Chapter 545: Xu Xing Sees Hong Qianqian Again

The affairs of cultivating a hundred arts?

But what does this "just happens to have some time" mean?

Chi Jiuyu scratched his head:

"Then, Master Uncle, how should we practice?"

She had only tested her own talent and hadn't yet looked into how to actually begin.

After all, talisman arts have been declining steadily—definitely a sunset industry—and she had never once considered taking the path of "talisman crafting"…

Then Xu Xing continued: "Originally, I planned to teach you myself, but…"

"The plan has changed!" Chi Jiuyu immediately chimed in.

"…" Xu Xing paused, "Something like that. But your condition is indeed perfect for her approach—learning from her should be better than learning from me."

She? He? It?

"Who is the person Master Uncle is talking about? Could they be even stronger than you?" Chi Jiuyu asked curiously.

Though they had spent little time together, Master Uncle was unquestionably the strongest person in her heart.

Except for her master!

"It's not about strength or weakness—it's about suitability," Xu Xing explained.

"The person I just mentioned is the founder of the Talisman-Sword lineage. In terms of combining talismans and swords, no one in the world can surpass her."

Xu Xing and the others each day chatted in the group.

Once, when the topic of "disciples" came up, Xu Xing casually mentioned his plan to teach Chi Jiuyu talisman arts.

It must have been Hong Zun and his children who brought it up.

So shortly after that, Hong Qianqian sought out Xu Xing and Bie Xuening and brought up the matter herself…

And when Chi Jiuyu heard this, she recalled everything that had happened after she returned to the Xiang Jianzong following her mission.

Suddenly, her face lit up with realization, and she declared with absolute certainty:

"I get it! Master Uncle is definitely talking about Brother Cheng!"

Now everything made sense!

That's right!

It must be that!

Xu Xing looked at the confidently smug Chi Jiuyu:

"No."

"Huh?!"

It wasn't him?!

Then who else could it be?

Among the senior brothers and sisters she hadn't met, who was skilled in "Talismans and Swords"?

"Go prepare. When you're ready, come find me—I'll send you to the Tai Shang Dao Sect."

"Tai Shang Dao Sect?" Chi Jiuyu paused, then finally realized, "Master Uncle, the person you're talking about is from the Tai Shang Dao Sect?"

"Mm."

But isn't Sword Dao the strongest in our Xiang Jianzong? Why then…

"It's your little friend's older sister."

"Ah! Little Zhao's older sister?"

Tai Shang Dao Sect. Little friend.

Of course—it's Little Zhao!

"You'll find out exactly who it is once you arrive."

The moment she heard this, Chi Jiuyu felt a chill.

To avoid being sent away immediately, she pointed frantically at the wall and cried out:

"Wait, Master Uncle! Can you sell me one of those controllers? I've been trying to grab one for ages and never succeeded!"

She had noticed this shortly after arriving here.

All those on Master Uncle's wall are limited-edition items that are nearly impossible to get!

"…"

This person really isn't shy.

"If you want it, I'll give you one."

With a flick of his hand, he sent Chi Jiuyu away—and one of the limited-edition controllers on the wall vanished.

After sending her off, Xu Xing did not continue playing games. He rose from his chair.

He took one step forward—and his figure vanished instantly.

…

…

Meanwhile, somewhere within the inner sect of the Xiang Jianzong.

In fact, the moment the voice reached her ears, it had already grown faint and distant, and her vision blurred accordingly.

She was being sent away again—again and again!

When Chi Jiuyu realized this, her vision had already returned to normal.

Before her eyes appeared:

A new coffee table, television, and other furniture, along with the wall where patches had recently been filled—still faintly visible.

Without doubt, Master Uncle had simply dumped her back in her cave dwelling.

"……"

It's just this little thing and yet you beat around the bush—Martial Uncle really is an old riddler, and a bit of a prankster at that…

But honestly, Martial Uncle really is generous!

Chi Jiuyu happily placed the limited-edition controller in her hand on the coffee table.

Her previous collection had been swept away by Yue Ling last time she got drunk.

If she went straight to ask for it back… it's not like she couldn't, since Yue Ling still cared quite a bit about her own reputation, and was very afraid of Master.

However!

She just refused to ask!

If she didn't bring it up, Yue Ling would feel guilty when facing her, and whenever she needed Yue Ling to do something for her, Yue Ling wouldn't find it easy to refuse…

Despite looking like she wasn't very smart on a regular day, she was a genuine immortal sword—one of the two ancestral swords of the Xiang Jianzong.

Even Ye Shijie had been pinned by her with a single slap, lying there like a salted fish, unable to move.

When the time came to compete for Sect Master, if she got her support…

"Hehe!"

She really was too clever!

Thinking this, she plopped down on the sofa, then lay back.

She took out her phone, opened the chat app, and started sending messages to Zhao Ruohan.

Future Xiang Jianzong Master: "Little Zhao, don't you have an older sister? The founder of the Talisman Sword lineage of the Supreme Dao Sect?"

She had already gotten used to Martial Uncle's riddler behavior.

But she could investigate on her own!

The message wasn't replied to immediately after being sent.

Chi Jiuyu didn't mind, backed out, and started browsing the Spirit Net.

Just like that, quite a while passed.

Didi~!

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Talisman Sword?"

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "You must be talking about Sister Hong Qianqian, what's up?"

There's a reply!

Chi Jiuyu immediately sat up and rapidly typed a response.

Future Xiang Jianzong Master: "It's nothing, Martial Uncle said he wants to send me to the Supreme Dao Sect to learn talisman-making, so I just asked around"

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Sister Hong Qianqian really is amazing"

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Actually you don't need to ask me, Sister Hong Qianqian's introduction can be found on the Spirit Net"

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Didn't you say before that talisman-making is a sunset industry?"

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Why are you suddenly thinking of learning it now"

Of course it's because my talent for other professions is too terrible…

Future Xiang Jianzong Master: "Sigh! Precisely because talisman-making is a sunset industry, that's what makes it challenging"

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "……"

Although they hadn't known each other for all that long, she and Chi Jiuyu were already very familiar now.

So she could tell at a glance that she was just bragging.

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Then I'll give you Sister Hong Qianqian's contact info"

Seeing through it was one thing, but there was no need to expose it—after all, Chi Jiuyu cared a lot about her reputation.

Future Xiang Jianzong Master: "No need, I'll ask when we meet"

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Alright"

Chatting up to here, Chi Jiuyu was already preparing to back out and look up information on Little Zhao's older sister.

But just as she tapped out, she suddenly remembered something.

So she hurriedly tapped back. Future Xiang Jianzong Master: "Oh right, Little Zhao, I added Little Ye's younger sister as a friend, she's also preparing to apply to the Xiang Jianzong"

The 'Profound Delicate Discourse' she had discovered on the Spirit Net last time was Little Ye's younger sister!

However…

Although she had added her as a friend, perhaps because of the matter of Dog Brother being made to cry by her, she held a certain prejudice against her, and so hadn't replied to her messages.

Little Zhao Silently Cultivating: "Send me her contact info"

Hmm?

This time it wasn't 'that's not important' anymore?

……

……

Meanwhile, in a city several thousand li away from the Xiang Jianzong's main branch.

A square in the southern part of the city.

Standing right in the middle of the square was a crystalline, translucent pale-gold sword-shaped statue.

Sunlight shone upon it, refracting into streaks of rainbow light.

Where the rainbow light fell, the spiritual energy flowing in the air gained a few shades of grand, sacred, burning intent.

The Blazing Sun Spirit-Refining Grand Array could imbue the spiritual energy within its range with a touch of scorching, blazing solar intent, providing a certain amplification effect for cultivators practicing fire-attribute techniques or divine abilities.

There were three other grand arrays like this, all deployed within the city's landmark buildings.

If a demonic cultivator attack occurred, the four grand arrays would also resonate with the city's protective formation.

Its power was so great that even a Return-to-Void could not budge it an inch.

At this moment, near the statue stood a figure of ordinary appearance and gentle demeanor.

He smiled as he gazed toward the distant horizon.

Behind him stood two young men with strikingly similar faces, seemingly brothers.

One was tall and muscular, his tightly stretched clothing revealing clear, defined muscle lines.

His cultivation was Nascent Soul early stage.

But perhaps due to his recent breakthrough, a faint rumbling could be heard from within his body—the surging rush of blood and Qi.

The other was neither fat nor thin, his aura cold and stern, dressed in black sportswear, appearing utterly indifferent; yet now he forced a smile in response to those beside him.

His cultivation was Jin Dan peak, just a hair's breadth away from ascending to Nascent Soul!

"Don't worry, Brother. This time training with Master has been excellent," Xiao Fan said seriously.

Yet paired with his forced smile, the words sounded strangely odd.

"..."

Seeing his younger brother like this, Xiao Ming had no idea what to say.

His emotions were incredibly complex.

Joy, guilt, and anger at his own helplessness...

Xiao Fan's cultivation progress had accelerated further, and his magical abilities had grown strange and unpredictable—astonishingly powerful.

Though merely Jin Dan peak, he made Xiao Ming, already Nascent Soul, feel a prickling danger at his back.

He genuinely rejoiced for Xiao Fan's fortune.

But he also understood the immense cost required to reach this point.

Looking at Xiao Fan's smile, Xiao Ming felt a pang of sorrow.

If not for him, Xiao Fan wouldn't have suffered so much...

But this sorrow lasted only a moment.

After all, this wasn't a bad thing—Xiao Fan's current fortune was what countless others dreamed of.

In this conflicting emotion, Xiao Ming didn't know how to think anymore, leaving only anger at his own helplessness.

He, as an older brother... had truly failed too badly.

Xiao Fan understood what his elder brother was thinking, but he truly felt he was doing well with his Master.

And ahead of them, Hu knew perfectly well what his disciple and his disciple's elder brother were thinking.

But he didn't care.

They were still young; a little naivety was normal.

Hadn't he once been the same?

Only after truly experiencing it would one understand how painful it was to lack power and fail to protect those one cherished...

But soon, Hu's gaze sharpened.

A figure appeared without warning directly before him, yet not a single soul in the square noticed!

"Brother Dao," Hu smiled, "thank you for your trouble."

Indeed, the newcomer was Xu Xing.

He had come specifically from the Xiang Jianzong upon sensing Hu's arrival.

"Merely a small matter."

As he spoke, he looked toward the two Xiao brothers behind Hu.

Both quickly bowed: "Greetings, Elder."

Xiao Fan had met Xu Xing before with Hu, so he recognized him.

Xiao Ming did not know him, but since he was his younger brother's Master's Dao brother, he must be an Elder!

"No need for formalities," Xu Xing nodded slightly, then turned back to Hu. "I assumed you would use the Longxiang Qingtianzong central hub."

Hu and Ba Zun had always been the closest.

Relatively speaking.

"My disciple is ultimately from Sword Province. Using the Xiang Jianzong's Ascension Platform as the beacon makes preparation and return far more convenient."

Not long ago, Hu had purchased several properties in this city, instructing Xiao Fan to bring his family here.

Adjacent to the Xiang Jianzong's main sect, the cultivation environment is better, and it's closer to his current university.

Correct—though Xiao Fan now spends most of his time training with Hu across the starry realms, he has not dropped out of school.

After all, Hu's training regimen is grueling; occasional campus life helps balance his mood.

"I assumed your decision to take a disciple was merely impulsive..." Xu Xing said.

Hu was a very strange person.

His level of attention toward Xiao Fan had indeed surprised him.

"You're not wrong—initially, I was merely intrigued by that disciple of Sword Venerable, so I acted on impulse."

But doesn't an impulsive decision still allow one to be a good Master?

For all these years, he has traveled the world, bestowing opportunities upon mortals.

Isn't he a supreme benefactor?

Ah~

It's just that mortals fail to understand his noble intentions.

Then Hu smiled again: "My disciple now lacks nothing—but my disciple's elder brother... Brother Dao, surely you won't be stingy?"

Behind Hu, Xiao Ming, who had finally been able to hear, changed expression and quickly spoke:

"Elder, as the saying goes, one should not receive rewards without merit—how could this junior possibly...?"

Before he could finish, Hu waved his hand to stop him:

"Don't be so formal—Brother Dao is the Xiang Jianzong, always bestowing opportunities and gifts upon others; in this regard, only I surpass you."

"Now that we've met, it's fate—you won't be left out."

Xu Xing: "..."

You've said everything I was going to say—what else is there for me to say?

Xu Xing flipped his hand and produced a translucent, tear-shaped blood jade:

"This artifact is especially suited for Body Cultivators."

With a light flick, he tossed it straight toward Xiao Fan.

Xiao Fan, still stunned, immediately reacted upon seeing the blood jade flying toward him, fumbling to catch it.

He looked up at Xu Xing, his eyes still filled with shock.

"Xiang Jianzong... Grandmaster?"

He had always known Xiao Fan's master was powerful, but he had no concrete sense of just how powerful.

Until now!

Xiao Fan's master was actually on the same level as the Xiang Jianzong Grandmaster...

So he wasn't some reclusive elder—he was the legendary Grandmaster!

After remaining stunned for a long while, he turned to Hu and spoke in a strained voice:

"May I ask, Elder... who are you?"

And who, then, was Xiao Fan's master, the Grandmaster of which sect?

Hu smiled gently: "I am the Ancestor of the Demon Dao."

Xiao Fan: "..." (End of Chapter)