"This child is sometimes too strange, quite unlike Sister Qingzhu in temperament."
The young girl’s gaze dimmed slightly; she knew why her master said that.
After all... she was Aunt Mao’s daughter...
But she had been avoiding facing this fact.
"It’s all right." Mao Qingzhu came to her senses, reached out to pat Qing Jun’s little head gently, and said warmly, "Qing Jun, your master is right, no mischief."
"Oh..." the young girl replied sullenly.
Looking at this seemingly harmonious scene in front of him, the awkwardness Chen Ye felt from being caught faded completely away.
He laughed, shook his head, and then guided the conversation back on track: "Where is the Fourth Elder nowadays? I, a junior, should go pay my respects."
"The Fourth Elder is in the courtyard of the Inner Valley enjoying tea," Mao Qingzhu said, "I’ll take you there."
...
After settling the two disciples, Chen Ye dared not delay and followed Mao Qingzhu to visit the renowned yet unseen Fourth Elder.
Chen Ye had heard of this Fourth Elder for a long time.
She was the youngest Golden Core Elder in Lingyin Sect, named Zhang Ruoxu, the only female cultivator among the four elders.
In her youth, she and Bai Li were known as the twin prodigies of Lingyin Sect.
She also had an inexplicable relationship with Bai Li...
On the way.
Chen Ye suddenly spoke: "Sister Qingzhu, I suppose you didn’t come just to see Qing Jun? Now that Qing Jun is not around, why not tell me the real reason for your visit?"
"I’ve come for Qing Jun. These days, I’ve worked out all the connections and preparations. I can take her back to the Xu Family’s Cold Pond for the baptism."
"However, there’s no rush."
She continued,
"The best time for the baptism is on her ninth birthday. Counting the days, it’s over a month away. I intend to stay in the valley and spend time with them for a while."
In another month, it would be Qing Jun’s ninth birthday...
Chen Ye felt a little dazed; unknowingly, Qing Jun was about to turn a year older.
He had never paid attention to the birthdays of the two girls.
Because Chen Ye himself, being an orphan in his previous life, never cared about birthdays.
But... thinking about it, Zhiwei is half a year older than Qing Jun, and her birthday had already passed.
Chen Ye mentally calculated, looked at Mao Qingzhu, and finally nodded:
"Alright. Then I’ll trouble Sister Qingzhu during this time. Later, I’ll have someone prepare accommodations in the Inner Valley. But how long will the baptism last this time?"
Mao Qingzhu knew that although Chen Ye spoke so decisively, he was more or less worried and reluctant about Qing Jun leaving.
She pondered for a moment to comfort him:
"A regular Xu Family baptism lasts only three or four days. Qing Jun’s situation is special, but it shouldn’t take more than ten days. During those ten days, I will personally stay by Qing Jun’s side."
"With that, I can rest assured." Chen Ye nodded.
Mao Qingzhu, being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, should have no trouble protecting Qing Jun...
However, how to convince the young girl at that time was another problem... This girl often felt that her master was going to sell her off.
If she’s asked to follow Mao Qingzhu back to the Xu Family, wouldn’t she think her master is going to return her to her mother?
"Brother Ye, don’t worry, since I’m taking Qing Jun back, I will ensure everything’s secure. After all, Qing Jun is my daughter."
Seeing the worry on Chen Ye’s face, Mao Qingzhu couldn’t help but laugh; her adopted brother was excellent in everything, except he was overly cautious.
"Sister Qingzhu, haven’t you read storybooks? There are always unexpected events happening at such times." Chen Ye sighed.
Mao Qingzhu was momentarily taken aback, looking at Chen Ye’s serious demeanor, finding it even more amusing:
"Brother Ye, where did you hear such nonsense?"
She covered her mouth and chuckled, her slender eyes also tinged with laughter,
"In the Cultivation Realm, although it’s fraught with danger at every step, how can there be so many coincidences? Besides, this time I’m going back to the Xu Family with my father, and there won’t be any accidents."
As they talked, they were already nearing Xiaguang Garden.
From afar, one could see the Xiaguang Garden enveloped by an independent array, Spiritual Qi swirling like mist, multicolored lights shining brilliantly, even in daylight.
"The Fourth Elder is inside," Mao Qingzhu pointed ahead and said softly.
Chen Ye nodded, adjusted his robes, and then followed Mao Qingzhu, entering the Xiaguang Garden together.
Upon entering the doors, Chen Ye couldn’t help but feel a sense of solemnity.
Looking up, in the center of the splendid Glazed Flower Field, a figure dressed in a simple gray Taoist robe stood with its back to them, quietly enjoying the full view of the garden.
Her figure seemed thin, yet as if she had merged with the entire world, unfathomable as the deep sea.
"Disciple Chen Ye, pays respects to the Fourth Elder." Chen Ye dared not show the slightest negligence and hurriedly stepped forward to bow respectfully.
That figure turned around.
One of the highest rulers of the Lingyin Sect, she was not the elderly, white-haired figure Chen Ye had imagined.
On the contrary, she appeared to be only in her forties, an unremarkable-looking middle-aged female cultivator.
Only her eyes were exceptionally striking, like deep pools of time, incomparably calm yet able to see through the world’s illusions.
"It is said that the Fourth Elder’s eyes are spiritual eyes, named the Illusion-Revealing Spiritual Eyes, and this time she’s personally coming out to find Bai Susu... With her Illusion-Revealing Spiritual Eyes, she should easily be able to find Bai Susu, right."
Chen Ye pondered in his heart, bowing respectfully and waiting for the Fourth Elder’s response.
"Unlikely..."
Fourth Elder Zhang Ruoxu’s voice was desolate.
The head of Lisong Valley, she merely bore a two to three-tenths similarity to Bai Li, and in the cultivation realm, if it were intentional, a ninety-nine percent likeness is easy to achieve.
However, there was a subtle coincidence in the aura of the two, and perhaps this was the reason why Bai Wuji and Bai Susu saw her differently.
An undercurrent of sharpness was hidden around her—not just in temperament, but genuinely carried an aura of sharpness.
Presumably, it came from Bai Li’s Geng Metal Qi.
If one cultivates Geng Metal Qi to the peak, a cultivator’s body naturally carries a strand of sharpness, easily transforming into the Geng Metal Qi Aura.
Moreover, there was also a gentle and intimate feeling belonging to mountains and plants, and this, came from the Spirit Plant...
The fusion of two distinctly different temperaments, coupled with a slightly similar appearance, resulted in a certain resemblance.
Nine parts’ resemblance in looks couldn’t compare to this one part of spiritual resemblance.
"Glazed Flower Tea is my fondness... This time, the Glazed Flowers you cultivated are one grade higher than before, not bad." The Fourth Elder nodded and said,
"Elder overpraises me." Chen Ye said respectfully, "The disciple was merely lucky."
"In this world, is there really so much luck?"
The Fourth Elder sighed, her gaze returning to Xiaguang Garden,
"Your Evergreen Technique is ultimately a low-tier cultivation technique, with limited prospects; it might help you establish a foundation, but it offers no path forward."
Chen Ye’s heart jolted!
He was not dull, since the Fourth Elder said so, it meant...
"I see your spiritual power encompasses all five elements, and typical cultivation techniques may conflict with you." The Fourth Elder said slowly, "I happen to have a cultivation technique here that might... suit you."
The Fourth Elder extended her well-maintained right hand, and golden light gathered at the tip of her index finger.
Without giving Chen Ye any time to react, she pointed it at his forehead in mid-air.
"Buzz—!"
Chen Ye only felt his sea of consciousness tremble fiercely!
Immediately after, a profound spell named the Withering Glory Mysterious Light Sutra surged into his mind like a tide!
The spell was incredibly profound.
At least from Chen Ye’s perspective, far superior to the Frost Splendor Record!
This cultivation technique emphasizes the cycle of the five elements, life and death interdependent.
Containing two completely opposing yet unified supreme principles.
This was precisely the cultivation technique he once sought in the Lingyin Sect!
In the game "Immortal Fall," the Withering Glory Mysterious Light Sutra is one of the best-suited five spiritual roots techniques for early to middle stage cultivation!
"This cultivation technique, named the Withering Glory Mysterious Light Sutra, was obtained by chance during my travels at the cave mansion of an ancient cultivator. This technique emphasizes the balance and mutual enhancement and restriction of the five elements, making it well-suited for a cultivator with five elements spiritual roots like you." The Fourth Elder’s voice was calm, as if gifting merely an average item, she added,
"Although I have the Golden Core Chapter of this cultivation technique, the Golden Core Chapter is not something easily given away... However, when you one day cultivate to the perfection of Foundation Establishment, I will consider gifting it to you."
"Disciple... Thank you, Elder, for your gracious gift!"
Chen Ye was immensely grateful, giving a grand bow of thanks, for this was a grace of imparting the way!
But for himself, it was almost impossible to obtain this cultivation technique within the Lingyin Sect.
Though he didn’t have the Golden Core Chapter, he understood the Fourth Elder.
The Golden Core Chapter of cultivation techniques belongs to the highest secrets of the Lingyin Sect; how could it be casually given?