Chapter 33: The Legendary Technique!

"Life will be extinguished, and none shall be spared!"

These words left everyone present frozen, their expressions locked in a state of stunned disbelief. This was especially true as they watched Martial Sage Shen Yu, now convinced that this reincarnation of an immortal was not merely speaking offhand.

"To think it would come to this..." the Lord of Moonstone City murmured, his tone unable to mask his utter incredulity.

He was not alone; the others were much the same. Faced with this natural disaster, they had indeed felt concern, but that anxiety stemmed primarily from their roles as leaders of various factions. They worried for their subordinates and the people within their domains. Subconsciously, they believed that no matter how great the calamity, it could never truly threaten them. Where could a martial arts master not find food? How could they possibly fear a mere winter?

But now, hearing these words, they suddenly realized that they, too, were caught in the midst of this great catastrophe, destined to meet the same end.

"An ordinary natural disaster does not warrant the kind of merit that allows an immortal to transcend," Martial Sage Shen Yu said with a soft sigh, his voice growing heavier. "Only by saving a world and preserving the principles of humanity can one earn such a qualification. Furthermore, a 'tribulation' is only a tribulation if it is a great disaster—otherwise, how could it be called 'transcending' for an immortal? You must not be careless. It is not unheard of for immortals to fail their tribulations. If I fail, I may not necessarily perish, but you and this entire world will truly be wiped away without a trace!"

Yes, Martial Sage Shen Yu had to make the severity of the situation clear. In the cultural cognition of this world, there was no concept of an "apocalypse." If they truly believed they could rest easy simply because an immortal was among them, it would be a disaster in itself.

"Rest assured, Immortal Yu," someone said after shaking off their stupor, raising a hand. "We shall certainly follow your instructions and do everything in our power to survive this great tribulation."

Once one person spoke, the others followed suit, all expressing similar sentiments. Even the Holy Maiden of West Mountain and the Lord of Moonstone City were no exception.

Martial Sage Shen Yu knew that they had received too much information in a short time and were still somewhat dazed, but that did not matter; time would resolve it. What was most important was to initiate action as quickly as possible.

"Father-in-law," Martial Sage Shen Yu said, turning back to the Lord of Moonstone City. "Saving the world begins with saving the people. I hope you will open the granaries to provide for the refugees outside the city."

"Very well," the Lord of Moonstone City nodded, though he added with a heavy heart, "However, our grain reserves are already low. If we are to supply three million refugees, I fear we cannot last long. Moreover, once word spreads, even more will come."

This was the very reason he had firmly refused the Holy Maiden of West Mountain earlier, despite knowing how difficult she could be. The city’s own food supplies were meager. Even with the "immortal arts" Shen Yu had just displayed, it was far from enough.

"Do not worry. I have already connected with two fellow immortals who are also undergoing their tribulations. Their worlds are not lacking in food—at least, not for the time being," Shen Yu explained. "I will exchange cultivation techniques, elixirs, and other resources with them. In this regard, I hope for your assistance as well."

"Our cultivation techniques? Does an immortal need such things?" someone asked with curiosity.

The words had barely left his lips before several others looked at him as if he were a fool.

"I do not need them, but the worlds I am saving do," Shen Yu said, glancing around. He did not mind explaining. "Some worlds have thin vital energy and weak human bodies; the techniques and resources you use for cultivation are exactly what they need to compensate. This is precisely why we immortals must help one another."

The benefit of speaking the truth was that he no longer needed to rack his brain to fabricate new excuses. Perhaps he might even need the people of this world to help improve these techniques to better adapt them to the conditions of other worlds.

"Indeed, exchanging what one has for what one lacks is mutually beneficial!" The Lord of Moonstone City seemed to have fully recovered, nodding slightly as his mind raced. As the master of a city, he was not a man without schemes. But as the initial shock faded, he grew increasingly convinced by his son-in-law's words. Beyond the supernatural feats Shen Yu had displayed, there was a sense of reality in this mutual aid. If they had simply received infinite food for nothing, he would have felt uneasy. Furthermore, he quickly realized the significance of today's events for himself and Moonstone City. Setting aside the fact that the reincarnated immortal was his son-in-law, having sufficient food in the current era was an overwhelming advantage.

"You heard him: prepare to open the granaries, cook porridge, and maintain order," the Lord of Moonstone City said, turning to those behind him.

"Yes!" everyone replied in unison. Their voices were resonant, a stark contrast to their earlier demeanor.

Meanwhile, the group behind the Holy Maiden of West Mountain felt a surge of anxiety. They stood there, hesitant and awkward, looking at Martial Sage Shen Yu but not daring to speak. They had just offended an immortal; they had no idea what punishment might await them.

Finally, the Holy Maiden of West Mountain stepped forward, her voice slightly hoarse. "Immortal Yu, since this is a trade for grain, I wonder how much food these can bring me."

She extended her hand, and several bottles, jars, and a slip of golden silk appeared before her. When the others saw the golden silk, their eyes widened, and many drew sharp breaths.

"The Nirvana Sutra of the Withered Wood!"

"This technique is actually in the hands of the Holy Maiden!"

"So that's it! The Holy Maiden was once gravely wounded, yet her meridians remained intact. If she had this technique, it would explain everything."

"No wonder they say her medical skills are divine! This is the legendary scripture of medicine!"

"The Holy Maiden hid it so well; for so long, no one had any idea!"

It was no wonder their reaction was so intense. Even Martial Sage Shen Yu was momentarily stunned when he heard the name. In this martial world, there were no clear demarcations for cultivation levels or techniques, but there were rough distinctions in power. His own "Golden Cicada Art" was classified as a first-class technique because, upon reaching the sixth stage—the state of perfection—one could be considered a first-class master of the era, roughly on par with a city lord. Above that were supreme techniques, so named because those who practiced them displayed the strength of supreme masters.

Yet, beyond those, there was a most mysterious tier: the legendary techniques.

Legendary techniques were not necessarily vastly more powerful than the techniques of current supreme masters, but each one represented a martial myth that had once walked the earth. They were the masters who had once dominated an entire age. Most had been lost to time, and each time one resurfaced—or even just a trace of one—it stirred up storms of blood.

The Nirvana Sutra of the Withered Wood belonged to this tier. If it had been known that this technique was in the possession of the Holy Maiden, even with her strength and reputation, she would likely have perished long ago in the chaos of the martial world, unable to escape her fate.