Stone Steps

Supreme Mystery Mountain, Ancestral Master Hall.

Hua Chunning and Duanmu Ren respectfully bowed, first to the ancestral master and then to their master.

Li Chengxuan remained calm and gestured to Hua Chunning: "You go first."

"Yes." Before going up the mountain, Hua Chunning had received guidance from Duanmu Ren and prepared a report summary, detailing the scene in the market, her experiences at the Azure Cloud Sect, and the whereabouts of [Clear Water].

As for the fighting and bloodshed encountered on the return journey, that's something for Duanmu Ren to tell.

Li Chengxuan nodded slightly without comment, then glanced at Duanmu Ren and said, "Your turn."

"Disciple obeys!" Duanmu Ren's account was much more organized than Hua Chunning's, not only with appropriate detail but also clearly explaining the potential risks and how to deal with them.

In particular, Duanmu Ren adopted a very humble attitude, attributing all the credit to Li Chengxuan's strategic planning.

Hua Chunning acted decisively, securing considerable benefits for the sect and making significant contributions.

As for Duanmu Ren himself, he made quite a few mistakes and oversights, at most he had put in some hard work.

Li Chengxuan couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this, and asked, "Why were you in such a hurry to kill that Xue Household junior, instead of bringing him back to the sect for me to deal with?"

"Reporting to the Sect Leader," Duanmu Ren replied respectfully and fluently, "Firstly, it is my personal concern; I fear that things might change and more unforeseen circumstances might arise."

"Secondly, if we really bring that person back to the sect, whether we kill him or release him, it will be a troublesome matter."

"This disciple believes that even if I cannot share the sect's burdens, I should not bring trouble back and put the sect leader in a difficult position."

"It's better to just kill him."

"Even if the Xue Household sends someone, the sect leader can pin the blame entirely on me."

"Even if Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain pursues the matter, this disciple is willing to bear the blame, accept punishment, and quell the dispute between the two families."

Li Chengxuan listened without commenting, and said to the two, "This time coming down the mountain, you two have certainly endured some trials and tribulations, and seen some of the world."

"Just don't aim too high."

"Those grand matters about the Child of Fate that carries the fate of Southern Reach, the conflict between the New Method and Old Method, and the schemes of the Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain Ancestor—just listen to them and don't let them cloud your judgment or lead you astray."

These things are still too far removed from your reality.

"You should prioritize cultivation and improve your cultivation level as soon as possible."

"Yes." Hua Chunning and Duanmu Ren bowed respectfully. "Disciples obey."

Li Chengxuan, regardless of whether the two had truly listened, said to Hua Chunning, "I have spoken of your Dao Path many times, and you should have gained considerable insight from your journey down the mountain."

I won't say any more.

"Take care of yourself and strive to cultivate yourself."

Hua Chunning turned solemn, and he said respectfully, "Master's teachings are etched in my heart and I will never forget them. Having experienced life and death this time, I have also become aware of my own shortcomings."

"This disciple will devote himself to cultivation and practice techniques, striving to break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining as soon as possible."

Li Chengxuan nodded slightly and waved his hand, saying, "Go down the mountain and visit your grandfather."

Hua Chunning the order and left.

Inside the Ancestral Hall, only Li Chengxuan and Duanmu Ren remained.

Duanmu Ren reached out and gently stroked the [Ding Fire] lamp, returning it to his hands. "Thanks to the protection of my ancestor, although there have been setbacks, I have not failed to live up to your expectations."

Li Chengxuan reached out and took the lamp in his hand, glancing down at it.

Two drops of mortal blood still remain in the lamp.

Li Chengxuan did not take it back, but placed the lamp back on the offering table and lit it.

The lamplight flickered, illuminating the darkness.

The portraits of the patriarchs all seemed to have gained a more vibrant life.

Li Chengxuan's shadow was exceptionally tall, casting a distorted and ferocious appearance on the walls and ceiling.

Duanmu Ren felt a tightness in his heart, as if his spiritual senses had been stripped away and suppressed.

Li Chengxuan turned around and asked, "Do you have anything to say?"

Duanmu Ren pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "After killing that descendant of the Xue Household, I suddenly felt my spiritual consciousness become clear and my cultivation greatly improved."

"Hmm." Li Chengxuan nodded slightly, showing no surprise. "What do you think is the reason?!"

Duanmu Ren, with his exceptional wisdom, already knew the answer, "It must be that the [High Shaman] lineage that I cultivate and the [Wu Earth] lineage that the [Human Emperor] once upheld inherently possess the image of competition and killing. Once the victor and the vanquished are determined, the hierarchy and rank will be redefined in the smallest details, and only then can mutual assistance be obtained."

"Furthermore..." Duanmu Ren hesitated for a moment, then added, "What Xue Yong said might indeed be true. That Xue Household descendant was pushed out to bear the evil Evil Qi of the Old Method of Southern Reach."

"Although it has only been a short time, he should have already accumulated some shallow fortune."

"I have read in ancient Daoist scriptures that there are also stories of killing those Child of Fate to seize one's destiny."

Li Chengxuan glanced at Duanmu Ren and sighed.

Liu Zhijian has a steadfast Daoist heart and is favored by Heavenly Dao, so he basically doesn't need to worry about anything.

Hua Chunning has never experienced hardship, which is why she seems to lack the necessary character; that's why I often have to criticize her.

As for Duanmu Ren, he was too ambitious and his mind was cluttered.

"It's interesting that the cultivation paths you and your senior brother both follow are hindrances to Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain. Chunning, however, entered the Dao in the [Wu Earth Secret Realm] of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain, and Xiao Hu from the General Affairs Hall was sent by the Xue Household." Li Chengxuan chuckled, looking at Duanmu Ren, and said, "The Xue Household are descendants of immortals, ruling Southern Edge Continent for a thousand years, and still have [Foundation Establishment] cultivators guarding it. Their foundation is deeper than you can imagine."

"This time you killed that Xue Household junior, so you had a legitimate reason and justifiable cause, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"But if you intend to use the Xue Household family as resources for your cultivation, you are courting death."

Duanmu Ren's expression turned solemn, and he immediately said, "Master, you misunderstand. This disciple has absolutely no such intention."

"As for the Child of Fate... it's not so easy to be one." Li Chengxuan ignored whether Duanmu Ren's words were true or false, and continued, "Do you think you're the only one who knows that killing Child of Fate can seize their destiny?"

"I fear that what you perceive as the stairway to heaven may actually lead to Pill Furnace lacking only the main ingredient, or a boiling pot of soup."

Duanmu Ren was taken aback upon hearing this, and bowed his head, saying, "This disciple will remember Master's teachings."

Liu Zhijian's deeds on the shores of the South Sea have spread throughout the Southern Edge Continent.

Many cultivators even rushed to Little Dragon Mountain, hoping to witness the ancient secret realm that had been shaken down and perhaps even try their fortuitous opportunity.

Unexpectedly, quite a few cultivators from the [Kan Water] sect obtained incomplete Cultivation Method, ancient Law Artifact, and rare spiritual items, causing quite a stir.

Some ordinary people in the vicinity even had the fortuitous opportunity to successfully enter the Dao through Qi Ingestion.

The Dong Household of Little Dragon Mountain did not pursue or persecute those who had the fortuitous opportunity; instead, they treated them as honored guests and even gave them elixirs and Cultivation Method, which attracted Rogue Cultivator.

Recently, the Little Dragon Mountain has been bustling with cultivators, its activity rivaling that of Azure Cloud Market.

After hearing about her master's deeds, Jiang Xiaoyu felt proud and even worked much harder to learn to read and write.

Finally, his wish came true, and he successfully "encountered" the sect leader, Grandmaster Li Chengxuan, and learned that his master was on his way back to the sect.

Jiang Xiaoyu stopped going to the mountaintop to ask her good friend Yunduo to send a message. Instead, she sat on the stone steps next to the stone tablet with the three characters "Supreme Mystery Mountain" carved on it every day, counting the time on her fingers and gazing longingly into the distance.

Several more days passed.

Jiang Xiaoyu sat on the steps, drowsy from the warm Greater Yang. Her head bobbed up and down. She vaguely saw a familiar figure approaching. She rubbed her eyes hard and muttered to herself, "Huh?! Am I dreaming again?"

Unexpectedly, the figure walked over, picked him up, and laughed, "Xiao Yu'er, wake up."

Jiang Xiaoyu exclaimed in surprise, immediately waking up. She first burst into laughter, then pouted and began to cry loudly, "Master, why did you take so long to come back!"