Chapter 41 : Zhiying True Person’s Discovery
Chapter 41: Zhiying True Person’s Discovery
Time rewound slightly, returning to the moment when Xiao Ying and Zhiying True Person had just arrived at the gate of Long Tao’s side-room courtyard.
“Master, I’ll go in first. Please wait here for a moment,” Xiao Ying said respectfully, turning around to address Zhiying True Person, who stood quietly to the side.
“Mm.” Zhiying True Person gave a slight nod.
Her cool gaze swept over the ordinary wooden door, her tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority.
“While you’re at it, tell your young master that I have already destroyed your slave contract. You are free now—and moreover, you are my personally transmitted disciple. Tell him to have some self-awareness from now on.”
Hearing this, Xiao Ying could only manage a helpless, bitter smile, but she still nodded obediently.
“…Yes, Master.”
Watching her young disciple push open the courtyard gate and disappear into the crude dwelling, Zhiying True Person was about to close her eyes and settle her mind to pass the waiting time.
However, just as her focus was about to stabilize, an extremely subtle yet utterly unworldly fluctuation suddenly brushed against her keen perception!
She snapped her eyes open, her gaze sharp as a sword as it shot toward Long Tao’s side room.
A trace of surprise flickered across her exquisitely beautiful face.
“This is… a Divine Soul fluctuation? Someone is Spirit Wandering Beyond the Body here?” she murmured softly, her slender brows knitting together.
“How strange…”
Anyone capable of cultivating to the point of Divine Soul separation would, at the very least, be a Golden Core True Person.
Yet this place was clearly an area where Outer Sect Disciples gathered—spiritual energy was thin, furnishings were crude.
How could a Golden Core cultivator’s Divine Soul be wandering here?
Zhiying True Person’s curiosity was instantly piqued.
Although that trace of Divine Soul dispersed extremely quickly, leaving almost no trail, who was she? She was Zhiying—such a matter would not stump her.
Her slender hand seemed to casually rest upon the hilt of the ancient longsword at her waist.
In the next instant, a sword hum so faint it was nearly imperceptible rang out.
The blade seemed to leave its sheath for a single moment—or perhaps it never moved at all—its speed surpassing the limits of mortal sight!
In that flash of lightning-fast motion, an exceedingly subtle and profound ripple of time and space spread around Long Tao’s room.
Zhiying True Person lifted her jade-like finger in passing and gently brushed the ripple as it was about to subside, as though capturing a lingering wisp of exotic fragrance carried on the wind and bringing it to her nose to savor.
“This Divine Soul’s resonance…” Her eyes narrowed slightly as she sensed the remnant aura that was on the verge of completely dissipating.
Then, an unbelievable light erupted from her cool pupils.
“…It’s Martial Uncle Mingzhu?! This… how is that possible?!”
For a moment, her face unconsciously revealed a trace of intoxication at that powerful yet familiar Divine Soul.
But it was immediately replaced by overwhelming confusion.
That gentle-natured, beautiful martial uncle of hers… how could she appear here in Divine Soul form? And in the room of an ordinary Outer Sect male disciple?!
Though she had no idea what was really going on, the perpetually cool corners of Zhiying True Person’s lips could not help but curl upward slightly, revealing a smile full of amused interest, as if she had discovered a fascinating new toy.
This matter… seemed to be getting interesting.
After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Ying finally emerged from the small house.
Her face carried an obvious reluctance, as though she had not stayed long enough.
Walking up to Zhiying True Person, she said softly,
“Master, I’ve finished taking care of my matters… um… in the future, I’ll try my best not to have contact with the young master anymore…” Xiao Ying’s voice was filled with grievance.
Zhiying True Person looked at her disciple’s tearful expression, then recalled the strange remnant of Divine Soul that had belonged to Martial Uncle Mingzhu… A thought flashed through her mind in an instant.
The frost on her face melted away, replaced instead by a smile so warm it could be called gentle.
Her tone became more tolerant than ever before.
“Xiao Ying, this master failed to consider things thoroughly before.” She gently patted Xiao Ying’s head.
“Seeing how close and harmonious your relationship with your former master’s household is, it seems they truly treated you very well. I should not have forcibly made you distance yourselves so abruptly. How about this… as long as it does not affect your daily lessons and cultivation, you may come over quietly whenever you wish. Just be careful and do not let outsiders notice.”
“Really?! Master!” Xiao Ying lifted her head sharply, her eyes instantly bursting with incredulous joy.
She stared eagerly at her master’s exquisitely beautiful yet usually indifferent face, trying to find even the slightest hint of a joke.
“Why would your master deceive you?” Zhiying True Person smiled ever more inscrutably, then smoothly changed the subject.
“However, this current month is a crucial stage for you to solidify your foundation, guide qi into your body, and prepare for ‘awakening the apertures.’ It is of utmost importance. Therefore, during this period, you must stay peacefully within the peak and focus on cultivation. After you safely pass through Qi-Refining First Layer and your foundation stabilizes somewhat, it will not be too late to come again.”
“Yes! Thank you, Master! This disciple will definitely focus on cultivation and never disappoint Master’s expectations!” Xiao Ying was so happy she nearly jumped, hurriedly making a loud promise.
Watching her disciple’s bright, cloudless smile born straight from the heart, and recalling that utterly baffling Divine Soul incident from moments ago, the curiosity in Zhiying True Person’s heart could not help but grow even stronger.
Her gaze drifted once more toward that tightly closed door.
That disciple named Long Tao… just what kind of person was he? To make her little disciple miss him so deeply, and to even… draw the quiet visit of Martial Uncle Mingzhu’s Divine Soul?
It seemed necessary to pay a bit more attention to this seemingly ordinary Outer Sect disciple.