Legend of the Great Sage

The good graces that Ruan Yaozhu showed Li Qingshan were basically at an extraordinary level.
The implications made him shiver.

Ruan Yaozhu was clearly very dissatisfied with him already.
If Li Qingshan underwent the fourth heavenly tribulation some day and obtained even greater power with even more clones, then he would be out of this place immediately, just like the failures he had chased out himself.

At the very least, those failures had other choices, but to him, there was no other place more suited for cultivation than the Hundred Herbs garden.
If that happened, his dream of undergoing the fifth heavenly tribulation and becoming a direct disciple would be delayed indefinitely, while becoming a cultivation partner with Ruan Yaozhu would become nothing more than a pipe dream.

He could not help but become slightly regretful.
Perhaps he should not have been so direct.
He should have waited until he became a direct disciple before he made any attempts.
However, if it were not for obtaining her assistance, why did he go to such great lengths, getting closer and closer to her at the risk of offending her?

He had been far too confident.
He thought with the Heavenly Tome of Nature alone, no one could replace him.
Otherwise, he never would have found the courage to take things further and further either.
However, he never expected that someone who practised a different heavenly tome could also take his place.

Dammit!

A vicious light flashed through his eyes.
The cup in his hand cracked open.
Danger constantly pressed closer, yet he could only sit there, incapable of doing anything.
This was the Hundred Herbs garden.
Everything was within her control, so he could not try anything here.

She seemed to be looking down on him from above.
It was her usual gentleness and simple-mindedness that gave him a false impression, that made him think they were very close.
Only now did he suddenly discover how great of a gulf existed between inner disciples and direct disciples.

Once he was expelled from the Hundred Herbs garden, not only would it drastically affect his cultivation, but it would lead to countless questions as well, or even oppression, as her prestige in the Myriad sect was far too great.
Opposing her was basically equivalent to tattooing the words “bad person” on his face.

Right when he was overwhelmed by the potential consequences, a cultivator silently arrived behind Shen Yushu and communicated with his soul sense, “Senior brother Shen, that kid has left the Hundred Herbs garden.”

“Good! Very good!”

Shen Yushu tilted his head back and drank all of the alcohol before tossing the cup aside, shooting off into the air.

Everyone exchanged glances.
They had no idea what had just happened.

In the Hundred Herbs dwelling, Ruan Yaozhu furrowed her brows slightly.
“Shen Yushu is going too far.”

The nine-coloured deer had turned into human form, laying in the basket as she kicked her delicate legs around.
She said lazily, “He’s afraid of being expelled from the Hundred Herbs garden.
He wants to stake it all on this.”

Ruan Yaozhu sighed.
“He’s worked in the Hundred Herbs garden for all these years.
Even if he hasn’t done anything of merit, he’s still put in the hard work.
As long as he restrains himself a little and works seriously, why would I be so heartless?”

“Hehe, the two of you might both practise the Heavenly Tome of Nature, but your directions are completely different.
You see the growth of living things.
You see the heaven caring for every living thing, nurturing them all through compassion and benevolence.
That is the view of a king.
It has taken him innumerable trials and hardships to reach where he is, so what he sees is the contention of living things.
That’s why he desperately squeezes out everyone who threatens him, even wanting to obtain more sunlight, rain, and dew from you.
That is the view of a common person.”

“However, cultivation methods are still inanimate at the end of the day.
Only people are alive.
People like us have surpassed the so-called notion of kings and common people that mortals held a long time ago! Junior brother Li isn’t born a noble, but the ambitions, determination, and resolve he possesses even surpasses me.”

“That kid is a strange one.
I’m begging you, stop praising him.
From Shen Yushu’s perspective alone, of course, you should expel him from the Hundred Herbs garden.
No matter how benevolent and virtuous kings are, the common people will still be sceptical.
Speaking of which, who could tolerate people who affect their cultivation around them? You’ve always been far too easy-going.
You should have put him in his place a long time ago.
But that’s fine too.
At least he won’t actually get in your way.
He’s much safer than that kid.”

“No, I’m going to stop him.”

“But he hasn’t done anything yet.
Tsk, have you finally learnt how to oppress others with your identity as a direct disciple?” the nine-coloured deer jokingly said.

“I should warn junior brother Li at the very least.”

“You want to see him?”

“Who said that?”

“If you don’t want to see him, then save it! How can someone who’s bold enough to gamble against Le Tian be afraid of another person staking it all on this? In his words, if you don’t have the determination to gamble your life, don’t stir up conflict on a whim.”