231: Down the mountain

Feeling the aura coming from the peak.

Inside Yinxin Pavilion.

Zhou Xiutong, who was sitting cross-legged, awoke from her meditation.

A flicker of joy crossed her small face.

Then, excitedly, she left Yinxin Pavilion and headed towards the peak.

At the peak of Suqing Peak.

True Lord Herun withdrew his gaze, which had been cast from afar, and already sensed Zhou Xiutong's movements.

He let out a wry laugh.

He arrived outside his Immortal Cave, in the pavilion.

Slowly, he brewed a pot of spirit tea, waiting for Zhou Xiutong's arrival.

"Master."

A moment later.

Zhou Xiutong arrived before True Lord Herun.

Seeing True Lord Herun sitting calmly, brewing tea, Zhou Xiutong quickly halted her hurried steps.

She slowly entered the pavilion and respectfully bowed.

"Sit."

True Lord Herun nodded, pointing to a meditation cushion beside him, and spoke to Zhou Xiutong.

"Thank you, Master."

Zhou Xiutong, adhering to etiquette, responded respectfully.

"Master, I have already Broken Through to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining."

After sitting down.

Seeing that True Lord Herun had no other reaction, she couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

She had thought that when True Lord Herun emerged from seclusion, he would surely praise her current cultivation.

This would prove that she had been diligent in her Cultivation and had not slacked off at all.

"Not bad."

True Lord Herun finally finished brewing the spirit tea, poured two cups, and pushed one towards Zhou Xiutong.

Then he nodded slightly, as if giving a word of praise.

"How perfunctory..."

Zhou Xiutong pouted, a little displeased.

"Thank you, Master, for the praise."

But her manners were not lost; she moved the teacup a step with both hands, placing it in front of her, and said to True Lord Herun.

"Heh~"

Looking at Zhou Xiutong's expression.

How could True Lord Herun not know what Zhou Xiutong was thinking?

But he didn't say much either.

Zhou Xiutong took a sip of the spirit tea.

In less than a moment.

She had cast aside that little bit of unhappiness she had just felt.

She began to tell True Lord Herun about the things that had happened to her and within the Sect during this period.

This included her frequent visits to the fighting stage to guide Outer Sect Disciples, as well as a series of minor events such as Utility Disciples or Outer Sect Disciples advancing their cultivation.

Zhou Xiutong was full of enthusiasm.

Even though these were such trivial matters.

True Lord Herun did not show any impatience.

He listened slowly, occasionally interjecting a sentence.

This made Zhou Xiutong even happier.

After a long while.

It wasn't until the pot of spirit tea was empty.

That Zhou Xiutong finally realized.

Looking at True Lord Herun, who was still calm and showed no impatience, she felt a little embarrassed.

"Master, I've talked too much."

Zhou Xiutong apologized softly.

"It's nothing."

True Lord Herun shook his head.

Then he looked at Zhou Xiutong and said.

"Although your Foundation is stable, it is still not enough."

Zhou Xiutong was a little confused.

She didn't know why her Master had suddenly changed the subject to her.

Moreover, she had strictly Cultivated according to her Master's and father's requirements.

She had not done anything to rush her growth.

Although her Cultivation speed was extremely fast.

She was confident that her Foundation was not unstable.

Seeing Zhou Xiutong's confusion.

True Lord Herun did not explain.

Instead, he pointed a finger.

A profound fluctuation surged from his fingertip and entered Zhou Xiutong's body.

As this profoundness entered her body.

Zhou Xiutong only felt her cultivation rapidly decline.

In less than a moment, she was left with only the cultivation of the Early Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.

"Master, this?"

Zhou Xiutong was a little bewildered and helpless.

But she did not resist.

Firstly, her resistance would be futile.

Secondly, she believed her Master would not harm her.

"Cultivation is not about working in isolation; if you wish to go further, you must temper your heart in the Mortal World."

"Go down the mountain."

As True Lord Herun's words fell.

He waved his sleeve.

Zhou Xiutong disappeared from her original spot.

Outside Xuanqing Sect.

Zhou Xiutong's figure appeared.

Seeing that she was no longer within Xuanqing Sect.

How could she not understand her Master's meaning?

"Hmph!"

"It's just an experience."

"Why seal my cultivation..."

Zhou Xiutong kicked at a pebble and stomped her foot.

She looked sullenly at the distant Xuanqing Sect.

Knowing that her Master had spoken, she certainly had no chance of returning now.

After thinking for a moment.

She gathered her small emotions and headed towards the Cloud Dream Marsh in Yingyang Commandery.

Since she was going down the mountain for experience, Zhou Xiutong first decided to go home and inform her family.

Suqing Peak.

After Zhou Xiutong left.

A Xuanqing Sect Elder in Hemp Clothes, appearing as a middle-aged man in the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, arrived at the peak of Suqing Peak.

A moment later.

The Elder in Hemp Clothes left.

Following the direction Zhou Xiutong had departed, he trailed far behind her.

After sending the two away.

True Lord Herun no longer thought much.

His eyes looked towards the other directions of Qingzhou.

He had also sensed that Middle Nascent Soul Stage aura just now.

It was just that it had left Spirit Void Sect so hastily.

Additionally, the Jiang Family also gained an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

Coupled with himself and Mo Xuan.

The situation in Qingzhou had now reversed.

In a few days, the situation that had maintained Qingzhou for so many years would change.

True Lord Herun's gaze drifted.

A moment later.

True Person Qingmu and Immortal Master Gu Li came to pay their respects; after the three discussed, True Person Qingmu and Immortal Master Gu Li departed.

On the other side.

Zhou Xiutong circulated her remaining Sixth Layer of Qi Refining magical power.

She wore the robes of a Xuanqing Sect Disciple.

Along the way, no accidents occurred.

Returning to Jade Moon Peak.

She first met her mother, Jing Ya.

Then she went to the fifth floor of the Cultivation Manual Tower and found Zhou Leren, who was in secluded Cultivation.

"Father."

Zhou Xiutong respectfully bowed and told him about her upcoming outdoor experience.

Zhou Leren shared many experiences and finally said to Zhou Xiutong.

"Dingyang and Dingze went down the mountain for experience a few days before you; you can go and find them first."

"Yes, Father."

Zhou Xiutong's eyes lit up.

She bowed to Zhou Leren and left Jade Moon Peak.

Zhou Xiutong had already changed out of her Xuanqing Sect Disciple robes.

According to what her father said.

Since it was an experience.

If she still relied on her identity as a Xuanqing Sect and Zhou Family member, it would certainly be ineffective.

Moreover.

If she were in an uninhabited place.

These two identities might bring more danger.

Zhou Xiutong kept this in mind.

So she put away all the tokens and robes that would reveal her identity.

After a slight disguise, she then took out the Jade Slip in her hand.

And went after Zhou Dingyang and the other one.

The two had taken a task from the Clan; if no accidents occurred, she should be able to catch up.

After Zhou Xiutong left.

Zhou Leren's lips moved slightly.

A faint, dense sound entered the mind of the Elder in Hemp Clothes outside Cloud Dream Marsh.

"I trouble you, Fellow Daoist."

The Elder in Hemp Clothes bowed slightly, performing a salute.

"Immortal Master is too polite."

After Zhou Xiutong went out, he saluted again and then followed her away.

Zhou Leren nodded.

He knew this was the Protector arranged by Xuanqing Sect for Zhou Xiutong.

His heart stirred slightly.

Thinking of the Old Ancestor's scale he had personally hung on her.

He extinguished the thought of following her out.

And resumed his secluded Cultivation.