novelraw Chapter 316: Effortless and Unperturbed
Chapter 316: Effortless and Unperturbed
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation.
“Enough, enough. It seems this is the will of heaven.”
Dean Mo Xin’s stern expression softened unexpectedly, his authority from moments ago giving way to something gentler.
“Yu Zhao, tell me, what exactly do you know, and where did you learn it?”
Having promised the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan Leader to keep their secrets, Yu Zhao refrained from mentioning the thread that siphoned spiritual energy. Instead, she briefly recounted her observations beneath the Longevity Tree on the Floating Island.
Dean Mo Xin was surprised to learn that Yu Zhao had uncovered the anomaly with the Heavenly Ladder earlier than anticipated. This strengthened his conviction that she was deeply connected to the matter. He decided to reveal what he knew.
“The Heavenly Ladder began malfunctioning centuries ago. At first, no one could summon it. Later, no one could reach the Divine Transformation Stage at its peak…”
Yu Zhao’s gaze darkened.
From Dean Mo Xin’s tone, it was clear he only knew that the Heavenly Ladder had stopped appearing in the cultivation world, effectively severing the path to immortality. He did not understand the root cause—not even the fissures in the ladder.
This was not the answer Yu Zhao had hoped for.Just as disappointment began to set in, Dean Mo Xin shifted the topic. “The previous dean noticed something amiss and sought answers. Through the grace of heaven, he obtained a Wordless Heavenly Book in an ancient secret realm. From it, he uncovered the secret of the Heavenly Ladder’s disappearance.”
Yu Zhao’s spirits lifted.
The real story was about to unfold.
Yet Dean Mo Xin chose this moment to digress, elaborating on the Wordless Heavenly Book instead.
“This book is the treasure of an ancient master in the Mahayana Stage. It possesses unparalleled wisdom, knowing the heavens above and the affairs below. However, it has one limitation: the holder can only view it once in their lifetime, and only someone destined may open it. To the undestined, it remains eternally inaccessible.”
He added, “The book is the most prized artifact of Tai Bai Academy, known to fewer than five individuals.”
Initially distracted, Yu Zhao became focused upon learning the book’s peculiarities. Hearing the last part, a bold thought surfaced in her mind.
“Yu Zhao, would you like to be the destined one to glimpse the book?”
Her suspicions were confirmed, and instead of nervousness, she felt a strange sense of clarity.
“I would be honored.”
Dean Mo Xin nodded before returning to the original topic.
“The former dean, deeply troubled by the matter of the Heavenly Ladder, sought answers from the book. It revealed a crucial secret:
“The issue with the ladder is not that it cannot be summoned, but that the spiritual energy of the cultivation world is insufficient to sustain its operation. The problem lies not in the ladder but in the spiritual energy.”
The revelation hit Yu Zhao like a thunderclap. The tremor shook her soul to its core.
Dean Mo Xin’s statement aligned perfectly with the secret she learned from the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan—an unknown force was draining the cultivation world’s spiritual energy.
“The former dean was so horrified by this discovery that it consumed him. He passed away, his body and spirit spent, just a few years later. I hesitated to tell you this, fearing it might cloud your Dao heart and ruin your future.”
There was melancholy on Dean Mo Xin’s face. “After all, cultivating is about seeking immortality. If you knew in advance that becoming immortal was a mere fantasy, how many could still maintain unwavering faith? A world plunged into chaos over lost hope is a fate no one desires.”
At first, Yu Zhao was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the truth. Yet, as her thoughts settled, she noticed a crucial inconsistency.
Was the declining spiritual energy truly the cause of the Heavenly Ladder’s failure?
According to Dean Mo Xin, the ladder could reappear if spiritual energy were restored. Yet what she heard from Senior Chang Sheng suggested that the Heavenly Ladder itself was damaged—“The ladder is broken, the immortal path severed; heaven seeks to doom the cultivation world.”
Which was it? Were the two connected, or were they separate issues altogether?
The answer remained elusive.
Her eyes landed on Dean Mo Xin again. Could the Wordless Heavenly Book, a treasure of an ancient Mahayana Stage master, provide guidance?
The yearning in Yu Zhao’s gaze burned like a flame, impossible to ignore.
Dean Mo Xin smiled. “Would you like to see the book?”
“Mm-hmm!” Yu Zhao nodded eagerly.
“Fine, but promise me one thing first.”
“Agreed!”
Without hesitation, she accepted.
Seeing her fervor, Dean Mo Xin relented. “Relax your body. I will take you to see the Wordless Heavenly Book.”
Following his instructions, a wave of dizziness washed over her.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a pristine pavilion. At its center stood a desk, upon which lay a thin book with a blank cover, as spotless as white paper.
“Is this the Wordless Heavenly Book?” Yu Zhao exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
Dean Mo Xin shook his head. “Of course not. Would I place the academy’s most treasured artifact in plain sight? That’s a replica.”
Yu Zhao: …
He then rummaged through his robes, pulling out a tattered booklet. “This is the real Wordless Heavenly Book.”
Yu Zhao: …
Her silence was deafening.
What an insult.
Though annoyed, she took the booklet without delay. Instead of flipping it open, she inspected it carefully.
This scrutiny led to more frustration.
The real book was shabby, as though plucked from a garbage pile, while the replica on the desk looked pristine. The differences were stark.
What carelessness in replication! Tai Bai Academy clearly didn’t take this seriously!
Suppressing her complaints, she flipped open the book.
A yellowed blank page greeted her without warning.
Dean Mo Xin’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
For over 400 years, he had tried to open the Wordless Heavenly Book countless times but had always failed. Yet Yu Zhao managed it effortlessly, unperturbed, and without the slightest hesitation.
His bitterness nearly pierced the heavens.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the gravity of her accomplishment, Yu Zhao flipped through several more blank pages before looking doubtfully at the scowling dean.
And here we go again…
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