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Chapter 306: The Disciple’s Resentment

Chen Xuan didn’t stand with King Louis and the group of nobles.

He flew up to the cathedral’s dome, sitting alone on the roof, gazing into the distance at the burning flames until the night swallowed the sunset completely.

"Master?" Suddenly, a voice unexpectedly sounded beside him, "It’s really you... Why are you here?"

The voice was rather familiar.

Moreover, those who called him Master... could be counted on one hand in this world.

Chen Xuan turned his head and found that the one approaching was indeed Xu Xuanling.

Seeing her appearance, Chen Xuan couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback, because she looked just in her early twenties, with youthful vitality still lingering on her face, looking exactly the same as the last time they met.

It’s been thirty years...

"You..." Chen Xuan opened his mouth for a long time, realizing there were too many questions on the tip of his tongue, finally choosing one to start, "Did you come representing the Ascension Platform?"

Joan was a key figure in forming this coalition army, highly respected among the sects, so it was natural for the sects to send someone to pay respects now that she had passed away.

"Well, you really don’t pay attention to us." Xu Xuanling pouted, sitting next to him. "I now represent the Lotus Cloud Sect. By the way, where’s Immortal Master Liu? Why isn’t she here?"

You joined the Lotus Cloud Sect, too?

Seeing Chen Xuan’s suspicious expression, she couldn’t help but glare and say, "The Ascension Platform has already merged with the Lotus Cloud Sect. Is it strange for me to represent the Lotus Cloud Sect?"

"Merged?"

"Yes, there’s only one sect left in the west now, what else could it be besides the Lotus Cloud Sect?" Xu Xuanling shrugged. "Ji Yun and Ji Lian are descendants of the Immortal Family, their spells are more powerful than others. Cultivators wanting to learn Immortal Techniques naturally flock here, so other sects have no reason to exist."

Chen Xuan realized how this process happened—it’s a well-known "secret" among cultivators that the twins started from the Only I am Venerable Sect, but Ji Yun, with his extraordinary talent, solidified this rumor. Whether it was newly researched techniques or the disciples’ training level, they all surpassed other sects. With the absence of the Immortal Alliance’s constraints, the Lotus Cloud Sect effectively achieved a kind of "technical monopoly."

Old sects in the past at least had Grotto Heaven resources as a base. Now, with demon fiends everywhere, as long as cultivators dare to fight, they can achieve cultivation speeds that were unimaginable in the past. Thus, high-level Heart Methods and Techniques became what they valued most.

Ji Yun also understood this very well.

Not only did he not, like previous sects, keep their research tightly sealed for fear of outsiders learning it, but he took a completely opposite approach, welcoming other sects’ disciples into the Lotus Cloud Sect and abandoning the differentiation between outer and inner sect disciples, treating all who joined equally.

In fact, the merger of the Ascension Platform and the Lotus Cloud Sect was personally discussed by Ji Yun with Xu Xuanling.

Now, there are only two sects left in the world for cultivators.

One is the Lotus Cloud Sect developing in the west, and the other is the new Immortal Alliance remaining locally... the latter also calls itself the Alliance Sect.

Chen Xuan couldn’t help but lament, it seems a lot has changed in these thirty years.

"So where is Immortal Master Liu?" Xu Xuanling asked again, "Why didn’t she come to the funeral?"

"She doesn’t know about this..." Chen Xuan replied vaguely, "She’s currently in a closed retreat... inconvenient to disturb."

"Is that so? The disciple thought she could see the Master again..." She showed a trace of regret, but it quickly disappeared, making even Chen Xuan doubt his eyes.

He felt a bit strange inside, Xu Xuanling used to be very respectful and admiring of Liu Shuyue, and this trace of regret didn’t seem like the typical longing for someone they couldn’t see.

"Didn’t Ji Yun and Ji Lian also not come?"

Last time, Liu Shuyue even sought the twins’ help...

Wait, Chen Xuan suddenly frowned, how many years ago was it that Ji Yun and Ji Lian helped him deal with the demon? He never paid attention to the passage of time, being deceived by the twins’ unchanged appearance...

When seeing them, he thought only a few months had passed.

How did this illusion form?

"They are also in retreat, saying they’ve found the key point to overcome their Inner Demons. The next time we see them, their cultivation level will probably be far ahead of mine." Xu Xuanling seemed to complain, "Every time I get close, it pulls away again. Geniuses really are annoying."

The three of them started competing back when they were in the Only I am Venerable Sect.

But this competition was only in cultivation and didn’t affect their relationship as senior and junior brothers.

So Chen Xuan didn’t take her complaint to heart. He was now eager to know another thing: "Why do you all look the same as before?"

"Because we figured out the little secrets of the Immortal Master Lord."

Chen Xuan frowned, "What do you mean?"

Xu Xuanling was slightly surprised, turning her head to stare at him for a long time. "You don’t know? Has the Immortal Master never told you her secret?"

"Stop speaking in riddles, just say it!" Chen Xuan said sternly.

In an instant, Xu Xuanling softened, slightly bowed her head, and said, "It’s normal if you don’t know... after all, those Immortal Techniques were taught by Immortal Master Liu. Over the years, I’ve studied repeatedly with the Wei Family siblings and found hidden mysteries in several Heart Methods. There were clearly better ways to operate them, yet it was like deliberately taking a harsher and worse path. In simple terms, the Dharma Methods Immortal Master Liu taught us were deliberately restricted; she never imparted the true skills."

Chen Xuan was stunned.

Liu Shuyue? No... she couldn’t be that kind of person!

Moreover, Liu Shuyue wasn’t at that level... she wasn’t a true Immortal Master, just a Mountain Disciple of the Lotus Cloud Sect.

Suddenly, he thought of something, hurriedly put on his glasses, "Let me see your abilities."

"Eh? Ah... alright, how do you see them?" Xu Xuanling asked confusedly.

But by then, Chen Xuan had already pressed the scan button.

The first ability that came into view shocked him.

"Celestial Mist Cloud Birth True Skill" LV2, Gold.

——"Can permanently evolve the body, taking the first step towards ascension. People’s understanding of transcendence is all within it, but an excessive pursuit of the extremes may bring corresponding repercussions. Hope you’re ready to take on the challenge."

What the hell is this?

An improved version of Celestial Mist Skill?

Last time, when scanning Ji Yun’s abilities, he practiced "Celestial Mist Skill - Improved"... the description contained a phrase like "removing the limitations on physical lifespan."

Could Xu Xuanling mean this?

Chen Xuan’s expression suddenly became serious, "The Heart Method you’re cultivating now is the version improved by Ji Yun, right?"

Although Xu Xuanling was somewhat unfamiliar with the term version, she understood the meaning, "Yes."

"After cultivating the new Heart Method, you gained the effect of near eternal youth and realized it could significantly extend your lifespan, right?"

Xu Xuanling blinked, "That’s not the only advantage, but you’re right."

"So, you believe Liu Shuyue intentionally hid the truth, not teaching the complete Immortal Techniques, but deliberately teaching you... degraded spells, even erroneous cultivation methods, is that correct?"

Xu Xuanling seemed to sense his current displeasure, not immediately responding.

However, she only hesitated for a few seconds before straightening her back, and said with her neck stiff, "Yes! But that’s just my personal opinion! How the Wei Family Brothers think is none of my business!"

Chen Xuan raised his hand and flicked her forehead hard.

This was a flick backed by Heart Method! The moment his middle finger left his hand, it even made a crisp explosion sound!

Xu Xuanling was completely unguarded, her head knocked backward, letting out a cry of pain from her mouth.

She clutched her head with both hands, looking at Chen Xuan with an aggrieved expression, "Master, I accept any punishment, but there should be a reason for it!"

"The reason is that your Immortal Master Liu absolutely didn’t hide anything. In this, I can vouch for her!" Chen Xuan stated emphatically, "Her devotion to you all was without reservation."