38: Chapter 38 Status Transformation

Outside Ji Chanxi's Immortal Cave.

Lu Guan had been standing there for an unknown number of hours.

Leaning against an old tree with his arms crossed, his face was the picture of impatience.

Lu Guan clearly remembered the exasperated and helpless expression on Saint Ji Youying's face before he left.

A dignified Saint, a Core Formation Cultivator.

To think he couldn't even enter the Saintess's Immortal Cave and ended up storming off, leaving him here to wait in vain.

"What a thankless task..."

Lu Guan grumbled under his breath, kicking away a pebble by his foot.

The Restriction light shield outside the Immortal Cave flowed quietly, motionless, as if mocking his futile wait.

Just as he was wondering if he should find a place to sit and rest for a while...

The Restriction light shield suddenly rippled.

Lu Guan perked up, his back instantly straightening as the fatigue on his face vanished.

"Finally coming out!"

His eyes brightened, and a cold sneer curled onto his lips.

"Didn't make me wait for nothing."

An opening appeared in the light shield, and a figure stepped out from within.

Lu Guan looked closely and was stunned.

It wasn't the Saintess, Ji Chanxi.

It was Ye Xiaoyao.

It was only Ye Xiaoyao, dressed in a brand-new azure Daoist robe, walking with a composed pace, and his face even carried a hint of...

...indescribable lazy satisfaction?

Lu Guan's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly regained his composure.

He straightened his robes and walked toward Ye Xiaoyao, forcing an expression mixed with mockery and disdain onto his face.

"Junior Brother Ye!"

He drawled out the words, each one sounding as if it were soaked in vinegar.

"You've finally come out. I thought you were going to be a turtle hiding behind a woman's skirts forever, Junior Brother."

After speaking, he waited to see Ye Xiaoyao look embarrassed or angry.

Ye Xiaoyao only gave a faint smile.

The smile was very calm, even somewhat nonchalant.

He glanced at Lu Guan, his gaze like he was looking at an unremarkable stone by the side of the road.

After all, to him, Lu Guan truly was just a dog by the roadside right now.

Then, the Spiritual Pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage was released without warning.

The air seemed to freeze instantly.

Lu Guan felt a heavy force press down on him, as if an invisible giant hand was pinning his shoulders.

His waist bent, his back arched, and his whole body leaned forward uncontrollably, nearly falling flat on the ground.

Breathing became difficult, his chest felt tight, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

"Who is it?!"

Both shocked and furious, Lu Guan tried to lift his head, but his neck felt as if it were rusted shut.

"Come out right now!"

His mind raced: Could it be the Saintess? No, although the Saintess is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, her Spiritual Pressure isn't this... this overbearing.

The Spiritual Pressure Ye Xiaoyao released also contained a trace of Pure Yang Power.

Could there be another Foundation Establishment Cultivator here?

But how could there be an outsider near the Saintess's Immortal Cave?

He didn't even consider it might be Ye Xiaoyao.

A piece of trash who was only at the Early Stage of Qi Refining a dozen days ago, how could he possibly...

The Spiritual Pressure suddenly vanished.

Gasping for air, Lu Guan straightened up. Before he could steady himself, he heard Ye Xiaoyao's laughing voice:

"Nephew Lu, there are only the two of us here. Why, seeing your Martial Uncle Ye, aren't you going to pay your respects?"

Lu Guan was stunned.

He stiffly turned his head to look at Ye Xiaoyao.

The other man was still standing there with that same faint smile, but there was something else in his eyes.

A condescending sense of amusement.

"You..."

Lu Guan's Adam's apple bobbed as he suddenly activated the Spiritual Eye Technique.

A faint blue light flickered in his eyes as his gaze locked onto Ye Xiaoyao.

Probing.

Probing again.

Lu Guan's face gradually turned pale.

He couldn't see through him.

He couldn't see the depth of Ye Xiaoyao's cultivation at all; he could only feel the vast spiritual power contained within the other's body, far surpassing his own.

That spiritual power was solid and heavy, surging like a river; it was clearly...

"How is this possible?"

Lu Guan's voice began to tremble, and his eyes widened.

"You've become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? How can this be? It defies all logic!"

"You don't even have a Heavenly Spiritual Root, so how could you Cultivate so fast?"

"Just a few days ago you were clearly only at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining Stage, so how could you have established your foundation now?"

"Even with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, it would be impossible!"

He was incoherent, as if he had seen a ferocious great demon.

Ye Xiaoyao said nothing, simply releasing his Spiritual Pressure again.

This time, it was even heavier.

Lu Guan's knees buckled.

With a thud, he fell to his knees.

His knees hit the hard stone floor, making him grimace in pain.

But what hurt even more was the humiliation and terror in his heart.

Foundation Establishment!!!

It really was Foundation Establishment!!

The Outer Sect Disciple he had once viewed as an ant and repeatedly targeted...

...had now actually become a "Martial Uncle" he had to look up to.

Lu Guan lowered his head, pressing his forehead against the cold ground and kowtowing three times.

Each kowtow was firm, producing a dull thudding sound.

"Junior Lu Guan."

His voice was dry, with an obvious tremor.

"Pays respects to Martial Uncle Ye."

Ye Xiaoyao laughed, a relaxed and cheerful sound.

"Nephew Lu."

He said, "It seems you also know that a wise man submits to circumstances, hahaha..."

Kneeling on the ground, Lu Guan dug his nails deep into his palms.

Nephew.

Those two words pricked his ears like needles.

A dozen days ago, he was still calling the other "Junior Brother," plotting how to find an opportunity to get rid of this eyesore.

Now, he had to kneel here, calling himself "Junior" and listening to the other call him "Nephew."

How fate toys with people!!

Resentment and indignation surged in his heart, like a venomous snake gnawing at his internal organs.

But he didn't dare show even a hint of it on his face, only burying his head even lower.

Taking advantage of the kowtowing motion, Lu Guan quietly tucked his right hand into his sleeve and crushed a warm Jade Slip.

The Jade Slip turned to powder, and a hidden ripple was sent out.

After doing this, Lu Guan finally raised his head, forcing a terrified and humble expression onto his face.

"Martial Uncle Ye,"

His voice was full of feigned sincerity and regret.

"I have offended you many times before. It was because I was short-sighted and blind."

"I had no intention of offending you, Martial Uncle. I hope you can forgive me."

"I will never dare to show any disrespect to you again."

He spoke with such apparent sincerity, as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment.

Ye Xiaoyao watched his performance and sneered inwardly.

"Blind," indeed.

If he hadn't established his foundation and possessed overwhelming strength, Lu Guan would likely have attacked long ago, right?

Why would he be kneeling here saying these pretty, flattering words?

Ye Xiaoyao had noticed the slight ripple of spiritual power when the Jade Slip shattered just now.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, his senses had become much sharper.

"You think that by notifying the Saint to come here..."

Ye Xiaoyao suddenly spoke, his tone flat.

"...I will be afraid of him?"

Lu Guan's body stiffened.

He hadn't expected his little trick to be discovered.

Cold sweat trickled down his temples. He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound.

He could only keep his head down, his gaze dark and sinister.

Your Highness, you have to get here quickly!!

He prayed silently in his heart.

Otherwise, I'm afraid today's ordeal...

Lu Guan's mind raced, thinking about how he could escape if the Saint didn't show up.

Ye Xiaoyao certainly wouldn't let him off easily, given how deep their past grievances were.

Cripple his cultivation?

Break his legs?

Or...

He didn't dare think further.

Just then, Ye Xiaoyao suddenly looked up toward the distant sky.

A powerful aura was rapidly approaching.

"It seems the Saint has arrived quite quickly,"

Ye Xiaoyao muttered to himself.

Before his voice had even faded, a dark shadow streaked through the air.

Black robes fluttered, and black hair flew in the wind.

The newcomer was slender, with a grim and cold face.

He was currently standing in mid-air above their heads, without any Magical Artifact beneath his feet to support him.

This was an ability only Core Formation Cultivators possessed.

Ji Youying.

Looking down from above, his gaze first swept over the kneeling Lu Guan before landing on Ye Xiaoyao.

Those eyes were like tempered ice, devoid of any warmth.

"Seeing this Saint..."

He spoke, his voice as cold as a winter wind.

"...why haven't you knelt down yet?!!"