Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

Chapter 172 - 128: Method to Help Master Recover (Part 2)

Even though You Su’s words were in jest, they still revealed the hardships a blind child has faced growing up until now.

The one who spends all day with flowers, plants, and trees has a heart that is exceptionally kind. The Third Elder was touched by You Su’s words, her eyes as gentle as water, and she softly said:

"You need not be modest. Your achievements today prove that this is not an illusion, but a fact."

"Thank you for your affirmation, Third Elder." You Su responded politely, with an elegant demeanor.

The Third Elder looked at his appearance, feeling pity in her heart. After all, people tend to show more concern for those who are weaker.

"Did Qingchen trouble you?"

"Senior Brother Qingchen did not trouble me," You Su answered truthfully.

"Qingchen is very exclusivist by nature. Don’t take it to heart."

"Perhaps it is because Senior Brother Qingchen values his sect greatly that he acts this way; I understand."

The Third Elder’s delicate brows knitted upon hearing this. Was her second apprentice really acting this way just because he valued the sect...?

In fact, Ye Qingchen was not a disciple she had taken under her initiative, but one the Ye Family had pushed into her hands. When she was young and unknown, she received a favor from the Ye Family Patriarch at that time, so now that she had achieved fame, accepting a Ye Family descendant whose talent matched hers as a disciple to repay the favor was only fitting.

Even though he was a man, she patiently and meticulously taught him. It must be admitted that this child was indeed an exceptionally excellent disciple. However, Ye Qingchen’s various behaviors subtly displeased her, and multiple teachings had had little effect. As Ye Qingchen broke into the Feather Transformation Realm, his words and actions seemed to become even more excessive. She even felt that this disciple harbored feelings he shouldn’t have towards her, but since the other party never expressed or acted in an improper way, she could not make a hasty conclusion.

The Third Elder was quite troubled by this matter, as it was like a rootless duckweed for which she had no evidence, nor could she seek advice from others. Therefore, she could only treat Ye Qingchen more strictly and sternly on usual days, hoping he could retreat in the face of difficulties and preserve this hard-to-come-by master-disciple bond.

"Then if..."

The Third Elder originally wanted to ask You Su’s opinion as a disciple about such a situation but stopped herself immediately.

Her dislike of You Su was due to him defiling Lotus Peak and bathing with the Thirteenth Elder; she was already at her limit when she couldn’t help but praise him out of pity. She was deeply regretting almost sharing her inner thoughts with him now.

The Third Elder shook her head secretly, waking herself: This person is, after all, a filthy man! It was he who caused the Lotus Sword Venerable’s Spirit Platform to be damaged, and more so, it was for him that the Venerable repeatedly depleted her power. His pitiful background was not a reason for him to receive such favoritism!

"If what?" You Su asked.

"Nothing, let’s discuss the main topic."

The Third Elder responded seriously, resuming her usual cool tone toward You Su, as if the softness from moments ago was but a fleeting illusion.

Was there a need to call him here to discuss something serious...?

You Su concentrated his attention and respectfully said, "Please speak, Third Elder."

The Third Elder glanced at You Su and began with astonishing words:

"Your master has gone into seclusion not to advance but to heal."

To heal?!

"Is... is Master injured?"

You Su was incredulous; he originally thought the Third Elder had called him here to discuss his own problems, only to find out it was Master who had issues.

"Do I need to deceive you?" The Third Elder retorted unceremoniously.

You Su was digesting this shocking news; he seemed to never have considered the purpose of Master’s seclusion, just assuming it was due to some epiphany.

Since entering the Profound Sky Sect, he had gained a senior sister, a more caring master, and new status along with more substantial strength; everything seemed to be moving in a better direction, making him think others around him were the same.

"Did Master... encounter an issue with her cultivation?"

"Do you know?" The Third Elder’s voice became colder.

"I guessed; Master never told me. Before coming to Profound Sky Sect, there was an unusual black spot on her abdomen in my Sea of Consciousness. But after arriving at Profound Sky Sect, it disappeared, so I didn’t think much of it."

You Su regretted; he should have realized earlier; that black spot clearly didn’t belong on a Void Realm Venerable.

The Third Elder sighed lightly and said, "That’s because she used a spell to conceal her injury. Being in a high position, she couldn’t let people easily see her details."

An injury that cannot be known by others is undoubtedly severe.

"Do you know what injury Master sustained?"

"Her Spirit Platform is broken."

The Third Elder delivered another shocking revelation.

You Su’s eyes widened, "How can a Spirit Platform break?"

He was in the Spirit Platform Realm, so he knew well that the Spirit Platform is the foundation of cultivation, created through years of accumulation by a cultivator, and he had never heard of a Spirit Platform breaking.

"Everything has its limits; if you exceed the limits of what you can bear, even arms and legs can break, so why can’t the Spirit Platform? The black spot you sensed earlier was the external manifestation of the breach in her Spirit Platform."

"Then what happens when a Spirit Platform breaks?"

"The Spirit Platform is like a vessel holding water; if the vessel breaks, the water will naturally keep flowing out."

You Su furrowed his brows; this meant that Master’s cultivation in the Void Realm was continuously depleting. Yet even under such circumstances, Master still planted an Immortal Seed for him, greatly damaging her Dao Foundation.

Moreover, You Su realized a key point:

Master, who was initially no different from a mortal, only showed that black spot after everything in Chuyun City had been settled, indicating she got injured in Chuyun City. However, she had clearly disappeared for a long period before she went back to Chuyun City and got injured - why did she need to go back?

The answer was evident.

"Please, Third Elder, tell me how to remedy this!" You Su clapped his hands together with a thud and bowed, exclaiming.

He naturally knew that the Third Elder had taken the trouble to inform him of this, not just to let him know the truth for worry, but because he had something to offer, qualifying him to know the matter.

The Third Elder, seeing You Su’s determined demeanor, softened her cold expression slightly and said:

"At least you have some conscience, not squandering your Master’s sacrifices for you repeatedly."

You Su did not know what the Third Elder referred to by "repeatedly," and he asked urgently:

"You Su is ignorant; what has Master done for me that I don’t even realize? Please guide me, Third Elder!"

The Third Elder sighed deeply: "Despite being heavily injured, she planted an Immortal Seed for you, and now she can only seal herself off to forcibly block the breach in her Spirit Platform; once she emerges, her cultivation will plummet uncontrollably. Yet when she learned a few days ago that your name would be made public, she planned to exit seclusion to protect you, but fortunately, you persuaded her to stay; after your battle with Zhou Changwen when your body was entirely depleted, fearing that your foundation was compromised, she refused to let you recover slowly, instead choosing to transmit her own cultivation power to you using the Immortal Seed, allowing you to recover so quickly. Even then, she was not satisfied; she risked completely dropping a cultivation realm to refill the emptied Immortal Seed for you. Now, her condition is hanging by a thread."

The Third Elder intentionally omitted the process of the shared bath and transmission of power, but unbeknownst to her, You Su already knew.

You Su lowered his eyelids, realizing now why he had shared the bath with Master that night. It turned out the Profound Qi continuously entering his body from the water was actually coming from Master, no wonder he felt such affinity.

He had thought that after entering the mountain, he would surely repay and honor Master diligently, but he didn’t expect to become a "leech," relying on consuming Master’s cultivation without contributing anything to Lotus Peak.

More crucially, given the Third Elder’s frankness with him today, there was no reason to withhold that matter...

Thinking back, the Third Elder actually wasn’t aware of his physical condition. From any perspective, it could only have been Master who helped him disperse the fire that night. His belief that it was the Third Elder on Master’s request was nothing but wishful thinking, unwilling to accept the real answer.

Master, what have you come to...

You Su struck the ground in anger, clenching his teeth, eyes blazing like fire.

He was filled with rage, angry at his complacency and self-deception, more so at his own hypocrisy; always speaking of filial respect and repayment to Master, yet never taking action.

The Third Elder was stunned for a while, clearly seeing the deep sense of guilt and self-reproach on this young man, and comforted him:

"I’m telling you this not to make you wallow in self-pity, but to hope you understand your Master’s devotion and take up the responsibility to assist in her recovery."

"Through fire and water, I, You Su, will not hesitate!" You Su’s voice was like a battle drum.

"You having this resolve is good, but fire and water are just the beginning." The Third Elder’s tone grew warmer, "Do you know where your Master gained her Dao enlightenment to enter the Void Realm?"

"Jade Ring Pool."

The Third Elder nodded slightly and said:

"The enlightenment to break into the Void Realm during the Feather Transformation is not an arbitrary choice of location; it’s because that place contained her natal item. I have scoured ancient texts, and the methods to repair the Spirit Platform now seem hopeless; only one method is feasible, and that is to replace it with a new natal item. Your Master’s natal item is the Lotus Heart in Jade Ring Pool."

"And now, only you can obtain it."