Ten years later.
Xu Yi, now in the late Nascent Soul stage, sat to Elder Qingfeng’s right and proposed her plan to venture out for training.
“...I’ve decided to depart tomorrow. I would also trouble Elder Qingfeng to relay my message to the other five elders; I will not be bidding farewell individually.”
Xu Yi’s tone was firm, and her demeanor composed. If one didn't notice the flicker of guilt deep within her eyes, she might truly appear as the matriarch of a sect.
Elder Qingfeng remained composed, having anticipated Xu Yi’s request.
Recently, his diligent disciples had been reporting to him, saying that their Ancestor Master had been frequently inquiring about the Kyushu Continent, intending to leave, and that he should make preparations.
The moment Xu Yi stepped into his presence, he had already sent out the message. Therefore, he could only offer Xu Yi an apologetic smile.
“Since Ancestor Master has made up her mind, I will not obstruct you. However, regarding the message, it would be best if you conveyed it to the elders personally.”
Xu Yi caught the faint smile on Elder Qingfeng’s lips, and a chill ran down her spine. As expected, in the next moment, five white-haired old men rushed in, weeping and wailing, surrounding her and lamenting.
Their general sentiment was whether the Xuanji Gate had done anything wrong, had neglected her, and that they, the old men, deserved death.
The most skilled actor among them was Elder Fang, who was in charge of the Hall of Medicine. Not only did he cry the loudest, but his emotions were also the most agitated. Xu Yi feared that this little old man might actually faint.
Knowing full well they were putting on an act, Xu Yi still had to coax the five old men with kind words. After much persuasion, she managed to get them to sit down calmly.
“Esteemed elders, I understand your good intentions. However, as cultivators, we should not be content with the status quo. I feel that I have reached a bottleneck, and venturing out for training is an urgent matter. Please rest assured, I will be even more cautious and meticulous this time.”
*I won’t be trapped in a secret realm for two hundred years again.*
Xu Yi didn't voice this last part, but the five elders understood her unspoken meaning.
They exchanged glances, sighed deeply, and knew that their Ancestor Master’s decision was final, and there was no way they could stop her this time.
While they addressed Xu Yi as Ancestor Master, they inwardly regarded her as a junior. Thinking of their inexperienced Ancestor Master venturing out again, even knowing that the Kyushu Continent was much more peaceful now, they couldn't help but worry for her.
The five elders communicated through their spiritual sense for a moment and finally reached a decision.
Elder Chen cleared his throat and spoke slowly, “Ancestor Master has ambition, and we should not hinder her. However, given past precedents and the fact that Ancestor Master’s cultivation time is still short, it is truly difficult to feel at ease.
Therefore, we have devised a plan. Why not select a few disciples to accompany Ancestor Master on her journey, so they can look out for each other? This would also put our old minds at ease. What do you think?”
*Have a few people accompany me on my training?*
Xu Yi’s immediate thought was to refuse.
Besides the reasons she had just given, another reason for her desire to venture out was to stop being treated with such caution by the disciples of the Xuanji Gate as their Ancestor Master.
Being called Ancestor Master by young disciples who were around her age made Xu Yi feel as if she had aged considerably overnight. Her mindset had even started to develop in a gerontocratic direction, and her gaze towards them grew increasingly benevolent.
However, if she refused, the old men would certainly not let her go. So, she started to bargain with them, and after much effort, she managed to persuade them to limit the number of accompanying disciples to one.
As Xu Yi departed, the elders were in a heated debate about who to choose to accompany the Ancestor Master on her journey.
Elder Chen believed his eldest disciple, whose age and cultivation were comparable to the Ancestor Master, was very suitable.
Elder Fang, on the other hand, argued that his youngest disciple, Pu Tao, was close to the Ancestor Master and was the most appropriate choice.
Elder Qingfeng, who had been observing the situation, also chimed in. He had more disciples than the other elders combined, so he had no trouble finding a suitable candidate.
The next day.
Amidst the reluctant gazes of the elders and numerous disciples of the Xuanji Gate, Xu Yi stepped out of the mountain gate.
Shortly after, she saw a man in an indigo Daoist robe, standing tall and straight by the roadside at the foot of the mountain, with his back to her. She thought this must be the disciple chosen by the elders.
The man seemed to sense her gaze, turned around, and said in a deep voice, “Disciple Lu Zaiye, greets Ancestor Master.”
“No need for formalities. Which elder are you a disciple of? I don’t recall ever seeing you before.”
Xu Yi had spent ten years with the elders and had recognized most of their direct disciples. However, this disciple with sharp features and an air of coldness was someone she saw for the first time, and she curiously inquired about his lineage.
“Disciple’s master is... Elder Qingfeng.”
So, he was Elder Qingfeng’s disciple. Xu Yi suddenly realized.
Elder Qingfeng had a penchant for taking in disciples, and he now had as many as thirty-six direct disciples. Xu Yi only remembered the dozen or so who interacted with her the most.
Lu Zaiye’s cultivation was also at the late Nascent Soul stage, the same as hers. Perhaps it was for this reason that Elder Qingfeng had chosen him from among his disciples.
Seeing Lu Zaiye’s stiff posture, Xu Yi reached out and patted his shoulder, saying friendly, “You don’t need to be so serious. I’m easy to get along with. We must act carefully when we travel together. You don’t need to call me Ancestor Master; just call me Xu Yi.”
After speaking, Xu Yi looked at him expectantly.
Lu Zaiye frowned, “This is not in accordance with propriety.”
Xu Yi might fear those crying old men, but she didn't fear Lu Zaiye, even if he seemed to have a bad temper.
“I am the Ancestor Master, and I have the final say. I absolutely won’t tell them,” Xu Yi said sternly.
*Why is this Lu Zaiye as pedantic as those old men?*
Under Xu Yi’s coercion, Lu Zaiye reluctantly called out, “Xu Yi.”
Xu Yi was pleased. “Call me this from now on, understood?”
“Disciple understands.”
Lu Zaiye bowed his head in response, his dark, thick eyelashes concealing the emotions flickering in his eyes.
Remembering her previous lesson, Xu Yi deliberately took the back mountain path this time. Once they left the territory of the Xuanji Gate, she felt refreshed, and the invisible pressure on her shoulders vanished.
“Lu Zaiye, have you been to other places before? Where do you think we should go next?” Xu Yi stretched her body and turned her head to ask for Lu Zaiye’s opinion.
Lu Zaiye pondered for a moment and replied cautiously, “Disciple has only been to Yang Province, where the Beast Taming Sect is located. It borders Shen Province, the domain of the demon race, and one can encounter many rare demonic beasts. It is the most favored training ground for disciples of sects in the Kyushu Continent.”
Xu Yi’s interest was piqued upon hearing this, and she immediately decided that her first training destination would be Yang Province.
It was impossible to reach Yang Province from the Central Province with a single teleportation array. They needed to go to Meng City, the closest city to the Xuanji Gate, and then take a teleportation array from there to Li City, on the border of the Central Province, and finally take another teleportation array from Li City to Yang Province.
The first place they were heading to now was Meng City.