Planning a Trip Down the Mountain, Wearing Them Down

Xiao Xuan said, "Given my innate condition, you know that I've recently been studying music theory.

I only hope to enter the Dao through music and make up for my complete lack of close-combat ability.

Even if I went, I'd only bring shame upon Dazhu Peak, so I won't be going.

I'd rather continue studying music theory."

The others also knew the circumstances of this junior apprentice brother.

"Hehe, Junior Apprentice Brother, you really aren't going to watch Qingyun's geniuses compete? It would be such a pity to miss it for nothing."

"Yeah, Junior Apprentice Brother. It doesn't matter if you can't compete. You can still go watch and get to know the geniuses of the various peaks."

Xiao Xuan said firmly, "The outstanding talents of the various peaks are all Qingyun disciples. We'll get to know each other sooner or later.

Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, you should go. I won't."

"Woof, woof..."

"Da Huang, go with Master and the others. There's no use staying here with me."

"Anyway, Junior Apprentice Brother, your mobility hasn't changed. Just stay home and wait for us to return in triumph."

After the others left, Xiao Xuan guided his wheelchair back to his residence.

Looking at the now-quiet little courtyard, he took out his Jade Flute and placed it to his lips. A gentle, melodious tune drifted outward.

Every so often, he infused it with a trace of soul power, making the flute's sound more forceful.

When the piece ended, Xiao Xuan was deeply disappointed.

"How exactly am I supposed to increase my soul power? I have no clue at all!

Perhaps after the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament ends and Master and the others return, it'll be time for me to travel down the mountain."

At this moment, outside the Rainbow Bridge on Tongtian Peak, Qingyun's outstanding disciples had gathered. Everyone wore eager, joyful expressions.

"Eh? Senior Brother Song, with such a lively occasion, didn't Junior Brother Xiao come?"

Among the Xiaozhu Peak group, Wen Min, who was leading them, saw the senior and junior brothers from Dazhu Peak but did not see the Junior Brother Xiao she remembered—always holding a folding fan, wearing a Jade Flute at his waist, seated in a wheelchair yet cheerful and optimistic. She could not help asking.

Beside her, the Xiaozhu Peak disciples immediately began chattering away.

They all knew Xiao Xuan. After all, he had stayed at Xiaozhu Peak for nearly a year and a half.

Lu Xueqi remained as cold as frost. Yet now that she had grown older, she had become even more breathtakingly beautiful.

When she did not see that fellow in the wheelchair, she merely took note of it before no longer paying it much attention.

Song Daren's voice was low as he said, "Junior Apprentice Brother didn't come!

He prefers peace and quiet, and because of his physical condition, he can't participate in the competition.

So Master allowed him to stay at Dazhu Peak and wait for us."

At the mention of Xiao Xuan, even the usually carefree Tian Ling'er became dejected.

"That's right. It's a pity. After all these years, Father and Mother still have no way to deal with Junior Apprentice Brother's condition.

Junior Apprentice Brother said he likes peace and quiet? Hmph, I don't believe it. When he was little, didn't he love excitement too?

Later, he gradually forced himself to change. He just doesn't want to delay our cultivation or trouble us too much."

Wen Min and the others were moved. That fellow had indeed been rather reclusive before, but whenever there was excitement, he had basically never missed it.

Had he become foolish from all those years of reading, or did he truly just not want to hold up everyone else's cultivation?

Cultivation away from the world made time flow like water, slipping away from one's fingertips before anyone noticed.

The Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament was a grand event for Qingyun. It took several days to complete, determining the top sixteen, top eight, top four, and the champion.

The champion was Qi Hao of Longshou Peak. Second place went to Zeng Shushu of Fenghui Peak after Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi both suffered severe injuries and were unable to continue.

Dazhu Peak had truly held its head high this time.

Not only did Song Daren and Tian Ling'er enter the top sixteen, Zhang Xiaofan was an unexpected dark horse who charged into the top four.

The trouble it brought was that strange staff, which led to him being questioned about it.

Before Dazhu Peak's mountain gate, Xiao Xuan quietly gazed into the distant Void. Before long, several streaks of light appeared and landed before the gate.

"Master, Mistress, Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters."

"Haha, Junior Apprentice Brother!"

"Eighth!"

"Come on, let's go to Shoujing Hall."

After arriving at Shoujing Hall, Tian Buyi specifically praised the disciples who had achieved good results in the tournament, using them to encourage the others.

At last, he picked up Zhang Xiaofan's Fire Poker and asked Xiao Xuan, "Eighth, you've read many books. Do you know what this thing is?"

Zhang Xiaofan knew full well how capable this junior apprentice brother was in such matters. He immediately clenched his fists, his palms already slick with cold sweat.

After picking up the Fire Poker and examining it for a while, Xiao Xuan said, "I happen to have read relevant records.

An ancient book, the Ten Chapters of Strange Treasures, once said: Strange iron falls from the heavens into Jiuyou, where the Netherworld Ghost Flame burns yin spirits and fierce souls to refine it. After a thousand years, it turns red; after another thousand years, it takes shape; after another thousand years, it gathers the fierce aura of ghosts; after another thousand years, it gains the power to consume souls.

If I'm not mistaken, this is Soul Eater.

It's a very fine treasure. Though its appearance is unimpressive, its power is absolutely beyond that of ordinary Nine Heavens Divine Weapons.

Congratulations, Seventh Senior Brother. Your fortune runs deep to have obtained such a Supreme Treasure."

"What... Soul Eater...?

It's an object of utmost evil. How can one of the Orthodox Dao wield it, especially when Seventh has already blood-refined it?

Eighth, don't speak so carelessly, lest you fall into the Demonic Dao."

Everyone present looked worriedly at Zhang Xiaofan. Blood refinement was, after all, a method of the Demonic Dao.

Xiao Xuan said, "Master, Mistress, there's actually no need for you to worry.

Others may not know, but don't you know? Seventh Senior Brother is simple and honest by nature, and his will is steadfast.

Weapons are neither righteous nor demonic. It is the human heart that distinguishes righteousness from evil.

Even if Soul Eater has an extraordinary origin, it cannot influence Seventh Senior Brother.

On the contrary, it will only be completely controlled by Seventh Senior Brother. The Demonic Cult has lost a great Supreme Treasure, while the Orthodox Dao has gained a peerless divine weapon for slaying demons and eliminating evil."

Tian Buyi and Su Ru's expressions changed. They wanted to stop Xiao Xuan, but for some reason, they could only sigh helplessly.

"Ah, Eighth, it's fine to say such things here at Dazhu Peak.

Otherwise, it will be harmful to you. After all, not everyone judges righteousness and evil by the human heart.

In those people's eyes and hearts, anyone who says such things is already on their list of people to guard against."

"Yes, Master!

By the way, Master, Mistress, ever since I can remember, I have grown up on Dazhu Peak and have never once gone down the mountain.

On the path of cultivation, arduous training is naturally indispensable. But cultivating without putting it into practice, shutting oneself away and building a cart behind closed doors, will ultimately harm one's cultivation.

Without seeing all the things and events of the world, without experiencing the tempering of time, without tasting all the bitterness and sweetness of Tianxia, without tempering one's Dao heart amid the Red Dust, one's state of mind will ultimately remain incomplete.

Therefore, this disciple wishes to travel down the mountain for a time!"

Tian Buyi and Su Ru looked hesitant. At last, Su Ru said, "Eighth, it isn't that your Master and I won't let you go down the mountain.

It's just that, in your condition, how can we possibly be at ease?

Although you have reached the Object Manipulation Realm, your Object Manipulation Realm has only the cultivation level, with little actual combat strength.

Now that the Demonic Cult has revived across the lands of Shenzhou, not to mention you—even the top four from this Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament must remain cautious."

"Please rest assured, you two. This disciple is not reckless.

Besides, on the path of cultivation, being overly timid is truly unsuitable for pursuing a higher realm, especially for someone like me."