Do you want to see my Divine Sea

Tianyan Peak, Tianyan Sect.

Bai Xuanling slowly opened her eyes, the turmoil in her heart finally settling somewhat—enough, at least, to allow her to divert her focus elsewhere. Yet, she could still feel the surging spiritual energy within her, as though shackled by heavy chains.

The intricate ritual formations surrounding her gradually dissipated.

"My thanks to both of you..."

Bai Xuanling rose to her feet and clasped her hands in a respectful bow toward the two Grand Elders.

Elder Chen, the Grand Elder, waved his hand with a chuckle.

"Helping one another is merely our duty—no need for thanks. Though, let’s hope there isn’t a next time. Even without probing your divine consciousness, just sensing its periphery was enough to feel the chaos and ferocity within."

"Seeing you complete the sealing ritual almost on schedule, I’m torn between praising your skill—enough to earn admiration even from us old relics—or questioning if you’ve truly gone mad, staying on Zhuji Peak for so long in such a state."

A faint smile touched Bai Xuanling’s lips.

"My reputation outside should at least be legendary, no? And legends ought to live up to their name."

"Spirited words. Good. With that attitude, I needn’t worry." Elder Chen’s gaze softened. "Now that this matter is settled, we’ll take our leave. The Sect Leader hasn’t had an easy time lately—go easy on him. Skip the ‘Great Replenishment Pills,’ if you would. Consider it a favor to us."

Bai Xuanling sighed in mock disappointment.

"Since you two vouch for him, I’ll let it slide this time."

Elder Chen nodded, then turned to leave. Assisting in suppressing Bai Xuanling’s overwhelming divine consciousness and murderous aura had drained him considerably—such qualitative power was immense.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have needed two Tribulation Transcendents here in the first place.

Before departing, Elder Chen’s expression turned solemn as he added one last piece of advice.

"Know your limits. Whether there’ll be a next time—you likely understand better than I. I made a promise to watch over you. I may not be one for grand oaths, but in this, I won’t break my word."

"Don’t just think of those you care for. Remember those who care for you."

Without waiting for a reply, the two Grand Elders clasped their hands in farewell and left.

Bai Xuanling returned the gesture, standing silently as she watched their aged figures recede into the distance.

Had her master still been alive, perhaps he too would have looked like them by now...

After an unmeasured pause, she let out a self-deprecating laugh and strode out.

This secret chamber lay at the heart of Tianyan Peak’s formation array—the core of the sect’s protective barrier.

The grand hall of Tianyan Peak hovered high above the mountain, not anchored to the peak itself but suspended by pure spiritual energy. As the main peak, Tianyan Peak was meticulously maintained by disciples, its forests lush and dotted with spirited but unobtrusive beasts.

A keen eye could spot rare spiritual herbs growing freely—though none dared harvest them.

Emerging from the secret realm, Bai Xuanling didn’t head straight for Zhuji Peak or the "One Happy Family Peak." Instead, she followed the paved path toward Tianyan Peak’s grand hall.

Though she’d joked about making Lv Xuan suffer, now that she was out of seclusion, she intended to thank him.

The Sect Leader had his flaws, but Bai Xuanling knew Lv Xuan had worked tirelessly to steer Tianyan Sect onto the right path.

Otherwise, after all these years, his cultivation wouldn’t have remained stagnant at the Great Ascension realm.

For a cultivator, that was no small sacrifice.

Still, Lv Xuan’s occasional spinelessness was infuriating enough to unsettle one’s Dao Heart without a good thrashing.

Bai Xuanling didn’t deliberately observe her surroundings, yet the birdsong, rustling beasts, vibrant blossoms, and towering trees brimming with vitality inevitably filled her senses.

It struck her then—how much Tianyan Sect had truly changed.

Tianyan Peak was towering, but under Bai Xuanling’s feet, it was but a few steps away.

Crossing into the hall’s domain, she headed for the main chamber.

Before even entering, she sensed a presence inside—neither Lv Xuan nor Yanyun, but Chu Xingchen.

That uniquely pure spiritual energy, untouched by worldly taint, was something Bai Xuanling had only ever felt from him.

Yet it was also eerily mutable—capable of mirroring Lin Luoyu’s righteous aura one moment and Li Xingtian’s blood-soaked brutality the next.

This went beyond mere adaptability.

All cultivators’ spiritual energy bore their personal imprint. Even Cui Hao’s "Mind-Nurturing Art," renowned for its neutrality, varied noticeably based on the practitioner’s comprehension of the Dao.

But Chu Xingchen’s energy had no such characteristics—as if it wasn’t cultivated by him at all.

Finding him alone in the hall, Bai Xuanling didn’t turn back. She strode inside.

"Only you could drive even Yanyun off Tianyan Peak."

Stepping into the chamber, her gaze landed on Chu Xingchen leisurely sipping tea in a side seat. She smirked.

"What is it this time? If the Sect Leader refused, I might just overrule him."

She knew full well Chu Xingchen had likely been waiting for her. But this brat loved dancing around his true intentions with flattery and small talk before getting to the point.

Chu Xingchen stood, first asking with concern:

"You’ve emerged from seclusion? All went well?"

Bai Xuanling planted a hand on her hip, chuckling lightly.

"Naturally. A trivial matter done countless times before. Did you expect some earth-shattering toll?"

Chu Xingchen nodded knowingly, then suddenly recalled something.

"Ling Yu mentioned you played a game of chess with her before seclusion. She said you surrendered despite having a winning position—true?"

"Maybe. Why?"

"She claims you were toying with her—‘an elder teasing a child.’ Now she’s sent me to reclaim her honor."

Bai Xuanling eyed him with skepticism. She wasn’t buying it.

Chu Xingchen’s chess skills were worse than Ling Yu’s. Challenging her wasn’t about reclaiming anything—unless he planned to bombard her with terrible moves all day to degrade her skills before letting Ling Yu swoop in for victory.

Her brow arched.

"Oh? Here to play that ‘Five-in-a-Row’ nonsense of yours?"

"That’s just for amusing Qinghe. For intellects like ours, only Go will do."

As he spoke, Chu Xingchen pressed "Myriad Forms" onto the table, transforming it instantly into a jade board.

Alas, Myriad Forms couldn’t split into individual pieces, so he’d borrowed a set of jade stones from Yanyun as a temporary substitute.

Bai Xuanling knew Chu Xingchen’s true aim lay elsewhere, but she was determined to uncover what game he was really playing.

Without hesitation, she took the seat opposite him.

"Shall we guess stones?"

"No need. I’ll take black."

"Very well."

Chu Xingchen received the response and promptly picked up a black stone from the side, placing it gently onto the board.

In the next moment, the transformed board of myriad possibilities erupted in radiant light.

A surge of illusionary energy, amplified by the myriad forces, shot straight toward Bai Xuanling.

Bai Xuanling sensed the illusory spiritual energy entangling toward her divine sea, yet her expression remained composed as she calmly countered with her own move.

Chu Xingchen’s face grew solemn as he lifted another stone and placed it down.

The myriad forces nearly turned translucent, and a wave of energy, rooted in the stone Bai Xuanling had just played, continued to coil toward her divine sea.

By now, Bai Xuanling naturally understood Chu Xingchen’s intent.

Her lips curled into a smile as she gazed at him with the piercing eyes of a hunter locking onto prey. Her voice, calm yet laced with provocation, asked:

“You wish to see my divine sea?”

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