Chu Xingchen smiled, watching his second disciple's resentful expression.
That old wound from being deceived by Xu Linglong—possibly reduced to a devoted follower—remained his one vulnerability.
A particularly embarrassing chapter in his personal history.
While genuinely pitiful, it was also rather comical.
Chu Xingchen punched Li Xingtian lightly in the chest:
"You know your master. I just like teasing you all now and then. You're not going to take it seriously, are you?"
"Some things from the past… you don't need to bring them up so frequently."
"What past?" Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow.
Li Xingtian looked at the teasing expression on his master's face, swallowed the words he'd been about to say, and forced a smile:
"Nothing… if Master wants to say it, go ahead."
"…Why are you being so sentimental today?" Chu Xingchen punched his beloved disciple again. "Bold Xu Linglong! Did she possess my favorite disciple again!"
Li Xingtian exhaled heavily. "It's just that Master treats us exceptionally well."
Whether Li Xingtian had studied his master as thoroughly as his master had studied him, the comment effectively killed Chu Xingchen's teasing mood. He shifted to business:
"Tell me your thoughts. If they're good, I'll give you a gift."
Li Xingtian seemed to remember something and quickly shook his head:
"I can share my thoughts, but skip the gift."
Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow. "Not a pill. Something you've been longing for."
Li Xingtian hurriedly said:
"Really, no need… if there's something good, Master should save it for the fifth junior brother."
Chu Xingchen glanced around. He still hadn't given Li Xingtian Xu Linglong's arm—a treasure he'd been holding for the right moment.
But judging by Li Xingtian's reaction, he seemed to already know about it.
Chu Xingchen didn't dwell on it. The arm was taken casually, and it was possible Yuyang Daoist or others had already asked his disciples about it, or news had leaked somehow. He'd never restricted information from his disciples anyway.
Plus, Li Xingtian still seemed to care about Xu Linglong in his own way—wanting to check if her heart was black was a form of concern, wasn't it?
Chu Xingchen nodded gently:
"Share your analysis."
Li Xingtian immediately began:
"Xu Linglong is vindictive and won't swallow her pride."
"Master and Senior Bai injured her severely. She won't let that debt go unanswered. Moreover, Master's actions have certainly made her extremely wary of you."
"With Master's peerless talent, time will only favor you. Xu Linglong can surely see that."
"Furthermore, Master has now allied three sects—not just through talent, but by demonstrating a method to unite the eighteen immortal sects of the Central Province."
"The future will be shaped by these events, and within that future, Master will absolutely be the central figure!"
"What if Xu Linglong is using the Western Niu Continent as a decoy, deliberately drawing Master's attention there? What if leaving Donggua in the Central Province was part of the same plan?"
"She only wants to buy time while Master's gaze is directed outward, to set an elaborate trap for you?"
"Although Master hasn't fallen for Xu Linglong's scheme and has refocused on her, finding her won't be as simple as raiding cult strongholds and demon outposts."
"Xu Linglong might be willing to sacrifice everything for one decisive strike against Master."
Chu Xingchen nodded gently. Li Xingtian's reasoning had merit—at least the motivation and logic were sound. He considered it and replied:
"Looking for an opportunity to strike me… Most of the people I care about are within Tianyan Sect now. I rarely go out, and even when I do, they wouldn't necessarily know my movements. With Senior Bai accompanying me, targeting me wouldn't be easy."
"Moreover, acting against me in the Central Province would be troublesome—nearly equivalent to attacking Tianyan Sect directly. A Tribulation Transcendence cultivator could cross the distance quickly."
Li Xingtian's expression grew serious: "What if the location isn't the Central Province, but another continent?"
Chu Xingchen's gaze shifted slightly. "You mean… the Southern Continent, Yuzhou City?"
There were many places Chu Xingchen cared about, but few that would give Xu Linglong an opportunity.
Wanhua Ridge in the Central Province was somewhat remote but still within the Central Province. The eighteen immortal sects had built teleportation arrays everywhere across the Central Province, covering nearly every key point.
A Tribulation Transcendence cultivator receiving a message could teleport quickly and arrive in no time.
If the ambush failed to capture him immediately, it would likely turn into a siege.
Taidao Sect might not send a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator for Chu Xingchen's sake.
But Xuanqing Heavenly Sect and Tianyan Sect certainly would spare no effort.
Moreover, once exposed in the Central Province, disappearing again would be nearly impossible.
He'd likely face relentless pursuit with little chance of escape.
The only location that fit the conditions was Yuzhou City in the Southern Continent, where he still had considerable connections.
At the very least, it was uncertain whether Yuankong was even at the temple there anymore.
His original sect had been established in the Southern Continent.
Li Xingtian nodded immediately:
"Xu Linglong is vindictive, but she's also meticulous. Even if her scheme in the Southern Continent fails, she'd still gather intelligence on Master."
"She absolutely won't stay in the Central Province. To her, that would mean being powerless and waiting for defeat—that's never been her style."
"And Master, if any news comes from the Southern Continent, be extremely cautious. It could very well be a trap."
Chu Xingchen nodded gently at his words:
"Your master understands. I'll send people covertly to investigate. If anything comes from the Southern Continent, I'll mobilize half of both Xuanqing Heavenly Sect and Tianyan Sect there."
Li Xingtian relaxed at his words:
"Good. Then I won't disturb Master further."
With that, Li Xingtian turned to leave.
Chu Xingchen reached out again, hooking the arm of his departing disciple:
"What's the rush? You're so clever—doesn't your master get to praise you? Your thinking is sharp, but you also need to learn your master's sharp-eyed judgment and the core principle of never being a devoted follower."
Li Xingtian's expression shifted. "Understood…"
"This reasoning was excellent. Your master has to reward you."
Chu Xingchen began searching through his spatial ring.
Li Xingtian quickly tried to stop him. "Master, really no need. Advising you is my duty."
"What kind of talk is that? Is your master someone who doesn't distinguish between reward and punishment?"
"Master! Really, no need!"
In their back-and-forth, Chu Xingchen still pulled out the slender jade arm and asked:
"How about it? Does it look familiar?"
Li Xingtian's composure cracked. He stopped resisting, snatched the slender jade arm, and stuffed it into his own spatial ring.
Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly:
"As expected of your master's perceptive second disciple. Recognized it at a glance. Consider this compensation for your regrets."
"I don't have those kinds of regrets…"
Li Xingtian offered one explanation, then bowed quickly and hurried away.
Chu Xingchen narrowed his eyes, watching Li Xingtian's retreating figure in quiet contemplation for a moment, before turning back into the main hall.
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