Another Core Disciple

Central Continent, Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge.

The 63rd sect-wide gathering held to celebrate the return of the senior sister, Li Yingling, concluded as smoothly as one would expect.

After all, this senior sister had not only shown great care for everyone but had also been away for a long time.

Even without any particularly outstanding performances, the event would have been enjoyable simply because of the emotions involved—let alone the fact that Li Yingling’s planning had made it exceptionally entertaining.

Years of training in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent had not only honed her skills and made her more reliable but had also exposed her to many games from that region. She had adapted them with her own ideas, creating entirely new pastimes.

Even from Chu Xingchen’s perspective, they were thoroughly amusing.

Qinghe and San Dong had indulged to their hearts’ content, and as the event drew to a close, they were reluctant to part, even asking whether the 63rd gathering could continue the next day.

Qinghe went so far as to argue—"We’re all cultivators! Going without sleep for a month or two is nothing. Why disband just because it’s late at night? Let’s keep going! Why not play for a whole month straight?"

San Dong enthusiastically seconded the motion.

But in the end, those were the only two votes in favor. Even Cui Hao, who usually loved a lively scene, didn’t join them.

No matter how grand the revelry, it must eventually come to an end. Yet there was no need for sorrow—greater joys still lay ahead, waiting to be encountered.

Li Yingling’s return had initially caused quite a stir, but as time passed, the sect resumed its normal operations.

The senior sister simply returned to her original place within the sect.

In her free time, she would chat with Chen Baiqing by the deep pool or scold Cui Hao whenever he started causing trouble.

Li Yingling had originally left for training after advancing to the Nascent Soul stage. Following such a breakthrough, there was a long period of consolidation—a time when further cultivation progress would be minimal, as one needed to master the transformative power of the Nascent Soul realm.

During this period, traveling to broaden one’s horizons was the most suitable course of action.

Upon her return, however, Li Yingling seemed to have lost some of her former drive. Without Li Xingtian—that monstrously diligent junior brother who could even swallow their master’s pills for cultivation—there was no longer the same pressure of being chased down by an overachieving disciple.

As a result, her cultivation routine became somewhat more relaxed.

She now spent a considerable portion of her days idling in the sect’s main hall, chatting and joking with her master.

Though her storytelling skills weren’t as vivid or animated as Cui Hao’s, Li Yingling was no slouch either. More importantly, she had genuinely experienced much of what she spoke about.

Unlike Cui Hao, whose tales were half-fabricated and two-tenths exaggerated, Li Yingling’s stories were grounded in reason and evidence.

San Dong, the flower spirit who loved basking in the sun, had recently taken to lingering in the main hall as well. A single cup of tea from Chen Baiqing could keep her occupied for an entire afternoon.

Listening to Li Yingling’s stories for amusement and sipping Chen Baiqing’s tea to quench her thirst, San Dong was thoroughly content.

Qinghe occasionally joined in the fun, though most of her time was spent with Xie Lingyu. Sometimes, she would seek out Cui Hao, seemingly scheming something—though it was unlikely to be anything good.

In fact, Li Yingling had recently been keeping a close eye on Cui Hao.

Chu Xingchen appeared idle on the surface, but in truth, he still had plenty of matters to attend to.

The affairs of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent had only been superficially resolved—undercurrents still lingered, and at the very least, the Tianyan Sect still relied on Chu Xingchen to relay information.

Aside from consulting him for updates, they also passed intelligence his way.

Recently, however, it was Yanyun who had been in contact with Chu Xingchen. The Tianyan Sect’s leader, Lv Xuan, seemed exceptionally busy, delegating many tasks to Yanyun.

Though Chu Xingchen was privy to much information, none of it currently required his direct involvement.

Some matters simply needed his awareness—he could offer the occasional opinion, but there was no need for him to act.

If he had to personally handle every trivial matter, even Chu Xingchen’s ability to create clones wouldn’t be enough to keep up.

Thus, his days passed in a limbo between busyness and leisure.

Time flowed on, and a month later…

Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge.

Daoist Yuyang swept his gaze across the endless stretches of flower-covered mountains and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

"Chu Xingchen really knows how to live. Building a sect in a place like this—just looking at it is enough to soothe the soul."

"Well, it is Chu Xingchen," Xu Jin replied simply, earning Daoist Yuyang’s approval.

The two traversed the ridge, their destination clear. In moments, they arrived before the gates of a certain sect.

The protective formation shimmered faintly.

Daoist Yuyang scanned the area, only to find that Chu Xingchen’s sect didn’t even have a gatekeeper.

So visitors either had to attack the formation or shout to announce themselves?

Just as he was about to comment, he noticed Xu Jin lightly tapping the formation—with practiced ease.

A faint glow emanated from the barrier.

"What are you… doing?" Daoist Yuyang asked, puzzled.

Xu Jin answered calmly, "Knocking."

Before Daoist Yuyang could press further, an impatient voice called out.

"Coming, stop knocking already!"

Looking up, he saw Qinghe approaching with a slightly annoyed expression—was this really how one knocked?

Qinghe glanced at the visitors.

She didn’t recognize Daoist Yuyang, but she remembered Xu Jin.

A core disciple of the Profound Azure Heavenly Sect—someone with even more formidable backing than herself.

Once she confirmed their identities, Qinghe let them in.

Ever since Ning Qianqian left, Qinghe had effectively been reduced to a gatekeeper. Though visitors were rare and she usually had little to do, whenever someone did show up, she couldn’t help feeling like a dragon reduced to guarding the door for that stingy brat.

"Come on, I’ll take you to Chu Xingchen," she said with a wave, turning to lead the way.

Xu Jin followed without hesitation, his expression calm and natural.

Daoist Yuyang paused for a moment before trailing behind, his eyes studying Qinghe. With a single glance, he discerned her true nature.

"A flood dragon?"

While such creatures weren’t uncommon among the Eighteen Immortal Sects, they were rare elsewhere.

Catching one yourself was no easy feat, and buying one would cost a fortune in spirit stones—hardly something the frugal Chu Xingchen would splurge on.

This one was likely something he’d fished up himself. She certainly had a wild air about her, looking as if she owed someone money.

Qinghe turned slightly at his words.

Xu Jin spoke up on her behalf. "She’s from Tianyan Sect’s Zhuji Peak. Not Chu Xingchen’s."

Daoist Yuyang nodded in understanding, then remarked casually,

"What’s the difference?"

"Of course there’s a difference! I don’t answer to Chu Xingchen," Qinghe retorted, eyeing the audacious Daoist Yuyang. "Do you even know whose territory Zhuji Peak is?"

"Of course. Bai Xuanling’s. What of it?"

Qinghe’s expression darkened. "Bai Xuanling? You’ve got some nerve, calling her by name like that. Who exactly do you think you are?"

Daoist Yuyang replied evenly,

"I am Yuyang of the Taidao Sect. Any objections?"

Qinghe blinked, sizing him up. She had heard of Daoist Yuyang.

Another core disciple of the Eighteen Immortal Sects?

She had always thought Chu Xingchen mostly kept to himself, rarely venturing out.

How did he know so many of these elite disciples—and seem to be on such familiar terms with them?

When it went out, it somehow failed to recognize anything.