Ya-Yashan disciple?!

In that instant, Jian Chou’s few short words were like a series of thunderclaps exploding on level ground!

What kind of joke was this?

When had Yashan ever taken such disciples?!

The female cultivator who called herself “Lan’er” stared blankly at Jian Chou for a long time after hearing this, so shocked she couldn’t close her mouth.

She seemed to think she had misheard, and couldn’t help turning to look at her two companions beside her, only to discover they were just as shocked as she was.

Yashan, Yashan.

Just these two words, rolling around on the tongue, had a power that cleansed the heart, making people look up in reverence without daring the slightest disrespect.

Xu Lan’er still remembered how she had once relied on her exceptional talent to seek an apprenticeship at Yashan, hoping to be chosen and accepted into the mountain gate…

But unexpectedly…

Scene after scene from that day flashed rapidly through Xu Lan’er’s mind, making her expression at this moment extremely strange.

Staring fixedly at Jian Chou, Xu Lan’er couldn’t help but examine her from top to bottom, as if she wanted to count even how many strands of hair she had.

Ordinary appearance!

Ordinary clothing!

Ordinary dress!

Not a hint of immortal air could be seen, and most importantly, she had no bearing of a superior person whatsoever. This was a Yashan disciple?

Why had she never heard of her?

A series of questions surged forth all at once.

Xu Lan’er couldn’t react for quite some time.

The other several people also looked at Jian Chou with almost astonished gazes, as if this was the most incredible thing.

“Ahem.”

Seeing everyone had gone stupid, Fudao Shanren finally coughed once to draw everyone’s attention back.

Only then did Xu Lan’er come to her senses, carefully hiding the disbelief in her eyes and softening her previously stiff voice as she bowed to Jian Chou: “I didn’t expect this junior sister to be from Yashan. Lan’er was blind…”

“What junior sister?”

Before Jian Chou could speak, Fudao Shanren frowned first.

Xu Lan’er looked up in confusion, gazing at Fudao Shanren with a puzzled smile, wanting to explain: “This junior saw that this junior sister’s cultivation isn’t high…”

“She is Yashan’s thirty-sixth generation eldest disciple. By rights, you should all call her eldest senior sister.”

Cursing “no perception” in his mind, if Fudao Shanren wasn’t considering that these were all juniors present, he would have rolled his eyes long ago.

After Jian Chou announced her identity, she stood beside Fudao Shanren like a wooden person.

Upon hearing the phrase “eldest senior sister,” she nearly couldn’t stand steady and stumbled as if about to fall.

Fudao Shanren seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, quickly reaching out to steady her, then turned to scold her: “Look at your worthless appearance!”

Jian Chou: “…”

The other four: “…”

Ultimately, Xu Lan’er reacted fastest. Though she felt an indescribable displeasure in her heart, she still forced a smile toward Jian Chou: “So this is Yashan’s eldest senior sister. Lan’er was presumptuous. I am Xu Lan’er, a disciple of the Jianzhu Sect from the Left Three Thousand of the Central Domain. I pay my respects to the eldest senior sister.”

Pay respects to the eldest senior sister…

Forcibly suppressing the urge to twitch at the corner of her mouth, Jian Chou slowly curved her lips into an extremely false smile—

There was no helping it; she couldn’t be sincere!

She had thought she would be the youngest junior sister!

“Junior Sister Xu is too polite.”

Xu Lan’er’s eye corner twitched as the hands clasped in front of her nearly pressed together.

She felt that this “eldest senior sister” before her was smiling without warmth, seeming not to like her very much.

Forcibly suppressing the urge to turn and leave immediately, Xu Lan’er lowered her eyelids.

Now it was the turn of the other three.

The sword-carrying youth in red robes clasped his hands and bowed to Jian Chou: “Zhang Sui of the Fengmo Sword Sect pays respects to Yashan’s eldest senior sister.”

Zhang Sui.

Hearing this, Jian Chou silently nodded and replied without changing a word: “Junior Brother Zhang is too polite.”

Junior brother…

Zhang Sui, who had been cultivating for forty-six years, felt unsettled for the first time.

This Yashan, “eldest senior sister” before him, still had worldly qi about her, and even the nine-section bamboo in her hands had just been given by Fudao Shanren.

Though Zhang Sui was usually quiet, at this moment he particularly wanted to ask: This was temporarily recruited to make up the numbers for activating the teleportation array, wasn’t it?

However, Fudao Shanren was still in front, and had even specially emphasized this eldest senior sister’s identity, so Zhang Sui said nothing.

“Zhou Kuang of Chongxiao Gate pays respects to the eldest senior sister!”

A voice full of vigor rang out next.

When Jian Chou heard this voice, she felt her ears buzzing, feeling like the dust on the mountain’s belly dome might be shaken down by this voice.

Needless to say, this was the one who shouldered the great axe with a burly and fierce appearance.

Zhou Kuang.

Looking at his build, the name suited him well, but as for his personality…

Jian Chou felt this should be an honest one.

She just thought for a moment, her gaze indifferent, also bowing with hands clasped, still not changing a word: “Junior Brother Zhou is too polite.”

Too polite!

Couldn’t she change the phrase?

Listening from the side, Fudao Shanren felt the urge to sigh.

However, seeing Jian Chou’s stiff-faced manner of dealing with this, he felt somewhat pleased.

“Cough, alright, you’ve all met each other, so we—”

“There’s, there’s still me…”

A weak voice suddenly interrupted.

Fudao Shanren was startled, looked around and saw no one, then looked down to discover the little girl who was a head and a half shorter than Xu Lan’er.

“I forgot, there’s still one here!”

Fudao Shanren slapped his forehead and said to Jian Chou, “There’s still a little girl here.”

That little girl stood there pitifully, seeming somewhat panicked at being forgotten.

Honestly, Jian Chou was somewhat puzzled.

How was a ten-something little girl also in this seemingly dangerous place?

She looked over curiously.

Sensing Jian Chou’s gaze, the little girl seemed scalded, her cheeks immediately reddening.

She lowered her head and spoke hesitantly: “I am a disciple of Wuwang Study, called Nie Xiaowan. I pay respects to Eldest Senior Sister Jian Chou.”

This time, Jian Chou finally changed her words: “How old are you?”

“Ah?”

Shouldn’t she say, “Junior Sister Nie is too polite”?

Having grown accustomed to Jian Chou’s previous responses, Nie Xiaowan was caught off guard by this question and took a long time to answer dazedly: “Thirteen.”

Jian Chou sucked in a cold breath.

Fudao Shanren couldn’t help asking: “What’s wrong? Is there something improper?”

“Nothing improper…”

She shook her head as if somewhat sighing.

Jian Chou turned around and finally couldn’t hold back: “Children these days are amazing. Now I understand why I’m the eldest senior sister.”

Jian Chou thought that when she was that small, she was still playing with mud.

Upon hearing this, Xu Lan’er immediately glanced at Jian Chou.

This look contained surprise and incomprehension…

In Shijiu Zhou, cultivation began at a young age—what was there to sigh about?

This was the so-called “Yashan eldest senior sister”?

Xu Lan’er recalled her failed experience of being unable to join Yashan years ago, and for a moment, an unnamed fire surged into her chest, making it difficult for her to remain calm.

Zhou Kuang was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

He probably understood, too, knowing that Jian Chou was surprised by Nie Xiaowan’s age.

Shouldering that axe, he honestly said to Jian Chou: “Eldest Senior Sister Jian Chou doesn’t know—for cultivators, naturally, the earlier one begins cultivation, the better. Don’t look at Xiaowan being only thirteen, but she’s already at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Among our four, her realm is second only to Senior Brother Zhang.”

Zhang Sui snorted but said nothing.

Nie Xiaowan blinked but also said nothing.

Jian Chou understood, hence her earlier comment, but since Zhou Kuang seemed well-intentioned, she just nodded.

“Then it seems Junior Brother Zhang has the highest cultivation.”

“Exactly.”

Zhou Kuang nodded, using his free large hand to scratch the back of his head with an embarrassed smile.

“Though I’ve cultivated for eight years, I only recently achieved Foundation Establishment and can’t compare with them.”

Hearing this, the sword-carrying Zhang Sui’s face darkened a circle, his eye corner twitching slightly.

Eight years of cultivation, early Foundation Establishment; over fifty years of cultivation, late Foundation Establishment.

Zhang Sui didn’t think he had anything impressive about him, but the big guy Zhou Kuang wasn’t good with words. In this urgent moment, there was no way to argue with them.

Only Xu Lan’er beside them laughed aloud upon hearing Zhou Kuang’s words, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.

The atmosphere became strange for a moment.

Jian Chou swept her gaze over them. Though she didn’t understand what mysteries lay here, she could see that these several people were indeed coincidentally brought together, with considerable discord between them, united in appearance but divided in spirit.

She said nothing.

Fudao Shanren looked back at the golden giant gates and said in a deep voice: “You’ve gotten acquainted. I won’t say more nonsense—enter the array with your talismans.”

“Yes.”

The four responded in unison.

Xu Lan’er took out something like a square jade pendant from her sleeve. After exchanging glances with the others and nodding, she walked toward the water pool nearby.

The others quickly followed.

Fudao Shanren patted Jian Chou’s shoulder and gave her an encouraging look.

Jian Chou felt some strange uneasiness in her heart, but after sensing the strength of Fudao Shanren’s palm, she felt much more at ease.

Gripping the nine-section green bamboo tightly in her hand, Jian Chou took a deep breath and followed.

It turned out that on the ground, not far from the water pool, was carved an ancient array formation.

Connected straight lines were deeply embedded in the ground, crisscrossing, with larger grooves at the intersecting points.

At this moment, Xu Lan’er took out crystal-clear stones the size of white jade from her sleeve, placing them in the grooves.

Jian Chou walked up, happening to stand beside Nie Xiaowan, watching together with them.

So this was the teleportation array?

This thing could send her to Shijiu Zhou?

Jian Chou couldn’t help but harbor some doubts.

After Xu Lan’er finished, she straightened up, holding that teleportation talisman, stood in the center of the teleportation array, and nodded to the four people outside.

Zhang Sui, Zhou Kuang, Nie Xiaowan, and Jian Chou walked into the teleportation array one by one, standing beside Xu Lan’er.

Fudao Shanren stepped forward, standing outside the teleportation array.

He held that broad Nameless Sword, his withered figure appearing even smaller against the backdrop of the golden giant gates behind him. Above his head, that enormous sphere continued to emit light constantly.

“This journey to Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm, you have caused great trouble. After returning to Shijiu Zhou, your respective sects will naturally hold you accountable. Remember in the future—in matters of trials, act within your capabilities!”

Xu Lan’er and the others felt their cheeks burn from his words. Because Fudao Shanren was famous throughout the Central Domain, they dared not contradict him and could only respond submissively: “We juniors will remember.”

“Mm.”

Only then did Fudao Shanren nod.

So Xu Lan’er directly crushed the teleportation talisman in her hand and bowed to Fudao Shanren: “We juniors bid farewell to Shanren.”

Suddenly, a brilliant white light burst forth from the lines deeply embedded in the ground of the teleportation array. Dozens of white jade stones cracked with a “pop” and scattered into smoke!

Jian Chou felt a tremendous force accompanying this burst of white light descending.

Her body seemed to lose weight, feeling light as a feather in this white light.

The ground also seemed to shake, the golden giant gates trembling, and the enormous sphere embedded in the stone wall higher up also seemed to sway continuously. The trembling five-colored light seemed stimulated by something and scattered chaotically!

Xu Lan’er already showed a relieved expression. The teleportation array had activated—in just three breaths, they could return to the sea island outside Shijiu Zhou.

However, Zhang Sui, who had been paying attention to the surrounding situation, suddenly widened his eyes, staring at the continuously shaking golden giant gates.

Suddenly, he shouted: “Not good!”

At the same time, Fudao Shanren, who had his back to them while fighting, abruptly turned around. As if he had already sensed what was about to happen, he heavily stomped his foot, and an enormous Wanxiang Battle Disc instantly lit up in the spacious mountain belly.

“Boom!”

The golden gates suddenly made a deafening sound, as if something inside had suddenly crashed outward.

The tall twin gates were knocked open to create a gap!

A foul, fishy odor spewed out from within the gates.

Rustle, rustle…

Stone fragments from the wall also began falling continuously, crashing to the ground.

Fudao Shanren immediately gripped his sword with both hands and, without hesitation, a deep blue sword light blazed forth, cutting through waves like a ship, extremely accurately heading toward the gap!

The deep blue sword light collided thunderously with the golden giant gates’ radiance!

A wave of air was instantly thrown up, rushing toward all sides.

The teleportation array where Jian Chou stood immediately became unsteady in its light, swaying precariously!

Xu Lan’er’s complexion changed drastically, unable to stand steady.

Nie Xiaowan, beside Jian Chou, turned even paler, nearly falling. Jian Chou quickly reached out to steady her, grasping her small hand tightly.

“Eldest Senior Sister!”

Though Nie Xiaowan’s cultivation was high, she seemed to have never seen such grand scenes and was more panicked than Jian Chou at this crucial moment.

Jian Chou’s palm was already covered in cold sweat.

How could she possibly have seen such things?

The monster in the gap seemed extremely formidable, ramming the giant gates with violent shaking, as if it might burst out at any moment.

After being struck by Fudao Shanren’s sword through the gate, the creature inside let out a series of crazed wails. After only a moment’s stillness, it immediately began ramming even more frantically!

Everyone around Jian Chou tensed up, taking out their magical artifacts as battle discs lit up one after another beneath their feet.

Sweeping her gaze across them, Jian Chou discovered their battle discs were all very similar to Fudao Shanren’s—on the snow-white Kunxian lines, black dao pieces had already fallen one after another. Some dao pieces were connected by Kunxian lines, looking exactly like stars in the night sky.

In that instant, Jian Chou was suddenly shaken.

At the giant gates ahead, Fudao Shanren was already locked in battle with the monster inside; beside her, four Shijiu Zhou cultivators were ready for battle; before her, the teleportation array’s white light stabilized after trembling and became even more brilliant.

Soon, soon.

She felt that mysterious power between heaven and earth drawing closer and closer to her, like an enormous whirlpool about to suck her away.

But at this moment, Jian Chou couldn’t withdraw her gaze, couldn’t withdraw—

Her gaze was fixed on that enormous sphere at the top of the stone wall!

The sphere with its pitted surface projecting five-colored light seemed embedded at the top of the stone wall.

Beam after beam of light projected outward from the stone sphere, also seeming to rotate continuously.

These light beams were all different colors, making one feel dizzy and entranced at first glance.

However…

A golden seal flashed rapidly through Jian Chou’s mind, followed by the dao pieces and dao seals beneath Xu Lan’er and the others’ feet…

Those beams of light projecting outward were not ordinary light columns, but rather seemed to be seal after seal projected by the light, rushing toward the distant darkness!

Jian Chou’s gaze immediately became both confused and shaken.

Accompanied by Fudao Shanren’s battle with the monster, the entire mountain belly immediately became turbulent with chaotic pool water and flying stone fragments!

The teleportation array’s white light shot upward, illuminating everyone in the array with pale faces.

The final breath!

Teleportation activated!

“Boom!”

A tremendous crash!

The golden giant gates seemed unable to bear the load and finally let out a heavy groan.

In this instant, everything was extremely quiet.

“Crack.”

This slight sound, heard in Fudao Shanren’s ears, was like thunder.

A tiny fissure slowly crept up the golden giant gates…