Inside the meeting hall, Tian Long had just questioned if Shi Lang had gone mad for guarding the ce for an year.


    Hou Bing asked, "What do you mean?"


    Zither Soul sighed and said, "The ritual is very hard, and one needs to enter a state where their brain does not think about anything but the person they are guarding. They cannot close their eyes and cannot eat anything. Even the intake of spiritual energy is forbidden."


    Everyone opened their eyes wide and began to question if they should disturb Shi Lang or things like that. The reason they were so worried was because if the mind of a cultivator goes into a stagnant situation, there would be a chance for it to be lost in the spiral and not recover for ages.


    There were both type of people in the meeting hall, those who did not want to disturb Shi Lang, and those who wanted to wake him up. None of them meant him any harm but they had their own reasons.


    Shi Tao was silent, because she could not decide what to do. At this time, Yu Xeidi, who was standing beside Shi Tao''s chair yelled, "Silence!"


    The people were surprised, Yu Xeidi spoke in a grim tone, "In your need to help him don''t forget that his name is the Shura Emperor. My master doesn''t need any help from anyone. He has never done anything he was not sure of. Since he wishes to guard the Mistress then don''t bother him."


    Hao Mei came forward and said, "I agree with Xiao Yu, have faith in him, and everything will be fine. If you cannot have faith in him, then you shall leave the Asura Hall. However, if you anyone dared toe closer to Master, you will have to go through us."


    The people shocked, but they could not say anything to the two girls, they were both very protective of Shi Lang, one of them would sit at a distance from where they could see Shi Lang and cultivate or practice their skills in martial arts.


    They were the only ones who did not miss visiting him once a day. Shi Tao had to look after the sect and her own cultivation was there, because she wanted to get stronger as soon as possible to kill those who took away her mother. She looked at the two small figures leaving the hall and said, "Baba is the symbol of hope and strength for the two of them.


    In the past six months, they have reached to the middle stages of the golden core realm. Even I was not as big of a cultivation maniac as them back in the day. I suggest we wait it out. If Baba does not wake up in six months time, then we will seek other means."


    The people nodded, and only Tian Long looked like he was holding something in, but he knew very well that if he meddled in this matter, then even if Shi Lang woke up from the daze, it won''t end up any good for him.


    ...


    Under the cold sky Shi Lang sat gazing at the plot ofnd before him. His body was covered with a faintyer of dust, his hair had already matted and looked like a scab of dry blood on his head. His pupils were crimson but the rest of his eye was pinkish because of the strain they had been put through.


    Shi Lang had not moved from his spot, and his body was like a stone withstanding the tribtion of life. His face was now covered with a thick dusty beard that hid the dried blood on his cheeks.


    Rakshay beside him silently. She had been here from the night Shi Lang came to sit down here. The sword spirit had also entered a phase of sleep, and the hill had be a forbidden location in the sect.


    As the sun went down on the horizon, Yu Xeidi walked over with a te filled with pristine snacks, followed by Hao Mei who bought a stack of fine quality clothes. Shi Tao appeared in the end while carrying a big photo frame in her arms. They ced the photo beside Shi Lang, and knelt on the ground before the photo to kowtow.


    Shi Tao said, "Mom, it has been long since you left. I miss you."


    The other two stayed silence, and Shi Tao continued to mumble her prayer. She raised her head and burned two sticks of essence and then kowtowed before the photo by knocking her head against the ground nine times.


    Yu Xeidi and Hao Mei followed her actions, and the three girls stood up from their ce. Hao Mei asked with her spiritualmunication, "Eldest sister, will master wake up?"


    Shi Tao patted her head, Hao Mei had grown taller and now she reached her waist, and Yu Xeidi was the same, they both have grown a lot since they did not want the people they loved to suffer. They were not strong enough to handle the pain and guard the ce like Shi Tao or Shi Lang.


    Shi Tao heard the question and replied, "Let''s wait for the sun toe up. Then we will know."


    In Shi Lang''s mind the scene of him meeting Amelia was ying like an eternal loop. He also saw their rtionship being pushed because of their parents. Then he saw the moment of marrying her. His entire life with Amelia was like a film shing before him, and just when the loop was about to finish, he heard a voice in his mind, "Lang, wake up my love. There are many things that you need to do.


    You have to reach the peak like you always wanted to. I will watch you from wherever I am. Now go, Tao and the rest are waiting for you."


    Shi Lang shivered as the rays of morning sun fell on his body. The dust that had umted over his body cracked as he moved. Shi Lang closed his eyes and moved his neck which issued crackling sounds.


    A wave of energy erupted from his body, and spread through the entire sect. Shi Tao and the two girls were happy and surprised to see him wake up. The next moment, Allure appeared next to them with shock spelled over her face.


    Yan Xue and the rest also appeared, and they saw Shi Lang standing up on his feet and channeling spiritual energy through his body. His body issued crackling sounds as he moved and turned around to say, "It must have been hard on you all. Thank you."


    The people from the Asura Hall bowed and said, "Greetings, Hall Master."


    Shi Lang nodded and then he walked up to Shi Tao and hugged her. He said, "I am here now my child. Don''t worry, it will be fine now."


    Shi Tao let go and sobbed in his arms. The Ace of Terrans had woken up. Allure asked, "Did you refine your blood?"


    Everyone was shocked to hear this and gazed at Shi Lang with question in their eyes.