Chapter 459: The Sun and Moon Illuminate Mountains and Rivers (18)

Ling Jiuxiao watched as the old man effortlessly resolved the crisis, even earning the gratitude of the crowd, whose departure was truly heartfelt.
Ling Jiuxiao exclaimed in surprise, "So you're that powerful, old man?"
The elder arrogantly raised his head: "Boy, now you know why you're not even qualified to be my disciple, right?"
Ling Jiuxiao: "Heh."
"If you're so powerful, why didn't you appear from the beginning?"
Ling Jiuxiao remembered that the elder seemed to have awakened before he was chased into the alternate dimension.
Faced with this, the elder coughed twice and said, "Your brain is still a bit lacking."
"If I had appeared earlier, they wouldn't have been afraid. After all, you've been chased like this; wouldn't that expose my weakened state?"
"But now, no one knows I'm on your person. They know nothing about what's happening inside the secret realm."
"Respect for the strong is instinctive. They don't dare challenge me to see if I still possess my former strength."
Ling Jiuxiao sighed, "Elder, you've lived long and thought things through. I'm ashamed of my inferiority."
"Elder, who were you in your previous life that those saints feared you so much?"
However, Ling Jiuxiao considered that even knowing the elder's remnant soul, the saints dared not offend him in the slightest, indicating that the elder must have been an extremely powerful figure in his lifetime.
The elder said calmly, "In this entire universe, there are no more than a hundred who can face me directly, and no more than two or three who can withstand even a single blow from me."
Ling Jiuxiao was startled. No wonder this old fellow boasted all the time; with such strength, he certainly had the right to brag.
Long Jueshen, perched on Ling Jiuxiao's shoulder, groggily lifted one eyelid, glancing at the arrogant old man with disdain.
Even his doorman... is inferior.
"Just a frog in a well."
Long Jueshen felt he might as well continue sleeping.
Ling Jiuxiao asked curiously, "Elder, you were so powerful, how did you ultimately perish?"
"Is there anyone in this world stronger than you?"
The elder's body stiffened.
This kid always brings up the most sensitive topics.
The elder coughed twice, then said, "That's natural...after all, there are always people stronger than you, and heavens beyond heavens."
"However, there is only one person in this world stronger than me. Within the universe, if I claim to be third, no one dares to claim second!"
Ling Jiuxiao seemed to believe the elder somewhat.
His gaze drifted into the distance.
"Perhaps it's time to return to the Mountain and River Sect."
"After leaving the desolate star field, who knows when I'll be able to return to the Mountain and River Sect again?"
"I wonder if the Sect Master would be astonished if he saw my current cultivation level?"
"Returning home in glory is like wearing fine clothes at night."
........
Within the Mountain and River Sect
A myriad of phenomena unfolded, primordial energy transformed into galaxies, and laws manifested as stars.
It resembled a vast world.
In the years since Ling Jiuxiao left the sect, the Mountain and River Sect has undergone earth-shattering changes.
Looking at the sect he had personally built, Su Chen felt that it was worthwhile for him to directly draw upon the aura of the so-called Immortal Realm to transform the sect.
Even within the Immortal Realm, the cultivation environment of the Mountain and River Sect could be considered a top-tier blessed land.
Similarly, in such an environment, everyone within the sect progresses by leaps and bounds in their cultivation. Breaking through realms is as easy as drinking water or eating; it's common to see someone achieve a breakthrough in cultivation simply by taking a nap.
At this moment, an aura suddenly rose within the sect, attracting everyone's attention.
"That's the Vice Sect Master! The Vice Sect Master is about to break through to Sainthood!"
The aura of a Sainthood stretched for thousands of miles.
Su Chen looked in the distance and sighed softly.
The one who had achieved Sainthood was none other than Han Xiyue. Han Xiyue was slightly older, only twenty-seven years old. A Saint at twenty-seven is rare throughout history.
Now, she was the third Saint among the sect's disciples and elders.
The first was naturally Su Chen, and the second was Ling Jiuxiao, who was on his way back to the sect.
The third to break through to Sainthood was Han Xiyue.
Inside a grand hall amidst a starry sky
Han Xiyue was overjoyed.
She had finally broken through to become a Saint.
Such a speed of cultivation was unimaginable to her before.
One day, she too would break through to become a Saint.
Han Xiyue suddenly looked up at the sky.
Beyond the layers of clouds, she saw a young figure sitting alone on a cliff, also looking at her.
Those eyes were devoid of emotion, even showing some...disappointment.
"Even after becoming a Saint,"
"Why do I feel the gap between us is widening?"
Han Xiyue, realizing this, tried to look again, but found that both the cliff and the young figure had vanished. Even as she soared to the clouds, she couldn't find them; only the misty clouds shrouded the back mountain.
Han Xiyue ultimately decided not to enter the back mountain.
.......
Outside the Mountain and River Sect
Ling Jiuxiao was puzzled.
He remembered correctly; this was the location of the Mountain and River Sect.
The grand sect was still located here.
Just as Ling Jiuxiao was wondering, a colorful opening appeared at the mountain gate, and two people emerged, dressed in the outer disciple robes of the Mountain and River Sect.
"They're both at the Void Realm! When did the sect become so wealthy?"
The Void Realm was equivalent to a king. Ling Jiuxiao had seen many powerful forces; they wouldn't be so wealthy as to use two Void Realm experts to guard the outer gate.
The two outer disciples' expressions instantly became respectful upon seeing the token Ling Jiuxiao produced.
"Greetings, True Disciple!"
Ling Jiuxiao was quite pleased.
However, he still asked curiously, "What changes have occurred in the sect over the years?"
The two outer disciples exchanged glances and said, "Master, we've only been in the sect for less than a year, and we don't know what changes have taken place. We'll only know if you return to the sect in person."
Ling Jiuxiao looked at the two outer disciples.
These two would definitely be considered young emperors in the outside world, peerless geniuses.
"The sect's standards for recruiting disciples have become even higher now,"
Ling Jiuxiao sighed.
He wondered where the sect master found so many geniuses.
The two outer disciples said, "Master, you misunderstand... When we joined the sect, we were only at the Spirit Soul Realm... Now we're merely at the first level of the Void Transformation Realm, already at the bottom of the outer sect. Every disciple who enters the inner sect has already reached the Nirvana Realm."
"Within the sect, even drinking water, eating, and sleeping will lead to breakthroughs in cultivation. The specifics... you'll know when you return to the sect, Master."
Ling Jiuxiao looked at the two suspiciously, a vague unease creeping into his heart, because their demeanor didn't seem to be lying.
He had endured so much hardship to cross realm after realm, and this was only with countless heaven-defying opportunities.
Ling Jiuxiao followed the two outer disciples into the sect.
Looking at the scene before him,
Ling Jiuxiao was stunned.
The elder in Ling Jiuxiao's mind trembled, saying, "Impossible... impossible... this is..."
The Dragon God on Ling Jiuxiao's shoulder awakened, and he inwardly exclaimed, "Immortal Qi!"