Chapter 218 Cultivation Path A (Part Twelve) Path A's combat power is maxed out...
"Senior, let's go."
Ayao pulled Song Ce and turned to leave. Only after they had walked a long way did she whisper, "Thank you for saving that person's life just now."
Song Ce picked up a fallen leaf from his sleeve and said calmly, "You don't need to thank me. The death energy of the Soul-Severing Abyss will slowly erode his cultivation. In less than seven days, his dantian will shatter, and he will never be able to cultivate again. For a cultivator, living like this is more painful than dying."
"What did you say?"
Ayao was stunned by what she heard, instinctively clutching her sleeve, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. She had never imagined that saving a life could cause such painful torment.
She was indeed too naive.
"Don't be afraid." Song Ce interrupted her thoughts, casually tossing the withered leaf into the river. "I'm here for you."
Just those four simple words brought a sense of peace to Ayao's heart.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and the various exits of the Moon Gazing Cliff Secret Realm, which had been tightly closed, were opened.
During this time, under Song Ce's guidance, A Yao's cultivation level, which was barely at the Foundation Establishment stage, also rose to the late Foundation Establishment stage. Not only that, the Chaos Golden Lotus that Xuan Mengzi, the sect master of the Jade Balance Sect, wanted was also refined into a pill by him and fed directly to A Yao.
Ayao originally possessed both water and fire spiritual roots. After being purified by this Golden Lotus Spirit Pill, the faint trace of fire spiritual root within her body was gradually eliminated. In just half a month, her spiritual roots changed from dual spiritual roots to a single water spiritual root, and her cultivation speed increased by leaps and bounds.
Soon, the two found a secluded exit and left the secret realm.
Ayao took a deep breath, gazing at the slender, upright figure ahead, and couldn't help but smile. They had stayed in this Moon Gazing Cliff secret realm for half a year, and suddenly seeing the outside world gave her a feeling of being in another world.
"Senior, where are you planning to go next?"
Song Ce turned around, looked at her with a faint smile, and said, "I happen to have something to do and am about to go to the Xuan Tian Sect. What about you?"
"Really?" A Yao's face lit up with joy. She glanced at him secretly and whispered, "I've been out training for quite some time, so naturally I should return to the sect to report as soon as possible. If you don't mind, senior, how about we travel together to my Xuan Tian Sect?"
Song Ce nodded, a slight smile curving his lips: "Alright."
And so, the two embarked on their journey to the Xuantian Sect together.
Meanwhile, the air inside the Purple Cloud Hall of the Xuantian Sect was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, but it could not dispel the tense atmosphere among the group.
Wen Wendan sat upright in the front seat, her face somewhat pale. Several months ago, she had her heart meridians damaged by the spiritual energy rebounded from that senior in the secret realm. Although she had recuperated for several months, her cultivation at the late Foundation Establishment stage had not only failed to improve at all, but had even shown signs of slight regression.
"Senior Sister, it seems Junior Sister will be returning soon." A tall female cultivator named Luo Lianyan stood in the hall, her brows furrowed. "What happened to her in the secret realm... if Fairy Tianxin finds out..."
"Why are you panicking?" Wen Wendan raised his hand to rub his temples, his voice weak. "Given Junior Sister's gentle and timid nature, she might not dare to speak up even if she's been wronged. As for that mysterious cultivator who saved her, he won't come back with Junior Sister anyway. As long as we don't provoke him, everything will be fine."
“Senior Sister Wen is right.” Yan Mujian nodded and continued, “Ayao is gentle by nature. As long as we say a few kind words to her, this matter can be resolved…” Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from outside the hall: “Senior Sister Wen, Junior Sister Ayao has returned. The sect leader wants to invite you all to come over.”
Wen Wendan and Yan Mujian exchanged a glance, their hearts tightening. Why was it Sect Leader Xuan Mengzi who sent them after their training trip? Where was their master, Daoist Yunhe?
"Alright, Mu Jian and I will go right away." Wen Wendan composed herself and dismissed the messenger disciple with a gentle demeanor.
Before long, Wen Wendan and the others arrived at the Wutong Hall, where Sect Leader Xuan Mengzi was located. However, when they saw the handsome figure inside the hall, they all froze on the spot.
Song Ce glanced indifferently at the four people who were walking towards him, and finally his gaze landed on Wen Wendan, giving her a faint smile.
The original owner of this body was handsome, but in Wen Wendan's eyes, he looked very unfriendly, and every move he made made her feel uncomfortable.
She never expected that this person would actually follow A Yao back to the Xuan Tian Sect!
"Sect Leader, Sect Leader." Wen Wendan and his group suppressed their shock and bowed to Xuan Mengzi, who was in a high position. "May I ask why you have summoned us here?"
Xuan Mengzi picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Your junior sister has had a tough training trip this time, and both her spiritual roots and cultivation have improved a lot. But you guys, it's one thing that your cultivation hasn't improved since you came back, but why is your dantian still a bit unstable?"
"This...it must be because they were so concerned about A Yao and took care of her in the secret realm that their cultivation has stalled a bit." Daoist Yunhe smoothed out the wrinkles on his sleeves and chuckled as he tried to smooth things over.
Normally, this Daoist Yunhe has always favored Wen Wendan and Yan Mujian. Even if he knew what they had done in the Wangyue Cliff Secret Realm, he would find all sorts of reasons to protect them.
Upon hearing this, Wen Wendan lowered her eyes and forced a smile: "Junior Sister's extraordinary encounter is due to her own diligence. We, as her senior brothers and sisters, are only doing our duty to take care of her." Although she said this, her hands, which were hanging in her sleeves, were clenched tightly, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.
"Congratulations, Junior Sister." Yan Mujian stepped forward and smiled, "But I wonder how your spiritual root has improved, as the Sect Leader mentioned?"
"You still don't know?" Xuan Mengzi laughed heartily, "A Yao now possesses a single, pure water elemental root!"
"What??"
Wen Wendan and the others looked as if they had been struck by lightning, and all the color drained from their faces instantly.
They understood better than anyone what a single water elemental root meant to the Xuan Tian Sect. Within the entire sect, aside from Fairy Tianxin who spent her days in seclusion, only Sect Leader Yan Songzi possessed a single elemental root. Even the Sect Leader's lightning elemental root was far from pure.
Ayao's original dual water and fire spiritual roots were only considered above average among the disciples. How could she have transformed into a single, pure water spiritual root, a rare find in a century, after only half a year at Wangyue Cliff? It seems she truly gained a lot of opportunities during this trip to the secret realm!
Luo Lianyan opened her mouth, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out, "This...how is this possible..."
"The journey to the secret realm is inherently full of variables; nothing is impossible," Song Ce, sitting next to A Yao, suddenly spoke up, speaking calmly.
Wen Wendan and the others subconsciously looked at Song Ce, only to see him with indifferent expressions, as if he had just casually replied. But when his clear and sharp gaze swept over them, they inexplicably felt a chill in their hearts.
Upon hearing this, Fairy Tianxin, who sat to the left of Xuanmengzi, smiled. She put down her teacup and slowly said, "Fellow Daoist, you protected Ayao and helped her purify her spiritual root. I, Tianxin, will remember this kindness."
Wen Wendan and the others then came to their senses and bowed to Song Ce, saying, "Thank you for taking care of our junior sister, senior. It was our oversight in the secret realm before. We hope you will forgive us."
Song Ce glanced at them indifferently, without replying.
This silent embarrassment made Wen Wendan's face turn bright red instantly, leaving her standing there in a dilemma.
Seeing that the atmosphere in the hall was a bit stiff, Xuan Mengzi coughed lightly to break the silence: "Ayao has gained a lot from this training trip. According to the sect rules, you should be rewarded. Starting tomorrow, you will move to Lingxi Pavilion, which is more suitable for your cultivation."
Lingxi Pavilion is the place with the most abundant spiritual energy in the Xuantian Sect. Next to it is Hanyue Pool, where the spiritual spring water is the best for nourishing water spiritual roots, which will greatly benefit her future cultivation.
Upon hearing this, A Yao quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Yes, thank you, Sect Leader."
After everyone in the hall dispersed, A Yao bid farewell to Song Ce and Fairy Tianxin, and followed the guiding disciple to Lingxi Pavilion.
After seeing A Yao leave, Song Ce was about to follow her when Fairy Tianxin suddenly called him back.
"Fellow Daoist Song, please wait. There were many people and distractions in the hall just now. Would you be willing to have a chat with us inside Tianxin Peak?"
Song Ce paused, then smiled and nodded, saying, "Of course."
"Fellow Daoist Song, please follow me."
Before long, the two arrived one after the other at Fairy Tianxin's secluded cultivation place—Tranquil Heart Peak. After settling down, Fairy Tianxin took out a bulging storage bag from her storage ring and smiled, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Song, for taking care of my daughter in the secret realm. I am deeply grateful. This is just a small token of my appreciation."
"No need, it's just a small favor." Song Ce smiled faintly and pushed the storage bag back. "Besides sending A Yao back to the sect, I have something else to tell you."
"Please speak, Fellow Daoist Song."
"I wonder if Fairy Tianxin is aware of the matter of Ayao being bullied by her fellow disciples?"
Fairy Tianxin was stunned for a moment, then said angrily, "What did you say?"
Song Ce looked directly at her and recounted in detail what Wen Wendan and the others had done in the Moon Gazing Cliff Secret Realm. His voice was calm and even, as if he were talking about something trivial, but to Fairy Tianxin, every word he spoke was like a thunderclap.
"If you have any doubts about what I have said, you may take a look at this." With that, Song Ce took out a recording stone from his storage bag, gathered spiritual power at his fingertips and gently tapped it. All the scenes in the secret realm were clearly reflected in mid-air.
Upon seeing this, Fairy Tianxin was furious. She slammed her hand on the table, her spiritual power surging wildly: "These wretches! How dare they treat my Ayao like this! They have such audacity!"
Song Ce looked at her quietly and said softly, "Fairy, please calm down. A Yao is kind-hearted. If she hadn't encountered danger in this secret realm, she would probably still be kept in the dark."
"Innocent and kind?" Fairy Tianxin closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her eyes filled with frost. "In this Nine Provinces Continent, innocence and kindness are nothing but easy prey! Fellow Daoist Song, please wait a moment, I'll go right away..."
"Please wait, fairy."
Before Fairy Tianxin could finish speaking, Song Ce raised his hand to stop her, fast-forwarded the image from the recording stone to the Broken Soul Gorge, and let Fairy Tianxin quickly watch the whole thing.
"Ah Yao, she... she's so stupid!"
Song Ce's gaze darkened slightly as he looked at the dejected Fairy Tianxin before him and said calmly, "Fairy, a thousand lectures are not as effective as one demonstration. Only through self-realization can one grow. What do you think, Fairy?"
These words struck a chord with Fairy Tianxin. She took a deep breath and sighed, "Fellow Daoist Song has considered everything carefully. It's time for Ayao to suffer a bit. But..." She looked at Song Ce, her gaze probing, "Why are you helping Ayao so much?"
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Author's Note: [Starry-eyed]
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