Chief Disciple of Yangjue

At this moment, on Yangjue Peak, the sea of clouds surged like waves.

The Spiritual Qi converged from all directions, so dense it was almost tangible, enveloping the entire peak in a misty haze.

Chen Lingxi watched the figure of Fulong leave, then followed behind Wang Chenchuan.

But his attention was still on that small sun in the sky.

The sun, like an inverted bronze mirror, hung silently at the highest point in the Void.

But the light was extremely intense, turning half the sky into a dazzling gold.

Within the light, countless fine runes flowed and intertwined, layer upon layer, forming a vast, all-encompassing net that enveloped the sun.

"A complete Cauldron Vessel."

He stared at the sun for a long time, and the Dragon-Stripping Dao Platform within his body slowly rotated. His Profound Root trembled slightly, and a stream of extremely pure Dao Origin quietly surged out from his sleeve, sweeping across the Void.

The Dao Origin as fine as a thread, so fine that it cannot be perceived.

He was preparing to capture the aura of a Cauldron Vessel.

The ancient aura of this Sun Cauldron Vessel was so intense that it filled the Void.

Chen Lingxi found it easy to absorb the aura of the Cauldron Vessel; in the blink of an eye, he captured a wisp of it from the Void.

He suddenly tightened the Dao Origin in his palm, firmly wrapping the wisp of aura around it, layer upon layer. Then, using the Dao Origin as a wall, he built an invisible barrier outside the wisp of aura, completely isolating the ancient aura and the blazing light from the outside.

With a flick of Chen Lingxi's palm, that wisp of energy, along with Chen Lingxi's Dao Origin, disappeared into the Hongdong Bag.

Wang Chenchuan, however, remained oblivious.

Chen Lingxi then let out a long breath.

It's done.

"Once we return, we will use the Dao -Dao-Seizing Fruit to absorb the Dao mysteries of the Cauldron Vessel and see what wonderful uses this Sun Cauldron Vessel has."

He murmured to himself, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.

He withdrew his gaze and continued following Wang Chenchuan.

Until, amidst the churning sea of clouds, he saw a palace. The palace was enormous and magnificent, its golden and resplendent halls appearing and disappearing in the mist.

They traversed the clouds and mist until they arrived at the palace gates.

The vast gate was as high as a hill, and Chen Lingxi could already see the scene inside the palace before she even stepped inside.

His pupils contracted slightly.

The palace was even more vast than he had seen from afar.

The dome of the palace hung high above, like a curtain of sky suspended overhead.

The lapis lazuli bricks that stretched out in the hall seemed to go on forever.

"The interior space is more than a hundred times larger than the exterior of the palace."

Chen Lingxi thought to herself.

"Follow me." Wang Chenchuan's Divine Sense swept over.

Chen Lingxi followed Wang Chenchuan and stepped across the threshold.

As soon as you step inside, the entire scene of the hall comes into view.

The first thing that catches the eye is the strong, muscular man fighting against the Flood Dragon.

The man was about thirty years old, strong and muscular, shirtless, his muscles bulging like dragons, as if cast in bronze and iron.

His body was surging with intense energy, like a layer of golden flames burning around him.

At this moment, he is fighting with a Flood Dragon.

The Flood Dragon was about ten zhang long, its entire body covered with dark scales, its four claws were like hooks, and its head was ferocious.

The man punched it repeatedly, shattering its scales and sending black dragon blood flying, turning the magnificent palace into a mess.

But the Flood Dragon was still struggling. It opened its blood-red maw and spewed out mouthfuls of black dragon flame. The scorching heat surged in all directions, burning the curtains and beams in the hall black.

But the strong, muscular man showed no fear whatsoever.

He stood amidst the dragon flames as if he were standing in a spring rain.

Chen Lingxi witnessed all of this and was deeply shocked.

"These are the cultivators of the Fourth Profound who have Dao Foundation Perfection Stage."

His Dao Origin was profound and his physical body was incredibly strong, reaching a level that was difficult for him to attain.

It stood there like a majestic mountain.

On either side of the palace were several sandalwood tables.

Three people sat upright at the table.

The three figures were all dressed in fine clothes and possessed extraordinary bearing.

One of them was a middle-aged scholar with a fair complexion and no beard, with gentle features, holding a cup of tea in his hands.

One of them was a thin old man with a long beard that reached his chest. His eyes were slightly closed, as if he were an old monk in deep meditation.

The other person was a young man with a sinister face. He was quite handsome, but his eyes held an inescapable chill.

They sat upright at the table, watching from afar the battle between the strong man and the Flood Dragon, talking to each other in hushed tones.

Chen Lingxi listened carefully and heard the middle-aged scholar say, "Peak Master's physical cultivation has improved recently."

This black-scaled Flood Dragon has lived for over eight hundred years, and even ordinary Dao Foundation Late Stage Establishment cultivators cannot do anything to it.

"Now, the Peak Master doesn't even need to use his Dao Origin; he can suppress it with just his physical body."

The lean old man nodded slightly and said, "Peak Master's cultivation of the Great Divine Ability Refinement Technique has reached a Mystic Realm; his punches are like the collapse of the heavens."

The sinister-looking man remained silent.

Chen Lingxi and Wang Chenchuan stood quietly at the palace gate, waiting.

Chen Lingxi looked at the scene in the hall, her eyes filled with curiosity.

He had been on the path of cultivation for a long time and had seen many battles between powerful figures, but this was the first time he had ever witnessed a cultivator at the Dao Foundation Perfection Stage fighting Flood Dragon at such close range.

Just then, a Divine Sense suddenly entered his mind.

"Don't be rude."

It came from Wang Chenchuan.

Chen Lingxi remained calm and slowly lowered her head, completely concealing the curiosity in her eyes.

Twin Luminous Mirrors hung high in the sky.

A blazing golden sun and a silvery moon hung in the distant Void, still radiating a light that only Chen Lingxi could see.

Just then, the strong man had completely suppressed the Flood Dragon.

He reached out with one hand, as fast as lightning, and grabbed the Flood Dragon's horn.

When he caught the Flood Dragon like that, it let out a deafening wail.

It struggled fiercely, digging its four claws into the ground, carving deep grooves into the lapis lazuli bricks, but the strong man's hand was like an iron clamp, and no matter how much it struggled, it did not budge.

The Flood Dragon was pressed down and couldn't lift its head. Its huge head was pressed against the ground, and dark dragon blood gushed from its mouth, staining the ground black.

The burly man then slowly raised his head and glanced in the direction of the door.

His gaze swept over Chen Lingxi, then over Wang Chenchuan, and finally settled back on the table.

"Elder Mo," he spoke, his voice deep and resonant, "Is this the outsider who killed three Dao Foundation Realm from Yellow Luminary Peak, including Zhuo Jiaowu?"

The middle-aged scholar, Elder Mo, put down his teacup upon hearing this.

He turned his head and looked at Wang Chenchuan at the door.

Wang Chenchuan nodded slightly.

Elder Mo then smiled and said, "Peak Master, this person is not an outsider."

He is a figure from Sun-Watching Peak, which is under the jurisdiction of my Sun-Awakening Upper Peak."

Chen Lingxi remained expressionless, simply standing with her hands at her sides.

Just then, the burly man suddenly moved.

He suddenly pulled back the hand that was pressing on the dragon's horn, then clenched it into a fist and slammed it down!

Boom!

The fist slammed into the Flood Dragon's head, producing a deafening roar.

The Flood Dragon's head shattered into pieces like a broken black jade gourd, its dark dragon blood and white brain matter splattering everywhere, turning half of the palace into a mess.

The burly man, however, paid no attention.

He straightened up, grabbed the Flood Dragon's horn, and with a flick of his arms, lifted the massive, ten-foot-long dragon body high into the air.

Then, he turned around and threw it with a vengeance!

The enormous body of the Flood Dragon flew out like a dark meteor, sweeping across the entire palace and heading towards the palace gate.

It flew over the heads of Chen Lingxi and Wang Chenchuan!

The immense dragon's body generated a powerful shockwave that almost transformed into a whirlwind, sweeping across the entire palace.

Chen Lingxi felt the fierce wind rushing towards his face, like knives and blades, cutting his face painfully.

He remained motionless, merely squinting his eyes slightly, letting the gale sweep past him.

Boom!

The Flood Dragon's body flew out of the palace gate and crashed into the sea of clouds outside, shattering countless layers of clouds and stirring up towering clouds that lingered for a long time.

Silence returned to the hall.

The burly man, who was also the Yangjue Peak Master, casually grabbed a piece of white cloth and wiped the dragon blood off his hands.

He was shirtless, and his bronze-like body gleamed in the candlelight of the hall.

He strode up to the high platform and sat down on the throne.

Then, he turned his head and his gaze fell on Chen Lingxi.

Those eyes were extremely sharp, like two unsheathed swords piercing straight into Chen Lingxi's body.

He slowly beckoned to Chen Lingxi.

Chen Lingxi understood, stepped forward, passed through the messy palace, and walked to the foot of the high platform.

He straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully to the Peak Master.

The Peak Master gazed at him, a slight smile slowly appearing on his lips.

"Dao Foundation Early Stage, Profound Root Wondrous Fruit, yet he was able to kill Zhuo Jiaowu on Yellow Luminary Peak..." He spoke slowly, his voice deep and resonant like thunder. "Not bad."

Chen Lingxi her head and said, "Peak Master, you flatter me."

The Peak Master ignored his humble words, but his gaze shifted slightly, and a gleam suddenly shone in his eyes.

The radiant light, a deep crimson gold, burst forth from his pupils and landed directly on Chen Lingxi.

Chen Lingxi felt a surge of heat throughout his body, as if the radiance had swept over him from head to toe. The radiance seemed to penetrate his skin and flesh, and see through his Qi Sea, his Dao Platform, and his Profound Root.

A few breaths later, the radiance slowly faded.

The sharpness in the Peak Master's eyes intensified even further.

"But I don't know which school or master you studied under?" he asked.

Chen Lingxi raised her head and met the Peak Master's gaze.

His eyes were calm as he spoke frankly, "I am merely a Rogue Cultivator with no master."

Upon hearing this, the Peak Master was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.

The laughter echoed through the empty hall, causing the remaining curtains to tremble violently.

"Good, good indeed, a Rogue Cultivator." He laughed, picked up a cup of wine beside the throne, tilted his head back and drank it all, then slowly said, "I have no intention of getting involved in your killing of those three Dao Foundation Realm cultivators from Yellow Luminary Peak."

I'm not interested in your background.

Since you claim to be from Sun-Watching Peak, I will accept that.

He paused, then his sharp eyes returned to Chen Lingxi, his gaze like a sword.

"But..." His voice slowly faded. "Sun-Watching Peak is a lower peak under the jurisdiction of my Sun-Awakening Upper Peak, and it has not paid tribute for a long time."

"Spirit-Bearing Daoist, what should you do?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Lingxi showed no emotion on her face, but simply bowed again.

"Chen Lingxi is willing to obey orders from above."

The Peak Master's smile deepened, and he suddenly snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, a token appeared out of thin air in the Void.

The token was about the size of a palm, and its entire body was reddish-gold. The front was engraved with the two characters "Yang Jue" and the back was engraved with a sun.

The token was surrounded by a flowing spiritual light, with a faint Daoist aura emanating from it, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary object.

"How about this?" The Peak Master stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Chen Lingxi: "Your cultivation is extraordinary, so you shall join my Sun-Awakening Upper Peak."

I will treat you as the chief disciple, and every year you will receive two fourth-grade spirit pills, two Heavenly Spirit Grass, and eight hundred Spirit Stone.

What do you think?

Upon hearing this, the gazes of the three elders simultaneously fell upon Chen Lingxi.

Their eyes were calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Chen Lingxi's thoughts flickered.

"Since the Fourth Profound Cultivators have spoken, I cannot refuse."

He silently recited it in his heart.

A cultivator who Dao Foundation Perfection Stage has planted all four Profound Root, and their Dao Origin is as deep and vast as the sea.

Once such a person has spoken, he has no choice but to agree.

If he were to shake his head here today, trouble would surely follow immediately.

Moreover... the conditions offered by the Sun-Awakening Upper Peak are indeed quite good.

then...

He nodded slowly and said, "Spirit Bearer."

He paused, then tentatively asked, "Elder Sun-Watching Peak was a good friend of mine. Before he passed away, he entrusted Sun-Watching Peak to me. But I wonder if I can still cultivate on Sun-Watching Peak?"

Upon hearing this, Yangjue Peak Master casually waved his hand.

"Of course," he said. "You may practice wherever you wish."

After he finished speaking, his eyes flickered slightly, and the token that had been hanging in the Void floated down and hovered in front of Chen Lingxi.

The token shimmered with crimson gold, its light gentle and not dazzling, like a small sun hanging within his reach.

Chen Lingxi reached out and took the token off.

The token felt slightly heavy in his hand, warm to the touch. The spiritual light on the two characters "Yang Jue" seemed to come alive as it traveled along his fingertips before sinking into the depths of the token and returning to silence.

Chen Lingxi put the token into his sleeve and bowed to the Peak Master again.

"Peak Master."

The Peak Master nodded slightly, sat back on his throne, and waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Chen Lingxi understood and turned to walk out of the hall.

As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, he heard footsteps behind him.

He turned around and saw Elder Mo slowly walking out of the hall.

The middle-aged scholar had a fair complexion and no beard, with gentle features. His blue robe fluttered Subtle Insight in the wind, making him look like a Confucian scholar who had just stepped out of his study.

He walked to Chen Lingxi's side and smiled slightly at him.

"Spirit-Bearing Daoist," he said, "Come with me, I will take you to your residence in Yangjue."

Chen Lingxi nodded and followed behind Elder Mo.

The two walked slowly down a long white jade staircase outside the palace.

The long staircase stretched from the top of the sea of clouds all the way to the mountainside, with many Spirit Plant planted on both sides that Chen Lingxi could not name.

The Spirit Plant were lush and verdant, their leaves shimmering with a faint spiritual light and emitting a delicate fragrance.

Elder Mo walked ahead at a leisurely pace, as if he were strolling in his own backyard.

He suddenly spoke up, "I have already ordered your chief disciple's rations to be prepared and placed in your residence."

Fourth-grade elixirs, Heavenly Spirit Grass, Spirit Stone —not a single one will be missing.

Chen Lingxi said, "Thank you, Elder Mo."

Elder Mo smiled and said, "No need to thank me."

These rations were all promised by the Peak Master himself; I was merely following the rules."

He paused, then turned his head and glanced at Chen Lingxi.

"You seem to have many questions," he said. "Why don't you take this opportunity to ask?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Lingxi pondered for a moment before saying, "There is indeed something I don't understand."

May I ask Elder Mo, what exactly is the meaning of this "Chief Disciple"?

"All cultivators in the Dao Foundation Early Stage are chief disciples," Elder Mo replied. "Currently, there are twenty-one chief disciples on Sun-Awakening Upper Peak."

Chen Lingxi suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Twenty-one?"

He was astonished.

A cultivator at the Dao Foundation Early Stage would be considered a powerful figure in any of the lower peaks under the jurisdiction of the Dragon-Offering Sect.

Even on Yellow Luminary Peak, figures like Zhuo Jiaowu, who were only at the Dao Foundation Early Stage, were powerful enough to act arrogantly and domineeringly.

Yet, on this Sun-Awakening Upper Peak, there are as many as twenty-one cultivators at the Dao Foundation Early Stage?

Elder Mo seemed to see the surprise in his eyes, and the smile on his lips deepened.

"Being in the Dragon-Offering Sect, one can be promoted to a high-ranking position." He said slowly, "If Sun-Awakening Upper Peak's current strength were placed in the Nine-Tower Dragon-Offering Sect, he would be considered an extraordinary sect."

He paused, then suddenly changed the subject.

"However..." he said, "It's not a good idea for you to cultivate on Sun-Watching Peak."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lingxi frowned slightly.

"Elder Mo, what makes you say that?" he asked.

Elder Mo did not answer immediately, but instead looked up and gazed into the distance.

The two had now reached the middle of the long white jade staircase.

Looking out from here, the sea of clouds surges and stretches to the horizon, with distant mountains appearing and disappearing in the mist, like a splashed-ink landscape painting.

"Sun-Watching Peak," Elder Mo said, "Is located on the edge of Sun-Awakening Upper Peak."

"Go another 1,600 li to the east, and you'll find the Blazing Bell Upper Peak."

He turned his head and looked at Chen Lingxi.

"My Sun-Awakening Upper Peak and Blazing Bell Upper Peak have a long-standing feud," he said. "The two sides have been fighting openly and covertly for countless years. If the people of Blazing Bell Upper Peak were to find out that a Yangjue Chief has emerged from Sun-Watching Peak, trouble would surely follow."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious.

"I advise you to come and cultivate on Sun-Awakening Upper Peak instead."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lingxi remained silent for a moment.

Then, he slowly shook his head.

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Mo," he said, "But this disciple... still wishes to remain on Sun-Watching Peak."

Elder Mo glanced at him but did not try to persuade him further.

Chen Lingxi politely declined Elder Mo's offer, but she had other plans in mind.

He possessed the Immortal Husk.

That Immortal Husk was his greatest secret and his greatest reliance.

If one were to cultivate on Sun-Awakening Upper Peak, where there are numerous powerful individuals and many eyes and ears, the secret of Immortal Husk would likely not remain hidden for long.

Once someone discovers the truth, given the Yangjue Peak Master 'Dao Foundation Perfection Stage cultivation and the resources of the twenty-one chief disciples of Sun-Awakening Upper Peak, he probably won't even be able to escape.

not to mention...

He never wanted to stay in the Dragon-Offering Sect for long.

Dragon-Offering Sect is too lax.

This vast sect, encompassing hundreds of peaks, allows them to fight amongst themselves, much like raising poisonous insects. Although Sun-Awakening Upper Peak is strong, with Dao Foundation Perfection Stage expert in charge, it is still far inferior to a true behemoth.

Just like the Yutai Bai Family, or the Quexing Xi Family.

Those True Lord Immortal Clan members are incredibly powerful, with unimaginable depth and strength.

If Chen Lingxi's whereabouts were exposed and the Bai Family or Xi Family tracked him down, a mere Sun-Awakening Upper Peak expert probably wouldn't even be able to protect him for a moment.

And why would the Dragon-Offering Sect allowed the conflicts among the hundred peaks to continue, stand up for a Rogue Cultivator who had come down from the peak?

"And..."

Chen Lingxi silently recited it in her heart.

"Back in the days of the Weiji Grotto-Heaven, I once killed the avatar of Elder Liu Chengfeng of Swordcourt Peak."

Liu Chengfeng was a member of the Dragon-Offering Sect.

Swordcourt Peak and Sun-Awakening Upper Peak are both under the jurisdiction of the Dragon-Offering Sect. If Swordcourt Peak finds out about this matter and knows that Chen Lingxi is on Sun-Awakening Upper Peak, it will be another disaster.

This Dragon-Offering Sect was never a good place to end up.

Chen Lingxi went over these thoughts in her mind several times before finally making up her mind.

"After settling the disciples at Sun-Watching Peak, I will depart."