Chunibyo in Cultivation World

Chapter 138: This Matter Is Virtue

”What’s going on? Was this the work of Evil Demons?”

”Why are these disciples acting like this?”

The Sacred Lord of Lingxu looked upon the scene with a face full of confusion.

Though the Sacred Land of Lingxu was a righteous sanctuary, who would have thought that people here would put the word “Virtue” on their lips—using it as an interjection, even as a habitual expression in their speech.

While it sounded smooth enough when those two used “Virtue” casually as a sigh or response, and even quite natural to the ear—

—it still struck the Sacred Lord of Lingxu as oddly out of place within the sacred land.

For a moment, he even thought whether he himself could perhaps use this word “Virtue,” just as those monks of the Buddhist sects constantly uttered “Amitabha.”

Even so, it did not change how bizarre such a thing appeared within the Sacred Land of Lingxu.

”What troubles you, Sacred Lord?”

The elders who had been left behind gradually caught up, only to see the Sacred Lord of Lingxu hovering mid-air, pausing with a puzzled look.

”I can’t help but feel… something is wrong with the sacred land.”

The Sacred Lord of Lingxu’s gaze swept across the disciples below on each peak. Those people chatted and exchanged ideas, and whenever they grew excited, their sentences would end with the word “Virtue.”

Most importantly, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu sensed from them an unprecedented harmony—yes, harmony.

In the past, the disciples of the sacred land were always preoccupied with paving their paths toward immortality—either doing missions or on their way to complete them. Even when they spoke with others, it was for only brief moments.

Now, however, he could see disciples sitting cross-legged together, discussing Dao with one another, sharing their understanding of new spells.

In the past, inner-sect disciples would look down upon those from the outer sect with inferior talent—barely even acknowledging their presence. The hierarchy had been strict.

But now, those same disciples sat together, exchanging insights freely. It was believable enough if an inner-sect disciple explained something to an outer-sect one.

Yet before his very eyes, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu saw an outer-sect disciple speaking, while the inner-sect disciple listened with an expression of genuine enlightenment.

That outer-sect disciple clearly had a unique perspective in his area of expertise, offering the inner-sect one new insight.

Yes—it was exactly like that. Everyone conversed without barrier, casting aside the walls built by strength and hierarchy within the cultivation world.

Compared to before, the entire Sacred Land of Lingxu now seemed strangely different—so much so that the Sacred Lord of Lingxu himself felt out of place.

”Really? I don’t see anything wrong!”

That elder had not noticed anything amiss within the sacred land. After all, he had sealed himself away for thousands of years during the Evil Demons’ blockade; to him, any change in the sacred land was only natural.

Look—how harmonious and friendly those disciples were! As one of the sacred land’s ancestors, he only felt comforted and gratified.

Precisely because of his long self-sealing, he could not sense the subtle strangeness that had arisen. Meanwhile, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu, being responsible for the land’s many affairs, would appear from time to time even during the Evil Demons’ blockade to oversee matters.

”You don’t understand.”

The Sacred Lord of Lingxu answered sternly, his expression turning serious.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

”Could it be like this…?”

The current scene reminded the Sacred Lord of Lingxu of his former master. Back then, when his master went down the mountain on errands, he, as the eldest disciple, was left in charge of the peak. Of course, “in charge” was only in name—those below him slacked as they pleased, and that was that.

But whenever it was time for his master’s return, he would make all the disciples prepare—putting on airs of diligence and focus, feigning effort, all to avoid reprimand.

It was all about appearances.

Now, seeing the sacred land’s situation, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu couldn’t help but think of that same act.

After all, the Evil Demons’ blockade had recently been lifted. Surely, the elders he had appointed to manage the sacred land must know that many of the self-sealed ancestors would soon emerge again. Thus, they likely ordered the disciples to pretend to be harmonious and united, to make it appear as though his governance of the sacred land had been excellent—that all disciples lived in peace and brotherhood.

”They’re quite thoughtful… but what’s with this word ‘Virtue,’ seriously!”

Though he had reached that conclusion, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu still couldn’t understand this part.

”Forget it. Let’s head to the Main Peak and clear this up.”

”Come, back to the Main Peak first.”

The Sacred Lord of Lingxu did not dwell on it. In his eyes, now that the Evil Demons’ blockade was gone, even if something was amiss within the sacred land, the ancestors’ strength was more than enough to handle any incident.

Even if the other three sacred lands invaded.

Soon, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu and the ancestors arrived at the Main Hall.

The twelve Peak Masters of the various peaks had already been waiting there for some time.

”We greet the Sacred Lord and the honored ancestors.”

One after another, figures appeared in the grand hall, cupping their hands in salute.

Sweeping his Divine Sense over them, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu found nothing unusual.

Yet he knew that cultivators could not sense the presence of Evil Demons, not even with Divine Sense—so the absence of abnormalities was in itself unsurprising.

”On my way back, I saw the disciples of every mountain speaking strangely—ending their words with ‘Virtue’ as a sigh. Do you know what’s going on?”

The Sacred Lord of Lingxu didn’t waste words, his gaze sharp and serious as he stared at the Peak Masters—ready to strike at the slightest hint of corruption.

Hearing his question, the Peak Masters exchanged glances.

”Sacred Lord, do you still recall when you granted supreme authority to Li Tianwei some time ago? After gaining it, he requested to hold a sermon within the sacred land, and of course, we all supported him fully.”

”On that very day, the Evil Demons hidden among our upper ranks also made their move in secret…”

The Peak Masters recounted everything—the sermon of Li Tianwei, and how he alone subdued Zhang Linyuan afterward.

Their words echoed through the Main Hall, falling upon the ears of the Sacred Lord of Lingxu and the other ancestors. It was something beyond the realm of reason—an utterly unbelievable event.

”Li Tianwei slew Zhang Linyuan?!”

The Sacred Lord of Lingxu’s face was filled with astonishment.

The same could be said for the nearby ancestors.

After all, the gap between the Golden Core Realm and the Out-of-Body Realm was like heaven and earth—utterly incomparable.

After hearing the Peak Masters’ report, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu even forgot the original question he had asked.

His mind echoed only with their words.

He and the other ancestors remained dazed for a moment before regaining their composure.

”So this matter… is connected to Li Tianwei?”

He asked tentatively.

”Indeed. After Li Tianwei’s sermon, the Dao he manifested received the disciples’ acknowledgment—so naturally, this word ‘Virtue’ lingered upon their lips.”

The Peak Masters nodded deeply.

After hearing it all, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu could scarcely imagine that Li Tianwei had grown to such terrifying power.

”Could he be a Child of the Great Dao? Otherwise, how could he possess such ability?”

”He’s only been in the cultivation world for… what, a year?”

”And already holds sermons?”

Thinking this, the Sacred Lord of Lingxu took a deep breath. To him, this matter was not a problem at all—in fact, one could even say:

”This matter is Virtue.”

With that declaration, the “Virtue” in his words had already defined the matter entirely.

As for what strangeness there might be—what strangeness? Wasn’t it simply that Li Tianwei held a sermon? With his talent, why wouldn’t he? And now, the entire Sacred Land of Lingxu seemed peaceful and harmonious—no conflict, no chaos.

What problem could there possibly be? None at all.