As sword qi split the thunderclouds in the sky and Shen Qingyuan was about to scatter the tribulation lightning, everyone below suddenly lost all sensation—sight, hearing, everything disappeared.
“Master, why can’t I see anything?” Gu Xiran’s groundhog screeching started again.
“Don’t be afraid, Xiran. I’m right beside you,” Yun Yao’s voice came to comfort her.
“Master…”
“Xiran…”
Then came a series of nauseating exchanges. If Qin Chuan hadn’t been worried about Shen Qingyuan or outmatched by Yun Yao’s cultivation, he would’ve slapped both Yun Yao and Gu Xiran awake. Did they have to be this disgusting in public?
“Uncle Qin, do you know what just happened?” Jin Pang whispered.
“I don’t know either,” Qin Chuan replied. He was more anxious than anyone but didn’t dare act recklessly. In situations like this, acting rashly would only make things worse. Staying still was the best option.
Soon, the darkness lifted, and everyone could see again.
From the sky, Shen Qingyuan looked down and said, “Chuan’er, come, let’s go home.”
“Master, I still need to submit the beasts I killed in the first round.” Qin Chuan wasn’t in a hurry to kill Xie An now. He feared the Heavenly Dao might become desperate and strike again. Killing the male supporting role could wait.
Besides, he had already gained something far more valuable—he now had a path to challenge the Heavenly Dao. That was a massive win!
“Since Junior Brother Qin is Immortal Shen’s disciple, by rule, he can directly enter the top 100 of the Inner Sect Competition and skip the first-round exam,” the Second Elder offered proactively.
“Mm.” Shen Qingyuan nodded, satisfied with the answer. She immediately took Qin Chuan and left.
“Farewell, Master Shen.” Yun Yao and the Second Elder both bowed in her direction.
Before leaving, Qin Chuan sent Jin Pang a voice transmission, “Senior Brother Jin, let Xie An go for now. We’ll talk again in three days during the Inner Sect Competition. I have something important to tell you.”
Jin Pang didn’t have time to reply. He could only wave to Qin Chuan and quickly had Zhao Lin escort him away.
Yun Yao and Gu Xiran took the barely alive Xie An with them, and the Second Elder followed as well. Before leaving, he gathered all disciples from the Secret Realm—without Shen Qingyuan’s support, it was about to collapse.
With her late-stage Tribulation Crossing cultivation, Shen Qingyuan brought Qin Chuan back to Supreme Profound Peak in an instant. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
The moment she entered her cave residence, she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Qin Chuan had been focused on her the entire time and immediately rushed forward to catch her in his arms.
“Master! Are you hurt?” Qin Chuan’s heart filled with guilt. He knew that the moment of darkness had been caused by the Heavenly Dao intervening because he had tried to kill Xie An. He had dragged his Master into danger.
“I’m fine. I just need some rest, don’t worry.” Shen Qingyuan pushed herself out of Qin Chuan’s arms.
“Master, let me help you—”
“No need. I can walk on my own.” She raised a hand to stop him.
Qin Chuan had no choice but to back off and follow her closely, afraid she might collapse again.
“Chuan’er, do you know your mistake?” Shen Qingyuan sat on a stone stool and began scolding him before even tending to her injuries.
“Master, I know I was wrong.” Qin Chuan knelt immediately.
“Stand up and answer. What did you do wrong?” Shen Qingyuan lifted him up with a gesture.
“I shouldn’t have gone looking for trouble, shouldn’t have attacked fellow disciples, and shouldn’t have dragged you into this… Master, let me go kneel outside as punishment. Please focus on healing. Don’t get upset because of me.” Qin Chuan was most concerned about her injuries.
“My wounds are nothing. That Heavenly Dao cannot harm me now.”
“But—”
Before he could finish, Shen Qingyuan interrupted him, “Your mistake wasn’t any of that. Your mistake was not cherishing your own life.”
“You wanted to kill a mere early Core Formation alchemist. Was all that really necessary? The Xiao Clan and Yun Yao? What of them? If you want someone dead, just tell me. I could erase the entire Xiao Clan if you wished.”
“What makes me furious is that you risked your life—twice. What if I hadn’t been there today? What then!?”
The more she spoke, the louder her voice grew. But all Qin Chuan heard in her scolding was deep care, and his heart warmed.
And the fact that she knew he had risked his life twice… that meant during that first time in the Secret Realm when souls had intertwined…
Realizing this, Qin Chuan looked up at her and asked carefully, “Was it Master who saved me in the Secret Realm too?”
“Yes. Using my soul to save you was the best method at the time. You are my disciple. We are just master and disciple.” Shen Qingyuan was flustered by his gaze and quickly clarified the relationship.
Hearing her emphasize “just master and disciple” made Qin Chuan tamp down his feelings—for now. So he echoed her words to avoid being noticed, “Yes. I will always be Master’s disciple.” Follow the newest chapters on novelping . com.
But who only has one identity their entire life? Right now, he was her disciple. In the future, he could be her Dao companion. Nothing wrong with that.
Shen Qingyuan heard what she wanted to hear, but her heart didn’t feel as joyful as she expected. She lowered her eyes and changed the subject to continue scolding him, “We’re still talking about your recklessness. Do you admit your mistake?”
“I do. I won’t dare do it again. From now on, I will treasure my life for Master’s sake. This life belongs to you.” Qin Chuan admitted obediently.
Shen Qingyuan had only been worried for his safety. She feared he would get himself killed from carelessness. Now, seeing him act so obediently—even if she knew it was a bit of an act—she couldn’t bear to scold him any longer. She gently called him, “Alright, let’s leave it at that. Come here.”
“Yes.” Qin Chuan was always a well-behaved disciple in front of her. He walked forward and crouched slightly to be eye-level with her.
Shen Qingyuan raised a finger and tapped his forehead. A warm current surged into his sea of consciousness.
“I’ve planted three sword strikes in your sea of consciousness. You can only hold so much power right now, so each sword can only kill an early Soul Transformation cultivator.”
“If you’re ever in danger, just will it—and the swords will act.”
She withdrew her hand and lightly tapped his forehead again. “This is your punishment for what you did wrong.”
“Master, you’re still injured.” Qin Chuan reached out to hold her hand but missed.
“I told you, I’m fine. I fought the Heavenly Dao to a draw. I took a minor wound, and it didn’t come out unscathed either.”
Then, with a slight frown, she murmured, “That Heavenly Dao was strange. I had a bad feeling about it.”
“Right. Chuan’er, don’t touch that person for now. The Heavenly Dao seems to be protecting him. It’s not the right time to confront it. Once I break through, I’ll help you take him out myself.”
“Master, you don’t need to do it for me. I can handle it. And I wasn’t planning on killing him anytime soon anyway.” Qin Chuan nodded. He already intended to avoid directly killing the protagonist and supporting characters for now.
And truthfully, he knew something was off about the Heavenly Dao more than anyone. He didn’t want to drag Shen Qingyuan into that just yet.
Of course, with such a powerful Master backing him, he would definitely make use of her—just not now.
“Mm. Then if there’s nothing else, you may go. Do your best in the Inner Sect Competition three days from now.” Shen Qingyuan was flustered by Qin Chuan’s direct gaze. She was afraid if he kept looking at her like that, she wouldn’t be able to control her feelings.
“Master, I still have one more question.” Qin Chuan realized his gaze had been too intense and quickly toned it down.
“Ask.”
“What was the promise between you and the Sect Master’s Master? Why did you say your debt to the Tranquil Void Sect is now settled?” Qin Chuan was deeply concerned. He was about to go against Gu Xiran’s faction and didn’t want Shen Qingyuan to be caught in the middle.