Can't Hear

The "happy family" tea gathering lasted only as long as it took to finish a pot of tea.

As the tea ran dry, the group, still having matters to attend to, gradually departed.

Once again, only Chu Xingchen and Xie Lingyu remained in the courtyard.

Chu Xingchen looked at Xie Lingyu and suddenly spoke in a soft voice:

"It is still early. Let's go to Tianyan Peak today. The situation in the Western Niuhe Continent is a mess; it needs to be dealt with properly."

Xie Lingyu glanced up, picking a flower petal from under the teacup.

"You haven't even sorted yourself out yet, and you're already thinking about work... When did you become so foolish? You don't even know how to slack off properly."

While she spoke, she raised her hand and wrote in the air: [Okay, I'll go with you.]

Chu Xingchen's expression remained calm as he nodded slightly.

At the same time, he thought about how interesting this side of Xie Lingyu was.

But if she were discovered, would Xie Lingyu be so shy that she would turn against him?

Actually, aside from inquiring about the situation in the Western Niuhe Continent, there was a more important matter. After killing Bai Bo, a fallen Principle of the Heavenly Dao had been extracted from Bai Bo's body.

Cultivators from the three sects were studying this object together, and the research location was at the Tianyan Sect.

The main reason was that Chu Xingchen was temporarily staying at the Tianyan Sect, so the other sects would show some respect.

According to the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect, these fallen Principles of the Heavenly Dao would automatically return to their place after a certain period if left undisturbed.

The manifestation of a fallen Principle could take myriads of strange forms, but as long as no cultivator discovered it, it would generally return.

Naturally, there were cases where they were discovered by cultivators or certain existences and utilized.

For example, the Divine Way of Incense Fire was a discovery of a Principle by cultivators who then studied it.

There were also the blood qi experiments Donggua conducted in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent; fundamentally, those were also research into Principles.

However, actually making a Principle reside within the body and be controlled by an existence was something difficult for many cultivators to comprehend. Principles are pure, while humans are chaotic.

They were existences that were almost purely opposite; making them merge perfectly was like trying to combine fire and water.

Forced fusion would result in tearing apart or paying a heavy price.

Principles are Truth, and Principles possess consciousness.

Zhang Daotan forced a fusion, but could only be controlled by the Principle. Furthermore, the Principle, having been defiled, exhibited strange behavior.

The Heavenly Demons solved this problem, or at least they solved it under ordinary circumstances.

They occupied the Principle and used the Principle.

Moreover, there seemed to be no obvious side effects.

This was an extremely bizarre matter.

It was also something worth researching.

Chu Xingchen was aware of this, but trapped within Xu Linglong's illusion, his senses were completely disrupted. Observation was a struggle, let alone anything else.

Now that the illusion had dissipated, he could finally see what it was.

If Bai Bo could possess a Principle, what about Xu Linglong?

Was the illusion he fell into the Principle possessed by Xu Linglong?

When one problem is solved, more follow on its heels.

The combat power displayed by the Heavenly Demons when they truly disregarded everything exceeded everyone's expectations.

Chu Xingchen contemplated quietly, his gaze fixed on the blooming spring flowers.

Xie Lingyu stored the teapot on the table into her spatial ring, then gently waved her hand in front of Chu Xingchen's face, signaling that they could leave.

Chu Xingchen nodded slightly and stood up.

Xie Lingyu reached out and held Chu Xingchen's hand. Spiritual energy wrapped around Chu Xingchen's body, and she took him toward Tianyan Peak.

Chu Xingchen remained silent but held Xie Lingyu's hand tightly in return.

Previously, while under the illusion, he couldn't perceive this; he could only perceive things within the illusion.

Before, when Xie Lingyu held his hand, Chu Xingchen only knew it was happening, but couldn't feel anything.

Today, however, he could feel it.

Hmm...

Chu Xingchen thought about it and could only summarize—it was very warm, just like her personality.

Rainbow light flashed across the sky, and in just a moment, the two landed on Tianyan Peak.

The guard status of Tianyan Peak was no longer like before, where there was almost no one.

Now, there were many cultivators guarding the area, and even Mahayana elders sitting in command nearby.

Chu Xingchen's face was now recognizable enough to pass through anywhere in the Tianyan Sect, not to mention he was with Xie Lingyu, the sole personal disciple of Bai Xuanling.

They passed through unimpeded and went straight into the main hall.

The scene was the same as before, with urgent jade tokens circling within the hall.

Various elders of the Tianyan Sect were handling matters, but the person sitting in the main seat was not Lu Xuan, but Yan Yun.

At this moment, Yan Yun looked just like her master used to: surrounded by urgent jade tokens, eyes closed tightly, brows furrowed.

"He'd better not be coming just to see how busy I am and then mock me."

Yan Yun sensed the movement and opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Chu Xingchen as she spoke with a hint of helplessness.

"Xingchen said he came to check on the situation in the Western Niuhe Continent," Xie Lingyu said calmly, standing in front of Chu Xingchen.

"He hasn't slacked off in ordinary times, and he only fell into the illusion for the sake of the greater good. Speaking of him like that is a bit unfair."

Seeing Xie Lingyu's serious expression, Yan Yun didn't argue back. Instead, her tone softened slightly:

"I apologize. There has been so much official business lately that I'm a bit restless from handling it all. I indeed shouldn't have said that about him."

She had indeed been too busy. If Chu Xingchen could hear, he would have naturally bantered back smoothly; the remark itself was just a joke.

If she had said this about Xie Lingyu, Xie Lingyu probably wouldn't have cared either.

But she made the mistake of joking about Chu Xingchen in front of Xie Lingyu while Chu Xingchen couldn't hear.

The apology was certainly not unjustified.

Yan Yun calmly pointed to the urgent jade tokens placed on the left and said:

"The news from the Western Niuhe Continent is all over there. You can read it yourself and then write it down for Chu Xingchen. By the way, you can directly ignore the ones sent by Daoist Yuyang. Aside from complaining and cursing Chu Xingchen, there's no useful information."

"No need to read them to Chu Xingchen either; keeping a peaceful state of mind is important when under an illusion."

"But rest assured, I've already sent a letter to Daoist Yuyang. If he sends this kind of pointless drivel again, his urgent jade tokens will be thrown out directly in the future."

Xie Lingyu nodded slightly. "Thank you for the trouble."

After speaking, she reached out and wrote lightly in front of Chu Xingchen: [The news regarding the Western Niuhe Continent is over there. Let's go take a look.]

Chu Xingchen nodded slightly, signaled for Xie Lingyu to wait a moment, and then looked at Yan Yun.

"Is Sect Leader Lu Xuan here?"

Yan Yun raised her hand and wrote: [He is inside the secret chamber barrier of Tianyan Peak. Is it urgent?]

Chu Xingchen replied, "Yes, I need to see him."

Yan Yun didn't say much more; she simply took a jade token from her left side and activated it.

Seeing this, Xie Lingyu didn't say anything either, quietly standing by Chu Xingchen's side to wait.

A moment later.

Lu Xuan walked in from the back of the hall. He looked slightly exhausted. His gaze swept across the hall and naturally landed on Chu Xingchen.

Before Lu Xuan could ask anything.

Chu Xingchen spoke up:

"How is the research on the Principle dropped by Bai Bo going? Can I see it now?"

Lu Xuan was stunned for a moment, then nodded:

"Of course you can... But has your illusion been lifted?"

Hearing this, Xie Lingyu froze, looking at Chu Xingchen with astonishment.

Chu Xingchen remained impassive, acting as if he hadn't heard a single word Lu Xuan said.

Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow, seemingly coming to a realization:

"You came to join the excitement before you've even fully recovered? Well, I suppose it's fine if you just want to watch."

As he spoke, Lu Xuan turned his gaze toward Xie Lingyu.

"Martial Nephew Lingyu, your cultivation is still too shallow. It is too fierce over there, and you would inevitably be affected by the backlash. Why not stay here and rest for a moment?"

"Rest assured, your Master is over there as well."

Chu Xingchen's expression remained tranquil, and he did not utter a word.

It was as if he could hear nothing at all.