When Life Runs Out, the Fun Begins-Chapter 37 – Where should we go tonight?

"Please, rise." Xuanyangzi's voice was gentle and rich, like a spring breeze brushing one's face, making people feel an involuntary closeness. "Nephew Mu, no need for formalities, sit."
He gestured to the cushion beside him.
"Thank you, Sect Master." Mu Xiaochuan sat down as instructed, but his heart was even more puzzled. The Sect Master's attitude was too amiable, not at all like someone about to question him!
Xuanyangzi looked at Mu Xiaochuan with a gentle gaze, a hint of approval and curiosity in his eyes. "Nephew Mu, at the age of eighty, you established your Foundation in one fell swoop and, in a short time, managed the Heaven Vault Pavilion with great success. Your sudden rise in this Grand Tournament shocked everyone. It is indeed a fortunate event for our Qingling Sect. Truly, you are a late bloomer, worthy of celebration!"
Mu Xiaochuan hurriedly said humbly, "The Sect Master overpraises me. I am unworthy of such praise. It was merely luck, along with the support of the Peak Master and Hall Master."
"Hehe, you're too modest." Xuanyangzi waved his hand, smiling. "I've heard a bit about your deeds. Today on the arena, the power of that strike was truly... earth-shattering!"
Here it comes! Mu Xiaochuan's heart tightened. So he was going to bring this up after all!
Just as he was about to "explain" again, Xuanyangzi changed the subject, a subtle gleam flashing in his eyes. "Nephew Mu, may I have a look at your spiritual artifact?"
Mu Xiaochuan was taken aback. Could the Sect Master have taken a liking to his staff? Without thinking further, he quickly offered the Azure Dragon Soul-Suppressing Wood with both hands. "Sect Master, please have a look."
Xuanyangzi took the Azure Dragon Soul-Suppressing Wood, feeling its weight in his hand. As his fingertips lightly touched the staff, the Azure Dragon totem and mysterious spiritual patterns emerged, a vast power flowing faintly, the intent of soul suppression elusive yet present. His eyes gleamed with admiration. "What a staff! What a staff indeed! With a dark green body and dragon soul as its guide, the staff is heavy and powerful, with the effect of soul suppression... This staff is indeed an Earth-grade spiritual artifact!"
Mu Xiaochuan was secretly shocked. As expected of a Golden Elixir expert, he saw through the grade and origin of the staff at a glance!
"The Sect Master has eyes like torches, I am impressed," Mu Xiaochuan complimented.
In the Cultivation World, the hierarchy of magical treasures is strict: Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heaven, each representing a world of difference. An Earth-grade spiritual artifact is a treasure even Golden Elixir ancestors covet! For Mu Xiaochuan, a newly established Foundation Outer Sect Elder, to possess an Earth-grade spiritual artifact was even more astonishing than his Foundation Establishment at eighty!
Xuanyangzi stroked the staff, a hint of reminiscence and emotion in his eyes. "An Earth-grade spiritual artifact... even in the entire Xiaoque Dynasty, it's a rarity. Our Qingling Sect, with a legacy of ten thousand years, now has three Golden Elixir cultivators, including myself and two reclusive Supreme Elders, yet we only possess two Earth-grade spiritual artifacts."
He paused, looking at Mu Xiaochuan with a complex gaze. "One is the 'Purple Cloud Seal' in my hand, and the other is the 'Seven Star Longyuan Sword' jointly held by the Supreme Elders. Do you know what this means?"
Mu Xiaochuan was greatly shaken! Two Supreme Elders at the Golden Elixir stage had to share one Earth-grade spirit sword! The rarity of Earth-grade spiritual artifacts far exceeded his imagination!
He quickly lowered his head. "Disciple... understands."
"Good, as long as you understand." Xuanyangzi handed the Azure Dragon Soul-Suppressing Wood back to Mu Xiaochuan. Although there was appreciation and a hint of imperceptible envy in his eyes, there was no greed or covetousness, nor did he inquire about its origin.
He spoke earnestly, "Xiaochuan, you are blessed with great fortune to obtain such a treasure at the Foundation Establishment stage. It is your destiny. Today, you revealed it at the Grand Tournament, and the news will likely spread throughout the sect and beyond. I summoned you today to tell you that fortune and misfortune are intertwined. An Earth-grade spiritual artifact is enough to attract the covetous eyes of Golden Elixir cultivators. Your cultivation is still shallow, and you may find it hard to protect yourself."
He changed his tone, becoming serious. "I must warn you, from today on, remember! Never leave the Qingling Sect lightly! Otherwise, if you encounter high-level cultivators or even Golden Elixir cultivators outside the sect, you will be in grave danger. Remember, possessing a treasure can be a crime!"
Listening to Xuanyangzi's heartfelt warning, Mu Xiaochuan felt a warm current and deep gratitude in his heart. This Sect Master, instead of coveting his treasure, genuinely cared for him and warned him of potential dangers.
"Thank you, Sect Master, for your guidance! Disciple... will remember it well!" Mu Xiaochuan bowed deeply again, this time with genuine respect and gratitude.
"Hehe, off you go." Xuanyangzi waved his hand and closed his eyes again, as if nothing had happened.
Mu Xiaochuan respectfully exited the Purple Cloud Hall, his heart in turmoil. Previously, his cultivation level was too low to understand the dangers accompanying the rarity of Earth-grade spiritual artifacts!
"Well, staying in the Qingling Sect is quite comfortable, so I'll just follow the Sect Master's advice and not go out for now!" Mu Xiaochuan didn't mind.
He didn't return to the Listening Bamboo Pavilion but instead turned and flew towards the Yunqi Heavenly Palace—he still had to complete the Peak Master's "punishment."
When Mu Xiaochuan appeared again in the rear hall of the Yunqi Heavenly Palace, Yun Wange was sitting alone by the window, playing with a jade hairpin, seemingly a bit absent-minded. Seeing Mu Xiaochuan enter, her beautiful eyes lit up, and she quickly stood up to greet him, involuntarily grabbing his arm.
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"Xiaochuan, what did the Sect Master want with you?" she asked, a hint of tension in her voice.
Mu Xiaochuan smiled. "Don't worry, Senior Sister. The Sect Master didn't mention the injury incident, he was just... interested in my staff and warned me to be cautious in the future, not to leave the sect lightly."
"It's really an Earth-grade spiritual artifact?!" Yun Wange's attention was instantly captured. She released Mu Xiaochuan's arm, her beautiful eyes bursting with a fiery glow, and carefully reached out her jade hand to touch the staff exuding an ancient and majestic aura. "This... is an Earth-grade spiritual artifact?! Xiaochuan, where did you get such a treasure?!"
Naturally, Mu Xiaochuan didn't want to reveal the secret of the Thrill System, so he scratched his head and chuckled. "Hehe, it's a long story. It was actually a small opportunity I stumbled upon during Qi Refining..."
He was vague, attributing everything to "opportunity."
Yun Wange, being smart and perceptive, saw that he didn't want to elaborate and didn't press further. In the Cultivation World, everyone has their secrets and opportunities, and probing too deeply is taboo.
Hearing this, Yun Wange finally breathed a sigh of relief, then playfully gave him a sidelong glance. "You're lucky! But the Sect Master is right; your Earth-grade spiritual artifact is too conspicuous. In the future, unless necessary, you must not show it lightly! Otherwise, it could lead to disaster, and regret will come too late!"
As she spoke, she pulled Mu Xiaochuan to sit down again, her tone becoming gentle. "Well, as long as there's no trouble with the Sect Master."
She paused, her beautiful eyes flowing with a hint of expectation as she looked at Mu Xiaochuan. "So... Xiaochuan, about the mid-grade Spirit-Gathering Pill you promised me..."
Mu Xiaochuan looked at Yun Wange's eager yet slightly shy appearance and secretly laughed. He had kept her waiting long enough, and it was time to give her a taste. Besides, winning over a Peak Master would greatly benefit his future development within the sect.
He smiled slightly. "Rest assured, Senior Sister, I won't go back on my word. The Spirit-Gathering Pill is already secured. After the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament, I will personally bring it to you."
He deliberately left a hint, not giving it directly, wanting to see the Peak Master's "sincerity."
Upon hearing this, Yun Wange's delicate body trembled slightly, her eyes bursting with indescribable joy and excitement!
The bottleneck that had troubled her for twenty years! The hope of breaking through the Ninth Level of Foundation Establishment and even glimpsing the Golden Elixir path was right in front of her!
"Xiaochuan... you... you really..." Her voice was choked with emotion, almost unbelieving.
"Of course it's true," Mu Xiaochuan laughed. "But you'll have to wait until the tournament is over."
"Good! Good! Good!" Yun Wange said "good" three times, her pretty face flushed with excitement, looking at Mu Xiaochuan with endless gratitude, admiration, and a more intense emotion! "Xiaochuan! Rest assured! From now on at Yunqi Peak, with me here, no one will dare to touch a hair on your head! That matter of injuring an elder is a minor issue! Don't worry about it!"
Mu Xiaochuan looked at Yun Wange, who seemed ready to offer herself, and thought that if he stayed any longer, he might not be able to leave. He quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Senior Sister, since there's no issue with the Sect Master, my punishment is over, so I'll take my leave."
"Huh? Leaving already?" Yun Wange was taken aback, a trace of obvious disappointment and reluctance in her eyes. "Won't you stay a little longer?"
Mu Xiaochuan secretly laughed, but said, "No, tomorrow is the Outer Sect finals, and I need to prepare."
"...Alright." Although Yun Wange was reluctant, she knew she couldn't rush things, so she suppressed her thoughts and personally saw Mu Xiaochuan out of the Yunqi Heavenly Palace.
By the time he returned to the Listening Bamboo Pavilion, it was nearly dusk.
As soon as Mu Xiaochuan stepped into the courtyard, Su Yao and Lin Yue rushed over like two cheerful birds.
"Elder Mu! You're back!"
"Elder Mu, we heard you went to see the Sect Master? Did he give you a hard time?"
The two girls chattered around him, full of concern and attachment.
Mu Xiaochuan smiled and reassured them with a few words, feeling a warmth in his heart. Just as he was about to enter the house and enjoy this gentle haven, he heard—
"Elder Brother Mu!"
A joyful and grateful yet slightly urgent soft voice came from outside the courtyard.
Mu Xiaochuan paused, then turned to look.
Liu Ruyan, dressed in a shimmering purple dress, stood gracefully at the courtyard entrance, her face brimming with excitement and gratitude, her beautiful eyes shimmering with emotion as she gazed at him.
This time, she hadn't sent a maid to announce her arrival but had come in person!
In the Cultivation World, hierarchy is strict. An Inner Sect Elder only needs to send word to meet an Outer Sect Elder, yet Liu Ruyan, as an Inner Sect Elder, had come to see Mu Xiaochuan herself.
"Sister Liu? Why have you come in person?" Mu Xiaochuan was a bit surprised.
Su Yao and Lin Yue's smiles froze slightly upon seeing Liu Ruyan, and they instinctively held Mu Xiaochuan's arm tighter, their eyes showing a hint of vigilance and... a declaration of ownership?
Liu Ruyan quickly walked into the courtyard, standing before Mu Xiaochuan, her beautiful eyes full of gratitude. "Elder Brother! In this tournament, if not for the two disciples from the Heaven Vault Pavilion, I would have returned empty-handed..." She paused, her face slightly red, her voice lowering, "I know... it was you who secretly helped, asking the Heaven Vault Pavilion disciples... to show mercy. This kindness, I... will remember!"
So it was about that. Mu Xiaochuan smiled. Indeed, Tie Meng and Sun Tieshan's "defeat" was at his behest, mainly to save Liu Ruyan some face, as it would have been too embarrassing for the Spiritual Herb Garden to be completely wiped out.
"It was just a small gesture, no need to be so formal, Sister," Mu Xiaochuan waved it off.
But Liu Ruyan shook her head, her eyes intensely focused on him. "To you, it was a small gesture, but to the Spiritual Herb Garden and to me, it was a great kindness! Elder Brother, tonight... come to my cave abode, I... want to discuss tomorrow's tournament with you..."
Her voice was full of allure, her gaze seductive, as if trying to capture Mu Xiaochuan's very soul.
Mu Xiaochuan felt a warmth in his heart, about to agree.
But then he felt his arm being held tightly by two small hands!
He turned to see Su Yao and Lin Yue, pouting, looking at him with eyes full of grievance and pleading, almost melting his heart.
"Elder, you haven't had dinner since the tournament ended..."
"Elder, it's late... can't it wait until tomorrow?"
"Elder, you've been working tirelessly, why not rest tonight?"
The two girls' voices carried a hint of grievance and pleading, their eyes almost melting Mu Xiaochuan's heart.
On one side was the alluring, newly advanced, utterly devoted former goddess.
On the other were the gentle, obedient, newly intimate two charming maids.
Mu Xiaochuan looked at the "battlefield" before him, feeling the expectant and longing gazes of the three beauties, a sense of indescribable happiness, yet also a slight dilemma.
"Yes... one side is work, the other is family..." He touched his nose, "Tonight... where should I go?"