Previously, the system couldn't detect the pillar's cultivation level and aptitude, but now he can withstand the void turbulence with his bare hands. This kid is definitely not as simple as he seems on the surface.
Lin Zhou frowned and carefully examined the pillar. It still looked bewildered, clutching the bamboo branch with innocent eyes. Apart from its unusual behavior just now, it looked like an ordinary child.
"Weren't you...aren't you afraid just now?" Lin Zhou couldn't help but ask.
Zhu Zi shook his head, looking innocent: "Don't be afraid, it's warm outside, it doesn't hurt at all."
Warm? Lin Zhou's doubts grew even stronger.
The void turbulence was clearly bone-chillingly cold and accompanied by a tearing pain, so how did it become "warm" in the pillar's mouth?
He stared at the pillar, trying to find a trace of unusual aura from it, but no matter how he sensed it, the pillar only had the aura of an ordinary person, without any fluctuation of spiritual power or any special source power.
"What secret is this child hiding..." Lin Zhou wondered to himself.
He was certain that Zhu Zi was no ordinary orphan, and that the Master's entrustment of him was probably not simply because he was incapable and wanted him to survive.
The void continued to recede rapidly, and stars flashed by like fireflies.
Lin Zhou withdrew his gaze and stopped worrying. Since he couldn't see anything unusual for the time being, he would take him with him for now. When the time was right, Zhu Zi's secret would eventually be exposed.
He quickened his pace, the pale golden protective shield streaking through the void as he headed towards the Greater Azure Profound Realm.
The speed of void escape far exceeds that of ordinary realm travel. In just two hours, Lin Zhou arrived at the Qingyun Sect's mountain gate with Zhu Zi.
The mountain gate was shrouded in mist, and the bluestone path wound its way upwards. The familiar outlines of the palaces were faintly visible in the mist, which was the Qingyun Sect that he had founded.
"We've arrived." Lin Zhou put away the protective shield and landed on the square in front of the mountain gate with the pillar.
Xiao Chen, who had been waiting there, immediately led his three junior brothers and sisters, Su She, Jiang Li, and Shi Tou, to greet them.
The four men's eyes lit up the moment they saw Lin Zhou. They bowed and clasped their hands in greeting, their voices respectful yet warm: "Welcome back, Master!"
They had only made halfway through their bowing gesture when their gazes fell on the pillar behind Lin Zhou, and they froze instantly.
It was a little boy of seven or eight years old, wearing a faded short-sleeved shirt, clutching an ordinary bamboo stick in his hand.
His eyes were blank, and there was no spiritual energy fluctuation in his body; he was clearly just an ordinary child.
"Master, who is this child?" Jiang Li couldn't help but ask curiously, her clear eyes full of doubt.
Su She scratched his head and guessed, "Could it be a new disciple that Master has taken in? Is our Qingyun Sect about to have a new member?"
Stone, being honest and simple-minded, laughed and said, "Shouldn't we call him Fifth Junior Brother? He looks kind of cute."
The four of them stood around the pillar, chatting amongst themselves, their eyes full of curiosity.
They had followed Lin Zhou for so long and had never seen their master bring back any outsiders, let alone such a young mortal child.
Lin Zhou waved his hand, his tone calm but casual: "That's roughly the idea. His name is Zhuzi. He'll be staying at the Qingyun Sect from now on. Please take good care of him."
He didn't explain the origin of the pillar, nor did he mention the Lingxiao Star Region. In his view, there was no need to explain these things to his disciples.
Xiao Chen looked at the pillar, his brows furrowing slightly before relaxing.
He recalled that when Lin Zhou saved him, he had also lost all his cultivation, and only later, with the help of his master, was he able to cultivate again.
Could it be that this child is like me, just temporarily lacking cultivation?
He suppressed his suspicions, put on a gentle smile, and slowly squatted down to be at eye level with the pillar.
He gently patted his head and said in a soft voice, "Hello, Zhu Zi. My name is Xiao Chen, and I am the senior disciple of the Qingyun Sect."
"Welcome to Qingyun Sect. From now on, this will be your home. We are all one family."
When Xiao Chen patted Zhu Zi's head, Zhu Zi didn't flinch. Instead, he gave a simple, honest smile, his eyes crinkling into crescents, and called out in a clear voice, "Hello, Senior Brother!"
Looking at the pillar's simple and honest appearance, Stone couldn't help but laugh.
He himself was straightforward and honest by nature, and seeing Zhu Zi's pure smile, he felt inexplicably close to him.
He stepped forward, brandished his weapon at the pillar, and said in a cheerful tone, "Pillar, my name is Stone. If you ever get bullied, come to me and I'll help you!"
Zhu Zi looked at the small giant axe in Shi Tou's hand, curiously reached out to touch it, then quickly withdrew his hand and nodded to Shi Tou: "Thank you, Senior Brother Shi Tou!"
Jiang Li also stepped forward, took out a crystal-clear candy from her storage bag, and handed it to Zhu Zi with a gentle smile: "Zhu Zi, I am your third senior sister Su Qing. Here, have this. It's very sweet."
Su She scratched his head, not knowing anything about cultivation, and could only smile and say, "I am the second senior brother, Su She. If you have any questions about cultivation in the future, even though you don't have any cultivation level yet, I can teach you!"
Seeing the disciples' enthusiasm for the pillar, a barely perceptible hint of tenderness flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes.
When he arrived at Qingyun Sect, he had a safe place to stay. Now that the disciples are harmonious, adding another pillar has brought a touch of warmth and life to the place.
He coughed lightly, interrupting their interaction: "Alright, Xiao Chen, take Zhu Zi to prepare a place to stay and get him some clothes that fit."
"The others should continue their cultivation or handle sect affairs as appropriate. Do not slack off."
"Yes, Master!" the four replied in unison.
Xiao Chen stood up, extended his hand to Zhu Zi, and said with a smile, "Zhu Zi, come with me, I'll show you your room."
Zhu Zi looked at Xiao Chen's hand, then looked back at Lin Zhou. Seeing Lin Zhou nod, he carefully took Xiao Chen's hand and followed him toward the disciples' living area within the sect.
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Jiang Li couldn't help but say to Lin Zhou, "Master, Zhu Zi looks so well-behaved, I just wonder when he'll be able to start cultivating!"
Lin Zhou said calmly, "No rush, let's wait until he gets used to it."
He thought to himself that since the pillar could withstand even the turbulent void with his bare hands, it might not need ordinary cultivation methods at all. However, this secret still needed to be explored slowly.
Lin Zhou sat upright on a futon in the secluded meditation hall, his left palm outstretched, a hazy mass of chaotic energy floating above it.
It was that half wisp of innate energy, with the light of origin faintly flowing within the energy cluster. Although it was only half, it still exuded terrifying energy enough to reshape the world.
With a slight twitch of his fingertips, pure spiritual energy surged forth from his body like a tide, slowly enveloping the chaotic energy mass.
The moment spiritual power and innate energy come into contact, there is no conflict; instead, they merge like streams flowing into the ocean.
As spiritual energy continued to flow in, the chaotic energy mass gradually contracted and condensed, eventually transforming into a palm-sized phantom.
The illusory image is shrouded in mist and clouds, and the outlines of mountains and rivers can be vaguely seen, which is the prototype of a blessed land.
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