“Is this the secret art Ji Fuyao taught you?”
Lu Xuan didn't know how to answer. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor merely offered a faint smile, pressing no further.
A moment of silence descended.
Then, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor sighed softly. “Your master, the Azure Mystery Saint, had truly immense hopes for you, did you know that?”
Lu Xuan nodded, a flicker of past memories surfacing. His master, the Azure Mystery Saint, had practically worried himself sick over the original owner of this body.
“The Sect Master mentioned your situation to me previously,” the Cangxuan Old Ancestor continued. “I have no specific demands for you, Lu Xuan. My only hope is that you refrain from interfering with Ji Fuyao's cultivation. Can you promise me that?”
Lu Xuan mused internally. He practiced a philosophy of teaching through non-interference. He hadn't actually done anything, so how could he possibly interfere?
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor chuckled. “I hear Fuyao has been cooking for you?”
“A few times,” Lu Xuan admitted.
The Old Ancestor nodded subtly. “Then you two must share some profound connection. The Dao of Heaven and Earth works in mysterious ways; perhaps it was always destined for Ji Fuyao to become your disciple.”
Lu Xuan nodded, half understanding, half bewildered. Just then, a spirit fish tugged at the line, but the Cangxuan Old Ancestor gently released it back into the small river.
“If my suspicions are correct,” the Old Ancestor mused, “Ji Fuyao should have some connection to the Fuyao Dynasty that fell three thousand years ago.”
“Fuyao hasn’t mentioned anything to me about that,” Lu Xuan replied.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor's gaze turned distant. “Three millennia ago, the Heavenly Net Palace launched a campaign that annihilated the Fuyao Dynasty. Overnight, the imperial power crumbled, and the Fuyao Empress perished. Since then, for three thousand years, no news of the Fuyao Dynasty has ever surfaced.”
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. “The Heavenly Net Palace?”
“Indeed,” the Old Ancestor confirmed. “The Heavenly Net Palace has quite the infamous reputation in the Southern Barrens. Any target they set their sights on invariably meets utter destruction.”
“How does the Heavenly Net Palace’s strength compare to our Grand Dao Sect?” Lu Xuan inquired.
“Three thousand years ago, they certainly couldn’t rival the Grand Dao Sect,” the Old Ancestor stated. “But in the intervening millennia, the Heavenly Net Palace has grown significantly stronger.”
Lu Xuan paused, a realization dawning on him. That meant the Heavenly Net Palace now possessed the power to challenge the Grand Dao Sect in a full-scale war!
“If the Heavenly Net Palace were to discover Fuyao’s existence, wouldn’t that put her in great danger?” Lu Xuan asked, a rare flicker of concern crossing his usually placid face.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor simply let out a soft chuckle. “If our Grand Dao Sect can’t even protect its own disciples, what right do we have to stand in the Southern Barrens?”
Lu Xuan nodded, understanding the Old Ancestor’s protective stance regarding the Fuyao Empress.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor then looked at Lu Xuan. “Stretch out your hand.”
Lu Xuan hesitated, a little startled. Was the Old Ancestor trying to probe his cultivation roots? But thanks to the System, his true cultivation was completely concealed. As long as he didn’t reveal it, no one should be able to detect it.
With that thought, Lu Xuan extended his right hand.
A wisp of the Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s spiritual sense flowed out, entering Lu Xuan’s palm. After a moment, the Old Ancestor shook his head faintly. “Your innate talent remains as poor as ever. No wonder you’ve been stuck in Qi Refining all these years, unable to even break into the Profound Knight realm.”
“Poor aptitude is part of the reason, but laziness is the main culprit.”
Lu Xuan’s face twitched.
“Alright, that’s all for now,” the Cangxuan Old Ancestor said. “I merely felt that as her Master, you should be informed of the sect’s stance regarding Ji Fuyao’s situation.”
“Many thanks, Old Ancestor,” Lu Xuan said.
The Old Ancestor nodded. “From now on, do as you please within the Grand Dao Sect. There’s no need for any reservations.”
Lu Xuan blinked, confused. What did he mean?
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled. “Anyway, a mere Qi Refining cultivator like you can’t possibly stir up any trouble. And now that you’re Fuyao’s Master, you should also exercise some of your Peak Master rights.”
Lu Xuan nodded again. “Thank you, Old Ancestor.”
Not long after, the Sect Master arrived once more.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor casually flicked his sleeve. “Take Lu Xuan back. From now on, there’s no need to restrict him.”
The Sect Master paused, then nodded. “Understood, Old Ancestor. I’ll see to it.”
Soon, after escorting Lu Xuan back to Azure Mystery Peak, the Sect Master returned to the Old Ancestor’s side. The Sect Master asked curiously, “Old Ancestor, did you discover anything unusual about Lu Xuan?”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor shook his head. “Nothing. He’s still a good-for-nothing.”
The Sect Master couldn’t help but want to laugh. “I truly wonder why Lu Xuan bothers to conceal his cultivation.”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor dismissed the thought. “Let him be.”
Just then, the Sect Master’s communication jade slip vibrated. He retrieved it, and a panicked voice echoed through his spiritual sense. “Sect Master, Ji Fuyao… we lost her.”
The Sect Master’s brow furrowed. “You mean a Profound Saint elder lost track of a Profound Sovereign disciple?!” He had specifically dispatched a Profound Saint elder to secretly protect Ji Fuyao for her external mission, yet they had somehow lost her?
The voice on the other end fell silent for a moment.
“It’s fine,” the Cangxuan Old Ancestor said calmly. “Let Ji Fuyao be. She is not as simple as she appears.”
The Sect Master put away his jade slip, a swirl of questions in his mind. “The Empress of the Fuyao Dynasty was known as the Fuyao Empress, achieving emperorship through the Path of Spirit Fire! Ji Fuyao’s name and her spirit fire constitution are too similar… what exactly is their connection?”
“From now on, give Fuyao more freedom,” the Cangxuan Old Ancestor instructed. “She knows what she needs to do.”
“Understood,” the Sect Master responded.
***
Azure Mystery Peak.
After a brief preparation, Lu Xuan descended the mountain. He couldn't wait to visit the Ye Family of Qingcheng and meet his second disciple, Ye Chen.
Lu Xuan headed straight for the Grand Dao Sect’s teleportation array. His appearance there stunned many elders and disciples. Lu Xuan, going out? This was truly unprecedented! What could a mere Qi Refining cultivator like him possibly do outside the Grand Dao Sect?
Everyone was shocked. Someone quickly informed the Sect Master of the situation.
The Sect Master waved his hand dismissively. “Let him be.” The Cangxuan Old Ancestor had already said there was no need to restrict Lu Xuan any further. As for Lu Xuan's safety? The Sect Master wasn’t worried in the slightest. That timid boy carried all of the Azure Mystery Saint’s possessions—talismans, powerful puppets capable of handling even Profound Saints. Thus, Lu Xuan's departure from the Grand Dao Sect caused only a minor ripple before everyone forgot about it.
This was Lu Xuan’s first time using a teleportation array. He felt a slight dizziness as terrifying spatial forces warped and flowed around him, a truly mysterious experience. His heart fluttered with a touch of excitement; he couldn’t wait to see his second disciple, Ye Chen.
Ye Chen, come to Master’s embrace! he thought.
***
Days later, Ji Fuyao, after traversing several teleportation arrays, finally arrived at Luoshui City, the closest urban center to the Blackflame Mountain Range. All along the way, she had sensed a Profound Saint secretly following her. She guessed it was an elder from the Grand Dao Sect, likely dispatched by the Sect Master to ensure her safety. However, her journey to the Blackflame Mountain Range was to rendezvous with the Imperial Dragon Guards, a reunion that could not be exposed. So, Ji Fuyao secretly activated a profound art, deftly shaking off the Grand Dao Sect’s Profound Saint.
Over the next few days, she paused only briefly, pressing on relentlessly towards the Blackflame Mountain Range. Yet, even during her short rests, she didn't forget to cultivate. “I wonder how Master is doing now?” Ji Fuyao murmured to herself.
She walked through Luoshui City, heading towards its outskirts. The city teemed with cultivators, coming and going without end, a bustling and prosperous sight. Many of these cultivators carried the distinct scent of spirit beast blood, clearly regulars who hunted in the Blackflame Mountain Range.
The moment Ji Fuyao appeared in Luoshui City, she was like a star in the night, instantly drawing countless eyes. Never before had they seen such an exquisitely beautiful woman! Clad in a fiery red gown, her figure curved perfectly, her delicate, fair skin like congealed cream, and her long, slender legs like jade pillars. Her face was captivating, enough to topple kingdoms.
In a shadowed alley, a scar-faced man licked his lips. “That Profound Sovereign realm woman is the most stunning I’ve ever seen! It’s been too long since I’ve had a woman. She’s the one.”
Another burly man with a bristly beard sneered, his eyes tracing Ji Fuyao’s perfect retreating figure. “That woman clearly lacks experience! To come to a dangerous place like the Blackflame Mountain Range all alone!”
Someone else probed with spiritual sense. “There’s no guardian detected behind her! We can move!”
Soon, Ji Fuyao stepped out of Luoshui City and walked towards the Blackflame Mountain Range. She had already activated her Fuyao Token, and the two commanders of the Imperial Dragon Guards, Wang Man and Qing Yan, had responded.
“Empress, we are coming to meet you immediately!”
As she passed through the entrance to the Blackflame Mountain Range, she entered a bustling market. Many cultivators traded their spoils from the Blackflame Mountain Range here. Ji Fuyao walked through, her fiery red dress a blazing spiritual flame, her face exquisitely delicate and beautiful, her long, slender legs straight and pale as snow, her perfect figure an alluring curve.
Instantly, countless gazes were drawn to her. Ji Fuyao was like a painting come to life. Several men immediately approached her, their eyes gleaming. “Young lady, is this your first time in the Blackflame Mountain Range? It’s very dangerous here. Why don’t you join our team?”
Ji Fuyao ignored them completely, walking directly past them. Seeing this, the men bristled with anger. A mid-stage Profound Sovereign, and alone, yet so audacious!
With that thought, they rushed forward, their eyes filled with lust, attempting to forcibly “recruit” her. “Young lady, since you’re not saying anything, we’ll take that as a yes.”
Upon hearing this, the surrounding cultivators sighed softly. What a pity for this young woman. These men were members of the Black Wolf Mercenary Group! If they set their sights on someone, a terrible fate was inevitable. She would likely be defiled and then murdered, her end utterly tragic.
Suddenly, Ji Fuyao extended her slender jade hand, a flicker of disgust on her face.
“Hiss!”
A terrifying spiritual flame surged forth, swirling like a storm, engulfing the men in an instant. They were immediately enveloped in the inferno, their screams echoing.
“No…!”
“You treacherous wretch…!”
In but a breath, the men were reduced to ash. Ji Fuyao didn’t even glance back, stepping directly into the entrance of the Blackflame Mountain Range. The market fell into a dead silence. Everyone watched Ji Fuyao’s retreating figure, utterly shocked.
Terrifying!
Also in the Profound Sovereign realm, this woman had annihilated those troublemakers with a mere flick of her hand! And she hadn’t even blinked!
All the onlookers realized they had been fooled by her appearance. She was far from simple.
Meanwhile, not far away, several cultivators who had followed Ji Fuyao out of Luoshui City stopped. Having witnessed the scene, some chose to retreat, but others scoffed.
The scar-faced man sneered, glaring at those who backed down. “Cowards! No matter how strong that woman is, she’s still only a Profound Sovereign, while we’re Half-Saints!”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained! And for a beauty like this, dying by her side would still be a glorious end!”
With that, the Half-Saints, led by the scar-faced man, quietly continued to tail Ji Fuyao.