A Mosquito

Leaving Chu Fan's affairs alone, Li Zhōujūn walked out of the courtyard and headed to where Sū Nán lived.

In the small courtyard.

Sū Nán sat beside the stone table in the yard, her hands propping up her chin as her delicate little face stared blankly at the moon in the sky.

"What are you looking at?" Li Zhōujūn asked with a smile as he entered the courtyard and saw the absent-minded Sū Nán.

"Master!" Sū Nán hurriedly stood up when she saw Li Zhōujūn arrive.

"No need to be so formal. Sit down and tell Master what you're thinking about." As he spoke, Li Zhōujūn sat on the other side of the stone table.

Sū Nán's little face was troubled. "It's nothing, really. It's just that lately, I've felt that the world of cultivation doesn't seem as wonderful as I imagined it would be."

Li Zhōujūn smiled. "The fact that you can think that way means you've grown. As they say, everyone praises the immortals' life, never knowing immortals have their troubles too. Aside from pursuing different things, cultivators are no different from mortals. As mortals, people rack their brains over money; after becoming cultivators, they worry over all kinds of cultivation resources. Many cultivators can devise a thousand and ten thousand schemes to plot against their opponents over a single pill."

"But don't worry. With Master here, no one will be able to harm you in the slightest before you can stand on your own."

"Thank you, Master," Sū Nán said, deeply moved.

"Alright, enough of this sentimental talk." Li Zhōujūn smiled, then took out the Azure Frost Sword and handed it to Sū Nán. "This sword is called Azure Frost. It is a first-grade flying sword. Though its grade is not high, its material is exceptional—enough to rival a third-grade flying sword. Since it is a first-grade flying sword, refining it into your Natal Flying Sword will not be difficult."

"Thank you, Master. This disciple will certainly not disappoint Master's expectations." Sū Nán took the flying sword from Li Zhōujūn, determination filling her eyes.

"It's enough that you have that resolve." Li Zhōujūn smiled. Then he pressed a fingertip to Sū Nán's brow and passed the Azure Frost Swordplay on to her as well.

Once that was done, Li Zhōujūn withdrew his hand, while Sū Nán sank into the Azure Frost Swordplay.

Suddenly.

Li Zhōujūn frowned, his gaze seeming to crush through the void as he looked up into the sky.

"Hm? Could he have discovered me?"

High in the air, an old man stood amid the clouds. Seeing Li Zhōujūn suddenly look in his direction below, he spoke with a surprised expression.

This man was none other than Elder Wu, who had been sent by Chu Rou to investigate who had killed Chu Fan.

Using the approximate location revealed when the jade bracelet shattered, Elder Wu had traced the matter to the Xue family. Through the cultivators still at the banquet, who were lavishly praising Li Zhōujūn, he learned that it was the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord of the Dao Tian Sect who had killed Chu Fan.

And he had done so with a single punch.

This made Elder Wu wonder whether this Li Zhōujūn had already reached the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Thus, after searching the soul of a Xue family servant and learning where Li Zhōujūn resided, Elder Wu had come here to investigate.

That led to the scene just now, where Li Zhōujūn looked toward him.

At this moment, Elder Wu was certain that Li Zhōujūn could detect his location and had absolutely reached the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Just as Elder Wu was deep in thought.

Li Zhōujūn extended a hand toward the void and clenched it.

Elder Wu's expression turned grave at the sight. His entire body was already prepared for battle.

But then Elder Wu saw Li Zhōujūn open his palm, revealing a dead mosquito lying within.

"Even a tiny mosquito dares disturb this venerable one's beloved disciple while she cultivates?" Li Zhōujūn looked at the mosquito in his hand and sneered.

Elder Wu: "..."

A mosquito?

Was there really any need to make such a huge fuss?

He had thought he himself had been discovered.

Still, seeing that he could not perceive Li Zhōujūn's cultivation realm, Elder Wu did not rashly make a move.

Instead, he left the place directly.

Within a grand hall.

Elder Wu said humbly to Chu Rou, who sat upon the throne, "Saintess, this old servant has already found out who killed Chu Fan."

"Who was it?" Chu Rou asked.

"The Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord of the Dao Tian Sect, Li Zhōujūn," Elder Wu said.

"Someone from the Dao Tian Sect?" Chu Rou's expression turned cold. She then snorted. "If I remember correctly, someone from the Dao Tian Sect severely injured Chu Fan back then. I did not pursue the matter, yet this time, someone from the Dao Tian Sect directly killed him. The Dao Tian Sect certainly has quite the imposing prestige."

Elder Wu frowned. "Saintess, this old servant believes the Dao Tian Sect cannot be blamed entirely for this matter. After all, Chu Fan had already entered the demonic path and become a fiend who killed without batting an eye. As Azure Continent's foremost righteous sect, it was only reasonable for the Dao Tian Sect to kill him."

"No matter what, Chu Fan was my brother. Whoever killed him must be buried with him." Chu Rou snorted. "Elder Wu, once I make my preparations, let us pay a visit to the Dao Tian Sect."

"Alas..."

Seeing that Chu Rou had made up her mind, Elder Wu could only sigh and remind her, "Saintess, Li Zhōujūn's strength has very likely reached the Tribulation Crossing Stage. If we wish to make a move against him, I fear we must make some preparations first."

"Tribulation Crossing?" Chu Rou sneered. "Don't worry, Elder Wu. I know what I'm doing."

The scene returned to the Xue family.

In the small courtyard.

After Sū Nán came to her senses, Li Zhōujūn instructed her, "Rest well tonight. There is no need to rush the refinement of your Natal Flying Sword. Tomorrow, we will set out and return to the Dao Tian Sect."

"Mhm, mhm." The little girl nodded repeatedly.

Li Zhōujūn smiled, then left the place and returned to where he lived, studying the automatic shutdown ability the system had given him.

Li Zhōujūn lay on his bed without a single thought in his mind.

Yet the Profound Nether Heart Sutra continued circulating on its own, automatically drawing in and releasing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Li Zhōujūn's Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivation also continued to climb.

Early the next morning.

Murong Xue came to find Li Zhōujūn, who was still in his bedroom and had yet to get up.

"What is it? What did you come looking for me for? I'm not even wearing clothes yet. Don't you go trying to have an old cow eat tender grass—I'm only forty."

Seeing Murong Xue enter his bedroom, sit down, and then remain silent, Li Zhōujūn immediately clutched the blanket around himself and shrank into the corner by the wall, his face full of vigilance.

Murong Xue's mouth twitched.

There were heaps of people chasing this old lady, yet this guy was acting like he was the one being slighted.

Old cow eating tender grass?

Why don't you just fly up to heaven while you're at it?

"It's nothing. I just thought about it for a long time last night and decided I should thank you in person for saving me," Murong Xue said.

After thinking for a moment, Li Zhōujūn grinned. "Fine. If you want to offer yourself to me in marriage, then let's get started right away."

As he spoke, Li Zhōujūn moved to lift the blanket.

"Lecher!"

Murong Xue's face flushed at the sight. She hurriedly got up and ran from the room.

Li Zhōujūn was utterly baffled.

What was that supposed to mean?

I'd already mentally prepared myself to accept an old woman more than a hundred years older than me, so why did you run away?

Still, Murong Xue had actually looked rather cute when she rushed out in such a fluster just now.

At the same time.

Outside Li Zhōujūn's bedroom, Murong Xue touched her burning cheeks and couldn't help spitting, "This Li Zhōujūn really has none of a mountain lord's dignity at all. Even if he wants to make babies with me, he should at least wait until after we're married!"