119: Return to Shenxiao Gate

More than half a month later, Lu Chen returned to the Shenxiao Sect, travel-worn and weary.

The mountain gates towered high, still shrouded in clouds and mist.

Seeing his tattered clothes, wind-beaten face, and the faint, lingering scent of mountain blood and Evil Qi on his person, the Disciples guarding the gate immediately stepped forward to stop him. He was tall but appeared slightly exhausted, and their eyes were filled with their usual scrutiny and caution.

"Halt! This is the Shenxiao Sect's mountain gate. Unrelated personnel must leave immediately!"

An older Disciple pressed his hand against his sword hilt and shouted in a deep voice.

Lu Chen didn't say much. He silently took out a simple, standard-issue purple jade plaque with fine Thunder Runes on the edges from his robes and handed it over.

This was the Identity Token of a Shenxiao Sect Inner Sect Disciple. Although it wasn't flashy, it contained a special Restriction inside that made it difficult to forge.

The Disciple took the jade plaque; it felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch.

He injected a trace of spiritual power to check it. A very faint spiritual light with a unique rhythm immediately rippled across the surface of the jade plaque, and the Disciple information recorded inside emerged—Xuanji Peak, Lu Chen.

"Xuanji Peak?"

The inspecting Disciple was stunned for a moment. He looked up and scrutinized Lu Chen a few more times, seemingly trying to find a match for this dust-covered, somewhat weathered face in his vague memories.

Xuanji Peak had few people and kept a low profile within the Sect; the name Lu Chen was even more unfamiliar.

However, the token could not be faked, and the spiritual power imprint matched.

Another Disciple next to him leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Senior Brother, how is it? Is he an impostor?"

The inspecting Disciple shook his head and handed the token back to Lu Chen. The vigilance on his face faded slightly, but he remained professionally distant. "The token is correct. However... Junior Brother Lu, you certainly look... travel-worn upon your return this time."

His tone was slightly hesitant. After all, Lu Chen's current appearance didn't look like an Inner Sect Disciple returning from ordinary training; he looked like he had just crawled out of some death-defying forbidden land.

Lu Chen took the token and only gave a slight nod. He had no intention of explaining and walked straight into the mountain gate.

Only after his figure disappeared onto the mountain path did the gatekeeping Disciples begin to discuss in low voices.

"From Xuanji Peak? This is the first time I've heard of such a person..."

"Looking at him, he probably went to some dangerous place. It's not easy just to come back alive."

"The Disciple taken in by that person from Xuanji Peak... must have some tricks up his sleeve. The token's spiritual light was pure; it can't be faked."

A hint of curiosity and speculation flashed in their eyes, but they soon stopped paying attention.

The Shenxiao Sect had many Disciples, and many went out for training. While it wasn't common to return looking so disheveled, it wasn't a strange occurrence either.

Lu Chen acted as if he hadn't heard the discussion behind him. He didn't stop and hurried toward the direction of Xuanji Peak.

After being away for over a year, the Sect's scenery remained the same. He occasionally encountered fellow Disciples along the way; some were in a hurry, others were in groups of two or three. Occasionally, someone would catch sight of his disheveled state and cast a curious or scrutinizing glance, but that was all.

He originally had little fame within the Sect and few acquaintances. In his current state, no one could connect him with that silent, ordinary Inner Sect Disciple who used to Cultivate in private.

Before long, the familiar silhouette of Xuanji Peak was before his eyes.

The peak was quiet and lonely, shrouded in clouds and mist, no different from his memory.

Lu Chen's heart settled slightly. He went straight up the mountain, heading toward the Immortal Cave of his Revered Master, Venerable Xuan Xiao, at the summit.

When he reached a pine and stone platform halfway up the mountain, he saw a tower-like, sturdy figure standing by the roadside from afar, seemingly waiting.

That person was wearing simple grey cloth clothes and standing with his hands behind his back. His aura was as heavy and solid as a mountain; it was Senior Brother Tie Shan.

Lu Chen quickened his pace, stepped forward, and bowed. "Lu Chen greets Senior Brother Tie Shan."

Tie Shan turned around, a smile appearing on his square, honest face. He reached out to support him. "Youngest Junior Brother, no need for such formalities. You've finally returned!"

His gaze swept over Lu Chen, and a flash of imperceptible surprise and relief crossed his eyes. He nodded and said, "It seems you've experienced much during this trip. Your cultivation is refined and solid, and your blood Qi is concentrated. Very good."

Lu Chen stood up. Sensing the mellow and thick aura on Tie Shan that was faintly in harmony with the surrounding world, his heart skipped a beat. He congratulated him, "Congratulations on your Golden Core Major Achievement, Senior Brother!"

Tie Shan waved his hand with a hearty smile. "It was just luck. As for you, your presence is different from before. If Revered Master knew, he would certainly be relieved."

His tone shifted, and his expression became slightly solemn. He took an object from his robes and handed it over. "Before Revered Master went out, he instructed me that if you returned to the mountain, I should give this to you."

It was a deep blue Jade Slip about an inch long and two fingers wide. The material was neither metal nor jade, with a smooth surface and a faint shimmering light. It was cool to the touch, yet it leaked no spiritual power fluctuations, appearing quite mysterious.

Lu Chen took it with both hands. The Jade Slip felt heavy in his hand, surprisingly weighty.

Just as he was about to use his Divine Sense to investigate, Tie Shan said in a low voice, "This slip was sealed by Revered Master with a special Restriction; ordinary methods cannot open it. Revered Master said it requires the most refined and pure lightning spiritual power to slowly saturate it before the contents can be seen. You can check it after you return to your Immortal Cave."

Lu Chen's heart stirred. He nodded and carefully put the Jade Slip away.

It needs lightning spiritual power to open?

This Restriction was cleverly set. Although the Xuanji Peak lineage also had a lightning art Legacy, there were probably not many as pure as his. Revered Master leaving this object clearly had a deep meaning.

"Your Second Senior Brother is out on business and will return to the mountain in a few days. At that time, we brothers will have a good gathering."

Tie Shan added, patting Lu Chen's shoulder. "Go rest first. Looking at you, you should clean yourself up. Your Immortal Cave has been looked after; it's the same as when you left."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Then this Junior Brother will take his leave."

Tie Shan nodded with a smile. "Go on."

Lu Chen said no more and turned to walk quickly toward his Immortal Cave on Xuanji Peak.

Holding that deep blue Jade Slip, the cold and firm texture came from his fingertips, and doubt and expectation intertwined in his heart.

Revered Master specifically left it and sealed it with a Restriction that requires lightning spiritual power to open... What exactly is recorded inside?

He didn't stop, passing through the familiar bamboo path and arriving before his Immortal Cave located in a quiet spot on the mountainside.

With a wave of his hand, he cast a spell. The stone door slid open silently, and the familiar scent of faint sandalwood and dust greeted him.

The furnishings inside the Immortal Cave were simple and almost identical to when he left, except the tables and chairs were spotless, showing they were frequently cleaned.

Closing the stone door behind him and activating the simple protective Restriction, Lu Chen walked to the prayer mat in the center of the Stone Chamber and sat down, meditating for a moment to calm his mind.

Only then did he take out the deep blue Jade Slip again and hold it in his palm.

He concentrated his mind and slowly stimulated the Dantian spiritual power.

He didn't mobilize that mysterious Thunder Pool power, but instead operated the Nine Heavens Thunder Control True Art, carefully channeling a stream of pure and peaceful lightning spiritual power from his fingertips. Like a trickling stream, it slowly flowed into the Jade Slip.

The moment the spiritual power touched the surface of the Jade Slip—

"Buzz..."

An extremely faint hum sounded, as if coming from the deepest depths.

On the surface of the deep blue Jade Slip, those originally obscure glimmers suddenly lit up like awakened stars. They rapidly flowed and intertwined along a profound trajectory, finally condensing into a brilliant, jumping silver-white lightning spark in the center of the Jade Slip!

The lightning flashed several times, and the Jade Slip vibrated slightly before returning to peace.

But Lu Chen could feel that the solid barrier inside had disappeared.

He took a deep breath, separated a wisp of Divine Sense, and slowly delved into the Jade Slip.