Chapter 78: The Early-Death White Moonlight in a Cultivation Novel (Part 9)

Unknowingly, another two months had passed.

On this particular morning, Zhou Yanxi was practicing her blade techniques as usual when the communication token at her waist suddenly vibrated.

There were only two people who could contact her through the token: her senior brother and her father. Since her senior brother was right beside her, it could only mean one thing—

Her father had finally come out of his closed-door cultivation.

In the cultivation world, going into seclusion for half a year was nothing unusual.

However, Zhou Yanxi had long suspected that her father had chosen this precise time to "go into seclusion" just to avoid the sect's annual disciple-recruitment duties.

Truthfully, the Sect Leader had long been displeased with how desolate and underpopulated her father's peak was—and even more unwilling to let such a renowned formation master like him continue wasting his talent.

After all, the cultivation world was unpredictable. Relying on only two disciples to carry the legacy forward was risky. So the sect had been urging her father to take on more disciples, hoping to "cast a wider net."

Not only Zhou Yanxi, but even her senior brother received a message from the communication token. Neither of them dared delay and hurried to the great hall of Zhenyuan Peak.

Since it was a family reunion, there was no need for excessive ceremony. Zhou Yanxi stepped forward quickly, spinning around in a little twirl before her father—a symbolic gesture she always made to reassure him she was unharmed.

She'd done this so many times, she was numb to it.

In the presence of a Nascent Soul expert like her father, Zhou Yanxi didn't dare let her guard down. Even though the system shielded her identity, she still remained cautious—after all, body-snatching was a real danger in the cultivation world.

That's why, whenever she was within the sect, she continued to maintain the original personality of the body she'd transmigrated into, blending in with those around her.

True Monarch Chongyuan beamed with comfort as he saw that his precious daughter had actually advanced in her cultivation over the past six months. He was genuinely pleased.

Looking at her face—so much like her mother's—he fell into a moment of sorrowful reminiscence.

Back then, Li'er had finally conceived a child during her late Core Formation stage. If not for being ambushed by a demonic cultivator, she wouldn't have perished after giving birth to their daughter. They could have lived a long, happy life as a family...

Seeing him so lost in thought, Zhou Yanxi and her senior brother quietly stood aside. They both knew he was missing her mother, the late True Lady Chonghua.

In truth, Chongyuan's recent "small seclusion" had been a result of an inner demon attack triggered by that same old grief.

It had taken him six full months to suppress it. But who knew when it might strike again?

Soon, two cups of tea's time passed. True Monarch Chongyuan finally snapped out of it and turned to Yuan Hen with a smile.

"Hener, you've worked hard while I was away. Now that I'm back, you can go off and experience the world again. Here—take this defensive talisman I made for you. It contains three of my strongest attacks."

Yuan Hen's eyes turned red. He knew just how much his master cared for him. Every time he left the sect, his master would always give him a life-saving item and repeatedly warn him to stay safe.

Though Chongyuan was his master in name, Yuan Hen had long since viewed him as a father and Zhenyuan Peak as his true home.

Seeing his disciple getting emotional, True Monarch Chongyuan teased, "I'm not dead yet! Quit crying like a kitten with two drops of cat piss."

Sure enough, his master always had a sharp tongue and knew how to poke fun at the most heartfelt moments.

After speaking with Yuan Hen, Chongyuan turned to ask about Zhou Yanxi's progress.

If he hadn't already secretly observed her cultivation—stable foundation, solid spiritual power—he might have thought she'd taken some shady shortcut to power.

Once he heard she'd had an epiphany, he burst out laughing."Haha! Not bad at all, Xi'er! You know, back when I was your age…"

And there it was—once again, her father started bragging about his past accomplishments. Zhou Yanxi had to keep a sweet expression and pretend to listen attentively. If she showed the slightest impatience, this big kid of a dad would definitely get upset.

After several cups of tea's worth of boasting, True Monarch Chongyuan glanced at his two disciples with satisfaction.Sigh, these kids are too outstanding—it's a sweet burden.

He made a mental note to visit the other elders later and show off a little.

Suddenly, Chongyuan recalled that his daughter had recently taken up blade training, and an idea flashed through his mind.

Without warning, he tossed out a line:"Keep up your cultivation. I'm going to visit a senior—should be back tomorrow."

Seeing their father dash off in a hurry, Zhou Yanxi and Yuan Hen exchanged a glance. They could only return to their training spot and resume their routine.

Meanwhile, Chongyuan was already carrying a jar of century-aged spiritual wine to the Library Pavilion, where he sought out the meditating Dao Lord of Blade Rhythm.

He respectfully bowed as a junior and flattered the old man:"Junior Chongyuan greets Uncle-Master. I happened to be free today and thought I'd drop by for a chat."

The Blade Rhythm Dao Lord's mouth twitched slightly at this obviously fake excuse. This guy never showed up unless he wanted something, and now he'd even brought such a fine gift—definitely up to no good.

Still, thinking of his long-deceased senior brother, the Dao Lord allowed Chongyuan to set up a boundary around them, shielding their conversation from prying eyes.

Seeing his uncle-master's reaction, Chongyuan immediately seized the opportunity. He offered the jar with both hands and smiled."This was brewed by Li'er before her death. If not for seeing you today, I wouldn't have brought it out."

The Dao Lord's expression flickered. He hadn't expected this old rascal to bring up Chonghua. Her tragic death and the parallels with his own lost disciple still weighed heavily on him.

Sigh... fine, I'll hear him out.

"You've got something to say, don't you? Out with it. Don't try to distract me with gifts."

Though his words were firm, the Dao Lord's eyes kept drifting toward the jar of wine.

Chongyuan could tell his chances were good and quickly laid out his request.

But upon hearing it, the Blade Rhythm Dao Lord's expression changed drastically. He snapped,"How could you joke about something like this? Isn't your daughter obsessed with alchemy? And you want me to take her as a disciple in the blade arts? Are you messing with me?!"

"Uncle-master, please don't be angry," Chongyuan replied earnestly. "Even if I had a hundred lives, I wouldn't dare fool you."

His sincerity finally began to soften the old man's anger, but the request still troubled him.

If anyone else had come to him with this, he would have kicked them out on the spot.

But this was his senior brother's only child—he couldn't just refuse outright.

In the end, after much coaxing and persistence, the Dao Lord finally relented with a warning:"I'll give the girl a chance. But if she can't pass my test, you can't blame me for rejecting her."