An overlooked detail

Although Li Changge had left, his words had stirred up towering waves among the Core Formation elders.

Someone immediately cried out, "Did I hear that right?

Li Changge just said Xu Changxing was giving him guidance?

How is that possible?"

"Could Xu Changxing have gathered those first thunderclouds?

But he only reached Foundation Establishment a few months ago. How can he already be guiding Li Changge?

Is he another sword cultivator with heaven-reaching insight?"

"Even with insight that defies the heavens, he shouldn't be advancing this quickly, should he?"

"Do you think Old Liu's third disciple could be the reincarnation of some Spirit Transformation Ancestor?"

"Surely not? Didn't all the patriarchs who sought reincarnation fail?

I've never heard of anyone succeeding."

"I think it's possible.

Perhaps he lost his memories but retained all his insights into the Sword Dao?

Otherwise, there's simply no explaining his heaven-defying cultivation speed."

"Then doesn't that mean our Setting Sun Sect will have another Spirit Transformation Ancestor in a few decades?"

"Not one. Two.

Didn't you notice Patriarch Shi's expression when he looked at Li Changge just now? He was extraordinarily pleased.

And when Li Changge bowed to him, he inclined his body slightly.

He was returning the bow!

That means he most likely sees Li Changge as a future Spirit Transformation cultivator."

"Old Liu really stepped in a pile of lucky dog shit!

First he took in Li Changge, whose sword points straight toward Spirit Transformation, and now there's Xu Changxing, who might be a reincarnated Spirit Transformation patriarch.

With those two disciples alone, Old Liu can live out his days carefree."

"More than just carefree. Once those two disciples become Spirit Transformation Ancestors, any little gifts they offer him could help his cultivation break through again."

Then we won't be able to call him Old Liu anymore. We'll have to call him Patriarch Liu."

"Honestly, Old Liu's talent for finding disciples defies the heavens.

Why can't I find disciples like that?"

"Could Old Liu have a technique for reading fortune?

Has anyone asked how he chooses his disciples?"

"I actually did ask him."

"What did Old Liu say?"

"He said that when choosing disciples, it's best to pick those with 'Chang' in their names."

"That works? Why do I feel like Old Liu was pulling your leg?"

"Who cares whether it works? Taking another disciple won't kill me.

I'm going to try it when I get back."

"That makes sense..."

While the Core Formation elders whispered among themselves, Liu Chenyu and Shi Haoyan had already landed before Xu Changxing.

With an odd expression, Liu Chenyu looked Xu Changxing up and down and said,

"You can actually give your eldest senior brother guidance now."

Xu Changxing hastily waved his hands. "Eldest Senior Brother was being far too modest.

All I did just now was exchange pointers with him.

I benefited greatly from it myself.

My unruly sword core has now come into harmony with my spiritual sense.

Really, I should be thanking Eldest Senior Brother for his guidance."

Liu Chenyu nodded, then sighed in wonder.

"Even so, that's quite astonishing.

You..."

Liu Chenyu hesitated before continuing, "Are you the reincarnation of one of our sect's predecessors?"

Liu Chenyu had caught snatches of the Core Formation elders' discussion earlier.

The suggestion of reincarnation had made everything suddenly fall into place for him.

If his third disciple was the reincarnation of a predecessor from the sect, that would explain how he had condensed nine cloud patterns in just a few days.

Xu Changxing was briefly taken aback.

He had been at a loss as to how to explain his fortuitous encounter.

He had never expected Liu Chenyu to come up with such an explanation himself.

Just as he hesitated over whether to go along with it, Liu Chenyu waved a hand, looking as though he understood everything.

"Never mind. Whatever your past life was, in this life you're a disciple of our Setting Sun Sect.

You just helped your eldest senior brother condense his nascent soul. According to our sect's rules, as your master, I ought to reward you.

Is there anything you want?"

Xu Changxing had intended to decline, but when the words reached his lips, they became,

"I am indeed rather short of funds at the moment.

I've already used up all the spirit stones you gave me before, Master.

Might I ask you to help me out with some more spirit stones?"

Liu Chenyu apparently hadn't expected Xu Changxing to pass over heavenly materials and earthly treasures and ask only for the most ordinary spirit stones.

He paused in surprise, then remembered that Xu Changxing had previously seemed to be gathering spirit stones through various means as well.

He nodded thoughtfully. "Spirit stones are easy enough.

I've already sold the pills you sent me for over thirty thousand spirit stones.

I'll add another twenty thousand and make it fifty thousand for you.

I'll keep the remaining heavenly materials and earthly treasures here and continue selling them for you.

Once they're sold, I'll give you those spirit stones as well."

As Liu Chenyu spoke, he handed two Storage Bags to Xu Changxing.

Xu Changxing accepted the Storage Bags and said excitedly, "Thank you, Master!"

He had clearly sensed that his hesitation had led Liu Chenyu to take him for a reincarnated Spirit Transformation Ancestor.

This was a new branch of events that had never occurred in his previous simulations.

Although Xu Changxing didn't think the Setting Sun Sect would harm him, he still felt uneasy and wanted to run a simulation to find out.

But after his breakthrough to early Core Formation, the points required for a simulation had soared to ten thousand.

The low-grade spirit stones he had on hand were nowhere near enough.

That was why he had changed what he was about to say at the last moment and asked Liu Chenyu for spirit stones.

What he hadn't expected was for Liu Chenyu to hand over fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones outright.

Master actually sold over thirty thousand spirit stones' worth of heavenly materials and earthly treasures this quickly.

That's impressively efficient... no, it's not a matter of efficiency. It must be time!

Xu Changxing had barely made that inward remark when a question suddenly occurred to him.

The question of time.

He had always assumed that only a few days had passed since his return from the Secret Realm.

But now he suddenly remembered something: in his previous two simulations, Han Mingguan had never come looking for him.

Xu Changxing hadn't noticed that detail before.

Only now did he suddenly realize that receiving the inheritance had most likely taken far longer than he had expected.

That was why Han Mingguan had come to challenge him.

Could the time that passed while I received the inheritance have been real?

Did I spend an entire month inside the inheritance?

Doesn't that mean the inheritance I received really existed, rather than being a simulation created by the system?

At that thought, Xu Changxing's pupils contracted, and he suddenly froze where he stood.

Seeing this, Liu Chenyu couldn't help asking, "What's wrong? Is there another problem with your golden core?"

Only then did Xu Changxing come back to his senses. "No. After exchanging pointers with Eldest Senior Brother just now, I can already control my sword core.

Something just occurred to me."