Chapter 190: Returning to the Xiang Jianzong

What were you just about to say?

"I just—I…"

Even though Gu Mo was bold and unconventional, he now felt awkward, stammering and unable to speak.

"Never mind, I'll let it go this time." Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan gently let the matter pass.

"Phew~" Gu Mo exhaled in relief, "Thank you, sister-in-law."

"…"

To be honest, Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan disliked this term of address.

You could at least call her 'sister-in-law' or 'Big Sister'—'sister-in-law' sounds just odd.

"Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan, where do you plan to travel after this?" Xu Xing asked.

"I'm heading straight to the Starry Battlefield." Gu Mo replied decisively.

For years, the Alliance has fully entrusted the Starry Battlefield to the Qidaxian Sect.

Though the reason is the 'Broken Heart Qi,' that cannot serve as an excuse.

"You should still prioritize your own Dao."

"Naturally." Gu Mo smiled freely, "I've sat in stillness for years without a single advancement—I've realized my Dao cannot be this way."

The Starry Battlefield—that is his true home!

This journey serves both to fulfill the Alliance's unfinished duty and to advance his own cultivation.

"Good that you've made your decision." Xu Xing said no more.

The Dao path is hard to walk; he only hoped Gu Mo's journey would bring him fulfillment.

"Sister-in-law." Gu Mo pulled out a jade token, "Rare is the chance to rebuild one's foundation; I have nothing of value to offer, but I hope this token may protect your Dao path."

The jade token was dull and unremarkable, square and precisely shaped, one inch in size.

Inside it was sealed a hundred of Gu Mo's sword intentions, each equivalent to his full-power strike.

"…"

Xu Xing and Xiang Yuanjun both stared, speechless.

Is this how you protect someone's Dao path?

Are you running a wholesale shop here?

Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan accepted it calmly—if she refused, Gu Mo would never rest easy.

"Then I shall take my leave first."

Seeing her accept the jade token, Gu Mo finally had no further hesitation and vanished from within the Secret Realm.

"May the day we meet again be the day the Cang Clan is utterly exterminated!"

Only his voice echoed across the empty desert.

His aura had already left the Central Continent, heading into the stars.

A long while passed.

Xu Xing looked at the two of them.

"Then, Xiang Yuanjun, Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan, let us part ways here!"

Saying this, he prepared to leave.

"Brother, please wait a moment." Xiang Yuanjun suddenly said.

Then she gently raised her hand and sent Friend Friend Friend Meng Xuan out of the Secret Realm.

"Hm?"

Xu Xing frowned: "Xiang Yuanjun, do you have something to say?"

Xiang Yuanjun said nothing, but reached up and removed the white veil covering her eyes.

There appeared willow-leaf brows, slender and gently curved like a new moon, their ends slightly lifted, radiating a touch of liveliness.

Her eyelashes, long and thick, trembled lightly before opening.

Like a deep pool stirred by spring wind, ripples shimmered faintly.

Within them flickered countless lights and shadows, scenes of creation and dissolution—yet these were swiftly suppressed, leaving only clear, distinct black-and-white eyes full of vitality.

Her eyes, like autumn waters, gleamed with brilliance.

She had always been exquisitely beautiful; now, with this added liveliness, she was just as she had been at their first meeting.

Though…

Their first meeting had not been pleasant at all.

But time changes all; looking back now, it was a rare experience.

Xiang Yuanjun's bright eyes fixed on him, unmoving, as if imprinting his face into her heart.

"Xiang Yuanjun…"

"After this, I don't know when we'll meet again—I must see you with my own eyes." Xiang Yuanjun smiled lightly.

So they stood like this for a long time…

Xiang Yuanjun stepped back half a pace, re-covering her eyes with the white veil and tying it securely.

"I wish you a smooth journey, Brother."

"... Mm."

Xu Xing gave a slight nod and vanished.

In the desolate Secret Realm, scorching sand grains rolled wildly in the wind, emitting low, mournful whimpers. Xiang Yuanjun stood still for a long while; then a gust of sand swept past, and she vanished with it.

It seems Brother isn't as clueless as he appears.

…………

Xiang Jianzong.

Sword light flickered across the sky, just as lively as ever.

Seven divine aura rankings descended from the horizon, listing the top cultivators of each realm within the Xiang Jianzong.

Lin Qiu Xian ended his cultivation and stepped out of the training chamber.

As before, he glanced at the Foundation Establishment ranking—more precisely, at the second name on it.

Second on the Foundation Establishment ranking: Zhang Yunlu! It wasn't that she had surpassed the third-place cultivator, but that the first had ascended to Jin Dan.

On the day he returned to the sect, though he had anticipated it, the moment he saw that name, his emotions turned complicated.

"Creation Foundation Establishment…"

Though he too had once appeared on the Foundation Establishment ranking, he had barely scraped in at the very bottom.

He withdrew his gaze, a flicker of determination passing through Lin Qiu Xian's eyes.

"Soon!"

……

……

Inner Sect, Sword Lord Hall.

In the cultivation hall.

Chi Jiuyu yawned several times out of boredom.

She looked up and saw her senior sister still seated within the hall, now in meditative adjustment.

Their master stood silently beside her, watching.

With nothing to do, she stood up and walked over to the vessel placed nearby.

Inside the pale green medicinal fluid lay Zhang Yunlu, eyes closed, arms wrapped around her knees.

Though she had been reduced to nothing but bones, after their master's intervention, Little Yunlu had fully recovered.

As for why she still hadn't woken up…

Their master said her spirit had been too tightly wound for too long, and she needed rest.

Chi Jiuyu leaned closer.

"Ha!"

She exhaled gently, and a mist instantly fogged the outer surface of the recovery pod.

With a few casual strokes, she drew a fish.

But soon erased it, then pressed her entire face against the pod's outer shell, letting her features flatten under the pressure.

Tiny bubbles rose in the pale green fluid; Zhang Yunlu lay motionless within.

Chi Jiuyu straightened up and rubbed her face.

Soon she wouldn't be the youngest junior sister anymore—she too would soon become Ye Shijie Jiuyu.

That was the one thing that made her happiest.

Their master had said that once she took her next disciple, she could openly use the title of Sword Lord's disciple.

To openly use the title of Sword Lord's disciple! How glorious! She couldn't help imagining scenarios.

For instance, she encounters a second-generation scion committing crimes, beats him up, and he brings out his powerful connections.

Then she stands firm, unyielding, and shouts accusations.

The scion's backers intend to punish her—but someone nearby reveals her identity.

The scion and his backers turn pale, collapse to their knees, and beg for forgiveness!

Hahaha! Too immersed, she couldn't suppress her laughter.

Bie Xuening: "…"

Can't this rebellious disciple behave normally?

Hmm…

For the sake of her reputation, maybe she should just break her legs.

"Senior sister."

The sudden voice startled everyone in the hall—even Li Ke, who had been meditating, opened her eyes.

But Bie Xuening immediately forced her eyelids shut with a thread of magic power.

"Focus on your adjustment. Don't distract yourself," Bie Xuening said solemnly.

Then she turned toward Xu Xing, who had appeared nearby, ready to speak.

"Uncle! How did you get back so fast?!" Chi Jiuyu moved swiftly, already at Xu Xing's side. "Where's the fruit we asked for?"

The Divine Mechanism Alchemy Pavilion should be able to craft a wheelchair.

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