Chapter 25: The Antidote to the Yellow-Haired Cultivator

Just as the school was feverishly preparing for the Dueling Test.

High in the sky, above the clouds, a white-robed figure sat cross-legged, gazing downward, eyes swirling with purple light, as if piercing through the clouds.

The Union with the Dao Stage cultivator of the Taishang Dao Sect—Zihuan Zhenjun.

Zhenjun Zihuan had left Xuanjian City yesterday, but Zihuan Zhenjun had no intention of leaving.

Long ago the incident had passed, yet even now he still remembered that earth-shattering sword strike—the Union with the Dao sword cultivator who, after committing murder, did not flee, but instead carried Yu'er's severed head before the eyes of many and questioned the arriving Union with the Dao cultivators.

At that time he was merely a Return to Void cultivator, helplessly watching the Union with the Dao sword cultivator depart.

Later, after painstakingly advancing to the Union with the Dao Stage, he had intended to challenge him—but when he finally faced him, fear gripped his heart so tightly he could not even utter the word "challenge."

A heart demon.

In that moment he understood: he was trapped by a heart demon; unless he shattered it, he would forever remain stuck at the Union with the Dao Stage, never advancing further.

The sect believed he sought revenge, but only he knew that everything he had done was solely to break free from his heart demon.

Zihuan Zhenjun's expression remained calm, yet his thoughts churned violently.

The Xiang Jianzong is arrogant, showing not the slightest regard for the Taishang Dao Sect's dignity. Hehuan Laozu and that Sword Sovereign are both supreme beings of the Taixuan Realm, yet Hehuan Laozu constantly yields—so weak!

Even the sect's disciples have taken to this absurd "cautious cultivation" path—it's incomprehensible! Yet that Union with the Dao sword cultivator's sword art is earth-shattering, his combat power so overwhelming it inspires despair—myself… I am no match; I must find another way to resolve this.

The Xiang Jianzong cultivator who emerged from seclusion was one such attempt; though he severed one hand of the Union with the Dao elder demon, the demon still escaped. From this alone, even if he were Union with the Dao, he could not possibly be very strong.

So he arrived here early to observe.

Today's Dueling Test is the largest event held in Xuanjian City in recent times.

According to past patterns, ancient cultivators emerging from seclusion usually hide themselves, slowly learning this vastly changed world, and since their own realm is profound, they tend to gather in crowded places.

Therefore, the Xiang Jianzong cultivator emerging from seclusion is very likely to appear here.

………

At this moment, not far from the school gate, a barbecue shop.

Since it was still early, few customers were inside, and what they ordered were mostly kidneys and oysters.

The owner was a middle-aged man with peak Foundation Establishment cultivation, his body packed with muscle, clearly a pure body cultivator.

These young kids, eating this stuff so early in the morning—don't they know how to cherish their bodies?

As he sighed inwardly, he skillfully sprinkled various spices.

Boom!

A multicolored flying sword descended, its rider a thin, yellow-haired youth with sunken eyes, looking listless.

The commotion drew many glances.

Among them was Xu Xing, buying buns at the steamed bun stall next door.

He had come outside early with one goal: the "Basic Cultivation Method" created by Shenghuang Yuan, and incidentally, to observe Zhang Yunlu's performance.

"Boss, ten skewers of kidneys!" The yellow-haired youth said, pulling out a vial and swallowing several pills.

Qi-Boosting and Body-Nourishing Pills—a low-grade pill, its effect… you know what it is.

"Got it!" The boss grabbed two large kidneys from the side, expertly slicing them open, "Thanks for your patronage, I'll throw in two extra skewers."

He ran this shop to make money—he wouldn't turn away business that walked in.

Besides, judging by this kid's appearance, he might become a regular customer.

"Thanks, boss."

Perhaps he was truly exhausted, the yellow-haired youth waved his hand and prepared to find a seat nearby to rest.

At that moment, a girl, around twenty, with a lovely face and slender figure, wearing a light gray tank top and shorts, also landed on her flying sword.

The yellow-haired youth froze mid-step.

"Dad!" the girl called sweetly.

Huh? The yellow-haired youth scratched his head—this kind of act outside isn't appropriate, is it?

But the next moment, he heard a sigh.

"…"

Is this barbecue shop owner her dad?!

The yellow-haired youth was stunned, staring at the owner's muscular frame, his heart trembling. "Let me introduce you—this is my boyfriend." The girl pointed at the yellow-haired youth, who was backing away.

"Oh."

The barbecue shop owner, busy with his work, nodded—then suddenly realized, whipping his head around!

The two stared at each other for a long while.

The barbecue shop owner smiled at his daughter, but the smile looked grotesque, veins bulging on his forehead.

"He's your boyfriend?"

"Yeah."

"F***!"

The barbecue shop owner's eyes turned red; his massive palm shot out and grabbed the yellow-haired youth, who was terrified beyond words, scrambling onto his flying sword to flee—only to be yanked down by his collar.

The yellow-haired youth was only a pseudo-Foundation Establishment cultivator; against a peak Foundation Establishment orthodox body cultivator, he had not the slightest resistance, lifted like a chick.

"Speak up! Did you take her to a hotel yesterday?!"

"N-no…"

"Dad, I was in my room all day yesterday!"

Hearing this, the barbecue shop owner regained some reason and set the yellow-haired youth down.

"Get lost!" The yellow-haired youth scrambled away, crawling on all fours.

"Wait! Where did you sleep yesterday?"

"... Her room."

The barbecue shop owner's entire face flushed crimson, and wisps of a blood-red qi-and-blood phantom appeared around his body—no father could possibly tolerate something like this!

"Don't get worked up, Dad, he's actually fine."

The blond kid was nearly in tears. Great-aunt, please don't pour oil on the fire, alright? "Fine? How could he possibly be fine!" The words were practically squeezed out from between clenched teeth.

"His essence and desires are perfectly fine."

Huh??? "Ah?"

Forget the parties involved—even the onlookers were dumbfounded.

There's actually a twist!

"I've joined the Dual Cultivation Sect, and he actually never touched me. Everything he saw was just an illusion technique."

"You lied to me?!" The blond kid couldn't believe it.

"I didn't lie to you, did I? Didn't I tell you, and you agreed too?"

The blond kid: "..."

So it wasn't that he had coaxed her into it—it was that she had coaxed him.

The blood-red qi-and-blood phantom dissipated.

The barbecue shop owner and the blond kid both wore complicated expressions.

For a moment the atmosphere turned awkward. Given the current situation, who exactly had gotten the short end of the stick?

"Get in here! Today we're going to get to the bottom of this!"

Facing the barbecue shop owner, whose anger had yet to subside, the blond kid didn't dare run. He picked up the flying sword that had fallen nearby and followed him into the shop.

Soon, the shop door was shut.

"Tsk tsk! The world these days, really." The steamed bun shop owner sighed.

Xu Xing, bun in hand, also felt that everything that had just happened was rather interesting.

He hadn't expected to see such a fine show today. The cultivation-world version of the blond punk, who gives many fathers headaches, had finally met his natural enemy.

Then, bun in hand, he headed toward the school, and the watching crowd gradually dispersed.

The show's over—time to go take a look at that Holy Sovereign Abyss technique.

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