Clinging to Life

"Yes."

Du Chong nodded, looking as though he agreed wholeheartedly with Chu Xiyao:

"Huo Mu was at the peak of the Divine Ability Realm. If he wanted to take the Monster Suppressing Stone that held down the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul from Caiyun Tower without anyone noticing, forget a few cultivators of the Lower Three Realms—even cultivators of the Middle Three Realms would have had no chance of detecting him."

"Exactly."

Chu Xiyao nodded.

"Looking at it that way, I also think the problem lay more with those in charge than with those innocent cultivators of the Lower Three Realms..."

As he spoke, Du Chong seemed to realize something. He cupped his hands toward Chu Xiyao and apologized:

"Supreme Elder Chu, I meant no offense to your father..."

He knew that the Sword-wielding Elder of Qingchan Peak at the time had been Chu Xiyao's father, Supreme Elder Chu Chen, who now held an important post in the Supreme Supervision Court of the Empty Mountain Sect.

"Supreme Elder Du, there's no need to worry about that."

Chu Xiyao shook her head.

"Then I won't trouble you any longer today."

Du Chong bowed.

"Please."

Chu Xiyao stepped aside to let Du Chong leave the teahouse and watched him walk toward the exit.

Just as Du Chong was about to step outside, Chu Xiyao, who had been preoccupied all along, called out to him from behind:

"Supreme Elder Du."

Du Chong stopped at the sound of her voice, slowly turned, and bowed slightly to her once more.

Though both were Guiyi Realm cultivators and, in terms of seniority, peers who had once taken part in the same Heavenly Peak Dao Seeking, Du Chong was a Supreme Elder of the Baili Sect. His standing was still a notch below that of Chu Xiyao,