Taoist Qingxuan’s Dilemma
No kidding.
Taoist Qingxuan felt like he was going to die.
It was a very strong premonition.
But—
He didn’t dare disobey the Qingyun Patriarch.
Even though his wounds hadn’t fully healed, he still had to follow orders.
“I never expected that man to be a Fusion Realm cultivator.”
Taoist Qingxuan sighed and shook his head.
Since Chen Huaian was a true powerhouse, sparing his life was already an act of mercy.
For the dignity of Qingyun Sect, no one would admit it, but—
It was a gift from the heavens that he was still alive!
Because in reality—
Against a suppressed Fusion Realm expert, he should have been obliterated instantly.
Instead—
He was merely humiliated and beaten half to death.
A great outcome!
Lu Changtian’s Last Hope
Lu Changtian staggered forward, his face filled with despair.
“Master, my Dantian…”
Taoist Qingxuan’s face twitched with impatience.
“There’s nothing I can do about your Dantian.”
He frowned and sighed.
“Everything has cause and effect. If you had known this, why did you bully Qingran?
You told me she deliberately wanted to hurt Mu Baishuang!
You convinced me to pull out her spiritual roots!
And now you regret it?”
Lu Changtian lowered his head, unable to answer.
Taoist Qingxuan gritted his teeth.
As much as he favored Lu Changtian, the truth was—
His fate was his own doing.
But still, he couldn’t bear to watch his prized disciple become crippled.
So, he laid out two paths.
Path One: Train as a body cultivator.
- Strengthen the body, surpass limitations with raw physical power.
- Difficult and rare in the Cangyun Realm, requiring immense self-discipline.
Path Two: Enter the Zhongzhou Secret Realm.
- A rare event where powerful sects search for new talents.
- If lucky, he might be selected by a Holy Land and be healed.
Lu Changtian’s eyes lit up.
“I choose the secret realm!”
Taoist Qingxuan knocked him on the forehead with his sword hilt.
“Idiot! The big secret realm is for Nascent Soul cultivators! You’d die instantly!
I’m talking about the small secret realm!
There, the Holy Lands will be selecting disciples. If you’re lucky, someone might take you in and heal your Dantian.”
Lu Changtian finally understood.
Mu Baishuang’s Calculations
Nearby, Mu Baishuang, pretending to meditate, perked up at the mention of the Zhongzhou Secret Realm.
“If I can get my hands on the Black Gold Cold Jade from Zhang Hanxiao and seize Li Qingran’s Taiyin Body… the Young Master will have a future.”
Zhang Hanxiao was easy prey—
He was injured, and her “affectionate concern” would be enough to get him to hand over the jade.
Li Qingran, on the other hand—
That damn swordsman was protecting her.
But how long can a Fusion Realm powerhouse babysit a disciple?
Eventually, he would go into seclusion, as all high-level cultivators do.
And once they entered the secret realm…
Li Qingran would be hers.
As Mu Baishuang plotted, a cold voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
“Are you Qingxuan’s disciple?”
Mu Baishuang’s body tensed.
Her heart raced in panic.
Slowly, she turned and saw a pair of ancient, clouded eyes.
The Qingyun Patriarch.
Without hesitation, she knelt and kowtowed.
“Disciple Mu Baishuang greets the ancestor!”
The Qingyun Patriarch narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing her.
Mu Baishuang broke into a cold sweat.
Did she see through me?!
Do I fight? Flee? Beg for mercy?
After what felt like an eternity, the Qingyun Patriarch finally spoke.
“I know about Li Qingran.”
“Mu Baishuang, just focus on your cultivation. If you continue to stir up trouble… I won’t mind helping Qingxuan clean up his mess.”
Then—
She left.
Escape!
Meanwhile—
Chen Huaian activated the Thousand Miles Divine Travel Talisman and pulled Li Qingran onto the Black Scale Sword.
“Let’s get out of here before that old monster changes her mind!”
Chen Huaian’s flying speed rivaled a fighter jet.
Li Qingran, caught in the strong wind, tried to speak, but—
The wind distorted her mouth into a weird shape.
She quickly shut her lips.
Senior doesn’t use a wind barrier?
Is this… some sort of profound training technique?
Yes, that must be it!
Li Qingran convinced herself.
Senior is feeling the rhythm of the wind, studying the Dao of nature.
She lowered her gaze in shame.
Li Qingran, you still have so much to learn.
Do you even deserve to be Senior’s disciple?
Wait… does Senior have other disciples?
Are they female?
How many female disciples does he have?
Li Qingran watched his fluttering white hair.
Even as the wind whipped her hair into a mess, her heart felt warm.
It doesn’t matter.
If Senior says it’s right, then it’s right.
Even if he has a hundred female disciples—
That’s reasonable.
Hee~♥
System Rewards & New Mission?!
Chen Huaian, shivering from the cold, finally muttered—
“Damn, why doesn’t this sword have a temperature control feature?”
Then—
[Main Quest 1.0 Complete!]
[Reward: 10 Thunder and Fire Talismans (Delivered)]
Chen Huaian rolled his eyes.
“Only 10 talismans? What am I, a beggar?”
Little did he know—
Back in his real-world apartment—
A loud “BANG” sounded at his door.
The black cat, curled up in a shoebox, poked its head out.
It sniffed the air—
Then shivered violently and retreated back into the box.
[Main Quest 2.0 Activated!]
[Mission: Help your electronic girlfriend gain a foothold in her new “custody center.”]
Custody center?
Chen Huaian stiffened.
His hands nearly slipped off the sword hilt.
“What the hell is a custody center?!”
