Chapter 1167: 1166: Lu Residence, Accepting a Disciple

Chapter 1167: Chapter 1166: Lu Residence, Accepting a Disciple

After parting ways with Lu Changyou, the two strolled along the streets of Azure Dragon Town.

Xu Zimei chuckled and said, “Do you think your dean will approve?”

“What I’m more concerned about now is the Cangwu Abyss,” Xie Changliu replied.

“And as for whether or not he approves, you’d still go in anyway, wouldn’t you?”

Xu Zimei nodded slightly and asked, “What is this Cangwu Abyss?”

“You can think of it as the evil split from Mountain Ghost Kui,” Xie Changliu explained.

“What do you mean?” Xu Zimei looked puzzled.

“I’ve told you before that the Heavenly Saint Academy is a branch of the Nine Ghosts Academy.

And the Nine Ghosts Academy was established by Mountain Ghost Kui,” Xie Changliu clarified.

“Back then, Kui turned from evil to good and separated his virtue from his malice, ultimately cutting off his own evil.

But who could have thought that this evil did not die, instead wreaking havoc across the Mortal Domain?

Later, the Nine Ghosts Academy established the Heavenly Saint branch and suppressed it inside the Cangwu Abyss.”

“Is this malice very powerful?” Xu Zimei asked.

“Why not just destroy it outright?”

“That, I don’t know,” Xie Changliu shook his head.

“Affairs that are far too confidential are beyond my reach.”

“That girl is still following you,” Xu Zimei glanced back and smiled.

“Actually, I’m considering taking her as my disciple,” Xie Changliu said after a moment of silence.

“Having a pupil with an Immortal Sword Body would indeed be something to boast of as a teacher.

However, I don’t accept disciples easily; the most important criterion is character.”

“You’re testing her,” Xu Zimei asked.

“That’s one way to understand it,” Xie Changliu replied.

“Tomorrow, I plan to visit the Heavenly Saint Academy, meet with my former senior brothers, and see the dean in passing.”

Xu Zimei nodded without objection.

The two wandered around Azure Dragon Town for half a lap; it was situated on the mountainside of Heaven Holy Mountain.

Its bustling liveliness wasn’t any less than that of larger cities.

However, Xu Zimei felt a distinct sense of an ominous aura underneath Heaven Holy Mountain, constantly trying to seep upward.

Though it appeared to be blocked by something, the sensation was unmistakable.

By afternoon, the excitement gradually surged.

The two found an inn and rented two rooms, while the girl quietly stayed near the entrance of the inn.

Xu Zimei didn’t intervene; this was Xie Changliu’s matter, and he presumably had his plans.

Returning to his room, Xu Zimei began cultivating Zhurong’s Inquiry.

The profound meanings of his fire attribute pulsed continuously.

This secret technique was deeply intertwined, encompassing not just profound meanings but also principles and rules.

In the Primordial Era, Ancient Gods—being the first batch of practitioners—were like pioneers of this barren age.

Without existing cultivation techniques, they created their own techniques.

The path of cultivation was vast and uncertain; there were no predecessors, so they became pioneers themselves, leaving behind paths for others to follow.

Such is the essence of the Way of Inquiry.

Xu Zimei cultivated tirelessly through the entire night, feeling as if he were merely a lone skiff navigating the boundless ocean.

The art of the Way of Inquiry was truly vast.

Outside the inn, a commotion snagged Xu Zimei’s attention.

As soon as Xu Zimei stepped out of his room, Xie Changliu also emerged from the adjacent room.

“What’s going on?” Xie Changliu asked.

Peering down from the second floor, Xu Zimei saw a crowd gathered at the inn’s entrance.

Each individual was brawny and imposing, their gazes fierce.

………

“Patriarch Lu, what should we do with this girl?”

“In my opinion, a life for a life. Let her repay her debt to Young Master Lu in death,” the crowd clamored in response.

“She shouldn’t be allowed to die so swiftly.”

Descending the stairs, Xu Zimei and Xie Changliu saw the crowd encircling the girl from earlier, discussing her fate fiercely.

The girl was curled up against the wall in fear.

“What happened?” Xie Changliu stepped in front of the girl, frowning as he asked.

“A group of people bullying one weak girl—how shameful.”

“Who are you?” someone nearby warned.

“Better not meddle in others’ affairs.”

A middle-aged man stepped forward, waving his hand to calm the scene instantly.

“This girl killed my son. Is it not justified for a murderer to pay with her life?”

The middle-aged man sized up Xie Changliu as he spoke.

“I didn’t mean to!” the girl said in panic.

“His son tried to violate me. In my fright, I lost control, and my sword intent killed him unintentionally.”

“Though unintentionally killing his son is indeed wrong, it’s also your son who caused the trouble first. The blame lies with him,”

Xie Changliu said coolly. “Let’s end this matter here.”

“Who do you think you are?”

“Patriarch Lu, don’t argue with him. Just deal with him directly,”

The servants muttered dismissively.

Patriarch Lu narrowed his eyes slightly and then said, “The world of the jianghu is vast; we shall meet again someday.

Fine, I’ll remember this matter.”

With that, Patriarch Lu turned to leave, and though those present exchanged glances, they ultimately followed him away.

……

“Alright, they’re gone,” Xie Changliu looked at the girl and asked.

“What’s your name?”

“Chong Xiang,” the girl answered softly.

“Master, are you willing to teach me now?”

“You still can’t call me Master for now,” Xie Changliu replied.

“I’ll teach you for three days. If you can’t comprehend the Sword Dao, then no matter how extraordinary your physique is, you won’t be worthy of my name.”

“Alright,” Chong Xiang agreed joyfully.

“Come in and eat first,” Xie Changliu said as he entered the inn.

“Chong Xiang, what about your family?” Xu Zimei asked.

In general, the ten divine bodies of the Nine Domains are distinct from the Hundred Great Battle Bodies of Yuan Central Continent.

The Hundred Great Battle Bodies are independent physiques—whoever inherits them owns them entirely.

Whereas the ten divine bodies are hereditary.

If one’s ancestors had cultivated any of the ten divine bodies, their descendants would possess the bloodline to inherit such a body.

Thus, families with divine bodies are usually colossal forces.

Cases like Chong Xiang’s, where a divine body is lost in obscurity, are exceedingly rare.

“I don’t know. I’ve been an orphan since I was a child,” Chong Xiang shook her head in response.

“I grew up in a small town, surviving off charity meals from the villagers. Later, the town was attacked by a monster beast, and all the townspeople were slaughtered.

I wandered alone, and recently, this young master from the Lu Residence took a liking to me and brought me to Azure Dragon Town.”

As Chong Xiang explained softly, the two gained insight into her tragic fate.

“From now on, you’ll learn the sword from me,” Xie Changliu said.

“Only by becoming strong yourself can you protect everything you hold dear.”

The inn’s waiter brought steaming dishes to their table. Chong Xiang, apparently starved, devoured them ravenously without regard for etiquette.

Turning to Xu Zimei, Xie Changliu said, “Once we finish eating, let’s head to the Heavenly Saint Academy together.”

“Can I even get in?” Xu Zimei asked.

“I’ll talk to Teacher Lu and see if he can come up with something,” Xie Changliu replied.

After finishing their simple meal, the three returned to the great hall they’d visited the day before.

The disciple guarding the gate evidently recognized Xie Changliu from yesterday and did not hinder their entry as they stepped into the great hall.