A Name That Shook Qingfeng Temple, a Martial Dao Prodigy

The two abbots looked at each other for a moment, and both saw the same thing in each other's eyes.

The next moment, the two abbots stood up almost simultaneously.

The abbot of Xuandi Temple rose from his seat, took a step to the edge of the martial arts stage, and his face turned ashen.

He stared at the disciple's fading image on the stage, his brows furrowed in a deep frown.

Master Xuanwei was even faster; he flashed forward and stood in front of Chen Du, his gaze deep and focused.

Two auras at the Twelfth Realm collided silently above the martial arts stage, producing a series of subtle popping sounds. The disciples below were overwhelmed and could hardly breathe, so they retreated in droves.

"Xuanwei," the abbot of Xuandi Temple spoke, his voice deep and cold, yet carrying a hint of hesitation he himself didn't realize, "Your Qingfeng Temple is quite capable. A single disciple of yours was able to kill someone from Xuandi Temple with a single sword strike. This debt—"

"Wait," Master Xuanwei interrupted him.

His gaze wasn't fixed on the abbot of Xuandi Temple, but rather on the empty space on the martial arts stage. His brow furrowed. "You recognize that person from just now?"

The abbot of Xuandi Temple was stunned for a moment. He opened his mouth, but swallowed the words back.

He didn't actually recognize him. That "disciple" had only entered the temple a few months ago. He was of average talent, didn't talk much, and never attracted attention.

He brought them out today just to make up the numbers, but the Middle Stage Eleventh Realm cultivation that they just unleashed was not something that anyone from his Xuandi Temple could possess.

He himself knew that there was no such person in his temple.

The abbot of Xuandi Temple's expression changed, and he slowly shook his head. "I don't recognize him. It was my rudeness earlier."

After he finished speaking, the abbot of Xuandi Temple also took the initiative to apologize.

Master Xuanwei's brows furrowed even more.

He turned around and looked at Chen Du.

Chen Du stood on the stage, his face calm, but deep within his mind, the lingering echoes of the Calamity Warning were still trembling slightly.

The person killed by that sword strike just now was definitely not from the Xuandi Temple.

This person disguised himself as a disciple of Xuandi Temple, mingled in the visiting group, and used the guise of sparring to carry out an assassination.

His true identity was not revealed to him by the Calamity Warning; his origins and methods were unknown.

But the fact that he was able to infiltrate the Xuandi Temple, deceive the Xuandi Temple's master, and remain hidden for several months with his Middle Stage Eleventh Realm cultivation speaks volumes.

The anger on the Xuandi Temple's face had mostly subsided, replaced by an indescribable solemnity.

Among the "disciples" he brought was an assassin of unknown origin whose cultivation level far exceeded his understanding.

This matter is far more serious than losing a friendly match.

He said in a deep voice, "Xuanwei, I will investigate this person."

He paused, then glanced at Chen Du again, "However, your disciple is indeed no ordinary person."

After he finished speaking, he turned around, waved his hand, and left with the remaining disciples of Xuandi Temple without looking back.

Only the people from Qingfeng Temple remained in the training ground.

Zhao Yuanshan was the first to rush forward.

His steps were unsteady, as if he hadn't yet recovered from what had just happened.

He grabbed Chen Du's shoulder, looked him up and down, and his lips trembled several times before he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Li Xuan! Are you... are you alright? That sword strike just now... what was that?"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice trembling. "I saw that sword strike! I saw it clearly! I couldn't recognize the laws it contained, but I could feel them. It was definitely not an ordinary thing! When did you become so strong? How much have you been hiding all these years?"

His hands, gripping Chen Du's shoulders, were trembling, and his eyes were even a little red.

He remembered how he used to pat Chen Du on the shoulder and tell him to "go out more," and he would bring him lanterns, still treating him like that frail junior brother.

But now, the young man standing in front of him had killed a Middle Stage Eleventh Realm expert with a single sword strike.

For a moment, he didn't know what expression to wear.

The other fellow disciples also gathered around, chattering excitedly.

"Li Xuan! What was the name of that sword strike? I think I saw clouds just now, was it some kind of Ancient God?"

"Are you pretending to be weak all the time? I knew it was weird that you were cooped up in your room all day!"

"Middle Stage of the Eleventh Realm! I haven't even reached the Tenth Realm yet, and you killed him with a single sword strike? What is your cultivation level?"

"No wonder you never come down the mountain with us. Are you afraid of being exposed? I was worried about you, but now I think the ones who should be worried are the troublemakers!"

An older senior brother stepped forward, bowed deeply to Chen Du, his expression a complex mix of emotions. "Junior Brother Li Xuan, I entered the sect fifteen years earlier than you, my cultivation is higher, and my seniority is greater. Yet today, I didn't even see that sword strike clearly. You concealed it for so long, deceiving all of us. This composure, this forbearance, I admire you, senior brother."

He straightened up after speaking, his eyes a little red, "But you're too cruel. You kept it from us for so long. If I had known you were this strong, I wouldn't have had to worry about you all these years."

Several younger fellow disciples squeezed to the front, craning their necks to look at Chen Du, their eyes filled with admiration.

The youngest, only twelve years old, tugged at Chen Du's sleeve and asked, "Senior Brother Li Xuan, can I learn swordsmanship from you? That sword strike just now was so cool!"

"I want to learn too! Senior brother, please teach me!"

"Senior brother, have you already entered the legendary Eleventh Realm? Or even higher?"

Zhao Yuanshan stood on the periphery of the crowd, looking at Chen Du surrounded by his fellow disciples, and then at the completely leveled ground on the martial arts stage. He suddenly smiled.

He scratched his head and muttered to himself, "Good lad, I even brought you a lantern."

He paused, then added, "Bring two next time."

When Master Xuanwei walked over, his fellow disciples made way for him.

Hua stood before Chen Du, looked at him, and remained silent for a long while before finally speaking, "Li Xuan, come with me."

He turned and walked slowly toward the alchemy room, his shadow stretching long in the setting sun.

Chen Du followed behind him, and behind them came the excited chatter of his fellow disciples, though their voices were low.

"What do you think Li Xuan's cultivation level is?"

"I don't know, but I guess he's at least at the Eleventh Realm, otherwise he couldn't kill someone at the Middle Stage -Eleventh Realm."

"I think it's more than that. I believe the level of that sword strike is even higher than the Middle Stage the Eleventh Realm."

"Hiss, does that mean there's been a monster hiding in our temple all along?"

Zhao Yuanshan listened to these words and glanced at Chen Du's retreating figure, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

The bell of Qingfeng Temple rang again, its sound distant and serene.

But today, the tolling of the bells seems to carry an extra layer of meaning.

Inside the alchemy room, the furnace fire flickered quietly.

Master Xuanwei sat down on the futon and gestured for Chen Du to sit down as well.

The two sat facing each other, separated by the alchemy furnace that had been burning for who knows how many years.

Xuanwei looked at him, her gaze calm, a calmness that surprised Chen Du.

He had expected his master to press him for answers, to be shocked, and to look at him with disbelief, just like his fellow disciples.

But Xuanwei had nothing.

He simply looked at Chen Du, as if he were looking at something whose answer he already knew.

"Master," Chen Du spoke first, "Aren't you going to ask me?"

Xuanwei shook his head, reached into his sleeve and took out a small copper pot, placing it on the stove to warm it. "When I told you about your background when you were ten, I told you that you were the Ling Dynasty, with the blood of the Zhao Clan family flowing through your veins. The Zhao Clan family has been passed down for countless generations in the Ancestral God Realm, and no one can say for sure how many powerful figures your ancestors produced. I have never been surprised by what bloodline or inheritance you have."

"I just didn't expect you to get to this point so quickly, much earlier than I anticipated."

Chen Du remained silent, and Xuanwei didn't need him to respond.

The old man took the copper kettle from the stove, poured two cups of hot tea, and pushed one towards the old man. "You did the right thing with that sword strike today. Since the other side dared to kill in front of the disciples of the two temples, they were certain you wouldn't dare to retaliate. If you hadn't killed him, the next time they would have been even more ruthless. Now that you've killed him, they'll have to think twice."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "But remember this: after today, your name can no longer be kept secret, and your fame will definitely spread within a small circle."

Chen Du nodded; of course he knew.

The Calamity Warning had long ago told him that today's assassination was just the beginning.

In the future, they will become more and more ferocious and ruthless.

But he didn't care; the greater the hardship, the greater the reward.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The tea is somewhat bitter, but the aftertaste is sweet.

Xuanwei looked at him and suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, but it carried a hint of relief. "You're more composed than I thought. All these years, you've been cooped up in your room, and I was worried you'd ruin your health. Now it seems I was overthinking it."

He put down his teacup, his tone becoming more serious, "But there's one thing you have to listen to: in the future, spend more time with your senior brothers and sisters. Zhao Yuanshan may seem carefree, but he's actually very thoughtful."

Your senior brothers, though their cultivation is not as high as yours, have no ill intentions towards you. If you stay alone for too long, you'll easily become isolated. You are a disciple of Qingfeng Temple, and Qingfeng Temple is your home. Among family members, there's no need to hide everything.

Chen Du looked into his master's clear eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "I understand, Master."

Master Xuanwei didn't say anything more. He simply poured Chen Du another cup of tea, then stood up and walked out of the alchemy room.

As he reached the door, he stopped, turned his back to Chen Du, and said, "Practice martial arts diligently; you have a long road ahead of you."

Then, he pushed open the door and went out.

The door closed, and the alchemy room fell silent once more.

Chen Du sat on a futon, holding a cup of warm tea in his hand, watching the fire in the stove flicker.

He suddenly realized that his master probably knew everything, but he just never said it.