47: Third Elder

[After nightfall, you engaged in profound communication all night long. With your Heavenly Human Realm cultivation, you naturally were not inferior to her, a Golden Core Cultivator.]

[As the morning light dawned, she, her face flushed, nestled in your arms and said softly, “Husband, my place isn't safe for you. You should continue staying here with Liu Xianer. I will visit you often.”]

["I understand." You nodded sensibly.]

[As a Core Disciple, Liu Caiping had an exclusive Immortal Cave in the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land. But precisely because of this, there were many powerful individuals there, making it unsafe, unlike this place where no one pays attention.]

[She gazed at you affectionately, then suddenly pinned you down—it wasn't until several days later that she finally left, looking radiant.]

[After Liu Xianer watched her leave, she bounced in teasingly, "You two didn't practice some Dual Cultivation Technique, did you?"]

["Want to learn? I can teach you!" You retorted with a wicked smile.]

["Hmph! What's so great about it!" She lifted her small face. "I'll find a Dao Companion someday too, just to show you!"]

[After speaking, she bounced away.]

[In the one hundred and forty-third year, Liu Caiping, who had successfully Broken Through to Nascent Soul, came to find you for profound communication and sparring. You lost, and she was very happy.]

[In the one hundred and forty-fifth year, you cultivated the Illusionary Form Technique to the second layer. You can now completely change your appearance and look like another person.]

[In the one hundred and fiftieth year,]

[You finally Broke Through to Qi Refining Fourth Layer, which is the Peak of the Qi Refining Early Stage.]

[Over the years, Liu Caiping would visit you two or three times annually.]

[On this day, it was time again to collect supplies.]

[You and Liu Xianer excitedly rushed toward the Central Hall.]

[Following behind Liu Xianer, you noticed she kept glancing back at you. Arriving beneath the “Treasure Orb,” she first took out her Cyan Jade Pendant and collected her supplies.]

["Go wait over there." She waved her hand at you.]

[You shook your head and laughed wryly—was this girl really treating you like a thief?]

[You didn't dwell on it and walked over to a pillar to wait.]

[You saw her sneakily looking around, pulling out a Purple Twin-Fish Jade Pendant to quickly collect a second batch of supplies. She stuffed the Storage Pouch into her bosom and slipped out, crouching low.]

[You couldn't help but ask, "Why are you acting like a thief when collecting your own things?"]

["What do you know!" She glared fiercely at you.]

[As soon as you reached the square, two men suddenly blocked your path.]

[Liu Xianer recognized them—Liu Yang and Liu Tao, Disciples responsible for maintaining order in the Central Hall.]

[The two men stared intently at the Storage Pouch in Liu Xianer's arms and held out their hands, saying, "Hand over what you shouldn't have taken."]

["What shouldn't I have taken? What nonsense are you talking about?" Liu Xianer immediately became nervous.]

["Stop pretending! You secretly collected two batches of supplies just now," Liu Yang said sternly. "Hand them all over for inspection!"]

["Since there are two of us, of course we collected two batches!" Liu Xianer retorted, trying to hold her ground.]

["You clearly used a purple jade pendant..." Liu Yang said coldly.]

[Before he could finish, Liu Tao interrupted, "Why waste words on her!"]

[With that, he immediately struck out, sending a palm strike toward Liu Xianer.]

[Liu Tao was already at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level. If this palm strike landed, Liu Xianer would either die or be severely injured.]

[He was clearly aiming to kill her and seize her treasure!]

[Thinking of the care Liu Xianer had shown you over the years, you didn't hesitate, flashing forward to meet the strike with your own palm—]

["Bang!"]

[Amidst the massive sound of Spiritual Qi exploding, Liu Tao was sent flying backward, tracing an arc in the air before crashing heavily onto the ground and rolling several times.]

[Liu Yang's eyes widened. He stared at you in disbelief: "You... you are a Heavenly Human Realm Martial Artist? You are not a member of the Liu Clan! Who exactly are you?"]

[When you struck just now, the surging True Essence inside your body exposed your identity as a Martial Artist—it was completely different from a Cultivator's Spiritual Power.]

[Although there are Martial Artists in Tianshu City, within the Liu Clan Immortal Family, the status of a Martial Artist is no different from that of an Handyman, both being at the very bottom.]

[Your expression unchanged, you said, "I am Liu Xianer's Servant, so how am I not part of the Liu Clan?"]

["A mere Servant/Attendant dares to strike? You're courting death!" Liu Yang roared, abruptly activating the Signal Flare Talisman in his hand.]

[The Signal Flare Talisman shot into the sky, exploding with a "pop," and a massive glowing imprint of the character "Liu" instantly appeared in the sky.]

[The surrounding crowd quickly gathered, discussing animatedly:]

["Who is this old man? How dare a mere Handyman strike a Liu Clan Disciple?"]

["He must be tired of living, right?"]

[Liu Xianer frantically pulled out the Storage Pouch: "No, no, no! Isn't it enough if I just give you the supplies?"]

[You felt helpless—Liu Caiping had once said that your relationship with her must not be exposed, or the consequences would be unpredictable.]

[But if you hadn't intervened just now, Liu Xianer would likely have suffered a terrible fate...]

["This is no longer something a single Storage Pouch can solve! I'm going to cut you into a thousand pieces!" Liu Tao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stumbled to his feet, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.]

["You have little ability but a huge temper! It's truly a disgrace for the Liu Clan to raise a Disciple like you!" You mocked with a cold laugh.]

["Impudence!"]

[A furious roar descended from the sky, and immediately after—]

["Boom!"]

[A terrifying pressure instantly enveloped you.]

[You felt as if a great mountain had pressed down, your bones cracking all over, and you were firmly pinned to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood with a "pfft."]

[When the surrounding crowd saw the newcomer clearly, they immediately knelt on the ground and shouted in unison, "Greetings to the Third Elder!"]

[You struggled to look up and saw a figure resembling a young boy standing in the air, coldly looking down at you.]

[Your heart trembled—it was indeed him!]

[Although you hadn't seen him in this simulation, you couldn't forget the mannerisms of this young boy.]

[You are clearly at Heavenly Human Realm Perfection, so why has the gap between you and him grown even wider?]

[This pressure shouldn't be this terrifying...]

[You suddenly realized: This young boy has probably already Broken Through to Soul Transformation!]

[The thought struck you as reasonable—what kind of talent does he possess, and what kind of Aptitude do you have?]

[The Liu Clan Immortal Family has Cultivators like clouds; which one who can sit in the position of Elder isn't a heaven-blessed genius?]

[Thinking this, you suddenly burst out laughing: "Hahaha... Third Elder, is it right that he intended to murder Liu Xianer and seize her treasure?"]

["I did not!" Liu Tao hastily defended himself. "Elder, please observe! This Disciple was just performing a routine inspection. Liu Xianer was sneakily collecting double the supplies, and this Disciple suspected theft, which is why..."]

[The Third Elder waved his hand to interrupt: "We'll set aside Liu Xianer's matter for now. You, a Subordinate, committed insubordination against a superior. This crime is unforgivable."]

[Liu Xianer frantically pleaded: "Third Elder, please be merciful! He only acted in a moment of desperation. I beg you to spare him!"]

["Moreover, this purple jade pendant was given to me by Grandma Caiping, it wasn't stolen!"]

[The Third Elder's gaze shifted slightly: "Liu Caiping? Why did she give it to you?"]