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Chapter 480: Overthinking
🕑 Added 2024-11-11 13:36:00 +0000 UTCThe disciples never worried about their instructors going over the allotted time for lectures, fearing only that they hadn’t learned enough each day.
That’s why Lin Xiao made such an allowance for the students.
As expected, after hearing Lin Xiao’s words, the disciples eagerly flipped through the monthly report in their hands.
While the report itself wasn’t what captivated them, its contents certainly were.
Though they had toured the sect before and had been living and cultivating there for several months, having something that compiled all the old and new information about the sect was unprecedented.
The disciples of Qingyun Peak found this both novel and delightful.
Moreover, the Sect Master had mentioned that news from the outside world would also be included in future issues!
Although they were all focused individuals capable of dedicating themselves to cultivation, anyone would eventually grow a bit numb to their surroundings after spending too much time in one place.
Learning about the happenings in the outside world was a welcome change.
Even though the disciples of Qingyun Peak were quite intrigued by the Lingxian Monthly Report, lessons still had to continue. After giving them some time to browse through it, Lin Xiao resumed his lecture for the day.
However, other members of the sect were under no such constraints.
In the cultivation chambers at mid-mountain, the older and younger generations had already split into two lively groups, each holding a copy of the monthly report and discussing its contents with great excitement.
It wasn’t just discussion—many of them immediately planned to form teams and set out to visit Changming Mountain.
Although Changming Mountain was located at one end of the North Mountain, while mid-mountain was at the other, separated by eight peaks, the distance wasn’t a problem for the cultivators of Lingxian Sect.
There were several spirit ships collecting dust in the Artifact Refining Hall, rarely used.
Since there weren’t many opportunities to deploy these spirit ships, this seemed like the perfect occasion to take them out for a spin.
For those whose cultivation level was high, they could fly on their swords directly, while those with lower cultivation borrowed two spirit ships from the Artifact Refining Hall, and off they went to explore the newly unlocked sect territory, Changming Mountain.
The Lingxian Monthly Report provided detailed instructions on how to enter Changming Mountain and explained its purpose, so the group didn’t have any trouble once they arrived.
After following the instructions and touring the area, the younger disciples didn’t think much of it—some even found the place a bit eerie, filled with a chilling and ghostly atmosphere.
Qin Jianghe, feeling a bit uneasy, kept glancing at the expressions of the elders, particularly those of the older generation.
After all, Changming Mountain was, essentially, the sect’s burial ground.
He worried that the elders, seeing how Lin Xiao had prepared such a place early on, might feel unsettled.
Although everyone had expressed curiosity and a desire to visit when they saw the news in the cultivation chamber, he wondered if actually seeing the place might make them overthink things.
As it turned out, the elders didn’t overthink it at all—Qin Jianghe was the one who had overthought.
After the tour, the older generation was quite impressed with Lin Xiao’s foresight.
They had lived long lives and witnessed many farewells—parting ways with family and friends—and were no longer so burdened by the idea of life and death.
Although they were now cultivating, they had come to understand through Elder Liao's teachings that eternal life, for most cultivators, was still a distant and almost unreachable goal.
Cultivation might grant a longer life, but becoming an immortal? That was incredibly difficult.
With Changming Mountain now established, the elders felt a sense of security regarding their eventual passing.
After all, down in the village, one never knew when a natural disaster or man-made calamity might sweep their graves away. But within the sect, it was undoubtedly much safer.
Moreover, Changming Mountain offered numerous independent spaces, allowing each individual a private area for their descendants to perform rites and remembrances.
This feature particularly pleased someone like Lin Dayou, who had a lot to say during memorials. He finally felt that his younger son had done something reliable.
Just as everyone was finishing their tour and regrouping at the entrance, Yang Jinshu solemnly bowed to the group and shared her news.
She told them how she had recently found her parents and that her father had passed away, with her mother bringing his ashes to be laid to rest in the sect.
This had all happened a few months ago. Initially, Liu Yunan had wanted to inform everyone during dinner, but his mother had stopped him.
When Lin Xiao first shared the idea of creating Changming Mountain with Liu Yunan—after learning about his maternal grandfather's situation—Liu Yunan had, of course, told his mother.
Liu Yunan initially wanted to share this news with everyone right away, but Yang Jinshu felt it wasn’t the right time.
Though Lin Xiao had mentioned it, no one knew when the project would be completed, and she didn’t want to say anything prematurely.
So, she had kept the matter of her parents to herself for the time being.
Now was the right time to share.
"...My father wandered in a foreign land for many years. Now, at last, he has found peace... As his daughter, I wish for him to be laid to rest as soon as possible, so he can be at peace beside my mother and me."
Her voice choked up as she spoke, but she quickly gathered herself, clearing her throat to continue:
"What do you all think? If anyone else needs to, we could agree on a suitable day to break ground together."
The reason Yang Jinshu chose this moment to bring it up was simple.
Though Changming Mountain had originally been created because of her family’s situation, she didn’t want her father to be the first to be buried there.
She understood that even if she didn’t say anything, and simply buried her father’s ashes, no one in the sect would feel uncomfortable or harbor any ill feelings.
But she didn’t want to do that.
Instead, she hoped others might consider relocating their family graves and joining her in this act.
With her suggestion, the elders began to think.
Some considered relocating the family graves from the village to the sect.
However, some elders ultimately decided against it.
After all, disturbing the resting places of ancestors was no small matter. They weren’t far away, just down the mountain, and it wasn’t as if they were moving far from home.
But some elders began to seriously contemplate the idea, thinking that if their family members were interred within the sect, it would make it easier to perform rites and offerings. Whenever they felt the need to talk to their ancestors, they wouldn’t have to wait for a designated festival or memorial day.
And since the spaces were private, they wouldn’t have to worry about being overheard. Even those who were reluctant to cry in front of others could feel free to shed tears in peace.
In the end, four elders, led by Lin Dayou, decided to join Yang Jinshu and agreed to find a suitable day to break ground together.
As everyone finished their tour of Changming Mountain and finalized plans for its first use, one person still hadn’t left the mountain.
To be precise, he didn’t want to leave.
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