Clearly ridiculously strong, yet still playing it safe

“Is this where Master has been living all this time?”

The moment he stepped onto Purple Bamboo Peak, every pore on the body of the Qilin Son Mo Yu instinctively opened wide.

An indescribably pure and exceedingly dense spiritual energy, accompanied by profound and ineffable Dao rhythms, surged into his limbs and bones in an instant, soaking into every inch of flesh, blood, sinew, and bone that made up his Qilin divine-beast body!

The concentration and purity of this spiritual energy far surpassed that of any blessed land or hidden paradise he had ever experienced. It was even superior to the ancestral leyline aura in the core forbidden grounds of the Southern Domain’s demon race!

More wondrous still, this spiritual energy seemed to naturally contain a certain Dao resonance.

With every breath, the ancient bloodline lying dormant within him seemed to stir with faint delight. Some of the obscure bottlenecks he had encountered in his cultivation suddenly became a little clearer.

Compared to the “fairly abundant” spiritual energy outside the mountain, the difference was like heaven and earth!

Yet all the spiritual energy and Dao resonance were firmly locked within the bounds of Purple Bamboo Peak by some invisible and intangible formation—or perhaps a set of rules—so powerful that not the slightest trace leaked out.

From the outside, it naturally appeared no different from an ordinary mountain range.

This was clearly an independent pure land of the Great Dao, existing beyond the mortal world!

His enormous body trembled slightly with excitement and awe, while his vertical, crimson-gold pupils shone with utter disbelief.

So this was what a true supreme land looked like—returning to simplicity on the surface, while containing an entire universe within!

Xiao Ruobai paid no attention to Mo Yu’s shock. As his spiritual power circulated, he restored his original appearance.

The disguise restriction that concealed the secrets of heaven and altered his aura also faded away like ripples on water.

Mo Yu had yet to recover from his astonishment at Purple Bamboo Peak when he saw the earth-shattering changes that had taken place in the appearances and auras of the four people before him. He was instantly rooted to the spot.

What?

Master? Battle Asura?

And Sword in White and Cyan Rakshasa—their previous appearances and auras had all been disguises?!

Then he recalled that when they had first entered the Azure Mystic Sect, it had seemed like the most ordinary sect imaginable. Mo Yu felt as though his entire understanding of the world had suffered an unprecedented shock.

No wonder!

No wonder all the sacred lands, ancient religious sects, and imperial dynasties of the outside world had mobilized countless people and resources, even inviting experts in the Heavenly Secrets, yet had still been unable to uncover Master’s true origins or the roots of his lineage.

All they could do was speculate that he belonged to some ancient and terrifying lineage that had remained hidden from the world.

Who could have imagined that Battle Asura, Sword in White, and Cyan Rakshasa—the peerless prodigies who had stirred up the Eastern Domain and caused all their contemporaries to pale in comparison—had actually emerged from an apparently ordinary sect in the remote borderlands of the Eastern Wasteland?

And the terrifying existence behind them, the one capable of destroying a sacred land with a casual flick of his finger, was sitting on the seemingly ordinary Purple Bamboo Peak of that sect, leisurely drinking tea!

How could this Azure Mystic Sect and Purple Bamboo Peak be ordinary?

They had clearly taken keeping a low profile and pretending to be weak to deceive the strong to the absolute extreme!

The confusion in Mo Yu’s heart gradually gave way to understanding.

He looked at Xiao Ruobai and the others, who had restored their true appearances and now possessed calm, restrained auras.

Then he looked at Purple Bamboo Peak, plain on the outside yet containing an entire universe within.

This sect and its way of doing things were simply outrageous!

They were clearly so absurdly powerful, yet they still insisted on hiding their strength!

When their disciples descended the mountain, they changed their appearances, concealed their origins, and even adopted different names, making everything seem mysterious.

The sect itself was even more low-key than low-key.

Yet whenever they made a move, it was earth-shattering, sweeping aside everything in their path.

Who could have imagined that this was the truth?

At that moment, Xiao Ruobai keenly caught the glance from his master and immediately stepped forward.

Bowing respectfully, he said, “Reporting to Master, this is the Southern Domain’s demonic prodigy, Qilin Son Mo Yu. He voluntarily swore a bloodline oath and pledged to follow me.”

Hearing this, Mo Yu came back to his senses. He did not dare delay and hurriedly stepped forward, lowering his head and saluting with the utmost respect.

“This junior is Mo Yu. Greetings, Exalted One. Having received Master’s acceptance, this junior is willing to follow him to the death without the slightest disloyal thought. I humbly request the Exalted One’s approval.”

Gu Changge’s gaze rested on Mo Yu for a moment. He nodded slightly, then turned to Xiao Ruobai and the others.

“Not bad, kid. You’ve even learned how to recruit followers. How did this journey go?”

Xiao Ruobai gave an embarrassed smile.

“Reporting to Master, this time we descended the mountain and crossed hands with several prodigies, including Wang Zhan and Fakong. We also encountered an ambush by a Buddhist from the Western Domain and went through several brushes with death. We gained quite a lot, and this disciple’s understanding of his own Dao has deepened.”

Gu Changge nodded faintly. His gaze swept over Fang Hanyu, Ling Xi, and Fatty Wang. Although their auras were slightly unsettled, their foundations had become even more solid and refined. A knowing look flashed through his eyes.

“Having gained something is good. Only by contending with the strongest figures of your generation can you see your own shortcomings.”

“Ruobai, your aura has become steadier, and your Battle God physique has grown even more solid. Your blood and qi are restrained, and you have begun to display the signs of returning to simplicity. It seems this journey taught you that hardness cannot endure forever. You now understand how to restrain your edge and accumulate strength while awaiting the right moment. Not bad.”

Next, he looked toward Fang Hanyu.

“Hanyu, your sword heart has become increasingly clear. You can now integrate your Chaotic Sword Intent into ordinary techniques, wielding great power with effortless ease.

“But your killing intent is too strong. Extreme hardness is easily broken. You must understand that a sword can also possess compassion. When to draw your sword and when to return it to its sheath—these are matters you need to think about carefully.”

When his gaze shifted to Ling Xi, Gu Changge’s tone became slightly more solemn.

“Ling Xi, you have your own path, so I need not say much. But with your current cultivation, forcibly using the Dao-Severing Finger is still somewhat beyond your limits.

“Until you enter the Saint Realm, you must not use it recklessly. The Dao of Devouring lies in control. Do not allow your power to control you.”

Finally, he cast a glance at Xiao Pang, who was brimming with confidence and eager to show off. A trace of amusement, difficult to detect, colored his voice.

“Xiao Pang, the Dao of Talismans is no minor path. It can reach through heaven and earth. Do not merely pursue ingenious forms and clever tricks; you must comprehend the resonance of its spirit.

“Furthermore, although talismans are an excellent means of self-protection, they are ultimately external aids.

“In the future, remember this: talismans are tools, while cultivation is the foundation.

“If you value clever techniques while neglecting your Dao foundation, everything will eventually amount to nothing more than flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon seen in water. You need to devote more effort to your own cultivation.”

At these words, Fatty Wang’s round face immediately crumpled. His brows and eyes drooped into the shape of the character “eight,” making him look just like an eggplant battered by frost.

With a mournful expression, he did not dare show the slightest hint of perfunctoriness. He nodded vigorously and spoke with the grim determination of someone ready to throw everything into the effort.

“Yes, Master! This disciple will remember! Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Tower of Heavenly Prodigies! I won’t come out until I’ve tempered my foundation properly!”

Only after advising his four personal disciples did Gu Changge seem to remember something. His calm gaze once again settled on Qilin Son Mo Yu.

In that instant!

Mo Yu felt his entire body stiffen. It was as though countless invisible gazes had pierced through his scales, flesh, blood, and bones at once, reaching directly into the deepest depths of his soul!

The ancient Qilin bloodline flowing through his body involuntarily let out a deep, trembling roar beneath that gaze, as though it were worshiping—and fearing—at the same time.

The cultivation he had painstakingly refined over countless years, his innate divine abilities, and even the inheritance imprint buried deep within his soul were all laid bare at that moment, completely exposed to that calm gaze.