Chapter 111: Is it... really necessary for you to know this?

“Ah?” Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, Song Ta’er, and Shei Meier were all taken aback upon hearing this.

Tu Xiaomeng, looking at Xuan Xuzi’s inscrutable expression, spoke with a mixture of awe and fear, “Elder, perhaps Qingkong and Bixiao, who have reached the ‘Great Luo Golden Immortal’ realm, could still contend with you? This is terrifying! Then… what cultivation level have you attained, Elder?”

Xuan Xuzi let out a scoff and replied, “My cultivation has reached the late stage of the ‘Great Luo Golden Immortal’ realm…”

As he spoke, Xuan Xuzi slightly released a trace of his restrained true energy. Instantly, Tu Xiaomeng felt as though a great mountain pressed down upon her. She couldn’t help but cry out in shock and, pale-faced, collapsed onto the ground. Not far behind, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Song Ta’er, and Shei Meier, about twenty steps away, all sensed an overwhelming, suffocating pressure and involuntarily retreated rapidly.

Seeing this, Xuan Xuzi immediately reined in his true energy, then gestured to Tu Xiaomeng, who stood up. Looking at her ashen face, he said, “Young lady, I won’t waste words with you. Beneath this vegetable patch, a hundred feet below, lies my underground palace. Time is precious and every moment counts. I am about to enter seclusion within my palace. Since you all like this place, you may stay here as you please; it’s otherwise useless. I am going into seclusion now, and this time I am determined not to emerge until I have entered the ‘Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal’ realm!”

With that, Xuan Xuzi’s body flashed and he instantly vanished underground.

Tu Xiaomeng was stunned and let out a startled cry. Just as she stood there dumbfounded, Yan Chixia was the first to rush to her side, asking, “Xiaomeng, are you alright?”

Snapping back to her senses, Tu Xiaomeng still trembling, replied, “Brother Yan, I’m fine… but that really scared me!”

Yan Chixia praised her, “Xiaomeng, you’re truly clever and brave! I hadn’t even figured out how to respond, yet you rushed forward to engage Elder Xuan Xuzi!”

“Yes!” Shei Meier hurried over and said, “Mengmeng, you’re small but sharp-witted. In such a rush, you even managed to summon both your master and mine as your saviors!”

“Exactly!” Bai Xiaoyue joined in, “Xiaomeng, you’re impressive…”

Tu Xiaomeng sighed upon hearing their words, “At first, I thought since we trespassed on Elder Xuan Xuzi’s territory, he wouldn’t let it go. I planned to call upon my master and the Celestial Lord Jiuxiao as backup… but he simply didn’t take me seriously!”

“Heh heh heh…” Song Ta’er hurried over, laughing, “Xiaomeng, when did our masters ever mention Elder Xuan Xuzi? We’re together all day, how come I never heard of this?”

Tu Xiaomeng was about to retort but held back, saying, “Song Ta’er, do you really need to know about this?”

Originally, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, Song Ta’er, and Shei Meier had all come enthusiastically, but after the recent upheaval, their spirits were crushed. Knowing there was a living presence hidden beneath their feet, they felt tense and uneasy.

At that moment, Bai Xiaoyue spoke up, “We shouldn’t stay here any longer! Xiaomeng, Song Ta’er, let’s quickly gather what we need and leave… we’ll never come back!”

Tu Xiaomeng and Song Ta’er agreed.

The five of them harvested the already ripe carrots and all other vegetables. Tu Xiaomeng loved carrots, so she stored them all in her “Storage Ring.” The other vegetables Song Ta’er eagerly packed into his own “Storage Ring.” Then Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er went into the wooden house to store their belongings before hastily departing from the “Xuanxu Place.” Outside the stone cave, they boarded the “Ruyi Divine Boat” and flew toward Jingding Peak.

Shei Meier piloted the “Ruyi Divine Boat” back to Qingxu Temple. Inspired by Xuan Xuzi’s determined spirit to persevere until he reached his goal, Yan Chixia immediately resumed his cultivation.

The power of example is boundless.

Seeing this, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er also hurried into their rooms, seated themselves on their meditation cushions, and focused intently on cultivation.

…

Shei Meier also used the “Qingfeng Scatter” teleportation technique to return to Lishan’s Zixia Palace.

“Master, I’m back!” Shei Meier called out habitually.

There was no response from Celestial Maiden Jiuxiao.

Suddenly, Shei Meier recalled that Jiuxiao and the Venerable Qingxu had gone to the mysterious island to inspect ancient ruins and had not yet returned. So she said nothing further and entered the “Seven Stars Hall,” beginning advanced training to strengthen the protective “Barrier” there.

Unconsciously, an hour passed.

Shei Meier was deeply immersed in cultivation when Jiuxiao suddenly appeared before her.

“Meier, why are you so diligent today?”

“Master’s back!” Shei Meier exclaimed happily, immediately stopping her practice and rushing forward to take Jiuxiao’s hand, asking, “How is it? Master, what’s the situation with the ancient ruins on the mysterious island?”

“Very well, no abnormal changes. On the fifteenth day of the third month, we shall go together to the mysterious island,” Jiuxiao said joyfully. “Meier, didn’t I give you a day off today to spend with Yan Chixia and the others? Why did you come back to practice here?”

Hearing this, Shei Meier felt a pang of anxiety. “Master, I did go to Zhongnan Mountain with Yan Chixia and the others to play. At first, we were having a great time, but suddenly, at Yuhua Peak, we encountered Xuan Xuzi, and everyone lost their mood for fun.”

“What?” Jiuxiao’s expression changed drastically. “Meier, what did you say? You met Xuan Xuzi today at Yuhua Peak on Zhongnan Mountain? That… that’s impossible! Xuan Xuzi has been missing for many years. How could he appear there?”

“It’s true! Master, we really did encounter Xuan Xuzi today!” Shei Meier looked at Jiuxiao’s doubtful eyes and said, “At that time, Xiaomeng mentioned Venerable Qingxu and your own Taoist title, but Xuan Xuzi dismissed you both! He said Venerable Qingxu was just a mere ‘Scattered Immortal’ at the early stage, and that you were only a ‘Scattered Immortal’ at the late stage, barely worth mentioning. Xuan Xuzi also said that, in this world today, only the two rivals Qingkong and Bixiao, who have reached the ‘Great Luo Golden Immortal’ realm, might be able to challenge him… Master, is Xuan Xuzi really that powerful? Who exactly are Qingkong and Bixiao? Have you ever met them?”