Chapter 81: Xuanzang Must Die!

"Tempering the body, refining Qi, establishing foundation, forming the Golden Core, birthing the Nascent Soul..."

"In this world, the cultivation method is roughly the same as that of the Journey to the West world."

A somewhat intense sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon Tang Luo's face; he slightly narrowed his eyes, enjoying the warm sunlight.

He casually adjusted his invisible glasses.

The cultivation in the Journey to the West world is divided into Qi refinement, foundation establishment, Golden Core formation, Nascent Soul birthing... these realms.

Of course, these levels are merely titles used among cultivators, specifically for Dao practitioners.

Additionally, Buddhist cultivators, martial artists, and demonic spirits each have their own realm designations.

However, overall, they are still fairly consistent.

The cultivation system of this world can barely be considered a transmission of the Journey to the West world's system, or rather, a declining transmission.

According to the records of the Boundless Sect, in the entire cultivation world, the last named Golden Core True Person appeared five hundred years ago.

Foundation Establishment makes one a regional overlord, sufficient to establish a sect.

In the cultivation world, the Boundless Sect is also a top-tier powerful sect.

"Insufficient vital energy, and no cultivation method has been passed down; only the cultivation system is the same." Tang Luo thought to himself.

The Journey to the West world is one where Golden Core cultivators walk the ground everywhere, and Nascent Soul cultivators are as common as dogs.

Aside from the shared cultivation system transmission, Tang Luo temporarily found no other connection between this world and the Journey to the West world, including various related legends, which are entirely absent.

Moreover, even for the same "level realm," it is vastly weaker than in the Journey to the West world.

"Forget it, my injuries haven't healed yet; I'll take it slow." Tang Luo picked up the *Strange Tales* beside him, reading while routinely healing his wounds.

After achieving a small success in his strength, his injury recovery progress suddenly slowed down.

The path of healing wounds is arduous and long.

Of course, it's not entirely without benefit; it's as if Tang Luo has retraced his past path, and upon full recovery, he will be stronger than before.

Moreover, there's also the Divine Demon Game, which can make up for his past shortcomings.

Footsteps approached; Qing Lan carried a tray of vegetarian meal and placed it on the table before Tang Luo.

"Thank you." Tang Luo said.

Qing Lan opened her mouth, said nothing, turned, and left.

According to the basic standard of the cultivation world, it is obviously impossible to completely detach from the mundane and retreat into seclusion.

In fact, including Qing Lan, everyone needs to eat. Only the demand is small; they don't need three meals a day and can directly refine food.

Ten days or half a month, eating one full meal is about enough.

During the return to the sect, Qing Lan only ate one meal.

As for Tang Luo, he eats purely for enjoyment, eating only delicious food.

The taste of the Boundless Sect's meals is quite good.

"Senior Sister."

"Senior Sister..."

After Qing Lan left the library, a group of junior brothers and sisters gathered around her, including some older than Qing Lan.

"What's the matter?" Qing Lan's voice was clear and cold.

"Senior Sister, just what background does this monk have?" a young man resembling a nobleman asked.

The disciple composition of the Boundless Sect roughly divides into two types.

One type is the true inheritance disciples of the Boundless Sect, possessing considerable cultivation talent. Such disciples are nurtured by the Boundless Sect, like Qing Lan, belonging to the outstanding ones.

The other type consists of those with mediocre talent but extremely wealthy noble families, sent to the Boundless Sect for cultivation. They are responsible for providing funds to the Boundless Sect. After cultivating on the mountain for a few years, feeling that the "immortal path" is hopeless, they return home to continue the family line.

Of course, in teaching disciples, the Boundless Sect still treats everyone equally.

It won't say, "You are a 'funding disciple,' so we won't give you the corresponding cultivation method." Everyone's foundation and starting point are the same. Whether one can obtain higher-level, further cultivation methods still depends on one's talent, effort, and mindset.

If a disciple has both wealth and talent, naturally everyone is pleased.

The Boundless Sect has developed into its current form by maintaining a good balance between the two; it cannot be said that there is no mutual contempt among disciples, but the overall sect atmosphere remains quite harmonious.

The disciple questioning Qing Lan is a typical "funding disciple."

Moreover, his talent is also not bad.

Among this generation of disciples, he is second only to Qing Lan. It's just that this "second to" gap is quite large.

Qing Lan, the senior sister who had been out training for nearly a year, suddenly returned to the sect, bringing back a——elegant and graceful monk?

These days, the disciples have been buzzing with discussion.

Who is Qing Lan?

A once-in-a-thousand-years super genius, the Boundless Sect's designated successor, and, most importantly, the four words——Golden Core within reach!

Adding that she is good-looking. She is basically the protagonist of those storybooks.

Then, during her year of travel, she suddenly brought back a wild man?

If it weren't for that man appearing as an enlightened high monk, the entire Boundless Sect would have already erupted.

The disciples are not quite clear about Qing Lan Senior Sister bringing that monk to meet the master and uncles.

They only know that the handsome and dignified monk entered the library and has not come out since.

Considered a quiet guest, this is fine——if it weren't for Qing Lan Senior Sister bringing him meals every day!

Can this still be tolerated?

Chop him to death, we must chop him to death!

Well, before chopping him to death, we must clarify, what exactly is that monk doing.

"This person...... is Master Xuanzang." Qing Lan's voice remained as clear and cold as ever, causing many disciples' eyes to sparkle with little hearts, the majority still being female disciples.

"Xuanzang?" The young nobleman instinctively shook his fan, giving himself a cool breeze in this cold weather, unafraid of catching a cold.

"He's a wandering cultivator who came to our Boundless Sect to learn about the current state of the cultivation world," Qinglan said. "Don't bother him if there's nothing urgent." After saying that, she hurried away.

She truly didn't want to mention Tang Luo in front of so many junior brothers and sisters.

She didn't want to recall at all those days when she was dominated by Tang Luo's fear.

As for bringing meals, if it could make that demon monk leave sooner, staying quietly in the Scripture Pavilion without causing trouble before he left—whether it was three meals a day or eight, it would be fine.

"Senior brother..."

"Since Senior Sister Qinglan said not to disturb him, then we won't disturb him." The young master waved his hand.

A group of people slowly dispersed.

"In a few days, I'll send someone to test him and see what this monk's background really is." The young master thought to himself.

Letting him go is definitely not an option—just based on Senior Sister Qinglan bringing him meals, Xuanzang must die.

But we can't act rashly; we need to proceed slowly and carefully.

A few days later.

Several disciples with impressive bearing entered the Scripture Pavilion, intending to test him.

As a result, they ran through every place in the Scripture Pavilion they could access, but still couldn't find that monk.

Could he have gone to the true inner sanctum?

Before the disciples sent on a mission could figure out Tang Luo's whereabouts.

Qinglan, as usual, came over carrying a tray of food. In that instant, there was a feeling like a little maid.

Seeing that, those several disciples wanted to beat their chests and stamp their feet, to cry out to heaven to express their inner frustration.

Senior Sister Qinglan, how could you do such a thing?

But... this feeling of Senior Sister Qinglan is also quite beautiful.

Indeed, Senior Sister Qinglan is perfect!

Qinglan saw the several disciples, her brows slightly furrowed, then relaxed: "What are you doing here?"

"This... just passing by."

"Reading books."

"I came here with them."

The three disciples reacted differently.

Qinglan looked toward the table by the window, where that demon monk used to sit and read books.

Why isn't he here today?

"Have you seen Master Xuanzang?" Qinglan asked.

"Ah, no."

"We've searched everywhere—"

Qinglan almost threw the food in her hands away.

They came looking for that demon monk Xuanzang? Are they bored with their peaceful lives?

"You, go to the Cloud Rolling Terrace and reflect on your mistakes for a month!" Qinglan's voice turned cold.

"Senior sister?"

"No way, we haven't done anything at all."

"..."

The three disciples froze on the spot.

Reflecting on the Cloud Rolling Terrace is one of the places where the Boundless Sect punishes disciples.

There, bitter winds blow in gusts, especially in this winter—even cultivators can't stay long before freezing stiff like a grandson.

Ordinary disciples who make mistakes usually reflect for three days and that's enough, but now they're being made to reflect for a whole month?

"Do you want me to say it again?" Qinglan said. In the Boundless Sect, she, as the chief senior disciple, can "do as she pleases."

"No."

"Senior sister, we're leaving now."

The three disciples huddled together and walked downstairs.

They turned around and saw Senior Sister Qinglan place the food on the window-side table, her expression complex, as if she had picked up a piece of paper.

As Qinglan's gaze swept over.

The three dared not delay any longer, thumping down the stairs.

"What is this?" Qinglan looked at the paper in her hand, which was a mess of ghostly scribbles.

"Could it be some kind of talisman?" After looking closely for a while, Qinglan suddenly widened her eyes.

On it, it seemed like there were characters?

After another look, Qinglan silently put down the paper in her hand, her expression becoming even more complex.

She realized this wasn't ghostly scribbles, but rather chicken-scrawl—ugly and messy handwriting.

It read: "Thank you for your sect's hospitality. This is a token. If fate allows, we shall meet again, and I will surely repay the favor."

The thought of tearing up this paper had just arisen when it vanished like a wisp of blue smoke.

Qinglan let out a sigh she herself didn't understand, folded the paper carefully, and tucked it away.

She exhaled, and her complex expression and emotions settled.

Qinglan's aura shifted, and once again she became the chief senior disciple of the Boundless Sect.

A once-in-a-thousand-years genius in the cultivation world, with hopes of reaching Golden Core.

————

In the real world, Tang Luo leaned back on the sofa and muttered: "Really stingy."

When he returned, he again expressed the thought that he wanted to stay a little longer, and was immediately sent back.

They said one month, and it was exactly one month, no ambiguity.

After reviewing his gains this time, Tang Luo felt he had come out a bit short.

From the perspective of merit power alone, it could only be said that he barely broke even.

Originally, there was profit to be made.

But...

The merit jade lotus floated before Tang Luo's eyes, emitting a faint glow, and then the semi-transparent remnant soul of the Heavenly Howling Dog drifted out from within.

Though still frail and weak, it gave the impression that a light pinch would shatter it.

The reason for no gain was the consumption of merit power to stabilize the Heavenly Howling Dog's remnant soul.

No longer did he have to worry about his life.