Chu Xingchen listened to Li Yingling's slightly affected tone, initially assuming that the so-called "discussion" was actually something like—"Master, the sky is about to collapse, can you help me patch it up?"
After all, Li Yingling was inherently a bit prideful, and there weren’t many things that could make her lower her voice to ask for help.
Occasional acting cute didn’t count.
However, the matter she brought up was something Chu Xingchen could accept.
Li Yingling had already broken through to the Nascent Soul realm. After such a major breakthrough, she needed considerable time to stabilize her gains rather than rushing forward recklessly—otherwise, her foundation would inevitably become unstable.
Thus, this once-famous disciple, who had made a name for herself in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent, had an idea—it was time to make a name for herself in the Central Continent or elsewhere.
Naturally, Chu Xingchen had no reason to refuse.
After all, Li Yingling’s [Fortune’s Favor] trait had already upgraded to [Heaven’s Fortune].
But even with Heaven’s Fortune, she still had to go out for it to take effect.
It wasn’t like she could just stay in Ten Thousand Flowers Ridge and wait for some grand destiny to fall from the sky, right?
Even Heaven’s Fortune needed a stage to shine.
Now that Li Yingling had mostly comprehended the insights from her Nascent Soul breakthrough, going out to temper herself was a good thing.
Moreover, even among the Eighteen Immortal Sects, disciples who reached the Nascent Soul realm were expected to venture out for training.
The reason Li Yingling’s tone was slightly affected, however, wasn’t because she wanted to go alone—this senior sister wanted to take Chen Baiqing along.
Li Xingtian was still some distance away from the Nascent Soul realm, and his progress would still take years to measure. During this time, it was best for him to focus on secluded cultivation within the sect.
Li Yingling had been managing sect affairs for a long time, and for her, it had been a period of arduous cultivation.
Within the sect, Li Xingtian needed to cultivate, while Lin Luoyu and Cui Hao’s cultivation was still relatively low. Only Baiqing had reached the Golden Core realm and possessed unique methods.
When Chen Baiqing had wandered the Eastern Victory Divine Continent alone, Li Yingling couldn’t personally protect her due to her sect responsibilities.
Now that she had reached Nascent Soul and the sect affairs were back in the master’s hands, it was time for the senior sister to take her junior sister out to see the real world.
But aside from Chen Baiqing’s own willingness, the most crucial factor was Chu Xingchen’s approval.
Though Chen Baiqing deeply respected her senior sister, when it came to major decisions, she only listened to her master.
If forced to choose between the senior sister’s words and the master’s, Li Yingling was certain Baiqing would unhesitatingly side with the latter.
Chu Xingchen glanced up at Li Yingling’s smiling face. The proposal wasn’t unreasonable—Li Yingling might occasionally act unpredictably, but she always prioritized her juniors’ safety.
Still, the person’s own wishes mattered. Chu Xingchen asked,
"Have you asked Baiqing? Does she want to go?"
"Of course I asked, but you know Baiqing—she’d still need your approval first."
"If she wants to go, then she may. Tempering herself is good."
"Then I’ll tell her you agreed?"
"Be careful. If anything happens, remember to call for your master first."
"Got it!"
Satisfied, Li Yingling turned to leave and inform Baiqing—
"Wait, I’m not done yet." Chu Xingchen sighed and stopped her.
Li Yingling paused and turned back.
Chu Xingchen cleared his throat. "When you’re outside, be cautious. If anything happens, first observe your surroundings—"
"I know, check if there are any Tianyan Sect disciples around. The Tianyan Token you gave me is already in the easiest-to-reach spot in my spatial ring."
Li Yingling cut him off before he could finish.
Did she really need her master to repeat this? If so, she’d have learned nothing from him.
"See? Impatient again." Chu Xingchen shook his head. "That’s not the current version. Why check for Tianyan Sect disciples?"
Li Yingling froze, confusion flickering in her eyes as she looked at her master—then watched as he pulled out an unfamiliar token from his spatial ring.
Chu Xingchen tossed it to her.
Li Yingling caught it and read the inscription—Mysterious Purity Heavenly Token.
This… was a token from the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect?
Where did her master get this? Didn’t he just pick a fight with them over Luo Yue’s matter?
Chu Xingchen coughed lightly and said solemnly,
"When you’re outside, first check for Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect disciples. Then, if there’s time, look for Tianyan Sect disciples."
Li Yingling turned the token over, skepticism in her voice.
"Master… won’t people recognize this as a fake?"
"Fake? What fake? Do I seem like that kind of person? This is real—so real it couldn’t be more real."
"Where’d you get it? Steal it?"
"Disrespectful disciple! This was bestowed upon me when I manifested the Mandate of Heaven, radiating such overwhelming majesty that the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect trembled in awe and begged me to accept it!"
Li Yingling looked at her master with a hint of exasperation—Master, you can’t just spin tall tales like you’re making a wish, can you?
Talk about an "overbearing aura" making the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect bow in submission.
Why not go all out and claim the eighteen immortal sects unanimously elected you as their grand alliance leader, elevating our sect to a peerless status above them all?
Since her master was clearly fabricating, the origin of that token probably wasn’t as noble and righteous as he made it sound.
More likely, he had to swallow his pride and beg for it.
But then again, Master sought these things mostly for the sake of his disciples.
That humility was, in truth, to give his disciples more confidence when they ventured out into the world.
Li Yingling gently traced the token in her hand before lifting her gaze. "Understood, Master. As your head disciple, I won’t let you down when I’m out there."
Chu Xingchen took a half-step back, eyeing her warily.
"Why the sudden solemnity? Your master’s fresh out of treasures to give you."
Li Yingling tucked the token into her spatial ring. "Just wait for me to return, Master. I’ll bring back nothing but the finest spoils."
Chu Xingchen chuckled.
"Good, good. Your master will be right here, waiting."
Li Yingling gave a firm wave before turning to leave.
Chu Xingchen watched her retreating figure and sighed softly.
"Master… are you reluctant to see Senior Sister go?" Cui Hao asked, noticing his master’s sigh.
Chu Xingchen shot him a glance. "Reluctant? Hardly. As long as all of you are safe and sound, your master is content."
Cui Hao nodded earnestly, then sidled up to Chu Xingchen with a small grin, whispering:
"Master, don’t you think it’s about time I went out to temper myself too?"
"Isn’t the vast Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge enough for you?"
"Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge? That’s hardly a challenge. I want to go out like Senior Sister."
"When you’re as talented as your senior sister, you can go out like her."
Cui Hao fell silent at that.
Chu Xingchen slung an arm around his shoulder familiarly.
"Your senior sister comes and goes as she pleases, but you—you’re your master’s favorite. I’d miss you too much."
Cui Hao said nothing, just stared at his master skeptically. No need to overthink it—this was clearly another one of his master’s tall tales.
He knew his place. Next to Third Senior Sister, everyone else paled in comparison.
Who could outshine her when it came to being the warmest "winter coat"?
Under Cui Hao’s gaze, Chu Xingchen coughed lightly.
"About tempering yourself… let’s wait until you reach the Golden Core stage. Right now, your cultivation’s still lacking, and you haven’t even mastered your divine abilities. It’d be too dangerous."
Cui Hao nodded firmly.
Once his fist techniques reached perfection—
Not only would he shake the four seas, he’d look damn impressive doing it.