It really does look like one's own true legacy.

A gentle breeze blew, making the silence so profound that even the rustling of leaves seemed loud.

Chu Xingchen stared blankly at the characters written by his disciple, then instinctively reached out to touch him, intending to probe with his spiritual sense.

But as he felt that swirling aura, he could perceive nothing.

Only then did he come to a slow realization, gently patting Li Xingtian's shoulder.

The so-called price was, of course, something Chu Xingchen had made up. He wasn't Li Xingtian himself, he had just casually tested him, thinking that any method must have its cost.

Yet, upon seeing this answer...

What cultivators call the divine soul is the spirit soul of mortals.

Perhaps whether one travels upstream against the River of Time or wishes to see the scenes reflected within its flow, a price must be paid for it.

Chu Xingchen asked softly, "Can you control it yourself?"

Li Xingtian shook his head.

So it wasn't something he could control autonomously?

Chu Xingchen pursed his lips lightly, looking at Li Xingtian's golden tag: [Reincarnator].

Compared to Li Yingling's [Cultivation Prodigy], this Reincarnator tag, most of the time and from almost any angle, was actually not as formidable as [Cultivation Prodigy].

To return through reincarnation only to still be surpassed in cultivation progress by his own senior sister...

But now it seemed...

A golden tag ultimately held the meaning of a golden tag.

At the very least, it was no weaker than Li Yingling's Cultivation Prodigy, perhaps even stronger, demanding a price for it.

Li Xingtian raised his hand and wrote—【This matter must not be spread. I don't know why Master remains unaffected by the ripples of the River, but if spoken to others, the River will stir with ripples and fold away this segment.】

Chu Xingchen nodded slightly to show he understood, then reached out and lightly touched Li Xingtian's head, saying:

"This master has made you worry..."

Li Xingtian pursed his lips. Though he knew his master couldn't see, he still lowered his head and took a deep, heavy breath.

The hand he raised to gesture trembled slightly.

Having seen the reflections in the River of Time, he actually knew that his master was the one who had given the most and was willing to give the most.

And if Master were gone, the sect would truly fall apart.

【It has always been the master who worries about the disciples. This time, this disciple only hopes Master will not pursue the matter of Third Junior Sister.】

Chu Xingchen continued to pat Li Xingtian's shoulder gently:

"I won't. You know how I've always doted on you all. Don't worry."

"Master, you're back?" Li Yingling turned in from the corner of the covered walkway, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Chu Xingchen and Li Xingtian. "Why did you return so quietly this time?"

Li Yingling had entered from Li Xingtian's direction.

Chu Xingchen naturally saw Li Yingling; he could recognize his disciple's aura. He gave Li Xingtian's shoulder another light pat, then smiled and said:

"I'm back."

"Did you bring me a gift?"

"This matter was urgent. I finished it and came right back, no time for gifts. I'll make it up next time."

Li Yingling walked closer with a smile, raising an eyebrow slightly:

"You must remember next time then."

Chu Xingchen chuckled and nodded: "I will."

Li Xingtian stared somewhat dazedly at his master who was responding so fluently—could he really not hear?

"I really can't hear." Chu Xingchen's gaze shifted back to Li Xingtian. "It's just that what your senior sister is going to say, this master can guess with his toes."

Li Yingling frowned upon hearing this:

"What can't you hear?"

Chu Xingchen replied offhandedly:

"Explain it to your senior sister."

Li Yingling looked at Li Xingtian with puzzled eyes, so Li Xingtian recounted what Bai Xuanling had said earlier.

"Master is definitely..."

After listening, Li Yingling's tone was certain, but before she could finish, Chu Xingchen interrupted:

"Master isn't lying."

Li Yingling was stunned. She looked at Chu Xingchen, then suddenly shouted loudly:

"Master is an idiot."

Chu Xingchen smiled. After a moment, he replied:

"Scolding your master is wrong."

Li Yingling didn't speak again. Instead, she threw herself into Chu Xingchen's arms, lowering her head in silence.

Chu Xingchen patted his senior disciple's back:

"It's just an illusion spell. Lv Xuan and a whole group of Transcendence Realm experts are already researching it. I'm just experiencing the world of the deaf for a while."

"During this time, I'll really have to entrust the running of the sect to my reliable senior disciple."

Li Yingling took a heavy breath, pulled back from his embrace, and raised her hand to write with sharp, forceful strokes—

【Leave it all to me. Master should rest properly too.】

Chu Xingchen smiled and nodded:

"Usually, if I rest for a moment, you call me lazy. Today, Li Yingling seems to have grown up too."

Li Yingling lifted her chin slightly, arms crossed, as if to say—Master was underestimating her.

But Li Xingtian, standing at her side, saw clearly—Senior Sister's eyes were already rimmed with red.

Perhaps Senior Sister also knew that Master had always been one to share good news but not bad.

If it were truly a minor matter, why would so many people be making such a fuss researching it?

Master really only knew how to deceive outsiders; his attempts to deceive his own family were so clumsy.

After chatting in the walkway for a while, the three of them sat back down on the chairs in the courtyard. Bai Xuanling was also called back from outside by Li Yingling.

The conversation wasn't extensive, just drinking the tea Li Yingling had brewed and chatting about minor recent events.

But the atmosphere was good.

"Master, Senior Sister, how come you didn't call me for the sect gathering?"

Cui Hao hurried over, first greeting Bai Xuanling with a smile, then very naturally taking a seat. He poured himself a cup of tea, his curious eyes darting around as if wondering what they had been discussing.

Chu Xingchen looked at Cui Hao with slight confusion.

Seeing this, Li Yingling raised her hand and wrote—【It's Cui Hao】

Chu Xingchen's eyes grew even more puzzled, and he began to ponder slowly.

Everyone's gaze turned to Chu Xingchen.

Cui Hao's expression was particularly astonished.

Li Yingling understood her master wouldn't joke around in such a mean-spirited way. She quickly raised her hand to write:

【Your fifth disciple, male, Cui Hao, currently at the Golden Core stage.】

Cui Hao, seeing Li Yingling's gestures, naturally recognized she was writing, and hurriedly asked:

"What's wrong with Master?"

Li Xingtian, without needing instructions from Chu Xingchen or Li Yingling, naturally began to explain.

After hearing the explanation, Cui Hao also quickly raised his hand to write.

【Master, do you still remember me? I am your most beloved disciple.】

Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly and asked Li Yingling beside him in a strange tone:

"This fifth disciple of mine... seems to have quite a thick skin. Did I really take him in?"

Cui Hao's gaze was one of shock and sorrow.

Li Yingling raised her hand and wrote—【You accepted him personally.】

"Then did I really love him the most?"

【Master would have to ask himself that.】

Chu Xingchen pursed his lips lightly and looked at Cui Hao again, saying:

"Having followed this master for so long, what have you learned?"

Normally, Cui Hao would probably say something offhand, like he'd learned a fraction of his master's intelligence, or mastered half of his master's composure.

Basically, he'd flatter all around.

But this time, he thought deeply for a long time before slowly writing.

【One Sect, Bound by Love】

Seeing this answer, Chu Xingchen instantly laughed out loud.

He really did have a bit of his true successor's style.

Chu Xingchen answered with a laugh:

"That's far too corny."

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanling immediately snorted with laughter.