Chapter 293: A Veil Apart

Xu Qing remained silent, standing at the bow and gazing at the night sky. After a long moment, he took a deep breath, put away his magic boat, and walked towards the gate of the Xuanyou Sect.

He didn't rush. As he walked, he replayed in his mind the secrets exposed during his previous battle with Sheng Yunzi. Although his master had analyzed the situation and assured him of his safety, Xu Qing still often pondered potential flaws or vulnerabilities during this time.

"The Alliance Leader has a Golden Crow, and so do I. This is inherently a conflict, though I can remain safe while I am still weak. Furthermore, the Alliance Leader's Golden Crow was integrated into Sheng Yunzi's right eye, meaning he won't die easily. So, will the Sheng Yunzi of the future truly still be Sheng Yunzi?" Xu Qing narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

"It is indeed a man-eating world."

Night had fallen upon the Alliance City. As he walked along the road, a wind blew, making Xu Qing's clothes flap noisily and scattering his long hair. Xu Qing raised his head and gazed at the night sky.

"Master was right," Xu Qing murmured. "I am still too weak." He didn't want to be devoured himself one day; even if fate dictated it, he would still struggle and rise against it. "I will do my best. If I truly cannot achieve it, I will still strive to make whoever devours me burst their guts!"

This world, in essence, was no different from the one he first knew in the slums and scavenger camps; what had changed was merely how human nature manifested itself in more cruel and sophisticated ways. In the scavenger camps, desires and plunder were mostly direct, and killing was the goal. But once cultivation reached a certain level and higher-level environments were encountered, killing was no longer the goal, but a means to achieve desired outcomes. The former Xu Qing was not accustomed to this, but now he could accept it and was rapidly learning and absorbing sustenance for growth from it.

Amidst these thoughts, time slowly passed until midnight, and Xu Qing finally arrived outside the gates of the Xuanyou Sect. Shrouded in the night, the sect was dark, but the lights on the mountain peak shone brightly, as if intending to spread their radiance and dispel the darkness.

Xu Qing stood at the foot of the mountain, taking a deep breath. Just as he was about to step onto the stairs, his eyes suddenly narrowed. He looked up towards the depths of the stairs ahead, where a figure was walking step by step towards him.

The figure gradually walked into the moonlight, revealing the face of an old woman. Xu Qing cupped his fist and bowed very politely.

"Xu Qing, you have no manners! To arrive so late when the Old Ancestor summons you! If there's a next time, I will surely punish you!"

The old woman snorted coldly, her expression stern and her voice indifferent. After speaking, she turned and walked up the stairs. Xu Qing glanced at the old woman's neck from behind, said nothing, and followed her up the stairs.

"If you look at my neck again, do you believe I'll dig your eyes out?" the old woman ahead didn't turn back, her voice, laced with chilliness, carried back to him.

Xu Qing still said nothing; verbal disputes seemed meaningless to him, especially when facing powerful individuals. So, he walked at his usual pace, his expression unchanged. He could feel the terrifying cultivation fluctuations emanating from the old woman; the vague sensation they gave him seemed similar to Sixth Master. Seeing Xu Qing didn't speak, the old woman glanced back at him, then turned and continued forward.

Both remained silent until, a moment later, they reached the mountain peak via the stairs. Here was a vast, secluded mansion built of purple jade, with a tall tower visible at its center from afar. The light emanated from the tower.

Passing through the main gate, they entered a bluestone path. Blooming flowers surrounded them, pavilions were visible everywhere, and numerous maidservants passed by. Each of them had a slender figure, a pretty appearance, skin as fair as snow, and eyes filled with youthful vitality. As they passed Xu Qing, most of them cast curious glances his way. After noticing Xu Qing's appearance, they whispered to each other, and sounds of laughter and playful chatter followed. Xu Qing ignored them, not even glancing. The old woman frowned and glared fiercely, and only then did the maidservants quickly move away.

Furthermore, colorful mountain stones were artfully scattered and arranged like scenery, giving the entire mansion a feeling of serene elegance. Especially noteworthy was a small river that had been created, its source unknown, meandering through the grounds before flowing down the mountain. Golden fish with long whiskers could occasionally be seen in the river, their appearance clearly indicating they were no ordinary creatures. Xu Qing even saw snakes in the woods, not just one or two, but many. Some slithered directly across the path, others coiled around nearby trees, and some rested coiled in corners. Yet no matter what they were doing, the moment they saw Xu Qing, a strange scene unfolded: they all lowered their heads, as if showing submission.

This sight made the old woman ahead pause in surprise, and she turned back to give Xu Qing another deep look. Xu Qing remained expressionless, but felt a sense of wonder in his heart. He didn't know why this was happening.

As this sense of bewilderment grew stronger in Xu Qing's heart, he was led to the East Wing of the mansion, where there was a celestial pool. From afar, mist could be seen rising, changing forms in mid-air and emanating an auspicious aura. Outside the pool, a layer of white gauze surrounded the area. Beyond the gauze, dozens of maidservants stood with their backs to the celestial pool, each with their heads bowed. In each of their hands, they held jade plates bearing exquisite ornaments, neatly folded clothing, and spiritual fruits. Moreover, a faint fragrance permeated the air. As Xu Qing approached, the mist, the sound of water, and the fragrance all entered his senses, as if he had stepped into a celestial realm.

As he drew closer, Xu Qing's tension reappeared because he saw a graceful figure, bathing in the celestial pool, reflected on the white gauze ahead. This sight made Xu Qing immediately avert his gaze. He stood there, not moving closer.

The old woman ahead paid no attention to Xu Qing. She walked to the edge of the white gauze and bowed. "Old Ancestor, the person has been brought."

"Disrespectful to the junior I invited, you shall receive three slaps." From within the white gauze came the languid voice of Immortal Zixuan.

The old woman's expression remained normal. Without any hesitation, she directly raised her hand to her own face and slapped herself fiercely three times. Her blows were extremely heavy; one side of her face swelled visibly, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Yet there was no resentment in her eyes; she bowed her head and remained silent.

All of this made Xu Qing even more vigilant. He could only stand there, bowing his head and cupping his fist towards the white gauze. "Disciple Xu Qing, greets Senior Zixuan."

The splashing sound of bathing water echoed, and laughter emerged. "Why is the junior so respectful today? In the note accompanying the gift you sent me, you didn't address me as 'Senior'." Immortal Zixuan's voice, accompanied by the sound of water, carried an invisible charm.

Xu Qing's heart trembled, and he made another mental note against the Captain. He felt that with the Captain's personality, any form of address was possible on the note accompanying the gift. But now he couldn't explain, so he could only brace himself and speak in a low voice. "Thank you, Senior, for your past saving grace."

"So that's why you're so respectful. Actually, even if I hadn't acted, Blood煉zi would have acted." Immortal Zixuan's voice, laced with languid charm, entered his mind, making one instinctively feel a tingle.

Xu Qing remained silent, not knowing what to say. He had never encountered such a situation in his life; the figure behind the white gauze gave him an indescribable feeling. Especially the sound of the water, like beads falling onto jade, each sound echoing in his mind.

"However, regardless, it is indeed true that I helped you. So, could you also do me a favor, little one?" The sound of water resumed, and Immortal Zixuan seemed to be getting up.

Xu Qing quickly averted his gaze. The moment he averted his gaze, the graceful figure within the white gauze stood up from the pool. The silhouette cast through the white gauze was perfectly peerless. It was as if heaven had shown her special favor and exception, bestowing all feminine beauty upon Immortal Zixuan. Even her silhouette carried a breathtaking allure, enough to make anyone who saw it, regardless of gender, feel their heart stir.

At this moment, she lightly raised her jade leg and stepped out of the celestial pool, the white gauze flying and wrapping around her, forming a long gown. Her dark, beautiful hair cascaded over her shoulders, her slightly flushed complexion complementing her jade-like skin, and her oval face was exquisitely refined and otherworldly.

The maidservants around them all knelt down, holding up the jade plates in their hands. Immortal Zixuan smiled and, with a wave, took a cluster of spiritual grapes from a jade plate. She walked towards Xu Qing, and even before she reached him, a fragrant breeze enveloped him. In Xu Qing's eyes, this approaching Immortal Zixuan, now adorned in white gauze, with her dark, flowing hair and graceful figure, moved with even greater elegance. She was like a celestial maiden from the Ninth Heaven, her peerless beauty and charm beyond compare.

As Immortal Zixuan drew closer, sweat appeared on Xu Qing's forehead, and he instinctively took a few steps back. But Immortal Zixuan's figure blurred, and when she reappeared, she was already close to Xu Qing. She placed a grape at the corner of his mouth and fed it to him. Xu Qing's mind went blank.

"Little one, you always call me Old Ancestor. Am I really that old? Next time, you can call me Elder Sister Xuan." Immortal Zixuan chuckled softly, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and every smile and frown exuded an indescribable charm.

Xu Qing's heart pounded; his tension felt like encountering a terrifying beast in the forbidden zone many years ago. Seeing Xu Qing's reaction, Immortal Zixuan smiled again, her laughter sweet as honey, making one feel immensely comfortable and refreshed. She didn't continue to provoke Xu Qing but turned and walked away, her lingering voice echoing.

"Little one, why are you so afraid of me? Are you worried I'll devour you? Last time, I heard that when you were patrolling the river, you encountered a Xuanyou Sect. That's my old friend's sect. Since you've encountered it, take me there in a few days; I want to see it."

Immortal Zixuan gracefully departed, with all the maidservants and the old woman following behind her. From afar, Immortal Zixuan, among the group of women, was like a peony in full, magnificent bloom: beautiful without being seductive, gorgeous without being vulgar, charming in countless ways, and unparalleled.

Xu Qing stood rooted to the spot for a long moment before taking a deep breath and, with an indescribable mood, left the Xuanyou Sect. The moment he walked out, in the tall tower of the mansion he had just left, Immortal Zixuan sat there, eating grapes and beginning to laugh.

"He's an unawakened blockhead. And someone has wrapped a strand of life-bound love-silk around his right wrist. This isn't a human technique. Which clan's foolish girl is this, to have unilaterally placed a life-bound love-silk like this? If this junior dies, she will also die because of it."