For a Second Heaven Condensed Soul cultivator to defeat a Fifth Heaven Condensed Soul Different Body so easily—something about this didn't seem right.
Chen Pingping always felt there was a problem somewhere.
Was his little junior sister too outstanding?
Hmm?
A fluctuation of aura caught his attention.
From a certain direction, a middle-aged man approached. He was dressed appropriately, of medium build, with a very ordinary face, distinguished only by an occasional flash of depth in his eyes.
Not only that, but his aura was restrained, making it temporarily impossible to discern his cultivation realm.
As Chen Pingping sized up the man, the man was also assessing him, smiling as he spoke, "Grand State Master of Stone Country, current head of Yuan Martial Academy."
Chen Shixian's teacher?
Chen Pingping was surprised. "Greetings, Senior!"
"I am of the same generation as your master, so it's proper for you to call me 'Senior.' However… I am not here today representing Stone Country or the Academy," the Grand State Master said, approaching step by step.
Before Chen Pingping could respond, the Grand State Master continued, "Xian has mentioned you to me several times. The first time we met was in the depths of Salt Mountain, and the second time was in the imperial city of Stone Country."
"She is outstanding," Chen Pingping said.
"Indeed, an Ancient Divine Body, unparalleled in the world. Looking back over hundreds of years in Nan Zhanbu Province, there has only been one like her." Pride was evident in the Grand State Master's voice as he spoke of her.
He continued, "But she's too proud, still young and inexperienced. There's a lot she doesn't understand. She needs time to grow."
Chen Pingping remained silent.
The Grand State Master smiled. "It is said in the Heavenly Book that before a Divine Body ascends to King Tao, there will be a great calamity. This calamity will change the Divine Body's fate. If she can survive it, she will be an eternal Divine Body. If not... she might never recover, her Dao heart shattered."
"And then?"
"I believe that great calamity has arrived," the Grand State Master said, fixing his gaze on him.
Chen Pingping looked thoughtfully in the direction of the door.
...
"Xian, you…" Shangguan Liuyu was incredulous. "You want to annul our engagement? Why?"
"I am a Divine Body," she said. "Our destinies are completely different, never meant to intertwine."
"But your great calamity still looms, and I am the one meant to help you resolve it. How can you break off our engagement?" He was unwilling to accept this.
It seemed there was a lot hidden within this engagement!
Guang Xiaoyu chuckled to the side.
Chen Shixian glanced at her and said indifferently, "The calamity has already passed. I am still a Divine Body. You won't need to protect my Dao in the future." With that, she turned and walked away.
Behind her, Shangguan Liuyu spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turned ashen.
Guang Xiaoyu looked at him. "If it's over, it's over. What's the point of a grown man sniveling like that? Besides, that woman is clearly no good. Hmph!"
"Shut your mouth!" Shangguan Liuyu said angrily. "It's all your fault… You deserve to die! You deserve to die!"
Guang Xiaoyu rolled her eyes.
He spat out another mouthful of blood and promptly fainted.
Shi Yi hurriedly pulled her away. "My goodness, you can challenge a Divine Body, but you can't act against a member of the Shangguan Clan. Do you know what that means?"
"Retaliation?"
"Yes, exactly! The Shangguan Clan is a cultivation family that has produced several Divine Kings!" Shi Yi rambled. "Do you know what a Divine King is? A powerful entity that transcends King Tao, belonging to the realm of Tao Verification. A single strike from them could destroy the entire imperial city of Stone Country! Alas… Anyway, you'd better pack up and leave the imperial city quickly! If people from the Shangguan Clan come, we're all done for."
"Doesn't Stone Country have a Divine King?" Guang Xiaoyu asked.
"..."
"You are from the Stone Country royal family."
"..."
"This place is called Stone Country Imperial City, not the backyard of the Shangguan Clan," Guang Xiaoyu went on. "If you are afraid of just one Shangguan Clan, how can you even establish a nation?"
Shi Yi was rendered speechless by her question.
"I will not leave. I still want to challenge the Divine Body and defeat her," Guang Xiaoyu said with a determined gaze. "Hmph… If you're scared, then I will move out of the mansion right away. I won't drag you down."
"That's not what I meant."
What?
A strong fluctuation was emanating from the courtyard. The closer she got, the clearer she could sense it. Guang Xiaoyu frowned and quickened her pace.
Shi Yi, who followed behind, also sensed it, his expression changing drastically. "This is the Star Skill, a cultivation technique passed down through the Grand State Master's lineage."
The powerful Star Power enveloped the entire courtyard, completely isolating the outside from the inside. They couldn't enter, nor could they see what was happening within.
Shi Yi felt a sense of suffocation; he had never imagined the Grand State Master would attack Chen Pingping.
Guang Xiaoyu also realized the gravity of the situation, her expression grim. The Grand State Master wants to attack my Senior Brother? Is he courting death?
"Is there any way to get in?" she asked.
"I… How would I know? The Star Skill is very strange. Once it forms a domain, it seals Heaven and Earth. Even powerhouses several realms higher, if trapped inside, might not emerge alive," Shi Yi took a deep breath. "Don't panic. Let me think."
Guang Xiaoyu glanced at him, preparing to grab her wooden sword and charge in.
Fortunately, at that moment, a beam of intense light emanated from within, piercing through the shroud of the Star Skill like a sharp sword.
"You dare lay a finger on my disciple?" said a voice, ethereal and indistinct.
"I wouldn't dare!" The Grand State Master chuckled sheepishly. "Just a joke. No need for Sister Wen to be nervous."
"Get lost!"
"Goodbye!" The Grand State Master left promptly, without delay.
The ethereal figure moved to Chen Pingping's side, glaring at him as she scolded, "What did I tell you before I left? If you encounter any danger, immediately crush the Paper Talisman I gave you! Each talisman contains a thread of my consciousness—I gave you a hundred of them! Why didn't you crush it sooner?"
Chen Pingping looked aggrieved. "He used the Star Skill the moment he approached. I had no chance."
"Nonsense! Are you saying you don't want to see me?" Wen Yuqing cursed. "And… what about the King Tao-level armor I gave you? Why didn't you wear it?"
"It's so ugly."
"What about the King Tao Divine Weapon? Is that ugly too?"
"..."
Wen Yuqing was exasperated. "Are you trying to kill me with frustration?"
"I wanted to try on my own."
"Try on your own, my foot! With me around, you still need to try? Wouldn't that make me a laughingstock to others?" Wen Yuqing glared at him. "Remember, next time someone bullies you, just mention my name. If they still dare to act, then crush a Paper Talisman. I'll destroy them."
"Yes, Master!"
"I'm leaving!"
The conversation ended, and the ethereal figure dissipated.
Guang Xiaoyu and Shi Yi, who had hurried over, happened to witness this scene, both of them stunned.
Was that woman, who exuded an immortal aura, the Master of Qingfeng, Wen Yuqing?
She possessed no trace of gentleness or grace; on the contrary, her language was surprisingly coarse—a complete tomboy indeed!
But they both had to admit she was incredibly domineering.
Huh!
Guang Xiaoyu exhaled. "Senior Brother, why don't you crush another Paper Talisman? I would like to meet Master and pay my respects as a disciple."
An audacious thought struck her.
Her Master was so domineering! If she acted cute and wheedled a bit, perhaps she could coax some life-saving equipment out of her, or at the very least, get a few hundred Paper Talismans.
If anyone bullied her, she could just crush a talisman. Wouldn't that be incredibly satisfying?
That would provide such a great sense of security!