Through Profound Realm, Nothing More Than This

Following the guidance in his mind, Ren Xiaoyao learned that Spirit Stones contained vast amounts of spiritual energy. Absorbing spiritual energy from Spirit Stones was countless times faster than drawing it from between heaven and earth.

Given the choice between one Spirit Stone and one thousand Spirit Stones, how could Ren Xiaoyao hesitate in the slightest?

Ren Xiaoyao looked at Luo Mengxian with a smile and said, "Aunt, I do not wish to go to Qianqiu Pavilion. I have no interest whatsoever in the Holy Son Position. I only want to remain at the Imperial Observatory and be an ordinary, low-profile person."

In truth, this was also what Ren Xiaoyao genuinely felt. Things like the Holy Son were all empty illusions; only holding powerful strength in one's grasp was real and tangible.

Luo Mengxian was stunned upon hearing Ren Xiaoyao's words and said,

"Xiaoyao, do you know what becoming Qianqiu Pavilion's Holy Son represents? You would enter a world beyond your understanding. You could cultivate Martial Dao and become a top-tier Martial Artist. When you looked back someday, you would find that those powerful and terrifying figures in Great Gan today were nothing more than ants to the future you."

Ren Xiaoyao merely shook his head again, his gaze resolute. "Thank you for your kindness, aunt, but I do not wish to cultivate Martial Dao."

Immortal cultivation was the path Ren Xiaoyao intended to take, while martial arts were not something he considered.

Luo Mengxian still wished to persuade Ren Xiaoyao further, but seeing his firm attitude, she could only give up. She sighed and said, "Ren Xiaoyao, since this is your own decision, Aunt will respect it."

Then Luo Mengxian turned to Wine Daoist and Liu Ruyan behind her and said, "You two, go outside for a while. I have some private words to discuss with Ren Xiaoyao alone."

Wine Daoist and Liu Ruyan naturally took the hint and left.

However, as Wine Daoist departed, he cast Ren Xiaoyao a meaningful glance. There seemed to be a hint of mockery in that gaze. Though it flashed by in an instant, Ren Xiaoyao's Spiritual Sense caught it keenly.

Only then did Luo Mengxian look at Ren Xiaoyao and speak in a grave voice.

"Child, now that there are no outsiders here, aunt will speak some heartfelt words to you. By all reason, aunt should have brought you back to Qianqiu Pavilion long ago. Yet over these years, elder sister had far too many enemies within Qianqiu Pavilion. Had you remained there, your circumstances might not have been any better than outside. Thus, although aunt had long known of your existence, she never took action."

"But now, our Luo Family branch is about to take the lead in Qianqiu Pavilion. Very soon, we will hold absolute authority there. That is why aunt wishes to bring you back to Qianqiu Pavilion and have you inherit the Holy Son Position, as a way to make up for what we owe you from these past years."

Upon hearing Luo Mengxian's words, Ren Xiaoyao nodded. He had caught two crucial pieces of information.

First, Luo Mengshen had indeed possessed many enemies in Qianqiu Pavilion back then. Thus, the Inner Cabinet elder's previous attempt to harm Ren Xiaoyao now had a reasonable explanation. This was the karma left behind by Ren Xiaoyao's birth mother, Luo Mengshen.

Second, Qianqiu Pavilion was not as solid as a rock within. Many factions existed there. In the previous struggles, the Luo Family branch had likely been at a disadvantage. Yet now the Luo Family had seized the initiative in Qianqiu Pavilion; otherwise, Luo Mengxian would not have proposed making Ren Xiaoyao Qianqiu Pavilion's Holy Son.

Of course, all this speculation was based on Luo Mengxian telling the truth. Ren Xiaoyao still could not be certain whether she was worthy of trust.

At this moment, Luo Mengxian looked at Ren Xiaoyao and spoke in a low voice.

"Child, I also know that becoming the Holy Son may not be a good choice for you. Though you possess the Heavenly Sacred Martial Dao Sacred Body, your acupoints have been crippled and your meridians blocked, leaving you unable to practice martial arts. Even if you returned to Qianqiu Pavilion and forcibly repaired your acupoints and meridians, your starting point would still be far, far behind everyone else's!"

At this point, Luo Mengxian's voice turned cold as she said,

"Besides visiting you, I came to the Capital City this time to settle accounts with Ren Xuanji. Yet I did not expect that he was already dead. That truly let him off easy!"

Hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao inwardly shook his head.

Judging by the way Ren Xuanji had died, he had not exactly gotten off easy.

At this moment.

Luo Mengxian looked at Ren Xiaoyao again, took a martial arts manual from her robes, and handed it to him. "You may choose not to return to Qianqiu Pavilion with me, but you must still cultivate martial arts. This technique is the Luo Family's supreme cultivation method, the Bone Forging Scripture. If you practice diligently, you can attain the Super-Rank Realm and gain some ability for self-preservation in the outside world."

She was this insistent on making me practice martial arts?

Ren Xiaoyao frowned. He truly had no interest in practicing martial arts, but before he could refuse Luo Mengxian, lines of text appeared before his eyes once more.

[You have received a martial arts manual gifted by Luo Mengxian. Regarding whether to cultivate it, you have the following choices:]

[One, accept the manual and begin practicing martial arts. You may obtain one Low-grade Spirit Stone.]

[Two, refuse the manual and continue cultivating immortality. You may obtain One Thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.]

Did this even require consideration?

Ren Xiaoyao immediately made his choice. "Aunt, I truly have no interest in practicing martial arts. I appreciate your kindness, but you should take this Bone Forging Scripture back."

Yet upon hearing Ren Xiaoyao's words, Luo Mengxian shook his head and said, "You child, in this world, the strong are honored. Even if you do not enter Qianqiu Pavilion, you must cultivate Martial Dao to have the qualifications to gain a foothold in this world."

The strong being honored was indeed the law of survival in this world. But for Ren Xiaoyao, there was no need to practice martial arts. Immortal cultivation alone would allow him to become invincible.

Yet Ren Xiaoyao simply shook his head like a knot of elm wood, leaving Luo Mengxian both annoyed and amused. Finally, she said helplessly, "You kid are still too young. When you one day understand this world's true nature, you will regret it!"

Afterward, Luo Mengxian summoned Liu Ruyan. She lifted a jade finger and pointed at the Brocade Box Liu Ruyan carried, speaking softly.

"Xiaoyao, if you will not practice martial arts, then so be it. Aunt will not force you. What lies in this box is a meeting gift from Aunt. Inside is a bird egg, a rare treasure beyond compare, laid by a demonic beast known as the Silver-Winged Great Roc. If you can raise it to adulthood, it will surely guard you like a guardian deity and protect you for a lifetime."

Luo Mengxian continued, "The situation within Qianqiu Pavilion remains complicated and has not yet completely settled. Once the Luo Family has fully taken control of the overall situation, Aunt will let you wield power over the world."

Hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao could not help but be stunned. He could clearly sense that Luo Mengxian's words were not hollow falsehoods, but sincere feelings from the depths of her lungs. Her eyes truly held Ren Xiaoyao, her nephew.

Luo Mengxian did not linger long at the Imperial Observatory. After chatting idly for a while, she descended the mountain together with Qianqiu Pavilion's Outer Sect Master, Wine Daoist, and Liu Ruyan.

Watching the Back Views of the group gradually receding, Ren Xiaoyao could not help but sigh. If the former owner of this body had been able to endure until now, he might have lived to see the clouds part and the moon shine through. Unfortunately, this world had never possessed so many what-ifs.

However, as Ren Xiaoyao watched Wine Daoist's back, he frowned.

Because he sensed a faint, almost imperceptible hostility from Wine Daoist.

Yet Ren Xiaoyao soon shook his head. Wine Daoist was merely an ant to him. If he truly was foolish enough to seek trouble with him, Ren Xiaoyao would let him know what a surprise was.

Then Ren Xiaoyao's gaze fell upon the bird egg in the Brocade Box.

This bird egg was twice as large as an ostrich egg. Like a dazzling pearl, it emitted a faint silver radiance all over, revealing an air of mystery and extraordinariness.

Under Ren Xiaoyao's Powerful Spiritual Sense, he could clearly feel a miraculous life being nurtured inside the egg. Although it still slept within its shell and had yet to hatch, the energy it contains was already comparable to that of a Martial Artist at the Heavenly Human Realm.

Ren Xiaoyao knew this was a precious gift. Luo Mengxian had likely long anticipated that he would not wish to practice martial arts, which was why she had given him this treasure, so it could protect him in the future.

However, Ren Xiaoyao did not devote much attention to the Silver-Winged Great Roc. After all, the power of the Heavenly Human Realm amounted to nothing to him.

Ren Xiaoyao was more concerned with his cultivation. He had previously rejected Luo Mengxian's proposals twice in succession, thereby obtaining two thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.

To Ren Xiaoyao, this was undoubtedly an enormous resource. He even had a feeling that if he completely absorbed all the spiritual energy within these two thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, then even if he could not step directly into the Dao Realm Sixth Heaven, he would not be far from it.

Ren Xiaoyao took out two thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones and stored them all in his Universe Bracelet. Then he absorbed the spiritual energy within them one stone at a time, and his cultivation speed soared like a rocket, dozens of times faster than before.

Ren Xiaoyao cultivated with utter absorption until night fell. As he took a brief rest, his Spiritual Sense detected a ghostly figure slipping silently into the Imperial Observatory like a phantom.

When Ren Xiaoyao identified the figure, his brows drew tightly together. This person was Wine Daoist, Qianqiu Pavilion's Outer Sect Master, who had come to the Imperial Observatory with Luo Mengyun during the day.

Before long, Wine Daoist appeared at Ren Xiaoyao's door like a ghost. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and entered. His sharp gaze fixed on Ren Xiaoyao like an eagle's, and he chuckled. "Young Master Xiaoyao, we meet again. During the day, you vowed that you did not wish to leave the Imperial Observatory, but now, I fear the choice is no longer yours. You must accompany this old man on a trip."

"Go with you?"

Ren Xiaoyao glanced at Wine Daoist and said blandly, "It seems there are other higher-ups in Qianqiu Pavilion who wish to target me?"

"Correct. I was entrusted by another."

Wine Daoist's lips curved into a faint smile as he spoke.

"But there is no need for you to worry. I will not take your life. Even if you return to Qianqiu Pavilion, no one will dare take your life for the time being. After all, you are a descendant of the Luo Family. If used well, you could serve as a fine card for checking and balancing the Luo Family!"

"And if I refuse to go with you?"

Ren Xiaoyao's expression remained calm, like a still pool without a ripple.

"Then it is not up to you!"

Wine Daoist wore a mocking expression as he said, "I know that you have a Master here at the Imperial Observatory, Li Chunfeng, who is hailed as the legend of Dagān Jianghu. But in my eyes, Li Chunfeng is no different from an ant. I could crush him with one hand. Therefore, I advise you to obediently come with me, lest you drag Li Chunfeng into this."

Hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao's lips rose slightly into a faint smile. Looking at Wine Daoist before him, he said, "Oh? Are you very strong?"

"This old man is in the Through Profound Realm! Perhaps that amounts to nothing in Qianqiu Pavilion, but in Great Gan, I am an invincible existence!"

After speaking, Wine Daoist raised the wine gourd at his waist, looked up, and took a gulp of fine wine. Smiling confidently, he said, "The Through Profound Realm is a height you will never be able to reach. You may even regard me as one of the Immortals and Gods, for my methods are like the arts of immortals and gods in your eyes—beyond comparison!"

When Wine Daoist looked at Ren Xiaoyao, his expression brimmed with the domineering aura of one who looked down upon all under heaven, as though he were the sole master of this world, surveying everything beneath him. He was completely unlike the submissive figure he had been beside Luo Mengxian during the day.

After hearing Wine Daoist's words, Ren Xiaoyao said nothing more. He merely lifted the teacup from the table and said blandly, "Then let me see just how capable your Through Profound Realm is."

The moment his words fell.

Whoosh!

A streak of light tore through the night sky like lightning.

Its speed was like wind racing and lightning galloping, surpassing the limits of the present age.

Before Wine Daoist could react, the Great Sun Divine Sword shattered his protective True Essence with immense power. Then the Great Sun Divine Sword's surging sword radiance churned the wine gourd in Wine Daoist's hand into fragments amid a violent tempest. The spilled wine splashed across Wine Daoist's body like scattered stars.

At this very moment, the Great Sun Divine Sword stood only an inch from Wine Daoist's brow. The streaking light stabbed at his eyes like a sharp sword, leaving him unable to open them.

At that instant, Wine Daoist seemed struck by lightning, his mind utterly blank.

He only felt an icy chill surge from his back to the crown of the head like a rising tide. His right hand, which had been holding the wine gourd, began trembling uncontrollably like a candle in the wind.

Ren Xiaoyao leisurely drank the tea in his cup. He gently shook his head, a faint smile hanging from his lips, and said, "The Through Profound Realm, nothing more than this."