After Lin Hu asked that question in return, the atmosphere became momentarily stagnant. Huan Zong looked at Lin Hu expressionlessly. Lin Hu looked at him expressionlessly. The cold wind swept past, and Huan Zong’s robes swayed in the wind.

“You should go rest.” Huan Zong stood up and pushed open the tree house door, lying down on the soft couch where bedding had been laid out.

This was the first time he’d been this close to a girl—so close there was only a door between them. On the tree house walls, simple sword techniques and flowers were carved. He only needed to open his eyes to see them. The breathing sounds from the inner room were slow and steady. Kong Hou was sleeping deeply.

He sat up and crossed his legs to meditate. Although not well-versed in worldly matters, he couldn’t bring himself to sleep peacefully not far from a young girl. There was an indescribable feeling of guilty conscience.

Spiritual energy surged at his spiritual platform, constantly striking the meridians in his limbs. Guiding the spiritual energy to circulate through his meridians throughout his body, suppressing the chaotically surging spiritual energy—when he opened his eyes again, the sky had already brightened. He covered his mouth, suppressing the urge to cough. He glanced back at the inner room which still showed no signs of movement, then flashed out of the tree house. Supporting himself against the tree trunk, he covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed violently.

“Young Master.” Lin Hu hurriedly came forward and handed pills to Huan Zong. Huan Zong opened the handkerchief and swallowed the medicine. “Today is much better than usual.”

Lin Hu glanced at the handkerchief in his hand. There was no blood on it—it truly was better than usual.

It wasn’t convenient to bathe outdoors. Huan Zong went into the carriage to change clothes. After getting off the carriage, he asked Lin Hu, “Those cultivators last night were going to Yuanji Sect to attend a Nascent Soul celebration?”

Lin Hu nodded. “They’re from Longhu Sect.”

“No need to concern ourselves with them.” Huan Zong took two bottles of spiritual liquid and several spiritual fruits from Lin Hu, placed them in a glazed bowl, and returned to the tree house.

Kong Hou woke from her dreams and lazily rolled around on the bed several times before taking water from her storage ring to wash up and groom herself. When she walked to the outer room, she found spiritual fruits and spiritual liquid arranged on the table. Huan Zong sat leaning against the window, head lowered, reading a book.

Seeing her emerge, Huan Zong put away the book. “Did you sleep well last night?”

Kong Hou nodded and sat down at the table. “Reading so early?”

“Would you like to read it?” Huan Zong placed the book in front of her.

“Key Points of Sword Technique Mental Cultivation?” Kong Hou respectfully declined and pushed the book back. “My sword technique can only be considered entry-level. This kind of book isn’t suitable for me.”

Huan Zong handed her the spiritual liquid. “For non-sword cultivators, this kind of book is indeed extremely boring.”

“You’re also a sword cultivator?” Kong Hou opened the spiritual liquid bottle and took a sip. The refreshing fragrance flowed into her limbs and bones, so comfortable that all her meridians relaxed. “The sword cultivators I know all like to hold their swords in hand. I’ve never seen you take out a sword.”

“Sword cultivators and swords truly cannot be separated.” Huan Zong pushed the spiritual fruits in front of Kong Hou. “But upon reaching a certain realm, one can achieve unity of heart and sword. Though I have no sword in hand, I have a sword in my heart.”

“Although I don’t quite understand, it sounds very impressive.” Kong Hou picked up a spiritual fruit and crunched into it, sighing. “Recently my cultivation has been stagnant. I don’t know what’s gone wrong.”

“Cultivation emphasizes the word ‘enlightenment.’ When you comprehend certain things, naturally everything will fall into place.” Huan Zong, seeing her eating so sweetly, couldn’t help but also pick up a fruit and take a bite. “Don’t be too anxious.”

“We’re both five spiritual root cultivators. How did that Zhongxi Zhenren from your esteemed sect manage to reach Divine Transformation Stage by age three hundred?” Kong Hou counted on her fingers. “Look—Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Heart Movement, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Severing, Divine Transformation, Void Refining, Great Vehicle, and Tribulation Transcendence—ten realms total. If he works a bit harder, he can transcend tribulation and ascend.”

“How difficult it is to go from Divine Transformation to Void Refining, let alone transcend tribulation and ascend.” Huan Zong smiled helplessly. “In the entire cultivation world, there’s only one Great Vehicle Stage cultivator who hasn’t appeared in hundreds of years—whether alive or dead is unknown. There are three Void Refining realm cultivators. One of them failed multiple attempts to break through to Great Vehicle Stage and can no longer advance further. When his lifespan is exhausted, it will be time for his demise. Divine Transformation Stage cultivators total fewer than ten. Two of them are in your Yunhua Sect.”

The reason why everyone in Yunhua Sect had easygoing personalities but no one dared provoke them easily was precisely because their sect had two Divine Transformation Stage elders, four Spirit Severing Stage cultivators, and over ten Nascent Soul Stage cultivators. Add to that how their sect protected their own without caring about face—if you hit the young, the old would come—who would want to provoke such a sect?

In many cultivation sects, having one Nascent Soul Stage cultivator presiding was already very impressive. How could they be like Yunhua Sect with such good fortune, having a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators? However, with so many experts presiding, Yunhua Sect could only rank second to last among the ten major sects. One could see how lacking in ambition this sect was.

“There are so few Divine Transformation realm cultivators?” Kong Hou’s eyes widened. “This Zhongxi Zhenren is only over three hundred years old. He can almost be counted among the top ten experts in the cultivation world. What did he eat growing up to be so formidable?”

Huan Zong selected the largest spiritual fruit from the glazed bowl and stuffed it into Kong Hou’s hand. “Eat more spiritual fruits, drink more spiritual liquid, and you’ll be even more formidable than him.”

“Huan Zong, I feel like you’re coaxing me like a child.” Kong Hou held the fist-sized spiritual fruit and took a hard bite. “Now I believe your relationship with this Zhongxi Zhenren isn’t good.” Between the lines, it all meant Zhongxi Zhenren was still far from ascending. If the relationship were close, would one not wish the other well?

“I think we cultivators should still be broad-minded. Even if fellow sect members have disagreeable aspects, we shouldn’t be like this.” Kong Hou carefully observed the expression on Huan Zong’s face. Seeing he wasn’t unhappy, she continued, “Jealousy affects one’s mental state. We can compare ourselves to others, but we can’t care too much about these things. As the saying goes, there’s always someone better, always a higher heaven. People who learn contentment will be a bit happier.”

Hearing Kong Hou say “we” with every breath, Huan Zong had the feeling Kong Hou was pulling him into the same camp. Although he now bore the suspicion of “being jealous of a fellow sect member,” his mood remained unaffected.

“Zhongxi Zhenren is impressive, but high cultivation can’t represent everything. For example, in my eyes, you’re better than that Zhongxi Zhenren.” To add authenticity to this statement, Kong Hou nodded emphatically. “Really.”

How good-looking Huan Zong was! What could that Zhongxi Zhenren use to compare with Huan Zong?

Huan Zong smiled. “All right, I believe you.”

“Young Master.” Outside the tree house, Lin Hu knocked gently on the door. “Daoist Shuiguan from Longhu Sect has come to take his leave of you.”

“Daoist Shuiguan?” Kong Hou glanced at the half-eaten spiritual fruit in her hand. Reluctant to put it down, she said to Huan Zong, “Do you want to go see?”

“Sit for a bit. I’ll be right back.” Huan Zong stood up and walked out of the tree house, meeting Lin Hu’s eyes.

“Young Master, Miss Kong Hou is still young.” Lin Hu’s emotions were complex. “She’s a girl with a very good heart.”

Huan Zong wiped his hands with a handkerchief. “You’re right. I also like her very much.”

Daoist Shuiguan stood beneath the tree with his disciples. Seeing a brocade-robed young master with a pale face, black hair, and handsome features emerge from the tree house, he hurriedly paid his respects. “Shuiguan of Longhu Sect greets the ancestor. We disturbed you greatly last night. Fortunately, the ancestor didn’t mind. Today this humble one has specially brought disciples to take leave.”

“No need for courtesy. This forest grew naturally—anyone can rest here.” Huan Zong didn’t go down. His expression was indifferent. He had no likes or dislikes toward these unrelated cultivators. “Everyone, please do as you wish.”

Seeing Huan Zong’s distant expression, Shuiguan very tactfully didn’t disturb him further. He reached behind his back and gestured to the several disciples behind him, signaling them to leave with him immediately.

They had barely walked a few steps when chattering voices came from within the forest. Shuiguan looked back and saw several young cultivators flying over on flying swords, chasing each other playfully—very lively.

“Senior Brother, look—there’s a tree house on that tree. It’s so beautiful.” A female cultivator in pink robes made her flying sword rise higher, wanting to get closer to the tree house for a better look. Seeing a brocade-robed handsome man standing in front of the tree house door, she froze suspended in midair, unable to recover her senses for quite a while.

“You—this young master, are you the owner of the tree house?” The pink-robed female cultivator finally recovered and bowed to Huan Zong.

Huan Zong glanced at the several cultivators hurriedly catching up behind the female cultivator. He silently turned and went back into the tree house, leaving Lin Hu standing alone outside the door.

Lin Hu: “…”

The female cultivator’s face showed some embarrassment. She muttered quietly, “What does this mean?”

In the distance, Daoist Shuiguan silently watched this scene and turned to tell his disciples, “When you’re out and about, don’t learn from these cultivators.”

The green-robed disciple stammered, “M-Master, these people seem to be Yuanji Sect disciples.” If they start fighting later, should they go help? But… could they even win?

Shuiguan pondered for a moment and covered his eyes with his hand. “I didn’t see anything. Quick, let’s go.” After speaking, he jumped onto his flying instrument, wishing he could immediately fly out of this forest.

“Fellow Daoists ahead, please wait.” The male cultivators behind the pink-robed female cultivator noticed Daoist Shuiguan and called out to stop them. “Are you all going to Kui City?” Yuanji Sect was in Kui City. The entire Kui City fell under Yuanji Sect’s jurisdiction.

Daoist Shuiguan deeply regretted not walking faster just now. He made his flying sword turn around and cupped his hands toward them. “That’s correct.”

The male cultivators returned the courtesy. “We’re also returning to Kui City. We could travel together.”

Shuiguan secretly groaned inwardly. Let’s not do that—I’m afraid if I go with you all, I won’t make it to Kui City alive. He forced a dry laugh and signaled his disciples not to speak carelessly. “How could we trouble you all?”

“No trouble—we’re just coincidentally going the same way.” The leading male cultivator was Zhou Xiao, Yuanji Sect’s head disciple. Although his natural talent was ordinary, he cultivated diligently, was steady in conduct, and kind-hearted. He had already reached the tenth level of Heart Movement Stage Great Perfection cultivation and would soon be able to break through to Core Formation realm.

This time he was leading several Foundation Establishment Stage junior brothers and sisters out to gain experience. He could be considered conscientious and diligent, but these junior brothers and sisters had somewhat carefree personalities, giving him endless headaches.

“Senior Brother, this cultivator is so rude. I greeted him and he didn’t say a single word.” The pink-robed female cultivator was Zhou Xiao’s junior sister. Because of her outstanding appearance, she was pursued by many male cultivators in the sect, making her somewhat willful. Fortunately, the journey had been peaceful without stirring up any trouble. Hearing Junior Sister’s complaint, Zhou Xiao felt his head ache a bit. He cupped his hands toward Lin Hu outside the tree house door and said to Junior Sister, “Jin Ling, don’t be rude.”

The pink-robed female cultivator called Jin Ling pursed her lips, very dissatisfied with her head senior brother’s conflict-averse personality. “I didn’t do anything. How was I being rude?”

Lin Hu kept a straight face. “My young master likes peace and quiet. Everyone, please leave on your own.”

“Please forgive us, senior. We’ll leave right away.” Zhou Xiao couldn’t discern Lin Hu’s cultivation level, but could confirm the other party was much higher than him. Afraid Jin Ling would say even more offensive things, he disregarded propriety between men and women and reached out to grab her arm. “Junior Sister, let’s go.”

“What are you doing!” Jin Ling tried to push Zhou Xiao away, but he gripped too tightly. She couldn’t push him off. “Senior Brother, let go.”

“Stop making a scene.” Zhou Xiao’s face was stern. “This might be a Nascent Soul ancestor.”

“So what if he’s a Nascent Soul ancestor? Nascent Soul ancestors still have to be reasonable. They can’t just randomly kill people.” Jin Ling frowned. “I’m not planning to do anything.”

Zhou Xiao thought: If you really planned to do something, right now you wouldn’t be standing on a flying sword but lying on the ground. He turned to several junior brothers. “Watch Junior Sister Jin Ling. Don’t let her act rashly.”

Several junior brothers also saw that Lin Hu’s cultivation was profound. Not daring to say much, they surrounded Jin Ling on all sides and tried to persuade her with various words.

“Master, I think… we’d better not curry favor with Yuanji Sect.” The green-robed disciple said quietly to Daoist Shuiguan. “This sect seems to conduct itself too… straightforwardly and naively.”

He spoke very euphemistically. Rather than straightforward and naive, it should be called brainless. Not properly disciplining sect disciples—when they stir up trouble, it will implicate the entire sect. Even their small sect understood this principle. Could Yuanji Sect not know?

Or was it that in recent years, developing better and better, they’d started becoming arrogant? After all, they were a newly emerging sect, unable to compare with the ten major sects’ foundations. Their conduct and bearing were far inferior.

Seeing Yuanji Sect’s several disciples chattering and clamoring loudly, Lin Hu frowned. Having followed Huan Zong for many years, he never liked bullying juniors. So despite disliking these juniors’ behavior, he still held back. “Everyone, please leave quickly.”

“I can leave if your young master comes out. Then I’ll go.” Jin Ling said. “Doesn’t he understand the principle that when others greet you, you should return the courtesy?”

Inside the tree house, Kong Hou leaned against the window crack watching the excitement. Hearing the pink-robed female cultivator’s words, she turned to Huan Zong. “Compared to this young lady, Fellow Daoist Lingbo is truly much more adorable.” Although Lingbo was somewhat pampered, she wasn’t unreasonably obstinate. She also knew to respect her elders. Whatever Chang De said, she listened. This person outside showed her senior brother so little face—was she afraid others had no jokes to laugh at?

The outside cultivation world was truly interesting. All kinds of oddballs existed.

“What’s all this noise?” A female cultivator wearing black robes flew over. Seeing Yuanji Sect’s several disciples making a commotion, she raised her palm and struck. The men and women on the flying sword all fell to the ground in a sorry state.

“What stray cats and dogs dare to be so lacking in manners?” The female cultivator snorted coldly. “Disturbing people’s peace.”

“You…” Jin Ling climbed up from the ground. Before she could finish her sentence, the female cultivator waved her hand in the air and slapped her across the face, sending her rolling three or four times on the ground before stopping. Before she could get up, she vomited several large mouthfuls of blood.

“Courting death.” The female cultivator straightened her wide sleeves and met Lin Hu’s eyes as he stood before the tree house. “Fellow Daoist has a good temperament. These juniors who don’t understand rules—when they should be taught a lesson, teach them. It counts as sharing the burden for their sect, preventing them from going out and offending even more people.”

Lin Hu glanced at the several juniors lying on the ground who didn’t even dare speak and nodded slightly. “Fellow Daoist speaks correctly.”

The female cultivator’s red lips curved upward. “Or is it that Fellow Daoist, seeing this little girl’s charming and beautiful appearance, couldn’t bear to make a move?”

Lin Hu glanced at the pink-robed female cultivator lying on the ground vomiting blood. Charming and beautiful?

“You wicked woman! You actually dared to hurt someone. Do you know my master is…”

The female cultivator turned back with a cold laugh. The black hem of her robe suddenly expanded, transforming into long silk ribbons that coiled around Jin Ling’s neck. With one pull of her hand, she dragged Jin Ling before her and grabbed her throat. “I hate it most when people threaten me.”

Kong Hou, seeing the black-robed female cultivator about to kill at the slightest disagreement, tugged on Huan Zong’s sleeve. “Huan Zong, who is this person? Why does she have such a temper? Making a move at the slightest disagreement?”

“She’s called Xue Yu, nicknamed Black-Robed Woman. She’s a Nascent Soul cultivator with an eccentric temperament. She most dislikes young, pretty little girls.” Huan Zong, seeing Kong Hou straining too hard leaning against the window crack, simply pushed open the window to let her see more clearly. “If a good-looking female cultivator offends her, she often gets angry and humiliates the other party thoroughly.”

“Don’t open the window! What if she sees my face and comes over to humiliate me?” Kong Hou, having some confidence in her own appearance, hurriedly leaned out to close the window. Her hand had just reached out when she met the eyes of the black-robed woman looking over.

Startled by the other party’s cold gaze, Kong Hou laughed dryly. “You continue, continue.”

Xue Yu laughed coldly. Just as she was about to speak, after seeing Huan Zong behind Kong Hou, her complexion changed slightly. She released Jin Ling in her hand. Seeing Huan Zong had no reaction, she clenched her teeth, bowed toward the tree house, turned and flew out of the forest. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared from sight.

“Do I look very frightening?” Kong Hou cupped her face, turning back to look at Huan Zong in disbelief. “What kind of reaction was that?”

Her eyes were so big, her skin so fair, her hair combed so beautifully—how could she scare someone away?

“Perhaps because you’re too beautiful, you made her feel ashamed of her own appearance. With Lin Hu guarding outside, she didn’t dare be jealous of you and could only be driven away by anger.” Huan Zong, seeing her covering her face with widened eyes in unwillingness, couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“Really?”

Huan Zong nodded. “Among all the girls I’ve seen, you’re the most beautiful.”

“Wah!” Kneeling on the ground, Jin Ling vomited several mouthfuls of heart’s blood. With Zhou Xiao’s support, she barely managed to stand. Looking up, she saw the smiling young girl by the tree house window. What had just happened to her had been watched from beginning to end by another woman.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help vomiting several more mouthfuls of blood.

Her dignity as a woman was gone!