"Peak Master Lin, you certainly kept these old bones waiting!" The newcomer gave a cold snort upon seeing Lin Xuan. Anyone could hear the dissatisfaction in her words.
Lin Xuan laughed awkwardly twice. "Sorry for the wait, Elder Quan."
Lin Xuan knew this female elder. She came from Qingwei Peak, the tenth of the thirty-six peaks.
Most of Qingwei Peak's disciples were female. There were male disciples, but very few.
Qingwei Peak was also known among the thirty-six peaks for producing beauties and was extremely popular within the sect. Its Peak Master, Fairy Clear Subtlety, a recently advanced King Realm expert, was hailed as the Azure Yang Sword Sect's greatest beauty.
Her admirers were spread throughout the Azure Yang Sword Sect, with no shortage of Peak Masters among them.
It was worth mentioning that Qingwei Peak, like Starfall Peak, stood on the side of the Holy Maiden, Li Fufeng.
The reason Qingwei Peak had not gone to the Heaven-Burning Mystic Realm with the main contingent was Li Fufeng's instructions.
The Heaven-Burning Mystic Realm lay at the very heart of the Moon-Reflecting Mountain Range. The journey there was extremely perilous, especially after entering the mountain range's interior, where even those in the King Realm risked falling.
With Lin Xuan as its sole "Tribulation Realm Seventh Layer" cultivator, Starfall Peak would face danger at every turn on the journey to the Heaven-Burning Mystic Realm.
Knowing this, Li Fufeng had arranged for Qingwei Peak Master to stay behind and travel together with Starfall Peak.
That was why Elder Quan had spent so long waiting at Starfall Peak.
Although his current strength meant he no longer needed anyone to escort and protect him on the way to the Heaven-Burning Mystic Realm, Li Fufeng had certainly been thoughtful.
"Since Peak Master Lin has emerged from seclusion, I shall return and report to my Peak Master. Please make your preparations, Peak Master Lin. We depart tomorrow."
Her expression cold and stern, Elder Quan left Starfall Peak after delivering the notice.
After Elder Quan left, Lin Xuan sent messages to his three disciples, telling them to prepare as well.
Except...
When Lin Xuan swept Starfall Peak with his Divine Sense, Qu Youmeng was nowhere to be found.
Only afterward did Lin Xuan learn from Su Lianxin that Qu Youmeng had left the sect after the rewards for the sect tournament were announced. She had left only a letter with Su Lianxin, asking her to inform Lin Xuan.
This was within Lin Xuan's expectations. He had never truly considered her his disciple in the first place; he had only accepted her because he had his eye on the substantial increase she could bring to his cultivation speed.
The next day.
Early in the morning, Qingwei Peak's flying ship docked above Starfall Peak's plaza.
The enormous flying ship resembled a pavilion in the sky and could hold nearly a thousand people. Not just any peak in the Azure Yang Sword Sect could own such a ship. Only the top ten peaks, which had King Realm experts, possessed them.
This was not only because the flying ship itself was extremely expensive to build, but also because its upkeep was extremely costly, and each activation consumed large quantities of Spirit Stones.
As they gazed at the enormous vessel before them, both Wang Yan and Su Lianxin showed shock in their eyes.
This was their first time seeing one of the sect's flying ships. Previously, they had only heard of them.
The Qingwei Peak disciples aboard the flying ship watched Wang Yan and Su Lianxin looking as though they had never seen the world, faint traces of smugness appearing on their faces.
After boarding the flying ship with his two disciples, the first person Lin Xuan saw was the cool, aloof woman on the deck.
Her beautiful eyes were clear as autumn waters, her face delicate as white jade. With peerless, city-toppling beauty, she looked like an immortal maiden who had stepped out of a painting. She fully deserved the title of the Azure Yang Sword Sect's greatest beauty.
She was none other than Fairy Clear Subtlety, Peak Master of Qingwei Peak, the tenth peak.
She was also the Azure Yang Sword Sect's youngest King Realm cultivator.
"I happened to be at a critical juncture in comprehending the Dao these past few days, which delayed me a little. Sorry to have kept you all waiting." Lin Xuan cupped his hands toward Qingwei Peak Master and the others, offering an explanation. It would have been better had he said nothing; as soon as he explained, Fairy Clear Subtlety's fine brows furrowed slightly.
Before she could speak, several Qingwei Peak elders beside her had already laughed aloud.
Comprehending the Dao? What Dao could a Tribulation Realm Seventh Layer cultivator like you possibly comprehend? You couldn't even make up a better excuse.
One middle-aged elder even said with a sarcastic edge, "Oh? Comprehending the Dao? Might I ask which great Dao Peak Master Lin was comprehending? Why not tell us, so the two of us can discuss it?"
Anyone could hear the mockery in her words.
Lin Xuan glanced at the middle-aged elder but said nothing.
Discuss the Dao with you? Are you worthy?
He had already given his reason. Whether she believed him was her business.
Cupping his hands slightly toward Fairy Clear Subtlety, Lin Xuan left the deck and headed to the room Qingwei Peak had arranged for him to continue cultivating.
Watching Lin Xuan's departing figure, Fairy Clear Subtlety shook her head.
She knew about Lin Xuan.
Betrayed by his personal disciple, then suffering a fall in cultivation after failing to break through to the King Realm-he was indeed a pitiful man.
Fairy Clear Subtlety had originally felt some sympathy for him.
But what Lin Xuan had just said sent her impression of him plummeting.
If he had merely been delayed a few days and arrived a few days late, it really was no great issue. Fairy Clear Subtlety had not intended to blame him.
But...
A mistake was a mistake, yet he refused to admit it.
Refusing to admit it was one thing, but to lie for the sake of saving face and claim he had been comprehending the Dao was truly...
"Let us depart."
Boom-
The flying ship rose into the air, broke through the clouds, and roared toward their destination, the Moon-Reflecting Mountain Range.
In the pavilion, numerous Qingwei Peak disciples gathered in groups of three or five. Only two looked somewhat ill at ease: the senior brother and junior sister, Wang Yan and Su Lianxin.
Lin Xuan had long since reached the stage of Grain Avoidance and no longer needed to eat, but Wang Yan and Su Lianxin had not.
Feeling the occasional glances from the surrounding Qingwei Peak disciples, the two felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Miss, are you perhaps Peak Master Lin's disciple?"
Just then, a male voice came from the side. Su Lianxin and Wang Yan looked over to see an effeminate young man in robes whiter than snow walking toward them with a smile. He sat down opposite them with the air of someone already well acquainted.
Su Lianxin's beauty fell little short of Fairy Clear Subtlety's; she simply had yet to fully mature. Even so, in looks alone, she ranked among the very best even on Qingwei Peak, where beauties gathered like clouds.
The admiration in the young man's eyes as he looked at Su Lianxin was plain to see.
Her fine brows furrowed slightly. Su Lianxin found him exceedingly rude. She did not answer aloud, merely nodding, clearly showing that she had no wish to chat with him.
The young man did not mind and shamelessly continued asking, "I am Yang Zhen, a True Disciple under Qingwei Peak's Elder Quan. Might I have the honor of knowing your name, miss?"
"Su Lianxin."
"So it is Miss Su. I see that you must be a sword cultivator. As it happens, so am I. Though my talents are modest, I have some attainments in the Sword Dao. Perhaps I could offer you a pointer or two." Yang Zhen spoke slowly, waving his folding fan.
His words instantly set the surrounding crowd abuzz, and they cast envious looks at Su Lianxin.
"Hehe, Senior Brother Yang, you are far too modest. Your attainments in the Sword Dao rank among the very finest in all of Qingwei Peak. How could that be described as merely 'some attainments'?"
"Exactly! If Senior Brother Yang only has 'some attainments,' what does that make us? Useless trash who cannot even wield a sword?"
"Junior Sister, not everyone gets an opportunity like this, to receive Senior Brother Yang's personal guidance. Who knows how many people on Qingwei Peak beg for it in vain? Even quite a few elders come to discuss the Sword Dao with Senior Brother Yang. If anyone among Qingwei Peak's disciples is most likely to comprehend nascent sword intent, it is none other than Senior Brother Yang."
There was no shortage of flatterers. In their eyes, Yang Zhen's words just now had truly been far too modest.
Su Lianxin looked at the effeminate young man, then exchanged a glance with her senior brother, Wang Yan. Both nearly burst out laughing inwardly.