Great Bamboo Peak.
Rumble!
A deafening crash rang out, as if it would split the heavens apart.
The enormous fire dragon slammed into the Myriad Ancient Cauldron.
Flames and black light tore at each other in a frenzy. The air warped in the scorching heat, rippling in waves.
Tian Buyi's sword strike seemed casual, but it held the pure spiritual energy he had cultivated over several centuries.
Clang—
The Myriad Ancient Cauldron let out a mournful cry, the inscriptions on its body flashing violently.
In the end, it could not withstand that overwhelming force. It was sent flying.
The light faded.
The enormous cauldron rapidly shrank in midair, returning to the size of a palm before tumbling down.
Ye Xuan grunted.
He staggered and retreated more than a dozen steps through the air.
But.
Ye Xuan did not fall.
His back remained ramrod straight, and there was even a faint smile on his lips.
Across from him.
The fire dragon dissipated.
Tian Buyi's stout figure remained unmoving, and the Crimson Flame Sword had already returned to its sheath.
Had he won?
Of course.
If he couldn't even handle a twelve-year-old kid,
then as the head of Great Bamboo Peak, he might as well go bash his head against a block of tofu.
Yet there was no trace of triumph on Tian Buyi's round face.
On the contrary.
Hidden inside his sleeve, his hand was trembling slightly.
Numb.
His thumb web was really damn numb!
Where had this brat found a Nine Heavens Divine Weapon?
That strange old cauldron was absurdly hard!
If he hadn't put a little extra strength into it, he might not have been able to suppress the boy!
"Phew..."
Tian Buyi took a deep breath, doing his best to maintain the dignity of a master.
But inside, he was overjoyed.
A monster!
A peerless monster!
He had only just entered the Shangqing Realm, yet he'd withstood a strike from someone in the late Shangqing Realm without injury!
If word of this feat got out, the entire Qingyun Sect would be shaken!
"Master, your might is awe-inspiring!"
"Your disciple admits defeat!"
Ye Xuan raised a hand and beckoned.
The Myriad Ancient Cauldron obediently flew back into his palm. He casually hung it from his waist again.
"Hmph."
"No matter how good a magical treasure is, it's still an external aid."
"Though your cultivation has reached the Shangqing Realm, your foundation still needs refining. Don't get complacent."
Tian Buyi clasped his hands behind his back, lifted his chin, and put on an inscrutable air.
At this.
Su Ru's beautiful eyes shifted as she gave her husband an exasperated look.
Give me a break.
Your grin's practically stretching from ear to ear. Why pretend to be serious?
A twelve-year-old in the Shangqing Realm—how much more refining could he need?
Give him a few more years, and even you, his master, might get knocked flat!
"Seventh..."
Only then did Song Daren and the other senior brothers come back to their senses.
They stared at Ye Xuan, dumbfounded, as if he were some kind of monster.
Du Bishu in particular looked as if his eyes were about to pop out.
They all ate from the same pot, so why had Ye Xuan secretly gotten extra lessons?
How were they supposed to have fun together after this?
Tian Buyi was about to strike while the iron was hot and lecture him a little more, to establish his authority as a master.
But then he saw the smile on Ye Xuan's face suddenly fade.
His relaxed, carefree demeanor turned solemn as still water.
Those eyes of his were far too deep for a boy.
"Master."
"Now that our sparring is over, I have something important to report."
Ye Xuan's voice was low.
There wasn't the slightest hint of joking in it.
Tian Buyi frowned.
He knew this young disciple of his too well.
He might seem flighty most of the time, but he never acted frivolously when it came to serious matters.
That expression...
Had something happened?
"What are you all standing around for?"
"Have you finished today's lessons?"
"Get back to your cultivation!"
Tian Buyi swept his gaze over the crowd.
Seeing the disciples still standing around in a daze, he roared at them.
Song Daren and the others jumped in fright.
They were as curious as cats with their whiskers in a mouse hole.
But none of them dared to provoke their master. They ducked their heads and scattered like birds and beasts.
In the blink of an eye.
Only Tian Buyi, Su Ru, and Ye Xuan remained in the open space in front of Shou Jing Hall.
"Come inside."
Tian Buyi said in a low voice, then turned and strode into Shou Jing Hall.
"Don't be afraid."
"Mistress is here."
"Did you get yourself into some kind of trouble?"
Su Ru tugged at Ye Xuan's sleeve and asked gently.
A warmth spread through Ye Xuan's heart. He shook his head lightly.
"Don't worry, Mistress."
"It isn't trouble. It's... a change in the course of things."
Inside Shou Jing Hall.
The light was somewhat dim.
"Go on."
"What is it, that you have to make such a mystery of it?"
Tian Buyi sat in the Grand Tutor Chair, tapping the armrest lightly with his fingers.
Beside him, Su Ru looked at Ye Xuan with curiosity, too.
"Master! Mistress!"
"Here's what happened."
"..."
Under Tian Buyi and Su Ru's watchful eyes,
Ye Xuan slowly began, telling them about what had happened in Caomiao Village the night before.
Of course.
He still kept the man in black's identity to himself.
Ye Xuan hadn't decided whether he should reveal the truth about Cang Song.
"Puzhi..."
"The Blood Devouring Pearl..."
"The black-clad fiend..."
As Ye Xuan continued his account,
the expressions on Tian Buyi and Su Ru's faces grew increasingly grim.
Puzhi's visit to the Qingyun Sect was no secret.
If Puzhi had truly died at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, the Qingyun Sect would be in an impossible position.
And then there was the Blood Devouring Pearl.
Tian Buyi hadn't expected it either.
A great evil object like the Blood Devouring Pearl had actually been in Puzhi's possession.
"Phew..."
"Seventh."
"You did well."
"If you hadn't acted in time,"
"Puzhi would surely have been in grave danger, and the Blood Devouring Pearl would have fallen into the hands of those fiends from the demonic sect."
After a long pause,
Tian Buyi took a deep breath and praised Ye Xuan.
"No."
"This matter is of the utmost importance."
"Demonic sect fiends have resurfaced and set their sights on the Blood Devouring Pearl. They even dared to strike at the foot of Qingyun Mountain."
"I must go to Heaven-Piercing Peak at once and report this to my senior brother, the Sect Leader!"
The next moment,
Tian Buyi stood up and prepared to head for Heaven-Piercing Peak.
"Master, wait."
Just then,
Ye Xuan flashed forward and blocked Tian Buyi's path.
"What else do you want?"
Tian Buyi glared at Ye Xuan.
"Master."
"What about those two children..."
Ye Xuan smiled and began reminding Tian Buyi.
"Uh..."
"Were they scared senseless?"
Hearing Ye Xuan's words,
a troubled look crossed Tian Buyi's face.
In Ye Xuan's earlier account, he had mentioned two children.
But Tian Buyi hadn't paid the matter any attention.
Could something have happened to them?
"Master."
"While those two children were unconscious,"
"I examined them carefully."
"One of them is named Lin Jingyu."
"Lin Jingyu has an extraordinary constitution. He's a once-in-ten-thousand-years cultivation prodigy."
"If he's properly guided, his future achievements will be immeasurable."
Ye Xuan gathered his thoughts.
Lin Jingyu's talent was indeed impressive.
It would be a real shame to waste it like this.
As expected.
At the words "rare genius,"
Tian Buyi's ears twitched.
The greatest pain in his life was that Great Bamboo Peak had so few disciples, and their talents were mediocre.
He'd finally picked up Ye Xuan. Could he really pick up another one?
"What about the other one?"
At that moment,
Su Ru asked curiously.
Since Seventh had mentioned two people, they must both have something exceptional about them.
Before you continue