53: The disciple has descended the mountain and is enjoying some leisure time!

Myriad Dao Divine Sect, Sect Master Hall.

Elders Shi Potian and Tie Kuang also headed to their respective palace pavilions to familiarize themselves with their duties.

In the vast hall, only Chu Xuanjin and his four Personal Disciples, who were still in shock, remained.

Chu Xuanjin leaned back on his throne, watching the four figures of different styles below. The sense of contentment belonging to an absentee manager grew even stronger in his heart.

"Chenfeng, Linger, Much Gold."

He spoke, his voice echoing in the spacious hall.

"The three of you, by descending the mountain this time to establish the prestige of the Sect, have performed a meritorious service."

"The task I entrusted to you previously can be considered complete."

Wang Duojin's eyes lit up instantly. He rubbed his hands together, just about to ask for credit, but was blocked by a calm look from Chu Xuanjin.

"Next, you have two paths to choose from."

Chu Xuanjin's voice carried no emotion.

"First, remain within the Divine Mountain. This place has abundant Spiritual Qi, and with the transmission elder and artifact hall elder presiding, you can Cultivate in peace and stabilize your Dao Foundation."

"Second, you may also descend the mountain on your own, return to Qinghe City to find me, or continue to travel through the Mortal World to seek your own Opportunity."

He handed over the power of choice.

Much Gold was the first to jump up.

"Revered Master! This Disciple chooses the second path!"

He did not hesitate.

Chu Xuanjin glanced at him, neither confirming nor denying.

Su Linger looked at Much Gold, then at the silent Senior Brother beside her, and spoke softly.

"This Disciple... wishes to be with Senior Brother and Third Junior Brother."

Her choice was simple.

Where her Senior Brothers were, was where her heart felt at ease.

Chu Xuanjin's gaze finally landed on Ye Chenfeng.

Ye Chenfeng bowed to Chu Xuanjin.

"Replying to Revered Master, although this Disciple gained some insights from this battle, I also realized that my own Foundation still has areas of instability."

"This Disciple wishes to remain on the Divine Mountain and hone my Sword Heart further within the dao conveying jade wall."

His choice was just like his sword: direct and pure.

"Good."

Chu Xuanjin nodded.

"Since that is the case, Linger, Much Gold, the two of you may descend the mountain."

"Chenfeng, you shall remain."

"Yes, Revered Master!" the three replied in unison.

Su Linger and Wang Duojin bowed to Chu Xuanjin and Ye Chenfeng respectively, then turned into two streams of light and vanished within the hall.

In the hall, only Ye Chenfeng and Zhao Wuyou remained.

Chu Xuanjin's gaze turned to the golden-haired youth who had remained silent all along.

"Wuyou."

"This Disciple is here." Zhao Wuyou stepped forward.

"The matter of the Blazing Fire Sect is your trial alone."

Chu Xuanjin's voice became cold.

"This Seat will not interfere, and the Elders will not make a move either."

"That Lie Shan is at the Void Refining Initial Stage. Although you are currently at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection and possess divine arts and Divine Artifacts, the gap in Realm remains a chasm."

"In this battle, you may be defeated, you may be injured, or even... you may flee."

"But you must not lose your sharp spirit or break your Dao Heart."

Zhao Wuyou's golden eyes ignited with a flame.

"Revered Master, rest assured."

His voice carried the clangor of a Dragon's roar.

"In this life, this Disciple will only die in battle; I will never flee."

"This battle will not only destroy the Blazing Fire Sect, but it will also make Lie Shan the whetstone for me to step into the Soul Transformation Realm!"

"Very good."

A smile finally appeared on Chu Xuanjin's face.

"Go."

"Yes!"

Zhao Wuyou did not say anything more. He nodded slightly to Chu Xuanjin and Ye Chenfeng, turned, and transformed into a golden stream of light, disappearing from sight.

Inside the hall, only Chu Xuanjin and Ye Chenfeng remained.

"Chenfeng, apart from honing your Sword Heart, is there anything else you wish to stay for?" Chu Xuanjin asked.

Ye Chenfeng was silent for a moment, then looked up, staring straight at his Revered Master on the throne.

"This Disciple wishes to ask, what Realm is Revered Master's Dao of the Sword?"

This was a question he had hidden in his heart for a long time.

Chu Xuanjin smiled upon hearing this.

He did not answer, but merely extended a finger and casually slashed forward toward the churning sea of clouds outside the hall.

There was no Sword Qi, no sword light.

Yet, Ye Chenfeng's calm, unruffled eyes suddenly constricted.

He saw it.

He saw that the boundless sea of clouds outside the hall had been split in two from the middle by an invisible sword mark that spanned who knows how many tens of thousands of miles!

That sword mark was as smooth as a mirror, containing a terrifying Sword Intent that he could not comprehend—one that severed space and annihilated Law!

After a long time.

The sea of clouds slowly merged back together.

As if everything just now had been a hallucination.

Yet, Ye Chenfeng's body was trembling slightly.

He bowed deeply to Chu Xuanjin.

"This Disciple... understands."

He turned and walked toward the side hall where the dao conveying jade wall was located.

His back was straighter and also more desolate than at any time before.

...

The Sect Master Hall returned to absolute silence once again.

Chu Xuanjin sat alone on the throne, his fingertips tapping the armrest unconsciously.

The game of chess in the Eastern Wasteland was basically finished.

The Blazing Fire Sect was already a corpse in the grave, and its destruction was only a matter of time.

The remaining Sects had all submitted as well.

Where should he go next?

The Central Continent Sacred Domain?

This thought flashed through his mind.

The Eastern Wasteland was, after all, a land with barren Spiritual Qi.

According to the rules of this world, the Law of this place could at most support a Cultivator to Cultivate to the Void Refining Realm.

Lie Shan being able to break through was already a result of his Heaven-Defying Aptitude and Luck.

If not for the System's empowerment, he himself would likely be trapped here until death.

His Disciples all possessed Divine Grade or immortal grade Aptitude.

If they stayed in this novice village forever, it would undoubtedly be a waste of natural resources.

But going to the Central Continent Sacred Domain now seemed too early.

Ye Chenfeng, Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

Zhao Wuyou, Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

Su Linger and Much Gold were only at the Golden Core stage.

Such cultivation, in the Eastern Wasteland, was already considered a powerhouse.

But if placed in the Central Continent Sacred Domain, where Prodigies were as numerous as clouds and experts walked everywhere, they probably wouldn't even be able to stir up a ripple.

It would be like a group of newbies who had just walked out of the novice village, without full equipment or maxed-out skill points, rushing directly into a max-level map.

That was not training; that was suicide.

"Still too weak..."

Chu Xuanjin sighed softly.

"One must eat a meal one bite at a time and walk a path one step at a time."

"Although this Eastern Wasteland is a small temple, it has all the necessary organs."

"It is just right to let them stay here, max out their levels, get their gear ready, and then go challenge the next dungeon."

He had made a decision in his heart.

No rush.

Take it slow.

In any case, he had plenty of time.

As an absentee manager, he should also enjoy this rare moment of leisure.

He stood up, took one last look at the vast and majestic hall, and his figure gradually faded.

The next instant.

In Qinghe City, on South Street, within that three-courtyard residence.

Chu Xuanjin's figure appeared on the recliner in the backyard.

The sun was just right, and the breeze was mild.

He took out the treasured purple clay tea set from the myriad dao ring and obtained some Dao-enlightening tea leaves.

He started a small charcoal fire, set up the kettle, and began to leisurely brew a pot of his own afternoon leisure tea.

The fragrance of tea, mixed with the scent of sunlight, permeated the small courtyard.

PS: Accidentally stayed up all night again; why does the night pass so quickly? Is there any way to make it slower?