Jinyue emerged from the ruins, his robes tattered and torn, but the imposing aura emanating from his entire body made everyone overlook his clothing.

“Congratulations to the Sect Master on completing his seclusion and advancing to the Void Refining realm.”

The entire Liuguang Sect was overjoyed with smiles. When Jinyue had taken on his disciple, he was at the Divine Transformation stage. By the time his disciple reached Divine Transformation, he was still at Divine Transformation. Everyone had worried that his mental state would be difficult to break through, but unexpectedly, he had broken through so suddenly without any warning.

“Congratulations to the Sect Master.” Although the sword cultivators were usually rigorous and disciplined, at this moment they couldn’t help but smile on their faces. “May the Sect Master achieve the Great Dao of ascension soon.”

“The Void Refining realm is difficult, ascension is even more difficult.” With a raise of his hand, Jinyue restored his clothes to their original state. His expression was gentle, and the aura around him disappeared without a trace. At this moment, he was an ordinary boatman, a carefree farmer, with not half a hint of a sword cultivator’s appearance.

Cultivation practice, in the end, is nothing more than returning to one’s original nature.

“All these years I’ve always worried too much, constantly stagnating.” Jinyue said to several elders and peak masters, “As a teacher, when he is young, you cannot let him walk on his own. But when he has grown up, you must learn to let go. I thought myself magnanimous, yet when teaching Zhong Xi, I made many mistakes. That’s why he doesn’t understand how to interact with people, doesn’t understand emotions, and doesn’t even understand what it means to be alive. I raised a sharp sword, not a disciple.”

Ever since Zhong Xi’s spiritual platform had problems, Jinyue had felt extremely guilty—this was his fault as a master.

“Sect Master, this isn’t entirely your fault.” Song He understood Jinyue’s meaning and, after a slight pause, advised: “Zhong Xi was born with that temperament…”

“Because he has that temperament, I should have been even more careful.” Jinyue smiled with relief. “Fortunately, he met Miss Kong Hou from Yunhua Sect, and thus gained human warmth, gained joy and anger, and could even cultivate with her through the Heaven and Earth Dual Cultivation. This Miss Kong Hou is not only Huan Zong’s salvation, but also mine.”

She allowed him to let go of his final concerns and clearly recognize how many mistakes he had made in the past. Fortunately, there was still a chance to make amends…

Hearing Jinyue mention Kong Hou, Song He recalled that Yunhua Sect didn’t want Miss Kong Hou to become dao companions with his martial nephew. He glanced at the Sect Master and didn’t tell him about this matter. Having finally figured things out, seen through everything, and greatly advanced in cultivation, he feared that one sentence from him would anger the Sect Master into fainting again.

“The people from various sects should be arriving soon?” Jinyue put his hands behind his back, looking like an immortal elder untainted by worldly dust. “Have the sect disciples receive them carefully, and don’t let any evil cultivators mix in among them.”

“Yes.” Song He looked at the main hall behind Jinyue that had been struck by lightning and almost turned into ruins, and said in a low voice, “Sect Master, we still need to arrange manpower to repair the main hall as quickly as possible.”

Jinyue: “…”

If he had known he would cross the tribulation so quickly, he wouldn’t have chosen the main hall as his seclusion location. Now the guests were about to arrive, but the main hall was gone.

Seeing Jinyue silent, Song He immediately understood: “Please rest assured, Sect Master. I’ll arrange for repairs immediately and try to have the main hall fixed before everyone arrives at Pei City.”

“Sect Master, the elders and peak masters of Zhaohan Sect have come to visit with their disciples.”

Song He: “…”

Jinyue straightened his clothes: “Take them to the front hall.”

After speaking, he waved his hand and wove an illusion behind him, making it look as if the main hall was still there.

Of course, that was only how it looked.

The people from Zhaohan Sect had already arrived at Liuguang Sect, while the people from Yunhua Sect were still preparing to leave.

“Did you bring the chili peppers?”

“Brought them.”

“Secret realm fragrant sauce?”

“Yes.”

These were the disciples in charge of food.

“Jade hair brushes?”

“We brought the jade hair brushes, but we’re short twenty wolf hair brushes.”

These were the disciples in charge of writing materials.

As a direct disciple of Qiyue Peak, Kong Hou didn’t need to personally manage these things, but she still helped other disciples check the items and then categorize them into storage pouches. Each storage pouch was embroidered with golden patterns, making it clear at a glance what was inside and who should manage them.

Huan Zong, following beside Kong Hou, discovered that besides distributing many talismans to each disciple, Yunhua Sect also brought plenty of food ingredients and seasonings, reclining chairs and soft cushions, clearly placing extra emphasis on food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

Seeing the disciples in charge of food check the items over and over again, he somewhat understood why Kong Hou liked to eat—this was inherited from Yunhua Sect’s tradition.

The leading elder this time was Elder Qiushuang. She hadn’t left the sect gates for many years, and for this trip she had specially dressed up elaborately. At over a thousand years old, she looked like Kong Hou’s older sister, beautiful and glamorous like a noble peony.

She lazily leaned against a flying palace pillar, playing with an embroidered round fan in her hand. She didn’t rush the disciples, appearing as lazy as a beautiful snake.

The two accompanying peak masters were Pei Huai of Wuyang Peak and Qingyuan of Chenxia Peak. Originally, the sect had planned for Wang Tong to go along, but Qingyuan and Wang Tong didn’t get along. Heng Yan feared these two would make a scene and embarrass them publicly, so he simply separated the two.

Though Wang Tong said he didn’t care, when they were about to depart, he rushed over and stuffed Kong Hou and his two grand-disciples with many magical treasures and talismans, rambling on with many instructions.

“When you’re away from home, don’t casually believe others’ provocative words. If you encounter something interesting to see, don’t go out alone—staying with fellow sect members is safer.” At this point, Wang Tong gave three thumb-sized soul-detecting stones to his disciples. “Keep these three soul-detecting stones safe. If the stones change color, it means the person near you is not their original appearance.”

Gui Lin held the stone and turned to look at disciples from other peaks. Sure enough, the other peak masters were all sneakily stuffing things into their disciples’ and grand-disciples’ hands, protecting their own so righteously and boldly.

He gripped the soul-detecting stone in his hand and bowed to Wang Tong, saying: “Please rest assured, Master Grand-Uncle. We will definitely be extra careful.”

“Mm.” Wang Tong nodded with satisfaction. “You act prudently—watch over your junior sister and junior martial uncle well.”

“Yes.” Gui Lin secretly glanced at Kong Hou and, seeing she didn’t look unhappy, breathed a sigh of relief. As a junior watching over an elder was, from a certain perspective, disregarding seniority and age, which many would consider insulting. Fortunately, Yunhua Sect didn’t care about such things…

He thought of many things, and his eyes gradually softened.

Li Rou sighed silently. Before joining Qiyue Peak, Gui Lin would have properly called her senior sister. Now that she had joined under their master’s name later than Gui Lin, she had instead become the junior sister. She was very happy staying at Qiyue Peak, and in speech and action she didn’t resemble Cheng Yi but was more like Tan Feng: “Master Grand-Uncle, we also have Huan Zong Zhenren accompanying us, so you don’t need to worry.”

Hearing the two words “Huan Zong,” Wang Tong couldn’t help but frown. What good was high cultivation? As a man, one cannot lack discernment. His disciple was so wonderful, yet Huan Zong actually said he regarded her as a junior sister—tsk.

Wang Tong looked up at Huan Zong. Huan Zong bowed to him in salute. Wang Tong said coolly: “After Huan Zong Zhenren arrives at Pei City, you’ll be busy with Liuguang Sect matters. How can you constantly protect them? Rather than thinking about how to rely on others, it’s better to use your own brains more.”

Li Rou felt something was off about these words, but couldn’t figure out what for the moment, so she lowered her head and quietly acknowledged.

“Please rest assured, Wang Tong Shishu. This junior will definitely take good care of them.” Huan Zong said to Wang Tong, “Even after arriving at Pei City, it will be the same.”

“That’s true.” Wang Tong smiled without warmth in his eyes. “Our Kong Hou can also be considered your junior martial sister.”

Huan Zong: “…”

He felt that Wang Tong Shishu didn’t seem to like him very much?

“Master, you should also be careful in the sect and try to go out less recently.” Kong Hou secretly slipped Wang Tong a package of spirit stones and pulled him aside. “If it’s not necessary, don’t go down the mountain. If you want to eat something, ask the dao friends at Five Flavors Manor to make it—their culinary skills can incorporate dao techniques, more refined than restaurant and inn food.”

“Your master knows.” Wang Tong accepted the spirit stones his disciple gave him and turned to look at Huan Zong, who was quietly gazing in their direction. “Remember your master’s words—no man is worth becoming humble and insignificant for. There are so many men in the entire cultivation world, and handsome men can be found everywhere. If your master learns that you dare abandon your self-respect for that whoever, don’t acknowledge me as your master anymore. No, wait—your master doesn’t like that Huan Zong, so stay away from him.”

“Don’t worry, Master.” Kong Hou smiled and reached out to hug him. “I won’t disappoint you. However, if Huan Zong doesn’t make me abandon my self-respect and treats me very well, would you approve of us being together?”

Wang Tong was silent for a moment, then turned away: “We’ll talk about it when the time comes.”

In any case, no matter what, his little disciple couldn’t be wronged.

“I know.” Kong Hou hugged Wang Tong again. “Take good care of yourself in the sect.” Releasing Wang Tong, Kong Hou turned and leaped onto the flying palace, leaning on the railing and waving to the disciples and elders seeing them off below.

Elder Qiushuang waved her sleeve, and the flying palace rose from the ground. The talisman barrier on the flying palace immediately took effect, instantly flashing with brilliant light, resplendent and magnificent.

Yunhua Sect wasn’t particular in private, but in crowded occasions, they still valued appearances. This flying palace had carved corridors and painted buildings, countless talisman arrays and barriers, made from countless rare materials. Without great manpower, financial resources, and material resources, it would be impossible to possess such a precious flying magical artifact.

Inside the flying palace were countless courtyards and rooms. Wu Chuan, Huan Zong, Kong Hou, and Linghui were assigned to one courtyard.

It was already late, and Linghui and Wu Chuan had gone to sleep. Kong Hou sneakily opened her door and saw Huan Zong sitting in the courtyard. She quickly trotted to Huan Zong’s side and squeezed his hand. “It’ll still be two more days before we reach Pei City.”

Once at Liuguang Sect, as a peak master, Huan Zong would definitely be too busy to touch the ground, and she wouldn’t be able to be with him all the time.

“Two days will pass quickly.” Huan Zong grasped her hand in return. “After returning to Liuguang Sect, how about I arrange the lodging for Yunhua Sect disciples all within the peak I manage?”

“Great!” Kong Hou nodded, smiling. “That way we can see each other every day again.”

“You two…” Wu Chuan pulled open his room door and saw Kong Hou and Huan Zong with hands clasped together, fingers interlocked, unable to hide the shock on his face no matter what. These two had actually secretly gotten together?

“Senior Martial Brother Wu Chuan?!” Kong Hou was startled and looked down at her and Huan Zong’s hands held together, then put her index finger to her lips: “Shh, keep your voice down.”

Wu Chuan walked over to the two with a dazed expression. So what he had witnessed two days ago wasn’t an evil woman bullying an innocent man, but rather a little romantic play between the two of them?

Had the power of the Dragon-Phoenix Cauldron reached such magnitude?

—

**Author’s Note:** Heng Yan: After going around in circles, this blame lands on my head again?