“Bang!”
Countless electric lights exploded in the dark cave, like countless electric pythons raging within it.
When these electric pythons gradually vanished, the cave became silent.
He Xiuyuan cautiously approached the cave entrance to inspect it, then confirmed that the demon within the cave had been annihilated and killed by the Heavenly Retribution just now.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan felt relieved, then turned to look at the Crane beside him.
At this moment, the Crane also knew that the demon had finally been eliminated, and immediately flapped its wings, emitting joyful cries.
He Xiuyuan stood quietly watching, and it was only after a long while that the Crane finally calmed down.
However, before He Xiuyuan could step forward to inquire about the Crane's condition, the Crane suddenly fell down.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan's heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to check on it.
However, He Xiuyuan was not familiar with how to treat illnesses, especially in the case of a Crane.
After a careful examination, he confirmed that the Crane was still alive, and only then did He Xiuyuan breathe a sigh of relief.
If he had just found this Crane and it had died, that would have been a complete disaster.
He Xiuyuan thought for a moment, then decided to take the Crane with him back to his dwelling.
This place had a Seal on a demon, and although it was dead, it still made He Xiuyuan feel somewhat uncomfortable.
After bringing the Crane back to the Mountain Peak, He Xiuyuan then had the presence of mind to deal with the wound on his arm.
This Heavenly Retribution was truly powerful; He Xiuyuan's arm had only been in contact with it for a short time, yet it was already numb from the shock and felt a burning pain.
If He Xiuyuan hadn't possessed some Dao cultivation, his arm would have been crippled in that instant.
His clothes were now tattered, so He Xiuyuan could only tear off some strips of cloth to bandage his arm.
Then, He Xiuyuan sat down cross-legged and began to Cultivate to recover from his injuries.
.......
The next day.
Before He Xiuyuan had even awakened from his Cultivation, he heard a cry beside him, which sounded like the Crane.
Upon realizing this, He Xiuyuan immediately opened his eyes and turned to look.
Then, He Xiuyuan saw the Crane, which had been on the verge of death yesterday, now seemed to have recovered some of its spirit today.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan approached the Crane, looking at it with some hesitation.
He had searched for this Crane for so long, and now that it was before him, He Xiuyuan momentarily didn't know what to say to it.
At this moment, the Crane also focused its attention on He Xiuyuan, examining him up and down with its eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of curiosity.
He Xiuyuan hesitated for a moment, then organized his words and asked, “Crane Brother, do you have a sect?”
The Crane, hearing this, flapped its wings, then pointed to a pile of stones nearby, gesturing for a moment before He Xiuyuan roughly understood the Crane's meaning.
From the Crane's gestures, it seemed to be saying that its master had already died.
As for the concept of a sect, it was unclear whether the other party didn't understand it or simply didn't have one.
If that were the case, then the rumors Shitian Yu had told him earlier seemed to be correct.
Indeed, a major battle had erupted in the Mount Shi Fang back then, and the outcome of the battle was indeed not good; the Daoist from that time must have perished.
Thinking of this, He Xiuyuan asked the Crane again, and only then did he learn that its master was buried not far from the cave from yesterday.
Yesterday, it was too dark, and coupled with the inconspicuous small mound, He Xiuyuan hadn't noticed this scene.
After some thought, He Xiuyuan and the Crane made the journey again.
When He Xiuyuan arrived at the place where the demon was slain last night, he quickly saw a small mound not far away.
After confirming that the Daoist was buried there, out of respect, He Xiuyuan tidied up the small mound and then erected a stone tablet there.
With this, a clear grave appeared before him.
The Crane watched quietly from the side, occasionally letting out a few cries.
“What was your master’s name?”
“Gah…”
“Is it alright to arrange the grave like this?”
“Gah…”
“Do you want to offer some sacrifices?”
“Gah…”
He Xiuyuan kept asking the Crane, while the Crane simply let out a short cry.
He Xiuyuan didn't understand bird calls and was somewhat powerless to interpret the Crane's cries, so he could only act according to his own thoughts.
After the grave was tidied up, He Xiuyuan found a wild chicken, plucked its feathers, roasted it, and placed it in front of the grave as an offering.
There was no need to worry about other wild beasts coming to eat the offering placed here.
This area had previously held a Seal on a demon, and influenced by the demon's Qi, small animals nearby dared not approach.
“I originally came here hoping to find a Dao sect or fellow cultivators, but I never expected to only find the remains of a Senior,” He Xiuyuan stood before the newly piled grave, sighing slightly, with a hint of emotion on his face.
If he could have had a good conversation with this Senior face-to-face, it might have been of great help to his path of Cultivation.
And for this Senior before him, to have such an act of defending the Dao, He Xiuyuan held immense reverence.
It was a true pity that he could not form a connection, a genuine regret.
He Xiuyuan murmured to himself in front of the grave.
He had just had a simple conversation with the Crane beside him.
This Crane probably didn't know about places like Dao sects; it had followed the old Daoist since it was young, and after the old Daoist died, it had stayed here guarding the place.
So, this time, the trail he was following in the Mount Shi Fang seemed to end here.
Next, he could go to the East Sea to search for Sanxian Island.
Although he hadn't gained much in the Mount Shi Fang this time, He Xiuyuan didn't feel any regret or pity.
Judging from last night's situation, if He Xiuyuan hadn't come, this Crane would have died here.
The previous Senior had already died here for this demon; if the Crane he had adopted also perished, that would be truly unreasonable.
He Xiuyuan stood in front of the grave, chatting for a while, then turned to look at the Crane beside him.
“There’s nothing more for me to do here. I’m going back now. Do you want to come along?”
He Xiuyuan was referring to his Mountain Peak from before.
The Crane, hearing this, tilted its head and looked at He Xiuyuan, showing no expression.
He Xiuyuan realized that the Crane didn't seem to want to follow him, probably because its master was buried here.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan didn't force it, sighed, cupped his hands to the Crane, turned, and left by riding the water.
As He Xiuyuan departed, the Crane's gaze fell upon the discarded brush from last night, which He Xiuyuan had used to cast a Spell.