Tianyan Sect, Zhuji Peak.
At this moment, Zhuji Peak had become the highest alert zone within the Tianyan Sect. Aside from a select few high-ranking members, no one else was permitted to approach.
Warning signs restricting access had been posted far in advance.
Lu Xuan sat quietly inside a hall at the foot of Zhuji Peak. His gaze tilted slightly upward as he watched the fierce surges of spiritual energy that periodically rolled across the peak.
The entire Zhuji Peak had been outfitted with its own grand formation. Right now, that formation glowed with brilliant spiritual light, restraining the terrifying churning of spiritual energy.
"The seventh tribulation..."
Lu Xuan lightly formed a hand seal, a mysterious sensation flowing through his fingertips.
After a moment, Lu Xuan stopped his repeated calculations and sighed softly.
"It seems I haven't learned my craft well enough. I've brought shame to my master and grandmaster."
Lu Xuan sighed once more, his gaze growing somewhat distant as he stared at Zhuji Peak.
A moment later, the surging spiritual energy atop Zhuji Peak subsided.
Lu Xuan quickly rose to his feet, transforming into a streak of rainbow light as he shot toward the peak.
Passing through the formation, he pushed open the gates of the small courtyard atop Zhuji Peak. Lu Xuan's gaze immediately locked onto Bai Xuanling, who sat reclined in a jade chair.
Bai Xuanling's expression was perfectly calm. He held a teacup loosely in hand, his white robes gently billowing in the breeze.
Lu Xuan looked at Bai Xuanling, who appeared as carefree and serene as ever. He spoke with a note of surprise.
"You're fine?"
Bai Xuanling raised an eyebrow, his tone casual.
"If not being dead counts as fine, then yes, I'm fine."
Lu Xuan was at a loss for words.
"What time do you think it is? You're still in the mood for jokes?"
"What, you want to see me look frail and say — 'Sect Master, I'm dying, I'm scared?'" Bai Xuanling took a small sip of tea, then set the cup down with a look of mild distaste.
"This spiritual tea isn't even as good as the ordinary tea Xiao Baiqing brews. You old fox, don't tell me you've been skimming off the top, pawning off garbage spiritual tea on me?"
Lu Xuan took a seat in the jade chair on the other side and asked pointedly.
"Do you think I'd trade the peace and quiet of my twilight years for a few spirit stones?"
Bai Xuanling replied in a thoroughly relaxed manner.
"Who can say for sure? You're always forming hand seals and muttering cryptic things. Your mind's clearly not right — your spiritual sense is probably malfunctioning too."
"Cryptic? This is the Heavenly Derivation Arts passed down by our sect's founders. It's extremely accurate."
"Extremely accurate? Then tell me, what's my ending? Do I make it through safely, or do I die young?"
"Given your age, I wouldn't call it dying young. Strictly speaking, it'd be more like... dying of natural causes..."
BOOM!
Lu Xuan was sent flying straight out of the courtyard.
A moment later, Lu Xuan walked back into the courtyard.
"The force was strong, but your aura is incredibly unstable. I shouldn't have let you go last time. Is showing off all you know how to do in this life?"
Bai Xuanling rose to his feet, a cold gleam surfacing in his eyes.
"What's the alternative? Spend my whole life trapped on Zhuji Peak, just clinging to survival, becoming some legendary figure who never sees the light of day?"
"Am I supposed to live out my days in cowardice?"
"I'd rather die on the battlefield than live out my days in cowardice on Zhuji Peak."
"I can say I've lived a magnificent life. I don't want my end to be a silent one."
"Leaving behind nothing more than — 'The Living King of Hell is no more. He retired and died on Zhuji Peak.'"
Lu Xuan sighed softly.
"Can't you just focus on raising Xiao Lingyu? Why must you be so bent on courting death?"
Bai Xuanling gave a derisive scoff.
"Didn't you do a reading for me? Then tell me — roughly how long do I have left?"
"I thought you didn't believe in this sort of thing?" Lu Xuan didn't answer directly.
Bai Xuanling wisely dropped the line of questioning. He picked up his teacup again and shifted the topic.
"How are things going on Chu Xingchen's end?"
Lu Xuan produced a jade information slip and handed it over.
Bai Xuanling took it and projected his spiritual sense into it. A moment later, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's passable, I suppose. There's no point staying here any longer. Pull back whoever needs to be pulled back — otherwise, even scaring people won't work when everyone knows I'm just a sick tiger."
Lu Xuan didn't press the matter, nodding gently.
"Chu Xingchen's place has been fairly quiet lately. If you've got nothing to do, you could go over there and take a breather. Once you're gone, I'll have time to handle other matters."
"That rebellious disciple Yan Yun has been complaining to me non-stop lately. She says I dump everything on her, and on top of that, she has to deal with Chu Xingchen's aggravation every few days."
"She claims all these responsibilities are cutting into her cultivation time. Hah, nothing but excuses. That girl won't appreciate how hard her master has it until she's had a taste of management herself."
Bai Xuanling rose to his feet, ignoring Lu Xuan's grumbling. He transformed into a streak of rainbow light and sped out of the Tianyan Sect.
He left only a single parting remark behind.
"I'll be relying on you for this period, Sect Master."
Lu Xuan sat silently on the jade chair. He watched that streak of rainbow light vanish from sight in the blink of an eye.
He murmured softly to himself.
"I suppose the illness must be quite serious by now..."
"For him to actually say 'I'll be relying on you' — to be polite to me, of all people."
Lu Xuan let out one final sigh and slowly rose to his feet.
Wan Hua Ridge.
Yu Yang Daozi and Xu Jin had originally come to Chu Xingchen to demand more Chun Nuan wine and force an apology from that sharp-tongued brat. They figured if they could get him to properly own up to his mistakes, that would be the end of it.
They hadn't planned on staying long.
But plans rarely kept pace with reality. What was supposed to be a brief visit had somehow stretched into several days.
After meeting with Wu Kong that day, Chu Xingchen had Li Yingling arrange a proper welcome gathering for Yu Yang Daozi and Xu Jin.
Chu Xingchen had even returned to the kitchen — an exceedingly rare occurrence — and personally cooked a meal. He'd brought out two more jars of Chun Nuan to boot.
That night was filled with laughter and lively conversation.
In the first half of the evening, Xu Jin and Yu Yang Daozi had managed to maintain the dignified bearing befitting core disciples of their respective sects.
By the second half, whether they'd genuinely grown comfortable or simply because no one at the gathering bothered with pretense, all formalities had dissolved.
Even Chu Xingchen could be found arguing stubbornly with Dian Shu and San Dong over trivial matters. The two guests had happily blended into the revelry.
With their guard completely dropped, both of them genuinely felt far more relaxed and joyful.
In the days that followed, there were no more banquets. But sipping tea brewed by Chen Baiqing and watching the amusing little incidents around the sect proved entertaining enough.
They admired the countless flowers blooming across Wan Hua Ridge in vibrant competition.
It truly made one sigh in admiration — Chu Xingchen had it way too good.
"Brother Chu, is this how you live every single day?"
Xu Jin took a sip of Chen Baiqing's tea, watching Cui Hao feed fish in the deep pool ahead. He couldn't help but voice his envy.
Chu Xingchen sighed and shook his head.
"Ah, it's not all perfect. But as a sect master, one must shoulder those storms to give one's disciples a proper environment for cultivation."
"...I really wish I could show you how we live," Xu Jin muttered.
Chu Xingchen's face twisted in mock horror.
"Please, don't. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself from laughing out loud, and then you'd beat me up."
Yu Yang Daozi threw a punch at Chu Xingchen without any real force behind it, just a light tap.
"I can't hold back right now!"
Chu Xingchen laughed out loud, thoroughly amused.
Xu Jin shook his head with a faint sigh. But suddenly, his expression shifted. He produced a messenger talisman from somewhere unknown.
Only a moment passed.
He rose to his feet, his face grave.
"There's an emergency at Xuanqing Heavenly Sect. Brother Chu, I apologize for intruding on your hospitality. I must return at once."
Without waiting for Chu Xingchen to offer even a perfunctory pleasantry, Xu Jin's figure blurred and he was gone.
Yu Yang Daozi narrowed his eyes slightly.
"When the winds rise, there truly isn't a moment's respite to be found."
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