"Little Xuanzi, how are you? Nothing seriously wrong, is there? Hurry and take off your clothes so I, your ancestor, can have a look."
"Oh? What's that armor you're wearing? It looks rather good."
"How many spiritual meridians have you opened now? Why can't even I see through you?"
The twelve ancestors chattered away, making the corners of Ye Xuan's mouth twitch as black lines covered his face.
The nickname Little Xuanzi, in particular, brought storm clouds over his forehead. He wanted to hit someone.
"Ahem, Ancestors, I'm fine." Ye Xuan reluctantly let go of his stunning master and spoke meekly.
"You're fine?" The twelve ancestors eyed him doubtfully. Only after examining him carefully did they feel somewhat reassured.
Still, two old fellows who had no dignity befitting their age insisted that he take off his clothes.
Alarmed, Ye Xuan kept ducking behind his beautiful master.
He had no such proclivities! He didn't want to lose his chastity!
Only after exhausting every argument did Ye Xuan finally escape the fate of being stripped for an examination.
Once the twelve ancestors left, Ye Xuan slumped into a chair, his forehead covered in sweat, and let out a long breath.
Thank goodness, thank goodness. My chastity is safe.
"How many spiritual meridians have you opened? Why can't even your master see through you now?"
Han Bingning fixed her beautiful eyes on Ye Xuan and asked.
Ye Xuan answered honestly, "I've opened a hundred and eight spiritual meridians. As for why you can't see through me, Master, I don't know."
Han Bingning nodded at his words.
She maintained a calm facade, but towering waves of shock surged through her heart.
What? A hundred and eight?
Back then, her talent had been unparalleled, her grace peerless, her brilliance breathtaking. She had stood supreme over the Eastern Wasteland!
Yet even so, she had only opened ninety-nine spiritual meridians.
And Ye Xuan had actually opened a hundred and eight?
In less than two months?
At that moment, Han Bingning just wanted some peace and quiet.
"Mm, very good. Continue cultivating. I just remembered something I need to do, so I'll leave first."
She forced herself to deliver those words calmly, then vanished from the Holy Son Hall.
Ye Xuan stared blankly at the spot where Han Bingning had disappeared into thin air.
She just left?
She left again?
What happened to taking me along to play-cultivate-together?
My beautiful master is far too unreliable!
With these thoughts in mind, Ye Xuan began considering whether to go have some fun in the rear mountains.
He could sense that a hundred and eight spiritual meridians was the limit. He could not open any more.
That also meant his cultivation had already reached the peak of the Meridian Opening Realm.
But having peak Meridian Opening cultivation without strength to match simply wouldn't do.
So he planned to temper himself by entering the rear mountains for a trial.
Early the next morning, Ye Xuan changed into white robes and left the Holy Son Palace.
Come to think of it, this was his first time walking around the Ancient Desolate Holy Land since joining.
"Wow, what a handsome junior brother!"
"Junior Brother, which peak are you from? Why haven't I ever seen you before?"
"Junior Brother, where are you going? Do you need someone to show you the way?"
The eyes of several young, beautiful senior sisters in the holy land lit up when they saw Ye Xuan.
Some of the bolder ones couldn't help chattering as they gathered around him, a flock of orioles and swallows.
There was no helping it. Such a handsome junior brother was truly a rare sight.
The youth wore white, his face handsome, his skin fair, his lips red and his teeth white, his eyes shining.
Those eyes, in particular, were clear and bright, sparkling like stars.
They seemed capable of speech. Just one glance at those senior sisters could send their maiden hearts, yearning for romance, pounding wildly.
Faced with such enthusiastic senior sisters, Ye Xuan couldn't help lowering his head shyly.
He cupped his hands meekly. "Disciple Ye Xuan greets you, Senior Sisters. I'd like to go to the rear mountains. Please show me the way."
Inside, however, he was roaring, Holy shit, they're all beauties! They might not compare to my beautiful master, but they're definitely goddesses.
Back in my previous life, they'd have been absolute goddesses. No matter how hard I simped, they probably wouldn't even have acknowledged me.
And now they're so enthusiastic!
"Junior Brother, the rear mountains are quite dangerous. Are you really going there? Would you like me to protect you?"
Hearing this, one senior sister felt a powerful urge to protect him and asked with blazing eyes.
"Yes, yes! There are countless demonic beasts in the rear mountains. It's very dangerous. I happen to be going to train too. Why don't we go together?"
Another senior sister asked, her eyes bright.
Ye Xuan hastily waved his hands and shook his head. "N-no need. Just point me in the right direction, Senior Sisters. I can go on my own."
He had thought that after leaving the Holy Son Palace, he would encounter some fools who didn't know better.
Those fellows would come provoke him, mock him, then attack him to teach him a lesson and show off their strength.
After all, that was how the fantasy novels in his previous life had written it. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined reality would clash so completely with that.
He truly couldn't handle such enthusiasm!
"There, it's over that way. You must be careful."
The senior sisters couldn't help feeling a little disappointed at his words, but they still pointed out the direction of the entrance to the rear mountains.
Ye Xuan fled in disarray and soon disappeared from their sight.
The senior sisters are far too enthusiastic. This isn't good. That said, those few senior sisters were quite pretty.
Chuckling inwardly, Ye Xuan soon arrived at the entrance to the rear mountains.
He also encountered some senior and junior brothers along the way, but no one provoked him, much less bullied him.
A thatched hut stood at the entrance to the rear mountains, with a drowsy old man keeping watch inside.
This old man was clearly the mountain keeper.
Ye Xuan glanced at him, wondering whether he was some hidden, old-guard powerhouse of the holy land, like the Sweeper Monk in the television dramas of his previous life.
But he wasn't foolish enough to go over and ask. Instead, he swiftly entered the rear mountains.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The moment he entered the rear mountains, Ye Xuan heard waves of demonic beasts roaring.
The sound reverberated, ringing through the mountain forests!
Hearing those sounds, Ye Xuan suddenly felt boundless heroic spirit well up within him, bringing to mind the wandering heroes of his previous life's martial world who roamed the land with swords in hand.
At that moment, Ye Xuan only regretted not having a sword in his hand.
Ye Xuan moved swiftly, soon leaving the entrance far behind and climbing onto a mountain peak.
Meanwhile, the roars of demonic beasts reaching his ears grew more frequent and distinct.
They rose one after another.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle!"
At one point, a rustling sound suddenly rang out.
It was the sound a demonic beast made as it brushed through the weeds.
Ye Xuan stopped instantly, his gaze sharpening as he looked toward the grass ahead.
He sensed a faint danger!
Soon, the grass ahead parted.
First, a massive head emerged from behind the grass, followed by huge limbs and a bulky body.
A demonic beast-a Gale Leopard!
The leopard stood two meters tall and measured five or six meters long. Its four paws bore claws as sharp as blades, flashing with cold light.
Its eyes were frighteningly cold, staring fixedly at Ye Xuan as though watching its prey.
Looking at the Gale Leopard before him, Ye Xuan felt no fear. Instead, he only felt hot blood surge within him.
He was actually itching to move.
A Gale Leopard comparable to the seventh level of Meridian Opening was neither strong nor weak for Ye Xuan, who had no actual combat experience.
It was the perfect opponent for his trial!