Chu Mingwei’s advancement to the Nascent Soul stage was an event of immense significance for Yuntian Sect.
In fact, the moment the strange phenomenon appeared in the sky, several reclusive old monsters in the back mountains were already alerted. It had been years since anyone in the sect had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, so when the massive phantom above Haotian Peak dissipated, several streaks of light shot out rapidly from the back mountain.
At the same time, streams of light rose from every peak of Yuntian Sect—elders from each peak, along with their disciples, were all heading toward Haotian Peak to offer their congratulations.
Though the Core and Nascent Soul stages were separated by only a single word, the difference between them was like heaven and earth. Ten years ago, Chu Mingwei had shaken the cultivation world by entering the Core stage before the age of twenty-five. Who could have expected that just ten years later, without any prior signs, he would advance to the Nascent Soul stage? A Nascent Soul cultivator under forty—his future was boundless.
For a time, the elders of each peak felt mixed emotions. They were proud of a disciple of their sect, yet could not help but feel a trace of melancholy when thinking of their own cultivation.
Wu Yunzi’s feelings were perhaps the most complicated. Earlier, he had been preoccupied with worries about his youngest disciple, but as he now rode his magical artifact toward Haotian Peak, it suddenly occurred to him that Chu Mingwei’s cultivation had already surpassed his own. Just a few months ago, he could still rely on his Great Perfection Core stage to easily beat the early-Core-stage Chu Mingwei. Yet now, in such a short time, he might no longer be able to win.
Glancing back at his youngest disciple following behind him, Wu Yunzi snorted inwardly. If he beat Chu Mingwei now, would that brat even dare fight back?
The moment the Nascent Soul formed, Ling Xiaozi had already anticipated that the elders from each peak—and likely even the back mountain—would arrive. Thus, he had arranged for Meng Fan and the disciples to stand at the entrance of Haotian Hall to receive the guests. When Wu Yunzi arrived with Xiao Lingyu, Ling Xiaozi’s eyes flickered, and he deliberately placed the two of them at the very front.
Thinking of his pitiful disciple, Ling Xiaozi could only hope Wu Yunzi still remembered what he had said before. What he did not know was that Wu Yunzi did remember—but had already decided not to acknowledge it.
As the elders and young disciples gathered in Haotian Hall, Ling Xiaozi’s smile only grew broader—until a thin figure appeared at the entrance of the hall. In an instant, all the joy on his face turned to shock.
“Martial Uncle!”
The man he addressed was an elderly figure who appeared to be in his fifties. He wore black robes, his frame thin, with faint streaks of white at his temples.
Ling Xiaozi had expected someone from the back mountain, but never imagined it would be his martial uncle, Li Changfeng, who had secluded himself there for many years.
Seeing that after more than three hundred years, Li Changfeng’s face had aged, his temples touched with white—no longer the peerless, elegant man once known as the most handsome in Yuntian Sect—Ling Xiaozi felt a pang of sorrow.
Li Changfeng smiled as he looked at Ling Xiaozi. Years as Sect Master had added a faint aura of authority to him, but his expression betrayed his thoughts. Li Changfeng waved it off lightly. “Beauty and bone are all illusions—just a layer of skin. You still can’t see through that?”
Ling Xiaozi gave a bitter smile. Though cultivators cared little for appearances, it was still hard to reconcile the image of his once ethereal martial uncle with the man before him.
After escorting Li Changfeng and the others to the seats of honor, the elders brought their disciples forward to pay respects. For a time, the hall was filled with warmth and harmony.
Once the elders withdrew, Ling Xiaozi began recounting to Li Changfeng the entire process of Chu Mingwei’s breakthrough. Neither of them noticed a somewhat stiff figure among the departing elders.
Yao Wu returned to his seat rigidly, his hands trembling within his sleeves. He had never imagined that after three hundred years, he would see Li Changfeng again. At the moment Li Changfeng appeared, it was as if he had been struck by lightning.
He stared at that thin figure, the silver strands at his temples, desperately trying to match him with the upright, noble figure in his memory—but no matter how he tried, he could not reconcile the two.
Standing once again so close to that person, Yao Wu had to exert all his strength to maintain composure. After completing the formalities, he did not even know how he managed to turn and leave.
Scenes from the past flashed repeatedly through his mind—the lonely figure after seeing him off. Yao Wu shut his eyes tightly, then opened them again, returning to the calm and dignified Elder Yao.
Everything in the past had been his own choice. He did not regret it. He could not regret it.
No one in the hall noticed Yao Wu’s brief abnormality—except Leng Hanyuan, who followed behind him and frowned slightly. Something about Yao Wu’s mood seemed off. Casting a subtle glance toward Li Changfeng at the front, Leng Hanyuan lowered his gaze thoughtfully. He knew well the past between Li Changfeng and Yao Wu, but had not expected that even after so many years, that man still affected Yao Wu so deeply. With greater matters approaching, this would have to be reported once the Ancestor awakened.
Everyone had expected Chu Mingwei to emerge soon after forming his Nascent Soul—but to their surprise, the wait lasted seven days.
Seven days later, Haotian Hall was no longer filled only with elders of Yuntian Sect. Several major sects of the cultivation world had sent elders to congratulate Chu Mingwei. Xuankun Sect, under the pretext of thanking him for his assistance in the ancient ruins, had even sent its Sect Master, Gu Fengzi, in person.
Thus, when Chu Mingwei finally emerged, he was greeted by a hall full of familiar and unfamiliar faces.
Having just entered the Nascent Soul stage, he could not yet fully restrain his aura. Aside from a few Nascent Soul experts, most elders and disciples could not withstand his presence directly.
Ling Xiaozi, accustomed to this, beamed with pride and led him forward.
Chu Mingwei greeted each person in turn. Though junior in seniority, his cultivation placed him on equal footing, and no one dared assume superiority. He responded calmly to each greeting—until he reached the front.
There, he fixed his gaze on Xiao Lingyu, who stood beside Wu Yunzi, smiling at him. In that instant, all the suffering he had endured to reach this stage felt worthwhile.
Seeing Chu Mingwei staring so intently at his disciple, Wu Yunzi immediately grew displeased and let out a heavy snort. Chu Mingwei quickly withdrew his gaze and respectfully stepped forward to greet him.
Wu Yunzi responded coldly, then turned to Xiao Lingyu, deliberately blocking Chu Mingwei’s view.
Everyone in the hall saw this exchange clearly. Their gazes subtly shifted toward the obedient, charming young disciple behind Wu Yunzi, and in an instant, all the cunning elders understood, silently cursing Wu Yunzi for pretending to be modest while holding such an advantage.
The one cursing most fiercely, however, was Gu Fengzi. Why had he rushed here personally? Was it not because he had heard of Chu Mingwei’s breakthrough and wanted to act on his earlier plans before anyone else? Yet before he could even bring it up, the matter was already dead in the water.
Seeing how Chu Mingwei’s gaze practically stuck to Xiao Lingyu, Gu Fengzi could no longer deceive himself into thinking it was merely brotherly affection.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Two such rare geniuses—if they were outside, countless cultivators would flock to them. Yet Yuntian Sect had kept everything in-house. What a waste! If only they had been used for a marriage alliance…
Regret struck him. If he had known Chu Mingwei would choose a male partner, he would never have let Xu Wenliang enter seclusion. He would have arranged for more contact between the two—after all, Xu Wenliang was also talented and handsome.
At that very moment, somewhere within Xuankun Sect, Xu Wenliang—who was in seclusion—suddenly sneezed several times, sensing something amiss. Frowning, he opened his eyes and began to divine the cause.
Back in the hall, Gu Fengzi maintained a friendly smile while inwardly grumbling. Then his expression shifted slightly. Calmly lifting his teacup, he hid a faint, satisfied smile before setting it down.
Seeing that the conversation ahead had ended, Gu Fengzi cleared his throat and spoke with a smile, “Mingwei is truly outstanding—his future is limitless.”
As Sect Master of Xuankun Sect and a Nascent Soul expert himself, he was qualified to address Chu Mingwei directly.
Just as Chu Mingwei was about to respond, Gu Fengzi changed the subject. “Focusing on cultivation is good, but the path of cultivation is long. Having a like-minded Dao companion would be a wonderful thing. My Xuankun Sect has several excellent disciples—what do you think?”
At once, everyone in the hall pricked up their ears.
Many had come with similar intentions, but had hesitated. Now, with Gu Fengzi speaking first, their thoughts stirred again.
Xiao Lingyu, hearing this, felt a flicker of anger. The feeling of someone coveting his Senior Brother was deeply unpleasant.
The Old Ghost cackled, “Better hurry, or your dear Senior Brother will be snatched away.”
“Be quiet.”
Silently casting a muting spell, Xiao Lingyu lowered his gaze. Unable to act now due to his low cultivation, he resolved that one day, once he reached the Nascent Soul stage, he would settle this account properly.
While Xiao Lingyu restrained himself, Wu Yunzi did not.
What was this? Gu Fengzi wanted to compete with his disciple for Chu Mingwei?
Wu Yunzi shot Chu Mingwei a fierce glare—leaving Chu Mingwei, quite literally, caught in the crossfire.
Glancing quickly at Xiao Lingyu, Chu Mingwei composed himself and replied with a smile, “Thank you for your concern, Senior. I already have a Dao companion.”
“Oh?” Gu Fengzi pressed. “I’ve heard no such news. Are you deceiving me?”
Just as Chu Mingwei considered his reply, Wu Yunzi cut in sharply, “Mingwei, what did you say to me in the back mountain that day?”
Chu Mingwei froze—then his face lit with disbelief and joy as he looked toward Xiao Lingyu.
Seeing his disciple too overwhelmed to speak, Ling Xiaozi quickly sent a voice transmission, “Strike while the iron is hot.”
Chu Mingwei immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply. “This disciple, Chu Mingwei, has long admired my junior brother. I humbly request that Martial Uncle Wu grant permission for us to become Dao companions. At that time, my cultivation was insufficient, so I vowed to wait until reaching the Nascent Soul stage before asking. Now that I have barely achieved it, I ask for your approval.”
As he finished, Ling Xiaozi’s expression turned peculiar.
Wu Yunzi, smiling broadly, replied, “At the time, your cultivation was lacking, so I was unwilling to entrust Lingyu to you. Since you vowed to wait until reaching the Nascent Soul stage, I will reluctantly agree. Fortunately, you’ve made something of yourself. From now on, I entrust Lingyu to you. May you walk the path of longevity together.”
Ling Xiaozi’s expression grew even more bizarre.
Wu Yunzi… could you be any more shameless?
Regardless, Chu Mingwei and Xiao Lingyu stood respectfully before Wu Yunzi and spoke in unison, “We will heed Master’s teachings.”
Ling Xiaozi blinked.
What about me?
In the end, everyone came in celebration and left in celebration. As for the formal Dao companion ceremony, Wu Yunzi declared it should wait until Chu Mingwei’s cultivation stabilized.
After seeing everyone off, leaving only Gu Fengzi behind, the two Sect Masters moved aside.
With a polite smile, Gu Fengzi said quietly, “I’ve helped you put on this act. When will you fulfill your promise?”
Ling Xiaozi smiled as if welcoming him again, but snorted softly. “What act? Wasn’t forming an alliance your plan all along? I simply gave you the chance to voice it.”
Seeing Gu Fengzi’s expression shift, Ling Xiaozi added, “Why the rush? The Chutian Secret Realm won’t open for another twenty years. I’ll honor my promise.”
Gu Fengzi sighed helplessly. He had known this old fox would not make things easy—but with twenty years to go, there was no need to hurry.
Watching Gu Fengzi leave in frustration, Ling Xiaozi felt his earlier irritation melt away.
Sure enough, seeing someone else more frustrated than himself made everything feel much better.