Chen Tian!
Chen Chang'an grew increasingly curious about this person. Could there really be some connection between him and Chen Tian?
"Senior, is there anything else you'd like to ask?" Wan Qing inquired respectfully.
"Didn't I say to call me Young Master Chen?"
"You keep switching between 'Young Master' and 'Senior'—it's a bit confusing."
"Ah... my oversight."
"Young Master, please forgive me."
"I’m not blaming you. It’s just that you…"
"Never mind. I have nothing else to ask."
"Do you have a suitable place for cultivation here?"
"I’d like… to train for a while."
A place for cultivation?
"Sen—Young Master, if you don’t mind, I have a spot I often use for cultivation."
"Though our Huan Hua Immortal Sect doesn’t possess any blessed lands or celestial grottoes, we do have an exceptional immortal spirit vein here."
"The concentration of immortal spiritual energy is still far stronger than in most places."
"And the place where I usually cultivate happens to be where this energy gathers most densely."
Chen Chang'an didn’t stand on ceremony with Wan Qing. After all, what he needed now was to raise his strength as quickly as possible.
Otherwise, if he were to encounter members of the Wang family in the future, who knew what might happen?
Besides, Chen Chang'an genuinely wanted to experience what cultivation truly felt like.
"Young Master Chen, how long do you plan… to cultivate?" Wan Qing asked curiously after leading him to her private cultivation chamber.
"Hmm, at least until I break through to the Quasi-Immortal realm."
The Quasi-Immortal realm?
Chen Chang'an had only just advanced to the Emperor Sovereign level. Even with monstrous talent, reaching Quasi-Immortal would likely take a considerable amount of time.
"Very well. I still have some immortal spirit stones here, Senior—"
"No need. I have my own."
Immortal spirit stones—Mu Yunyao had left Chen Chang'an with a vast supply, enough to last him quite a while.
"In that case, I won’t disturb you any further, Senior."
"Alright."
After Wan Qing left, Chen Chang'an immersed himself in secluded cultivation.
Before long, over half a month had passed.
Though Chen Chang'an’s reputation in the Huan Hua Immortal Sect was less than stellar, Da Huang had become quite popular.
In the eyes of the female disciples, Da Huang was an adorable dog, one that could be shamelessly cute and playful—utterly endearing.
Da Huang got along with almost everyone, even occasionally pestering Wan Qing for attention. But when it came to Xiao Yao, Da Huang always made a point to avoid her.
"Da Huang!"
"Why don’t you like playing with me?"
"Don’t run away!"
Xiao Yao pouted at Da Huang. Despite her formidable cultivation, she was still childlike at heart—how could she resist playing with such a cute little dog?
But Da Huang’s avoidance left her deeply puzzled.
"I don’t play with brats."
Xiao Yao’s cultivation far surpassed Da Huang’s, so she quickly caught up to him.
Da Huang had something of a trauma when it came to children. Back in the Beast God Continent, Little Qiqi had nearly rubbed him bald with all her petting.
"I’m not a brat! I’ve lived for over twenty thousand years, you know?" Xiao Yao said with a grin.
"Tch. Still a brat."
"Look at how scrawny you are. No way I’m playing with you." Da Huang scoffed.
Huh?
Scrawny?
Where was she scrawny?
The senior sisters and elders in the Huan Hua Immortal Sect always said her chubby little face was adorable!
"Hehehe, Da Huang, won’t you play with me?"
"Everyone’s nice to me, but they’re always busy cultivating. No one ever plays with me."
"Da Huang, your master’s cultivating too, right? Neither of us has anyone to keep us company."
"Let’s be playmates, okay?" Xiao Yao asked with a hopeful smile.
"He’s my bro, not my master."
"Do you even know what 'bro' means?"
"It means… someone you can betray."
Huh?
Betray?
This was a novel take for Xiao Yao. It didn’t match anything she’d ever heard or been taught before.
"Da Huang!"
"You mean that?"
Huh?
Chen Chang'an?
The moment Chen Chang'an’s voice rang out, Da Huang nearly jumped out of his fur in fright.
"Wait."
"You’re Xiao Yao!"
Da Huang quickly realized—Chen Chang'an wouldn’t appear right where Xiao Yao had been standing.
Besides, Chen Chang'an was in secluded cultivation. There was no way he’d emerge so soon.
"Wow, Da Huang, you’re so smart! How’d you know it was me?" Xiao Yao reverted to her true form, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"You think I’m an idiot?"
"Couldn’t tell that much?" Da Huang retorted.
"But the senior sisters never notice when I do this!"
Seeing the innocence in Xiao Yao’s eyes, Da Huang nearly facepalmed. She actually believed they were fooled? They were just humoring her!
"Huh? What’s going on over there?"
Suddenly, Da Huang noticed a flurry of female disciples flying toward the main peak of the Huan Hua Immortal Sect. His curiosity was piqued.
"Oh? You don’t know?"
"You do?"
"I don’t either."
"I—"
Da Huang shot Xiao Yao an exasperated look. If he weren’t outmatched, he’d have bitten her right then. If you don’t know, why ask me like that?
Who taught you to converse like this?
Hundred Flowers Peak
"Third Elder of the Qian Yuan Immortal Sect greets Sect Master Chen."
The Huan Hua Immortal Sect’s leader, Wan Qing, bore the surname Chen—a name bestowed upon her by Chen Tian when she was still nameless. However, this was something Chen Wanqing had not disclosed to Chen Chang'an.
"To what do I owe the visit from the Qian Yuan Immortal Sect’s Third Elder today?" Chen Wanqing’s tone was icy.
"Sect Master Chen, the misunderstanding between our sects was so long ago."
"Surely you’re not still holding a grudge after all this time?"
Noting her frosty demeanor, the Third Elder chuckled lightly.
"Misunderstanding?"
Chen Wanqing sneered. "Then if I kill you today and call it a 'misunderstanding,' I trust your Qian Yuan Immortal Sect won’t hold a grudge either?"
"Sect Master Chen, isn’t that going too far?"
"What happened back then had nothing to do with us. It wasn’t our people who struck the killing blow."
"How can you pin all the blame on us?" The Third Elder’s voice turned cold.
"Hmph!"
"Only those who survived that day know the full truth."
"I’d like to ask your Qian Yuan Immortal Sect—why won’t you let me get to the bottom of it?"
"Isn’t it because you’re guilty?"
"I haven’t come for revenge, yet you dare show your face here?"
"Speak your piece or get lost. I’ve no time for you." Chen Wanqing snapped.
Though her hostility was palpable, the Third Elder had a mission to fulfill. Swallowing his pride, he pressed on.
"You haven’t truly forgotten, have you? In three months’ time, the Crimson Moon Secret Realm will open."