"Since you have already perceived the danger to the Sect, the danger to the Immortal Realm, worried about the calamity of the common people, and conceived the notion of facing the disaster, why ask me?"
Han Xuanji's voice paused, carrying a hint of emotion:
"Calamity is like a tide; where it surges is not something you can fully block. However, when the tide crests and crashes against the shore, whether you drift with the current or stand as a pillar in the stream depends entirely on the 'Heart'."
After all, it was truly unlucky for this generation of Cultivators to suddenly encounter such a world-ending event.
As soon as these words were spoken, Li Taiqing's heart trembled.
Master did not ignore the dangers of the outside world, nor did he force them to hide from the world, but was waiting for them to make their own choices and verify their Dao Heart.
"Master..."
Li Taiqing was momentarily at a loss for words.
Suddenly, Inside the quiet room, the light shifted slightly. Su Ming, Jiang Hao, and the others, who had been waiting outside, felt the scene before their eyes blur instantly. The next moment, they found themselves inside a quiet room imbued with abundant Dao rhythm. The room was vast and filled with Chaos Qi.
There were no extravagant furnishings, only a single green lamp burning brightly, illuminating Han Xuanji, who sat cross-legged upon the chaos green lotus, his figure seemingly merging with the Dao.
Everyone from the Myriad Phenomena Garden was gathered here, including Xiaobai, Little Red, and Xiaojin. Seeing Han Xuanji suddenly, everyone showed different expressions and immediately bowed respectfully toward him.
"Greetings, Master (Senior Brother)."
Han Xuanji nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping slowly over the crowd. His eyes were peaceful and profound, holding no oppressive might, yet they seemed capable of illuminating the slightest ripple in everyone's heart.
He naturally knew that these sons of luck he had taken as Disciples, though gifted and blessed with great fortune, were ultimately not mere clay figures or wooden carvings.
Facing this monstrous Demon Tribulation that swept across all heavens, with the Sect bearing the brunt, their inner conflict was only human nature.
Among the sons of luck he took in, Lu Fan was already the Human Sovereign and certainly couldn't escape this great calamity.
Others, like Jiang Hao, still had his Family in his heart and couldn't easily abandon them. Su Ming, Li Taiqing, and the others had also lived in the Lingxu Heavenly Palace for so long that they couldn't just abandon it.
Although everyone was a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, they had never abandoned their emotions. If they were truly emotionless, Han Xuanji would not have needed to cultivate them. Therefore, Han Xuanji was neither surprised nor disgusted by the small considerations of his Disciples.
He did not speak to reprimand or comfort them, but remained silent for a moment, allowing the aura of the green lamp to flow over everyone.
The soft lamplight allowed the Disciples' chaotic emotions to gradually settle down.
After a long time, Han Xuanji slowly opened his mouth, his voice clear and gentle, like the soft tapping of jade:
"What Taiqing mentioned earlier—all the concerns in your hearts—I know them all."
His gaze lingered slightly on Jiang Hao,
"The bond of Bloodline kinship and the grace of upbringing—how can they be severed just by saying so? Jiang Hao, since your heart holds your Family, you don't need to forcibly suppress your true self. If you cannot repay the kindness of the Family that gave birth to and raised you, how can you speak of repaying your Master's grace?"
Jiang Hao's body trembled slightly. He looked up to meet Han Xuanji's gaze, deeply moved in his heart. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and kowtowed, saying:
"Thank you, Master, for your guidance."
The day before, he had received a distress signal from his Family, which had put him in a dilemma. Jiang Hao opened his eyes again, and much of the confusion in them had dissipated.
Han Xuanji then looked at Su Ming and the others and said:
"You have cultivated in Lingxu for a long time. Every blade of grass and tree, every Master and friend, has become Karma. Trying to sever this connection is forcing your heart lake to dry up and damaging your dao foundation—this is not cultivation; it is suicide."
Su Ming took a deep breath, nodded slowly, and said solemnly:
"Senior Brother speaks wisely."
Han Xuanji paused, his gaze sweeping over the Disciples. The green lamp's aura seemed to brighten slightly as it shone on their faces:
"I have heard it said that cultivation, upon reaching its highest point, should involve 'Supreme Emotionlessness'.
But what is 'emotion'?
If even the grace of birth and upbringing, and the grace of imparting the Dao, can be easily discarded, how is one different from an unfeeling rock or rotten wood?
What one cultivates then is not the 'Dao', but 'desolation' and 'nothingness'.
My Disciples, the Disciples of Han Xuanji, do not cultivate this."
His voice remained calm, yet every word was clear, striking the hearts of the crowd:
"The fact that you have concerns in your hearts and thoughts of where to return is not weakness; it is precisely the proof that your Dao Heart has not been tarnished!"
These words completely dispelled the last trace of self-doubt and guilt in everyone's hearts. Even Xiaobai, the most rambunctious one, listened attentively and dared not make any witty remarks.
Xiaojin and Han You, on the other hand, were deep in thought. Their situation was different from the others; they didn't have strong emotional ties to the Sect or Bloodline kinship.
Or rather, Han Xuanji was their father.
For them, Han Xuanji was Heaven itself!
Finally, Han Xuanji's tone became slightly heavier:
"Go ahead and act freely; go and fight."
Han Xuanji's voice carried an undeniable power, as if injecting the strongest dose of Reassurance into all his Disciples.
"Yes!"
Jiang Hao, Su Ming, and the others immediately responded, their hearts filled with fervor.
Han Xuanji looked at Little Red, whose strength had recovered somewhat, and instructed:
"Little Red, you should also go and look after things."
Hearing this, Little Red nodded, having no objections. Having just succeeded in Nirvana, his strength had surged. Although he hadn't recovered to his Peak, he still had the power to fight even a Celestial Golden Immortal Realm existence.
However, Little Red was still somewhat worried and asked cautiously:
"Master, if I make a move and alarm the Great Heavenly Demon of the Demon Race, what should I do?"
"The Great Heavenly Demon?"
Han Xuanji's tone was flat, mentioning this Great Demon who shook the Immortal Realm as if referring to a common title.
"Little Red, just go with peace of mind."
The lamp flame gently flickered, illuminating his calm, unruffled profile.
Han Xuanji said indifferently:
"If he dares to disregard his status, descend in his True Form, and interfere in your conflict..."
Han Xuanji paused, his voice still gentle, but filled with absolute confidence:
"Then that will no longer be your calamity, but his."
This understated sentence shook everyone's minds more profoundly than any roar or threat! As soon as these words were spoken, the quiet room became so silent that a pin drop could be heard. Little Red's pupils sharply contracted, then suddenly brightened! This was the sentence he was waiting for.
"Yes, Master!"
"Since Master says so, Little Red understands! I will certainly protect these youngsters, and... make that Great Heavenly Demon reconsider!"
Little Red's eyes held a smile; having this sentence from Han Xuanji was enough! The crimson feathers around his body became even more brilliant.
Su Ming, Jiang Hao, and the others were all stirred up inside.
Han Xuanji's meaning was simple: the Great Heavenly Demon was not his opponent!
Before coming, Lu Fan had actually told them a lot of inside information.
They had originally been worried that even if they could resist the Demonic Tide, what if the Demon Race disregarded Martial Ethics and directly deployed an existence like the Great Heavenly Demon? What should they do then?
Now, they were at peace. Watching their worshipful gazes, Han Xuanji also nodded slightly. He was also somewhat expectant, wondering if the sons of luck he had nurtured for so long could turn the tide and rewrite the ending upon their emergence.