Zanxing never understood until the very end why, whenever she mentioned that she and Mu Cengxiao would be going to the secret realm for trials, both Mendong and Gu Baiying looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Therefore, she naturally had no idea that after she left, the Xiaoyao Hall nearly turned upside down.

Mendong sat on the ground, earnestly trying to persuade: “Martial Uncle, we absolutely cannot let them go to the secret realm for trials. These young men and women are at the age when their blood runs hot. Once they encounter danger in that secret realm and work together through adversity, it would be hard for them not to develop feelings from shared hardships! If they get carried away in a moment of passion, like dry kindling meeting fierce fire… who knows which night they might secretly engage in dual cultivation behind everyone’s backs!”

“Shut your mouth!” Gu Baiying said irritably, “Mu Cengxiao likes Liu Yunxin, and she’s already been brought into the sect. How could he develop feelings for Yang Zanxing?”

“Martial Uncle, how can you be so naive? Don’t you understand men?” Mendong spoke with righteous indignation, spittle flying: “What is a man’s nature? Even if Mu Cengxiao has Liu Yunxin in his heart, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. What if he becomes desperate and indiscriminate, only seeking momentary pleasure?”

Gu Baiying flicked his forehead hard with his finger: “I always tell you to read more books and use fewer random expressions. What nonsense are you spouting?”

“In any case, Martial Uncle, you absolutely cannot allow them to be alone together!” Mendong said urgently, “We cannot afford to take this risk. The master doesn’t even know yet that the Qin Chong seed is in Yang Zanxing’s body. There’s still a chance to remedy the situation now, but once the Qin Chong seed changes hosts, there will never be another opportunity for transfer! Martial Uncle, please think carefully!”

“I understand.” Gu Baiying stood up impatiently, temporarily suppressing the irritation between his brows. “Let me think about how to speak to Master tomorrow.”

New inner disciples going to secret realm trials was an old tradition of the Taiyan Sect. Even though he made it sound easy, if he rashly proposed not letting Zanxing or Mu Cengxiao go, it would inevitably arouse suspicion. After the great war between humans and demons, Shaoyang Zhenren’s cultivation had still not recovered to this day, and they couldn’t burden him with more worries.

The young man walked to the window, gazing at the brilliantly blooming flower tree in the courtyard, and let out a gentle sigh.

Perhaps… this was heaven’s will.

He should not have lived until now.

……

Early the next morning, Gu Baiying went to the Jinhua Hall.

Unlike Xuan Lingzi, who always slept until the sun was high in the sky, Shaoyang Zhenren slept at hai hour and rose at chen hour every day, never varying by a moment. When Gu Baiying arrived at Jinhua Hall, Zhao Mayi and Yueguang Daoren were also there.

Breakfast was set on the small table. While ordinary sect disciples went to the dining hall for meals, each hall had its small kitchen. Throughout the entire Taiyan Sect, those most particular about food were probably Jinhua Hall and Miaokong Hall.

Xuan Lingzi loved to eat, but he always preferred ordinary mortal food from Pingyang Town at the foot of the mountain. Though delicious, it provided no benefits for cultivation. Sect Master Shaoyang Zhenren was different – his meals emphasized the balance of meat and vegetables, nutritional equilibrium, with ingredients selected from places abundant in spiritual energy. The cooking methods were mostly steaming and boiling, light and gentle, more carefully prepared than medicinal cuisine in imperial palaces.

The sect disciples privately envied Jinhua Hall’s recipes. After all, for a hundred-year-old man to maintain such a youthful appearance must largely be due to dietary therapy. Yueguang Daoren was also advanced in years, and Zhao Mayi had nothing to do in the sect, so these two often came to Jinhua Hall for free meals.

The three were sitting at the table eating when they saw Gu Baiying arrive. Zhao Mayi smiled and greeted him: “Seventh Junior Brother came so early, would you like to eat together?”

Gu Baiying glanced at the table full of green, boiled vegetables and frowned slightly: “I’ve already eaten.”

“Junior Brother doesn’t like eating this old man’s food.” Yueguang Daoren smiled knowingly. “Baiying, there are walnut cookies on the long table, made personally by the Sect Master without sugar. Take some to eat.”

Shaoyang Zhenren fasted every few days, didn’t eat sugar, and used very little oil. Gu Baiying walked to sit at the long table, where a plate of walnut cookies was arranged. They were made small to avoid the temptation of eating too many.

Gu Baiying picked up one, examining it absent-mindedly while thinking about how to approach Shaoyang Zhenren later. In just a moment, the three had finished eating. Disciples cleared away the empty bowls and plates, and Shaoyang Zhenren rose to sit at the long table and began brewing tea.

His movements were very slow and careful. If one ignored that handsome, otherworldly face, he looked no different from a hundred-year-old mortal man who was pure-hearted and had few desires.

Just as Gu Baiying was about to speak, he heard Shaoyang Zhenren say: “Baiying, you came at just the right time. The list of disciples going to the Li’er Kingdom secret realm trials has been prepared. Remember to give it to Xuan Lingzi.”

Gu Baiying hesitated: “Sect Master, who are the disciples going to Li’er Kingdom?”

“Just the usual arrangement.” Zhao Mayi interjected from the side: “The three new inner disciples that Sixth Junior Brother recently accepted, Mendong, and Meng Ying, who just came out of seclusion, plus Zi Luo – six people exactly.”

“Hasn’t Zi Luo already been to Li’er Kingdom?”

“The Li’er Kingdom’s secret realm only opens once every ten years. Although most of the opportunities in the secret realm have been divided up, all the major sects in Duzhou still use this secret realm as the primary trial ground for new disciples. This year will also gather promising new talents from various major sects.” Yueguang Daoren sighed softly: “You also know that our sect is not as glorious as it once was. Among the newly emerged disciples, those who have reached the Yuan Ying stage can be counted on one hand. With Zi Luo going along, at least we can preserve some face.”

Gu Baiying remained silent.

Shaoyang Zhenren, who was brewing tea, spoke unhurriedly: “There’s no need for self-deprecation. The three disciples Xuan Lingzi accepted this time all have considerable immortal fate and wisdom roots. They may not necessarily perform poorly in the secret realm. I believe they might gain more from this secret realm trial than Zi Luo.”

“That’s true.” Zhao Mayi stroked his beard: “In the Xumi Jiezi Map, both Yang Zanxing and Mu Cengxiao defeated Mo Sha. Based on this alone, they can hold their heads high among the new disciples in the cultivation world. Meng Ying is a genius, Zi Luo has already been one, and Mendong is there because of his ‘Spiritual Immortal Aperture.’ Only these three new disciples truly represent our sect’s reputation – other sects are all watching.”

Gu Baiying’s fingers holding the pastry curved slightly. The conversation had reached this point – Yang Zanxing and Mu Cengxiao would be going to the Li’er Kingdom secret realm. But… Mendong’s words echoed in his ears: “Martial Uncle, we absolutely cannot let them go to the secret realm for trials. These young men and women are at the age when their blood runs hot. Once they encounter danger in that secret realm and work together through adversity, it would be hard for them not to develop feelings from shared hardships! If they get carried away… like dry kindling meeting fierce fire, who knows which night they might secretly engage in dual cultivation behind everyone’s backs!”

“Junior Brother, why aren’t you speaking?” Yueguang Daoren reminded him: “You’re about to crush that walnut cookie.”

Gu Baiying came back to his senses, put down the walnut cookie, and in an instant made a decision. He looked at Shaoyang Zhenren and said, “Sect Master, let me go to this Li’er Kingdom secret realm trial instead.”

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

Shaoyang Zhenren’s tea-brewing movement paused: “What did you say?”

“I said,” the young man picked up the tea in front of him, took a sip, and placed the empty cup on the table: “I also want to go to the Li’er Kingdom secret realm.”