Little Lu.

Hidden under the soundproof barrier Wind Dragon had set up, Nantian Wan'er held Red Fox in her arms while Wind Dragon perched atop her head. She whispered, "Brother Jun, you don't seem proud or imposing, and your current burst is far weaker than Lu-gege's. To catch the cultivators' attention, you need to speak boldly of your might and perform something earth-shattering. Do you want to speak lofty words like Lu-gege's?"

"Isn't that a must-do for showing off?" Jun Laoye muttered, recalling what Lu Chen had said. "My entire life has been devoted to pursuing the Heavenly Dao, my mission since I was born in the Jun Clan’s main lineage. But the Heavenly Dao cannot be spoken aloud, so what else should I say?"

While Jun Laoye hesitated, Nantian Yijian switched the guqin's melody to his own composition,

Lone Venture into the Western Mountain.

The crisp, percussive, and harsh tones rang through the valley with piercing intensity.

Inspired by the story of Jun Wudi he had heard a few days prior, the music carried a sense of loneliness and sorrow. Jun Laoye felt the tragedy of a hero standing alone against countless foes, and it reminded him of Jun Wudi gazing longingly toward the Western Mountain all these years.

Listening to the chaotic yet desolate melody, Jun Laoye quietly whispered, "Second Uncle..."

His restlessness faded, and his mind calmed. His spirit qi regained its orderly flow, no longer moving just to show off. "I know what I must say. Pursuing the Heavenly Dao has been my mission from birth, but there is another matter I must accomplish.

"Second Uncle... The Western Mountain was where you broke your Heavenly Dao Spear, where Second Aunt was imprisoned, and where your cultivation foundation was severed," Jun Laoye whispered, his voice only for himself, eyes fixed on the Serene Void Academy. "But Second Uncle... you still want to go there, don't you? After all, your talent is unmatched across all of Jun Clan. You must always be thinking about that shameless place, longing to rescue Second Aunt, and reclaiming your Heavenly Dao Spear.

"When you were a child, Father said you were the clan's greatest genius, surpassing all ancestors. If not for the incident on the Deer Ridge... if not for those people..."

His voice grew deliberate, controlled, filled with righteous fury. "If not for those who mobilized the power of an entire region, threatening you with the saintess'—Second Aunt—life and forcing you to break your divine spear...

"If your cultivation foundation had not been severed...

"If you hadn't ventured alone into the Western Mountain...

"You would have been the one most qualified to inherit the Heavenly Dao Spear, and the one most likely to help the clan reclaim the Heavenly Dao.

"Second Uncle... what exactly are you thinking?"

Jun Laoye's tone grew measured, each word deliberate. He stood straight as a spear, his face expressionless, the rough, reckless demeanor he once carried gone.

Nantian Yijian plucked the guqin, watching silently. He realized the Jun Laoye before him was perhaps the truest version of himself.

"A few days ago, your injuries were fully healed, and the Heavenly Dao Spear responded. Why did you give up then? Why refuse to inherit it again? Was it because of me? Because Father entrusted me to you before his coma?"

Jun Laoye turned his gaze toward the Serene Void Academy. He enunciated each word with precision and force. One by one, the lightning armor around him dissipated, slowly returning him to his original, tattered battle gear.

"Did you give up the opportunity you desired for the sake of my cultivation?

"Did you abandon the grievances of the Western Mountain just to protect me?

"Did you take all the blows in the clan's struggles so I wouldn't suffer?

"What kind of logic is this, Second Uncle? Tell me! What kind of logic is this?"

He roared, and the ornate armor shattered in a blaze of light. "Those people had kidnapped your wife! Your own matters should have come first! Why... why have you always cowered here for my sake?"

𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

His voice hoarse, Jun Laoye knelt before the hands of the lightning giant, lowering his head and whispering earnestly, "If it's possible... I hope you can stop worrying about me. Go to the Western Mountain, and live your life for yourself. After all, Second Aunt has been waiting for you all these years..."

Ancestor Suitian noticed Jun Laoye's strange state and paused, speaking his thoughts aloud. "You are awakening now? At this age? That's even earlier than any of us old relics. It seems the trigger is family ties. Since there's still hesitation in your heart, let me give you a hand. I'll lend you my Suitian Spear. It's a good chance to test that thing as well."

He glanced toward Mountain Ocean Peak, frowned slightly, then quickly formed hand seals. A surge of spirit qi shot toward the lightning giant behind Jun Laoye.

***

On top of Mountain Ocean Peak, Shan Long looked at Jun Wudi. "Young Jun, are you reassured now? That nephew of yours is no longer the one who would cry when beaten and expect you to clean up his mess."

"Have I truly been wrong?" Jun Wudi's gaze stretched toward the Scripture Hall, deep in thought. "But his cultivation is still low. He can't handle everything on his own."

"Handle everything on his own?" Fang Yuan glanced at Ning Tai beside him. "He could have long managed by himself, but you've always kept him behind you, never letting him show his full strength in battle.

"Besides, she's been waiting at the Western Mountain all these years. You should go see her.

"She's a woman. She hasn't had it easy. If not for you, she would still be the saintess of the Western Mountain. Having been sheltered her whole life, how could she possibly endure centuries of imprisonment?"

Even from this distance, Jun Wudi could see Jun Laoye. His expression darkened as he sighed. "I will go to the Western Mountain. Not yet, though; for now, I'll watch a bit longer. Once everything is arranged for Little Jun, then I'll go."

Shan Long let out a long sigh. "Hah... it seems you still don't understand. Your nephew is right. Even if your elder brother entrusted him to you, you cannot live solely for him. You must live for yourself as well.

"Young Jun... you used to be decisive. How did you end up like this after the Western Mountain incident?"

Fang Yuan stepped forward, patting Jun Wudi on the shoulder. "We'll take care of him like we'd take care of our own nephew. You can go with peace of mind. Go now. Don't wait any longer. Your nephew is right. He doesn't need you to live for him. You must live for yourself."

Jun Wudi clenched his right fist, sighing.

The divine ability mark at his waist, once dim, suddenly crackled with lightning.[1]

***

At the valley's entrance, Jun Laoye sensed something within his heart stir. He lifted his head and saw Ancestor Suitian smiling at him.

Momentarily stunned, he knelt halfway and saluted, then looked to the lightning giant and asked, "Giant... are you the one calling me?"

The lightning giant didn't respond. It merely grabbed Jun Laoye with one hand while placing the other on his waist, where his divine ability was stored.

Jun Laoye watched, puzzled, as the giant's fingers twitched. A black lightning spear shot out from his waist, piercing through the air.

1. Reminder that cultivators in this novel store their divine ability on their waist. ☜