As the Universe Turns - Chapter 37

Chapter 37 Challenges
“Ah …”

Yi Chen was stunned when he heard this. It took him a long time to regain his senses. It turned out that this senior, who was as powerful as his master, had already passed away. It was truly regrettable.

Unknowingly, it was getting late. Although Yi Chen wanted to spend more time with the lonely old man, he was afraid that he would be scolded for going back late. He smiled and said, “Uncle, I’m going back! I’ll see you again next time!”

“Go.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Yi Chen stood up and walked along. The sun was setting, and he could no longer see the long figure behind the old man. After Yi Chen left for a long time, another sigh sounded in the valley, “It’s difficult to ask. It’s difficult to ascend to the sky …”

After returning to Purple Night Peak, it was already dark. It was winter and December, and the night was even colder. Yi Chen went to the Jade Light Palace and saw Master sitting inside coldly. For some reason, he felt that something was wrong. He whispered, “Master, I’m back …”

“Where did you go this afternoon?”

Ling Yin raised his head. His two gazes were as cold as frost outside. Yi Chen didn’t dare to move. Today was the day for the Elder to test his disciple’s Dao Art, but he left early this afternoon. The two Elders were truly annoying. They had reported to Master so quickly.

“I’m asking you a question, why aren’t you answering?”

Ling Yin looked at him and asked again. “Master, I don’t want to go to the Heavenly Lake Valley anymore. It’s not good at all …” Yi Chen pouted and slowly walked over. He tugged at her sleeve and shook it gently, “Master, I don’t want to go to the Heavenly Lake Valley anymore.”

“Nonsense!”

Unexpectedly, Ling Yin’s gaze became even harsher as she said, “This sect’s rules require you to cultivate this sect’s Dao Art for three years. How can you not go? How dare you run away from the test!”

The reason why Xuanqing Sect has such a provision, Naturally, there was a reason. First, cultivating this dao technique could strengthen one’s cultivation. Second, immortal sect disciples had to look at their aptitude and conduct. Their aptitude was easy to see, but their conduct needed to be observed for a long time. Besides strengthening one’s cultivation, Xuanqing Sect’s dao technique could also temper one’s temperament, allowing disciples to distinguish between good and evil in the future, so that they would not go astray.

“Master …”

Yi Chen gently waved her sleeves. He looked mature outside, but he was still like a child in front of his master. Ling Yin glanced at him and said, “There’s no need to say anything else. Tomorrow, go accompany the two elders. From now on, there’s no chance of escaping.”

“Oh, okay …”

Yi Chen pursed his lips and slowly loosened her sleeves. After a long time, he asked, “Eh, Master, let me ask you something.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Mm” Yi Chen thought for a moment and said, “Does Master know that a person called Shen Cangming?”

Ling Yin’s eyes immediately turned cold, and even her voice became much deeper. “Where did you hear this name from?”

Yi Chen was shocked by her current appearance and scratched his head for a long time without saying a word. Seeing his hesitation, Ling Yin had already guessed a little.

Yi Chen grinned and said slowly, “I was bored today. I ran to Lian Feng Terrace and met an old uncle who swept the floor. Eh? Master, do you know who that uncle is?”

Ling Yin did not say anything. She stood up and walked out of the hall. When she reached the hall door, she turned her head slightly and said, “Don’t mention this name again in the future, especially in front of your Sect Master and Ancestor.”

“Oh …”

Seeing her leaving, Yi Chen felt even more curious. Master clearly knew, but why didn’t she say who this Shen Cangming was, who that old uncle swept the floor was, and what had happened to Purple Night Peak in the past? It was really strange.

Returning to his room at night, even though Yi Chen knew how to cultivate and his cultivation wasn’t very good, he still took out the Black Bronze Mirror and washed away the fatigue of the day. He began to concentrate on cultivating.

However, he didn’t know why. Ever since many strange words appeared in his mind, his cultivation had become even more strange. Sometimes, he could not help but absorb the spiritual energy from the Purple Night Peak. Strangely, he could really absorb it into his body.

Another month passed in a flash. In the first three months, the Cultivation Transmission Elder had to test his cultivation at the end of each month. Last month, Xiao Yichen escaped from the test and was scolded by his master. This month, he could only bravely come. Otherwise, he would probably be “inviting master” this time.

“Sure enough, it’s been two months. He hasn’t changed at all. This time, Venerable Miao Yin really didn’t see anything wrong. He picked up a’treasure ‘and brought it back.”

In the valley, many disciples were whispering, occasionally casting contemptuous gazes at Xiao Yichen. Outside, the two elders of Pine Cypress also frowned. They did not expect that after two months, the other disciples had more or less improved, but this youth had actually not changed at all.

The two of them looked at each other, a layer of worry enveloping their brows. If they had known earlier, they wouldn’t have told Venerable Yaoguang about Xiao Yichen’s escape from the exam. It would have been better for him to escape from the exam than to be ridiculed here. These disciples were ignorant and didn’t know how to restrain their words at all. Isn’t this nonsense already offending Venerable Yaoguang? The two little elders couldn’t afford it.

On the mountain tops outside the valley, some senior apprentice-brothers and senior apprentice-sisters were also watching. Most of them smiled. They thought that Yao Guang Zun had accepted such a talented disciple three years ago, so they didn’t expect him to be such a mediocre person.

On a distant mountain, There was another person standing, The man was dressed in a pale red dress, It was precisely Ruan Fuling who had fought Liu Chengfeng last time, She had a good impression of Xiao Yichen, but she never thought that this junior brother’s cultivation would be so shallow. However, if it was said that his cultivation was so shallow, no one would know about it that time, but she could clearly see it from the plaza. This junior brother had clearly withstood Liu Chengfeng’s profound strength. Even if it was so close, she might not be able to withstand it …

In front of the Black Tortoise Stone, Yi Chen slowly retracted his palm and turned around to walk out. Regardless of the gossip of the people nearby, no matter how hard he cultivated this month, even if he put in ten times more effort than others, he wouldn’t be able to gain any Dao growth. Perhaps even he himself was discouraged.

However, at this moment, there was a ball of anger in his chest. It didn’t matter what others said about him, but these people were clearly already talking about how Master was doing. However, he could only endure it because he didn’t know any Dao techniques and didn’t have the ability to teach these people a lesson.

“Junior Brother Xiao, wait a moment.”

Right at this moment, a man’s faint laughter suddenly sounded from behind. The man was about twenty years old and was dressed in white. He was quite handsome. He walked out of the crowd. Yi Chen stopped and turned his head slightly. He said calmly, “Are you alright?”

The man smiled faintly, “The next swordsman is a disciple under Excellency Xuanyang of Xuanyang Peak. Not only that, I want to ask Junior Brother for advice in the trial in a month’s time.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Everyone nearby whispered, A month later, it was indeed the trial of the disciples of the Seven Peaks. However, Ren Jianzhi was Senior Brother. He had joined Venerable Xuanyang five years ago. He had only missed the three-year entrance exam at that time. Therefore, he had joined the new disciples for three years. He had entered the sect two years earlier and his aptitude was not bad. Everyone here, except Nichang, had the highest cultivation. How could Xiao Yichen be his opponent?

Zhao Ying’er’s expression changed slightly. She immediately shook her head at him, indicating that she didn’t want to interfere. Although she had joined Xuanyang Peak now, she didn’t dare to go against Xiao Yichen. After all, the other party was already a disciple of Venerable Yao Guang.

Unexpectedly, Ren Jianzhi didn’t care at all. Zhao Ying’er didn’t dare, but why didn’t he? Although Xiao Yichen was a disciple of the Seven Paragons, he had directly joined the Seven Paragons back then. If it was true, he still felt that his master should be Ling Yin’s Martial Uncle.

The atmosphere became even more solemn. Everyone’s gaze was focused on Xiao Yichen and Ren Jianzhi. At this moment, Elder Song and Elder Ren Jianzhi walked forward. Elder Song looked at Ren Jianzhi and frowned. “Next month’s trial will be arranged by Elder Bai and I. You can cultivate properly this month.”

Ren Jianzhi smiled. He was Excellency Xuanyang’s direct disciple, so he obviously didn’t care about the Heavenly Lake Valley’s Skill Transmission Elders. He smiled faintly and said, “The two Elders are absolutely right. However, disciples remember that once every three years, if both sides are willing, then the Elders can’t interfere.”

The brows of the two elders furrowed even deeper, and the atmosphere became even more solidified. Ren Jianzhi looked at Xiao Yichen again, “Sparring in the same sect is mainly about communicating. May I know what Junior Brother Xiao thinks?”

The entire valley was silent. Yi Chen tightly pinched his fingers. At this moment, his feet seemed to be as heavy as a thousand jun boulder, making it impossible for him to continue forward. At this moment, a smiling voice sounded, “Senior Brother Ren, how about I come and spar with you?”

Everyone was stunned again, but seeing Nichang sitting on a tree, leisurely shaking his little feet, Ren Jianzhi immediately felt a chill behind his back. What did this girl do for this kid? Just as he was about to continue speaking, he heard Yichen leave a cold sentence, “No need, I will accept the challenge.”

After saying that, Yi Chen Trail walked out of the valley without turning around. Not far away, the two elders frowned deeply. Elder Song said, “Since that’s the case, you can’t compete in private before the trial. Once you discover that you are disciples of Excellency, you will be severely punished!”

All the disciples nodded their heads after hearing this. These words were obviously because they were afraid that someone would cause trouble for Xiao Yichen in advance. Although the two elders’ good intentions were to protect him, they had just stabbed the youth’s tiny self-esteem.

If he had been at Pingyang Peak three years ago, he could have escaped the battle. He could have messed around on the arena and even been beaten until his nose was blue and his eyes were purple. But now, he was no longer a disciple of Pingyang Peak three years ago. He was Master’s disciple.

Back in Purple Night Peak, Yi Chen punched a large banyan tree in the courtyard, causing leaves to fall. He was not angry at anything else, but at himself for not being able to win, so that his master would no longer be respected by those people!

Why? Why is it that everyone else is making progress, yet his own cultivation has been stagnant? It has been three years, three years. In another three years, the Heavenly Gate will be martial arts. Could it be that he really wants to lose all of his master’s face?

That night, he could not calm down and cultivate, nor could he sleep. Suddenly, he thought of a place, and with a flash of his body, he went out of the courtyard.