Chapter 93: Wishing to Retrace the Path of Cultivation

No, no, that’s not right!

How could it possibly be Master? Soon, the light surrounding that figure faded, revealing just a glimpse of her features.

A little like her, but not her!

Phew~ That nearly scared me to death.

I knew it—how could Master be here? After letting out a breath, Chi Jiu Yu began to carefully observe the distant figure.

Unmeasured divine radiance clung to her body, her long red hair trailing down to her ankles.

Behind her, the crimson moon had grown ethereal, its interior swirling with countless shadows and lights; Chi Jiu Yu merely glanced at it and felt that all sword arts from ancient to modern times were contained within, making her irresistibly entranced.

Fortunately, this state lasted only a fleeting instant.

Is this Yueying? Master’s second’s soul sword? Before she could clearly see Yueying’s true form, the crimson moon in the sky vanished entirely, and Yueying shot downward as a streak of crimson light.

Thwack! Again, Chi Jiu Yu felt a sharp pain on her forehead and quickly covered it.

“Ugh!”

No way, you’re doing this again! The crimson streak landed in Xu Xing’s hand, transforming into a sword of pure crimson, its divine radiance flowing.

Chi Jiu Yu stared at it for a moment.

Huh? Isn’t this the same sword he held when he fought me back then, during his Nascent Soul stage? “Yueying, it’s been a long time. You’ve worked hard.” Xu Xing gently caressed the blade.

Hum~ The blade trembled slightly, and a gale-like current surged outward.

The suppressed, dim surroundings of the secret realm seemed to be swept clean by this violent current.

The sky brightened; towering cliffs sprouted vegetation, and scattered rocks were covered in green grass.

The silver-gray tide that had seemed ready to devour the world—the Tongxuan grass monsters—shrank, reverting to their true forms: individual Tongxuan grasses growing from the ground.

The once-desolate secret realm became teeming with life in an instant.

After witnessing all this, Chi Jiu Yu turned her gaze to the golden-green long sword hovering beside her.

“If only my sword were this awesome.”

Then she felt that chilly sensation again—naturally, it came from Xu Xing’s Yueying.

No way, you’re mad because I praised you? This sword’s got a terrible temper.

“Enough, don’t take it personally.”

Xu Xing flicked the blade, and Yueying fell silent.

“Don’t worry, Uncle, I’m not that petty.” Chi Jiu Yu waved her hand grandly.

Hmm…

Never mind, better not explain.

“Let’s go meet the last two people.”

As soon as she spoke, the surroundings began to fade.

…

…

In the combat space, Zhang Yunlu watched Lin Qiu Xian, who had not yet fallen, her gaze growing increasingly wary.

Could he, like that strange Xiao Fan, regenerate severed limbs?

Maybe I should chop his body into pieces too.

The moment this thought surfaced, Zhang Yunlu saw the already-chopped fragments of his head dissolve into tiny specks of light—but they did not vanish. Instead, they gathered upon Lin Qiu Xian’s headless body.

As I thought!

She stepped forward and charged straight at Lin Qiu Xian, ready to act on her impulse.

“Youngster, don’t be so impulsive.”

As the voice reached her ears, Zhang Yunlu felt a heavy pressure on her shoulder.

Huh?!

Instinctively, she spun and slashed—but her sword, capable of severing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was stopped by a slender, pale finger, without even breaking the skin.

“A fine strike. You’ve captured a fraction of the style I had at Qi Refining.”

It was the tone of an elder praising a junior’s performance.

It was Chi Jiu Yu—her right hand held the sword behind her back, her left finger resting against Zhang Yunlu’s blade, exuding the aura of a true master.

In truth, she was indeed a master—though people often overlooked this fact.

Zhang Yunlu froze.

“...Chi Jiu Yu?”

“Yes, it’s me.” Chi Jiu Yu replied coolly.

As someone who had been there, she understood clearly.

Cultivators after enlightenment often grow arrogant; at such moments, a little setback is needed to remind them that there are always greater people out there—so their future cultivation won’t be hindered.

Zhang Yunlu sheathed her sword, stepped past Chi Jiu Yu, and bowed respectfully to Xu Xing behind her.

“Elder.”

Xu Xing stepped forward and gave a slight nod. “You did well.”

Huh? Chi Jiu Yu glanced at her uncle—why praise her now? You should discourage her from becoming proud and complacent!

Master had always told her the same thing.

“I’ve reached this point entirely due to the opportunities bestowed upon me by the Elder.” Zhang Yunlu said earnestly.

Without this encounter, she would have been nothing more than an ordinary high school student.

“Don’t belittle yourself. You truly did well.”

Among all the opportunities he had granted, Zhang Yunlu’s was not the best—but she achieved what most others could not.

“Now, are you prepared to join the Sword Sect?” He asked one final time.

“Yes.” Zhang Yunlu nodded. “I plan to submit my application to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall after this trial ends.”

According to the staff, completing the Cailian Fa cultivation gave her a strong chance of passing the Sword Sect’s entrance trial; now, after enlightenment, her chances should be even higher.

“Huh? Submit an application?” Chi Jiu Yu dropped her masterly demeanor and complained, “When did the Sword Sect’s entry threshold become this high?”

Little Yunlu still didn’t grasp the weight of “enlightenment.”

A young Qi Refining cultivator who had achieved enlightenment would be admitted without any test in any Immortal Sect.

In the Alliance of Orthodox Sects, she would be groomed as a reserve council member the moment she entered.

“Since you have this intention, there’s no need to submit any application. Come with us back to the sect.”

Is that allowed?

Zhang Yunlu paused, then said, “Thank you for your kindness, Elder, but I’d like to inform my brother first. May I join the Sword Sect on my own afterward?”

Leaving without a word would worry him.

“What’s that? We’ll just go tell your brother right now!”

Xu Xing glanced at Chi Jiu Yu.

You’re too quick—you’ve already said everything. What’s left for me to say? “Your elder brother has his own fate. Don’t worry about him. But before we leave, I can take you to see him one last time.”

Zhang Xiu’s talent was also quite impressive, but his path was already fixed—he could never be admitted into the Sword Sect.

The Dragon Elephant Holding Heaven Sect was his true destination.

“Then I’m grateful for the Elder’s help.”

At this moment, Lin Qiu Xian had also recovered. He looked at the group nearby, his eyes filled with confusion.

Is that little Master’s Grandnephew? Then the person beside him must be...

“Disciple Lin Qiu Xian, pays homage to the Ancestor!”

Lin Qiu Xian knelt down and bowed his head, his voice trembling slightly.

He was excited—but also uneasy.

Excited to meet the Ancestor, uneasy because he had lost in this trial.

Zhang Yunlu quickly stepped aside.

Chi Jiu Yu hesitated, then stepped back as well.

By seniority, she was on the same level as his ancestral patriarch; receiving this bow seemed acceptable—but he was bowing to her uncle, so she’d better not steal the spotlight.

“You did well to withstand a single strike from an enlightened cultivator.”

Immediately, Lin Qiu Xian felt a gentle yet unyielding force lift him to his feet.

Is merely withstanding one strike considered “well done”?

His heart grew even more bitter as he recalled the fleeting, ethereal, yet profoundly pure and powerful sensation he had just experienced.

Enlightenment...

He took a deep breath, as if making an extremely important decision.

He tried to kneel again, but the gentle force held him back; he could only bow deeply.

“Disciple wishes to retrace the path of cultivation. I humbly beg the Ancestor’s approval!”

Caught a cold, went to bed early.

So I’ll post this chapter first in the morning; the other two will come later.

Temperatures are dropping quickly lately—everyone, please stay warm and keep safe.

(End of Chapter)