The atmosphere on the return journey was heavy and oppressive. The sorrow of losing companions wrapped around everyone's heart like dark clouds. No one spoke. Only silent hurrying sounds and occasional groans from agitating injuries could be heard. Elder Xuan Lin flew ahead, spiritual sense extended outward, on guard against possible attacks. Mu Qingfeng and Liu Yun protected the flanks of the team, their sharp eyes sweeping the surrounding forests.
Xiao Qi followed in the team, recovering spiritual power while operating his technique, and digesting everything that happened in the secret realm. His father's passing, the demonic entity's scheme, the responsibility of inheritance... this information was too vast, causing him waves of confusion and heaviness. He unconsciously touched his chest. The mark merged with the jade pendant gave a warm touch, as if reminding him of the weight he carried.
Several days later, when the familiar outline of Qingxu Temple's mountain gate appeared at the misty mountain peak, the tense nerves of everyone finally relaxed slightly.
Before the mountain gate, sect higher-ups and many disciples who had already received the message gathered to wait. When they saw Elder Xuan Lin leading this team of only seven people, all injured and withered, the crowd instantly erupted in suppressed exclamations and uncontrollable sorrow.
Sect Master Xuan Xuan Taoist personally came forward to greet them. His face was thin and elegant, his eyes deep and profound. At this moment, looking at this defeated army, even he couldn't hide his heartache.
"Elder Brother Xuan Lin, you've worked hard." Sect Master Xuan Xuan's voice was low, his gaze sweeping over everyone, pausing for a moment on Xiao Qi who had a different aura yet still carried injuries.
"Sect Master Brother, we... have failed your trust." Elder Xuan Lin bowed, his tone heartaching. He briefly reported the shocking changes in the secret realm, the tremendous casualties, and the final collapse and closure. He concealed the specific details about Xiao Qi obtaining the core inheritance, only mentioning that the secret realm core had undergone strange changes, causing the collapse, and everyone fought desperately to escape.
Even so, that blood-curdling process was enough to move everyone present.
The fellow disciples and friends of the fallen disciples couldn't help but cry out loud. The entire mountain gate was filled with dense sorrow.
Xiao Qi stood in the team, feeling countless gazes fall on him. There was sympathy, concern, but more, it was an indescribable complex emotion—curiosity, probing, even a trace of reverence?
Soon, he understood why. Although Elder Xuan Lin had been vague, everything that happened in the secret realm could not be completely hidden. Especially at the final exit, Xiao Qi's solitary rearguard action, pulling the strange purification light to resist the demonic tide, and the news that he had seemingly obtained the secret realm core inheritance, had already spread in small circles within the major sects through the mouths of other survivors.
A young disciple who had only entered the sect a few years ago, in the dangerous secret realm, not only repeatedly displayed purification abilities that made demonic cultivators wary, but also seemingly obtained the biggest opportunity during the final collapse... This was enough to make him, in Qingxu Temple, jump from an obscure "junior brother" to the focal point of all attention!
"So that's Tang Xiao Qi?"
"I heard he shone brilliantly in the secret realm. Even the Silver-Masked Emissary of Shadow Snake Pavilion couldn't do anything to him!"
"During that final collapse, it seemed only he touched the core inheritance..."
"Looking at his aura, it seems he's already late Foundation Establishment? Wasn't he only mid Foundation Establishment when he entered? This speed of improvement..."
Whispering sounds like mosquitoes buzzed in the crowd. Gaze after gaze, like searchlights, focused on Xiao Qi, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Sect Master Xuan Xuan obviously also heard these rumors. He deeply looked at Xiao Qi without asking more, only saying warmly: "Good that you're alive. Disciples have worked hard. Return to your respective peaks to rest and heal. We'll discuss everything after injuries are stable."
Everyone felt relieved. Under the reception of their respective teachers or fellow disciples, they dispersed.
Just as Xiao Qi was about to follow the flow of people back to the menial disciple peak where he was assigned (although he no longer lived there, he was still nominally a menial disciple), he was stopped by Mu Qingfeng.
"Xiao Qi, the Sect Master ordered you to go with us to the Main Peak's great hall." Mu Qingfeng said in a low voice, his eyes indicating he should follow Elder Xuan Lin and the Sect Master.
Xiao Qi's heart tightened. He knew the inevitable had come. He nodded and silently followed behind Mu Qingfeng and Liu Yun.
Along the way, every disciple they met looked sideways at them with varied gazes. Envy, jealousy, curiosity, reverence... various emotions intertwined. Xiao Qi could feel that his status in the sect had, from this moment, undergone an earth-shaking change.
Entering the solemn Main Peak great hall, besides Sect Master Xuan Xuan Taoist and Elder Xuan Lin, there were several elders with profound auras present, including the Pill Hall Elder, Transmission Technique Elder, and Law Enforcement Elder—all core decision-makers of Qingxu Temple. Their gazes also fell on Xiao Qi in unison.
The atmosphere in the great hall was solemn.
"Xiao Qi," Sect Master Xuan Xuan spoke, his voice calm but carrying unavoidable authority, "What exactly happened in the secret realm? What did you... obtain?"
The moment to face had come. Xiao Qi took a deep breath and stepped forward. He knew the parts about his father and the demonic entity's core scheme must be concealed, otherwise it might bring greater trouble. But regarding the inheritance and his own abilities, before sect senior management, perhaps he could be partially candid to gain the sect's trust and support.
He organized his language and selectively, with reservations, recounted the process from entering the core hall, to encountering his father's phantom, the demonic entity's whispers tempting him, and the inheritance light orb voluntarily transforming into a mark and merging with the jade pendant. He emphasized that the inheritance was "Purification Source," that it chose him not because he absorbed it, but because it recognized his "guardian" path, making him the "Guardian." He could borrow part of its power but could not completely make it his own. He also mentioned the existence and scheme of Void Illusion.
As for the core secrets that Xu Zhan was his father and that Void Illusion destroyed the Xu family for the Lotus Seed Source, he concealed these, only saying they were some information told by the phantom senior wrapped in demonic energy before it dissipated.
Even so, what he recounted was enough to move all elders present!
Guardian of the ancient Purification Source? Void Illusion's remnant soul? The shocking scheme behind Shadow Snake Pavilion?
Each piece of information was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring a thousand waves!
The elders looked at each other in alarm. Their eyes filled with shock and gravity. They could sense Xiao Qi had not told the complete truth, but the core content he spoke, corroborated with information like the secret realm's strange changes and Shadow Snake Pavilion's abnormal movements, had very high credibility!
Sect Master Xuan Xuan meditated for a long while, his sharp gaze fixed on Xiao Qi: "Do you know what it means to become this 'Guardian'?"
Xiao Qi raised his head, his eyes clear and firm: "Disciple understands. It means responsibility, means becoming the eyesore of demonic cultivators and even that demonic entity Void Illusion. But disciple does not regret! This power was born from protection, and shall be used for protection! Disciple is willing to use this body to protect Qingxu Temple and the peace of the righteous!"
His voice was not loud, but it rang with sound reasoning, carrying a determination and sense of responsibility that didn't match his age.
The great hall was silent.
After a moment, Sect Master Xuan Xuan slowly spoke, his voice carrying a trace of relief and determination: "Good! Since that's the case, from today forward, Tang Xiao Qi is promoted to Core True Disciple, to be personally taught by myself and Elder Brother Xuan Lin! What was said in this hall today is classified as the sect's highest secret. No one may spread it abroad! The matter of Xiao Qi bearing the inheritance, to the outside only claims an ancient purification technique inheritance was obtained. No one may inquire into the specific details!"
"Yes!" All elders responded in unison. They knew that Qingxu Temple might have truly welcomed a disciple capable of affecting future patterns! And how to protect him well, utilize this power well, and deal with the ensuing crises would be the greatest challenge the sect faced next.
Xiao Qi bowed to accept. He knew returning to the sect was just a new beginning. The road ahead was still full of thorns, but he was no longer that ignorant boy.