Chapter 376: The Disciple Closest to Knocking on the Immortal Gate

Because of his previous expulsion from the Xuan Realm, most of his disciples had returned to the Xiang Jianzong, but some remained on the Starry Sky frontlines, continuing to serve as Star Domain Wardens.

Now that I've come to this frontline, I might as well go see them.

At this moment, within the Starry Sky Fortress.

In the vast, spacious training ground, a woman clad in heavy black armor, appearing utterly dull, swung a broad, thick greatsword repeatedly.

Her expression was focused and earnest, as if performing something of utmost importance.

Without a sound, Xu Xing's figure appeared silently, yet he said nothing, merely standing aside and watching her quietly.

The heavy greatsword swung continuously, and gradually, dark shadows flickered in the surrounding void, like patches of inked clouds spreading out, inducing a deep, innate oppression.

Turning her head toward Xu Xing's direction, her dull eyes suddenly flared with intense heat.

"Master!"

Whirr-boom!

All the dark shadows instantly retracted; the heavy greatsword, carrying a roaring wind, slammed down toward Xu Xing's head.

A remarkably plain and unadorned sword technique.

Yet it sealed off all ten directions—no escape, no evasion!

A mysterious force spread, sealing away all transcendent powers; the entire training ground seemed to enter the End of the Dharma, where spiritual energy and the Dao no longer existed!

Clang!

In the crisp sound of metal striking metal, the greatsword flew high.

The armored woman's fiery gaze did not dim; she stepped back, stabilized the greatsword, and slashed horizontally at Xu Xing again.

Boom!

The surging air current tore a grotesque, deep gash into the training ground's solid metal floor.

"Enough."

A slightly exasperated voice silenced everything; the fiery heat in the armored woman's eyes finally faded, returning to dullness.

Xu Xing held the heavy black greatsword with one hand, preventing it from advancing any further.

"Master…"

Ding!

As she lowered the greatsword, it struck the solid ground and left a deep indentation.

Xu Xing looked at the heavily armored woman before him, who appeared utterly dull.

She was his second disciple—Xu Xianning.

When he first found her, she had no name, so she took his surname; this name was given to her by his senior sister.

"How have you been lately?"

"?"

Xu Xianning stared at him blankly, not understanding what aspect of her life he meant by "well."

"Never mind. Tell me about your current progress."

Xu Xing pulled out a chair and sat down; he was about to fetch another for her when he noticed she had already curled up, knees hugged to chest, sitting on the ground.

But soon, realizing it was inappropriate, she quickly rose and knelt before Xu Xing.

Bang-bang-bang!

Three loud head knocks—literally—leaving deep indentations in the specially cast alloy floor.

Xu Xing: "..."

For some reason, he suddenly found himself looking forward to the scene when his disciple met Jiuyu.

"No need for that. Sit however you like."

"Oh!"

She returned to her previous posture, hugging her knees, tilting her head up, gazing at Xu Xing with wide, hopeful eyes—though the black heavy armor made it utterly incongruous.

But Xu Xing was already quite accustomed to it: "Your term as Star Domain Warden should be over, right?"

"Yes, Master."

"Not returning?"

"The Immortal Gate is near. This is the best place." Xu Xianning answered simply.

"Do you have confidence?"

"Yes."

"..."

He had many disciples, most of whom were at the Dongzhen Realm.

But few had reached the stage of "Wu Dao's peak, about to knock on the Immortal Gate"—even Jing Hai had not reached this point.

Yet Xu Xianning was the closest among them.

"In one month, I'll return to the sect." She added.

Xu Xing nodded slightly.

That meant that in one month, her savings would be sufficient, and she could return to prepare for the breakthrough.

"How are you, Master?" she asked, concerned. "I'm fine."

"Oh."

…………

Xiang Jianzong, Outer Sect.

Chi Jiuyu stood outside the teleportation array, beside him Zhang Yunlu, her expression calm.

Both stared motionlessly into the teleportation array.

Hum~

A ripple of spatial distortion.

As the teleportation array's light flared, dozens of figures appeared within the platform.

Chi Jiuyu's gaze swiftly and precisely locked onto two of them, then elbowed Zhang Yunlu beside him.

"Look quick—those should be your brother and his group, right?"

Zhang Yunlu also stared in the direction Chi Jiuyu pointed: "Mm."

Not a single error in content, not one!

Inside the teleportation array, Zhang Xiu wore a fitted black dragon-elephant Longxiang Qingtianzong disciple uniform, beside him stood Jiang Hong, dressed identically.

The same body cultivator who had intervened in Xuanjian City to stop the demonic Daoist returning to the Void.

Hmm…

Can't really call him 'old' anymore.

Jiang Hong—that's his name.

They too had spotted Chi Jiuyu and Zhang Yunlu.

After descending from the teleportation platform and passing through several security checks, Zhang Xiu and Jiang Hong approached.

"Greetings, Xiao Shu Zu."

Now, Chi Jiuyu's status as a Sword Lord's disciple was no longer a secret; by seniority, most disciples of the Qidaxian Sect were required to address her as 'Xiao Shu Zu.'

It was a sign of respect for the Xian Sect's ancestral masters.

Jiang Hong inwardly reeled—twenty-two years old and already broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, yet his foundation was still terrifyingly profound!

Zhang Xiu probably couldn't defeat her…

No!

He absolutely couldn't defeat her!

Because within the sect, Chi Jiuyu always removed her concealment artifacts, so her entire cultivation was utterly unmasked.

Why? You ask…

Huh?

She's an unparalleled genius who broke through to the Spirit Transformation Realm at twenty-two!

Why waste such a perfect chance to show off? Wouldn't that make her breakthrough meaningless?

"No big deal, no big deal—go ahead and chat!"

Chi Jiuyu laughed it off, then stepped aside.

Normally, she'd have teased him—like how his own sister became his junior ancestral master…

But now wasn't the time, and besides, she couldn't bear such scenes at all.

"Brother…"

"Mm." Zhang Xiu tried to appear as composed as possible.

He refused to show even a trace of weakness before his only family.

He had promised his parents he'd take good care of his sister.

"Take me to see Mom and Dad's graves," he forced a smile.

To ensure their remains were buried quickly and peacefully, they were interred directly in the Xiang Jianzong's public cemetery.

"Alright."

Zhang Yunlu levitated on her sword.

Feeling the dense, solid Jin Dan magic power, Zhang Xiu couldn't help but be startled.

Nearly at the late Jin Dan realm…

Xiao Yunlu had already told him this!

But with such a formidable foundation, he doubted that even if he matched her realm, he couldn't withstand a single one of her sword strikes.

Truly remarkable.

If Mom and Dad could see this from the heavens, they'd surely be pleased—after all, they'd originally sought medicinal herbs to cleanse her bones…

She must never find out about this!

Suppressing the bitterness and sorrow in his heart, Zhang Xiu followed Zhang Yunlu.

Jiang Hong, who had come with Zhang Xiu, offered no words of comfort—only walked silently beside him toward the Xiang Jianzong's public cemetery.

Chi Jiuyu trailed behind them.