Chapter 101: Perceiving the Subtle, Exploring the Profound, the Ancient Spirit Appears

In a hazy, lethargic state, Rendong only felt that he could hear bursts of laughter from time to time beside him, and this laughter sounded truly somewhat foolish. He struggled to open his eyes and look toward the source of the laughter, only to see a person sitting by the doorway, holding a water pot and giggling foolishly.

It was none other than Long Qi.

He turned his gaze back, staring at the cyan bed curtains, his heart continuously recalling what he had seen by the Guyang River that day.

Long Qi seemed to have sensed Rendong's awakening and hurriedly stepped forward to touch his forehead; it was not as scalding as the day before, so he hurriedly poured a cup of water over.

"Lingxiang said you would recover today, and sure enough," he said, freeing a hand to help Rendong sit up: "Lingxiang said that if you woke up, I must feed you more water."

With "Lingxiang" this and "Lingxiang" that, how long had he been asleep for him to be calling her so affectionately already?

"Where did she go?" Rendong asked after finishing the clear water in the cup.

"Today the sect is selecting suitable implements for the newly promoted disciples, and she took Xin Yi with her." As he spoke, he helped Rendong lie back down and went to tidy up the tea cup.

"You really are unlucky, having to run into this just at this time; now you don't even have a weapon to choose."

Rendong remained silent upon hearing this; as for choosing or not, he did not care much, and that unsharpened Soft Sword was easy enough to use. Moreover, he had other things on his mind now.

Looking at Long Qi's back, he hesitated for a moment, but finally could not help but speak.

"Do you... do you like her?"

Long Qi was caught off guard by Rendong's sudden question and did not react for a moment.

"What? Who?"

But in just an instant, he understood who the "she" in Rendong's words was.

"Oh~ Lingxiang." Long Qi scratched his head and laughed, not a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"You even saw that!"

Rendong looked sideways, seeing Long Qi smiling as if he had already married Lingxiang into the house. After staring at him for a moment, Rendong turned his gaze back to the top of the bed, and only after a long while did he speak:

"She is not old, and she doesn't even understand matters of love yet; are you so certain she will like you?"

Rendong's question left Long Qi stunned.

"You... what do you mean?"

Rendong did not answer, only staring at the bed canopy. Long Qi's mind turned, and he somewhat understood the implication of Rendong's words.

"Do you also have feelings for her?"

Rendong remained silent, and after a long while, he closed his eyes as if he had fallen asleep.

Seeing him like this, Long Qi immediately knew his guess was not wrong. Looking at the silent Rendong, he spoke after a long while:

"She will not give her heart to you."

Outside the house, the biting cold had faded slightly, the mountain stream gurgled, and even the birds chirped more joyfully, as if saying to each other: Spring is coming, spring is coming...

"What do you mean by this?" Hearing what Lingxiang said, Ajin asked, puzzled.

Lingxiang stood with her arms crossed, pinching her chin, and only spoke after pondering for a moment.

"If I am not mistaken, the Eternal Firmament must no longer be in the cave. I once saw in the *Classic of Profound Exploration* that the spirit of the Eternal Firmament is extremely overbearing. If it takes a fancy to someone, it will merge with their primordial spirit, allowing them to see all the truths of the world. In other words, Wuyang now understands all things in heaven and earth and has attained the Great Dao; after waking up, he views us just as we view ants."

Just as everyone was astonished by what Lingxiang said, they saw Zhao Wuyang wake up. He stared at Lingxiang without moving, and only after a long while did he speak.

"Oh? Having been away from the human world for so long, I didn't know the human world had spread such rumors about me?"

Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. Looking closely, Zhao Wuyang's eyes were sky-blue, as clear as gemstones and as distant as the deep sea.

"Little girl, do not speak nonsense. When have you ever seen this old man be overbearing?" "Zhao Wuyang" said as he jumped down from Ajin.

Now everyone knew that the person speaking was the Eternal Firmament.

"However, the author of this *Classic of Profound Exploration* is truly interesting, being able to know that what I show to people is all truth; that can be considered high talent and far-reaching knowledge." As he spoke, he shook his robes, "This physical body is truly somewhat weak."

The Elders truly did not know how to face this great deity and all remained silent. Lingxiang, however, was not afraid; she gave a light laugh and said:

"You don't think you are overbearing, but this is the first time I have seen a Spirit Artifact occupy its master's body. Isn't this what the world often calls a dove occupying a magpie's nest?"

Qianyuan Zhenren was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and hurriedly spoke to apologize to the Eternal Firmament. Chengxin Zhenren also covered Lingxiang's mouth; this little ancestor was usually arrogant, but she actually dared to speak to an ancient spirit like this! If she provoked him into displeasure, he could raze the Taishang Sect to the ground in an instant!

Lingxiang could not break free for a moment and hurriedly signaled to Ajin with her eyes. Ajin was startled at first, then instantly understood her intention and hurriedly chimed in:

"That is absolutely correct. As a Spirit Artifact, to actually do such a thing of the guest usurping the host is truly unheard of!"

Qianyuan Zhenren was shocked to hear this, but he could not afford to offend either side—what was to be done?! Even Donghui Zhenren, who had been calm just a moment ago, opened his eyes.

The Eternal Firmament seemed not to care at all, twisting his wrists and walking to the edge of the cliff to stretch.

"You, a Divine Envoy who has yet to attain the Great Dao, dare to speak wildly in front of this old man. Even if you ascend the Ancient God Path in the future, you will still be several tiers lower than this old man. Moreover, whether you can meet someone in this life who allows you to ascend the Divine Path is still unknown. Pitiful, pitiful!"

"That is a very interesting thing to say." Taking advantage of a moment when Chengxin Zhenren was not paying attention, Lingxiang hurriedly broke free and ran behind Ajin, saying: "To call others pitiful without knowing one's own pity—even if you occupy someone else's shell, what of it? In the end, aren't you still just a Spirit Artifact? You are quite arrogant, afraid that others won't know you are old."

The three Elders were terrified upon hearing this. Qianyuan Zhenren had just wanted to shout a stop when he saw the Eternal Firmament suddenly turn and attack Lingxiang.

Seeing this, Ajin hurriedly raised his Spirit Power to resist. Immediately, the surrounding Spirit Energy burst forth, and Banxia was instantly sent flying. Fortunately, Donghui the Daoist Master was quick-eyed and fast-handed, using a horsetail whisk to catch her as she was about to fall off the cliff. Under such Spirit Energy, the three Elders could only defend themselves, while Ajin and the Eternal Firmament were evenly matched.

Lingxiang was safe and sound hiding behind Ajin's shield, but she seemed as if she didn't think the trouble was big enough, and actually began to provoke him again:

"I said you are just a Spirit Artifact. Even if you are an ancient object, so what? You are still no match for the 'pitiful' Divine Envoy you mentioned. And your capacity is just so-so; you won't even let people speak the truth. You attack as soon as your sore spot is poked. It is a pity you are an ancient spirit, yet you would stoop to this with a yellow-haired girl like me. You are truly failing to act your age; aren't you ashamed!"

These words were sonorous and forceful, and even under such Spirit Power fluctuations, everyone present heard them clearly. The three Elders were even more shocked, but they were truly unable to pull themselves away to cover the mouth of that little ancestor who had caused trouble without even knowing it.

This Lingxiang, she had likely offended the Eternal Firmament completely today!