110: Chapter 110 The Prodigy Ranking and Old Friends

[A few days later, looking at the clingy Chi Chuan beside you, you pushed him away a bit with a look of utter disgust.]

["Don't you have anything better to do?"]

["Mother said my most important task is to accompany you."]

[Unwilling to give up, Chi Chuan pressed close to you again.]

["Oh? I heard that you never used to listen to your mother's words before."]

[You teased lightly, feeling rather helpless inside.]

[Ever since that day, this kid seemed to have opened the door to a new world. Not only did he spar with you during the day, but he also seized every moment at night to ask for guidance.]

[What a diligent and studious good student!]

[After all, staying with you not only improved his combat experience, but also granted him the bonus of the Jade Marrow Physique during dual cultivation. The benefits were simply too numerous.]

[However, he wasn't stingy either, gifting you quite a few Foundation Establishment Stage pills that boosted cultivation, and even handing you a top-grade spiritual weapon named the "Soul-Shaking Bell".]

["What was that about Lin Bufan that you told me yesterday?"]

[Unable to win against his persistence, you had to find a comfortable position leaning in his arms, then asked as if offhandedly.]

["That brat is a ruthless person!"]

[Chi Chuan held his little darling with satisfaction, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes.]

["Rumor has it that he is a direct disciple of the Tianxuan Sword Sect. A month ago, within the territory of the Jidao Sect, he successively killed two direct disciples at the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, and even set an ambush to slaughter dozens of Late Qi Refining Stage cultivators. In the end, he actually escaped from the hands of a Golden Core elder and swaggered away."]

[Hearing this, your fingertips paused slightly. Hearing that name again left you in a brief daze.]

[In a mere twenty years, the progress speed of the Child of Destiny was truly terrifying.]

[The other party must already possess the combat power of the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage, no! Even the Foundation Establishment Late Stage!]

[As for escaping from a Golden Core cultivator in the end, you could only say that everyone was overthinking it. No matter how heaven-defying a Foundation Establishment cultivator was, they couldn't stir up any waves in front of a Golden Core cultivator.]

[That brat Lin Bufan must have used some powerful divine-grade skill!]

["Xuanhuang Prefecture has a prodigy ranking, specially recording the elite among cultivators below the Golden Core stage. As soon as that brat went on the list, he took the twentieth position."]

[Chi Chuan didn't notice your abnormality and continued speaking with great interest:]

["After all, being able to escape from a Golden Core cultivator... this battle record is too unbelievable. It's just that many people believe he must have used some kind of external item and it shouldn't count as his own strength."]

["A prodigy ranking?"]

[A trace of doubt flashed in your eyes. Why had you never heard of it?]

["Oh, that thing was created by the Wuxiang Tower ten years ago. Not only is there a prodigy ranking, but there are also the Hidden Dragon Roll and the True Monarch Record."]

[Hearing this, your brows furrowed slightly. Cultivating immortality should be cultivation, what's the use of making up these illusory titles? But at the same time, you had a bad premonition in your heart.]

[According to your ten thousand hours of literary appreciation experience from a certain eggplant app in your past life, once such a thing appeared, it meant that drastic changes were bound to happen in the current world.]

["Is there any other information about that Wuxiang Tower?"]

["Wuxiang Tower is extremely mysterious. Currently, no one has been able to dig out their roots. This faction stays hidden for years, and whenever it emerges, it re-announces those three lists."]

[Hearing this, Chi Chuan shook his head.]

["It is said that not only in Xuanhuang Prefecture, but their figures can also be found in other realms."]

["Then what is my husband's rank on the prodigy ranking?"]

[Seeing that no useful news could be coaxed out, the corners of your eyes lifted slightly, and you glanced with some mockery at the man who was currently hands-on with you.]

["Uh..."]

[Chi Chuan's hand movements paused. After a few awkward laughs, he said with lacking confidence:]

["Last time I was actually prepared to get on the list, but unfortunately I made a mistake..."]

["Hmm... Ha... Hahahaha!"]

[You originally wanted to keep a straight face, but his silly look was truly irresistible.]

[However, this also sideways explained the general situation of the combat power on the prodigy ranking—it must be difficult for anyone below the Foundation Establishment peak to make the list.]

[Thinking again how Lin Bufan took the twentieth position as soon as he entered the list, you couldn't help but sigh with emotion. As expected of the Child of Destiny, this ranking alone would attract no one knows how much enmity for him.]

[Chi Chuan's face flushed red as expected. Raising his hand to open the restrictions inside the room, a pair of deep eyes stared straight at you.]

["Husband~"]

[You smiled sweetly and reached out to hug his neck.]

["Humph! Acting spoiled is useless, I..."]

["No, your concubine wants the detailed list of that ranking."]

["..."]

[Looking at you blinking a pair of innocent big eyes, Chi Chuan was at a loss for words for a moment.]

[Immediately waving his sleeve, the lights in the room were all extinguished. He swore that today he would definitely reassert his husbandly authority!]

[...]

[Another twenty years passed.]

[On this day, the normally quiet Yucha Sect residence was noisy and bustling.]

[Disciples hurried back and forth, shuttling between the palace pavilions and corridors. Lanterns and colorful streamers were hung everywhere, as if they were setting things up in advance.]

[Near noon, the largest plaza in the center of the residence was already clamoring with voices, and many people dressed in outer sect attire gathered here.]

["Young Madam, Lady Matriarch asks you to go over."]

[You were sitting cross-legged on a jade-like futon. Hearing the voice, you slowly opened your eyes.]

[Forty springs and autumns had flown by since you left the Tianxuan Sword Sect, yet time left not the slightest trace on your face. Instead, it coated you with a layer of clear and serene spiritual charm, making your appearance increasingly perfect and your temperament even better than before.]

["What is the matter?"]

[You didn't get up immediately. Twenty years in the path of cultivation was merely a snap of the fingers, but it was enough for you to gain a foothold in this Yucha Sect and cultivate a few trusted aides.]

["Today is the preliminary round of the Fengming Zixiao Grand Competition, and the Matriarch hopes you can step forward to help preside over it."]

[Because of Chi Chuan, Chi's mother loved him and extended that affection to you, gradually letting you take charge of some minor matters.]

[Today's action was probably also to let you make a formal appearance in front of the other factions of the Yucha Sect.]

[As for that Fengming Zixiao Grand Competition, it wasn't that you didn't want to participate. On the contrary, you really wanted to, but your strength was not yet sufficient to set foot in such a grand gathering of winds and clouds.]

[Looking at the spiritual light flickering at your fingertips, you sighed inwardly; it was still a bit lacking.]

[Over the past twenty years, you cultivated bitterly day and night with the resources of the Yucha Sect, but ultimately limited by your spiritual roots, you still remained at the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage. Wanting to break through to the late stage would probably still require quite some time.]

[Your current cultivation is still low, and nearly forty consecutive years of seclusion had after all caused some impact on your state of mind. Going out for a walk happened to be just right.]

[After all, that husband of yours who pampered you to the bone was also going to participate. As an excellent wife, naturally you had to go and cheer him on.]

[You got up and slowly stepped out of the room. The originally loose and comfortable robes quickly turned into flowing spiritual light. After your toes crossed the threshold, the light instantly formed, changing into a moon-white gold-woven long dress.]

[With wide sleeves draping like clouds, a jade belt cinching your waist, and a cold jade hairpin obliquely inserted into your hair bun, you looked picturesque, dignified yet graceful.]

["Young Madam!"]

[The few disciples waiting outside were dazed for a moment, then hurriedly lowered their eyes to salute, not daring to take another glance.]

["Hmm, lead the way."]

[Your tone was cold and distant, yet not arrogant. In every gesture, you vaguely carried the proper and upright demeanor of a sect matriarch.]

[Your residence was not far from that central square. In just the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, you arrived at the edge of the square.]

["Hiss~"]

[The moment you entered the arena, countless sounds of intake of breath rang out.]

[You scanned the surroundings with a calm expression, but paused for a moment in a certain corner, then the corners of your mouth curved into a hidden arc.]

[This really is... such a coincidence!]

[...]