Chapter 107: Parting Ways

“Brother Yang Yan, I chose to go with Aunt Jing myself! Father and Mother have already agreed, and today I have come to say goodbye to you...”

However, the words spoken by Ziling beside Yang Yan immediately lessened the chilling murderous intent that had gripped him, leaving him somewhat stunned as he stared at her. The black-robed woman nearby shrugged with a smile in her eyes.

“Brother Yang Yan, I know you’ve been hiding something from me. Ever since the assessment at the Hundred Hunt Grounds, you seem like a different person. Though it’s not obvious on the surface, I’ve sensed it...”

Yang Yan’s pupils contracted slightly at her words; indeed, a woman’s intuition was truly formidable...

“That feeling is like a heavy mountain pressing down on you. I’ve wanted to ask you many times, but I held back because I understand that even if I knew the truth, with my current strength, I wouldn’t be able to help you...”

“Since childhood, no matter what difficulties or dangers we faced, you always stood in front of me, protecting me. But... Brother Yang Yan, I don’t want what happened in Bailin to happen again. You’ve silently guarded me all this time; this once, let me do something for you! Because I’m no longer the little girl I used to be—I’ve grown up...”

Ziling’s bright eyes, tinged with red, fixed firmly on Yang Yan. Her delicate face bore a resolute expression. Although tears shimmered in her eyes, her stubbornness kept them from falling.

Her words stunned Yang Yan into silence. He raised his trembling hand and gently brushed the girl’s cheek. For some reason, the face so familiar to him suddenly felt strangely unfamiliar.

Indeed, Ziling had grown up. Unconsciously, the little girl who used to trail behind him, calling out “Brother Yang Yan” in a childish voice, had blossomed into a graceful young lady. Not only that, but she had surpassed him in cultivation at a breathtaking pace—something he had always taken pride in. Yet, his attitude and treatment of Ziling remained unchanged, as if she were still the little girl who would never grow up.

He had never considered what Ziling truly wanted or the path she wished to take. Always acting as her brother, he forcefully bestowed upon her what he deemed best, even deciding the path she would walk in life. He never asked for her thoughts or consent. He wanted to protect her from the storms and hardships of life, to clear away all obstacles, so that under his wings, the girl could preserve the pure innocence deep within her heart amidst this chaotic world...

Yang Yan’s one-sided devotion had never asked whether Ziling was willing to live her life according to his plans...

“Yes, our Ziling... has grown up...”

---

In a daze, Yang Yan’s vision blurred. The once unfamiliar delicate face before him finally overlapped with the image of the girl in his memories. He forced out a somewhat awkward smile, but tears uncontrollably streamed down.

“Brother Yang Yan!”

Seeing this, the girl could no longer hold back. Tears poured like broken pearls from her big, watery eyes as she threw herself into Yang Yan’s embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.

This scene drew a strange look from the black-robed woman beside them.

Although Ziling possessed the rare ‘Spirit of All Beings’ constitution, which allowed her to rapidly advance by absorbing the energy of powerful magical beasts, the black-robed woman understood the immense pain such absorption caused. There was no free lunch in the world; to possess a constitution that rapidly increased strength also meant enduring suffering far beyond ordinary people’s endurance.

This girl, not yet fifteen, bore that agonizing pain without shedding a single tear, which shocked the black-robed woman. Yet, when she faced Yang Yan, the girl’s tears became cheap and abundant. The woman couldn’t help but think to herself, what a pair of star-crossed souls...

Under the bright moon and a sky full of stars, in a forest on a side peak of Qingxuan Mountain, the girl rested her head on the boy’s lap, her small hand pointing occasionally at the blue sky, letting out a few charming laughs. The two seemed to have returned to the carefree days of their childhood memories...

When dawn broke, Yang Yan looked at the two distant figures disappearing on the horizon and let out a long breath.

Finally... they’re gone...

Staring blankly in the direction they vanished, Yang Yan suddenly turned and began walking down the mountain. The fatigue and sorrow on his face had vanished, replaced by a steely resolve and unwillingness to be left behind. As her brother, he would not let his sister outpace him...

With the rising sun, Yang Yan followed the stone path toward Zixia Peak.

---

Though Qingxuan Sect was founded around Qingxuan Mountain as its main peak, after nearly five centuries of development, it had grown far beyond what it once was. While Qingxuan Mountain remained at its core, the sect’s territory now encompassed dozens of surrounding peaks, among which Zixia Peak was notably important.

The entire sect was shielded by a massive formation that not only repelled enemies but also gathered the surrounding spiritual energy. Zixia Peak stood at the very center of this formation!

When Yang Yan first learned this from a senior brother, he was deeply astonished. Qingxuan Sect was indeed impressive, using a formation that artificially absorbed spiritual energy from hundreds of miles around to supply disciples for cultivation or to nurture rare medicinal herbs requiring harsh conditions.

Zixia Peak housed the inner sect.

On one stone platform after another, many disciples clad in Qingxuan Sect robes sat cross-legged. With each breath, faint threads of spiritual energy entered their nostrils. In the center, twenty towering stone platforms rose, each occupied by a seated figure.

The disciples training here gazed at those on the high platforms with burning admiration and reverence.

This was because those twenty platforms represented the sect’s undisputed elite—the inner sect disciples.

Though differing by only one character, the term “inner sect” versus “outer sect” represented worlds apart.

Not only did inner sect disciples receive tens of times more spirit crystals monthly than outer sect disciples, but they also had access to the sect’s ‘Skill Treasury’ to choose martial techniques freely! More importantly, inner sect disciples had the privilege to choose one of the five elders of Qingxuan Sect as their master!

No matter how outstanding one’s talent, without a good teacher, the path of cultivation was bound to have detours. Life was short—wasting precious time on useless detours was unbearable. Being guided by an elder at the peak of the Spirit Communication Realm was the dream of many Qingxuan disciples!

However, with Elder Yang—an ancient powerhouse whose presence had lasted countless years—residing within him, Yang Yan showed little interest in selecting a Qingxuan elder as a master. He was pragmatic; the allure of spirit crystals and freely chosen martial techniques was greater. Moreover, the twenty high platforms were unique, crafted from a special material called ‘Spirit Gathering Stone.’

‘Spirit Gathering Stone’ was a wondrous substance born from the essence of heaven and earth, naturally attracting spiritual energy. Sitting upon these tall stone platforms allowed cultivators to achieve twice the result with half the effort.