Chapter 639

Jiulong City in Qingzhou is a city with a moderate level of development. The person with the highest cultivation base is the City Lord, who is at the early Spirit Transformation stage.

It is said that a secret realm is hidden outside the city, but no one has explored it, and it has gradually become a legend.

Besides this, there are the local three major sects that are famous: the Hunyuan Ancient Sword Sect, the White Day Ascension Sect, and the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace, all of which have Nascent Soul old monsters presiding over them.

In Jiulong City, people like Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, who are at the Integration stage, can walk sideways without anyone blocking them.

But they are not people who look for trouble. They came with a mission this time, and only by observing in secret can they determine character.

"It should be in this direction." Meng Jingzhou left the old horse in the stable and went out with Lu Yang to find the person.

"The intelligence says Xie An has no father or mother and lives in a dilapidated temple outside the city."

Following the instructions of the intelligence, the three arrived at this dilapidated temple. The temple's archway was crumbling, and the characters were illegible. It was unknown how long ago the temple was built or why the monks had relocated.

The temple was small and drafty; the lotus pedestal was empty, and even the Buddha statue was gone.

Dry grass was spread in front of the lotus pedestal, and there was an extinguished fire in the middle. Xie An was nowhere to be seen; only an old beggar was lying lazily on the ground, one hand supporting his head and the other scratching the lice on his body.

"Should we show ourselves and ask where Xie An is?" The two communicated via sound transmission in secret, not daring to rashly appear and question the old beggar.

If the old beggar and Xie An knew each other, then Xie An would know of the two's existence, which would be unfavorable for observing his character in secret.

Lu Yang analyzed: "Let's wait a bit longer. Look, the bedding is also folded neatly; it definitely wasn't folded by the old beggar. It's very likely the work of Xie An. This shows that even if Xie An left, he didn't go very far."

Sure enough, by evening, a filthy Xie An was helped into the temple by a little girl.

Seeing this, the old beggar gloated: "What, you went to the Hunyuan Ancient Sword Sect? I told you they wouldn't want you two."

Xie An didn't speak. The little girl helping Xie An stood up for him: "It's too much! They didn't even test Brother Xie's aptitude. Seeing that Brother Xie was dressed in rags, they just said he definitely had no talent for cultivation and threw him straight out of the sect!"

The little girl was dressed in rags, looking as if she had just been dug out of a dirt pit. Lu Yang could tell that if the little girl were washed clean and dressed up, she would be a beauty in the making.

The old beggar yawned: "Aptitude stones are expensive and have a limited number of uses. It would be strange if they were willing to test your spiritual roots."

Xie An frowned and didn't speak.

"Alright, stop sulking. Look at my harvest today." Like a magic trick, the old beggar produced three large white steamed buns.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had been guarding here for a day, and the old beggar hadn't moved from his spot at all.

"It's buns!" The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw the buns.

One old man and two children ate the buns by the fire, quiet and happy.

Halfway through the buns, Xie An suddenly said: "Sister Qiao'er, I'll go try the White Day Ascension Sect tomorrow."

Xie An's eyes were firm.

"Okay, I'll go with Brother Xie."

The old beggar sneered, seemingly mocking Xie An for his futile effort.

After eating the buns, the old beggar excitedly took Xie An's hand and cleared the dry grass to the side, revealing a Go board drawn with stones.

The old beggar pulled out a handful of small black stones and a handful of small white stones.

"Come, come, Kid Xie, play two games with me."

Xie An agreed, and the old man and the child fought on the board, with the little girl named Qiao'er watching from the side.

After five games, Xie An won all of them, and the old beggar was filled with regret.

After a night passed, the old beggar was still sleeping. Xie An took Qiao'er and headed toward the White Day Ascension Sect, with Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou following in secret.

At the entrance of the White Day Ascension Sect, Xie An stated his purpose, hoping to test his aptitude, but the two outer sect disciples on duty at the entrance sneered at him.

"Get lost, get lost! Where did this little beggar come from? Can someone like you have spiritual roots?"

"Even the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace, whose Nascent Soul ancestor has disappeared, wouldn't want you."

Xie An was pushed to the ground again, silent and speechless, guarding silently while biting his lip.

Today's humiliation will definitely be repaid a hundredfold!

By evening, Xie An was helped back by Qiao'er again, and the old beggar still had that gloating look.

"I told you, no place would want someone like you."

It was the same routine of eating buns and playing Go, with the old beggar losing continuously.

Just as he was about to lose the fifth game, the old beggar suddenly said: "Kid Xie, do you really want to cultivate?"

Xie An nodded vigorously.

"Little girl, what about you? You were saved from bandits by Kid Xie and have been following him. Do you want to cultivate too?"

"Wherever Brother Xie goes, Qiao'er will follow!"

The old beggar stared into Qiao'er's eyes and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good, good, good! This old man really didn't misjudge you! You are both good seedlings born for cultivation!"

Like a magic trick, the old beggar pulled out a token and threw it to Xie An.

"This is?" Xie An's eyes were full of confusion.

"Take this token to the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace tomorrow. Let's see who dares not accept you!"

Having said that, the old beggar's figure dimmed and gradually disappeared.

"Wait, who exactly are you?" Xie An wanted to grab the old beggar but only caught a wisp of white smoke.

"When you join the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace, you will naturally know who this old man is. Hahahaha."

The old beggar disappeared.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were silent.

Where would a beggar come from? This was clearly the missing Nascent Soul ancestor of the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace, who had encountered Xie An here and was moved to take him as a disciple.

If they didn't show themselves now, Xie An would become a person of the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace. The Congwendao Sect couldn't lose face by competing for disciples with such a third-rate sect.

Space distorted, and the two stepped out, dressed in bright and beautiful clothes, completely out of place with the dilapidated temple environment.

"Who are you!" Xie An looked at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou vigilantly, secretly shielding Qiao'er behind him.

Lu Yang wore a smile: "Do not panic, we are disciples of the Congwendao Sect..."

In the spiritual space, the Decayed Fairy suddenly said: "Eh, this kid is a Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivator in disguise."

Lu Yang's smile stiffened.

Fairy, could you have said that sooner next time?

"You even saw him at the sect celebration. This immortal remembers he is the Supreme Elder of the super-grade sect, the Wuji Sect, Venerable Wuji."

You big shots have nothing better to do than pretend to be mortals all day, right?

Upon learning Xie An's true identity, Lu Yang figured out the whole process:

According to the current situation, if it weren't for them, Xie An would join the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace. The disciples of the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace would humiliate Xie An in various ways, perhaps even suspecting that the token was picked up. Then Xie An would cultivate diligently, beat the disciples into submission, and shock everyone.

Then, from an outer sect disciple to an inner sect disciple, the elders would want to frame Xie An due to conflicts of interest, and the Sect Master would be cowardly and unable to protect Xie An. At this moment, the old beggar would appear, take Xie An as a disciple in front of everyone, and shock everyone.

Then Xie An would lead the Qiankun Purple Cloud Palace to conquer the other two major sects, becoming the strongest sect in Jiulong City.

Perhaps he could even find the secret realm hidden outside Jiulong City, obtain opportunities, and find a new reason to become stronger.

From then on, he would soar into the sky.

While Meng Jingzhou was still kindly asking Xie An if he wanted to test his aptitude, Lu Yang suddenly said: "Are you Venerable Wuji?"

Meng Jingzhou's body stiffened, and he silently retreated.

He knew that in matters like this, Lu Yang would not make a wrong judgment.

Xie An looked cold: "As expected of a disciple taught by Yun Zhi, you were actually able to see through my true form."

Speaking of Yun Zhi, Lu Yang suddenly remembered what the Third Senior Sister had said: some great experts, having suffered setbacks and had their Dao hearts shattered, would start from the mortal stage to pretend to be pigs to eat tigers and slap faces in order to regain their Dao hearts.

Is Venerable Wuji in this situation?

That's not right either; it doesn't make sense in terms of time.

Lu Yang asked cautiously: "You should have already regained your Dao heart, right? Why are you doing it all over again?"

Xie An revealed a cruel smile: "I'm addicted to it."