After many years, Xie Zizhuo still wore black clothes, but his behavior had matured a lot.

When Luo Jianqing arrived at Haoming Peak, Xie Zizhuo respectfully bowed and addressed him as “big senior brother.” This surprised Luo Jianqing, who took a good look at his fourth senior brother, who was always out of place. Eventually, he smiled and asked, “What’s wrong? Did Guang Lingzi scold you, so you’re being so obedient today?”

Xie Zizhuo’s face darkened, his mouth twitched, and he grumpily replied, “Master didn’t scold me today.”

Luo Jianqing raised his eyebrows and asked, “Really?”

Xie Zizhuo shrugged and said, “He complains about me every day, okay?”

Luo Jianqing: “…”

As they talked, they walked towards Xie Zizhuo’s residence. There were nearly a hundred outer disciples and dozens of inner disciples on Haoming Peak. Along the way, many junior brothers and sisters greeted them and paid their respects. By the time they arrived at Xie Zizhuo’s residence, Luo Jianqing had a rough idea of what was going on.

Five years ago, when Li Xiuchen returned from the Flowing Flame Valley, Guang Lingzi personally summoned him.

Although Guang Lingzi didn’t understand how this kid with no aptitude and only at the fourth level of Qi Refining was able to obtain so many Flame Fruits, it didn’t prevent Li Xiuchen from giving face to Taihua Mountain and also giving face to Guang Lingzi. So, regardless of Xie Zizhuo’s temper, Guang Lingzi waved his sleeves and had Li Xiuchen transferred from the outer disciples to the inner disciples. He even scolded Xie Zizhuo for mistreating his younger brother.

“You’re his senior brother, how can you treat your junior brother so harshly? I have ordered Elder Wang to treat your junior brother’s injuries. When he recovers, it will be your responsibility to teach him cultivation. Do you hear me?”

Xie Zizhuo was speechless.

Fortunately, Li Xiuchen also didn’t like Xie Zizhuo, so he rarely went to find him. Otherwise, Luo Jianqing would have no doubt that his fourth junior brother would be driven crazy by Li Xiuchen sooner or later, and he would even want to cut him into a thousand pieces.

“Senior Brother, I really can’t understand it, I just can’t! I have never seen a cultivator in this world who doesn’t have roots, and yet can cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refinement in just seven years! He’s about to build the foundation, Senior Brother! Is this reasonable? This is completely unreasonable! At his age, I am only in the early stage of foundation building, and I haven’t even broken through the middle stage. How can he be about to build the foundation?!” Xie Zizhuo said.

Luo Jianqing said with a righteous expression, “Junior Brother, perhaps we have really misunderstood him. Maybe he’s a rare genius who appears once in a thousand years? Even if he doesn’t have roots, he can still gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and cultivate very quickly?”

Xie Zizhuo fell silent.

After a moment, Xie Zizhuo slumped down and whispered, “Senior Brother, since the last Sect Competition, it seems that you have changed your opinion about Li Xiuchen. I thought you were like me, disliking this kind of opportunistic and luck-dependent person who doesn’t work hard, but it seems… you don’t think so.”

Hearing this, Luo Jianqing suddenly stopped walking and looked back at Xie Zizhuo.

He smiled lightly, his black hair fluttering in the wind. Although his voice was gentle, the words he spoke were as cold as hell, “Junior Brother, where did you see that I have a little bit of good feeling for that arrogant, rude, and ignorant little guy who doesn’t respect his elders?”

Xie Zizhuo was stunned for a moment, then half a moment later, he covered his stomach and burst into laughter.

After entering Xie Zizhuo’s room, Luo Jianqing briefly mentioned his own experiences over the past few years, skimming over Mo Qiu. Xie Zizhuo nodded slightly and then explained everything that had happened on Mount Taihua during Luo Jianqing’s absence. At the end, he suddenly asked curiously, “Senior Brother, shouldn’t you have asked Second Junior Brother about this kind of thing? He’s more familiar with the internal affairs of Mount Taihua than I am. If you ask him, he will definitely tell you everything.”

Luo Jianqing paused for a moment as he stroked the teacup with his fingers. Then he raised his head and smiled, “Second Junior Brother is busy with his cultivation, so I came to you instead.”

Xie Zizhuo said, “… Senior Brother, I am also very busy with cultivation.”

Luo Jianqing smiled lightly and did not say anything.

When Luo Jianqing was about to leave, Xie Zizhuo said seriously, “In the Grand Competition of the Sect a year and a half later, Li Xiuchen may not break through the Qi refining period. With his cultivation at the ninth level of Qi refining, he may once again win the first place. Senior Brother, I really don’t feel good about it when I think of this.”

However, Luo Jianqing replied with righteousness, “Junior Brother, you need to have a bigger heart, a bigger heart.”

Xie Zizhuo rolled his eyes and said, “Okay, okay, I won’t bother with this inexplicable guy. Let me talk about Little Junior Sister. Junior Sister has liked you for so many years, and she can only be with you. If you really can’t become Dao companions in the future… I can’t imagine what that scene would be like.”

Luo Jianqing’s smile gradually faded away. After a long time, he sighed lightly and said, “I will go find Little Junior Sister and talk to her again.”

The two bid farewell on Haoming Peak.

Luo Jianqing did not stop and flew directly to Qinglan Peak. Qinglan Peak was mainly for alchemy, and there were many female disciples at the mountain gate. As soon as Luo Jianqing arrived at Qinglan Peak, a female disciple happily said, “Senior Brother has arrived. Our Senior Sister must be in a good mood today. Go and tell her.”

Luo Jianqing smiled wryly.

Before long, Mu Tianxin, wearing a red dress, came running over.

As soon as they met, without saying a word, Mu Tianxin directly stuffed a few jade bottles into Luo Jianqing’s arms and complained, “Senior Brother, you left too hastily three months ago. I had just finished gathering herbs for you when Master told me that you had already returned to the Yuxiao Peak. Your injuries were not light, and these pills were only refined by me in the past few months. Although they are not as good as what Master and the elders can refine, they can still help you heal. I was planning to bring them to you in a few days.”

The last time he came to the Qinglan Peak was too hasty, and at that time Luo Jianqing was also eager to clear up his relationship with Xuan Lingzi, so he didn’t talk much with Mu Tianxin. This time, he looked down at his junior sister and suddenly realized that he didn’t know when she had let down her hair.

Three thousand strands of black hair swayed in the wind, and the sunset glow shone on her beautiful and striking face, which was truly exquisite and charming. No one could deny that among the Taihua Seven Children, Mu Tianxin was the little goddess of many senior brothers.

Although Mu Tianxin had a hot temper and was somewhat rude, compared to the cold and aloof Third Senior Sister Wei Qiongyin, these were all cute little girl traits that made many disciples smitten.

In his previous life, Luo Jianqing had not seen his junior sister at this time.

Mu Tianxin had closed her cultivation for ten whole years, from the early stage of the Golden Core realm when she entered to the middle stage when she came out.

When Mu Tianxin came out, she never wore red clothes again. She always wore black robes, and there was not much smile on her face. She gradually became estranged from Luo Jianqing until she was rescued by Li Xiuchen three times, and she officially started dating Li Xiuchen, but she no longer smiled and talked as much as before.

Seemingly noticing Luo Jianqing’s scrutinizing gaze, Mu Tianxin’s fingers climbed up her own hair, constantly fiddling with it to conceal her restless heart. She whispered, “Fourth Senior Brother said that girls should be gentle to attract more men. Maybe… you also like this type of girl?”

“No,” Luo Jianqing smiled lightly. He reached out and took out two small, delicate and flowery ribbon bands.

As these two ribbon bands appeared in the air, they immediately took away the colors of the sky and blossomed with a crystal-clear glow, making Mu Tianxin unable to keep her hands away.

After snatching the thing back, Mu Tianxin realized that something was wrong and quickly stuffed it back into Luo Jianqing’s hand, saying, “Senior Brother, just now…I just accidentally snatched it away. I’m not a person who acts like this on purpose.”

Luo Jianqing smiled and said, “My little junior sister, even if you are capricious, others must bear it without any complaints.”

As he spoke, Luo Jianqing walked up behind Mu Tianxin and lifted her loose blue hair. He gently held the black and shiny hair in his palm, combed it carefully, and then tied it up with a flowery red ribbon. He tied one side, then the other. Luo Jianqing’s hands were not skillful, but the hair ribbon was too gorgeous, which made Mu Tianxin look even more beautiful and dazzling.

Mu Tianxin touched the two hair ribbons and couldn’t help but say, “Senior Brother…Do you really like me like this?”

Luo Jianqing slowly restrained his smile and said seriously, “You will always be my junior sister.”

Mu Tianxin’s body suddenly stiffened.

This time, she heard the unshakable determination in Luo Jianqing’s words. She almost dared not look up at his expression, but she heard a gentle laughter, as clear and touching as it had been for decades. She heard Luo Jianqing say, “Junior Sister, this time, I have to tell you that I really have someone I like, and…he likes me too. Loving someone is such a torturous thing. I used to think like you, that liking him was my own business, and even if he didn’t accept it, I would still continue to like him. Even if this love ends up in smoke, I still love him.”

Mu Tianxin clenched the hair ribbons tightly.

Luo Jianqing said, “Junior Sister, you asked me not to lie, which would hurt your heart. But for me, if I don’t break your thoughts and give you a glimmer of hope, that would be truly hurtful. I am no longer qualified to be your senior brother.”

Mu Tianxin lowered her head even more.

Luo Jianqing said, “So today, junior sister, I want to tell you that I have received your affection, but in this lifetime, I am destined not to be your lover. Mortals only live for a hundred years, while cultivators live until they are exhausted. I can be your senior brother and hold your hand for a moment, but I will not hold your hand for a lifetime.”

Between the mountain peaks, the misty wind blew, stirring up the waves of the sea of ​​leaves.

After a long time, Mu Tianxin asked in a hoarse voice, “What kind of person is she? Is she the one you met outside this time? Is she prettier than me? Is she more gentle than me… is she more concerned about you than me?”

Luo Jianqing was slightly stunned when he heard this, knowing that his junior sister had misunderstood, but he did not clarify. Instead, he replied, “I think they are not as pretty as you, nor are they as gentle as you, but they care about me very, very much. My junior sister is the most beautiful and stunning flower on Mount Taihua. No man in the world can bully her. If there is, we will take that person’s life on Mount Taihua.” ^[1]they written here doesn’t refer to someone in a plural manner

Mu Tianxin remained silent with her head lowered for a long time. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and Luo Jianqing kept looking at her with a gentle and tolerant gaze.

After a moment, Mu Tianxin suddenly burst into tears. She took a step forward and hugged Luo Jianqing tightly, holding on to him as if she wanted to remember this embrace and warmth forever and never let go.

Luo Jianqing allowed her to hug him, feeling his shoulders gradually getting wet.

The loud sobs echoed throughout the Qinglan Peak mountain path. The small junior sister who had a high level of cultivation and cared deeply about her image no longer paid attention to the disciples around her. She cried recklessly, as if she wanted to release all the love and admiration she had held for over forty years, and let all her feelings flow away with her tears.

When the sun set, Mu Tianxin’s crying slowly subsided. She let go of Luo Jianqing and said hoarsely, “Senior brother, this is the first and last time… would you kiss me, please?”

Mu Tianxin lifted her tear-stained face, her eyes already red and swollen like cherries, looking pitiful.

However, faced with his own fragile junior sister, Luo Jianqing shook his head and said with a smile, “Junior sister, I like him. I won’t kiss you because you are my junior sister, and my heart already belongs to him.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Tianxin snorted, lifted her chin, and said indifferently, “Hmph, that’s right, that’s my big senior brother. That woman is so lucky, she’s making me so angry. If she wants to marry into our Mount Taihua, she must pass me, Mu Tianxin, first! Senior brother, I’ll tell you straight, if you want to marry her, I, Mu Tianxin, will prepare a big gift for you, but the condition is… she has to beat me!”

Luo Jianqing chuckled and teased, “Are you sure… you really want him to beat you?”

Mu Tianxin held her head high and said arrogantly, “Of course! Who am I? I am Mu Tianxin of the Qinglan Peak! If she dares to touch a hair on me, I’ll have my master deal with her!”

After a few more words, Mu Tianxin proudly lifted her chin and walked away. Her beautiful and glamorous face was no different from usual except for the tears that hadn’t been wiped away and the swollen eyes. She was still the arrogant Mu Tianxin of the Qinglan Peak.

However, when Mu Tianxin reached the end of the mountain path, she suddenly stopped, did not look back, and asked in a low voice, “Senior brother, 35 years ago, we played in the monster garden of the Imperial Beast Peak. We played until we forgot the time, and the sky grew dark, and the monsters howled. You held me and told me not to be afraid, and said you would protect me for a lifetime. Senior brother… do you still remember?”

Luo Jianqing slowly lowered his gaze and said softly, “I remember.”

Mu Tianxin’s figure stiffened.

Luo Jianqing closed his eyes and smiled faintly, “My junior sister, how can she be bullied? If anyone dares to offend her, they will have to step over their senior brother’s dead body. I never forget about this… as a senior brother.”

Mu Tianxin stood at the end of the mountain path for a long time, then suddenly lifted her toes and flew away. She was like a burning flame, quickly darting into the green mountains and dense forests, walking very decisively, without any hesitation, and disappeared in front of Luo Jianqing in an instant.

Some things must be ended early, as prolonged pain is not as good as short pain.

Staring at the vast and verdant Qinglan Peak for a long time, Luo Jianqing sighed lightly and turned away.

There is still more than a year before the sect’s grand competition between the Seven Peaks disciples. He had previously challenged Xuan Lingzi, saying that if he lost, what would happen. But at that time, Xuan Lingzi was probably so angry that he didn’t realize that Luo Jianqing was already in the Nascent Soul stage. Among the entire disciple generation, only Luo Jianqing had reached the Nascent Soul stage. Unless someone challenged him, he was undoubtedly the first.

However, even though Luo Jianqing is now at the forefront of the young generation of Taihua Mountain, and even one of the top few peerless geniuses in the entire Xuantian Continent, his goal has always been beyond this.

His goal has always been to surpass that person. That person is in the Nascent Soul stage, so he must become a Nascent Soul cultivator too!

On the way back from Qinglan Peak to Yuxiao Peak, Luo Jianqing had already figured out how to cultivate in the next year. In the last few months, he would go to the Wanshou Mountain to train his practical abilities and seize some opportunities. However, he had not completely planned everything out. When he lifted his head, he saw his bamboo house suddenly become a ruin.

Luo Jianqing: “…”

First look to the left, then to the right.

Hmm, I’m not lost, this is the place.

So, this pile of broken bamboo and wood… Is it really the bamboo house where he has lived for decades?!

Luo Jianqing stepped forward, squatted down, and carefully picked up a piece of broken bamboo, examining it closely. It was indeed shattered by spiritual power. In fact, he didn’t even need to observe, Luo Jianqing could guess that in the entire Xuantian Continent, besides the terrifying Demon Sovereign and the Demon Lord of the Demon Sect, who else could have shattered his neighbor’s bamboo house under Xuan Lingzi’s watchful eye?!

Could it be that the Demon Lord broke the contract and come out? No.

The Devil Lord left the Devil Palace and run to Mount Taihua to seek death? No.

Then who could it be? Probably only the master who he has been provoking for many days.

Luo Jianqing curled his lips and stood up, patting his own robe. The white Daoist robe with green edges fluttered in the wind, and the handsome cultivator calmly walked to the bamboo house next to him. His long and delicate phoenix eyes slightly lowered, Luo Jianqing bowed and said calmly, “Master, your disciple’s room is gone. I don’t know where to rest tonight.”

There was no movement in the bamboo house.

Luo Jianqing was not discouraged and continued, “Master, there are only two of us, master and disciple, on Mount Yuxiao. Today, the disciple went to many places, discussed some sect affairs with the fourth senior brother, and went to Qinglan Peak to talk to the junior sister. Now I am exhausted, please open the door and let your disciple rest well.”

The bamboo leaves swayed gently, still without a response.

Seeing this, Luo Jianqing suddenly changed his expression and shouted, “Master, I don’t know who the evil person is who dared to destroy your disciple’s bamboo house in front of the world’s top cultivator, the elder of Mount Taihua! This is slapping the face of Mount Taihua, slapping your face, master! How can we tolerate such evil deeds? Master, your disciple will go and capture that evil person, bring him in front of you, and punish him…”

“Stop.” A cold voice suddenly sounded, seeming calm and indifferent, but sounding through gritted teeth. Xuan Lingzi lowered his voice, speaking word by word, “Luo Jianqing, when did you become so…so rude!”

Luo Jianqing couldn’t help but laugh lightly.

His master, like him, was born and raised on this cold and uninhabited Mount Yuxiao. If Luo Jianqing was considered a model of etiquette among countless junior brothers and sisters in his previous life, then Xuan Lingzi was the example he learned from. Everything he has is learned from this person.

Because he wanted to get closer to this person, he couldn’t help but imitate him and wanted to be closer to him.

So you see, this person has reached such a point of anger, but still can’t find a word to curse him, can only say that he is rude.

Luo Jianqing didn’t expect to become the person he is now, even before he fell into the demonic path and was chased for many years. But from the moment he was expelled from the sect, the perfect and respectful elder brother of Mount Taihua died. Even now, he is only wearing a perfect mask, and his heart is no longer as indifferent to the world as it used to be.

He has desires, he wants to attain higher cultivation; he wants to kill Li Xiuchen, he wants to seize the Heavenly Dao.

He wants to obtain that person!

In fact, besides many demonic cultivators often killing innocent people indiscriminately, Luo Jianqing still envies them. Demonic cultivators have a fierce temperament, act recklessly and do whatever they want. Why should they be like those so-called orthodox cultivators, always using so many things to bind themselves?

And in this life, he originally wanted to always wear that perfect mask, but things never go as planned.

That person is still standing on the Yuxiao Peak, a venerable one who is not stained by dust, but he can no longer be the first disciple of Taihua Mountain, who was once as pure as a gentle breeze and bright moon.

After standing in front of the bamboo house for a long time without getting a response, Luo Jianqing sighed softly and said, “Master, your disciple understands.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Jianqing turned around and began to personally pick up the broken bamboo and wood on the ground. He cut bamboo in the bamboo forest and slowly built himself another bamboo house. When the sun rose the next day, a new bamboo house had been completed.

Looking at this bamboo house, Luo Jianqing’s thoughts went back to more than thirty years ago.

Before he was ten years old, he had never moved into this bamboo house and had always lived with that person. At that time, Luo Jianqing had not yet opened his meridians, and disciples from the foot of the mountain would bring food up every day, which he would eat with Venerable Xuan Lingzi. During meals, Luo Jianqing never spoke or made a sound, because his elegant and refined master was like that.

After finishing breakfast, it was a whole day of cultivation. Venerable Xuan Lingzi sat cross-legged on the bamboo couch to cultivate, and little Luo Jianqing sat beside him. Children are always so determined, and before the age of six, Luo Jianqing often fell asleep from time to time, only to wake up with his head in Venerable Xuan Lingzi’s lap, and when he opened his eyes, he would see his handsome master’s face.

At that time, Luo Jianqing always subconsciously wanted to touch the hair that hung down in front of the person’s face, so Venerable Xuan Lingzi would sigh and helplessly say, “Jianqing, let go.”

If Luo Jianqing didn’t let go, Venerable Xuan Lingzi wouldn’t say anything.

At night, Xuan Lingzi could have meditated and practiced, but Luo Jianqing needed to rest. One day, after rolling into Xuan Lingzi’s legs for the umpteenth time and grumbling discontentedly, Xuan Lingzi picked up the delicate child and they slept together in their clothes.

From then on, Luo Jianqing rolled into Xuan Lingzi’s embrace every day, finding the most comfortable spot to sleep deeply.

In the small, chilly bamboo house, the master and disciple embraced each other as they slept, and this one sleep lasted for a full four years.

At the age of ten, Xuan Lingzi made a bamboo house for Luo Jianqing and ordered him to live there and focus on cultivation. At that time, Luo Jianqing had already reached the fifth level of Qi refining, but he was still a child at heart, and he was naturally unhappy about leaving his beloved master.

So that night, he secretly sneaked into Xuan Lingzi’s room, wanting to crawl back into that warm embrace.

What awaited him was Xuan Lingzi’s merciless brushing of his sleeves. Luo Jianqing sat dumbfounded on the ground, only hearing Xuan Lingzi’s cold voice say, “I ordered you to live in that bamboo house and focus on cultivation. Jianqing, did you not hear my words, or do you disrespect your elders and dare to disobey my orders?”

In the moonlight, Xuan Lingzi’s face was indifferent, and his gaze was stern.

It was rare to see Xuan Lingzi so cold and ruthless. The small Luo Jianqing was scared, and couldn’t even say a word. Later, Xuan Lingzi sighed helplessly and hugged him to bed, gently saying, “Only this once, not to be repeated. Jianqing… go to sleep.”

After that, Luo Jianqing never went back again. He was really scared by Xuan Lingzi’s sternness.

At this moment, standing in front of this new bamboo house, all those memories rushed back. Luo Jianqing looked at it for a long time before finally couldn’t help but say, “Master, this house is too new, and I’m not used to it for a while. Since the house has changed, is there still… the chance for only this once, not to be repeated?”

No one answered.

Luo Jianqing’s sword mark between his eyebrows flashed with a faint green light, and without saying anything more, he took out the Shuang Fu Sword and turned to the bamboo forest to begin his sword practice. One after another cold and sharp sword light formed illusions, and the white-clothed cultivator constantly danced, his body like a ghost, every move like a dance, drawing perfect arcs in the air between the green and quiet bamboo forest.

As Luo Jianqing swung his sword forward, the bamboo leaves silently swayed; when he retrieved his sword, dust flew up from the ground.

The Shuang Fu Sword was thrown into the air and kept spinning. Luo Jianqing began to form hand seals, and when the seals were formed, he pointed his finger, embedding the seal into the Shuang Fu Sword, forming a terrifying and ferocious sword shadow.

The sword light surged, radiating brilliance in all directions. However, just as the sword light was about to fill the entire bamboo forest, it suddenly dimmed. The backlash of the failed sword move came towards Luo Jianqing, but at that moment, a golden sword energy pierced through the space, blocking the sword light that was about to hit Luo Jianqing, shattering it.

Luo Jianqing’s chest felt hot, and the backlash from the failed sword move made his blood unstable. He turned around hurriedly and said, “Master!”

However, when he turned around, he still saw the empty bamboo forest.

Luo Jianqing shook his head helplessly and smiled, picked up the Shuang Fu Sword that had fallen to the ground, and returned to his own bamboo house. He began his closed-door cultivation, not only trying to break through his cultivation level but also working hard to consolidate his cultivation, refine his spiritual power, and try to use the sword move he just attempted to cross realms.

On the YuXiao Peak, two simple and unadorned bamboo houses were closed, and the master and apprentice were both in closed-door cultivation, not going out.

Within a year, Xie Zizhuo had come three times, Zuo Yunmo had come twice, and Mu Tianxin and others had also come once, but they did not get a response from the master and apprentice. Presumably, they were in closed-door cultivation, so everyone had no choice but to leave. Four months before the sect’s grand competition was about to begin, Luo Jianqing suddenly opened his eyes, and a spiritual light flashed in his eyes.

At this moment, on the Haoming Peak, an ordinary-looking disciple was also packing his luggage, planning to go out and find opportunities to improve his strength before the sect’s grand competition. And naturally, he didn’t know that Luo Jianqing was standing by his bed, looking in the direction of the Haoming Peak with a deep gaze, whispering to himself, “The time has probably come. It’s time to come out of seclusion.”

That disciple was Li Xiuchen.

Where he was going was the Wanshou Mountain Range, which happened to be Luo Jianqing’s target too!