Chapter 49: Astonishing the Elders and Meeting a Supreme Being

The elders before the water mirror stirred with an earth-shattering intensity, their gazes converging on Gu Jiuyuan. Their lips pressed tightly together, none daring to speak first, yet all wearing expressions brimming with unspoken questions.

As more and more eyes fixated on him, Gu Jiuyuan finally offered a faint explanation, “When she joined, I only gave her a single manual. The rest must have been taught by Chu Xinghe.”

“That can’t be right. The Dingkun Sword Technique grows stronger as one’s cultivation advances. Is that the kind of aura a Qi Refinement stage cultivator can produce?” one elder pointed out the flaw.

“With Chu’s current cultivation, even the second form of Dingkun Sword Technique, ‘Wave Rising,’ shouldn’t be able to manifest such power. Did he really teach her?” someone else voiced their suspicion.

“It’s impossible she only started learning after coming to Danbo Peak. In just over ten days, to grasp the second form and fully comprehend the first—such mastery usually takes months at the very least.”

“Not to mention, our Spirit Disciple killed a late Foundation Establishment stage Flame Lion King with just a simple branch. I’m genuinely curious—how did she understand the beasts’ speech? Danbo Peak truly conceals its talents.”

Gu Jiuyuan’s fingers clenched abruptly, gripping the armrest of his chair tightly, his brows furrowing into a dark scowl as coldly as he stared at Luo Chen.

He was certain Luo Chen had colluded with Ling Xi long ago, secretly tutoring her and hiding her true abilities in front of him.

Yet even with special tutoring, she hadn’t reached Foundation Establishment until now.

He never should have brought Ling Xi back to Danbo Peak!

He had taken her in out of kindness, but she was conspiring behind his back with others to make him lose face.

Luo Chen felt the hostile gaze piercing him and paused mid-shelling a melon seed before laughing softly.

“Hey! Hurt to see such a promising talent and feel sorry for her?”

Gu Jiuyuan snorted coldly. “What’s there to be proud of? Such a good seedling, yet no Foundation Establishment after all these years.”

Luo Chen smiled. “So you suspect I secretly tutored her and concealed her cultivation?”

“Then let’s wait for Xi Xi to break through Foundation Establishment. Let’s see then. Even with a divine intervention, the tribulation can’t be faked.”

Gu Jiuyuan sneered, “A mixed spiritual root, better not take centuries.”

Luo Chen lightly counted off on his fingers, his smile not reaching his eyes. “Soon, don’t be impatient~”

Suddenly, several elders sprang to their feet, eager to press their faces against the water mirror.

In the image, Ling Xi sat cross-legged atop the Flame Lion’s back, turning to look at Bing Cang after hearing Wen Jue’s question.

“Senior Brother practices sword every night in the courtyard. Wasn’t it agreed you’d teach me?”

“I didn’t want to learn at night, but I couldn’t bear to disappoint my brothers.”

“The night before last, I secretly watched once, and just copied what I saw.”

“Senior Brother, how’s my sword technique?”

Ling Xi smiled brightly at Bing Cang, her eyes sparkling with hope.

Bing Cang quickly lowered his head, silently moving away from her, shrinking into the corner like a shy mushroom.

“Senior Brother, don’t just look at your toes. Give me some feedback! Am I doing well?” Ling Xi prodded his arm with her finger.

Bing Cang scooted further aside, nearly falling, before finally nodding.

Unable to stand it, Sui An pulled at his own Senior Brother. “Ling Xi is our junior sister. You just ignoring her is so dismissive.”

Before Sui An could finish, several figures suddenly swayed.

The Flame Lion halted and lay down.

A humble earthen hut appeared before them.

The house was ordinary—typical of a villager’s home. If anything, it was exceptionally dilapidated.

The outer walls were heavily weathered, yellow mud peeling to reveal bricks mixed with straw. After years of sun and wind, the structure was little more than a fragile shell, crumbling to dust at the slightest touch.

The wooden door was cracked wide open; faded lanterns hung on either side, their tattered paper fluttering in the breeze, exposing the blackened bamboo frames beneath.

Ling Xi, full of suspicion, hesitated before finally knocking, reassured by the Flame Lion’s persistent encouragement.

“A junior of Danbo Peak comes to seek guidance!”

The door creaked open slowly. A cold, emotionless voice emerged, worn smooth by time.

“Enter.”

Ling Xi sensed a trap. Cautiously, she pushed the door and stepped inside, her foot cracking the floor beneath her.

“Don’t come in!”

She shouted anxiously, channeling the Clear Wind Wave Step beneath her feet.

The intense sunlight above cast her outer robe over her head; the power of the Netherworld Beyond technique pushed to its limit, its bonus barely perceptible.

Her toes touched the ground again, and another black fissure appeared, swallowing her whole.

Inside the cavern.

Carved blue stone flooring lined the chamber; bronze candlesticks hung from the walls, holding thick white candles burning fiercely, illuminating the cave as brightly as daylight.

Before a desk sat a man in white robes, holding a scroll.

His skin was smooth and delicate, appearing no older than twenty. He bore the scholarly features of a pale-faced bookworm, yet a patch of jet-black mustache adorned his chin.

Behind him, two jade stands supported a glossy black coffin, its lid spotless without a single spiderweb.

Other direct disciples had already arrived, sitting cross-legged on meditation cushions, scrutinizing Ling Xi.

Seeing her covered in dust, her clothes burnt through in several places, trembling uncontrollably, they struggled to conceal their amusement.

Truly befitting the Waste Peak—battling a few low-tier plant-type beasts had left her in such a sorry state.

Ling Xi rolled up swiftly, brushing dust from her clothes. Her eyes swept the room, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she raised her right eyebrow slyly.

“Been staring so long, do I look good?”

Her bright eyes gleamed with mischief, lively and spirited.

Daoist Song Mingyi raised the scroll in his right hand, pointing to a seat for Ling Xi, struggling to suppress a smile.

Though he tried not to, the twitch of his mustache betrayed a smile that seemed both friendly and subtly threatening.

Ling Xi shivered but restrained the urge to rub her arm. She smiled back at the Daoist and took the cushion, sitting cross-legged.

Within a minute, Sui An and the others entered the cave as well.

Unlike Ling Xi’s abrupt fall, they descended the stairs, though after their chase with the Flame Lion, each was dust-covered, with scorched sleeves.

Many disciples had been embarrassed earlier; now seeing their Danbo Peak fellows equally disheveled, they smirked with schadenfreude but dared not speak since the Daoist sat above.

Waste Peak’s fate was to be pitiful!

Bing Cang’s expression flickered slightly. He curled his fingers tightly, lowering his gaze to his toes.

He had witnessed too much ridicule and disdain.

Ling Xi raised a hand in greeting to her comrades, forcing a relaxed smile.

“Senior Brother, brothers, I’m here!”

Suddenly, all gazes fixed on Ling Xi. The Daoist in front stroked his mustache and finally laughed aloud.

“You all may sit beside your junior sister. We shall begin.”

Ling Xi froze, eyes locked on the coffin behind him, swallowing hard in silence.