Heavenly Dao Nemesis

The Mount Sinai Excavation

Four days later, Liam finally stepped out of his room.

Although his body had yet to recover completely, the improvement was undeniable. The bruises covering his body had faded considerably, and his damaged meridians no longer caused him unbearable pain whenever he tried to circulate his spiritual energy. 

He still felt a dull ache in his ribs, but compared to the condition he had been in two days ago, he was practically a different person.

He stretched his arms slightly before looking around the small courtyard.

He had spent the past four days resting and examining the condition of his body. His spiritual root remained sealed, and his cultivation was still pitifully weak, but he had managed to restore enough spiritual energy to move around without difficulty.

For someone who had once stood at the peak of the mortal cultivation world, recovering to this extent in just four days was hardly surprising.

Unfortunately, his current body was another matter entirely. Liam glanced at his hands and sighed. "To think I'd have to start all over again."

He shook his head and walked farther into the courtyard.

He had been confined to his room for two days. Although he had used the time to recover, he was beginning to feel restless. Staying in bed any longer would only make him feel like an invalid.

Besides, he needed to understand the current situation of the Azure Cloud Sect and determine how he would obtain the resources necessary to restore his cultivation.

As he approached the courtyard entrance, he noticed a young girl sweeping the ground.

Olivia was so focused on her work that she didn't notice him immediately. Her worn sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and she held a broom in both hands, sweeping away the fallen leaves.

Liam watched her for a moment, before he cleared his throat. "I'm finally out of that room."

The moment Olivia recognized his voice, she spun around. Her eyes widened when she saw him standing near the entrance. "Brother!"

She dropped the broom and hurried toward him. "What are you doing outside? Are you feeling better? Does your body still hurt? Why didn't you call me before coming out?"

Before Liam could answer, she began examining him from head to toe, her expression filled with concern.

"You shouldn't be walking around yet! Your injuries were so serious that I was afraid you wouldn't recover properly. What if you hurt yourself again? Come on, go back inside and rest. I'll bring you some food."

She reached for his arm, intending to escort him back to his room.

Liam gently stopped her. "That's enough, Olivia. I'm fine."

"But—"

"I said I'm fine."

His voice wasn't loud, but his tone made Olivia pause.

Liam straightened his back and adjusted his sleeves. Even in his current condition, there was a dignity in his movements. His expression was composed, and his posture carried the natural authority of someone accustomed to standing above others.

For a brief moment, he seemed entirely out of place in the shabby courtyard of an outer disciple.

"Look at me," he said. "Do I look like someone who needs to be carried back to bed?"

Olivia hesitated. "Well... no. But your injuries—"

"I know my own body, so you don't need to worry so much."

Liam gave her a reassuring nod before glancing at the broom lying on the ground.

"Besides, you've been working hard enough already. You don't have to worry about me every moment of the day."

Olivia picked up the broom, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I'm not worrying every moment of the day."

"Really?" Liam raised an eyebrow.

She lowered her head. "...Maybe a little."

Since his rebirth, the atmosphere around him felt relatively peaceful. It was a welcome change from the endless scheming and betrayal that had characterized the final days of his previous life.

However, he knew better than to mistake a brief moment of peace for lasting security.

There were still too many things he needed to understand.

His gaze returned back to Olivia. "By the way, have those people come looking for trouble again?"

Olivia immediately understood whom he meant. She shook her head. "No. They haven't come back since that day."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I think they've been busy preparing for the excavation."

Liam frowned slightly. "The excavation?"

Olivia looked at him in surprise. "Brother, you don't know about it?"

"I've been sleeping for Four days. How exactly was I supposed to know?"

"That's true..."

She scratched her cheek awkwardly before continuing.

"Two days ago, the sect announced that the outer disciples would be sent to Mount Sinai for an excavation. The preparations have already begun, and everyone has been talking about it."

"Mount Sinai?"

Liam repeated the name, committing it to memory.

"What's so special about that place?"

"The sect discovered some ruins buried beneath the mountain. The elders believe there might be spiritual resources and other valuable items inside, so they've decided to organize an excavation."

Olivia's eyes brightened as she spoke.

"Everyone is excited about it. They say there might even be ancient cultivation techniques hidden inside!"

Liam listened without interrupting.

A ruin discovered by a sect was hardly unusual. Such places frequently contained medicinal herbs, spirit stones, cultivation techniques, and other resources left behind by cultivators of previous generations.

However, what interested him more was the sect's decision to send its outer disciples to excavate the ruins.

He lowered his gaze thoughtfully.

So the Azure Cloud Sect has already started using its disciples as laborers.

How generous of them. I wonder how many disciples will return with injuries, assuming they return at all.

He had seen this sort of arrangement countless times in his previous life. Sects often sent weaker disciples to perform the most dangerous tasks while their stronger members waited to collect the rewards.

Sometimes, the arrangement was reasonable.

Other times, it was little more than a convenient way to sacrifice expendable lives.

Liam had no intention of blindly trusting the sect's announcement.

"How are they organizing the work?" he asked.

Olivia tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"The excavation. Are the outer disciples responsible for everything, or will the stronger disciples participate as well?"

"Oh, that!"

Her expression brightened again.

"From what I've heard, the outer disciples will handle most of the excavation work. We'll have to clear the entrances, and help search for anything valuable. The deacons will supervise us, of course."

Liam's expression remained unchanged. "And the inner disciples?"

"They'll be there, too!"

Olivia's eyes practically sparkled.

"They won't have to do the same work as us, though. They'll probably enter the ruins after the outer disciples have cleared the dangerous areas. The sect is also sending several senior disciples to protect the excavation team."

She clasped her hands together, looking unusually excited. "And do you know what that means?"

Liam glanced at her. "That you'll be carrying rocks while the inner disciples stand around giving orders?"

"Brother!" Olivia puffed out her cheeks. "Why do you always have to say things like that?"

"Someone has to remind you of reality."

"You're being mean!"

Liam chuckled softly.

Olivia glared at him for a moment before her expression brightened again.

"Anyway, that's not the important part! Some of the inner disciples who rarely leave their cultivation grounds will finally be there. I might even get to see my idol!"

Liam's eyebrows rose. "Your idol?"

"Yes!"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"She's one of the most talented inner disciples in the Azure Cloud Sect. She's pretty, powerful, and her cultivation is far beyond anything an outer disciple like me could hope to achieve. Everyone says she'll become an elder one day!"

Liam regarded her for a moment. Then he scoffed.

"How impressive. A pretty lady who can cultivate."

Olivia stared at him. "Brother, are you being serious right now? She's one of the strongest disciples in the sect!"

"Good for hee."

Olivia opened her mouth, then closed it again.

She seemed unable to comprehend how anyone could remain so unimpressed by someone she admired so much.

"You're unbelievable," she muttered.

Liam shrugged.

He had spent centuries surrounded by powerful cultivators. Being talented within a small sect meant very little to him.

Besides, strength was not determined by reputation, or the number of people willing to praise someone.

Still, he decided not to argue with Olivia any further. She had endured enough hardship already, and he wasn't interested in crushing every little thing that brought her happiness.

Instead, he glanced toward the courtyard entrance. "When does this excavation begin?"

"Tomorrow morning. Everyone has to gather at the main training ground before sunrise."

Liam nodded. "Then we'd better prepare."

Olivia blinked. "Prepare? Brother, you're not planning to go, are you?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"But you're still recovering! What if your injuries worsen? Besides, the excavation could be dangerous. You should stay here and rest while I go."

Liam looked at her. "You're going?"

"Of course. It's a sect assignment. If I refuse, I'll be punished."

"And you expect me to let you go alone?"

Olivia fell silent.

Liam's expression remained calm. "Don't worry. I won't do anything reckless. But I won't spend the rest of my life hiding in this courtyard, either."

He had already decided that the excavation might provide an opportunity to obtain the resources he needed.

If the ruins contained medicinal herbs or spirit stones, he could use them to accelerate his recovery. And if there were ancient cultivation techniques hidden inside, he might find something useful for dealing with the seal on his spiritual root.

He wasn't going to pass up such an opportunity simply because his current body was weak.

Olivia studied him anxiously before finally sighing. "Fine. But you have to promise me that you'll be careful."

"I promise."

"And if you feel unwell, you'll tell me immediately."

"All right."

"And you won't try to fight anyone!"

Liam paused. Then he gave her a perfectly innocent smile."I'll consider it."

"Brother!"

Her indignant cry rang through the courtyard, and Liam couldn't help laughing.

For a moment, the girl forgot to worry about his injuries.

Unfortunately, the peace didn't last.

Heavy footsteps sounded beyond the courtyard entrance, followed by a voice.

"Liam!"

Just then, Olivia’s expression changed. She glanced past Liam, and the smile on her face slowly disappeared. Yet, there was an hint of amusement in her eyes.

Liam followed her gaze, wondering what could have frightened her while making her look like she was struggling not to laugh.

A moment later, a chubby boy came rushing toward them, his round face flushed and his breathing uneven. He was running so fast that he nearly stumbled over his own feet, but that did nothing to stop him from shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Liam! Liam! You’re in trouble! You’re so damn dead!”

He charged straight toward them, pointing at Liam as though he had just witnessed the end of the world.