Upon returning to Qingxuan Peak, Aunt Liu was humiliated.

The moment his thoughts turned, Ye Qing's figure had already vanished from the spot.

“Boom—!”

A cyan streak of light sliced through the sky, its speed reaching the extreme.

Like a stream of light tearing through the heavens, the clouds along the way were easily pierced, producing bursts of sonic booms.

Having just emerged from seclusion with a greatly advanced cultivation, Ye Qing couldn't help but try flying at full power.

With a cultivation at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Golden Core, the power of the Prison Suppressing Immortal Body, and the mysteries of the Tai Xuan Golden Chapter, his flight speed far surpassed that of a Golden Core Cultivator.

It was even close to that of a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator!

Soon, a bustling city, Kongming City,

appeared within Ye Qing's field of vision.

“Swish!”

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Ye Qing smiled slightly, having precisely locked onto the locations of his two Disciples in the city.

Lin luxury and Su Chan had now moved to a new small courtyard.

After being attacked by Elder Shi, they were still somewhat shaken.

Fortunately, they had the Sword Intent Imprint left by their Revered Master for protection.

Moreover, the Sword Intent Imprint left by their Revered Master was powerful beyond imagination.

A Golden Core Cultivator with a very powerful aura was almost hacked to death by a single Sword Intent Imprint!

He had no power to fight back and could only flee in panic.

“Revered Master isn't even here, yet just a single Sword Intent Imprint is actually this strong!” Su Chan's beautiful eyes sparkled with brilliance; amidst her shock, a strong sense of admiration and yearning welled up in her heart.

Lin Xueer's heart was also surging with pride. She clenched her fists and said proudly, “Revered Master must be the most powerful Sword Cultivator in the world!”

Just then, a gentle voice sounded in their ears.

“Oh? Your evaluation of me is actually so high?”

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached both of them.

Lin Xueer and Su Chan froze, and then incomparable ecstasy flooded their faces.

They whipped their heads around and saw a cyan figure standing quietly in the courtyard at some point, smiling. It was none other than the Revered Master they had been thinking about day and night, Ye Qing!

“Revered Master!”

“Revered Master, you've come for us!”

The two girls spoke in unison, excitedly rushing forward, their eyes slightly reddening.

Although they had gained much during this period, they were ultimately two young girls wandering outside. Having been attacked by a Golden Core Cultivator not long ago, they were still somewhat flustered in their hearts.

Seeing their pillar of support now, the two girls' hearts instantly settled; the feeling was beyond words.

Ye Qing nodded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the two girls, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Not bad, both of you have made progress.”

He saw through the two girls' cultivation at a glance.

Lin Xueer had steadily stepped from the Sixth Layer of Foundation Establishment stage into the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment, and her aura was condensed, her Foundation solid.

Additionally, Ye Qing sensed that Lin Xueer's Nascent Sword Intent had become more complete and full, clearly showing she had gained a deeper understanding of the Heavenly River Sword Canon.

And Su Chan's progress was even more astonishing.

Eighth Layer of Foundation Establishment!

It had only been a month since she became a Disciple, yet she had broken through two realms in a row! Moreover, as expected of the Profound Sword Body born for the sword, the Sword Qi circulated within her, showing its sharp edge. Even between her eyebrows at the Ancestral Acupoint, a tiny, indiscernible Nascent Sword Intent was being nurtured. Once this nascent form solidified completely, she would be able to step across the threshold of Sword Intent that countless Sword Cultivators dreamed of!

“Revered Master, we didn't embarrass you!” Lin Xueer puffed out her chest and said with considerable pride:

“During this time, following your instructions, we set up a challenge arena in Kongming City to fight against various Cultivators and hone our sword techniques. We've gained a lot!”

Su Chan also nodded vigorously, took out a sword, pointed it towards the Void Realm, and performed a set of sword techniques as fluid as water.

The sword light was agile and faintly carried some of the vastness of the Heavenly River Sword Canon.

Ye Qing watched quietly and nodded slightly.

“Very good, both are excellent.”

He was not stingy with praise; a few simple words were the greatest affirmation for them. “Things here are settled. Since the Sect Grand Competition is approaching, return to the Taiyi Sect with me immediately.”

“Yes, Revered Master!”

Hearing this, the two girls' spirits lifted, and they responded in unison.

Ye Qing took the two girls and transformed into sword light, soaring straight into the clouds.

After some time, the endless mountain range of the Taiyi Sect was already in sight.

The three streaks of light didn't stop, passing straight through the massive Mountain-Protecting Array that shrouded the Sect.

The array's spiritual light flickered but didn't pose any obstacle to the three, clearly recognizing Ye Qing's status as a Peak Revered Master.

Quietly, the three landed in the main hall of Qingxuan Peak.

Su Chan was here for the first time, and she was quite looking forward to Qingxuan Peak in her heart.

But when she saw the scene before her, she couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

In her imagination, since her Revered Master was the Revered Master of a peak, the peak must be surrounded by Immortal Qi, with rows of palaces and crowds of Disciples.

But the Qingxuan Peak before her, though its Spiritual Qi was decent, appeared exceptionally lonely and cold.

It could even be called desolate.

The mountain paths were unswept and covered in moss; a few solitary palaces stood in the wind, with no sign of human presence within them.

The vast Qingxuan Peak seemed to have only the three of them.

“Is this... our Qingxuan Peak?” Su Chan asked in surprise.

Looking at the familiar scene, a flash of sadness appeared in Lin Xueer's eyes as she explained to Su Chan, “Junior Sister, you don't know. Since the Old Peak Master passed away and Revered Master took over the position of Peak Revered Master, most of the original Elders and Disciples of the peak have transferred to other peaks... Currently, there truly are only the three of us on Qingxuan Peak.”

In a few words, Lin Xueer explained the current situation facing Qingxuan Peak to Su Chan.

“What?”

Hearing this, Su Chan's willow-like eyebrows immediately shot up, her pretty face full of anger. “How could they do this!? Isn't this ingratitude, betraying Qingxuan Peak and betraying Revered Master?!”

Standing aside, Ye Qing looked at the familiar yet strange mountain gate, and a ripple of emotion arose in his heart.

He remembered that when he first transmigrated, he was faced with such a desolate scene where people left as soon as the tea grew cold.

But things were different now.

Now, he had enough confidence and absolute strength to protect this Qingxuan Peak!

After all, this could be considered his root in this world!

Just then, Ye Qing frowned slightly.

He sensed movement, and his powerful Divine Sense instantly spread out, covering the entire Qingxuan Peak and then extending toward the foot of the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, a commotion was currently being heard.

“Peak Master Liu, why bother? We just want to borrow this precious land of Qingxuan Peak to clear a few acres of spiritual fields and plant some Spirit Medicine. Qingxuan Peak is just lying waste anyway; once the Sect Grand Competition is over, this peak will be reclaimed by the Sect. Our early use of it is just making the best use of resources!”

A slightly mocking voice sounded.

The speaker was an Elder dressed in the attire of Danxia Peak, his cultivation of the Golden Core Third Layer fully revealed.

Behind him followed a dozen or so Disciples of Danxia Peak, each with a look of watching a good show on their faces.

And before them, a beautiful figure stood alone, yet she blocked the path up the mountain completely.

It was precisely the Peak Revered Master of Luoxia Peak, Liu Ruyan.

Her face was cold as frost, and her beautiful eyes held a hint of anger: “Elder Wang, I will say it one more time: as long as the Sect Grand Competition has not arrived, this Qingxuan Peak is still one of the Ninety-Nine Peaks of the Taiyi Sect! As long as it hasn't been removed from the list, you people from Danxia Peak can forget about stepping foot on it!”

Seeing this scene through his Divine Sense, Ye Qing couldn't help but feel a warm current in his heart.

Aunt Liu had a good relationship with his Revered Master and treated him like a nephew; she had been looking after him ever since his Revered Master passed away.

When he went down the mountain, Aunt Liu had even given him supplies.

And it sounded like scenes similar to today's had happened more than once during this period. Perhaps more than one or two Elders had come!

“Liu Ruyan, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”

That Elder Wang, having been blocked several times, had exhausted his patience. His face darkened completely. “Your Luoxia Peak is ranked beyond eightieth among the Ninety-Nine Peaks, while my Danxia Peak is ranked in the upper-middle range! You are only at the Second Layer of Golden Core, while I am already at the Golden Core Third Layer! Do you really want to oppose my Danxia Peak for a Qingxuan Peak that is destined to be removed?”

His words carried a strong threat.

In his view, Liu Ruyan was completely meddling in others' business!

Now, many Elders of Danxia Peak were eyeing the fat piece of meat that was Qingxuan Peak!

If he could occupy the territory in advance, he might gain a favorable advantage!

But his well-laid plans were repeatedly ruined by this Liu Ruyan!

Liu Ruyan, Peak Revered Master of Luoxia Peak?

“Hmph!”

“In terms of strength, although she is a Peak Revered Master, she isn't even as strong as me, an Elder!”

Once he forcefully repelled this Peak Revered Master of Luoxia Peak, overcoming a superior as an inferior, he would not only occupy the territory but also establish his prestige before all the Disciples.

It could be said to be killing two birds with one stone; who knows how comfortable he would feel then!

Seeing that Elder Wang was faintly showing signs of attacking, Liu Ruyan's expression changed slightly.

But her gaze remained firm:

“As long as I am here today, you can forget about entering Qingxuan Peak!”

“Good! Very good!”

Elder Wang laughed out of extreme anger. “Since you are asking for humiliation, this Elder will fulfill your wish today! I'll also let you know that in the Golden Core Realm, every layer is a world apart!”

Before he had finished speaking, the Golden Core spiritual power within Elder Wang's body suddenly erupted. A large hand of spiritual power burning with crimson flames condensed out of thin air, carrying a scorching wave of air as it slammed fiercely toward Liu Ruyan!