Chapter 010
Chapter 10: Early Tribulation Crossing
Chu Zhi Rou knew that in her current situation, words would do no good. Without hesitation, she collapsed onto the ground, pretending to faint.
Under the suppressive aura, Pei Qing You couldn’t move at all, and could only watch helplessly as Chu Zhi Rou fell to the floor.
Sect Master Meng, who had already received word from Xing Lan, hurried over.
Upon seeing Xing Lan seated there, Sect Master Meng’s face immediately lit up with joy. “Tribulation crossing successful?” he asked.
Xing Lan gave a slight nod. “Early tribulation crossing.”
?!
The cold, calm words were enough to stun everyone into silence.
Xing Lan had already reached the early tribulation crossing stage?
The cultivation world was about to undergo a major shift!
“Good, good, good! I will ring the bell and announce it to the world immediately!” Sect Master Meng’s mood was as bright as the sun.
The youngest tribulation crossing expert in history was their Jade Void Sect’s Peak Master!
With Xing Lan as their living legend, Jade Void Sect would never have to worry about the future. The next time they recruited disciples, they would be flooded with applicants!
Shi Zi Chu suddenly stood up. Realizing what was happening, she saw Xing Lan’s gaze fixed on her.
“Congratulations, Master, on successfully entering the tribulation crossing stage!” Shi Zi Chu smiled brightly.
Xing Lan waved her down and then turned to Sect Master Meng, saying, “Sect Master, do you have an explanation for me?”
As her words fell, Xing Lan’s sharp, indifferent gaze turned to Chu Zhi Rou.
Sect Master Meng’s joy evaporated in an instant.
“Xing Lan,” he said, walking over to sit beside her. His tone was gentle but firm. “I will investigate the matter of Chu Zhi Rou leaving the Penitence Cliff without your permission.”
Yan Zhou Bai understood then.
No wonder Venerable Xing Lan had such an attitude—escaping the Penitence Cliff was no small matter.
Ye He Qi’s gaze grew colder.
This was trouble.
Venerable Xing Lan wasn’t known for his patience. He was someone who always had the final say. If Chu Zhi Rou had defied him so openly, it could very well drag the Ye Clan into this.
Pei Qing You was stunned.
After giving Sect Master Meng a glance, Xing Lan turned his attention to Ye He Qi. “Clan Chief Ye, as for this defiance toward a teacher…”
“Ah?” Shi Zi Chu suddenly interjected, interrupting Xing Lan. She quickly added, “Disciple thought it was Master who allowed Junior Sister and Senior Brother to leave the Penitence Cliff…”
Xing Lan sneered coldly.
However, thanks to Shi Zi Chu’s timely diversion, he didn’t continue.
Ye He Qi, who had been dragged into this situation, calmly gave a bow, speaking in a slow, measured tone. “Please, Venerable Xing Lan, do not be angry. It is my Ye Clan’s failure to teach her properly. Rest assured, Venerable Xing Lan, we will discipline her strictly.”
As Ye He Qi finished, Shi Zi Chu’s soft voice followed, “Master, Junior Sister’s actions in leaving the Penitence Cliff were indeed wrong. Given her severe injuries, how about we punish her with three years of monthly rites?”
Killing her off wouldn’t do!
Chu Zhi Rou, the protagonist, needed to be kept under close watch for now, especially since she still held value.
The gentle words made Ye He Qi raise his gaze, glancing at Shi Zi Chu.
Was she really that naive, or just clueless?
Sect Master Meng spoke helplessly. “Zi Chu, a three-year rite punishment is far too light.”
Given Xing Lan’s temperament, if it had been anyone else, there might have been room for leniency, but not in this case.
Xing Lan turned to Sect Master Meng. “Let the Discipline Hall decide the punishment.”
Sect Master Meng nodded.
Ye He Qi’s gaze darkened.
If Shi Zi Chu hadn’t so abruptly interrupted Venerable Xing Lan, Chu Zhi Rou would have been expelled from the sect by now.
And Venerable Xing Lan’s stance was clear, yet, under Shi Zi Chu’s plea, he had changed his mind?
Ye He Qi’s gaze grew dimmer.
It might be time to investigate Shi Zi Chu more thoroughly.
“Let’s go back,” Xing Lan said.
Shi Zi Chu stood. “Master, I may return a little late. I need to go to the Floating Flower Secret Realm.”
Ye He Qi’s heart sank.
Sure enough, the sharp, oppressive gaze landed on him.
“The trial in Green Mountain Secret Realm caused Daoist Shi some inconvenience. As an apology, I invite Daoist Shi to the Floating Flower Secret Realm for some training,” Ye He Qi’s voice was polite and measured. “I guarantee that Daoist Shi will not lose a single strand of hair there.”
Xing Lan glanced at Shi Zi Chu, who was eagerly awaiting his response, before responding coldly.
Looking at Shi Zi Chu, who was suddenly beaming with joy, Xing Lan spoke, “First, return to Rising Succession Peak. We will go to Supreme Virtue City later.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded just as Xing Lan waved his hand, and with a flick of spiritual power, she was swept up and carried away.
Sect Master Meng, left behind, waved his hand and invited everyone to Jade Void Sect.
At Rising Succession Peak’s main hall, Shi Zi Chu, feeling a bit dizzy, grabbed onto Xing Lan’s sleeve, nearly jogging to keep up with his swift pace.
“Master, I’m dizzy.”
Her soft voice caused Xing Lan to slow his steps.
Shi Zi Chu knew well that Xing Lan wasn’t angry, so she softened her voice. “Junior Sister comes from the Ye Clan, and I don’t want to make things difficult for Master.”
Xing Lan suddenly stopped, turning around to face her. Shi Zi Chu, unable to stop in time, collided directly into his chest.
“Ugh.”
She let out a soft sound as she took two steps back, rubbing her forehead.
Xing Lan said nothing, merely lowering his gaze, his eyes deep and calm, yet carrying a silent danger.
“Is it not this?” Shi Zi Chu asked, lowering her hand and tilting her head. “Then it must be about Daoist Yan.”
Xing Lan’s eyes flickered slightly.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Jiu Jiu’s trial this time was with Yan Zhou Bai.
It wasn’t that he feared Yan Zhou Bai, a mere boy, but rather, he worried Shi Zi Chu might cause trouble for him again.
Shi Zi Chu knew she had guessed correctly.
“It was just a coincidence,” she said with a faint smile. “He is talented, but how could a firefly compare to the brilliance of the full moon?”
Yan Zhou Bai was an exceptional talent, but Xing Lan had already surpassed the category of genius.
The name “Xing Lan” itself was the perfect description of a genius.
Knowing that Xing Lan feared she might charm Yan Zhou Bai, Shi Zi Chu made her intentions clear. “Master, I am devoted only to the way of cultivation.”
The reason she traveled with Yan Zhou Bai was because he was powerful, and accompanying him could help her avoid unnecessary detours, but more importantly, it was to provoke Chu Zhi Rou.
She had no other thoughts on the matter.
Xing Lan didn’t respond, simply heading toward the back mountain.
Shi Zi Chu, following behind, found herself unsure if she had succeeded in pacifying him.
Upon reaching the open space at the back mountain, Xing Lan took a bamboo stick, using spiritual power to carve it into a sword. He planned to test how much Shi Zi Chu had progressed recently.
Xing Lan lowered his cultivation to mid-Core Formation and suppressed his strength.
But after the sparring session, Shi Zi Chu’s defeat was so embarrassing it was hard to watch!
The areas where the bamboo had struck a little hurt.
She had been lazy and idle for years, and her body had grown soft and tender.
Shi Zi Chu frowned, looking at her delicate brows in displeasure.
Now, even though her cultivation was high, her combat abilities were practically non-existent. In simpler terms, she was just a pretty vase.
Xing Lan stored the bamboo sword and approached her, lifting her sleeve to reveal a bruise on her wrist.
The cool touch snapped Shi Zi Chu out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Xing Lan gently applying medicine.
“What’s your opinion?” Xing Lan asked, still not lifting his head.
“My physique and foundation are too weak,” Shi Zi Chu replied with a furrowed brow, her tone clearly showing her dissatisfaction with herself. “My strength isn’t enough, and my strike speed is too slow…”
“Jiu Jiu, cultivation is not something that can be achieved overnight,” Xing Lan interrupted, his voice firm but calm. “Let’s return to your room. I’ll apply the medicine.”