190: minor evil cultivator

"Holy cr— Mast—"

Chen Qingxuan was instantly overjoyed;

But halfway through, seeing Purple Kite's frowning expression, he quickly stopped. "Cough, Revered Master, I wonder if you could lend your Disciple two stalks to use?"

"I don't have any."

"What? You just said you had many."

"I used to have many," Purple Kite said calmly. "But I don't now. Aside from the one that underwent Fusion with my main body, I didn't bring anything else with me."

?

Chen Qingxuan looked like he was questioning his life;

At this moment, he couldn't help but wonder if she was playing with him... Did she not want to give them, or did she really not have any?

Sensing Chen Qingxuan's suspicious gaze, Purple Kite frowned slightly. "Don't look at me like that. When I say I don't have any, I don't have any."

"Then I wonder if I could trouble Revered Master to return home and retrieve two stalks?" Chen Qingxuan asked, still unwilling to give up.

"...It's not a matter of home or not."

Purple Kite hesitated;

After all, she couldn't reveal the secrets behind this... Everything from back then no longer existed.

Thus, from Chen Qingxuan's perspective, it seemed more like she was unwilling to give them to him.

"Revered Master, I know this item is very precious even in the Three Thousand Divine Provinces," Chen Qingxuan said seriously. "But to be honest, I have a great use for it, and it's also related to Qian You..."

Immediately after, Chen Qingxuan honestly recounted what had happened back then.

Currently, the remnant souls of Ji Li and Luo Yin were still slumbering within the heavenly phoenix pearl, waiting for the lotus of life to reconstruct their Physical Bodies.

"The lotus of life indeed has the potential to help them reconstruct their Physical Bodies," Purple Kite said noncommittally. "But I truly don't have any lotus of life on hand right now, and I have nowhere to go to find them for you."

...

Chen Qingxuan fell silent.

Seeing that Purple Kite wasn't being stingy, he couldn't help but say, "Even for a high immortal existence like Revered Master... is it that difficult to find the lotus of life?"

"The conditions for that thing to mature are too numerous, and coupled with its immortal and indestructible effect, it is no ordinary object even in the Three Thousand Divine Provinces," Purple Kite stated. "However, it definitely still exists within the Three Thousand Divine Provinces. It's just that it's inconvenient for me to show my face right now. I'll keep an eye out for you when there's an opportunity in the future."

"Thank you, Revered Master." Chen Qingxuan looked pleasantly surprised upon hearing this, but then asked in confusion, "But Revered Master... what do you mean by it being inconvenient to show your face?"

"Not telling you."

Purple Kite turned her head away guiltily.

The next moment, she changed the subject. "Did you know that Ji Li is actually not Qian You's mother?"

"What?"

Chen Qingxuan felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow;

Compared to the completely oblivious Ji Qianyou, Chen Qingxuan, who knew how strangely his Beloved Disciple had appeared back then, was understandably shocked to hear Purple Kite's question.

They aren't mother and daughter?

Although he had his suspicions back then, he had no evidence.

So in the next moment, he urgently pressed, "Revered Master, what do you mean by that? Do you know how Qian You appeared?"

"Tell me how much you know first."

...

Chen Qingxuan hesitated;

In the end, he still recounted the process Ji Li had told him to Purple Kite truthfully.

"No wonder they look exactly the same." Purple Kite nodded as she realized, "It seems she happened to be there back then, and under the influence of the lotus of life... Qian You became so similar to her."

"Revered Master, please explain more clearly." Chen Qingxuan was anxious. After all, he and Ji Li had always wanted to investigate Ji Qianyou's origins;

But unfortunately, there had never been any clues.

Now hearing Purple Kite's words, she clearly knew some secrets.

Purple Kite tilted her small face up. "I can only tell you that they are not mother and daughter. It's impossible for a common Yao Race Bloodline to give birth to a Demon Emperor Bloodline."

"Then Qian You...?"

"I told her as well, but she thought I was joking," Purple Kite said. "But it doesn't matter. She will understand when the time comes."

With that, Purple Kite turned to leave.

Chen Qingxuan hurriedly chased after her. "Wait, Revered Master, I've already taken off my pants..."

Swish—

Purple Kite looked over with a frown;

"Cough... I didn't literally take off my pants." Chen Qingxuan rubbed his nose and said, "I mean, you haven't explained what's going on yet! You've piqued my curiosity."

"When you make me feel that you are trustworthy, then come and ask me!"

Purple Kite snorted coldly;

Without waiting for Chen Qingxuan to speak, she swaggered away, leaving a final instruction: "Don't disturb Qian You lately. She is currently Cultivating at a critical juncture."

...

The corners of Chen Qingxuan's mouth twitched violently;

What on earth is the reason... that he still can't be told?

Combining Purple Kite's initial attitude toward Ji Qianyou, Chen Qingxuan wasn't stupid. He could sense that her regard for his Beloved Disciple seemed to far exceed his imagination.

"Could it be... she is actually Qian You's mother?"

Chen Qingxuan's eyes widened... In the grand hall of Xia Country.

Looking at the graceful figure walking in, Xia Chong hurriedly went forward to meet her. "Senior Sister Lin, what did Revered Master say?"

...

Lin Xia's expression was complicated;

Facing the fervent gazes of the father and son, to be honest, the words she had to say next... were somewhat difficult to voice.

But the matter was settled, so she could only harden her heart and say, "Junior Brother Xia... Xia Chong, I have been ordered by Revered Master to inform you that from now on... you are no longer a Disciple of our Uncrowned Immortal Temple."

"What?"

Hearing this, the expectant father and son both shuddered.

"Martial Uncle Lin, what do you mean by that?" Xia Tian asked urgently, his face showing deep shock and bewilderment as he looked repeatedly at his father.

Neither father nor son was stupid;

For the Uncrowned Immortal Temple to suddenly expel Xia Chong from the School at this time... did this mean they were abandoning Xia Country?

This outcome was naturally hard for Xia Chong to accept. "Senior Sister Lin, take me back to the Uncrowned Immortal Temple... I want to see Revered Master."

"Junior Brother Xia, don't persist," Lin Xia said with a complex tone. "Revered Master is not heartless. If you must blame something, blame yourselves... for provoking someone you shouldn't have. Even Senior Brother Zhao's death will have to go unavenged."

Thump—

Xia Chong's pupils shrank, and his voice trembled. "That fellow... even Revered Master fears him? But Revered Master is already a high immortal... what exactly is his background?"

Xia Tian said excitedly, "Martial Uncle Lin, you can't just ignore us! We are counting on the Uncrowned Immortal Temple now. Otherwise, our Xia Country... you and my father have at least several hundred years of friendship!"

"There is always someone better and a heaven beyond the heavens... even among high immortals, there are distinctions in status."

Lin Xia shook her head helplessly.

Meeting the pleading gazes of the father and son, she sighed, "Although Revered Master told me not to concern myself with you anymore, out of our past friendship, I must warn you. If that person wanted to destroy Xia Country, it would be as easy as reaching into a bag for an object. The reason he hasn't done so is simply that he doesn't want to... If you still want to make amends, seeking help from the Uncrowned Immortal Temple is useless. Your only option is to bow your heads to him... no matter what method you use... it's the only thing you can do."

"Farewell!"

With that, Lin Xia bit her lip and turned to leave.

Or rather, she left in a great hurry, fearing that Chen Qingxuan would find out she had returned... if he came to find her then, she could probably only praise him for being truly fierce.

After all, that was an existence that even her Revered Master, a high immortal, dared not provoke.

"Martial Uncle Lin..."

At this moment, Xia Tian felt as if the sky had collapsed.

Watching Lin Xia's disappearing back, he couldn't help but look at his father, only to see that Xia Chong seemed to have aged a hundred years in an instant.

"Father, now that the Uncrowned Immortal Temple is ignoring us... what should we do?"

...Star Protection Hall.

Li Erhe sat in the position of Hall Revered Master, looking playfully at the old man below. "Yo, I was wondering who it was. Isn't this the retired emperor of Xia Country?"

...

Xia Chong's face was grim;

Especially facing the burning gazes around him, he felt like there were thorns in his back and a fishbone in his throat.

Back then, as the retired emperor of Xia Country and with the background of the Uncrowned Immortal Temple, who among these people and the forces behind them didn't respect him?

But now, faced with such playful and disrespectful scrutiny, he didn't dare show any dissatisfaction.

At this moment, Xia Chong truly regretted his past actions.

Since things had come to this, he could only try his best to make amends, so he forced a smile. "Hall Master Li, I have come today to request an audience with Young Master Chen."

"Oh my, retired emperor Xia is quite polite when he speaks."

Li Erhe pretended to speak loudly to those around him. "His strength is clearly so much greater than ours, and he has a high immortal Revered Master as a backer, yet he speaks so respectfully to this Hall Revered Master... This, this, this—to use Young Master Chen's words—I still prefer the way he looked when he was arrogant and unyielding."

"Haha!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in laughter.

...

Xia Chong's old face turned red, but he didn't dare to get angry;

As arrogant as he had been when he first came to the Star Protection Hall, he was now equally pathetic.

"Xia Country just lifted a stone only to drop it on its own feet. Serves them right!"

"Of all the people to oppose, they chose Young Master Chen... Now they've found out their backer isn't useful anymore, right?"

The crowd discussed animatedly.

"Did you hear that, retired emperor Xia?" Li Erhe stopped laughing and said coldly, "Back then, Young Master Chen ordered me to send someone to negotiate properly with Xia Country. It would have been one thing if you simply disagreed to build the statues, but you went as far as threatening us with the Yan Domain. Even so, Young Master Chen didn't hold it against you. But I didn't expect... that you would actually dare to bring people to warn Young Master Chen not to interfere with your plan to destroy Xian Country? Don't you fucking know that Xian Country is working for Young Master Chen?"

"And now you come running to request an audience with Young Master Chen? Do you think he's someone you can see whenever you want?"

As he spoke, Li Erhe slammed the table.

Although he was extremely fawning in front of Chen Qingxuan, in front of outsiders... he was the dignified Hall Revered Master of the Star Protection Hall.

He controlled the laws of the entire Star River Ruins, a person of high status and power!

Thus, when his voice fell, it drew a chorus of agreement.

...

Xia Chong gritted his teeth as he listened.

At this moment, he deeply understood the saying: "It's easy to see the King of Hell, but hard to deal with the little devils."

Therefore, he could only bring out his final argument. "I seek an audience with Young Master Chen to consult on the matter of the statues. I ask Hall Master Li to be flexible and not delay Young Master Chen's plans."

Statues?

Hearing this, Li Erhe's attitude changed instantly. "Wait here!"

..."Young Master Chen, I was originally going to drive him away, but he mentioned the statues... so I came to ask for your opinion," Li Erhe said eagerly.

"Let him come see me."

Chen Qingxuan did not refuse.

After all, to him, statues were no less of a temptation than feces to a dog;

Now that Xia Chong had taken the initiative to seek an audience, he had most likely come to his senses.

No one would make things difficult for themselves when it came to statues.

Before long.

Xia Chong was brought over by Li Erhe.

Compared to the arrogance of their first meeting, this time, Xia Chong's posture was full of humility and flattery.

But Chen Qingxuan didn't care about his attitude, only about his own interests. "Make it short. What do you want?"

"In response to Young Master Chen."

Xia Chong swallowed nervously and said, "The territory of Xia Country is vast. A mere ten thousand statues... are not enough to cover the entire country. It would leave many citizens with no chance to worship them. Therefore, I have come today to request that Young Master Chen... allow my Xia Country to build more statues."

The corners of Chen Qingxuan's mouth curled up slightly. "How many do you want to build?"

"Naturally, the more the better." Xia Chong felt that wasn't sincere enough and added, "Once, an opportunity was placed before me, but I did not cherish it. If Young Master Chen is willing to give me another chance, then I... want to build statues for ten thousand years."

"Heh~"

Chen Qingxuan laughed.

Damn, the Three Thousand Divine Provinces really has a lot of talents; everyone speaks so pleasantly.

Seeing that Chen Qingxuan didn't respond;

At this moment, Xia Chong's heart was racing like ten thousand galloping horses, unable to find peace.

Therefore, he immediately spoke again, "Young Master Chen, I have one more request."

"What is it?"

"To be honest, my Xia Country not only has a vast territory but also an interpersonal network that other Empires cannot match," Xia Chong said tremulously. "If Young Master Chen permits, I would like to spread the glory of building statues... to other provincial domains. I wonder if that is possible?"

"Oh?"

Chen Qingxuan's eyes lit up;

The next moment, he couldn't help but sit up straight. "I'm not well-educated, so don't try to deceive me."

"Rest assured, Young Master Chen, I will absolutely do as I say."

"Fine, I grant it."

"Thank you, Young Master Chen."

Xia Chong immediately wanted to drop to his knees in thanks;

Although it seemed like Xia Country was helping to build statues, Chen Qingxuan's attitude... was what he truly yearned for.

As long as he agreed to let Xia Country do things... they would undoubtedly not be liquidated like the Duanmu Duchy.

But before Xia Chong could kneel, Chen Qingxuan flicked his finger, and an invisible force lifted him up.

"Hmm?"

Xia Chong suddenly felt uneasy;

Facing his apprehensive gaze, Chen Qingxuan smiled and said, "I originally had no intention of targeting Xia Country. As long as you walk the correct path from now on, I believe no one will make things difficult for Xia Country. You can still live with dignity as you once did."

"This... thank you, Young Master Chen."

Xia Chong was instantly moved.

This promise was the reassurance he wanted most.

After sending Xia Chong away.

Chen Qingxuan returned with a cheerful step. "Tsk tsk, I didn't expect such an unexpected surprise... The scale of the Star River Ruins alone is already larger than the Cangyun Continent. If I add other provincial domains to the harvest... hiss!"

Chen Qingxuan didn't dare think further;

He feared that in the entire Three Thousand Divine Provinces, no one could be found whose improvement speed matched his.

Just then, a familiar and sickeningly sweet voice came,

"Little evil cultivator~~"

...

Chen Qingxuan looked over with a face full of black lines;

Encountering Huang Qingxue's overly gentle gaze, he raised an eyebrow and said, "I still prefer the way you looked when you used to repay kindness with enmity. Please revert to that."

"Hmph, so naughty!" Huang Qingxue took the initiative to lean in, whispering coquettishly in Chen Qingxuan's ear.

Chen Qingxuan remained expressionless. "How is your Moon Art Cultivation going?"

"Not bad... it's just that my body feels more and more strange."

"Oh? Strange in what way?"

"Every time I Cultivate, I feel my heart racing, and even my skin becomes hot... Qingxuan, is this normal?"

Counterattack tomorrow!