67: Chapter 67 Chief's Treatment

Upon hearing this, understanding dawned in Chu Xiao's eyes.

It seemed his actions within the Secret Realm had all been reported to the Sect's highest echelons.

He wasn't surprised by this, only slightly taken aback by the 'Chief Treatment'.

But he quickly regained his composure.

For the him of now, a mere title held little significance.

However, the privilege of True Disciples to freely enter the top floor of the Chuangong Pavilion,

and select Earth-Grade Cultivation Techniques, did pique his interest somewhat.

"Understood."

Chu Xiao nodded, then stood up and walked out of his Immortal Cave.

From his Immortal Cave to Tianxuan Peak, located deep within the Sect and wreathed in mist and clouds,

he needed to traverse more than half of the Inner Sect area.

Along the way, any Disciple who saw him would stop from afar, bow respectfully, and address him reverently as "Senior Brother Chu".

Their eyes were filled with awe, curiosity, and a trace of deep-seated fear.

Chu Xiao paid them no mind, his figure transforming into a streak of light.

He flew directly towards that mountain Peak, suspended above a sea of clouds, ethereal with Immortal Qi, like a dwelling of deities.

Tianxuan Peak was a Forbidden Ground of the Tianyan Sect, the secluded cultivation ground of Sect Master Hong Chen'er. Ordinary Disciples, if not summoned, would be killed by the Restrictions even if they approached within a hundred miles.

As Chu Xiao landed on the plaza at the Peak, he immediately sensed an aura utterly distinct from the outside world. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi here was so dense it had almost condensed into tangible mist. A single breath of it refreshed the mind and advanced one's cultivation.

At the far end of the plaza stood a majestic palace, carved entirely from white marble, bathed in a rainbow of radiant light.

"Disciple Chu Xiao, by the Sect Master's decree, has come for an audience," Chu Xiao announced clearly, standing before the hall.

*Creak—*

The heavy hall doors opened soundlessly to both sides. A fragrance, even more clear and cold yet seemingly containing the supreme principles of the Great Dao, wafted out from within.

Chu Xiao stepped inside.

The great hall was vast and imposing. The light was soft, and upon the vaulted ceiling,

as if inlaid, was a piece of real starry sky, with billions of stars slowly revolving,

emanating a vast and mighty aura.

Beneath that starry sky, a figure of peerless beauty stood quietly with her back to him.

She wore a moon-white palace dress, her figure graceful and exquisite, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall.

Even from just the back, she exuded an ethereal, transcendent aura unlike anything of the Mortal World,

as if she might ascend to immortality at any moment.

Chu Xiao's gaze sharpened slightly.

He could sense that no powerful Spiritual Qi fluctuations emanated from her person, yet she seemed completely fused with the entire heaven and earth, with this entire palace.

It gave him a feeling of unfathomable depth, impossible to see through.

He thought this might be a Senior Sister, a close Disciple serving by the Sect Master's side.

After all, the legendary Holy Lord Tianxuan was a great Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator who had lived for thousands of years.

How could someone of such profound dignity appear so youthful?

Thinking this, Chu Xiao took a step forward, cupped his fists in salute, and spoke in a tone neither subservient nor arrogant: "Disciple Chu Xiao, greets Senior Sister. May I ask where the Sect Master is at present?"

Hearing his words, the shoulders of that peerlessly beautiful figure trembled slightly.

She slowly turned around.

A veil as thin as a cicada's wing covered her breathtaking countenance,

revealing only a pair of clear, cold, and profound eyes.

Those eyes quietly regarded Chu Xiao.

As her gaze shifted, a faint ripple of amused interest quietly spread within them.

Chu Xiao's breath hitched involuntarily for an instant as the woman turned her head!

A veil as thin as a cicada's wing covered her breathtaking countenance, preventing a full view, yet adding a layer of mysterious beauty.

Yet even so,

just the flawless contours, the smooth jade-like forehead, and those eyes alone were enough to render any ornate description in the world pale in comparison.

Clear, cold, profound—as if they could see through a person's heart!

The shift in her gaze could make one's mind sway.

The moment he met those eyes,

Chu Xiao's Dao Heart, usually unmoved by external things, experienced a momentary daze.

It felt as if his Divine Soul was about to be sucked into them.

*How terrifyingly captivating!*

This wasn't a deliberately cast charm technique, but a natural, innate attraction.

However, Chu Xiao was, after all, Chu Xiao.

After only a moment's distraction, the Fusion of three wills and the Mountain Lord's true intent within his Sea of Consciousness shook violently!

An invisible will instantly swept over his Divine Soul,

shattering the daze in Chu Xiao's mind!

Chu Xiao's consciousness regained clarity in a flash.

The entire process happened in the blink of an eye, so fast it was almost imperceptible.

"Oh?"

And precisely because of this, a flicker of surprise appeared in the peerless beauty's eyes.

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice clear and cold, echoing softly in the vast hall.

"So you are Chu Xiao? Meeting this Seat, why do you address me as Senior Sister?"

But then, her tone abruptly shifted, those beautiful eyes narrowing slightly: "Or could it be... you think this Seat looks very much like your Senior Sister?"

Chu Xiao's heart jolted fiercely.

He instantly understood. The other party was testing him, or rather, giving him a warning.

His earlier "greets Senior Sister" was clearly a presumptuous mistake.

This woman before him was absolutely extraordinary.

It was just that he couldn't connect this graceful, peerless woman with the legendary Sect Master who had lived for thousands years and possessed such profound dignity.

But the immediate problem was, he had no idea how to address her correctly.

During this brief silence, the amusement in the woman's eyes grew even more pronounced.

"What? You dare to come alone to this Tianxuan Peak without even knowing who this Seat is?"

She paused, then posed a question that plunged Chu Xiao into an awkward predicament: "Do you know the given name of this Seat, the Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect?"

Chu Xiao's mind raced, searching for information about the Sect's higher-ups.

However, the result was... a complete blank.

He was a Disciple who had just been promoted from the Outer Sect not long ago, spending most of his time in seclusion.

The highest-ranking figures he usually interacted with were merely Inner Sect Elders.

Regarding that elusive Sect Master, he only knew an honorific—Holy Lord Tianxuan.

As for her real name, forget him, probably ninety-nine percent of the Disciples in the entire Tianyan Sect had never heard it.

This question was essentially an unsolvable riddle.

Seeing Chu Xiao's expression, which remained calm but clearly unable to answer, a hint of approval flashed in the woman's eyes.

To recover his clarity so quickly under the influence of her aura,

without even revealing a trace of unusual emotion—

such Heart-Nature was truly rare among the younger generation.

"Heart-Nature is not bad,"

she thought to herself.

And at this moment, after a brief moment of difficulty, a sudden thought struck Chu Xiao.

He still had his greatest trump card, which had never let him down.

"Insight into Heavenly Secrets!"

He silently recited these words in his heart, directing them towards the mysterious, peerless figure before him.

The System interface slowly unfolded before his eyes.

[Name: Yuan Muyu]

[Realm: Peak Nascent Soul (constrained by Taiyin Body, unable to achieve Breakthrough)]

[Identity: Tianyan Sect Sect Master!]

[Fate: Heavenly Phoenix (Crimson!)]

[Recent Opportunity: Within three months, engage in Yin and Yang union with the host (Primordial Dao Body). Can utilize the host's Primordial Dao Body's supremely Yang and pure Origin power to neutralize her extreme Yin body, resolve Dao injuries, and achieve a Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Realm in one go.]

*Boom!!!*

The moment he saw this line of information, Chu Xiao's heart gave a little jump!

Yuan Muyu... Tianyan Sect Sect Master... Peak Nascent Soul?!

The first two pieces of information were shocking enough,

completely confirming the boldest guess in his heart.

This peerlessly beautiful woman who appeared to be in her twenties was actually the Holy Lord Tianxuan who presided over the Tianyan Sect and had lived for thousands of years!

*What the hell? How is this possible!*

Furthermore, the Sect Master's Fate was actually that of an Empress?

However, all this shock paled in comparison to the impact of that final 'Recent Opportunity'.

*Engage... engage in Yin and Yang union with him?!*

Utilize his Primordial Dao Body to Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Realm?!

Chu Xiao felt his face twitch uncontrollably!!!

*What kind of Opportunity is this?*

*What does this even mean?*

*He fights tooth and nail, snatching opportunities from others...*

*How come, when it comes to the Sect Master, he himself has become someone else's 'Opportunity'?!*

And this kind of... Opportunity?

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

However, not a trace of abnormality showed on his face.

"Disciple Chu Xiao was unaware of the Sect Master's presence and has been disrespectful. I beg the Sect Master's forgiveness!"

He abruptly took a step back and bowed deeply towards Yuan Muyu!

His posture was extremely respectful, his tone sincere, without the slightest pretense.

This series of reactions was astonishingly fast.

Yuan Muyu's eyes were filled with nothing but approval!

*This kid reacts quite swiftly, doesn't he?*

"Rise,"

she said calmly, her voice returning to its previous even tone. "It is normal for you not to know this Seat's identity. This Seat has not appeared before ordinary Disciples for nearly a century. I do not blame you."

Her explanation was reasonable and gave Chu Xiao a perfect way out.

"Thank you, Sect Master."

Chu Xiao slowly straightened up, keeping his eyes lowered deferentially.

However, Yuan Muyu clearly had no intention of letting him off.

She looked at Chu Xiao and said slowly, "Do you know, with the talent and combat prowess you displayed in the Feixiao Secret Realm, where you might rank among the younger generation of the entire Da Qian Cultivation World?"

Chu Xiao's heart stirred. He hadn't expected the Sect Master to ask this. He shook his head. "This Disciple does not know."

"The Da Qian Cultivation World is vast, spanning millions of miles of mountains and rivers. Sects are numerous, and Prodigies emerge generation after generation. The Imperial Dynasty has established a heavenly prodigy ranking, listing the three thousand most promising young talents under a hundred years of age."

Yuan Muyu's voice narrated dispassionately about a much broader world.

"With your Golden Core cultivation, mastery of immortal Dao true intent, and your achievement of slaying a Half-step Nascent Soul, you are more than qualified to be listed on it."

She paused, then offered an assessment. "Probably, you could rank around one thousand five hundred."

*Around one thousand five hundred?*

This ranking, if heard by any other Disciple of the Tianyan Sect,

would likely send them into ecstatic joy, viewing it as supreme glory.

After all, that was the ranking of the three thousand Prodigies of the entire Da Qian Cultivation World!

To rank in the middle among them—wasn't that an honor?

For an Inner Sect Disciple like Chu Xiao to soar directly into the top fifteen hundred was a miracle in itself.