Chapter 206: Former Attempts

Chi Jiuyu quickly typed a rebuttal, feeling wronged.

She sent over more than ten messages in a row to prove her innocence!

After all, this time she really didn't buy the gift to appease anyone after making a mistake—it was just that her uncle's cultivation stones were too…

Cough!

It was purely out of gratitude for her master's protection that she wanted to repay him.

Bie Xuening, bombarded by over ten messages, was now only slightly convinced.

This rebellious disciple… this time, it really wasn't her fault?

A few seconds later.

My most revered master: "Where are you now?"

Still doubtful, Bie Xuening calculated—and found she couldn't determine his location; clearly, an equal-level presence was involved.

"I'm currently with Sister Ning and…"

Chi Jiuyu instinctively typed a few words to report her status, then deleted them upon realizing.

The future master of the Xiang Jianzong: "You misunderstood me, and you haven't apologized yet! /pointing with finger"

The future master of the Xiang Jianzong: "Your previous words severely wounded my sincere heart!"

My most revered master: "Are you sure?"

My most revered master: "/smile"

Looking at that simple smile emoji, Chi Jiuyu fell into thought.

She felt her fervent "filial devotion" was now beginning to calm down.

The future master of the Xiang Jianzong: "I was shopping at Ling Yin Fang and happened to meet Elder Huo."

She couldn't guarantee she'd never offend her master again—last time she'd dug her own grave; this time, she had to play it safe.

Otherwise, next time she'd be repaid double.

My most revered master: "Huo?"

The future master of the Xiang Jianzong: "Yes yes!"

My most revered master: "Where's your uncle?"

The future master of the Xiang Jianzong: "He went to meet the Elder Lingzu."

After waiting a while and seeing no further message from her master, Chi Jiuyu exited and began scrolling through the Spirit Net.

Huo, meanwhile, ignored this absurd disciple of the Sword Lord and smiled as he began chatting with Yuan.

"Yuan, I assumed it was the Elder Lingzu who concealed your whereabouts—but it turns out it was you, Elder Dao."

"What are you getting at?" Yuan said calmly.

"Nothing, just a pity—I thought my old friend had truly returned."

Huo's expression was sorrowful, his tone tinged with melancholy.

Only now, close at hand, did he realize: the so-called returned Yuan was merely a fragment of spiritual soul.

Yuan: "…"

Enough! Are you seriously acting?

Recalling how this guy had tormented him day and night, spying on his secrets, Yuan instinctively recoiled.

Back then, he even dared not practice calligraphy to reminisce about his homeland.

So even though he knew this guy was an Immortal, he simply couldn't bring himself to respect him.

"Alas~ I still remember how close we once were, but later it was ruined by Yuan…" Huo suddenly fell silent.

Never mind—the Elder Dao is still here; better not mention that name.

"You taught me: 'The world is full of acquaintances, but how many true friends?' Do you still remember?"

"…"

Fuck! Who taught you that?!

You eavesdropped yourself! Thinking of it, Yuan deeply regretted why he'd kept muttering phrases aloud—by the time he realized Huo had noticed, it was already too late.

So in the end, even leaving a few words for his fellow countryman had required agonizing thought, just to keep this guy from hearing.

"Why is Elder Huo at Ling Yin Fang?" Ning Wan Zhu suddenly asked.

As a disciple of the Elder Lingzu, she was certainly entitled to ask.

"Young friend, rest assured—I haven't concealed my whereabouts, so the Elder Lingzu knows."

"This ox's condition is far worse than imagined…"

The scene fell silent—sound coming from Chi Jiuyu's phone.

The voice was faint, clearly meant not to disturb the others' conversation.

Bored because she couldn't join in, she'd been scrolling short videos—what she was watching now was trimming the hooves of a spirit beast called Qingyan Ox.

"…" Huo continued after a pause, "And my disciple and I bought tickets and entered through official channels."

"Actually, postpartum care for Spirit Boar Beasts isn't as complicated as people imagine…"

"…Aside from Yuan, if any of you young friends wish to leave, you may do so at any time."

"When faced with this kind of question, a high-emotional-intelligence response is…"

The voice was quiet, but their realms were all too high.

"…" Huo looked at Chi Jiuyu. "Young friend seems very bored—I'll send you out first."

"Huh? That might not be right."

Sister Ning hasn't left yet—wouldn't that be impolite?

And the food hasn't even been served yet. "It's fine, no problem," Huo said gently.

With that, he waved his hand, and Chi Jiuyu vanished from his seat.

…………

Inner Gate of Ling Yin Fang.

Xu Xing and Ning Ruo walked along a broad, level road, snow already piled thick on both sides.

A thin layer of snow had settled on their bodies as well.

The Ling Yin Fang disciples passing by no longer glanced toward them.

It was because they had concealed their presence.

Ning Ruo's goal was simple: initially, let the disciples see her and Xu Xing together; after that, no more disturbances.

"That disciple of your master is quite interesting."

Ning Ruo smiled as she watched Chi Jiuyu, tossed out and still dazed in the shopping street.

Even Huo had been left helplessly exasperated.

"Indeed, quite mischievous."

"Her character is excellent, her talent strong—she should go far." Ning Ruo remarked.

Aside from her personality, the Sword Sovereign's disciple was excellent in every regard.

"But in recent years, Ling Yin Fang has had no particularly outstanding disciples."

Across the Central Continent and the starry heavens of the Xuan Realm, billions upon billions of human beings now number no more than tens of thousands who have achieved He Dao.

In Ning Ruo's standard, only disciples with potential for He Dao could be called qualified.

Only those with potential for Dong Zhen, even a sliver of a chance to knock on the Immortal Gate, could be called outstanding.

But since ancient times, how many have ever reached Dong Zhen? He Dao is difficult—but compared to the difficulty of Dong Zhen, it is nothing.

Yuan Zheng was hailed as the most brilliant person in a thousand years precisely because he ascended to Dong Zhen within a millennium.

The founding of the True Path Alliance, aside from the Xian Sect's non-involvement, was largely due to this very point.

"Xu Dage, after your recent emergence from seclusion, have you ever left the Xuan Realm?" Ning Ruo asked suddenly.

"I have not."

For a True Immortal, leaving the Xuan Realm is not overly difficult.

"I thought that now that you're no longer burdened by Hun Tian Yi, you'd venture beyond the realm to explore."

"It's not the right time yet," Xu Xing said, then paused.

"The Ling Ancestor… Ning Ruo, the method you mentioned—is it connected to the outside of the realm?"

She did not deny it: "In a sense, yes."

"Didn't we try this before? It didn't work, did it?"

True Immortals are not incapable of exploring beyond; once, to gain leverage, the Daoist companion and elder in the starry heavens attempted to draw in human beings from other worlds beyond the Xuan Realm.

But they found these individuals differed from Xu Xing—the Xuan Realm's Heavenly Dao did not 'recognize' them.

That is, they could not 'achieve He Dao' within the Xuan Realm, let alone seize a share of its weight.

Later, as the war on the front intensified, the other Daoists were either sealing Hun Tian Yi or preventing the Ancients from causing trouble, leaving them no time to venture beyond; this method was thus abandoned entirely.

Third update! Please subscribe!! Watching a match, so update is late.

(End of Chapter)