After bidding Zhao Wuji farewell, Mo Tianji brought the two of them to Moji Pavilion.
Moji Pavilion stood halfway up the mountain within the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace, surrounded by thick woodland. It was a secluded compound, and this was one of the reasons Xu Xuan had chosen Mo Tianji.
Cultivating here would help calm the mind and nourish the spirit, yielding twice the results for half the effort. The spiritual energy here was also fairly dense.
"Xu Xuan, with so many elders to choose from, why did you insist on taking me as your master?"
Once they arrived inside Moji Pavilion, Mo Tianji asked with great curiosity.
"Elder, because we share the same story!"
Mo Tianji trembled slightly, a flicker of distant recollection passing through his eyes...
"The same story?"
Mo Tianji gave a bitter chuckle. "Heh, the past is like the wind. Best leave it unspoken!"
Still, he had never imagined that this would be Xu Xuan's reason.
A quiet little courtyard within Moji Pavilion.
"Yun Qingxue, Xu Xuan, it's getting late. You two will stay here. Familiarize yourselves with the place today, and tomorrow you can begin your formal cultivation."
"Yes."
The two cupped their hands in unison, then took their leave of Mo Tianji and entered their room.
"This..."
As she entered, Yun Qingxue's pretty face flushed slightly. The room was spacious, but there was only one bed.
"Xu Xuan, I..."
Xu Xuan smiled calmly, his gaze clear. "You can sleep on the bed. I'll find somewhere to make do."
Though their time together had already stirred affection for him in Yun Qingxue's heart, neither had chosen to pierce that thin paper window between them. Naturally, it would not be appropriate to share a bed so soon.
Yun Qingxue still wanted to explain. "Xu Xuan, that's not what I meant..."
Xu Xuan shook his head slightly. "It's fine. Get some rest."
Ding! Yun Qingxue felt a trace of resentment toward the host. Host's Fate Points -99!
Xu Xuan: ???
The Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace.
Atop a tower in the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace, Elder Bai grew angrier the more he thought about it. Surely, under his tutelage, Xu Xuan would have received more resources, and his cultivation would have progressed ever faster.
"What future could he possibly have following that worthless Mo Tianji?"
"Master, what has angered you?"
Just then, a young man with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes strode over.
He was Elder Bai's second disciple, Xing Yun.
"Xing Yun, you're here?"
Elder Bai looked up, a smile appearing in his eyes for the first time in a long while.
Xing Yun nodded and cupped his hands. "Master, your disciple has fulfilled his mission. I have successfully broken through to the heavenly mansion realm!"
As Xing Yun finished speaking, the aura within him surged, revealing his heavenly mansion realm cultivation!
Elder Bai nodded repeatedly in excitement. "Good! Very good! As expected of my disciple! To reach this level after only half a year of cultivation is truly a blessing for the Heavenly Palace. You're far stronger than that Xu Xuan!"
"Xu Xuan?"
Puzzled, Xing Yun could not help asking.
"Master, who is this Xu Xuan?"
"A new disciple. I intended to take him under my wing, but he failed to appreciate my kindness. Not only did he reject my offer, he took that old bastard Mo Tianji as his master instead!"
At this point, anger surfaced on Elder Bai's aged face.
"Master, what I'm curious about is what exactly happened back then."
Xing Yun asked tentatively. There had always been a grudge between Elder Bai and Mo Tianji, but he had no idea what had caused it!
"Back then..."
Elder Bai's expression grew even darker. "Best leave the past unspoken. But remember this: Xu Xuan's physique is no weaker than yours. According to Zhao Wuji, he possesses the legendary chaos body, and his cultivation is already at the peak of the sea transformation realm."
"The peak of Transforming Sea?"
Xing Yun smiled disdainfully. "Heh, rest assured, Master. Someone at the peak of Transforming Sea would be no more than a one-move opponent for me. If I run into him, I'll cripple him and vent your anger for you."
Only then did Elder Bai's grim expression ease. He looked up at Xing Yun and said, "Xing Yun, there's a female disciple by Xu Xuan's side. Find a way to get her!"
"What do you mean, Master?"
"Find a way to lure that woman over to my side. Perhaps we can make use of her!"
Understanding dawned on Xing Yun. He bowed slightly and nodded. "Yes, Master!"
Night drew its curtain...
Behind the mountain of the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace.
"Have you finished investigating?"
Ouyang Quede looked at the approaching disciple and asked slowly.
Only after checking that no one was around did the disciple pull the black veil from his face. "Elder, the investigation is complete. They did indeed come from the Cloud Azure Territory. I've looked into everything else as well. He came from the Evolutionary Spirit Sect and is the sect master's only son."
"The Evolutionary Spirit Sect?"
Ouyang Quede nodded and pressed further. "Mo Tianji had no dealings with the Evolutionary Spirit Sect before this, correct?"
"No, he didn't. But Xu Xuan's name has already spread across almost the entire Cloud Azure Territory."
"A tiny territory isn't worth mentioning. With his cultivation at the peak of the sea transformation realm, it's only natural that he would become famous throughout it. Go on."
Ouyang Quede sneered. Any disciple of their Ouyang Family with a little talent could go to the Cloud Azure Territory and make a name for himself throughout the land.
Xu Xuan's achievements were hardly enough to surprise him.
The disciple drew a deep breath. "Elder, Xu Xuan is highly valued. We can't openly attack him, but we can target the people around him."
"The people around him?"
Ouyang Quede froze, then recalled the female disciple who followed Xu Xuan. "You mean Yun Qingxue?"
"Exactly. The strict rules laid down by our Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace are a major reason it has become the greatest power in Dao Province!"
Ouyang Quede's eyes shifted, a cunning gleam appearing in them. "Tell me. What do you plan to do?"
"Elder Ouyang, if we make Xu Xuan violate the rules, the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace might spare him expulsion because of his talent, but punishment will be unavoidable!"
"When that happens, we can pull some strings and have him assigned a mission outside the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace. And danger is inevitable while carrying out a mission..."
At this point, the disciple sneered and drew a hand across his throat. "Then we can catch him off guard and assassinate him in one stroke. No matter how extraordinary his talent was in life, a dead man cannot command the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace's attention!"
Hearing this, Ouyang Quede could not help looking excited.
"Good, good, good! Once it's done, you'll be well rewarded."
Ouyang Quede immediately gave his approval, deeming the plan feasible.
"All right, go!"
Ouyang Quede waved his hand. The disciple bounded away from the rear mountain like an agile monkey and vanished from sight.
Only after the disciple had left did Ouyang Quede let out a deep breath, a chilling gleam in his eyes. "Mo Tianji, this time, your disciple still won't live long enough to grow!"
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