“Master, why let her go? Over the years, Lu Xiaoyan has killed many of our Demonic Sect members. Even Uncle Hong has fallen at her hands. This time she is alone, isn’t this the best opportunity to eliminate her?”
One of the figures asked, puzzled.
"It wasn't that I let her go on purpose, but this little girl is really capable. If she wanted to leave, I couldn't stop her."
The strangely handsome man shook his head.
"Even your master couldn't stop her?"
The two figures were startled, for they knew all too well how unfathomable their mysterious master was.
Putting everything else aside, even with their cultivation levels already at the second stage of the Golden Core realm, they still haven't been able to see through their master's cultivation level.
And yet this unfathomable master now says that even he couldn't keep Lu Xiaoyan.
"Don't underestimate this Fairy Lu. According to the terminology of your time, although she has only just entered the fourth stage of the Golden Core realm, the Golden Core of her condensed magical power is very likely the most powerful high-grade Golden Core."
In addition, her swordsmanship is exceptionally superb; even I could only remain undefeated.
If we try to keep her here, and she fights desperately, it could end up being a lose-lose situation.
We have important things to do next; there's no need to get into a momentary argument.
"A Golden Core at the fourth stage, a superior-grade Golden Core?!"
The two figures were surprised again upon hearing this.
Ever since Lu Qing explained the Dao of Golden Elixir, including the Nine Revolutions of Golden Elixir and the Three Grades of Elixir, in the Holy Mountain.
Later, this saying gradually spread and became known to the world.
The entire cultivation world has now begun to use this classification of realms.
Upon hearing their master say that Lu Xiaoyan's condensed golden core might actually be a legendary high-grade golden core, and that it had already reached the fourth stage ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) of the golden core realm, how could the two figures not be astonished?
It should be noted that several decades have passed since the spiritual energy revival.
The number of Golden Core cultivators in the world today is already quite large.
But they hadn't heard any concrete news that anyone had successfully condensed a high-grade golden elixir.
If Lu Xiaoyan is truly a top-grade Golden Core cultivator, it's no wonder that even her martial uncle perished at her hands not long ago.
Thinking of this, the two figures couldn't help but feel somewhat fortunate.
They were arrogant about their cultivation talent, having survived the red heavenly tribulation and endured five tribulation lightning bolts before finally condensing a mid-grade golden core.
But compared to Lu Xiaoyan, she is clearly still far from being good enough.
They might not be able to withstand even a casual sword strike from the opponent.
"Master, is Lu Xiaoyan's cultivation talent really that terrifying?"
One of them asked, still somewhat incredulous.
"Indeed, even in my time, it was difficult to find anyone who could match the talent of this Fairy Lu. It is said that her elder brother was even more outstanding than her, and was already the best in the world back then. I wonder how amazing he must have been."
The strangely handsome man couldn't help but sigh.
"Isn't there some news that he left our world decades ago to explore the stars?" a figure asked.
Otherwise, these demonic cultivators wouldn't dare to show themselves so casually.
After all, that person had already achieved the Golden Core stage not long after the spiritual energy revival, and was known as the number one person in the world.
Such a person is someone everyone would be extremely wary of.
"That being said, it's just speculation after all. No one can be sure whether this news is true or false," said the strangely handsome man.
"What if that person is just in seclusion cultivating, rather than exploring the starry sky?"
All our actions over the years have been nothing more than testing whether he is still around.
Even if he has already left this world, he must have left behind some tricks, and those tricks are very likely to fall on this Fairy Lu.
That's why I didn't force her to stay. If I had pushed her too far and triggered that person's backup plan, no one knows what would have happened.
If a fight ends in mutual destruction, it will only benefit others for nothing.
The strangely handsome man was still quite wary of the one who had already achieved the Golden Core stage and become the undisputed number one in the world before his own revival.
Although he was a demonic primordial spirit who had survived from the previous era, it was precisely because of this that he deeply understood just how terrifying a person favored by the fortunes of heaven and earth could be.
That is an existence that cannot be treated with common sense. If you are not careful, you may fall into his hands and lose your life.
Therefore, without absolute certainty, the strangely handsome man did not want to confront it directly for the time being.
"The best way now is to recover my strength as soon as possible. If I can step into the Nascent Soul Realm again, what does it matter if I am favored by heaven and earth? In the face of absolute strength, the path of fortune can still be crushed."
I could even use demonic powers to seize that person's destiny and bestow it upon myself.
At that time, the whole world will be at my mercy, trembling beneath my feet!
A strange, handsome light flickered in the eyes of the man.
In the ancient era of cultivation, he was originally a demonic cultivator with unparalleled talent.
At such a young age, he achieved the Primordial Spirit, making him one of the most amazing figures in the demonic path.
However, due to being born at the wrong time, not long after he achieved the primordial spirit, the spiritual energy of this world was about to be exhausted.
Those righteous people united to plunder the world, forging world-breaking flying boats while also exterminating these demonic cultivators.
Forced to flee to the Arctic wilderness, the remaining group of Nascent Soul demon cultivators joined forces to seal themselves in a demon cave within the wilderness, thus escaping the pursuit.
But because of this, they missed their last chance to leave this world.
The era of spiritual depletion has arrived, and the calamity of the five signs of decay for both the celestial beings and humans has descended. Over the past tens of thousands of years, countless calamities have befallen us.
Back then, these primordial spirit demon cultivators, who had sealed themselves in the Desolate Demon Cave, were forced to devour each other in order to survive.
When the spiritual energy finally revived, only a handful of those demonic cultivators remained, less than one-tenth of them survived.
However, it was precisely because he devoured the primordial spirits of other demonic cultivators that the monstrous and handsome man's foundation became even more profound.
He believed that once he regained his Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, even the so-called Chosen One would be no match for him.
By then...
"Fairy Lu, such a pure and aloof fairy, it would be quite a pleasure to take her as a concubine, wouldn't it?"
The eerily handsome man looked in the direction Xiao Yan had left, a wicked smile appearing on his face.
The two figures standing to the side felt a chill run down their spines as they looked at the smile on their master's face.
"Let's go. The Myriad Demon Realm is about to emerge. This realm is crucial to my recovery of cultivation, and it cannot be lost. If you make a mistake, you should know what the consequences will be."
The two figures trembled and quickly replied in unison, "Understood, Master!"
...
High in the sky, Xiao Yan transformed into a sword light, slicing through the sky and flying all the way back to the Holy Mountain. She landed and entered the cave where Lu Qing had secluded himself.
Her return was also noticed by many disciples and elders throughout the Holy Mountain.
"Fairy Lu is back!"
"Fairy Lu's charm remains as strong as ever. If she could just glance at me, my life would be complete."
"A toad trying to eat swan meat? How could you possibly dream of Fairy Lu? Your appearance would only offend her eyes!"
"You dare insult me? If you have the guts, come and spar with me on the dueling stage!"
"You think I'm afraid of you!"
"Ever since that great one went into seclusion, the most powerful person on our Holy Mountain has been Fairy Lu. Over the years, more than ten Golden Core Realm demons have fallen at her hands, haven't they?"
"Wasn't it said that Fairy Lu went to investigate the demonic traces appearing in the Guiyuan Sect? How did it go?"
...
Upon seeing the sword light that Xiaoyan had transformed into, the disciples and elders on the Holy Mountain began to discuss it animatedly.
Countless young disciples looked on with admiration and longing.
Clearly, during Lu Qing's absence, Xiao Yan wielded immense prestige within this sacred mountain.
"Is Fairy Lu back?"
On the sacred mountain, the three holy lords also sensed Xiaoyan's return and came to the cave.
Just as they were about to send a message, the array in the cave fluctuated, and the cave door opened.
Xiao Yan's calm voice came from inside: "Three Holy Lords, I guessed you should have arrived by now. Please come in."
The three holy lords looked at each other and then went into the cave.
They saw Xiaoyan sitting cross-legged in the cave, with a sword lying horizontally in front of her, her expression calm.
"Fairy Lu, did you find anything when you went to investigate the whereabouts of the demonic cultivators of the Guiyuan Sect?"
After thinking for a moment, the First Holy Lord decided to speak first.
"Yes, and it's quite a discovery," Xiaoyan said calmly. "Xie Guang, the true disciple of the Guiyuan Sect, had already been possessed by the primordial spirit of a demonic cultivator who survived from the ancient era of cultivation, and was secretly recovering his cultivation."
After I discovered him, he immediately fled. Unfortunately, although I caught up with him, the demonic cultivator's methods were so strange that neither of us could do anything to the other.
Finally, his helper arrived, and I had no choice but to temporarily evacuate.
"The primordial spirit of a demonic cultivator who survived the ancient era of cultivation!"
The three Holy Lords were all taken aback when they heard Xiao Yan's words.
Although the demonic path has resurfaced and developed rapidly in recent years, they had long suspected it.
But when Xiaoyan confirmed it, I was still shocked.
“Fairy Lu, since he is an ancient primordial spirit demon cultivator, you shouldn’t have chased after him. It’s too risky.”
After the initial shock, the First Holy Lord felt a lingering fear.
"He's just an old guy who's survived the ancient era of cultivation. His cultivation hasn't fully recovered, so it's nothing serious."
If I hadn't just broken through and hadn't had time to consolidate my cultivation, I would have already cut him down with my sword.
Xiao Yan, however, didn't seem to care much.
"That being said, we all know that Fairy Lu has profound cultivation, but as the saying goes, two fists can't beat four hands, and it's easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."
It's too risky for you to investigate the demonic cultivators alone.
"Why don't you select some disciples to accompany you on your future journeys from the sacred mountain? That way, you'll have someone to look after you."
The First Holy Lord proposed.
"No need," Xiaoyan shook her head. "With their cultivation level, they can't help me much. I'm afraid I'll have to take care of them in the end."
"But......"
Before the First Holy Lord could say anything more, Xiao Yan interrupted him, "Alright, Holy Lord, I'm about to begin my cultivation. Please leave."
Seeing the coldness on Xiaoyan's face, the First Holy Lord paused for a moment, then sighed and left the cave with the other two Holy Lords.
When he returned to the place where his three brothers were cultivating, the First Holy Lord still had a worried look on his face.
"Big brother, are you worried about Fairy Lu?" the Third Holy Lord asked.
“Indeed.” The First Holy Lord sighed. “Over the years, Fairy Lu has traveled the world, slaying demonic cultivators everywhere, and her cultivation has become more and more profound. However, at the same time, her temperament seems to have become more and more indifferent.”
“Fairy Lu cultivates an ice-based technique, so it’s not surprising that her temperament would turn cold,” said the Second Holy Lord.
"That's true, but we don't know if this change is good or bad. And have you thought about what Lu Qing would think if he returned in the future and saw Fairy Lu in this state?"
The Second Holy Lord and the Third Holy Lord remained silent.
Unlike others in the world, Lu Qing's silence over the years has been the subject of much speculation and conjecture.
But they knew that Lu Qing had left this world decades ago to explore the stars.
They didn't know when Lu Qing would return, but they could foresee that when he did, he would be furious if he saw his beloved younger sister's personality had changed so drastically.
No one knows what that person will do at that time.
"Besides the cultivation techniques she uses, the main reason why Fairy Lu's temperament has become cold is that she has always been alone and unwilling to interact with others. Over time, she has naturally become withdrawn. So we still need to find someone to keep her company more and help her relax."
The First Holy Lord pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke.
"But who should we look for? There are no disciples in our Holy Mountain who can catch her eye. Only Zhi Rui has some connection with her, but Zhi Rui is a man and already has a family."
"Zhi Rui is naturally out of the question. In this world, besides that old doctor, the only person who can still be close to Fairy Lu is probably the Palace Master of Han Shui Palace."
I'll write two letters later and send them to these two to see if they can come up with any solutions.
"That's all we can do."
Without hesitation, the First Holy Lord immediately wrote two letters explaining the situation. He then summoned two elders and instructed them to take the letters to Jiuli Village and Hanshui Palace.
Nowadays, demonic traces are frequently seen throughout the world, and the demonic path is flourishing. Even the transmission of messages via jade talismans carries the risk of being intercepted.
Therefore, the safest approach is to send someone to deliver the message in person.
The two elders chosen by the First Holy Lord were also Golden Core Realm experts.
They carried the letter on their journey, and within a few days, one of the elders had arrived at the Cold Water Palace.
The arrival of the Holy Mountain Elder naturally attracted the attention of the Cold Water Palace, and the Palace Master Han Ling Shuang, who had already achieved the Golden Core Realm, also came out to greet him personally.
When she heard the Holy Mountain Elder say that there was a personal letter from the First Holy Lord addressed to her, Han Ling Shuang's expression became even more serious, as if something major had happened again.
After she opened the letter and read the information inside, she felt somewhat relieved, but she was still worried.
After thinking for a while, she finally summoned her subordinates, arranged some tasks, and then went to the Holy Mountain with the Holy Mountain Elder.
After that day, Han Ling Shuang lived permanently on the Holy Mountain, only occasionally returning to the Cold Water Palace to handle some matters.
Lu Qing was unaware that after he left, Xiao Yan's personality became cold and indifferent for various reasons.
After more than ten years of seclusion, he finally opened his eyes again.
