A few days later
After Dongfang Xiaotian and Beichen Yue deactivated the Spirit Refining Grand Array that had covered the entire Miasma Forest.
Thanks to the Grade Three Bloodburst Pill gifted by Tushan Bingxian, the youngest junior brother made a dazzling display by single-handedly slaying several Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators, successfully compensating for the lack of Foundation Establishment combat power.
Meanwhile, Second Junior Sister Tushan Bingxian also lived up to expectations, successfully bringing the Dean of Four Sages Academy, Zhuang Biru, into the ruins of the academy and personally crushing the demonic cultivators there.
Although the Four Sages Academy suffered significant casualties, this was still an undeniably major victory for them.
Adding to this, with the introductory array manual Dongfang Xiaotian gave to Jiang Li, there was no doubt that Jiang Li claimed the greatest merit in this incident, becoming the hottest figure in the current Four Sages Academy.
Tushan Bingxian also received great merit for successfully bringing the academy’s elders and inner disciples to reinforce them.
As for the matter of Xiao Yuanqing, Beichen Yue did not mention a word of it to the Four Sages Academy, for Dongfang Xiaotian’s intention was clear: to protect Xiao Yuanqing.
Though Xiao Yuanqing had disappeared for now, he would return one day, and his character could not collapse.
As for the Xiao Clan, they quickly severed ties with Li Shiwu and Li Shiwu, claiming their actions were personal and had nothing to do with the clan.
In short, although the Xiao Clan lost two peak late-Foundation Establishment experts and many Foundation disciples all at once, with a Golden Core guardian beast and the clan head still alive on the surface, both Four Sages Academy and the City Lord’s Manor dared not act rashly.
But without a doubt, both sides were now quietly amassing strength, waiting for the chance to wipe out the other.
“Speaking of which, that Dongfang Xiaotian fellow has been gone three days already. Why isn’t he back yet?”
***
Tushan Bingxian and Beichen Yue had agreed to meet before the sect gates. Chun’er couldn’t help but complain about Dongfang Xiaotian’s slowness.
Today was the day Beichen Yue, having recovered from her injuries in the sect, was to leave. Although they hadn’t known each other long, they were at least friends—seeing her off was only right.
Of course, there were some things Chun’er couldn’t say.
For instance, that her mistress’s injuries had mostly healed on the very first day, and she could have set off long ago.
Beichen Yue saw that the servants had everything ready for departure and sighed helplessly.
“Since Young Master Xiao’s disappearance, Young Master Dongfang has been in low spirits—he’s likely searching for Xiao. Chun’er, if you’re in a hurry, why don’t you check again if our supplies are sufficient?”
“Oh.”
Chun’er nodded and immediately set about rechecking the supplies in her hands.
***
After leaving the ruins, Beichen Yue sold off some of her Lingdan Miaoyao to earn enough spirit stones and successfully got through the crisis.
Whether heading south or north, the journey would require quite a bit of expense, and since she wasn’t traveling alone, the amount of procurement and preparation was naturally greater.
“If he doesn’t come, you all might as well not wait any longer.”
Tushan Bingxian was gazing toward the ruins, hoping Beichen Yue, now stripped of her status as Senior Brother’s fiancée, would leave soon.
She glanced at their caravan and asked, “So, did you finish what he entrusted you with?”
Beichen Yue nodded slightly, then looked at her palanquin, inside which a girl of twelve or thirteen was soundly asleep.
The girl’s features were delicate and still a little childlike, her thick hair tied in two ponytails, giving her a lively look.
At last, Beichen Yue understood why Dongfang Xiaotian had no feelings for this girl. She was so young—how could anyone think of marrying her? That had been needless worry.
Yet the younger this girl was, the more it proved the Li family’s wolfish ambitions were truly despicable.
The reason Xiao Yuanxiang was in Beichen Yue’s carriage was also part of Dongfang Xiaotian’s arrangements.
After hearing about Xiao Yuanqing from Li Yuze, Dongfang Xiaotian instructed Second Junior Sister to go undercover as a Xiao clan disciple once she’d brought reinforcements, using Li Yuze’s Yao Pai to bring Xiao Yuanxiang down the mountain.
Tushan Bingxian did not disappoint—she succeeded in bringing out Xiao Yuanqing’s little sister.
Of course, merely bringing her out wasn’t enough.
With Xiao Yuanqing gone, no one knew when he’d return.
Without his protection, Xiao Yuanxiang could easily become a lamb for the slaughter in the Xiao branch, Four Sages Academy, or even the City Lord’s Manor.
To prevent Xiao Yuanxiang from coming to harm before Xiao Yuanqing returned, Beichen Yue, taking advantage of the branch’s Grand Elder being in seclusion, “invited” Xiao Yuanxiang out for tea—in truth, she simply brought her back to Ice Ling Immortal Palace as a direct disciple.
This way, even if the branch wanted to reach for her, their hand could never stretch into the Ice Ling Immortal Palace.
“Until Xiao Yuanqing returns, I’ll leave that little girl to you.”
Tushan Bingxian looked into the carriage at the sleeping Xiao Yuanxiang with some envy.
“Her whole sect went through a huge ordeal, and yet that little girl can sleep so soundly. It seems Xiao Yuanqing protected her well. Whether that’s a blessing or a curse, who can say?”
“For now, let’s respect Young Master Xiao’s wishes.”
Beichen Yue said calmly, “Let’s not let her know too much.”
On this matter, the two girls immediately found consensus. Yet even so, Beichen Yue still had many questions about Dongfang Xiaotian, but wasn’t sure if she should ask Tushan Bingxian.
She glanced again at the sleeping Xiao Yuanxiang and couldn’t help but sigh, “Young Master Dongfang is truly… How many in the world would fight tooth and nail for a spot as an inner disciple of Ice Ling Immortal Palace, and yet he can casually gift the place to another. Truly admirable.”
Tushan Bingxian seemed quite pleased, saying, “Him? He’s probably planning to have Xiao Yuanqing owe him for this—he must already have calculated exactly how many spirit stones a spot as an inner disciple is worth.”
Beichen Yue’s refined face broke into a small smile. “That’s true as well.”
Tushan Bingxian noticed Beichen Yue seemed to have something on her mind and asked, “What’s wrong? Still have something you want to ask? Seeing as you’re leaving, and I’m in a good mood, maybe I’ll answer a few of your questions.”
“It would be impolite to refuse.”
Beichen Yue smiled slightly, then recalled what the “Sage” had once said. “Miss Tushan, do you know of ‘Thousand Talismans, Thousand Swords, Thousand Mechanisms Swift’?”
“Oh, that? I see, he’s shown you his Divine Talisman Arts. Since you’ve been in seclusion for three years, it’s no surprise you haven’t heard of it.”
Tushan Bingxian answered without hesitation, “That’s an immortal technique of a certain great power of Shenghua, but what you’ve seen is a crude imitation—just surface-level, not the true Thousand Talismans technique. For him, in the future, controlling twenty or thirty at once will be pretty good.”
“After all, most immortal techniques rely on both technique and Xinfa. Without the Xinfa, the limit is much lower.”
Beichen Yue nodded, then asked, “Miss Tushan, do you know of the Great Dream Xin Scripture?”
“He actually told you about that?” Tushan Bingxian looked surprised.
Beichen Yue shook her head. “It wasn’t the young master himself who told me, but something revealed by the ‘Sage’ in conversation.”
“Oh, I see.”
Tushan Bingxian nodded and said calmly, “That’s the technique my master cultivates. If one’s own conditions are met, it can simulate anyone’s arts or immortal techniques. I couldn’t manage it, so my master taught me Ice Arts instead.”
Beichen Yue immediately grew concerned. “But if he’s simulated so many side arts, wouldn’t that limit Young Master Dongfang’s future potential?”
Tushan Bingxian shook her head, arms folded in thought. “Rather than say it’s a limit, I’d say the paths open to him are broader than ours.”
“Take this experience as an example. Even if Dongfang Xiaotian’s spiritual sea is damaged, it restricts him far less than it would others—he’s still among the most formidable in the Foundation Establishment stage. Honestly, I don’t even know how much strength he’s hiding.”
Thinking back, Beichen Yue realized Dongfang Xiaotian rarely relied on spiritual power in battle.
Against weak foes, he used body refinement skills; faced with arrays, he broke them; confronted by powerful enemies, he used talismans.
Beichen Yue grew curious. “The two seniors’ master must be a renowned cultivator?”
Dongfang Xiaotian had only traveled for five years, so he couldn’t have learned much from his master, yet he’d achieved so much.
Beichen Yue had long guessed that Young Master Dongfang’s master, who could scare off the “Sage,” must not be mortal.
Even with just a few pointers, Dongfang Xiaotian had become like this—his master was surely extraordinary!
“That’s… hard to say.”
Tushan Bingxian’s expression turned helpless at the mention of her master.
“Just think of Dongfang Xiaotian, and you’ll get the idea. The two of them, master and disciple, do nothing but sleep all day or prepare to improve their sleep quality—oh, and eat as soon as they wake up.”
Beichen Yue nodded, indicating she had no more questions.
Tushan Bingxian watched the sun dipping behind the mountain and changed the subject. “It’s almost dusk, and that guy still isn’t here to see you off?”
Although Tushan Bingxian didn’t actually want Senior Brother to see Beichen Yue off, she couldn’t help feeling a bit worried since he hadn’t returned this late.
Beichen Yue frowned slightly at the setting sun. Logically, no matter how concerned Dongfang Xiaotian was about Xiao Yuanqing, he should have come back after searching the ruins for three days.
In these three days, wounds had healed and everything else was settled. It was time to depart, and yet Dongfang Xiaotian still hadn’t shown up.
Could Xiao Yuanqing’s disappearance have affected him that much?
Wait!
Tushan Bingxian’s ears twitched, her fox tail swishing nervously. Could that bastard be hiding away with the marriage contract, refusing to call off the engagement?
Now that she thought about it, Beichen Yue was from a great clan with a powerful background, and Dongfang Xiaotian was notoriously lazy.
Maybe he really was thinking of clinging to this little rich lady and slacking off forever.
“My lady, everyone else is ready.”
Chun’er, seeing the sun nearly set, stepped up to remind her, and tentatively asked, “It’s been a long time already—should we depart? Or wait a little longer?”
Beichen Yue looked at the sun almost lost behind the valley, touched the golden silk scroll tucked in her sleeve, and couldn’t help but sigh. “This marriage contract…”
Just as she was about to bid farewell to Tushan Bingxian, a figure appeared at the foot of the mountain gate and walked up.
There was no doubt—it was Dongfang Xiaotian, returning from the ruins.