Chapter 540: One Leaf, One World

Translator: Timothy Editor: GlobeGlotter

Qing Yan sighed. “We don’t know. Since our sect’s founding, we’ve minded our own business and respected everyone. We never offended anyone. Yet, that night, a woman came and killed a martial sister in the library without a word. Then she killed many more. She was so cruel!”

Ye Mo, noting the nun’s timidity, asked, “Do you know if any important sutra was taken?”

Qing Yan shook her head. “No, we didn’t lose any cultivation methods, but we did lose the two Dao De Sutra volumes.”

“The Dao De Sutra?” Ye Mo’s face changed. He knew that book well. At the Huo Family, he and Luo Xuan had searched for the Ni Luo Sutra, hidden inside the Dao De Sutra! Had this woman sought the Ni Luo Sutra? He’d found a gold leaf inside, but learned nothing about it.

“What’s wrong, Young Hero Ye?” Qing Yan looked at him strangely. His reaction seemed unusual.

“Nothing,” Ye Mo quickly said. “I wondered why she’d want the Dao De Sutra volumes. Are they important heritage items?”

Qing Yan shook her head with a bitter smile. Pausing, she said, “Our only heritage is from our first ancestor. After hundreds of years, we don’t know if it’s real or fake. We’ve just passed it down, but those Dao De Sutra volumes aren’t part of it.”

“Master, what is our heritage then?” a young nun asked—a question Ye Mo couldn’t.

Qing Yan sighed. “One sentence: ‘One leaf, one world—one world, 3000 leaves.’ We still don’t know what it means.”

Their heritage was a sentence? Ye Mo and the other sect members were surprised. He knew ‘One flower, one world—one leaf, one tree,’ but not this contradictory phrase.

“Our ancestor said that if a disciple understood it, our sect would truly reform,” Qing Yan said, shaking her head. “But no one has.”

Ye Mo rose. “Qing Yan, if you need a new location, I have a suggestion. Luo Yue Corporation—my company—has moved to Luo Yue City. It has vast land, mountains, and forests. You could settle there.”

“Luo Yue City? I know!” a nun exclaimed.

Liang Hang Jing Temple needed a new home, so its members had been searching. Qing Yan had heard of Luo Yue City, but hadn’t expected Ye Mo’s invitation. It was bordered by the sea on three sides, ideal for a hidden life.

“If you wish to go, contact Guang Han Sect; they’re moving there too,” Ye Mo added, addressing any concerns. He welcomed such hidden sects, as long as they weren’t involved in evil practices.

Qing Yan was surprised.

Ye Mo gave them Han Yan’s contact information and left, sensing Qing Yan’s interest.

…

Ye Mo returned to Shen Nong Jia for supplementary materials for the essence chi pill. He also pondered the Dao De Sutra. He had two golden leaves from the Ni Luo Sutra. Why would someone seek the Dao De Sutra? Not all copies contained such leaves.

“One leaf, one world—one world, 3000 leaves,” Ye Mo muttered.

He realized he was back at Wu Liang Mountain, lost in thought. He focused on finding herbs.

The essence chi pill’s supplementary materials didn’t need to be spirit herbs; ordinary ones would suffice, but older ones were better. Shop-bought herbs were planted or lacked spiritual essence. He needed wild herbs.

He gathered most materials, needing only Lan Su. Lan Su grew in bleak places. Its blue body lacked flowers; its blade-like leaves carried a faint aroma. The oldest grew to twenty years.

While searching, Ye Mo headed towards Nan Lu Peak. Though uninterested in the previous day’s treasure, he might as well check.

Shen Nong Jia yielded many good, old herbs, but no spirit herbs.

Nan Lu and Qiu Tuo Peaks were steep. The cave in the cliff would be hard to find, but easy for Ye Mo. Using his flying sword, he found it in under half an hour. It seemed to be the grey-clothed man’s treasure and cultivation spot.

As Ye Mo entered, he heard a cry. It was beyond his spirit sense, obscured by trees. He could investigate later. He flew toward the sound.

In the forest lay a man, armless, surrounded by blood and several spent pistols. He was dead, likely the source of the cry. Another dead man lay in the bushes; they’d probably killed each other.

As Ye Mo prepared to leave, he heard weapons clashing, again beyond his spirit sense. He flew over and found a fight in progress.