Chapter 524: Chapter 521: The Shock of Candle Star
The arrangement for the once-in-a-millennium Combat spread quickly throughout the Daoist Field of the Beginningless, invigorating everyone.
Staying within the dojo, they spent most of their time in cultivation, which inevitably could become monotonous, so having something to look forward to was naturally good. Plus, they wanted to test the results of their cultivation.
Unlike casual sparring, a Combat hosted by Gu An was sure to be taken seriously.
Even An Xin wanted to see how strong she could be when she went all out.
At dusk, the forest swayed gently with the wind, quiet and exquisitely beautiful.
“Can I participate too?”
…
The Ghost Mother of Ephemera, dressed in black, stood beside Gu An and asked excitedly.
Gu An was admiring a newly matured Spirit Flower. He replied, “Would I really be playing a trick on you?”
The Ghost Mother of Ephemera’s heart raced. She understood what participating in the Combat meant—it meant that Gu An had accepted her.
As she excitedly moved to kneel, an invisible force stopped her.
“I’ve said before, within the Daoist Field of the Beginningless, there is no need for such formalities,” Gu An said, his face showing satisfaction. The quality of this Spirit Flower was good; it could be transplanted to his study.
The Ghost Mother of Ephemera nodded, her heart pounding fast. After the joy, she felt pressure; the people at the dojo were not simple.
Gu An didn’t pay attention to what she was thinking. Taking the Spirit Flower, he left, while the Ghost Mother of Ephemera still respectfully bowed to his retreating figure.
“This is an opportunity I cannot miss!”
Her eyes sparkling, she felt a surge of power throughout her body.
In the Daoist Field of the Beginningless, there was no lack of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and with a Great Power like Gu An as a mentor, the so-called loss of freedom, she thought, was not permanent. As long as she performed well, there would come a day when Gu An would need her, send her on missions, and then she could return to the delights of the Human World.
…
In the blink of an eye, another hundred years passed.
The autumn wind blew into the Third Medicine Valley of the Supreme Sect where Lv Baitian, with his white hair, stood in front of a Medicine Garden. Looking at the Medicinal Herbs, he seemed to see a blurred figure; it was as if a scene from long ago overlapped before his eyes.
Long Qing came to his side and asked, “Sect Leader, what are you thinking about? You’re not reminiscing about my master again, are you? Don’t worry, he’s definitely fine.”
Lv Baitian came to his senses and looked at Long Qing, his face involuntarily forming a smile.
He felt that Long Qing was very much like Gu An, not just in stature but also in appearance. Gu An had many disciples, but only Long Qing resembled him. He couldn’t help but suspect that Long Qing might actually be a child Gu An had left in the outside world.
Perhaps there was a story behind it, and that’s why Gu An had not made clear his relationship with Long Qing.
Because of such a suspicion, Lv Baitian felt close to Long Qing and had already started to consider him the successor as Sect Leader.
With the connection of being a disciple of the Supporting Dao Sword Venerable, it would certainly not be difficult for Long Qing to take the position in the future.
The Heaven-Splitting Axe was still on the Heaven-Repairing Platform. As long as the Sword Intent of the Supporting Dao Sword Venerable remained, the Supreme Sect couldn’t forget or overlook the Sword Venerable.
“Are you ready to be the Sect Leader?” Lv Baitian asked with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Long Qing showed a confident smile and said, “Of course I’m ready. With Senior Candle Star supporting me, I believe I can handle any trouble that comes my way.”
Hearing him mention Candle Star, Lv Baitian didn’t pay too much attention.
Strong as Candle Star might be, could he be as strong as Gu An?
He was the Sect Leader who often leveraged the power of the Supporting Dao Sword Venerable!
Lv Baitian began to instruct him on what to pay attention to as Sect Leader. Long Qing listened earnestly. Many said that Lv Baitian wasn’t formidable enough and that he only held his position because of the Supporting Dao Sword Venerable.
But in Long Qing’s eyes, that was precisely what made Lv Baitian remarkable.
Pulling in a powerhouse with no blood or mentor-disciple ties as a stable supporter over the years, wasn’t that impressive?
Being a Sect Leader wasn’t just about who had the highest cultivation level, but about such maneuvers!
That’s why Long Qing greatly respected Lv Baitian and also wanted to learn from him.
While chatting, Lv Baitian started to talk about the past, how he once disguised himself as a Medicine Slave to serve as Gu An’s assistant, when neither knew the other’s identity, and that’s how they formed a bond.
Each time he talked about these past events, a smile would slip onto Lv Baitian’s face.
Unable to help himself, Long Qing spoke up, “The words he said, maybe he was guiding you on how to be a better Sect Leader. After all, how could he not know your identity?”
Lv Baitian paused momentarily, and then chuckled, shaking his head, “Indeed. But he could’ve chosen someone else, yet he chose me, who had made mistakes. His broad-mindedness is unimaginable. When I think about it, as long as one doesn’t commit heinous crimes, he always provides an opportunity for redemption. This is also my principle for being a Sect Leader. Is this person beyond redemption? Must this person be expelled from the sect? I’ll make a decision once I’ve thought it through.”
Long Qing found this reasonable and silently noted down these words.
They hadn’t noticed that a figure was approaching the entrance of the Third Medicine Valley.
Ever since the Supporting Dao Sword Venerable left, the Supreme Sect had not sent disciples to guard the Medicine Valley. It used to be out of fear of disturbing the Supporting Dao Sword Venerable, not to protect the valley’s safety.
Thousands of years had passed, and while disciples still remembered the legend of the Supporting Dao Sword Venerable, the vast majority knew nothing of his connection with the Third Medicine Valley.
Now that disciples entered and exited the Third Medicine Valley, no one would stop them.
The man in white who entered the Third Medicine Valley had a black cloth tied around his waist with a Treasure Sword at his side. His long hair was casually tied behind his head, with strands on either side of his face fluttering like willow catkins, reaching down to his chest.
He was very handsome, and the female disciples he passed couldn’t help but take extra glances.
His expression indifferent, he observed his surroundings while walking deeper into the valley.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him; it was Candle Star from the Battle Court.
Candle Star sized up the man in white and squinted, asking, “Who might you be?”
Candle Star was secretly shocked. He was the Profound Yuan Free Immortal, yet he couldn’t discern this man’s cultivation level.
The man in white looked at Candle Star and asked in return, “Are you Candle Star from the Battle Court?”
Upon hearing this, Candle Star’s brows furrowed deeply, surprised that the stranger recognized him.
“Just who are you…”
“I’m not here for you, nor will I interfere with your plans.”
The man in white interrupted Candle Star, his words cold. He then moved past Candle Star and continued on his way.
His gaze quickly settled on Long Qing.
Candle Star stepped in front of him again, his voice cold, “Then who are you looking for? How can I be sure you won’t mess with my plans if you don’t explain yourself clearly?”
The man in white answered, “I’m looking for Long Qing, your disciple. I won’t harm him. I’m just here to give him a warning, and what I have to say has nothing to do with your schemes.”
Having said that, he moved forward again, this time shouldering past Candle Star.
This shove made Candle Star even more wary of him.
This man was very strong!
Candle Star watched as the man in white headed toward Long Qing, hesitated for a moment, and decided to follow.
Clang—
The sound of a sword being drawn suddenly echoed, and the tip of the blade was abruptly at Candle Star’s throat, causing his pupils to dilate.
So fast!
He hadn’t even seen how the man in white had drawn his sword, and this sword was no ordinary sword.