Chapter 867: Chapter 867: Sword and Seal
After the four elders of the Ji Family returned home, they immediately sought out Ji Jiuying to report on the matters concerning Chen Guan and Ji Liuying.
Ji Jiuying was now the nominal leader of the Ji Family, though only nominally.
Within the Ji Family, there were several factions, and Ji Jiuying was merely trying to maintain a balance among them.
After listening to the four elders, Ji Jiuying pondered, "Chen Guan harbors a deep grudge against the Ancestral Court, but poses no direct conflict of interest with us. For now, we can allow him to cultivate here. It would be best if Liuying can learn the panda cultivation techniques from him, but even if she cannot, having Chen Guan assist us in cultivating a batch of pandas is also acceptable."
"This matter should not be rushed or appear urgent; let Liuying slowly seek his guidance under the guise of a student," Ji Nan quickly said.
Ji Jiuying nodded, "Chen Guan’s identity must not be disclosed, nor should anyone know about it. Even if outsiders discover this in the future, it won’t be related to our Ji Family. Remember, we only know Ming King, not Chen Guan."
"We understand; no one else will know of this matter," the four responded promptly.
The Ji Family seeks everything without wanting to bear any responsibility or risk, ultimately viewing Chen Guan as insignificant, merely coveting his skills.
Chen Guan had long anticipated this and was indifferent.
Seeing no further disturbance from the Ji Family, he understood their intentions.
"They underestimated me, and they underestimated the future achievements of Ji Liuying," Chen Guan thought to himself with a cold smile.
Ji Liuying hadn’t felt anything peculiar earlier, always believing Ming King to be an elder.
But now, knowing Chen Guan is someone of similar age, it brought about a strange feeling.
If it were only that, it wouldn’t matter much.
But Ji Nan specifically spoke to her once, hoping she could learn as much as possible from Chen Guan, and ideally learn the panda cultivation method.
Yet he clearly instructed her not to get too deeply involved with Chen Guan, which left Ji Liuying genuinely conflicted.
She sincerely wished to apprentice under Chen Guan, and even after learning his true identity, she never wavered in her intention.
But carrying such a mission while interacting with Chen Guan made her feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles, making it difficult for her to accept.
Chen Guan had done so much for her without ever asking for anything in return, leaving Ji Liuying struggling to accept her mission.
Seeing Ji Liuying somewhat uneasy before him, Chen Guan smiled and asked, "Liuying, now that you know my identity, do you still wish to be my disciple?"
"Of course, I do. I’ve said once a teacher, forever a father; no matter your identity, you are my mentor, and you will always be my master," Ji Liuying quickly responded, reflecting her true thoughts.
"Since you’ve acknowledged me as your master, there’s no need to think further. Learning from me is naturally justified," Chen Guan said.
"Master, you..." Ji Liuying widened her eyes at Chen Guan, realizing he had seen through the Ji Family’s intentions.
"There’s no need to say anything. Once I’ve accepted you as my disciple, you remain solely my disciple, unrelated to anyone else. You need only do your best," Chen Guan said calmly.
"Master!" Ji Liuying was moved.
"Strive hard in your cultivation; only when you possess sufficient strength can you freely do what you wish. I believe with your talent, that day will come soon," Chen Guan said as he looked at Ji Liuying.
"Rest assured, Master, I will not disappoint you," Ji Liuying said, clenching her teeth.
Her feelings were rather strange, knowing full well Chen Guan was a young man of similar age, yet before him, she felt like a child.
She understood that Chen Guan was right; for now, she needed to follow the family’s arrangements. But one day, if her power surpasses all the masters of the Ji Family, she won’t have to adhere to anyone’s arrangements or approach Chen Guan with any ulterior motives.
Ji Liuying bid farewell and left, intent on cultivating diligently and leveling up quickly to reach the Ninth Awakening.
After Ji Liuying left, Chen Guan once again entered the Space Ring.
The demonic eye ghost pet he possessed would help him uncover what secrets lay upon the mountain.
Calculating the time, Chen Guan knew it wasn’t the woman’s day to visit, through his binoculars, verifying it to be true.
Adjusting his Secret Law according to the schedule, to coordinate with the demonic eye ghost’s talent, ensuring no one could perceive its abilities being used.
Some Talent Abilities naturally go unnoticed, as with Chen Guan’s Spirit of the Cheerleaders.
The Ghost Eye of the demonic eye ghost is similar, merely looking at someone’s eyes without utilizing any power or seizing anything from them, normally going undetected.
For security, Chen Guan modified his Secret Law to ensure neither he nor the demonic eye ghost would be discovered.
With all preparations in place, when the woman visits the mountain in pieces, Chen Guan summoned the demonic eye ghost, letting it peer through the binoculars and project the sight seen by the woman onto the wall of the cavern.
Chen Guan carefully observed the images projected by the demonic eye ghost, revealing a mountain pinnacle piercing through the clouds.
The mountain’s frontal cliff was sheer and smooth, yet teeming with plants, or rather Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
These treasures that are deemed precious in the Grotto Heaven grew abundantly here, akin to weeds, going unnoticed.
The woman’s focus wasn’t on those treasures but on the middle of the cliff, where a sword was inserted, half of its blade exposed.
"Is the woman focused on this sword?" Chen Guan scrutinized the sword’s details.
Judging from the exposed part, it was a Jade Sword, expertly crafted from White Jade, both hilt and blade.
The hilt, guard, and blade bore intricate carvings.
On closer inspection, these carvings weren’t of cloud, rain, or thunder-like runes, nor were they any form of writing.
The patterns on the Jade Sword were numerous hand seals, each small, only as large as a fingernail.
The distribution of hand seals was irregular, and the shapes varied, with no two seals identical, each possessing slight differences.
As Chen Guan studied these seals, he suddenly felt a pressure within, as though an invisible giant hand was pressing down upon him.
The unseen hand disregarded distance, the cliffs, or Chen Guan’s presence, coming from an unknown place, seemingly aimed at no particular target.
Yet Chen Guan felt as if that invisible hand was about to crush him, like an ant about to be squashed.
