The two female disciples turned pale with fright and retreated repeatedly.
They knew well this young miss’s temperament. She possessed exceptional talent but had a fiery and impulsive nature. Having trained outside for many years, she had suddenly returned and likely did not yet know how terrifying the Senior Chen before her truly was.
A flicker of impatience passed through Chen Ping’s eyes.
He had not intended to stoop to the level of a young girl, but her aggressive demeanour and even reaching for her weapon stirred a trace of anger in his heart.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense and confrontational, a stern and authoritative shout came from outside the courtyard.
“Shuang’er! Stop this at once!”
Before the words fully landed, Ling Yuanzi’s figure had already appeared in the courtyard.
His face was grave. His gaze first swept displeased over Ling Shuang’s hand resting on her sword hilt, then turned to Chen Ping with an apologetic smile. “Fellow Daoist Chen, my daughter is wilful. She has been cultivating outside for years and only just returned to the sect. She does not know the proper etiquette and has offended you. I hope Fellow Daoist will be magnanimous.”
Upon seeing her father arrive, Ling Shuang showed no restraint. Instead, she stamped her foot in grievance. “Father! Why are you so polite to this useless… this person? He is merely Human Immortal seventh grade. On what basis…”
“Silence!”
Ling Yuanzi rarely rebuked his daughter so harshly. “Fellow Daoist Chen is a distinguished guest personally invited by me and a benefactor of our Profound Heaven Sword Sect! You must not be rude! Apologise to Fellow Daoist Chen at once!”
“Benefactor?”
Ling Shuang was stunned. She looked doubtfully at Chen Ping, then at her father, clearly unable to connect the term “benefactor” with someone at Human Immortal seventh grade.
Chen Ping waved his hand dismissively, stood up from the pool, and casually drew over the neatly folded cyan robe nearby to put on. His movements were calm and unhurried. “Sect Master Ling overstates it. Your daughter is straightforward and outspoken. It is no matter. However, Chen is rather curious. Your daughter mentioned cultivating outside for many years. Why has she suddenly returned?”
He vaguely felt that Ling Shuang’s abrupt return might not be coincidental.
Ling Yuanzi sighed, beckoned Ling Shuang to his side, then said to Chen Ping, “To be honest with Fellow Daoist Chen, Shuang’er studies under Heavenly Fire Sword Venerable and has been cultivating in the离火 Secret Realm for years. She has not returned for a full decade. Her sudden return this time has indeed surprised this old man.”
He looked at Ling Shuang, his tone softening somewhat but still carrying inquiry. “Shuang’er, why have you returned to the sect so suddenly? Did something happen in the secret realm?”
Seeing her father’s serious attitude, Ling Shuang also put away her pettiness.
She then spoke solemnly. “Father, while in the secret realm, your daughter heard that the Myriad Souls Demon Sect and our Profound Heaven Sword Sect had clashed in a great battle on the Crimson Blood Plain. Worried, I requested leave from my master and hurried back.”
“Fortunately, on the way I learned the battle had ended and you were safe and sound. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.”
“You are thoughtful.”
Ling Yuanzi’s gaze softened for a moment, then he asked again, “Is that the only reason? Did you hear any other news on the journey?”
Ling Shuang nodded, a trace of gravity appearing on her face. “Father, on the way back, your daughter did indeed hear shocking news and was just about to report it to you.”
She paused, her gaze involuntarily glancing at Chen Ping again before continuing. “It is said that something major has happened at the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect!”
Chen Ping’s originally casual expression suddenly sharpened. His gaze turned piercing as he looked at Ling Shuang. “The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect? What happened?”
Ling Shuang was startled by the sudden change in Chen Ping’s aura. The concern and sharpness that burst from those calm eyes inexplicably made her heart skip a beat.
She steadied herself and said, “The specific details are not entirely clear, but rumours say the Myriad Souls Demon Sect secretly stirred discord. A clan within the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect called the ‘fused beast clan’ suddenly rebelled, coordinating from inside and out to launch an uprising.”
“It is said the fighting was extremely brutal. Sect Leader Lie Tian led some trusted followers in a breakout and escaped, their whereabouts now unknown. At present, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect… has been taken over by that fused beast clan.”
“What?!”
Chen Ping’s pupils contracted sharply. The aura around him fluctuated uncontrollably for an instant. Though he quickly suppressed it, the coldness and fury that leaked out in that moment caused Ling Yuanzi and Ling Shuang, standing close by, to feel a chill in their hearts.
Even the spiritual liquid at the pool’s edge rippled in circles because of it.
