Chapter 16: Far Ahead

Chapter 16: Far Ahead

Qingyun Sect, Listening to Rain Peak.

At this moment, mist curled gently, continuously drifting out from the kitchen windows and chimney.

“Sect Leader, wait a moment, the buns will be ready soon.”

A sweet, youthful voice sounded, reaching Du Rulong, who stood at the door.

“That girl…”

Du Rulong shook his head with an awkward smile.

Among the countless young disciples of Qingyun Sect, only Xia Xiaoliang always left him both amused and exasperated.

This little girl was independent and unique, with a particular fondness for buns.

As long as she was awake, she would constantly nibble on buns, as if her stomach was a bottomless pit that could never be filled.

Xia Xiaoliang made the buns herself, never relying on others.

She would prepare them once a month, making many layers each time, and storing them in a special storage ring worn on her finger.

As for the filling, it came from the beasts she hunted.

Inside the kitchen.

Xia Xiaoliang gazed eagerly at the steaming bamboo steamer, suddenly remembering something, and asked loudly, “Sect Leader, how did the White Bone Demon from earlier’s battle with the Ancestor die?”

Her round little face was quite striking, resembling a perfectly steamed bun from afar.

Yet her skin was as white and delicate as snow, her features exquisite and adorable, with a cascade of raven hair flowing like a waterfall, and a figure that was impressive despite the loose, goose-yellow Dao robe she wore.

Her long, slender, jade-like legs were straight and smooth, glimpsed occasionally through slits at the robe's hem.

Xia Xiaoliang was acknowledged as one of the four great beauties of Qingyun Sect.

“How did it die?”

That was a core secret; young disciples were not qualified to know the ancestor’s mysteries.

Du Rulong’s eyes darted as he smiled, “Our Qingyun Sect possesses a treasured artifact that can slay enemies with the power of formations.”

“That’s amazing.”

Xia Xiaoliang stuck out her pink tongue, smiling cutely. Suddenly her eyes brightened; like lightning she plucked a bun from the steamer, stuffing it into her mouth, mumbling indistinctly, “Ready.”

“Ready? Then hurry.”

Du Rulong grew a bit anxious.

The ancestor’s affairs could not be delayed.

Xia Xiaoliang responded promptly, swiftly gathering thousands of buns into her storage ring on her ring finger, then trotting out to follow Du Rulong, leaving Listening to Rain Peak.

…

Inside the room.

Chen Ping’an stood with his hands behind his back, quietly gazing out at the bamboo grove, a look of remembrance crossing his face.

Through the long passage of time, generations of Qingyun disciples had succeeded one another, extending the legacy unbroken, establishing a grand reputation in Beizhou, honored as one of the Eight Great Orthodox Sects.

Yet, alas, they were still somewhat weak.

Ten thousand years is too long; one must seize the day. As a second-generation disciple of Qingyun Sect, Chen Ping’an was determined to elevate Qingyun Sect to become the most powerful sect in Beizhou.

“Xiao Xuanzi, our Qingyun Sect has a long history, a legacy spanning ten thousand years, and considerable foundation, right?”

Chen Ping’an asked.

“Sort of…”

Xuanzu was uncertain of the ancestor’s meaning, so he replied ambiguously.

Earlier, the ancestor mentioned a reward, but upon entering the room, he had stared out the window for a long time in thought, never mentioning the reward again.

“What does our Qingyun Sect lack?”

“Lack…”

Xuanzu began to sweat, unsure what to say. With the ancestor present, he felt there was nothing Qingyun Sect lacked.

In truth, he wanted to say something was missing but feared being scolded for ambition.

Chen Ping’an turned to Xuanzu, smiling calmly, “In my opinion, our Qingyun Sect lacks a sacred artifact.”

A sacred artifact?

Xuanzu was startled.

The strongest treasures in Beizhou were only of celestial grade.

Sacred artifacts were exceedingly rare throughout the vast thirteen states, legendary objects beyond ordinary reach.

The Qingyun Sect’s strongest treasure was the Qingyun Sword, a mid-grade celestial divine sword.

“This is a God-Striking Stone, a lower-grade sacred artifact. Take it.”

Chen Ping’an extended an object.

It was a silver stone, about the size of a goose egg, smooth and ordinary in appearance.

The God-Striking Stone—this was a reward from the system after confirming Ning Yao’s identity.

“What? A lower-grade sacred artifact?”

Xuanzu stared in shock at the silver stone in the ancestor’s palm, waves of astonishment stirring within.

Though the silver stone looked plain, could it truly be a sacred artifact?

Chen Ping’an smiled, “This God-Striking Stone isn’t bound by martial codes; it specializes in surprise attacks, so it reveals no aura, making it impossible for outsiders to detect. Xiao Xuanzi, it’s currently unclaimed. After you drip your blood, you’ll understand its mysteries…”

“All right, ancestor.”

Xuanzu accepted the stone eagerly, holding it like a precious treasure before him. His eyes shone with excitement as he bit his tongue, solemnly spitting a drop of essence blood onto it.

Chen Ping’an looked awkward.

Xuanzu was overexcited; blood recognition required only a simple drop of blood, no need for the tongue’s essence.

Hum!

A powerful stream of information instantly surged from the God-Striking Stone into Xuanzu’s spiritual sea.

He felt a mental jolt, eyes wide with astonishment.

It truly was a sacred artifact!

Its aura was overwhelmingly mighty, like a heavenly decree, making him feel insignificant, like a mere ant.

If not for the blood recognition, he might have been crushed by the stone’s aura.

“Ancestor, my cultivation is too weak; this God-Striking Stone can barely exert one percent of its power…”

Xuanzu regretted, offering the stone back with both hands.

“Since I gave it to you, keep it!”

Chen Ping’an glared sharply, wielding the ancestor’s authority, frightening Xuanzu into retracting his hands.

“This sacred artifact consumes a high amount of energy per use; with your cultivation level, you can only use it twice…”

Recalling the information stored in his mind, Chen Ping’an spoke slowly.

Xuanzu nodded vacantly.

He would not use it unless Qingyun Sect faced life-or-death circumstances.

After gifting the God-Striking Stone, Chen Ping’an’s mood lifted greatly. He laughed aloud, “With this sacred artifact, our Qingyun Sect will lead all of Beizhou, far ahead, far ahead!”

Xuanzu smiled shyly.

Indeed, far ahead. Even a peak tenth-level Divine Void realm expert could not withstand a strike from the God-Striking Stone; minor wounds or even death were the result.

“Ancestor, I’ve brought back Xia Xiaoliang.”

Outside, Du Rulong’s voice sounded.

“This God-Striking Stone is for your knowledge alone.”

Chen Ping’an instructed, then looked toward the door, smiling faintly, “Come in.”

The door opened.

Behind Du Rulong followed a beauty clutching a large stuffed bun, eating as she walked, savoring it with delight, with shiny grease stains on her hands and lips.

Her delicate round face was filled with expressions of contentment.

The most beautiful bun girl?

Chen Ping’an paused, a ridiculous thought flashing through his mind. After so many years in the Xuantian Realm, it was the first time he had seen such a pretty young girl with a passion for buns.

“You’re Xia Xiaoliang?”

He smiled warmly, extending his hand. “Give me a bun to eat.”

Xia Xiaoliang’s eyes brightened. “Ancestor, you like buns too? Haha!” She handed him a bun.

“Yes, I used to eat them a lot.”

Recalling his youthful days as a worker, he felt a deep nostalgia for the bun shop at the alley’s entrance.

Just as he took a bite, before he could savor the taste,

A crisp voice suddenly rang in his mind.

“Ding! Suspected ex-girlfriend detected. If the host can confirm successfully, reward: three transcendence realm experience cards. Note: Participation in spirit-writing and other feudal superstitions is prohibited.”

(End of chapter)