The autumn wind rustled, and the scorching sun hung in the sky.

Immortal Bai Lian stared blankly at Shen Xuan before her.

She couldn't speak, choking up before uttering a word.

Her heart was filled with a thousand emotions, yet the sorrow was hard to express.

For a long time.

Immortal Bai Lian calmed her emotions.

"Shen Lang, will you return to Cyan Yang Prefecture?"

A hint of expectation gleamed in her eyes.

"If nothing happens, I won't be coming back."

Shen Xuan said lightly.

Then, he turned and walked towards Su Xue'Er, who was under a tree a hundred feet away.

"Better to forget each other in the Jianghu than to support each other in hardship. Bai Lian, take care!"

His voice was like an ancient bell, leaving Immortal Bai Lian's mind in disarray.

In her vision, Shen Xuan's figure gradually faded into a mere indistinct blue silhouette.

Shen Xuan summoned the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast, mounted it, and flew away from the Valley of Beasts.

He never turned back.

Beside him was Su Xue'Er, riding the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse.

She watched Shen Xuan's departing figure.

Immortal Bai Lian's tears couldn't be held back, streaming down her face.

They fell heavily to the ground.

Shen Xuan's words struck her heart like a heavy hammer.

The blue silhouette on the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast gradually shrank until it was hardly visible.

Immortal Bai Lian stood there, like a statue.

However.

As time passed.

The sadness in her eyes slowly dissipated.

"Shen Xuan, I will live well!"

Immortal Bai Lian seemed to make a certain decision, her gaze resolute, her eyes shining brightly once more.

Behind her, the Zhou Patriarch gently approached.

"Bai Lian, he's gone, and won't be coming back."

"I know."

Immortal Bai Lian raised her head, letting the autumn wind blow across her bangs.

She mounted the Red-winged Snake, which she had just imprinted with her Divine Soul, soared into the sky, and flew towards the Zhou Clan Territory.

"Father, I'm going back to cultivate!"

"In the future, don't mention this person in front of me!"

...

Riding the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast, a faint sadness lingered in Shen Xuan's heart.

In the Cultivation Realm, power is supreme.

Sentiments between men and women are just fleeting clouds.

Others are hell.

All beings are but passersby.

Shen Xuan felt some reluctance towards Immortal Bai Lian.

But he was unwilling to keep entangled with her in an endless loop.

This was not good for either party.

Not conducive to cultivation.

Prone to creating Heart Demons.

Living well on their own for the rest of their lives, never meeting again, was the best choice.

Beside him.

The hooves of the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse stepped on four small clouds, striving to catch up with the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast.

However, no matter how it accelerated.

It always lagged behind the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast by one position.

Su Xue'Er held onto the neck of the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse, her dress fluttering in the fierce wind.

Her face was cold, yet full of blush.

Just as Shen Xuan was thinking of slowing down.

The Silver-Horned Celestial Horse suddenly neighed loudly.

From both sides of its back, a pair of colorful wings abruptly grew and flapped up and down.

Within a few breaths, it caught up and ran side by side with the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast.

Shen Xuan smiled slightly.

This Silver-Horned Celestial Horse had a non-conceding nature.

Unable to catch up by soaring through clouds, it showed its wings.

However, the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse was currently only Upper Grade Tier One.

Its colorful wings hadn't truly formed.

What we saw now was merely a forced illusion created by its Demon Power.

"Xue'Er, come over!"

A gentle Spiritual Power enveloped Su Xue'Er, pulling her to the front of Shen Xuan.

Relieved of the burden, the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse was even more excited, darting ahead of the Golden Claw Divine Eagle Corpse Beast.

Frequently turning its head to show Shen Xuan a human-like smug expression.

...

Qing Yun Immortal City, located at the foot of Qing Yun Mountain.

It is the first and largest of the five Great Immortal Cities of Cyan Cloud Sect, the closest in distance.

It housed ten thousand cultivators.

Shen Xuan did not rush back to Cyan Cloud Sect but instead entered Qing Yun Immortal City with Su Xue'Er.

That night, at the Sect Inn in the Immortal City.

Lv Zhengying hurriedly arrived.

"Senior Brother Shen, this is the intelligence Jade Scroll from the Sect's upper echelon."

Cyan Cloud Sect, on the surface, has five Golden Core True Masters, thirteen Core Formation True Masters, and more than twenty Fake Pill Masters.

"Celestial Thunder and Celestial Wind, Hidden Aspect and Mysterious Trace, Spirit Sword guards the peaks."

This was the opening of the intelligence Jade Scroll, widely circulated in Cyan Cloud Sect.

It describes the five major Golden Cores of Cyan Cloud Sect: Celestial Thunder True Master, Celestial Wind True Master, Hidden Image True Master, Mysterious Trace True Master, and Spirit Sword True Master.

Mysterious Trace True Master is the Sect Leader of Cyan Cloud Sect.

Rumored to have ten avatars.

His figure elusive.

Responsible for handling various affairs within the Sect.

Spirit Sword True Master is a Sword Cultivator, the foremost battle strength of Cyan Cloud Sect.

Arrogant in nature, rarely leaving Spirit Sword Peak.

Shen Xuan's master, Master Gu Feng, is one of the thirteen Core Formation True Masters.

Ranked slightly behind.

As for Fake Pill Masters.

Their path was cut off.

Strictly speaking, they don't belong to the category of "True Master."

Most serve as Deputy City Lords in the Five Great Immortal Cities or as City Lords in smaller Immortal Cities.

Rarely staying on Qing Yun Mountain.

"Thank you for your hard work, Junior Brother Lv."

Shen Xuan swept the intelligence Jade Scroll briefly with his Divine Sense and put it away.

"Not at all, it's just a small matter. But, Senior Brother Shen must not let the True Masters see that Jade Scroll. Otherwise, if the True Masters get angry, the consequences would be severe!"

"I understand."

The two chatted for a while.

Lv Zhengying had worked in the Sect's Miscellaneous Affairs Hall for many years.

Was familiar with many unwritten rules of the Sect.

Shen Xuan listened with great interest.

"Senior Brother Shen, after your gamble with Lei Yaoyang last time, the support for Golden Core inheritors was reduced by thirty percent. You must be careful and avoid provoking these people."

Lv Zhengying advised.

"Thank you for the reminder, Junior Brother Lv. I will steer clear of them."

"That would be best."

After chatting for a while, Lv Zhengying took his leave.

Shen Xuan continued to watch the Intelligence Jade Scroll.

On Qing Yun Mountain, there were three hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Although not explicitly divided, their identities and statuses were distinctly different.

The top tier was the Golden Core inheritors.

They are the primary targets of the Sect's support.

Their annual stipends are three times that of a direct disciple and ten times that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The Core Formation True Masters produced within the Sect mainly come from these direct disciples.

The second tier is the direct disciples of a True Master.

Though they do not match up to the Golden Core inheritors, being taught by a Core Formation True Master ensures cultivation to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment is within reach.

Occasionally, a few Core Formation True Masters emerge from among them.

The third tier consists of the registered disciples of a True Master.

In reality, their treatment is the same as ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. The title of a True Master's disciple makes things more convenient. A very few manage to become direct disciples of a True Master.

The fourth tier is the ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

This is the largest group.

They are the backbone of Cyan Cloud Sect's operations.

Sect affairs are carried out by these ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Cyan Cloud Sect are internally distinct and have formed their own small groups.

There are descendants from families that once prospered, native cultivators cultivated from a young age, and a small number of external cultivators introduced after Foundation Establishment, among others.

"Fortunately, I will transition to becoming a direct disciple of a True Master."

Shen Xuan put down the Intelligence Jade Scroll, contemplating how to face his master's wrath.

...

Three days later.

At the Little Gu Peak.

In the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

Shen Xuan knelt obediently on the ground.

He had his head lowered, appearing as if ready to admit fault and accept punishment.

Before him stood Master Gu Feng, face filled with displeasure.

"Shen Xuan, it's one thing to be unwilling to support the Feiyun Su Family and return to the Sect on your own."

"But why break the Su Family Patriarch's leg!"

"How do you expect me to face the people of the Su Family?"

After being scolded by Master Gu Feng, Shen Xuan cautiously replied, "Disciple had no choice."

"Explain yourself!"

"The Su Family is nothing but a pile of rotten mud that cannot be supported. The new Su Family Patriarch, Su Huaijing, is ambitious but talentless, overreaching without realization."

"Were it not for the disciple's vigilance, the Su Family would have long been infiltrated by the Blood Spirit Sect's Saint Child and defected to the Demon Sect."

"Disciple even trained Talisman Masters for the Su Family, collaborating on the Thunder Talisman."

"Creating the Thunder Talisman isn't easy. Disciple painstakingly generated an annual income of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones for the Su Family."

"The Su Family not only did not show gratitude but also wanted to raise the Thunder Talisman's share to thirty percent."

"Disciple originally did not wish to cause trouble. In the end, the Su Family deliberately made things difficult, attempting to trap the disciple within the Su Clan Territory."

"The disciple, unable to endure, had no choice but to break Su Huaijing's leg to assert authority and escape back to the Sect."

Shen Xuan's account was nine truths and one falsehood.

Even if the Su Family confronted him face-to-face, Shen Xuan would not be afraid.

After hearing Shen Xuan's justification,

Master Gu Feng gazed at Shen Xuan.

After much contemplation, he sighed.

"My original intention was to fulfill the request made by the Su Family's old ancestor back then. However, to see the Su Family's descendants so unworthy was unexpected."

"Ah, Master! What is the Feiyun Su Family to dare oppress Senior Brother Shen! They demand thirty percent of the Thunder Talisman share and attempt to detain Senior Brother Shen!"

"If it were me, breaking the legs would be the least of it! Destroying their dantian and letting them keep their life would be already benevolent enough to the Su Family's old ancestor!"

Gu Jinqin, observing the atmosphere, interjected at the opportune moment.

Senior Brother Shen?

Shen Xuan looked at Gu Jinqin in bewilderment.

Since when did he become her senior brother?

Gu Jinqin winked at him, signaling to deal with the current matter first.

Master Gu Feng's expression softened slightly.

"Shen Xuan, rise!"

"Your aptitude isn't lacking, and your character is excellent, though it's unfortunate that you've wasted so much time."

"Still, your disposition is truly troubling to me."

Shen Xuan didn't argue.

As a master, Master Gu Feng wasn't bad.

Though occasionally grumbling, in truth, he was protective.

"I promised you, after supporting the Su Family for thirty years, I would return to the Sect and take you as a direct disciple."

"Jinqin!"

"Disciple is present!"

"Take my Jade Token and help Shen Xuan handle the procedures!"

As the words fell,

Shen Xuan felt immense joy.

The burden in his heart was finally lifted.

To become a direct disciple of a True Master!

With this status, as long as he didn't provoke trouble, he could cultivate peacefully in the Cyan Cloud Sect.

"Yes, Master!"

Gu Jinqin took Master Gu Feng's Identity Jade Pendant.

"By the way, Master. Since Senior Brother Shen is here, why not also hand over the minor affairs of Little Gu Peak to him?"

Master Gu Feng's gaze turned to Shen Xuan.

"Shen Xuan, what do you think?"

The minor affairs of Little Gu Peak?

Shen Xuan glanced at the beaming Gu Jinqin, pondering.

He certainly had to accept.

His master's gaze suggested he hoped Shen Xuan would take on the responsibility.

However.

He just entered the Sect, and there were many things he didn't understand.

Jumping into trivial affairs and chores wouldn't be conducive to cultivation.

And could easily offend others, bringing trouble.

"Disciple is about to break through; could this matter wait for a while?"

Master Gu Feng nodded.

"Cultivation is paramount. Shen Xuan, after you break through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment and consolidate your realm, take on the minor affairs of Little Gu Peak."

"Jinqin, she hasn't had it easy either."

Shen Xuan respectfully replied, "Disciple will comply."

Gu Jinqin asked, "Senior Brother Shen, when do you think would be suitable? I can prepare accordingly."

Shen Xuan thought it over.

"How about three years?"

A year and a half to break through, another year and a half to consolidate.

"Three years! Senior Brother Shen, you're so talented, tenfold more than me! Wouldn't it be better if you took over sooner?"

"Jinqin, stop talking nonsense! We'll set it in three years!"

Master Gu Feng decided firmly.

Seeing Gu Jinqin's unconvinced demeanor,

Master Gu Feng joked, "Jinqin, if you return the Ancient Sacred Sound Zither, I'll have Shen Xuan take over now, how about that?"

"No! Master, I've thought it over. I'll endure three more years!"

Gu Jinqin quickly replied.

"Off with you to handle your tasks!"

"Don't bother me without reason!"

Master Gu Feng unceremoniously dismissed the two.

Shen Xuan followed Gu Jinqin, stepping out of the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

Transforming into escape light, the two sped towards the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

At the entrance to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, Shen Xuan couldn't resist his curiosity and asked, "Junior Sister Gu, how did I become a senior brother?"

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