Then, Lin Yinyin did the unthinkable.

She suddenly raised her head, her gaze piercing and defiant. “Then tell me, Sect Master—why have you failed to reach the Nascent Soul stage?!”

The question tore open the Sect Master’s oldest, deepest wound.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yinyin tightly wrapped her arms around Zhang Xian’s arm, pressing herself against him.

“I, Lin Yinyin! The greatest immortal fate in this life is meeting Brother! I will not only follow him, I will even bear his children. That is my Dao! I appreciate the Sect Master’s intentions, but I refuse!”

The silence that descended on the hall was heavier than a mountain.

Declaring in front of the Sect Master that she would bear children for a male cultivator was like trampling on the Sect Master’s dignity—and spitting on the Yunmiao Sect’s supreme inheritance, the Nine Turns Jade Condensation Sutra.

“You!” The Sect Master’s expression twisted, her composure cracking.

Zhang Xian stepped forward, shielding Lin Yinyin behind his broad back.

“Sect Master, quell your anger! This disciple and Yinyin, having entered the Yunmiao Sect, are naturally devoted to the Dao. If the sect can be accommodating, we will exert our utmost efforts to bring glory to the sect. However—”

His voice hardened, dropping an octave.

“If the Sect Master insists on forcing the issue, determined to tear us apart, then this disciple will have no choice but to withdraw from the sect with Yinyin! The Southern Region is vast; there will always be a place for us. The Lingxu Sword Sect, renowned for its sword path, would likely welcome us with open arms!”

The corner of the Sect Master’s eye twitched uncontrollably.

When Li Fuxi heard Zhang Xian utter the words “withdraw from the sect,” her chest felt as if it had been struck by a war hammer. A dull ache spread through her heart.

Su Ling, who had been silently observing the drama, suddenly interjected.

“You know, the Cloud Raiment Pavilion is a lovely option, too. Your family was originally an important partner of theirs. If you go seeking refuge there, bringing along a Five-Petal Golden Core like Lin Yinyin…”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Pavilion Master Yun has a discerning eye for talent. I suspect she would roll out the red carpet for you.”

Looking at her earnest expression, one might almost believe she was offering a helpful suggestion rather than pouring oil on the fire.

Elder Wang Ya hurriedly buried his face in his teacup, stifling a chuckle. Such brazen words… only a Nascent Soul powerhouse like Su Ling would dare to speak them to the Sect Master’s face.

“Enough!” The Sect Master slammed her hand down on the armrest, shattering the wood.

She turned her glare toward Li Fuxi, who had remained silent throughout.

“Li Fuxi! Is this the fine disciple you’ve taught?! Disrespectful to elders, even threatening to withdraw from the sect?”

Li Fuxi took a deep breath. She met the Sect Master’s oppressive stare with cool composure.

“Reporting to the Sect Master: although Fuxi is a teacher, the path of cultivation places utmost importance on one’s true heart. A teacher guides nature; a disciple’s Dao cannot be forged in chains.”

Whoa!

Zhang Xian couldn’t help but look at his master with newfound respect. He took back his previous assessment; his master wasn’t just a pretty face. She had improved, even learning to speak with such philosophical weight.

He didn’t quite understand the nuances, but it sounded impressive.

“Good! Very good!” The Sect Master laughed, a sound devoid of mirth.

“Zhang Xian, this seat will naturally discuss this matter with the elders of your clan. We will revisit this issue another day.”

She snorted coldly. Her figure dissolved into a blur of icy light and vanished from the throne.

The meeting ended in discord.

Wang Ya escorted the group to the main hall entrance. He patted Zhang Xian’s shoulder, his expression weary. “The Sect Master will likely go into seclusion again soon. Don’t take it to heart.”

Zhang Xian cupped his hands in thanks. To be fair, Wang Ya had always been considerate toward him.

Then, Wang Ya hesitated. “Regarding Elder Nangong… I hope you, Nephew, can spare her a way out.”

Such matters were clear to those with discerning eyes.

Wang Ya knew that Nangong Yao was arrogant and haughty. She had probably offended Zhang Xian’s clan in some way. However, given his fellow disciple bond with Nangong Yao, he didn’t want to see them reach a point of life-and-death conflict.

Zhang Xian smiled, his eyes not reflecting the sentiment. “That would require Elder Nangong to spare me first.”

Streaks of light tore across the sky as the three returned to Zhang Xian’s flying vessel. Inside, warm jade emitted a soft glow, yet the atmosphere remained heavy.

Li Fuxi’s brow was furrowed with worry. “Zhang Xian, you were impulsive today. The Sect Master came in person, and you still dared to strike with lethal intent.”

“She’s been stuck at the half-step Nascent Soul stage for nearly five hundred years. Her Dao heart is nearing a bottleneck, and she is desperate for a breakthrough. Your schemes in the arena absolutely did not escape her notice.”

Zhang Xian, however, didn’t seem concerned. “If it doesn’t work this time, there’s always next time. I heard Nangong Yao holds the title of the Sect Master’s nominal disciple, but from what I saw today, that status carries very little weight.”

Li Fuxi nodded slowly. “Indeed. The Sect Master’s heart is solely focused on her own Great Dao and the sect’s path. Back then, Nangong Yao only obtained the status of nominal disciple because she rendered meritorious service and bargained for it. There is no real master-disciple sentiment between them.”

Zhang Xian smiled.

That was for the best. With Nangong Yao losing the Sect Master’s protective umbrella, killing her would be much easier.

Now, with countless Spirit Treasures in his arsenal, he was no longer the mortal at others’ mercy. Today in the arena, he hadn’t even used half of his methods. If he truly went all out, he could crush her to death with his wallet alone—Earth-grade talismans and Spirit Treasures raining down like hail.

Lin Yinyin’s large eyes were filled with unease. The adrenaline of her outburst had faded, leaving behind apprehension.

“Brother, what if the Sect Master really breaks through to Nascent Soul? She values the Nine Turns Jade Condensation Sutra so much and hates us being together…”

“What do we do if she forces us apart then?”

“Don’t worry,” Zhang Xian said dismissively. “The Sect Master won’t break through to Nascent Soul.”

“Why?” Lin Yinyin and Li Fuxi asked in unison.

Li Fuxi added, “Although the Sect Master hasn’t broken through yet, her single-handed catch of your Spirit Treasure today far exceeds the power of ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Why are you so certain she can’t achieve Nascent Soul?”

A subtle, elusive smile played on Zhang Xian’s lips. “Because she has no Destiny Points.”

By now, Zhang Xian had formed a vague understanding of the system. Destiny Points represented developmental potential rather than one’s current realm. The Sect Master was not a Daughter of Destiny, which very likely meant her path of cultivation had already reached its absolute limit.

“Destiny Points?” Lin Yinyin and Li Fuxi looked at each other, confused.

Zhang Xian didn’t explain further. “Why overthink it? If it really comes to that, I’ll just turn against her, take both of you, and we’ll roam the Four Seas and Eight Wilds together.”

“Great! Great!” Lin Yinyin raised both hands in enthusiastic agreement.

“Ridiculous!”

A faint, almost imperceptible blush rose on Li Fuxi’s face as she shot a reproachful glare at Zhang Xian.

“Who… who wants to wander the world with you?! I’m the Peak Master of Spirit Sword Peak! I still have to restore my peak’s glory!”

“Right, right, thinking that far ahead is useless.” Zhang Xian laughed, changing the subject. “Master and I still need to prepare for the Demon Sweeping Assembly. We need to earn face for the sect! No matter how overbearing the Sect Master is, she won’t cause trouble for us right before such a major event.”

At the mention of the Demon Sweeping Assembly, Li Fuxi’s expression turned solemn. She lowered her head and gently stroked the longsword hanging at her waist.

Yes, she still had much to do. She had to redeem her disgrace at the Southern Region Martial Assembly, eradicate the evil demons, and avenge her master.