Escape and New Beginnings

A long time passed.

Zhuang Xun’s face was deathly pale, beyond pale—it could only be described as ghastly white.

His arms were withered like sticks, as if he were a half-dead man at death’s door.

“Like this…”

“It should be enough…”

“Heh…”

He sat cross-legged on the ground, stretched out his hand, and swallowed a verdant green pill in one gulp.

[Daoling: Father, let me help catalyze the medicine’s power.]

A surge of vigorous Daoist aura enveloped Zhuang Xun, suddenly rushing into his body…

Filling his already weakened body with vitality.

“…”

At the critical moment, you’re still the reliable one.

[Daoling: … (One step closer.)]

Zhuang Xun’s complexion visibly became ruddy, delicate, and lustrous, and his body gradually recovered as before.

After about ten breaths.

“Phew~”

He exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi, opened his eyes, stood up, and stretched hugely.

Then he tossed the blood bead to the puppet in the room.

“This unbound feeling is really refreshing.”

As he spoke, Zhuang Xun took out another pill and swallowed it, instantly filling his body with spiritual power again.

Fortunately, he lacked nothing; his reserves were enough to establish a top-tier sect.

Otherwise, he would really be waiting to get screwed.

He looked up at the invisible barrier around him and shook his head. “If you can’t do formations, then don’t bother. You’re embarrassing me, your master.”

In terms of combat, Xuanyuan Luoshui might still be a peak difficult to surpass for now.

But in formations, she was clearly no match for him, her master.

After all, her talent wasn’t allocated to that aspect.

Zhuang Xun formed hand seals, golden runes appearing around his body, turning his body into a sword.

He shot out of the barrier without any obstruction.

“Still watching? How much longer does the Sect Master intend to watch?” Zhuang Xun stood on his flying sword, meeting Zi Yin’s silent gaze at eye level.

“…”

“By the way…”

“You could enjoy comfort and be cared for by a woman who deeply loves you. Why do you try every means to escape?”

“Making yourself so miserable.”

“You don’t understand, Sect Master. I don’t like this kind of caged life. I want to follow my heart without overstepping bounds—that’s what I desire.”

Zhuang Xun tossed a golden ring with a phoenix head to Zi Yin and continued, “So, I’d like to exchange this immortal artifact for a chance to use the cross-realm teleportation array. Is that possible?”

Zi Yin caught the ring and examined it carefully, clearly feeling the vast, blazing vitality within.

With it… I should be able to live a few more years.

“The things I give away are always of guaranteed quality. I hope the Sect Master won’t mention my matter to Luoshui.”

“Are you bribing me?”

“Peace brings wealth…”

“After all, the Sect Master is also a somewhat willful person. In the end, you didn’t heed my advice.”

“…”

“Truly a peculiar pair of master and disciple.”

Zi Yin put away the ring and turned to leave. “I was just out for a stroll today. I saw nothing, and I don’t know that the teleportation array can be activated as long as inner sect disciples pay spirit stones.”

“Thank you.”

After saying this, Zhuang Xun left Immortal Feather Peak without hesitation.

“…”

At that moment, Zi Yin could hardly contain herself. She covered her face, unable to stop laughing. “Go ahead. Soon the entire Green Domain will be hunting you.”

“And none of this has anything to do with me.”

As someone who loves to watch the fun, Zi Yin’s plans clicked perfectly.

She would just pretend she saw nothing. No one could do anything to her.

And she had gotten an immortal artifact that could extend her life for free.

No loss at all.

On the other hand, that guy was about to run into trouble one after another.

…

Before the teleportation array.

Zhuang Xun showed the token of Immortal Feather Peak and asked the guarding disciples to let him pass.

“To activate the cross-realm teleportation array, you need a thousand pieces of top-grade spirit stones for energy. Go in and insert them yourself.”

“If your destination is in the mortal world, you need to provide the spatial coordinates of the star domain yourself.”

“Thank you both for the reminder.”

Zhuang Xun thanked them, then walked to the operating base of the teleportation array and directly placed a small mountain of spirit stones.

Spirit stones? He really didn’t lack them.

“Let me see… Jade Heaven Realm…”

“Probably takes about half a month.”

Traveling this way by directly shuttling through space is much faster than teleportation.

Zhuang Xun carved the spatial coordinates of the star domain where Qin Zhaoyue’s world was located onto the array plate, then sat cross-legged in the array.

He tossed the Immortal Feather Peak token out of the array. “You two, consider this a greeting gift.”

Hum… hum…

The teleportation array channeled the power of heaven and earth, light burst forth, orientation was set, and it began to operate slowly.

Until Zhuang Xun’s figure disappeared from the teleportation array.

…

“Jiang Lishuang, do you wish to become a disciple of one of the elders?”

On a high platform suspended by a spiritual pillar, a willowy woman with outstanding appearance and temperament stood before the white-haired girl and asked softly.

Around her sat four mature, graceful women, all marveling at Jiang Lishuang, who stood in the center of the platform.

Their eyes were filled with appreciation for talent.

“How many years has it been since the Green Domain has seen such a perfect yin constitution, and a rare ice spiritual root to boot? Truly, heaven blesses our Mysterious Maiden Palace.”

“She’s only at the middle stage of Qi Refining, yet she can condense qi into form. Such talent is rare. The future is promising.”

“I’ve set my eyes on this girl first. Don’t any of you snatch her away.”

“If I hadn’t gone out to search, would you old fossils have gotten this opportunity?”

At that moment, Jiang Lishuang looked up and asked, “Who is the strongest here?”

For a moment, the four elders exchanged glances, as if discussing something.

“Naturally, it is I,” the woman replied calmly, instantly silencing the scene.

Beyond doubt, as the Palace Master of Mysterious Maiden Palace, she indeed had that confidence.

“Then I will take you as my master.”

“…”

The woman was silent for a moment, then said, “I have never taken a disciple. Are you sure you want to be my disciple?”

“Yes.”

“If you become my disciple, you will inherit the orthodoxy of Mysterious Maiden Palace in the future and may not voluntarily leave…”

“Are you willing?”

“Willing.” Jiang Lishuang answered succinctly.

“Good.”

Seeing Jiang Lishuang’s decisiveness, the Mysterious Maiden Palace Master flicked her sleeve and gave her a jade pendant.

“From today onward, you are my disciple, Yuqing.”

“This is the jade token to my cave dwelling. With this, you can enter and leave my cave at will.”

“Thank you, Master.”

As long as I can become stronger, Lishuang will find you.

“Although your body contains the Dao Sword, your sword energy is insubstantial. Come to my Moon Void Mountain at sunset, and I will teach you a method to stabilize it.”

“Dao Sword?” Jiang Lishuang asked in confusion.

“The sword that severs the Dao, capable of cutting karma, karma power, life and death, impermanence… It is a rare Dao artifact.”

“This…”

“When you reach the Nascent Soul stage, I will appoint you as the Young Palace Master, gradually handling affairs within the palace. Cultivate well.”

“…”

Jiang Lishuang remained silent, but waves stirred within her heart.

Brother Zhuang Xun…

Who exactly are you…

…