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"Wow..."

Qinghe widened her eyes slightly as she watched the sky-obscuring blood qi slowly dissipate. She first glanced around, then whispered to Xie Lingyu:

"Li Xingtian usually seems so dull and acts like a pushover—who knew he’d be this impressive? With this kind of celestial phenomenon, I’d have thought some ancient demon king had emerged from seclusion."

Xie Lingyu didn’t turn her gaze, but her hand accurately smacked Qinghe’s head:

"Speak properly."

Though it didn’t hurt, Qinghe still clutched her head, her voice tinged with grievance:

"What’s the big deal…? With this kind of phenomenon, are you seriously going to claim it’s some great saint emerging instead?"

"Of course." Cui Hao, who had arrived behind Chu Xingchen, chimed in. "My second senior brother is majestic and domineering. Besides, the Eldest Senior Sister already gave a perfect explanation for this blood qi."

Qinghe turned to see Chu Xingchen and Cui Hao had also arrived. "What explanation?"

Cui Hao watched the dissipating blood qi and sighed:

"The Eldest Senior Sister said Second Senior Brother’s righteousness has reached such an extreme that it appears sinister—it’s the pinnacle of human goodness."

Qinghe’s face instantly lit up with amusement before she nodded approvingly—no matter how you interpreted it, the remark sounded sarcastic.

Cui Hao might be cunning, but he wasn’t bad to her.

Chu Xingchen ignored the banter between the girl and the dragon. When nothing was happening, these two were always thick as thieves. Qinghe not only marveled at Cui Hao’s occasional antics but often joined in—though the consequences were always harsh lessons.

"I didn’t expect you to arrive before me," Chu Xingchen said with a smile as he stepped beside Xie Lingyu.

Xie Lingyu shook her head slightly. "I was just closer. I didn’t expect your second disciple to reach the Nascent Soul stage so quickly either."

Chu Xingchen glanced at her. Her expression remained indifferent, the words spoken casually without any underlying emotion.

"Well, he’s my disciple. It’s only natural he’d have some talent." A faint, warm smile touched Chu Xingchen’s lips. "But… aside from thanking me, he should also thank you."

Xie Lingyu looked at him, puzzled. As far as she could recall, she hadn’t provided Li Xingtian with any guidance in cultivation.

Chu Xingchen’s smile deepened. "Sometimes, fate pushes people into their lowest valleys—like you back then, or me when I was lost."

"If you hadn’t been punished, if you hadn’t left the Tianyan Sect, our meeting would’ve been nothing more than you annoyed by my teasing and me disliking your coldness."

"The most we could’ve hoped for was passing each other by—you as a peerless genius rivaling Yanyun, me as a wandering rogue cultivator."

"The greatest amusement of fate is how it brings unrelated people together, only for them to discover an unexpected compatibility."

Xie Lingyu lifted her gaze, meeting his briefly before turning back to the still-closed door:

"I can’t out-argue you… But I don’t feel any particular emotions about it. Cultivation is a personal journey."

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "Hm? Did I mention cultivation?"

Cui Hao, standing nearby, wore a brilliantly knowing smile—he still had much to learn from his master.

Qinghe, however, shook her head in disappointment. She’d seen through it long ago—Xie Lingyu was no match for Chu Xingchen in these exchanges.

Xie Lingyu turned back, meeting Chu Xingchen’s teasing gaze. For a moment, she struggled to find a response that wouldn’t later invite Qinghe’s mockery.

Fortunately, the sound of a door opening answered for her.

The true protagonist of the moment had arrived—Li Xingtian.

He pushed the door open with a heavy expression, his face devoid of the joy one might expect from a breakthrough. Instead, there was only a sense of tragic indignation—as though heaven itself had wronged him, and the frustration of a heart yearning for righteousness but denied.

With his ascension to the Nascent Soul stage, Li Xingtian had been forced to confront a grim truth—he might genuinely be a demonic cultivator now.

Previously, his Golden Core had condensed blood qi, yet his body remained untainted, and manipulating the blood qi required channeling it through his core.

But after forming his Nascent Soul? No such hassle. The "Great Philanthropist" Li Xingtian now needed only to lift a hand to summon a sky full of blood qi. From a distance, not only could he control his own blood qi, but after some quick experimentation, he’d realized—others’ blood wasn’t much harder to command.

Put simply, against weaker opponents, Li Xingtian could give them a firsthand experience of what "blood boiling" truly meant with just a gesture.

Even demonic cultivators who slaughtered mortals might not be as efficient as him. While this could be considered an expansion of his abilities—a good thing—the downsides were glaring.

A mere flick of his wrist summoned a tide of blood qi; releasing it left rivers of blood in his wake.

The title of "righteous cultivator" no longer felt secure. After all, who would believe Li Xingtian was a paragon of virtue after witnessing such methods?

Chu Xingchen’s gaze swept over Li Xingtian.

[Target: Li Xingtian]

[Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul Stage]

[Golden Trait: Reincarnator] [Non-Upgradable]

[Purple Trait: Blood-Bone True Body] [Upgradable]

[Purple Trait: Ruthless Resolve] [Upgradable]

[Blue Trait: Loyalty and Righteousness] [Upgradable]

[Blue Trait: Dungeon Savant] [Upgradable]

[White Trait: Mild Tact] [Upgradable]

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction. Li Xingtian’s [Blood-Bone True Body] had manifested after absorbing that strange stone. Strictly speaking, his current demonic appearance was partly the result of his own choices back then.

As for [Dungeon Savant]… Well, with his past-life memories, Li Xingtian had become even more adept at plundering ancient ruins. The experience from his previous life had seamlessly merged with his current skills.

Though the system’s phrasing sounded nicer, nothing beat the charm of calling him a "tomb raider."

Still, under the guidance of their sect’s "big family," Li Xingtian had finally evolved into someone with [Mild Tact]—no longer the reckless youth of before. Credit for that went largely to the Eldest Senior Sister’s teachings.

Among Li Xingtian’s upgradable traits, only [Blood-Bone True Body] truly aligned with Chu Xingchen’s hopes—a trait that would drive him to cultivate madly, reaching higher realms without hesitation.

Chu Xingchen clapped solemnly. "Excellent! My beloved disciple!"

Li Xingtian gave a slight nod, then looked at his master with faint uncertainty—Would things truly improve after the Soul Transformation stage?

Chu Xingchen pretended not to notice his disciple’s silent question. Instead, he strode forward, slinging an arm around Li Xingtian’s shoulders.

"So, how does the power of the Nascent Soul feel? Is it—"

His words cut off abruptly as his eyes snapped toward the western sky. A streak of violet light shot toward them, unimpeded by the sect’s protective formation, before landing nearby.

"Master… It’s been a long time."

A voice, both familiar and strangely distant, spoke softly.

Chu Xingchen turned to see a graceful young woman in a pale violet dress standing there. Her face, though matured, was unmistakable—her eyes slightly reddened as she smiled warmly.

"Bai Qing has returned."

She spoke softly.