470 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 470: Radiant Sunbird In the underground palace of Nan Chu City, silence reigned. Lu Yun Zi sat on a crystalline throne, resting his head in his hand. "So, you were the one who egged on Xing Jian to do this?" It took him a moment to finally blurt out that question. "Uh..." Qi Xiu had hoped to avoid admitting to it, but without explanation, the coincidence was too unlikely to be covered up. "My life span was affected, and I harbored a grudge. When Xing Jian came to me about Jiang Yan, I couldn't refuse, so I gave him some guidance. I had no real understanding of the situation with the teleportation array on Bei Ding Shen Mountain; it was all based on conjecture. I never expected it to escalate like this..." Lu Yun Zi's expression grew increasingly grim, but Chu Hong Shang, off to the side, gave him a sly thumbs-up and a mischievous, approving smile. "You youngsters, always seem eager to stir up chaos." Her reaction amused Lu Yun Zi, who chuckled and half-jokingly scolded them. Then he stood up to leave. Visiting Qi Xiu had been fruitful; Qi Xiu was a bystander, participant, and half troublemaker in the events, and perhaps one of the few who understood the true intentions of all parties involved, including Nan Gong Mu, Xing Jian, Gui Gu, and Gui Ru. With Qi Xiu's intelligence, Lu Yun Zi, the headmaster of the Qi Yun Sect, no longer had to grope blindly amid this deific strife, unsure of his position. "I borrowed one of your scriptures, so I'll give you this in return." Before leaving, Lu Yun Zi casually tossed a book of techniques. "And I'll help you with something small; consider us even. Remember, you haven't seen me, and I haven't seen you." He didn't divulge what kind of help he had in mind but left with a heavy heart, leaving only Chu Hong Shang and Qi Xiu in the hall. "I estimate that Nan Gong Mu will have to make a concession for this issue to be resolved." Qi Xiu's mind worked swiftly as he analyzed the upcoming situation to Chu Hong Shang: "Gui Ru wants to investigate the teleportation array on Bei Ding Shen Mountain, Xing Jian wants to investigate Jiang Yan, Gui Gu wants to sabotage Gui Ru's efforts. Unless the Nan Gong family backs down, this won't end peacefully." As he spoke, he casually flipped through the book Lu Yun Zi had left behind. The book, made of ordinary paper and worn with age, had the four characters "Five Beasts Body Refinement" almost faded from its yellowed cover. Inside, it illustrated various body training techniques inspired by avian movements, evaluated to be as high as third-tier superior. "When Chu Zhen first met me, he gave me a 'Body Tempering Art,' and now Lu Yun Zi also gives me a body refinement technique? Do they think that my physique appears weak to them?" While pondering this, a sudden fragrant breeze assaulted him. A dainty, white foot grew larger in his field of vision, eventually making a close acquaintance with his face. 'Smack!' The kick sent him spiraling through the air before he landed heavily on the ground. "You old wo— why did you hit me again!?" Holding his face, he scrambled up, seeing Chu Hong Shang sitting daintily on the crystal throne, as if she hadn’t been the one to deliver the kick. "Hmph, you mustn’t forget your duties. So much happened after the Jixia trial, yet you didn’t report any of it to me?" Having secured the fifteen-year secret realm usage rights promised by Lu Yun Zi, a weight lifted off her shoulders, her spirits soared, and her playful reprimand was accompanied by a beaming smile. "My dear mistress..." The unique, coquettish tone of the stunning Miss Chu, mingling with her eyes sparkling with a hint of care, instantly dissolved much of Qi Xiu’s irritation. "Weren’t you in seclusion? How was I supposed to tell you!? Besides, I'm a sect master too; you can't just hit and scold me at will—everyone has their dignity!" "Oh my, are you upset?" Chu Hong Shang grew even more delighted, stepping off the throne and approaching him. "I apologize, let me make it up to you. Where does it hurt? I'll rub it better for you, alright?" She extended her slender hand, genuinely reaching towards Qi Xiu's face. "Uh, no... no need..." Unprepared for her unexpectedly intimate words and actions, he found his heart racing, even with his Golden Core cultivation, as he watched the graceful red-clad beauty come closer. Her lithe form moved with a rhythmic elegance, and her enchanting eyes, alluringly curved in a smile, were captivating. Unconsciously closing his eyes, he was about to indulge in her first display of care when—'smack!'—he was sent flying out of the hall by a heavy slap on the other cheek, accompanied by the oppressive force of a Nascent Soul aura. "Hahaha! You really thought so, didn’t you? Don’t hide anything from me next time." For the second time, he climbed up clutching his face, muttering, "Crazy woman!" But her parting laughter lingered by his ear, leaving him unexpectedly disappointed to find the hall doors shut, separating him from her once more. ... Two years later, at the Meditation Mountain sect master's retreat. Balanced on one foot, Qi Xiu formed a pose resembling a bird spreading its wings, contorting his entire body into an unusual posture as he practiced the 'Five Beasts Body Refinement' given to him by Lu Yun Zi. This body refinement technique had two benefits: it was low-cost, requiring no auxiliary materials like medicinal baths, and it allowed simultaneous cultivation, as Qi Xiu was currently circulating the 'Bright Scripture' internally. Naturally, with these two benefits came drawbacks in the form of extremely low efficiency and painfully slow progress. But considering it was a third-tier body refinement technique, if not for Lu Yun Zi's gifting, Qi Xiu wouldn’t have persisted with it. Within his retreat, a water-based array circulated, with pure blue spiritual energy surging around a red core. The soul of a 'Radiant Sunbird' nestled within the core, desperately using its radiant sun fire to resist the formidable array. "Hmm?" At that moment, the bird seemed to weaken, its sunfire dwindling under the relentless grind of the water array, dimming the chamber. Naturally, Qi Xiu noticed this change. "The time has come!" He pulled out a jade box wrapped in countless seals and unsealed it using a mnemonic. Inside were three small bottles, each made from a special spiritual jade. Carefully taking one out while resealing the box, he opened the bottle, and a chill pervaded the room. Inside was a drop of millennium 'Mystic Silver Ice Tear,' a tier-four mineral from the distant 'Ice Source Island' in the outer sea, indispensable for refining the Sunbird's core. Entering the array, he cautiously tilted the bottle over the core, releasing a silvery, metallic gleaming drop. As the 'Mystic Silver Ice Tear' made contact with the core, the clash between the cold and fire began in earnest, with each side taking turns gaining the upper hand as Qi Xiu and the Sunbird soul endured the alternating cold and heat. "Come now, into a warmer, more fitting vessel." Qi Xiu opened his mouth and exhaled the life-bound treasure 'Clear Mirror of Radiance,' aiming its spiritless face towards the Sunbird soul, seductively coaxing it. Driven out by the conflicting extreme cold, the Sunbird could no longer remain in the core. Its will eroding, Qi Xiu seized the chance to envelop it with spiritual power, fully drawing it into his treasure. "Success on the first try!" Qi Xiu rejoiced; each drop of Mystic Silver Ice Tear from Ice Source Island cost ten tier-four water spirit stones, equivalent to eight thousand tier-three stones—a considerable expense. Succeeding on the first try meant saving an entire drop, which was truly fortunate. With the yang aspect of the 'Barbarian Ancient Yin-Yang Pearl' surpassing the yin, the artifact immediately rose to become his most formidable offensive tool! His original soul monkey embraced the mirror, taunting the Sunbird within through the glass until it shrank back into a corner. "Reporting to Sect Master Uncle, Qin Chang Feng has returned." A voice transmission talisman entered the retreat, reminding him that today marked Qin Chang Feng's official return to Chu Qin Sect after stabilizing his boundaries in the city of Qi Nan. (To be continued)