Chapter 393: Buzi

Chapter 393: Buzi

Azure Pond Sect, Qingsui Peak.

The small pavilion at the mountaintop had changed owners several times but still stood quietly in the snow. As the golden sun rose, radiant beams scattered all around, and a young man in a green robe sat cross-legged inside the small building, quietly absorbing the energy.

Time flew by, and Li Xizhi had been cultivating under Yuan Tuan's guidance for over a year now. The spiritual qi on Qingsui Peak was dense. He had just broken through the third stage of Embryonic Breathing Realm before coming to Azure Pond, and now he was ready to break through the fourth stage.

Creak.

Yuan Tuan appeared to have just returned to the mountain. Her clothes were neat, with tightly bound cuffs. Glancing into the pavilion, she saw Li Xizhi silently cultivating as usual and nodded approvingly.

“Xizhi is truly obedient...”

This year, Yuan Tuan had taken in another disciple, sent by the Yuan Family. Although Yuan Tuan harbored some resentment toward the Yuan Family, she still accepted the child. However, the child was unruly and unlikely to achieve greatness.

The sharp sword hung quietly on the wall was the very one used by Li Chejing back in the day. Yuan Tuan's gaze lingered on it for a moment. Li Xizhi finally awakened from his meditation, stood up hurriedly, and respectfully greeted her.

“Master! You are back!”

Yuan Tuan nodded in acknowledgement and asked, “How is your swordsmanship?”

“The sword aura has formed, but I am still far from achieving sword qi...” Li Xizhi replied with some frustration, looking quite pressured as he continued, “There are always people in the sect who come to challenge me. If it were not for the fact that you were out and locked the mountain gate, I would have been in trouble.”

Yuan Tuan smiled slightly at this.

“The Xiao Family was attacked. I went back to Mushroom Forest Plain a few days ago to settle a few things and feel a bit more at ease now. It's still chaotic out there and devil cultivators are rampant. Staying outside for too long is not wise.”

Back in the day, Yuan Tuan had managed to maintain her position on Qingsui Peak alone, carving out a path for herself and breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm all alone. Her sensitivity to the situation and observational skills were naturally extremely sharp, so she had returned quickly.

Since his mother, Xiao Guiluan, was from the Xiao Family, they could be considered his maternal family. Li Xizhi was naturally very concerned and asked eagerly, “How is the Xiao Family?”

“They are fine,” Yuan Tuan replied briefly, taking down the sword from the wall and playing with it.

Li Xizhi remained silent for a long time, his mind racing with thoughts, his heart pounding. Finally, he smiled calmly and said, "I will cultivate whichever technique has the most cultivators in the sect."

"Oh? Why is that?" Yuan Tuan asked as she looked at him deeply.

Li Xizhi replied, "With more people cultivating it, the path might be smoother."

Creak...

Before Yuan Tuan could respond, they heard a creak—the sound of the outer courtyard gate slowly opening. Both their expressions changed. Li Xizhi frowned, while Yuan Tuan's face filled with shock.

Li Xizhi, having not yet developed a spiritual sense, assumed it was a junior disciple from the Yuan Family visiting. However, Yuan Tuan's Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual sense swept over their surroundings and discovered that there was no one in the snow-covered courtyard!

"How is this possible?!"

Yuan Tuan's heart shook. There could only be one type of person who could completely escape her detection and move freely on Qingsui Peak, as if walking in their own backyard...

A Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master?!

Yuan Tuan's face changed, her shock overwhelming her like a tidal wave, momentarily causing her entire body's mana to stall. Her mind raced with thoughts.

Their expressions varied, and the footsteps outside moved like the wind. In a few strides, the person reached the front of the pavilion, casually removing their shoes and stepping inside.

Swish...

The bamboo curtain of the pavilion was suddenly lifted, and a handsome cultivator walked in, with a jade ornament hanging from his waist. Despite the smile on his face, his eyes were cold, staring directly at Li Xizhi.

Yuan Tuan, the peak master who had locked the peak and set up a formation to isolate the inside from the outside, was shocked to see the Daoist quietly enter the room. Li Xizhi was terrified and was just about to voice a question when he realized he was completely paralyzed, unable to move.

The scene before him dimmed, and Li Xizhi's gaze stiffened as he saw the horrified expression on his master's face. Alarm bells rang in his mind. In his remaining consciousness, he saw Yuan Tuan's red lips moving, forming the words Buzi.

Buzi?