Chapter 78: Fierce as a Tiger
On the Xuanying Continent there was an unwritten law—Saint Realm must not be offended.
The names of the twelve Saints were engraved upon the Heaven Ranking, feared and revered like heavenly might itself.
Even the most arrogant scions of noble houses would never dare to give their children the same name as a Saint. If a new Saint ascended the ranking, anyone sharing that name, even a mere common child, had to change it immediately. Otherwise, it would be considered a grave disrespect to the Saint Realm.
For this reason, when Ji Lingxiu first met Chen Chang'an and heard his name, her heart had trembled—
This man actually dared to share a name with a Saint?!
At the time, she secretly speculated—perhaps he was some ignorant and reckless wastrel, or a disciple of a reclusive old monster, relying on a powerful background to even dare provoke the authority of the Saint Realm?
But now…
Within the valley, the power of a Saint raged boundless.
Ji Lingxiu looked at the figure before her, whose pressure was as vast as the abyss, and suddenly understood, her lips curling into a bitter smile.
So it wasn't that he was brazen, but rather—
He himself was that Saint listed atop the Heaven Ranking!
The number one on the Heaven Ranking, Chen Chang'an!
The more one understood the Saint Realm, the more terrifying this identity became.
Her own clan's ancestor, the former Great Zhou Supreme Emperor Ji Wuque, had also once been number one on the Heaven Ranking. With his strength alone, he had dominated the Xuanying Continent for tens of thousands of years!
And the man before her was of the same stature!
"Now, do you still think I am unqualified to be your master?" Chen Chang'an asked.
Ji Lingxiu drew a deep breath, suppressing her shock. "Saint, you hid yourself well indeed."
Chen Chang'an laughed heartily, the pressure around him instantly retracting as he returned to that same lazy appearance. "No need to sound so distant. After all, we'll be master and disciple from now on."
Ji Lingxiu gave a light snort, though she couldn't help but steal glances at him—
Although the pressure just now was not something that could be faked.
Still… no matter how many times she convinced herself in her heart, it all felt like a dream.
This man who all along had been so carefree, seemingly without ambition, was actually the number one Saint Realm powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking?
And she had even shamelessly declared she would "share half" when facing their pursuers together…
Thinking of this, the tips of her ears flushed slightly, and she suddenly felt all her past words and deeds were laughably absurd.
But…
To be able to take the number one on the Heaven Ranking as her master, as a fallen princess, could there be a better fate?
Impossible.
Even if there were… one bird in the hand is worth a thousand in the forest.
This was her Ji clan's ancestral teaching!
Without hesitation, Ji Lingxiu gracefully bowed down. "Master above, please accept this disciple's bow."
"From now on, I will rely on your guidance."
…
In the pet panel, Ji Lingxiu's name soon refreshed.
But as Chen Chang'an looked at the system interface, he felt something was missing…
What was it?
He flipped through the newly received system notifications—
System Notification: Legendary Achievement completed: I Am Fate [3/4]
I Am Fate:
Collect four Children of Fate in the pet panel [Achievement Progress: 3/4]
Achievement Reward: Random Immortal Artifact.
Then scrolling further up…
System Notification: Epic Series Achievement completed: Youth's Journey [3/4]
Completion of Youth's Journey series achievement grants Other Mountain Jade (raises the level of one Supreme Immortal Law).
So that was it—it was the sense of achievement that was missing…
After all those fierce operations, the result was no achievement completed.
The two "3/4" numbers jabbed at Chen Chang'an like needles, leaving him slightly uncomfortable.
Ji Lingxiu, somewhat curious, watched her master's face shifting from joy to sorrow, his expression ever-changing. Without making a sound, she quietly edged one step away.
Just then—
"Master! Master! Young Master Xiao Chen has run into trouble!"
Wu Bo shouted as he hurried over, but his voice suddenly stopped. His cloudy eyes were fixed on the young girl standing behind Chen Chang'an.
The morning light shone across her radiant face. As the steward of a once top-tier family on the continent, he naturally recognized the former Great Zhou princess.
But—the Splendid Princess!?
Why would she be here!?
He suddenly recalled the rumors he had heard when leaving the valley a few days ago, and his throat bobbed involuntarily.
A terrifying thought flashed through his mind!
Could it be… that matter… Master was also involved?
No, that could not be right. These days Master had hardly left the valley, and even when he did, it was only through his weaker avatars.
So in truth… Master's recent languid demeanor was just a façade while he was… playing a great game of chess!?
As expected of Master!
"This is my newly accepted disciple." Chen Chang'an frowned. "What did you just say about Xiao Chen?"
"Oh, Young Master Xiao Chen encountered some trouble after leaving the valley," Wu Bo quickly snapped back to his senses, no longer staring at the legendary princess.
"Leaving the valley? When did he leave? Why didn't I know about it?"
Wu Bo gave a bitter smile. He really wanted to say that lately, Master had seemed absent-minded in everything. When Young Master Xiao Chen told him he was leaving with Medicine Elder, hadn't Master nodded without hesitation?
Perhaps stirred by Wu Bo's resentful gaze, Chen Chang'an finally realized that Xiao Chen must have spoken to him while he was controlling an avatar, causing this blunder.
In fact, he never restricted his disciples from going out.
After all, if Children of Fate did not leave the valley, how could they seize fortune and grow freely?
He had only intended to wait until Xiao Chen reached the Returning Origin Realm before letting him go.
But then, wasn't this exactly what suited the fate of a protagonist?
He had only been out for a short while, and already trouble had arrived.
"Tch, that boy…" Chen Chang'an suddenly pushed the young girl toward the old steward. "She is Ji Lingxiu, my new disciple. You arrange things for her."
Before the words had finished, his azure robes fluttered, and his figure had already transformed into a stream of light, streaking toward the valley's entrance.
At that moment, he did not even notice how much he resembled an anxious father rushing to protect his child.
Wu Bo watched the direction in which Chen Chang'an had vanished, then turned his head back, only to find the princess's lips curved in a strange smile.
Before he could speak, Ji Lingxiu smoothed the edges of her robes that had been lifted by the wind. Every movement still carried the dignity of royal blood. "Wu Bo, is it? My master's residence—does it have a place to bathe and change?"
Wu Bo froze, instinctively replying, "If Your High—"
"…So you truly recognize me!" Ji Lingxiu's eyes narrowed, then she smiled brightly, clearly pleased with the result of her test.
Wu Bo sighed.
As expected… neither Master's daughter nor his disciples were easy to deal with…
He said softly, "At the Upper Realm Stele Assembly, I once had the honor of accompanying the former Master and catching a distant glimpse of Your Highness's grace."
"The former Master? I see. But still… I must ask Wu Bo to speak cautiously—" Ji Lingxiu shook her head.
"Now, I am no longer a princess."
Wu Bo was silent for a moment. Then sudden understanding dawned upon him, and he instantly grasped the girl's meaning.
A smile returned to his face. "Then, Lady Ji, since Master has matters to attend to, please follow me for now—"
…
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