Chapter 10: An Uncertain Path  

Su Han Sheng refused to comply. Su Han Sheng threw a tantrum.  

Su Han Sheng sat on the ground, clinging to Xu Nan Xian’s leg to prevent him from leaving, his face streaked with tears as he cried, “I don’t know! I don’t know!”  

Xu Nan Xian’s veins bulged in frustration, his teeth gritted. “Su Xiao Xiao!”  

Su Han Sheng looked up at him with pleading eyes. “I want to go with you, Shixiong. Don’t leave me alone again. Please.”  

“Is the World Honored One going to eat you or something?” Xu Nan Xian was furious. “Others would kill for even a glance from him, yet here you are, utterly ungrateful!”  

Seeing Xu Nan Xian raise his hand as if to hit him, Su Han Sheng quickly resumed his wailing of “I don’t know,” as if determined to revive all the spoiled antics of his childhood.  

Xu Nan Xian gnashed his teeth, his expression dark. “Su Han Sheng, I’m counting to three. One, two—”  

The moment Su Han Sheng heard his full name, he scrambled to his feet in an instant.  

Xu Nan Xian nearly laughed in exasperation.  

Su Han Sheng, ever adaptable, felt no shame. Sullenly, he asked, “Then… how am I supposed to get to the Enlightenment Academy?”  

Seeing him behave, Xu Nan Xian took a deep breath to calm himself before answering, “Tomorrow, a Spirit Boat from the Enlightenment Academy will come to pick you up. It’ll arrive overnight, and once I finish my tasks, I’ll meet you at the academy gates.”  

Su Han Sheng frowned slightly.  

If he remembered correctly, in his past life, on the enrollment day of the various academies—August 19th—a catastrophic event had occurred. The Spirit Boat carrying new students to the First Academy, the Enlightenment Academy, had been attacked by the Demon Race, causing it to plummet from a great height.  

The boat had been filled with young, inexperienced students, and the only accompanying elder, a Nascent Soul cultivator, had exhausted his spiritual power to save them, sending them safely to the ground before perishing alongside the Spirit Boat, his body lost without a trace.  

Xu Nan Xian had been in a hurry to leave, but seeing Su Han Sheng’s pale face, he hesitated. “What’s wrong? Afraid of heights? Don’t want to take the Spirit Boat?”  

Su Han Sheng pressed his lips together.  

His earlier fake crying had left his eyes red and swollen, making him look pitiful. Though Xu Nan Xian knew he was being willful, his heart still softened. After a long silence, he sighed quietly and tapped the Enlightenment Academy’s jade token.  

“Fine, I’ll send word and accompany you tomorrow—”  

“No need,” Su Han Sheng suddenly said. “Shixiong, go ahead. I’m not afraid of heights.”  

Xu Nan Xian eyed him skeptically. “Really?”  

Su Han Sheng nodded. “Really.”  

Xu Nan Xian reached out and ruffled his hair before tossing the jade token into the air and catching it effortlessly. “Then I’ll be off. See you on the 19th.”  

After a few more reminders, he summoned the wind and soared into the night.  

Su Han Sheng watched the direction Xu Nan Xian had disappeared, biting down hard on his knuckle.  

The Demon Race infiltrating the Spirit Boat to attack the academy’s new students…  

Within half a month, demonic cultivators would brazenly infiltrate the Enlightenment Rite and slaughter many Righteous Path cultivators…  

The methods were too similar—likely the work of the same group.  

A flash of crimson fury flickered in Su Han Sheng’s eyes.  

He would root out every last one of those responsible for Xu Nan Xian’s tragic death in his past life.  

Not a single one would be spared.  

They would all die.  

***  

The next day, Su Han Sheng should have woken at dawn, but in his dazed state, his body felt unnaturally heavy. An unfamiliar sensation spread through him, forcing him to curl into a trembling ball.  

It wasn’t until the afternoon, when his Lifebound Tree roused him, that Su Han Sheng sat in stunned silence amidst the disheveled bedding, slowly realizing…  

He was cold?  

Something wasn’t right.

The Phoenix Bone was of the fire element. From the moment Su Han Sheng could remember, his body had always been scalding hot. He could gulp down freshly boiled medicine without feeling the heat and had never known the sensation of cold.  

In his past life, Su Han Sheng had also experienced this ordeal, but that had been in Avici Hell.  

The first time Chong Jue suppressed and soothed the Phoenix Bone, it had lain dormant for three full days just like now. The accumulated chill within his body slowly seeped out, and even with spiritual energy to protect him, he shivered as if trapped in an icy cellar.  

After enduring three days of this, the Phoenix Bone erupted violently in the dead of night, burning fiercely.  

Even with Chong Jue by his side at the time, Su Han Sheng had nearly lost half his life.  

Su Han Sheng lifted the bed curtains and looked outside.  

A thin layer of frost had already formed on the withered branches of the Soulbound Spirit in the courtyard, as if winter had arrived overnight.  

It seemed the Phoenix Bone was eighty percent determined to kill him.  

Su Han Sheng wasn’t afraid. He got up, put on a few extra layers of clothing, and placed the thousand-year-old Lofty Ganoderma into his pouch.  

When the Bone Fire of the Phoenix Bone returned in full force, he hoped this immortal-grade treasure would keep him from being burned to a skeleton.  

And if all else failed, there was still Chong Jue.  

At the very least, he wouldn’t die.  

After noon, Xie Shizhi sent a message summoning him to the front sect.  

Su Han Sheng acknowledged it, then found a flowerpot and had the Lifebound Tree shrink several times its size to take root inside. Holding an umbrella in one hand and cradling the pot in the other, he crossed the mountain steps of the Echoing Warmth Sect under the setting sun.  

Just as he arrived at the front sect’s main hall, a fierce gust of wind nearly tore his umbrella apart.  

The Lifebound Tree in the pot quickly extended its vines to steady the umbrella. Su Han Sheng looked up and saw a towering ship, like a small mountain, descending slowly from the sky as if dark clouds were pressing down on a city.  

From afar, one could see a massive blue banner hanging from it, inscribed with the words “Enlightenment Academy.”  

Su Han Sheng stared at the colossal vessel, his eyes wide with astonishment.  

Yesterday, Xu Nan Xian had mentioned that the vessel coming to pick up the new students was a Spirit Boat.  

This… was a Spirit Boat?!  

In his past life, when Cold Mountain Academy had come to fetch him, it had been a small three-tiered Spirit Boat.  

At the time, the young lord, who had never traveled far and had seen little of the world, had been utterly amazed, believing the exquisite Spirit Boat must be worth a fortune. He had marveled for a long time at Cold Mountain Academy’s extravagance.  

But compared to this “Spirit Boat” from Enlightenment Academy, that one was utterly dwarfed.  

…This could hardly be called a boat. The massive tower ship was adorned with dozens of exquisite pavilions and terraces, intricately interwoven. Upon closer inspection, one could even see flowing streams and cascading waterfalls amidst the carved railings and jade-like structures, resembling a city scaled down countless times.  

Su Han Sheng clicked his tongue in amazement.  

As expected of the top-ranked academy on the Tide Watching Board—the number one academy truly knew how to make an entrance.  

The tower ship slowly descended, countless densely packed formations at its base activating, leaving it suspended three zhang above the ground. Golden patterns shimmered, emitting the crisp sound of burning Spirit Stones.  

A young man dressed in Enlightenment Academy’s White Ink Mountain Robe descended from the ship with the grace of an Immortal, handsome and poised. He bowed respectfully to Xie Shizhi.  

“Elder Xie.”  

Elder Xie had been waiting for some time. “Thank you for your trouble, Companion Envoy.”  

The Companion Envoy was tall and slender, appearing just past his coming-of-age ceremony. Like Xu Nan Xian, he wore the White Ink Mountain Robe, his gentle demeanor instantly inspiring goodwill—no wonder Enlightenment Academy had chosen him to escort the new students.  

Su Han Sheng studied him.  

Nascent Soul stage, Companion Envoy…  

This must be the Companion Envoy from his past life who had met a tragic end while trying to save the new students.  

Despite his youth, the Companion Envoy possessed profound cultivation. His hair was half-tied, and a black headband embroidered with orchids adorned his forehead, lending him an air of scholarly elegance and heroic charm.

Upon closer inspection, the forehead ribbon seemed to be embroidered with a flamboyant character that resembled the word “Gentle”?

Indeed, the Enlightenment Academy appeared to cultivate nothing but refined and virtuous gentlemen, even inscribing admonitions on their forehead ribbons.

Truly worthy of being the foremost academy.

Su Han Sheng stepped forward.

Xie Shizhi noticed him and smiled. “Young Master, your timing is perfect—this is Zhuang Lingxiu, the envoy from Enlightenment Academy.”

Zhuang Lingxiu offered a gentle smile, treating Su Han Sheng with respect despite his youth, and bowed with his sword in hand.

“Greetings, Young Master Su.”

Su Han Sheng nodded. “Hello, Senior Brother Zhuang.”

Zhuang Lingxiu took half a step back, chuckling. “I dare not claim such honor.”

Xie Shizhi gazed at Su Han Sheng. Having watched him grow up, he couldn’t help feeling reluctant to see him depart.

Though the young master often used his Lifebound Tree to play pranks—scaring disciples into ditches, sneaking indecent books into Xie Shizhi’s lecture materials, or digging up snake nests to toss serpents into morning classes…

Beyond his mischievous streak, he was still a good child.

Xie Shizhi softened his expression, speaking gently. “Xiao Xiao, I’ve asked Chang Kong to pack extra bottles of the Lofty Ganoderma elixir for you. When the Bone Affliction flares, take it properly—don’t fuss about the bitterness.”

Su Han Sheng nodded obediently.

It seemed Su Xuan Lin hadn’t even informed Xie Shizhi about the Heavenly Dao Artifact, the Phoenix Bone.

After bidding farewell to Elder Xie, Su Han Sheng followed Zhuang Lingxiu to the Tower Ship.

Zhuang Lingxiu’s white-and-black robes fluttered as he gracefully alighted onto the ship with a gust of wind. After waiting in vain, he glanced down to find Su Han Sheng still standing below, looking up at him.

Zhuang Lingxiu asked kindly, “Will the Young Master not come aboard?”

Su Han Sheng stared at the ship hovering three zhang above the ground and fell silent.

Could the Young Master even get up there?

At the Qi Refining Stage, he couldn’t ride the wind—was he supposed to jump?

Su Han Sheng retreated a few steps, scanning for a ladder to climb.

But the moment he moved, his back bumped into a warm “wall.”

The scent of bodhi blossoms enveloped him, so familiar it made his scalp prickle. He lurched forward and whirled around, wide-eyed.

Chong Jue stood there, his plain lotus-patterned robes swaying in the breeze as he gazed down impassively.

Zhuang Lingxiu, who had been standing calmly on the ship, immediately descended upon seeing the World Honored One. He bowed deeply, holding his breath in reverence, as if even his exhale might taint the holy robes.

“Greetings, World Honored One.”

Su Han Sheng’s grip on his umbrella tightened.

Chong Jue stood lofty and untouchable, austere and serene.

…A far cry from the blind, fallen demon of Avici Hell—the bloodthirsty deity and lecher—from his past life.

Chong Jue gave a faint “Mm” and extended a hand toward Su Han Sheng.

Though puzzled, Su Han Sheng instinctively tucked the flowerpot into his satchel and offered his hand.

Chong Jue’s fingers were cool and smooth, like fine jade, lightly brushing the back of Su Han Sheng’s hand.

Suddenly weightless, Su Han Sheng was lifted effortlessly into the air. His umbrella nearly flew away as he clung desperately to the handle, his hair and cloak billowing like blossoming petals in the wind.

“Ah—!”

Chong Jue held his hand. “Do not fear.”

With that, his snow-white robes fluttering, Chong Jue drifted like mist, carrying Su Han Sheng—amidst his startled cry—straight to the Tower Ship’s highest deck.

Xie Shizhi raised an eyebrow.

It seemed the World Honored One still held great regard for this son of his dear friend, even considering that Su Han Sheng couldn’t control the winds.

After the two disappeared down the top-floor corridor, Zhuang Lingxiu finally exhaled in relief. Controlling the winds, he returned to the tower ship and activated the helm. Countless spirit stones at the bottom burned away, transforming into spiritual energy that flowed into the Dao patterns.

With a thunderous roar, massive rows of oars extended from both sides of the tower ship, propelling the enormous vessel into the sky.

On the top-floor corridor, Su Han Sheng had barely steadied himself when the ship suddenly lurched into motion. Losing his footing, he stumbled forward and crashed into Chong Jue’s chest, which carried the fragrance of bodhi flowers. His nose smarted from the impact.

Su Han Sheng: “…”

Chong Jue seemed to notice and was about to reach out to steady him, but Su Han Sheng recoiled like a startled rabbit. After regaining his balance, he muttered stiffly, “Thank you, World Honored One.”

…He didn’t even call him “Uncle” anymore.

Chong Jue paused, his fingers stilling on the prayer beads. He asked coolly, “Why no longer call me Uncle?”

Su Han Sheng: “…”

How dare he ask?

Su Han Sheng glared brazenly at… the World Honored One’s toes, grinding his teeth silently. Did he really think a box of sweets and a string of prayer beads would be enough to placate him?

Chong Jue waited expectantly for the term of address, his icy gaze fixed on Su Han Sheng’s head.

After a long silence, Su Han Sheng suddenly felt anger surge from his heart and malice rise in his gut.

Did he think this matter could be brushed aside so lightly?

Not a chance.

Su Han Sheng looked up, beaming at Chong Jue with a radiant, obedient smile. His beautiful face appeared sweet and docile as he called out obediently, “Uncle.”

The voice of the not-yet-matured boy was soft and slightly childish, with a lingering cadence that was utterly endearing.

Chong Jue rolled a prayer bead between his fingers, warmth flickering in his dark green eyes.

Just as he was about to find an opening to ask why Su Han Sheng’s hands were so cold, the seemingly well-behaved youth spoke again: “…I really liked the jade bell Uncle gave me as a birthday gift the other day. May I boldly ask for another one to play with?”

Chong Jue: “…………”