Before long, the outline of the main hall on the mountaintop became clear.
The main hall of Sword Peak was named Hidden Edge Hall. While its name was modest, the building itself was truly majestic and grand.
The hall towered high, with sharply angled flying eaves and intricate Dougong brackets.
It stood silently at the peak of Sword Peak, exuding an inherent aura of solemnity and austerity.
This was merely the main hall of the Sword Peak lineage; one could only imagine the grandeur of Qingyun Sect's true core halls.
Fang Xuan composed himself, straightened his robes, and then stepped onto the white jade stairs leading to the hall's entrance.
The hall doors were open, revealing a vast interior.
Deep within the hall, on the high main seat, a figure sat upright and still.
It was a middle-aged man, appearing to be around forty years old, simply sitting there quietly.
He was the peak lord of Sword Peak, Shen Chen.
A true Late-Stage Golden Core Realm cultivator, merely a step away from the Nascent Soul Realm, and one of Qingyun Sect’s top combat forces on the surface.
Fang Xuan walked into the hall, bowed according to etiquette, his posture neither servile nor arrogant: “Disciple Fang Xuan respectfully greets the peak lord.”
Shen Chen's gaze fell upon Fang Xuan, slowly sweeping over him.
After a moment, he spoke indifferently:
“Quite humble indeed.”
He paused, then his tone suddenly turned cold:
“Yet, when you spoke disrespectfully to senior sister Shen yesterday, why was your arrogance so blatant? Do you truly believe Sword Peak has no rules left?”
Fang Xuan knew, with crystal clarity, that Shen Qingqing must have reported him.
His expression remained calm, however, maintaining his bowed posture as he spoke clearly:
“Peak Lord, please see clearly, this disciple would not dare. There was indeed a verbal misunderstanding with senior sister Shen yesterday, but absolutely no intention of being arrogant or overbearing.
As a newcomer, this disciple is single-mindedly pursuing the dao. If I have made any missteps, I ask the peak lord for punishment.”
Shen Chen stared at him for a few breaths, seemingly trying to discern something from his face.
Fang Xuan lowered his eyes, allowing himself to be scrutinized.
A mere peak lord. Once he properly trained Ning Xian… no, once Ning Xian properly trained him, killing this man would probably just mean being grounded for a few days by her family...
System: 【Detected host harboring disrespectful thoughts towards master Ning Xian, which violates the core principle of a training target devoted to their master.】
.....Get lost!
......
After a long moment, Shen Chen withdrew his gaze, his tone revealing no hint of joy or anger:
“Your temperament... is quite steady. However, disrespecting a fellow senior sister is ultimately a mistake. Considering this is your first offense, I will punish you by withholding two months of cultivation resources.”
Two months of cultivation resources might sting for ordinary disciples, but for Fang Xuan, it was nothing.
He was about to accept, but Shen Chen's next words made his eyes subtly shift.
“As for these two months, you will go to senior sister Ning Xian, and have her guide you in fundamental sword theory and sect etiquette.
If your cultivation resources are insufficient, you may also ask her.”
Fang Xuan knew.
Shen Qingqing likely thought that with Ning Xian's cultivation completely crippled, she could barely protect herself, let alone possess the ability to guide a newly promoted genius. Not to mention resources.
To make a proud and arrogant genius learn from a crippled person, and even humbly beg for resources, this was simply a double torment, both mental and material.
And the purpose of doing this was twofold: either to make him resent and blame Ning Xian, thus fully siding with Shen Qingqing.
Or, to make him neglect his cultivation for these two months, perform poorly in the upcoming Sect Dao Conference, confirm his undeserved reputation, and even strip him of his direct disciple qualification.
Her scheme was well-calculated.
Too bad he was eager for the chance to visit Ning Xian every day.
This punishment was like a pillow delivered to a sleepy person, hitting the exact spot.
.......
Fang Xuan remained silent for a moment, then slightly bit his lip, bowing his head as he responded:
“This disciple... obeys.”
Shen Chen seemed pleased with his reaction, waving his hand: “Go now, diligently seek guidance from senior sister Ning, and do not cause any more trouble.”
“Yes, this disciple takes his leave.”
Fang Xuan maintained a respectful posture as he exited the main hall.
Only after stepping out of the hall doors, with the sunlight once again falling upon him, did he curl his lips into a smile.
Two months? Spending every day with Ning Xian?
The system's training objectives won't just be simple; what he once only dreamed of achieving would now surely come to pass.
As he walked down the steps, he noticed some disciples in the plaza outside the hall. As soon as they saw him from afar, they immediately lowered their heads and hurried away.
Clearly, word of what happened on the mountain path had already spread.
Fang Xuan paid them no mind. After orienting himself, he headed towards the secluded mountain valley where he remembered Ning Xian lived.
Compared to the hustle and bustle near Sword Peak’s main hall, Ning Xian's valley was much more remote.
Following a small path downwards, then passing through a dense Purple Bamboo Forest.
At the end of the bamboo forest, it opened up dramatically into a small valley embraced by mountains.
The valley was rich with spiritual energy, a clear stream babbled through it, and several elegant bamboo houses were built by the stream.
In front of the houses, there was also a small, neatly cultivated herb garden, though it now appeared somewhat overgrown.
Fang Xuan had visited at night last time, in a hurry, and hadn't had a chance to look closely.
Now, with the sun shining brightly, casting sparkling reflections on the bamboo houses and the stream, the environment was unbelievably serene.
“This place is really nice.”
If he didn't know about Ning Xian’s great achievements later on, he would have wanted to live here permanently.
The small bamboo house courtyard was kept very clean.
He walked to the courtyard gate and gently pushed open the slightly ajar bamboo door.
“Senior sister Ning, Fang Xuan has come to visit.”
“Senior sister Ning?”
He raised his voice and called out twice.
The courtyard was silent, with only the rustling of wind through bamboo leaves.
No one responded.
Fang Xuan frowned slightly and stepped inside.
The small courtyard was empty, with a few bamboo leaves resting on the stone table.
He walked to the main house door; it was also slightly ajar.
He knocked, but still received no response.
“Senior sister, may I enter?” He pushed the door open.
The room’s furnishings were extremely simple: a bed, a table, a chair, and a cushion.
The bedding on the bed was neatly folded, and on the table lay the jade bottle and slip of paper he had left last night. The slip of paper was still there, but the pill in the jade bottle... seemed to be missing one?
He had placed two in there last night as spares, and now only one remained.
Ning Xian wasn't here......
Rate on N.U.
