The originally crowded crowd automatically parted to form a path.

  A young man, only a few years older than Xiao Lingchen, dressed in a black outfit, walked forward with a gloomy expression.

  His eyebrows were as if painted with ink, and his eyes resembled stars. He was undoubtedly handsome, but his somber demeanor made the surrounding disciples silent, not daring to make a sound.

  Xiao Lingchen asked curiously, "Who are you?"

  The young man in black replied, "I am Jiang Yu, the eldest disciple under Elder Yunzhu, the Peak Master of Great Bamboo Peak!"

  Ning Huanhuan quickly whispered a reminder, "This Jiang Yu is the most talented disciple our Supreme Mystical Sect has seen in hundreds of years. Like you, he has a Heavenly Spirit Root. At just 180 years old, he has already reached the Perfection of the Ninth Level of the Dao Palace Realm, just a step away from the Breaking Illusions Realm."

  "It's said that during the disciple selection, he was proud and wanted to become the Sect Master's disciple, but was rejected and had to join the Great Elder, Elder Yunzhu of Great Bamboo Peak."

  "Later, his cultivation advanced rapidly, and he was seen by everyone in the sect as the most likely candidate to become the next Holy Son of the sect."

  "But after you appeared, the winds in the sect changed."

  "Some say your talent far surpasses Jiang Yu's, which is why the sect's higher-ups fought over you, and the Sect Master took you as a personal disciple. Some even speculate that you are the next Holy Son."

  "In other words, you took all his glory, and he probably already holds a grudge against you!"

  Originally, Ning Huanhuan wanted to warn Xiao Lingchen to be careful, but then she thought, Xiao Lingchen could even defeat Luo Xiaohu, who was in the Breaking Illusions Realm.

  Why worry about Jiang Yu, who is only in the Ninth Level of the Dao Palace Realm?

  So she withdrew her warning.

  Xiao Lingchen nodded and then looked at Jiang Yu, asking, "What do you want?"

  Jiang Yu got straight to the point, "I've long heard that on the day of the disciple selection, you displayed extraordinary talent and were fought over by all the sect elders."

  "Today, it's rare to meet you. I want to see what kind of talent you have to receive such treatment."

  "Do you dare to fight me?"

  "Rest assured, I won't use my cultivation to bully you."

  Jiang Yu said disdainfully, "Whatever realm you're in, I'll suppress my realm to match yours."

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  "We'll fight based on talent and what we've learned. How about it?"

  As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted!

  At the same time, it aroused the intense curiosity of the surrounding disciples.

  Clearly, everyone wanted to know what kind of talent Xiao Lingchen had to be fought over by all the sect elders.

  Even the mysterious Sect Master, who never accepted disciples, made an exception to take him as a disciple.

  Xiao Lingchen chuckled, "Jiang Yu, are you jealous of me?"

  "What..."

  Jiang Yu was momentarily stunned.

  Before he could continue speaking, Xiao Lingchen continued, "You're jealous of my talent, jealous of my treatment, jealous that the elders fought over me to take me as a disciple, and that I finally became the personal disciple of the Sect Master, whom you couldn't join."

  "So today, upon seeing me, you couldn't wait to challenge me, hoping to defeat me and prove to everyone that your talent is no less than mine."

  "In the end, you're just jealous of me."

  As Xiao Lingchen finished speaking, the scene fell into silence.

  Jiang Yu's face instantly turned ashen!

  In fact, why Jiang Yu approached Xiao Lingchen was as clear as day to everyone.

  But no one expected Xiao Lingchen to state it so bluntly.

  At this moment, Jiang Yu seemed to have his cover torn off, his jealousy of his fellow disciple exposed, making him appear petty and filled with shame.

  "You, you're talking nonsense!"

  "I, Jiang Yu, was born into a noble family, enjoying a life of luxury, with wealth beyond measure, and everything handed to me."

  "After stepping onto the path of cultivation, I've advanced smoothly without encountering any bottlenecks."

  "At just 180 years old, I'm already close to the Breaking Illusions Realm. With my talent, within ten thousand years, I will surely complete the ten realms and achieve immortality. I have a bright future ahead. Why would I be jealous of you?"

  Jiang Yu retorted.

  But the more he refuted, the more insecure he seemed.

  Xiao Lingchen smiled, "See, you're getting anxious."

  Jiang Yu's face turned red instantly.

  Xiao Lingchen continued, "If not, that's for the best."

  "The Sect Tournament is approaching. Instead of bullying your junior here, why not use the last day to advance your cultivation further?"

  "When the Sect Tournament begins, don't embarrass our Supreme Mystical Sect."

  After speaking, Xiao Lingchen walked past Jiang Yu towards the sect.

  Jiang Yu's face turned blue and purple from anger, and he left in a huff.

  Ning Huanhuan followed beside Xiao Lingchen, smiling wryly, "What you just said was quite piercing."

  "Senior Brother Jiang is probably already driven mad by you. The grudge between you two is now set."

  Xiao Lingchen shrugged, "Let it be. Am I supposed to be afraid of him?"

  "If he's really that petty and comes to trouble me, I don't mind teaching him a lesson for the sect."

  Ning Huanhuan smiled gently, naturally not worried about Xiao Lingchen.

  "Alright, finally back."

  "After being away for so many days, I should report back to my Master and Senior Sister."

  "Don't want them to worry."

  Xiao Lingchen nodded, "Go ahead."

  The two bid farewell to each other.

  But then, Xiao Lingchen called out, "By the way."

  "Are we meeting tonight?"

  "By the river?"

  Ning Huanhuan knew exactly what Xiao Lingchen was referring to.

  Her mind immediately recalled the scene by the river that day.

  Her face turned bright red, and she pouted, "No way!"

  After speaking, Ning Huanhuan ran off as if fleeing.

  Leaving Xiao Lingchen with a mischievous smile.

  "A woman who says one thing but means another."

  "I don't believe you can resist."

  ...

  When he returned to the Back Mountain, Jiang Luoxian was meditating on a mat in the wooden house.

  Seeing Xiao Lingchen return, her originally icy face seemed to ripple slightly, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

  After sitting down, Xiao Lingchen bowed and greeted, "Master, I'm back."

  Jiang Luoxian nodded gently, smiling, "You've changed quite a bit during your months away."

  Jiang Luoxian's smile was still as beautiful as ever, breathtakingly so.

  Seeing it again, Xiao Lingchen still couldn't take his eyes off her.

  Until Jiang Luoxian lightly coughed, bringing Xiao Lingchen back to his senses.

  He quickly responded, "Indeed, during these months away, I've experienced a lot and grown significantly."

  Then, Xiao Lingchen recounted everything that happened after he left the mountain to Jiang Luoxian, as if sharing everyday stories.

  Jiang Luoxian listened attentively, occasionally showing a gratified smile.

  Knowing Xiao Lingchen's growth during this time, she felt genuinely happy.

  There was a sense of pride, like a parent seeing their child grow up.

  After finishing his story, Xiao Lingchen turned his hand.

  He held the Cauldron of Fate in his hand.

  "Master, this is the Cauldron of Fate I obtained from the Thousand Cloud Mountain Range."

  "I've already refined half of the Fate Transformation Qi inside, achieving an immortal body."

  "The remaining half of the Fate Transformation Qi, I specifically saved to bring back as a gift for you."

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