Amid the roaring waves in the vast sea.
Gu Yanâer suppressed her cultivation to a very low level. Despite her massive strength, the strength she exposed in front of Duanmu Lin and his people was but only 1% of her aura, yet she now faintly detected a fluctuation of Heavenly Dao and the threat it brought to her.
Flying high in the air, she kept spreading her spiritual sense. Even under the pressure of the Heavenly Dao, her spiritual sense could still cover a range of a thousand nautical miles.
"Did Grand Master really meet some dangers, Master?"
There was a concern in Gu Xiaoxueâs eyes, a reflection of the restlessness in her heart. She herself didnât realize that her anxiousness about Tang Xiuâs situation had caused a problem in her heart which had been hardened over the yearsâshe indeed was utterly upset.
"I believe in him. He will always have a way to live even if the whole Earth is destroyed because heâs my Master," answered Gu Yanâer coldly.
The answer slightly calmed Gu Xiaoxue down. "So, are we heading straight to the three-star vestige? Are you able to reopen it?"
"I know some technological civilizations in the universe that have developed their powers to the apex. I also know that they boast about very powerful armed forces. This three-star civilization is nothing but a weak existence in the universe; even I would have been able to destroy this three-star civilization with a flick of my finger during my prime," said Gu Yanâer calmly.
Gu Xiaoxue shuddered and asked about the last thing she was worried about, "But what about your body, can you shoulder it?"
"Iâll be fine in a short time. Donât worry!" Gu Yanâer calmly nodded.
Suddenly, her expression moved and she grabbed Gu Xiaoxue to pick up their speed, flying towards the southeast for a thousand miles and then appearing on a desolate island in just a few breaths.
On the island at this moment.
Tang Xiu kept fending off Cheng Xuemeiâs attack without much effort. Although Cheng Xuemeiâs strength had progressed rapidly, she couldnât pose a threat to Tang Xiu at all. Cheng Xuemei was already sweating at this moment, gnashing her teeth and attacking with all the strength she had. If she kept attacking to such a degree, she would end up exhausting herself and at least fall down in a few minutes.
"Stop."
Tang Xiu instantly dodged Cheng Xuemeiâs attack and appeared to her side. His right hand heavily pressed her shoulder, as his eyes looked toward Gu Yanâer and Gu Xiaoxue who appeared nearby.
"How did you come here?"
A delighted look appeared on Gu Xiaoxueâs stunningly beautiful face when she saw Tang Xiu. She rushed over like an arrow and called out, "Youâre fine, Grand Master! Thatâs great. Thatâs really great!"
Tang Xiu was baffled and his gaze shifted from Gu Xiaoxue to Gu Yanâer. Releasing Cheng Xuemeiâs shoulder, he inquired, "What exactly happened?"
Gu Yanâer paced a step and stood in front of Tang Xiu with a smile on her beautiful face. She swiftly coiled her hand around Tang Xiuâs and explained, "Itâs because of the damn nonsense from your countryâs Ability Users Bureau, that old fogey Duanmu Lin. He said that you died sacrificing yourself in the three-star vestige. Hence, we prepared and rushed here. But it never occurred to me that you would actually be flirting with this beauty here."
Tang Xiu could sniff Gu Yanâerâs unique scent and let her hold his arm and smilingly said, "Duanmu Lin spat out some gibberish, but why did you follow his rubbish? By the way, let me introduce you. This is Cheng Xuemei, a friend I got acquainted with back when I regained my consciousness. She took part in three-star vestige exploration on behalf of Japan due to some special reasons. She had some adventures which ended up being a fortuitous encounterâa situation where she inherited the memory and power of some sentient plants. Unfortunately, she couldnât control the sudden surge in power, so earlier I took some time to train her and help her control her power."
Gu Yanâer caught the gist instantly and then nodded to Cheng Xuemei with a smile. "Would you like me to help you train her, Master?"
Tang Xiu didnât answer but asked back, "You came out all this way, what about your injury?"
"Well, it wonât be a big problem going out for a short time, just a loss in some recovery time, no more," lightly smiled Gu Yanâer. "But Iâd only be relieved as long as youâre fine."
Tang Xiu pondered for a moment and slowly shook his head and said, "No. The sooner you get healed, the earlier I can get peace of mind. You donât need to worry; thereâll be no problem for me here! Just listen to me. Return to Jingmen Island immediately and recuperate well. Iâll go to visit you in Jingmen Island after helping Cheng Xuemei control her power."
Gu Yanâer gave it a thought and suddenly said, "Iâm going back, but let Xiaoxue stay to help you, then! She has been improving very quickly recentlyâjust a step away from breaking through to the Golden Core stage. Maybe following you will speed up her breakthrough as well."
Tang Xiu turned to look at Gu Xiaoxue who had a look of anticipation on her face, before he nodded and answered, "Might as well. Letâs let Xiaoxue stay, then."
Though she said she was leaving, Gu Yanâer didnât look like she wanted to leave at all. What was in her eyes when she looked at Tang Xiuâs handsome appearance was that there was nothing in the world but Tang Xiu.
Looking at her expression, however, Tang Xiu felt somewhat helpless inside. She rushed out to catch up with him because she was worried, thus sending her back immediately didnât feel right. Tang Xiu could only choose to look at Gu Xiaoxue, and he spoke, "Since youâve come, help spar with Cheng Xuemei until sheâs too exhausted to get up. Also, let her rest for two hours before starting the running session. She knows how to tenacious."
"All right." Gu Xiaoxue gently nodded.
Tang Xiu then took Gu Xiaoxue to the Subaquatic Corvette and took out some stored fruits from his interspatial ring. He then said with a faint smile, "Have some of these fruits and letâs have a chat for a while, shall we?"
"Alrighty."
Gu Yanâer took the fruit without hesitation, condensing a bulb of water in front of her to directly wash the fruit. She then waved to disperse the floating water, and smilingly said, "You have to have some bites of this apple too, Master."
On the barren island.
Cheng Xuemeiâs expression was complicated as she looked at the backs of Tang Xiu and Gu Yanâer leaving. She tried to call Tang Xiu out a few times but couldnât get herself to do so every time. The more she got to know Tang Xiu, the more he became incomprehensible, mysterious, and unfathomable.
"Letâs start now!" Gu Xiaoxue smiled and calmly watched Cheng Xuemei.
Cheng Xuemei nodded without a word. Two Earth dragons instantly rushed out and wrapped Gu Xiaoxueâs bare feet. The Earth element energy gathered from all directions and then formed a series of Earth spikes that shot out at Gu Xiaoxue. At the same time, Cheng Xuemei dashed like an arrow towards her, and she complimented the move with a barrage of seemingly light flying punches which actually contained enormous power.
Unfortunately, Cheng Xuemei, who thought that she could easily knock down the girl in front of her after resting and recovering for a few minutes, had to face a result that made her expression greatly change.
Gu Xiaoxue shook her legs and burst out with them instantly. In nearly a flash, the two soil dragons were shattered and lost their binding effect, whereas the Earth spikes from all directions were also blasted away by Gu Xiaoxueâs waves.
"Pop..."
Cheng Xuemeiâs punch was easily caught by Gu Xiaoxueâs hand. The latter lightly pushed it, yet that was still able to send Cheng Xuemei staggering backward a few meters before she finally stabilized her body.
"So powerful."
It was all a shock to Cheng Xuemei, for she never imagined that the much younger Gu Xiaoxue actually had such imposing power. Although her attack power was only at 60 to 70 percent of her peak power, it was equal to childâs play in front of her opponent.
"Continue!" lightly smiled Gu Xiaoxue.
Cheng Xuemei gritted her teeth and began attacking again.
A few minutes later, Cheng Xuemei weakly slumped to the ground. She then watched Gu Xiaoxue, who stayed spotless, not even have dirt on her. The soil dragons didnât even leave any stains on her white dress, meaning that she had completely lost. Xuemei then inquired, "Are all Immortal cultivators so powerful like you? I just canât help but think. My power has rapidly increased by dozens of times, but I canât even hit Tang Xiu at all, and I even feel much worse after sparring with you."
"Your strength is not that weak actually," replied Gu Xiaoxue with a smile. "But you seem to be unable to fully utilize your power. Grand Master said that you have figure out a way to control and utilize your power, so Iâll be your instructor and sparring partner for the next few days."
"Thank you," replied Cheng Xuemei gratefully.
"You donât need to thank me. Iâm just doing what Grand Master has ordered me to do," said Gu Xiaoxue with a smile. "Heâs the one you should be thankful to. Alright, then, what drill should I train you with next?"
"Haha." Cheng Xuemei couldnât help but chuckle and said, "Please let me rest for now. Iâm too exhausted."
Gu Xiaoxue hesitated but then nodded and said, "Alright. Then have some rest first!"
Cheng Xuemei slowly sat cross-legged and took out the human body meridian chart from her pocket, then she began to seriously memorize each meridian and acupoint.
"That thing you have..." interjected Gu Xiaoxue, surprised.
Cheng Xuemei looked up and replied, "Tang Xiu said heâll impart me a set of immortal cultivation techniques if I can memorize all the meridians and acupoints on this human body chart.
Gu Xiaoxue suddenly understood and smilingly said, "If thatâs the case, then I congratulate and welcome you for joining us."
"Joining you? What do you mean?" asked Cheng Xuemei curiously.
"Donât tell me that Grand Master didnât tell you that once you learn an immortal cultivation technique from him then youâll become a member of Everlasting Feat Hall?" asked Gu Xiaoxue in surprise.
"Nope. He didnât say anything." Cheng Xuemei shook her head.
"Itâs fine if he didnât say it," said Gu Xiaoxue smilingly. "But to put it shortly, you must remember that your background and foundation is that of our Everlasting Feast Hall. We forbid any forms of betrayal, and you must obey the commands from the high-stature members of the Everlasting Feast Hall. Of course, the most distinguished person in our Everlasting Feast Hall is Grand Master himself."
Cheng Xuemei fell silent for a while before she answered slowly, "I was once a policewoman, and now a member of the Ability Users Bureau. I havenât thought about joining the Everlasting Feast Hall, and the leaders of my Ability Users Bureau wonât agree to it."
A trace of disdain appeared on Gu Xiaoxueâs face as she said indifferently, "Will the Ability Users Bureauâs people even have the guts to disagree? You know, we ran into those of the Ability Users Bureau. I donât know what status that old fogey surnamed Duanmu has in the Ability Users Bureau. But heâll absolutely not dare to be an enemy of the Everlasting Feast Hall in his entire life."
"What do you mean?" asked Cheng Xuemei, puzzled.
"If Master wishes to, she could destroy the entire Ability Users Bureau with a flick of her finger," said Gu Xiaoxue with a pale smile, "Grand Master only needs to nod and weâll wipe off all the Elementalists of the Ability Users Bureau in the blink of an eye. Just a while ago, those dozens of ability users were only able to kneel before my Master; they werenât even able to lift their heads."