Worrying About the Master

The woman frowned slightly, pondering for a moment, but ultimately decided she didn’t want to get into a dispute with Bai Xuanling later.

After all, Bai Xuanling was reasonable when she had reason, but utterly unreasonable when she didn’t.

She truly relied on her cultivation and the backing of the Tianyan Sect to stir up trouble. What was most infuriating was that Bai Xuanling was genuinely formidable in a fight—and willing to risk her life in one.

The woman spoke up, "We will discuss this matter further with the Tianyan Sect later. However, everything you’ve taken here must be returned to the Taidao Sect."

Chu Xingchen’s gaze shifted toward the woman.

[Zhu Ciyun]

[Cultivation: Mid-stage Unity Realm]

[Purple Trait: Considerable Talent]

[Purple Trait: Dao Heart]

[Blue Trait: Intelligence]

[White Trait: Serenity]

Chu Xingchen stood casually, his tone calm as he replied, "Then I’ll hand it over when you negotiate with her later."

A mere Unity Realm cultivator—just one major realm above him—was nothing to be so arrogant about.

His own Tribulation Transcension expert was already on the way. Who was afraid of whom?

Zhu Ciyun’s brows furrowed slightly. She understood the implication behind Chu Xingchen’s words: If you want it, go get it from Bai Xuanling yourself.

"What does Bai Xuanling matter?" Zhu Ciyun’s expression hardened. "Your Tianyan Sect is the one causing trouble here. Do you expect my Taidao Sect to back down?"

Chu Xingchen replied nonchalantly, "Bai Xuanling doesn’t matter much, but if you have an issue, you can take it up with her. I’m not going anywhere."

Zhu Ciyun narrowed her eyes. The way he spoke bore some resemblance to Bai Xuanling.

His words might sound more tactful than hers, but they were somehow even more infuriating.

No wonder Bai Xuanling came here personally—with a mouth like this.

"Elder Zhu, this Tianyan Sect disciple hasn’t taken anything. The battle here was intense. Even I couldn’t have retrieved anything under such circumstances."

Daoist Yuyang extricated himself from his sect master’s bear hug and spoke up in Chu Xingchen’s defense.

Elder Zhu Ciyun was a newly appointed elder, known within the sect for her gentle temper. However, outside the sect, she refused to show weakness, claiming the Taidao Sect had been too accommodating in the past.

Though Chu Xingchen’s words were provoking, he hadn’t betrayed his allies—something that had earned him some goodwill from Daoist Yuyang.

Besides, Daoist Yuyang had been watching Chu Xingchen closely from the moment he appeared.

Except for the brief moment when he’d been caught in an illusion, Zhang Daotan had immediately used a secret technique from the Divine Path of Incense Worship.

Otherwise, Chu Xingchen hadn’t had any opportunity to act.

There was no need to escalate tensions over something that hadn’t happened—especially since Bai Xuanling was about to arrive.

If Chu Xingchen was baiting them, giving Bai Xuanling an excuse to cause trouble, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Zhu Ciyun’s gaze shifted to Daoist Yuyang.

After a brief discussion among the Taidao Sect elders, they seemed to reach a consensus.

Zhu Ciyun’s expression softened slightly as she looked at Chu Xingchen.

"In that case, the Taidao Sect won’t detain you as a guest. You may leave."

Chen Mouguang let out a relieved sigh and quickly moved to Chu Xingchen’s side, transmitting his voice:

"Senior, discretion is the better part of valor. Let’s go for now. Once Elder Bai arrives, we can make them cough up whatever they owe us."

"What’s the rush? I just unleashed a big move—my legs are weak. I need to rest. Besides, I never eat what others spit out. Disgusting!"

Chu Xingchen answered aloud, then plopped down onto the ground, his spiritual sense sweeping boldly around as if to say, I won’t leave until I’ve gotten something out of this.

Leaving too casually would only arouse suspicion.

The Taidao Sect Master watched him with amusement, unbothered by his actions.

He chuckled and remarked, "Truly Bai Xuanling’s disciple—not only does she teach skills well, but her lessons in conduct are just as thorough."

"Take your time resting. Elder Zhu, summon someone! Find whichever Tribulation Transcension elder is free and bring them here!"

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen immediately stood up. "Ah, I feel much better now. I won’t impose any longer. May your paths to immortality be smooth, esteemed seniors of the Taidao Sect! Farewell!"

"And Daoist Yuyang—no discord, no concord. Thanks for today. We’ll meet again."

Daoist Yuyang frowned slightly as Chu Xingchen clasped his hands in salute, as if the earlier verbal sparring had never happened.

Still, he returned the gesture, despite not even knowing what Chu Xingchen really looked like.

"Leaving so soon? Stay and chat!"

A sword streaked through the air, embedding itself into the ground.

Bai Xuanling descended in a flash, her spiritual energy surging uncontrollably, Daoist aura radiating from her as she landed protectively in front of Chu Xingchen, her gaze fixed on the Taidao Sect elders.

The Taidao Sect Master’s expression shifted slightly. As a Mahayana Realm cultivator, he could tell Bai Xuanling had pushed herself to the limit to arrive so quickly—her spiritual energy was still in turmoil, not yet settled.

Otherwise, a Tribulation Transcension expert like her would never lose control of her power.

But only by doing so could she have reached this place in such a short time.

This kid really is the Tianyan Sect’s treasure…

Now that Bai Xuanling was here, the Taidao Sect Master felt a headache coming on. He signaled to Zhu Ciyun to contact the Tianyan Sect Master.

Bai Xuanling remained composed as she asked Chu Xingchen, "Kid, did they take advantage of you?"

Chu Xingchen scowled. "I got the short end of the stick—didn’t gain a thing."

Bai Xuanling stared at him in disbelief, as if disappointed.

"Such a huge loss?! When have I, Bai Xuanling, ever suffered like this?! You’re embarrassing me!"

Ignoring the Taidao Sect’s reaction, Chen Mouguang looked at the two with admiration—this attitude of treating anything less than picking up spirit stones as a loss… is truly awe-inspiring.

The Taidao Sect Master’s expression twitched. He narrowed his eyes and asked,

"So what do you want? Are you planning to fight us here? This is Taidao Sect territory!"

Bai Xuanling snorted and immediately twisted his words.

"Oh? So my Tianyan Sect disciples aren’t allowed to walk on Taidao Sect land? Do your Taidao Sect disciples never pass through Tianyan Sect territory?"

"Those are two different things! Have my Taidao Sect disciples ever deliberately provoked your Tianyan Sect?!" the Taidao Sect Master retorted firmly.

"Bai Xuanling! Have you forgotten the promise you made to your sect master?! Withdraw now—don’t escalate this further!"

Bai Xuanling raised an eyebrow. "You actually believed the nonsense I fed my sect master to humor him? Are you as foolish as he is?"

Just as tensions were reaching a peak, someone broke the stalemate.

"Sister Bai, let it go… I was outmatched this time," Chu Xingchen sighed. "We’ll settle the score another day."

Bai Xuanling hmphed, then lightly smacked the back of Chu Xingchen’s head.

"Useless! I’ll deal with you when we get back. Let’s go—back to the Tianyan Sect!"

Daoist Yuyang watched as the three from the Tianyan Sect departed after what seemed like a perfunctory performance.

He had encountered Bai Xuanling before. Most of the world only remembered the flattering title she had once given herself—Flawless Dao Child.

Yet it seemed no one remembered that Bai Xuanling had once said—"But this venerable one thinks you look a bit too punchable."

At the time, Daoist Yuyang had gazed at Bai Xuanling with an amused smile, as if it were merely a jest, a casual bit of teasing.

But no one knew—his spiritual sense had been screaming in alarm.

The members of the Taidao Sect also watched silently as Bai Xuanling departed, offering no further words or attempts to stop him.

Well then, let it be. This was fine.

At the entrance of Eternal Peace Funeral Parlor in Towering City,

Bai Xuanling cast a slightly disdainful look at Chen Mouguang—"Why pick a place like this?"

Under that gaze, Chen Mouguang chuckled awkwardly and replied,

"Practicality wins out, practicality wins out."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a small figure darted out from inside the room, eyes locking onto Chu Xingchen. Upon confirming that her master was still as lively as ever, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Chen Baiqing reached out and tugged at Chu Xingchen’s sleeve, immediately asking, "Master… you’re not hurt, are you?"

Chu Xingchen fastened the Azure Sky Ring back onto Chen Baiqing’s small hand with a playful grin. "What kind of question is that? Are you underestimating your master?"

Chen Baiqing pursed her lips and murmured softly,

"I was worried about you."