"Lu Xuan! All you ever do is eat, eat, eat! Ji Fuyao's return is a monumental event, and you couldn't even bother to notify the sect?!" The collective sigh that followed was heavy enough to crush mountains. The Peak Masters all shook their heads, their faces a mask of utter exasperation, as if looking at rotten wood that cannot be carved.
Lu Xuan replied casually, his mouth full, "I sent a mental message to the Sect Master, but no one answered."
The Sword Peak Peak Master frowned. "Seriously? You expect us to believe that?" No one did.
Gu Yuefang, the Pill Peak Peak Master, scowled. "Lu Xuan, do you have any idea? The Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the Sect Master went all the way to Cangzhou specifically to rescue Fuyao. Now she's back, and you don't even give us a heads-up?"
Lu Xuan paused, a piece of spicy spirit chicken halfway to his mouth. Wait, what? So that day, when the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the Sect Master suddenly looked terrified in the cultivation grounds, it was all about Ji Fuyao? Ugh... But when he'd asked the Sect Master, the old man hadn't told him anything! Well, what's done is done. Time to eat.
Lu Xuan resumed eating. Ji Fuyao, however, blushed, suddenly feeling self-conscious about her own appetite.
At that moment, Gu Yuefang noticed something. "Wait, Fuyao, your cultivation level?" Everyone was stunned. Ji Fuyao had reached One-star Profound Saint! They distinctly remembered that three months ago, when she left, she was only at Profound Venerate Stage Three. To break through to the Saint Realm in just three months—it was utterly unbelievable!
Ji Fuyao smiled sweetly, turning to Lu Xuan. "Seniors, this is all thanks to my Master."
Lu Xuan shrugged casually. "Honestly, I didn't really do anything."
The Peak Masters' faces twitched. Lu Xuan, how dare you even speak? They all knew the truth: this had nothing to do with him. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor had already confirmed that a supreme hidden magnate was protecting Ye Chen and Ji Fuyao on Azure Mystery Peak. Fuyao's astonishing progress could only be the work of that transcendent figure!
For a moment, the Peak Masters collectively judged Lu Xuan with their eyes. They were utterly baffled. How could Lu Xuan still be eating at a time like this? His composure was truly boundless! The key was that he was eating with such gusto, completely ignoring their presence. Seeing this, the Peak Masters were so furious they almost laughed. Even after years of dealing with Lu Xuan, they were on the verge of losing control and physically attacking him. But they held back. They had received a mental transmission from the Cangxuan Old Ancestor: the powerful figure who rescued Ji Fuyao was likely still on Azure Mystery Peak. If that supreme magnate could tolerate Lu Xuan's antics, they had no choice but to endure it too.
So, the Peak Masters stood there, watching Lu Xuan and Ji Fuyao eat, grinding their teeth in silent agony. Their chests tightened, and their livers ached.
Ji Fuyao whispered, "Master, maybe we should wait a little longer to finish?"
Lu Xuan replied carelessly, "Just eat. It won't taste good if it gets cold."
The crowd was speechless. Gu Yuefang opened his mouth, then closed it, swallowing his frustration.
Ji Fuyao suddenly remembered something and resumed eating without hesitation. She realized her Master was deliberately keeping a low profile! What if the Azure Nether Celestial Water and the Dao Profound Iron Pot were exposed? Her Master always preferred to remain hidden!
Seeing Ji Fuyao wolfing down her food without regard for her image, Gu Yuefang cleared his throat. "Fuyao, there's no need to rush. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the others are still several hours away."
Ji Fuyao nodded but continued to devour her meal at top speed. The Peak Masters sighed in despair. Alas... A genius like Ji Fuyao, who should have long since transcended the need for mortal food, was being corrupted by Lu Xuan. A true cultivator should maintain a focused mind and abandon worldly habits to draw closer to the Grand Dao.
The Sword Peak Peak Master finally couldn't hold back. "Fuyao, is that food really that delicious?"
Ji Fuyao didn't know how to answer, but Lu Xuan chuckled. "Why don't you try some and find out?"
The Peak Masters' faces darkened instantly. Eat? Ha! They would rather starve to death, or jump off the peak, than touch a single bite of that food!
Ji Fuyao stood up and bowed deeply to the Peak Masters. "Seniors, please don't speak ill of my Master. This time, it was entirely thanks to his intervention. Otherwise, I might have..."
Hearing this, the crowd looked utterly unconvinced. "Fuyao, are you saying Lu Xuan went to Cangzhou, rescued you, and then returned?"
Ji Fuyao nodded. Silence descended upon the Peak Masters.
After a moment of heavy silence, the Sword Peak Peak Master asked, "Is that powerful figure still on Azure Mystery Peak?" Ji Fuyao glanced at Lu Xuan. "Yes, he is."
"Could you ask that Senior to show himself?"
"He already has," Ji Fuyao replied.
The Peak Masters immediately extended their divine senses to search. They found nothing. A moment later, they shook their heads with wry smiles. The magnate was a being even the Cangxuan Old Ancestor held in awe; how could mere Peak Masters hope to perceive his presence? They gave up the search.
Swiftly, the Sword Peak Peak Master and the others used a supreme secret art to transmit a message to the Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the Sect Master, informing them of the situation on Azure Mystery Peak. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor immediately replied, "Please relay a message to that powerful Daoist: for Fuyao's sake, ask him not to leave yet. I have matters I wish to discuss with him upon my return." The Sword Peak Peak Master nodded. "Understood, Old Ancestor!"
A moment later, the Peak Masters relayed the Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s request to Ji Fuyao. Ji Fuyao’s delicate lips parted, unsure how to proceed. Her Master was sitting right here, yet no one believed he was the powerful figure! This was... She looked at Lu Xuan. "Master, is it alright to meet the Cangxuan Old Ancestor?" Lu Xuan merely pursed his lips. "No problem."
The Peak Masters were confused. Why did she need to ask Lu Xuan? Ji Fuyao addressed them again: "That powerful figure has been on Azure Mystery Peak the entire time." The Peak Masters nodded. "Excellent!"
Soon after, Lu Xuan finished his meal and reclined on his lounge chair. Ji Fuyao, meanwhile, picked up the wooden platter and headed to the thatched hut to wash the dishes. The Peak Masters gritted their teeth. Lu! Xuan!
Several hours later. BOOM! The void tore open! Space warped violently! A terrifying, peerless aura erupted from the rift, and the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, accompanied by the Sect Master and others, materialized, stepping directly onto Azure Mystery Peak.
"Old Ancestor!"
"Sect Master!"
The Peak Masters immediately bowed in reverence. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor and the Sect Master nodded, landing on the peak. Seeing Ji Fuyao's cultivation, a sharp glint flashed in the Old Ancestor's eyes. "Excellent, excellent! You've grown quickly in this short time!" The Cangxuan Old Ancestor waved his sleeve, addressing the Peak Masters. "Alright. You may all leave now. I have some matters I wish to discuss privately with Fuyao."
At his command, the Peak Masters took to the air and departed. Only the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, Ji Fuyao, and Lu Xuan remained. The Old Ancestor stroked his beard and smiled at Ji Fuyao. "Fuyao, can you now invite that Daoist Friend to come out for a chat?" Ji Fuyao looked at Lu Xuan. Lu Xuan nodded, and she replied, "Yes." The Cangxuan Old Ancestor then secretly transmitted a message to her: "The high-ranking members of the Heavenly Net Palace now know about your reincarnation secret art, though they are still uncertain of its veracity."
Ji Fuyao's expression shifted slightly. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor looked at Lu Xuan. "Lu Xuan, why don't you go back for now? I'll go to Fuyao's cave dwelling with that Daoist Friend to talk."
Lu Xuan was speechless.
Ji Fuyao quickly whispered, "Old Ancestor, my Master knows about this too."
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor was dumbfounded. How could she tell a waste like Lu Xuan such a high-level secret?
Lu Xuan spoke up. "Old Ancestor, let's talk in my cave dwelling."
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor frowned internally. "Is that powerful figure in your cave dwelling?"
Lu Xuan replied, "When I go there, he's there."
The Old Ancestor pondered this. "Very well."
The three entered Lu Xuan's cave dwelling. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor raised his hand, casting countless sealing restrictions, causing endless, brilliant spirit patterns to surge across the dwelling. Lu Xuan invited the Old Ancestor to sit. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor scanned the surroundings but found no other Great Emperor-level experts.
"Lu Xuan, where is that Daoist Friend?"
Lu Xuan pointed to himself. "I am he."
Ji Fuyao's mouth dropped open into a perfect 'O' shape. Is Master finally abandoning his low-profile act? Is he going to reveal his true power?
Clap! Clap! Clap! Suddenly, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor burst into hearty laughter, stroking his beard.
Lu Xuan was completely bewildered. "What's so funny?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled knowingly. "Daoist Friend, you are unwilling to reveal your true form, so you are using Lu Xuan's body as a vessel to speak with me? It seems your identity must be tied to some profound secrets of the Southern Wilds. Since that is the case, I won't press you to manifest."
Lu Xuan and Ji Fuyao exchanged glances. Question marks were practically floating above their heads. ???
Seeing Lu Xuan's confused expression, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled faintly. "Now I understand why Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen hold Lu Xuan in such reverence. It turns out the Daoist Friend is using Lu Xuan's body as a vessel to impart the Dao! Everything makes sense now: why Lu Xuan insisted on taking Fuyao as a disciple, and why Ye Chen was so determined to join Azure Mystery Peak."
Lu Xuan remained silent.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor continued, "I had considered this possibility before, but I wasn't certain. Now I am relieved. Daoist Friend, you clearly bear no ill will toward my Grand Dao Sect!"
Ji Fuyao looked at Lu Xuan, a divine light swirling in her beautiful eyes. Oh, wow... Lu Xuan had just laid his cards on the table, and the Cangxuan Old Ancestor still refused to believe him. It seemed the Old Ancestor's prejudice against her Master was simply too deep!
At that point, Lu Xuan asked, "Old Ancestor, what is your stance on this matter?"
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor's voice was cold. "Those who harm Fuyao shall die! As for this secret of reincarnation, I have not disclosed it to anyone else for the time being." Lu Xuan nodded. For now, it seemed the Grand Dao Sect would not covet Ji Fuyao's secret art.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor's gaze was profound. "Daoist Friend, the Heavenly Net Palace knowing this is not truly terrifying. But if this news were to spread to the other hegemonic powers of the Southern Wilds, it would cause a bloodbath."
"And what then?" Lu Xuan asked.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled faintly. "Then we will let the Southern Wilds witness the true foundation of the Grand Dao Sect."
The foundation of the Grand Dao Sect! Lu Xuan frowned. "How strong is the Grand Dao Sect's foundation, exactly?" A hint of pride appeared on the Old Ancestor's face. "It seems even you, Daoist Friend, have not managed to glimpse the full extent of our sect's power?"
Lu Xuan was speechless. Ji Fuyao's eyes shone with contemplation. The Cangxuan Old Ancestor lowered his voice. "My Grand Dao Sect is intrinsically linked to supreme, ancient secrets, and its foundation is astonishingly vast. I, as the Old Ancestor of the 'Cang' lineage, am merely one of the weaker Great Emperors. There are other supreme experts who have yet to emerge."
"There are vast differences even among hegemonic powers!"
"Take the Heavenly Net Palace, for instance. They have indeed risen to become a hegemonic force over the last few millennia. But with the true foundation of my Grand Dao Sect, we could annihilate them with the snap of a finger!"
Lu Xuan froze.
What the hell?! Annihilate the Heavenly Net Palace with a snap? And the Cangxuan Old Ancestor was only one of the weaker Great Emperors in the 'Cang' lineage? That meant there were other lineages with their own Old Ancestors... He had never known any of this! How terrifyingly strong was the Grand Dao Sect? For the first time, Lu Xuan felt that the entire sect was shrouded in a profound mist, one he couldn't see through. It seemed the power the Grand Dao Sect currently displayed was truly just the tip of the iceberg! And the last time he'd asked the Old Ancestor about the Heavenly Net Palace, the Old Ancestor had implied they were a formidable rival. The old man lied to me!
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor smiled faintly. "I only tell you this so that Daoist Friend can be reassured. Since you are secretly protecting Fuyao and Ye Chen, you are a friend of my Grand Dao Sect."