Xu Yi's first action upon returning to her room was to take out the communication disk and send a message to Elder Qingfeng.
Within the Xuanji Gate, Elder Qingfeng was leisurely sipping fine wine he had "borrowed" from True Man Nan Zhi's cave. Upon seeing Xu Yi's message, he quickly straightened up, adopting a much more respectful demeanor.
"Ancestor!"
A voice full of vigor transmitted through the communication disk into Xu Yi's ears.
However, Xu Yi could clearly detect the hint of panic underlying his tone.
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow. "Elder Qingfeng is drinking again?"
Elder Qingfeng froze for a moment, then guiltily tossed the wine bottle under the table, quickly saying, "No, no, Ancestor, what do you need me for?"
Xu Yi chuckled, then asked seriously, "Elder Qingfeng, how much do you know about Kunlun Academy?"
Elder Qingfeng's expression turned peculiar. "They came looking for you?"
"Yes, Yu Chun Dao and Liu Yin Xiao."
"Liu Yin Xiao? So it was him." Elder Qingfeng let out a soft snort, but a smile played on his lips. "It seems he's still the same as ever, inseparable from Yu Chun Dao, as if they were tied together wherever they went."
Although Elder Qingfeng was teasing, Xu Yi detected a hint of sourness in his words.
That's right, Liu Yin Xiao hailed from the Xuanji Gate, and he was even Elder Qingfeng's senior fellow disciple.
"Elder Qingfeng, you still haven't answered my question."
Elder Qingfeng fell silent for a long moment, then finally said in a deep voice, "Ancestor, you can join. I cannot divulge too much detail, but joining Kunlun Academy will be very beneficial to you."
As the chief elder of the Xuanji Gate, Elder Qingfeng naturally knew more than outsiders. However, Kunlun Academy had many taboos, and even he could not violate them.
Hearing Elder Qingfeng use a term of respect actually piqued Xu Yi's curiosity.
What kind of existence was Kunlun Academy that even Elder Qingfeng had to be wary of it?
"But my status..."
Xu Yi hesitated. She was no longer an ordinary disciple of the Xuanji Gate, but the Ancestor of the Xuanji Gate. Whether joining another force would affect the Xuanji Gate was something she had to consider.
"Ancestor, you need not worry about that. Strictly speaking, Kunlun Academy is not a sect, but a place for cultivation. Joining Kunlun Academy will not affect your status; you will still be the Ancestor of the Xuanji Gate."
Xu Yi's eyes widened. The more Elder Qingfeng explained, the more confused she became about Kunlun Academy.
"Alright, I understand."
Xu Yi exchanged a few pleasantries with Elder Qingfeng and ended the communication.
She sat on her bed, a resolute glint flashing in her eyes.
In that case, she would personally go and see what kind of existence Kunlun Academy truly was.
Meanwhile, in the room next door to Xu Yi, Lu Zaiye sat calmly. Standing before him was Liu Yin Xiao, who had been so rude earlier.
Now, Liu Yin Xiao's demeanor was respectful, and his charming peach blossom eyes had shed their seductive allure.
He stole a glance at Lu Zaiye, inwardly lamenting his misfortune.
He had only wanted to use the opportunity of sending a message to go out and enjoy the scenery with his wife, never expecting to run into this formidable figure.
Seeing that Lu Zaiye remained silent, he hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "Why are you here? And with..."
...those disciples of the Opening Aperture stage mixed together.
"My name is Lu Zaiye, and I am the second place finisher in the Opening Aperture stage of this sect competition."
"Ah?"
Liu Yin Xiao's expression became even more conflicted. If the suppressed aura of the person before him wasn't exactly the same as in his memory, he would have doubted he had the wrong person entirely.
This was a renowned figure across the Nine Provinces Continent. Why would he lower his cultivation to participate in a competition for disciples of the Opening Aperture stage?
Wasn't this just bullying?
And he had just said he was second place.
That's just too... pathetic, Liu Yin Xiao thought to himself.
"The first place is Xu Yi," Lu Zaiye said faintly.
"Xu Yi? Xu Yi!"
Liu Yin Xiao repeated the name twice before realizing who Xu Yi was. Immediately, his gaze shifted to Lu Zaiye with admiration.
Xu Yi's identity was not a secret among the disciples of the Xuanji Gate. Even though Liu Yin Xiao was not in the Xuanji Gate, he had heard of her.
So, that person had been lying low to pave the way for the Ancestor!
Brilliant! Truly brilliant!
Liu Yin Xiao admired Lu Zaiye from the bottom of his heart. He hadn't expected this person to go to such lengths for the Ancestor; truly adaptable and resilient.
Lu Zaiye knew he had misunderstood from his expression, but he couldn't be bothered to explain. He merely said, "I will join Kunlun Academy with Xu Yi."
"Ah, this..." Liu Yin Xiao cautiously observed his expression before saying with difficulty, "But your status... it wouldn't be fair to the other disciples."
After saying this, Liu Yin Xiao flinched, bracing himself for a storm.
However, Lu Zaiye did not get angry. He merely swept a calm glance over him.
"Five hundred years ago, the Dean of your Kunlun Academy invited me to join. I declined at the time, and the Dean said the invitation would always be valid."
Liu Yin Xiao was taken aback. "Please wait a moment, I'll ask the Dean."
"Mm."
Lu Zaiye acknowledged him and watched Liu Yin Xiao leave. His slender fingers gently gripped the rim of a cup and rotated it.
Five hundred years...
A moment later, Liu Yin Xiao returned in a hurry, a smile on his face.
"The Dean agreed, but he has one condition."
"Speak."
"He requires that you do not use any techniques exceeding your current cultivation level within Kunlun Academy."
"Agreed."
Liu Yin Xiao's smile brightened. "Welcome to our academy."
After saying this, the door burst open, and he was unceremoniously shoved out by a powerful force.
Bang!
The door closed. He touched his nose in bewilderment, then dejectedly went to find Yu Chun Dao.
He was determined to properly condemn this act of crossing the bridge and burning it down to his wife.
Night fell.
Xu Yi was awakened by a knock on the door. When she opened it, Yu Xiaoyu was standing at the entrance.
"Xu Yi, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Yu Xiaoyu's voice was soft, tinged with apology.
"It's fine, come in."
Xu Yi turned and let Yu Xiaoyu in. After she sat down, Xu Yi asked, "Xiaoyu, is there something you need?"
"Mm," Yu Xiaoyu nodded. "Are you going to join Kunlun Academy?"
"Yes."
"Then do you think I should join?"
As Yu Xiaoyu spoke, her eyes were filled with confusion.
"Xiaoyu, why do you ask? Are you unwilling to join?"
Xu Yi picked up the teapot and poured Yu Xiaoyu a cup of tea, placing it in her hand, and asked patiently.
"I, I don't know."
Yu Xiaoyu cradled the teacup in her hands, her voice low.
She truly didn't know what she should do.
In fact, according to her true inner thoughts, she didn't want to join Kunlun Academy because it was a completely unfamiliar place to her.
She hated the process of integrating into a new environment all over again.
However, after she had just communicated with her master, her master wished for her to join Kunlun Academy, and she didn't want to disappoint her master.
Therefore, she didn't know how to choose. After much thought, she decided to seek Xu Yi's help.
She felt that Xu Yi would surely be able to help her make a decision.