The woman in the pale-blue robe stood quietly in the sky.
Her silver hair moved with the wind, and a faint frost aura surrounded her.
She looked at Ye Xuan.
"Your master is waiting."
Ye Xuan blinked.
"She sent you all the way here just to tell me that?"
The woman nodded.
"Yes."
"Could she not send a transmission?"
"No."
"Why?"
"She said you would ignore it."
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Su Lian covered her mouth, hiding a smile.
Bai Yue immediately laughed.
"She knows you too well!"
Ye Xuan rubbed his forehead.
"That sounds like Master."
The woman turned around.
"Come."
Ye Xuan looked toward the others.
"Let's go."
Returning to the Sect
Several hours later, the group finally left the Ancient Thunder Palace's territory.
The moment they crossed the boundary of the secret realm—
Ye Xuan felt the difference.
The suppression was gone.
Spiritual energy became noticeably richer.
The distant mountains of the Heavenly Frost Sect appeared beneath the clouds.
Ye Xuan smiled.
After everything that had happened—
it felt strangely peaceful.
But his peace lasted only a few breaths.
A terrifying pressure suddenly descended.
BOOM!
The surrounding clouds froze.
A massive flying spiritual ship appeared.
At its front stood an old woman dressed in white.
Her silver hair was tied neatly behind her head.
She looked calm.
But her mere presence caused every disciple below to lower their heads.
Ye Xuan's eyes brightened.
"Master."
The old woman looked at him.
Then at his torn clothes.
Then at the blood covering his body.
Her expression became cold.
"Ye Xuan."
He immediately straightened.
"Yes, Master."
"Come here."
Ye Xuan slowly walked over.
The elder looked at his injuries.
"Who did this?"
Ye Xuan smiled awkwardly.
"Just a few friendly exchanges."
"Friendly?"
Her eyebrow twitched.
"Yes."
"Then why are you covered in blood?"
Ye Xuan thought for a moment.
"They were very enthusiastic."
Behind him—
Bai Yue nearly burst out laughing.
Su Lian lowered her head.
Gu Yuexin's lips curved.
The elder stared at Ye Xuan.
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Never."
"Good."
She raised her hand.
A wave of spiritual energy enveloped his body.
His wounds began healing immediately.
Ye Xuan's expression softened.
"Thank you, Master."
The elder withdrew her hand.
"You nearly died."
Ye Xuan's smile disappeared.
"I know."
"You challenged cultivators far above your realm."
"I had to."
"You didn't."
Her voice became slightly softer.
"You could have retreated."
Ye Xuan looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he smiled.
"I couldn't leave my companions behind."
The elder's eyes softened.
"At least you still possess some sense of responsibility."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Master, are you praising me?"
"No."
"..."
"Don't get carried away."
The Elder's Residence
The flying ship arrived at the inner mountain.
Ye Xuan followed his master into a quiet courtyard.
It was beautiful.
Bamboo trees surrounded the area.
A small waterfall flowed beside a stone pavilion.
Spiritual flowers bloomed everywhere.
His master sat down.
"Sit."
Ye Xuan sat opposite her.
Su Lian and the others waited outside.
The elder looked at him.
"Tell me everything."
Ye Xuan immediately became cautious.
"Everything?"
"Everything."
He thought for a moment.
"Do I have to mention the part where I almost died?"
"Especially that part."
Ye Xuan sighed.
Then began explaining.
The Ancient Thunder Palace.
The trials.
The Thunder Guardians.
The Black Heaven Organization.
Zhao Tian.
Luo Qinghan.
The strange masked man.
But—
he carefully avoided everything related to the Check-In System.
He simply described the rewards as things he had obtained from the palace.
His master listened quietly.
When he finished—
she asked:
"Did the palace recognize you?"
Ye Xuan's expression remained calm.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Did you encounter anything strange?"
Ye Xuan paused.
"An ancient inheritance."
"Anything else?"
He shook his head.
"No."
His master stared at him.
Ye Xuan stared back.
After several seconds—
she sighed.
"You're hiding something."
Ye Xuan's heart skipped.
But his expression remained relaxed.
"Master, I'm always honest."
"You're terrible at lying."
"..."
The elder suddenly smiled.
"But I won't force you."
Ye Xuan looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because every cultivator has secrets."
She looked toward the distant mountains.
"Even I have things I cannot tell you."
Ye Xuan became silent.
Their eyes met.
For the first time, he understood something.
His master wasn't merely a powerful elder.
She had secrets of her own.
A Master's Concern
"However," she continued.
Her tone became serious.
"You must remember something."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Don't trust everyone."
"I know."
"The Lower Realm is far more complicated than you think."
She looked at him.
"There are ancient families that have existed for tens of thousands of years."
"There are hidden organizations that have never revealed themselves."
"There are forbidden regions where even Saints disappear."
"And there are people..."
Her expression became solemn.
"...who are stronger than anything you've encountered."
Ye Xuan's eyes sharpened.
"How strong?"
His master smiled faintly.
"Strong enough to destroy this entire sect with one thought."
Ye Xuan became silent.
His current strength suddenly felt very small.
His master noticed his expression.
"Are you afraid?"
Ye Xuan shook his head.
"No."
"Good."
She smiled.
"Then cultivate."
The First Gift
His master waved her hand.
Three objects appeared on the table.
A jade bottle.
A black ring.
And a golden scroll.
Ye Xuan looked at them.
"What are these?"
"The jade bottle contains
Nine-Turn Spirit Tempering Pills
."
"Nine-Turn?"
His eyes widened.
His master nodded.
"Three pills."
"They can strengthen your foundation and purify your spiritual energy."
Ye Xuan carefully accepted them.
Then she pointed at the black ring.
"A storage ring."
Ye Xuan blinked.
"I already have one."
"Keep this one."
"Why?"
"It belonged to me when I was young."
Ye Xuan looked at the ring.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"Master..."
"Don't misunderstand."
She looked away.
"It's only a storage ring."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Of course."
He secretly thought:
She definitely cares about me.
The elder glanced at him.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Nothing."
"Then stop smiling."
Ye Xuan immediately stopped.
His master sighed.
"You're troublesome."
The Golden Scroll
Ye Xuan picked up the final item.
"What is this?"
His master's expression became serious.
"A cultivation technique."
He opened the scroll.
Ancient golden characters appeared.
Heavenly Frost Imperial Scripture.
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
"Master..."
"This is the core cultivation technique of my lineage."
She looked at him.
"I have never taught it to anyone outside my direct disciples."
Ye Xuan paused.
"You mean..."
"You are my direct disciple."
Her voice was calm.
"But that also means you carry my lineage."
Ye Xuan's expression became serious.
"I understand."
"Good."
She stood.
"From today onward, your cultivation will be supervised by me."
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"Personally?"
"Yes."
His eyes brightened.
"Then..."
His master immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Don't say anything strange."
"I wasn't going to."
"You were."
"...Maybe."
The Next Step
His master walked toward the courtyard entrance.
"Your cultivation has reached Spirit Gathering First Layer."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Yes."
"Too weak."
He nearly choked.
"Too weak?"
"Very."
"Master, I just defeated people several realms above me."
"Which means your opponents were weak."
Ye Xuan stared.
This woman has no intention of praising me.
She continued:
"You'll remain in the sect for the next three years."
"Three years?"
"Yes."
"No missions?"
"No."
"No secret realms?"
"No."
"No fighting?"
She glanced at him.
"Why are you disappointed?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"I was hoping for a little excitement."
"You've had enough."
She turned away.
"For three years, you will cultivate."
"Train your body."
"Master your techniques."
"Learn alchemy."
"Study formations."
"And comprehend your own bloodline."
Ye Xuan's expression gradually became serious.
Three years.
It wasn't a punishment.
It was an opportunity.
He nodded.
"I understand."
His master smiled faintly.
"Good."
Three Years
That night—
Ye Xuan returned to his courtyard.
He sat beneath the moonlight.
The silver ring rested on his finger.
The Ancient Thunder Palace's inheritance was safely stored.
The Thunder Dragon Blood Essence waited.
The thirty years of cultivation remained untouched.
And the mysterious
Supreme Bloodline Fusion
talent had already awakened.
He closed his eyes.
[Daily Check-In available.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
Finally.
[Would the host like to check in?]
"Of course."
[Checking in...]
A brief silence.
Then—
[Congratulations, Host.]
[Daily Check-In successful.]
[Reward: 100 Spirit Stones.]
Ye Xuan stared.
"That's it?"
[Yes.]
"After giving me thirty years of cultivation, you give me one hundred spirit stones?"
[The system believes the host should learn humility.]
Ye Xuan's expression darkened.
"You did that on purpose."
[The system refuses to comment.]
Ye Xuan laughed.
"You're getting more annoying."
[The system is pleased with its progress.]
Ye Xuan shook his head.
He placed the spirit stones aside.
Then looked toward the moon.
Three years.
He would use those three years to completely transform himself.
His cultivation.
His body.
His techniques.
His bloodlines.
Everything.
And when he stepped out of this courtyard again—
the name
Ye Xuan
would no longer belong to an unknown young disciple.
It would begin to shake the Lower Realm.
But for now—
he closed his eyes.
And began cultivating.
Three years of silence had begun.
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