78: Chapter 78 begins again.

The chicken-eating feast has begun.

"Husband, you made it a bit too big, Xingyu... Xingyu cannot finish it!"

"Then Yafei, you eat it."

"Husband, Yafei actually prefers eating double-yolk eggs..."

"Slow down, Youchu, don't choke!!"

"Jiangxue, you eat the chicken head first..."

Meanwhile, in another Meditation Room.

Jiang Miaoyi sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, eyes closed, regulating her breath.

But she simply could not calm her mind.

Although the sounds from the Revered Master bedroom were mostly blocked by the Formation, she was a Golden Core Cultivator with keen Divine Sense and could still faintly hear some movement.

"How long has it been since it stopped..."

"It has started again!!!"

Jiang Miaoyi opened her eyes, her heroic and spirited face full of helplessness.

"Is he really the head of the hidden dragon ranking?"

Jiang Miaoyi really wanted to go find her Senior Brother to confirm if there had been a mistake.

In her view, a Genius who could top the ranking should be the type of ascetic Cultivator who forgets to eat and sleep, is undistracted, and pours all their energy into cultivation.

But what about Chu Feng?

"Husband, it's too spicy, Xingyu really cannot eat anymore..."

"Sister Youchu, help me eat some..."

The faint, indistinct sounds drifted over again.

Jiang Miaoyi gritted her teeth expressionlessly and simply sealed her sense of hearing; out of sight, out of mind... no, out of ear, out of mind.

Just then.

"Hum~"

Her identity jade tablet vibrated.

Jiang Miaoyi took out the jade tablet and let her Divine Sense penetrate it.

It was a message from True Monarch Haori.

This Senior Brother's tone was both excited and helpless: "Junior Sister Miaoyi, I will depart from the Sect tomorrow and head to Nanyun City."

Jiang Miaoyi was stunned: "Senior Brother Haori is coming to Nanyun City?"

True Monarch Haori laughed: "Revered Master gave the order personally, telling me to come to Nanyun City to hold the fort, and while I'm at it... look after True Disciple Chu."

Jiang Miaoyi's lips twitched.

True Monarch Haori was a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Heavenly Talisman Revered Master, and his status at Duobao Peak was upper-middle.

To have him come and "look after" a Foundation Establishment Stage Yellow-rank True Disciple, this treatment...

"Junior Brother Luo can't hold them off anymore. True Disciple Chu suppressed the Earth-Grade True Disciples to top the ranking, and now every peak in the Sect is in an uproar."

"People come to Duobao Peak to inquire about the news in an endless stream every day, and Junior Brother Luo is dealing with it until he's frazzled."

"It's fortunate that True Disciple Chu has only comprehended the first volume of the [Heavenly Talisman Scripture]. This 'shortcoming' has made many people feel slightly more balanced. Plus, with Revered Master personally stepping in to suppress things, it hasn't descended into chaos yet," True Monarch Haori continued.

Jiang Miaoyi was silent.

She could imagine the scene.

A newly promoted True Disciple who had joined for less than a year, suppressing a crowd of Earth-Grade and Mysterious-Grade True Disciples to top the hidden dragon ranking—this news was indeed shocking enough.

There would certainly be no shortage of people from various peaks wanting to poach him, probe his bottom line, befriend him, or even suppress him.

"Senior Brother, I understand," Jiang Miaoyi replied.

"Junior Sister, you need to mentally prepare yourself in advance."

True Monarch Haori's voice became more solemn, "The Trial Assessment space becomes higher in difficulty the further one goes."

"For the next ten years, before the Sect's review and assessment, if True Disciple Chu remains stuck on the fourth level, that would be easy to handle."

"But if he advances even a little, even if he just passes the fourth level..."

He paused: "Then even Revered Master might not be able to suppress it."

Jiang Miaoyi's heart skipped a beat.

She certainly understood the weight of those words.

The talent Chu Feng had shown so far was already shocking enough, but if he took another step forward, proving that he wasn't just a flash in the pan, but truly had the potential for sustained growth...

Then he would no longer be a "Genius," but a "Prodigy."

Towards a Prodigy, the attitudes of the various peaks would be even more intense.

"I understand," Jiang Miaoyi took a deep breath, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

After ending the communication, she sat on the prayer mat, remaining motionless for a long time.

Her gaze involuntarily turned once more toward the direction of the Revered Master bedroom.

There, the chicken-eating continued.

Jiang Miaoyi sighed softly, a complex expression in her eyes.

There was worry, expectation, helplessness, and also a trace of... tenderness that even she herself hadn't noticed.

"Chu Feng..."

"Do you know how many pairs of eyes are watching the position you are standing in right now?"

She whispered to herself, then shook her head and chuckled.

Oh well.

Since she had chosen to be his dao protector, then she would protect him until the end.

Regardless of whether the road ahead was smooth or thorny.

The night grew deeper.

Nanyun City gradually quieted down.

But undercurrents were surging.

The next morning.

The night and the morning light intersected in the firmament, shrouding Nanyun City in a hazy gray-blue.

Courtyard 23, Revered Master bedroom.

Chu Feng slowly opened his eyes, pulled out his left hand, pulled out his right hand, pulled out his left leg, pulled out his right leg, pulled out...

He got out of bed barefoot, stepped onto the snow-velvet carpet, and walked silently to the window.

He pushed open the carved wooden window of the bedroom.

"Creak—"

The slight sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet morning.

Outside the window, the morning breeze was slightly cool, pouring into the room.

Chu Feng took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

His peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of someone in the courtyard.

He turned his head to look.

Jiang Miaoyi, in a white dress, was just walking out of her Meditation Room.

She seemed to have just finished her morning cultivation, with faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi still lingering around her.

The morning breeze brushed past, the white dress fluttering slightly, outlining her slender and tall figure.

She also saw Chu Feng.

Their gazes met in the air for a moment.

Jiang Miaoyi's expression didn't change, she just nodded gently in this direction, then walked to the stone table in the center of the courtyard and stood quietly.

She was waiting.

Chu Feng understood, gently closed the window, and turned to walk toward the wardrobe.

He took out a clean blue shirt to change into, and then washed up simply with clear water.

Himself in the mirror had a rosy complexion and bright eyes, showing no trace of the fatigue from a night of chicken-eating.

After tidying his clothes, Chu Feng pushed the door open and walked out of the Revered Master bedroom.

He arrived in the courtyard.

The morning light was brightening, and the flowers and plants in the courtyard were covered in dew, crystal clear.

The Spiritual Plant in the herb field swayed gently in the morning breeze, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

Chu Feng walked to the stone pavilion and cupped his hands in a salute: "Immortal Master Miaoyi."

Jiang Miaoyi turned around and nodded slightly: "Chu Feng."

She did not tie up her hair today; her long, jet-black hair draped over her shoulders, with only a loose bundle tied at the back of her head.

It lacked the usual heroic spirit, adding a touch of softness and beauty.

Her white dress was plain and clean, her waist was slender, and the morning light plated a faint halo on her.

The two walked into the stone pavilion and sat opposite each other on stone stools.

Jiang Miaoyi took a tea set out of her Storage Pouch.

A white jade teapot, celadon teacups, and a small sealed jar of Spiritual Tea leaves.

Her movements were skillful as she warmed the pot, placed the tea, and brewed it; the entire process was smooth and flowing, carrying a certain unique rhythm.

Soon, the fragrance of tea rose in curls.

It was a fragrance that was crisp and cool with a hint of sweetness, which made one's mind calm and peaceful upon smelling it.

Jiang Miaoyi pushed a cup of tea to Chu Feng, picked up the other cup herself, and gently blew on the heat.

She raised her eyes to look at Chu Feng, a rare and sincere smile appearing on her cheeks.

"Chu Feng."

Jiang Miaoyi spoke, her voice exceptionally clear in the morning.

"This Trial Assessment really surprised me."

She paused and put down the teacup.

Then.

For the first time, she bowed solemnly to Chu Feng with cupped hands.

"Congratulations on topping the hidden dragon ranking!"