novelraw Chapter 232 : Nascent Soul True Monarch—Hua Yaoyue!
Chapter 232 : Nascent Soul True Monarch—Hua Yaoyue!
Chapter 232: Nascent Soul True Monarch—Hua Yaoyue!
"That’s right."
Judging from Kong Xifeng’s tone, she most likely knew Plum Manor. Even if not personally acquainted, she must have at least heard of this figure... Ji Yuan nodded seriously.
“You encountered him—it’s no wonder you had the chance to use the Teleportation Token to escape.”
“Supreme Elder, you mean to say…”
Ji Yuan asked since he didn’t understand.
“He’s always had a carefree personality. If you had run into any of those other old monsters from the Shang Court instead, they might’ve killed you over a disagreement.”
Kong Xifeng said casually.
...So should I consider myself lucky or unlucky?
Ji Yuan couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless.
“In any case, it’s good you returned. Be more careful next time you leave.”
Kong Xifeng didn’t say much more. The fact that she said this much was already giving face to... Hua Yaoyue. If it had been someone else, she likely would’ve thrown them out long ago.
“You youngsters go on and chat—I won’t disturb you.”
With that, Kong Xifeng’s figure vanished instantly.
Ji Yuan hadn’t even noticed how she left. All he could say was—Nascent Soul old monsters… truly terrifying!
With her master not around, Wen Ling’er became even more at ease. She quickly stepped forward and grabbed Ji Yuan’s arm. “Come on, Brother Ji, I’ll show you around Clear Wind Island.”
“Let me tell you, it’s been over a dozen years. Master wouldn’t let me go out except to visit home. Always saying wait a bit longer.”
“I’m so sick of staying on this Clear Wind Island.”
With the Supreme Elder present, Ji Yuan felt it was inappropriate to keep letting Wen Ling’er cling to him, so he quickly took a few steps forward and subtly pulled his arm away.
Wen Ling’er looked a little confused.
But Ji Yuan quickly changed the topic. “Where’s Brother Wen now? Has he been well? I’ve looked for him all these years, but haven’t seen him once.”
“He’s doing fine. Hmph! Doesn’t do anything all day except fish. He doesn’t even refine pills anymore.”
“They’re living on the sect’s Mist-Hidden Island now. That place requires someone to lead you there. The first time I went, Senior Brother Sect Master had to guide me.”
“Senior Brother Sect Master?”
Ji Yuan was surprised by this title.
“Yeah, Master told me to call him that. Besides him, I have Senior Brother Yun Yuan, Senior Brother Xuan Xiao, Senior Brother Lie Xiao, Senior Sister Suxin…”
Wen Ling’er counted on her fingers one by one.
Ji Yuan couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. How could he not understand what Wen Ling’er was implying?
She had taken a Nascent Soul stage Supreme Elder as her master, so all the other Golden Core Real Persons in the sect had become her senior brothers and sisters.
So that means I’m supposed to call Wen Ling’er... Martial Aunt Wen?
“Ling’er, how did your cultivation reach the peak of Foundation Establishment?”
Ji Yuan looked around at the surrounding mountains, asking as if to make casual conversation.
He was curious just how terrifying the cultivation speed of someone with a different spiritual root could be.
Ji Yuan had been born with a False Spiritual Root, but thanks to his own efforts—and some meager assistance from the panel—he had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage in just twelve years.
But Wen Ling’er?
Twelve years.
From a mere mortal with no cultivation to a peak Foundation Establishment powerhouse!
“I just cultivated and cultivated, then my cultivation increased.”
Wen Ling’er even struck a meditation pose as she spoke. “But cultivating is so tiring. Master forces me to cultivate every day.”
“And now my progress has become really slow.”
“Slow?”
“Yeah. At first, I could break through after a few days of cultivation. But now it’s so hard. I’ve been stuck at peak Foundation Establishment for over half a year and still don’t know how to form a core. I don’t even know how to form a pseudo-core. Sigh.”
Wen Ling’er seemed a bit unhappy, even kicking a small stone on the ground as she walked.
…I shouldn’t have asked.
Ji Yuan chuckled and then asked, “Can outsiders go to Mist-Hidden Island, where Brother Wen lives?”
Wen Ling’er might not have noticed, but Ji Yuan could guess that Mist-Hidden Island was probably home to some “special connections.”
It was a place where certain disciples of the sect didn’t need to worry about anything and could focus on cultivating in peace.
“Sure. I’ll just tell Master later. I’ll take you to see my parents. They’ve been talking about you all these years.”
“No need, just take him there yourself.”
Kong Xifeng’s voice rang in both their ears simultaneously.
Ji Yuan froze slightly… This Supreme Elder had been eavesdropping the whole time. That was seriously against the unspoken rules of Jianghu.
“Okay, thank you, Master.”
As they spoke, the two of them continued walking outside.
Along the way, Wen Ling’er kept introducing things to Ji Yuan, telling him what each place was for and what had happened to her there.
It was as if she couldn’t wait to tell Ji Yuan everything she had experienced over the years.
She almost ended up teaching Ji Yuan the cultivation techniques she had learned.
Only then did Kong Xifeng speak again: “Ji Yuan, right? Your master has arrived.”
“Master?”
Ji Yuan was overjoyed and immediately looked toward the outside of the island.
He saw a white streak of light flying straight from the east, clouds scattering in its wake, thunder and wind rumbling.
“Ling’er, wait a moment. I’m going to meet my master.”
“I’m coming too!”
Wen Ling’er immediately shouted.
Then Ji Yuan summoned the flying boat Fenghuai and rose into the sky outside the island.
Hua Yaoyue stopped right in front of him.
“Disciple greets Master.”
Ji Yuan quickly cupped his hands in salute.
Hua Yaoyue gave him a once-over and, seeing that he was unharmed, asked, “Who did you encounter?”
“The person I ran into at Tianzhu Mountain last time—I met him again at Mirror Lake. He’s Plum Manor,” Ji Yuan hurriedly explained.
“Oh? Him, huh.”
Hua Yaoyue’s expression didn’t change at all. She casually said, “Alright. If there’s nothing else, go wait for me on Forgotten Worry Island. I need to speak with the Elder.”
Only then did Ji Yuan notice that Hua Yaoyue looked rather travel-worn.
Her previously neat hair was slightly disheveled, and the hem of her skirt was even torn.
…Master got into a fight outside?
Otherwise, why would she look like this? Plus, considering he had just used a Fixed-Point Teleportation Token to return to the sect, his master should have been notified already.
Logically, she should’ve arrived earlier.
But she had only just returned… She had clearly rushed back from outside the sect.
“Alright, I’ll wait for you on Forgotten Worry Island then, Master.”
After speaking, Ji Yuan also sent a voice transmission to Wen Ling’er. “Ling’er, my master has something to take care of. I’ll come find you once I’m done. Then we’ll go look for Brother Wen together.”
“Alright then…”
Wen Ling’er was a bit disappointed, but she still agreed.
Then Ji Yuan turned to Clear Wind Island and cupped his hands in a salute. “Thank you, Supreme Elder.”
With that said, he activated Fenghuai beneath his feet and shot eastward.
Seeing Ji Yuan safe and sound, Hua Yaoyue finally relaxed. She formed a hand seal with one hand and stepped forward. The dusty aura around her instantly vanished, and she returned to her usual graceful and dignified appearance.
Wen Ling’er looked up at this incredibly tall woman and blinked.
“You’re my Martial Aunt Wangyou?”
Hua Yaoyue looked down at the little girl and showed a rare smile. “Indeed. So next time you see Ji Yuan, remind him to call you Martial Aunt.”
“I don’t want to! He’s my Brother Ji.”
Wen Ling’er refused and even flew her swallow-shaped flying... treasure around Hua Yaoyue in a circle.
“Martial Aunt Wangyou, you’re so pretty. No wonder you could be Brother Ji’s master.”
Hua Yaoyue laughed as she walked toward Clear Wind Island. “What, are you saying that someone who isn’t pretty can’t be Brother Ji’s master?”
“Not exactly. It’s just Brother Ji is already so good-looking. If his master weren’t good-looking, it would be weird. But it’s okay—you’re really pretty, Martial Aunt Wangyou. You’re the third prettiest person I’ve seen.”
“Oh? And who’s first and second?”
“First is my mom, second is my master. You’re third, Martial Aunt Wangyou.”
“You sweet-talker. I’ll give you a meeting gift later.”
As they talked, Hua Yaoyue had already stepped onto Clear Wind Island.
The moment she landed, Kong Xifeng emerged from the island’s interior, as if she had come specifically to greet her.
“Ling’er, go back to your room now.”
Kong Xifeng said with a smile.
“Huh? But I want to listen too, Master.” Wen Ling’er clung to Kong Xifeng’s arm and acted spoiled.
“Be good, Ling’er. Listen.”
“Alright then.”
Wen Ling’er looked back three times with every step, reluctantly leaving the place.
After she left, Hua Yaoyue smiled and said, “I’ve never seen Elder act so gently before. If those people from back in the day knew that the famous ‘Flower-Crushing Hands Kong Xifeng’ had become so soft, they’d probably crawl out of their coffins in fright.”
“Hehe.”
“Maybe it’s just old age. As people age, they get sentimental. Besides, Ling’er’s personality really is endearing.”
“So now you’re treating her like your own granddaughter?”
“More or less.”
Kong Xifeng didn’t deny it.
Hua Yaoyue seemed to recall something. The smile on her face faded a little. “Elder…”
“You don’t need to call me Senior Sister anymore, right?”
Kong Xifeng squinted at Hua Yaoyue and smiled. “Call me Daoist Friend, or... just call me Senior Sister.”
Hua Yaoyue didn’t respond immediately. She took her time to consider carefully before finally speaking:
“Daoist Kong.”
Upon hearing this form of address, the smile on Kong Xifeng’s face gradually faded. Even her expression grew complicated—disappointed, perhaps hurt, and seemingly a bit angry. Yet, all those emotions ultimately turned into a long sigh.
“Yaoyue, after all these years, do you really still feel no sense of belonging to the sect?”
“Daoist Kong, you know very well—I’ll have to leave this Cangluo Continent sooner or later. As for the Water Dragon Sect... I cannot protect it,” Hua Yaoyue said bluntly.
“If you’re leaving, can’t you at least take the sect with you…”
Before Kong Xifeng could finish her sentence, Hua Yaoyue interrupted, “I cannot protect it.”
With those repeated words, Kong Xifeng gave up on persuasion. She stepped forward, releasing an immense pressure as she bore down on Hua Yaoyue.
In an instant, the dark clouds over the Water Dragon Sect dispersed, and the great sun shone upon the myriad islands.
Even the lake water surrounding Clear Wind Island seemed to sink by an inch under the pressure.
Kong Xifeng furrowed her brows and rebuked sternly, “Hua Yaoyue, do you truly hold the sect in such disregard?!”
Hua Yaoyue looked at the Supreme Elder before her and suddenly let out a sneering laugh.
As the laugh echoed out, the suppressed lake water surged back to normal. Hua Yaoyue smiled helplessly and said, “Daoist Kong, you couldn’t hold me back when I was in the Golden Core stage. Now that I’ve reached Nascent Soul, what do you think you can do to me?”
The moment those words left her mouth, Kong Xifeng’s momentum instantly dissipated.
With that release, her entire being suddenly seemed much older.
“Yaoyue, I truly have grown old… But you’ve seen the current state of the Water Dragon Sect. Yun Yuan and Xuan Xiao, those two boys, are fine for infighting or external conflict, but if they’re expected to support the entire sect, they cannot bear the weight.”
“So this is why Daoist Kong made a deal with the tiger?”
Hua Yaoyue went straight to the point.
Kong Xifeng was struck silent by her words.
She merely lowered her head and stared at the calm lake surface for a long time before finally speaking softly: “I had no other choice.”
“Truly no other choice?”
Hua Yaoyue sneered again. “You were given paths to choose from—two, to be exact. Yet you still chose this one. Daoist Kong, I have only one question for you.”
“Ask.”
“Making a deal with the tiger—was it to protect the entire Water Dragon Sect, or was it for yourself, Kong Xifeng?”
That question left Kong Xifeng with no response.
So she said nothing.
But silence, in itself, was also an answer.
Hua Yaoyue didn’t press further. She simply said, “If you’re willing to head south, I’ll protect you along the way. But if you insist on dealing with the tiger, then I’ll leave you with one thing to remember…”
“What is it?”
“Don’t treat those lunatics who defy the heavens and live a second life... like they’re fools.”
Once Hua Yaoyue finished speaking, Kong Xifeng sharply raised her head—only to lower it again soon after. “I know.”
“But what you, Hua Yaoyue, see—is only what you see.”
“Oh?” Hua Yaoyue seemed mildly intrigued by this and asked with a smile, “Then pray, Daoist Kong, enlighten me. What is it that I failed to see?”
Kong Xifeng paused for a long moment before replying, “If they want to see the Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong wiped out, then why should we leave them any way out?”
“They want infighting? Then let us all fight together.”
Hua Yaoyue’s eyes showed a flicker of interest. Then the two stopped speaking aloud and switched to voice transmission for a time.
After a while.
Only once her thoughts were settled did Hua Yaoyue prepare to leave. She had already taken to the air when she suddenly turned back to Kong Xifeng.
“Daoist Kong, you don’t seem to think much of my last disciple?”
Leaning on her cane, Kong Xifeng replied bluntly, “Good talent, decent strength, stable mindset, and excellent appearance. But unfortunately… his spiritual root aptitude is too poor.”
“Heh, spiritual root? In the end, doesn’t everyone have to be proficient in all five elements?”
Hua Yaoyue laughed mockingly.
“You mean to say he’s a genius, don’t you?” Kong Xifeng remained unmoved in her opinion. “But in this world, geniuses who don’t mature have never truly been geniuses.”
Hua Yaoyue stared at her silently. In that moment, she suddenly understood why the Water Dragon Sect had fallen into its current state.
And why not even a single Golden Core Peak cultivator remained.
Such a glaring fracture had formed.
There’s a saying: when the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked.
Hua Yaoyue didn’t bother with a line like “You’re wrong.” Before leaving, she only said:
“In the future, my last disciple will go farther and higher than I ever did.”
That was what Hua Yaoyue said aloud.
What she didn’t say was… the reason she managed to break through to Nascent Soul today was thanks to his help.
“You sure hold him in high regard.”
This time, when Kong Xifeng spoke, there was finally a hint of seriousness in her eyes.
She didn’t believe in Ji Yuan—but she believed in Hua Yaoyue.
Since Hua Yaoyue said so, she must have her reasons.
——
This was the first time Ji Yuan had been on Forgotten Worry Island without Hua Yaoyue present.
So his first thought was—should I take a stroll around the island?
Because every time he had come before, he simply followed wherever Hua Yaoyue was, meaning there were still many places on the island he hadn’t seen.
For instance, the dungeon that imprisoned Yun Qianzai… Feng Zhi Tao had been there. She said the yin energy below was incredibly dense.
Ji Yuan had even thought of planting the Yin Ghost Flag there for nurturing.
And a while ago, while chatting with Ran Kui, Ji Yuan had heard him mention that in the island’s southwest, a spiritual plant was grown, bearing fruit much like grapes, with an excellent flavor.
He had only tasted them during his early years as a disciple—never again since.
After considering all that, Ji Yuan gave up the idea.
Without his master’s permission, he figured it best not to wander aimlessly.
So Ji Yuan headed to his usual pavilion and quietly released his Divine Sense—now comparable to early Golden Core stage!
With the support of level 2【Meditation Room】, and the constant nurturing of the《Ninefold Soul Suppressing Scripture》, Ji Yuan had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, but his Divine Sense rivaled a Golden Core cultivator’s.
But just as he released it—before he could even envelop the mountaintop…
Hua Yaoyue had already arrived behind him.
Startled, Ji Yuan immediately retracted his Divine Sense and stood up from his seat. “Ma... Master.”
“Why are you so frightened?”
Whether Hua Yaoyue noticed Ji Yuan’s Divine Sense or not, she didn’t mention it. Instead, she walked over to the cushioned chair and spun around to recline in it comfortably.
Whether it had been too long or not, the moment she lay down, Hua Yaoyue even let out a soft moan of satisfaction.
“No, not afraid. What is there to fear before Master?”
Ji Yuan sat back down with confidence.
“Mm. Where’s the Wishful Wine?”
Hua Yaoyue casually extended her hand toward her last disciple.
This trip had taken Ji Yuan a full year. Whatever Wishful Wine he’d left before had long been drained by Hua Yaoyue.
Her craving for wine had been acting up for quite some time!
Ji Yuan retrieved the remaining dozen or so jars of Wishful Wine from his storage pouch and explained, “This time I was constantly on the move and had no time to brew. But the batch I made on Forgotten Worry Island should be ready soon. I’ll bring it to you in a few days.”
“Good. And remember to bring some other types too. I’m drinking everything this time.”
Hua Yaoyue grabbed a jar, downed it in one gulp, and sighed with contentment.
“Got it!”
It’s just wine—he had plenty!
“If the one you ran into was Plum Manor, then that makes things simple.”
Having drunk some Wishful Wine, Hua Yaoyue seemed even happier. Her tone grew relaxed. “If you run into him again, just say one thing—he won’t dare lay a hand on you.”
“What is it?”
Ji Yuan perked up his ears.
“Ask him if he’s forgotten the beating he got on Moxu Island.”
——