Chapter 169: Astounding Advancement Speed

The sudden turn of events startled even the experienced Hong Jian. Crimson Wheel Peak had always been tranquil, yet once it stirred, the commotion was earth-shattering.

Her immediate thought was whether someone on Crimson Wheel Peak was breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

If that were truly the case, the cultivator's strength would be overwhelmingly powerful, rivaling the celestial phenomena stirred up by Ji Youfeng when he broke through in the depths of the Endless Sea years ago.

However, as Hong Jian quickly mentally reviewed the individuals capable of such a breakthrough, a trace of surprise flickered in her eyes. Among the Golden Core perfection cultivators currently residing on Crimson Wheel Peak, none had been rumored to be on the verge of a breakthrough. Moreover, the strongest among them was likely Zhong Xiu, a disciple of Qi Tianbao, yet even he could not possibly cause such a massive disturbance.

Hong Jian remained puzzled for only a moment before the surging spiritual energy in the surroundings rapidly converged, providing her with the answer. The epicenter of the phenomenon was unmistakably Jing Li's cave dwelling.

That was where Shi Qingxiang, who was recovering from his illness, was currently staying. What had happened?

Within this brief span of time, the commotion had alerted far more than just the cultivators of Crimson Wheel Peak. From the hiding place shared by Hong Jian and Tong Dai, disciples from other peaks could be continuously seen flying over to investigate.

Yet, upon discovering that the center of the strange phenomenon was Jing Li's dwelling, most of the onlookers wore expressions of disappointment and ceased pressing forward.

"Let's go," Hong Jian pulled Tong Dai, snapping her out of her stupor. If Wei Yilian had not appeared by now, it could be safely concluded that he was not inside the dwelling.

Shi Qingxiang was Dai Mingchi's direct disciple, highly valued by his master. Since he had come to the Danxia Sect to recuperate, neither Fengshan Mu nor Qi Tianbao had neglected him.

With this sudden anomaly erupting, Fengshan Mu was the first to arrive, followed closely by Ying Qi and Qi Tianbao.

Before long, the news spread: Shi Qingxiang had just activated his protective array, supplementing it with gathering talismans to draw in spiritual energy. Originally intended merely to regulate his frail body, the process unexpectedly allowed him to break through his cultivation bottleneck, advancing directly to the Golden Core perfection stage.

Reaching Golden Core perfection was not particularly rare within the Danxia Sect. Yet, considering his youth, coupled with the staggering commotion his breakthrough had caused, everyone—regardless of whether they felt respect or resentment toward Dai Mingchi's disciple—could not help but be deeply moved.

Undoubtedly, the more intense the heaven and earth resonance triggered during a cultivator's advancement, the greater their underlying strength. This was merely ascending to Golden Core perfection, yet truth be told, very few even when breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage could create such a massive spectacle. Even accounting for the role played by the spiritual gathering array, it clearly demonstrated that Shi Qingxiang, who had kept a low profile ever since arriving at the Danxia Sect, possessed spiritual awareness far superior to his peers—to a degree that was simply astonishing.

That was not even the most startling part. He was still not yet fifty years old. A Golden Core perfection cultivator under fifty was something unheard of.

The higher one ascended, the harder the progression became. Countless Golden Core cultivators remained trapped at various bottlenecks for their entire lives, exhausting every resource and method yet failing to find a path to break through. Yet look at him: he had reached perfection effortlessly and without a care in the world. From the look of it, the barriers that constrained ordinary cultivators seemed completely ineffective against him. Did that mean he might create another miracle and achieve the Nascent Soul stage within a hundred years?

Such innate talent was truly terrifying. Fortunately, he was confined by an incurable illness and unable to go anywhere; otherwise, wouldn't the Talisman Diagram Sect have produced a figure even more formidable than Dai Mingchi?

Regardless of how people reacted to the news, on their way down the mountain, Hong Jian and Tong Dai indeed encountered numerous senior elders and fellow disciples, almost causing the two of them to expose their identities several times over.

By the time they safely returned to Fragrant Accumulation Peak, the commotion caused by Shi Qingxiang's advancement had gradually subsided. A thought stirring in her heart, Hong Jian pulled Tong Dai along to visit her master, Fei Chengji.

As she had anticipated, Fei Chengji had gone to Crimson Wheel Peak and was not in his dwelling. Instead, she and Tong Dai turned to look for Zhang Yu.

"Senior Brother, did you hear that Shi Qingxiang has advanced to Golden Core perfection?"

"I heard. Such a massive commotion has spread everywhere; didn't Master rush over to offer congratulations?" When facing Qi Xiuning, Zhang Yu would occasionally indulge in wistful daydreams about how his life might have turned out if he had been chosen by the Deity Transformation expert back then. But toward Shi Qingxiang, Zhang Yu had long since extinguished any desire to compete. The late Golden Core cultivation base was already enough to make him submissive, let alone the fact that the other had now advanced even further.

"Why aren't you going? Didn't you say you've known each other for a long time and share a deep friendship? Could you have been deceiving all of us?" Hong Jian widened her eyes with a naive, inquisitive expression, questioning him aloud.

"I—" Remarks about knowing each other from the past and becoming friends through conflict were things Zhang Yu had only ever uttered in front of Hong Jian alone. Though there was a suspicion of gilding the lily, it was, after all, the truth. How could it be called deception, let alone dragging everyone else into it? Zhang Yu looked at Tong Dai with a helpless expression, hoping she might put in a word for him.

However, Tong Dai's entire mind was consumed by the Universe Pouch she had failed to deliver. Not only did she miss Zhang Yu's glance, but even if she had understood it, she would not have bothered to bail him out—she had her own favor to ask of Junior Sister Xiao.

Zhang Yu had no choice but to say, "Why would I deceive you? Senior Shi has joyfully attained Golden Core perfection, and the Sect Master along with all the seniors are currently with him. At a time like this, how could a junior like me rush over to seek an audience? If I go, it will have to wait until this wave passes, to see if his condition has improved with his breakthrough. If his health permits, I will pay a visit to congratulate him then."

Though he said that, Zhang Yu knew the true depth of his friendship with Shi Qingxiang, and a wave of guilt inevitably washed over him.

Hong Jian nodded. "As long as you aren't lying. You promised before to introduce me to him. Tomorrow morning, Senior Sister Tong and I will come find you, and we'll all go together." Her tone was absolute, leaving no room for Zhang Yu to refuse.

Unable to fathom her intentions, Zhang Yu asked, "What kind of introduction? Are you planning to—" At this point, Zhang Yu could not help glancing at Tong Dai, switching to spiritual transmission: "Xiao Xiao, why are you dragging Tong Dai along? Aside from me and Master, no one else knows your brother joined the Talisman Diagram Sect."

"Senior Sister Tong is curious too. Just treat it as taking the two of us along for a casual visit. Why bring up my brother out of nowhere?"

Having finished her transmission, Hong Jian placed her hands on her hips and smiled warmly. "Senior Sister Tong and I will ride on your coattails to see what this cultivation prodigy looks like. Tomorrow, you can catch up on old times and just leave the two of us alone."

As for catching up on old times, Zhang Yu had already said everything that needed to be said during their meeting before leaving for the Floating Cloud Sect. Tomorrow would simply be a courtesy call to offer congratulations and present a gift; whether they would even get to see Shi Qingxiang was uncertain. But since his junior sister's mind was not going to be changed, Zhang Yu had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

Having effortlessly managed Zhang Yu and secured the arrangement for the three of them to visit Crimson Wheel Peak the next morning to see Shi Qingxiang, Hong Jian departed.

Leaving Zhang Yu's dwelling, Tong Dai asked impatiently, "Xiao Xiao, why on earth are we going to see that Senior Shi?"

Though meticulous by nature, she had not been entirely focused on the conversation between Hong Jian and Zhang Yu, yet she still sensed Hong Jian's extraordinary persistence regarding this visit.

Hong Jian smiled. Handling Tong Dai was an absolute breeze for her: "Isn't he a crucial figure in the Talisman Diagram Sect? We should build some rapport and see if we can help improve Senior Brother Wei's situation, so that Zhong Xiu reins it in a bit."

Tong Dai let out a soft gasp. Believing it completely, she was immediately filled with admiration. "Junior Sister, you are truly clever. Why didn't I think of that?"

Having said that, feeling that she had not fully expressed the depth of her thoughts, she paused and sighed with emotion, "Xiao Xiao, you are so good, so dedicated to your friends. It was truly my fault earlier for judging people by their appearance and harboring so many misconceptions about you. I was wrong, and I will never do it again."

A sudden tightness gripped Hong Jian's heart. At that moment, she was genuinely touched by Tong Dai's words. For a girl so easily swayed by emotion to have reached the Foundation Establishment stage with a solid cultivation base, it seemed there were reasons after all. In her heart, right was right and wrong was wrong—simple and sincere.

In truth, this was the sort of topic that would make anyone normal feel awkward. Not wanting Tong Dai to continue reproaching herself, Hong Jian chuckled and said, "Judging people by their appearance? Was it because I am too breathtaking, making female cultivators inevitably feel jealous?"

Hearing this, Tong Dai burst into a giggle and chimed in playfully, "Indeed, such a peerless beauty is truly the first time any of us has laid eyes upon one." Amidst the laughter, she affectionately linked her arm through Hong Jian's.

Since the visit to Senior Shi was ostensibly for Wei Yilian's sake, Tong Dai's attitude immediately turned proactive. She single-handedly prepared the congratulatory gifts. Zhang Yu had also selected a few rare medicinal herbs beforehand, but compared to Tong Dai's offerings, his gifts were completely overshadowed.

Zhang Yu was utterly astounded. Observing Tong Dai's solemn and careful demeanor, he thought: Goodness, one would think she was the primary guest today.

It made him sigh with lamentation: No matter how honest and well-behaved someone was originally, once they got involved with Junior Sister Xiao, they all turned eccentric. In Senior Shi's eyes, his own shameless persistence must seem rather abnormal as well.

The three of them journeyed together toward Crimson Wheel Peak. This time, there was no need for stealth along the path, making encounters with fellow sect members inevitable.

Regardless of what people thought behind closed doors, Zhang Yu's superficial social standing was fairly decent. No matter whose master the disciples served, upon crossing paths they would exchange greetings according to seniority and exchange a few pleasantries, naturally earning Hong Jian plenty of curious glances.

Hong Jian paid them no mind. She had very little early contact with the cultivators of Crimson Wheel Peak, and these people had no way of recognizing her. However, she was about to face a major challenge: would Shi Qingxiang, whom she had not seen in over twenty years, recognize her?

What was the true intention behind the letter he had written to Jiang Yan? Ever since returning from the Demonic Realm, he had come straight to the Danxia Sect—how could he possibly know Fang Zheng's whereabouts?

Years had passed, and things had changed. The modern Shi Qingxiang was accomplished, renowned, and deeply valued by Dai Mingchi. Between his master and the friends of his youth, what stance would he choose? Could she make the correct judgment based on the subtle clues in his words and actions?

Her mind buzzing with activity, various hypothetical scenarios flashed like lightning through her thoughts before the cave dwelling where Shi Qingxiang was temporarily staying finally came into view.

Having visited once before, Zhang Yu knew that the dwelling was guarded by a Talisman Diagram Sect disciple who had escorted Shi Qingxiang there. He refrained from shouting his identity aloud. As they drew closer, the guard duly manifested and asked, "The three of you, what brings you here?"