Once the elder learned the visitor was a friend of Li Guanqi, a faint smile appeared on his face.

He held great respect for the rising star of the Daxia Sword Sect. Perhaps he could claim seniority over Li Guanqi because of his age, but he would never dare treat himself as Li Guanqi’s senior.

In the cultivation world, age meant little. Strength was what mattered. Even someone of his standing had to bow respectfully and address Li Guanqi as “Elder Li” upon meeting him.

“Since you are a friend of Elder Li, please come in. Here is a temporary jade slip.”

The elder stepped aside and handed Li Shenzhi a somewhat crude jade slip. It served as a temporary identity token, granting short-term access to the Daxia Sword Sect.

The elder guided Li Shenzhi toward the guest quarters. Along the way, Li Shenzhi marveled at how much the sect had grown.

The elder said, “Elder Li is currently in seclusion. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for now.”

Li Shenzhi only smiled and waved a hand. “It’s fine. I’m in no hurry to leave. Visiting the Daxia Sword Sect is an honor enough. Please don’t worry about me. I won’t wander around.”

The elder nodded.

A strange spatial fluctuation rippled outward. The elder frowned. Someone had passed through the territory barrier and appeared inside.

Buzz!

A figure in a green dress stepped out of the void. Catching sight of the unfamiliar elder at the Divine Transformation Realm, she froze.

But she quickly smiled and bowed politely, her voice gentle. “I’m Song Zhi’ang, a minor steward of the outer sect. Greetings, senior.”

The elder was stunned. He hadn’t expected a mere outer sect steward to be at the Nascent Soul Realm.

Looking at her, he muttered, “Even an outer sect steward is at Nascent Soul Realm? Is this still the sect I remember? Back then, even a Golden Core Realm disciple was rare...”

Song Zhi’ang glanced at Li Shenzhi beside her and paused. Something about him felt strangely familiar. She bowed politely, then turned and headed straight for the inner sect.

Li Shenzhi calmly nodded in return, but an almost imperceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

At the entrance to the outer sect kitchen, an aging middle-aged man was still chopping firewood. When he stood up, he caught sight of Song Zhi’ang.

His axe slipped from his hand. He stared blankly at the woman in the air, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. Once he was sure he wasn’t mistaken, his eyes reddened. He murmured, “My daughter is back.”

Oblivious to her father, Song Zhi’ang continued directly into the inner sect.

When Song Zhi’ang learned that Li Guanqi had been injured and was in seclusion, she stamped her foot atop Jade Teapot Peak, bitterly disappointed.

“Hmph! I thought I’d get to see you as soon as I came back! I’m going to show you just how outstanding I’ve become!”

With that, Song Zhi’ang turned and headed back toward the outer sect courtyard.

When she returned to the shabby, run-down courtyard, Song Zhi’ang frowned as her shoes sank into the muddy ground, her immaculate makeup starkly at odds with the surroundings.

In the yard stood a man in coarse hemp clothing, slightly hunched, perhaps from years of overwork. The once-sturdy man now looked stooped and much thinner.

When he saw her, tears welled in his eyes. He hurried over and reached for Song Zhi’ang’s hand. Looking at the father who felt at once familiar and distant, Song Zhi’ang instinctively pulled back slightly.

The man froze. Still hunched over, he forced out an awkward smile. His calloused hands rubbed nervously against his clothes, tugging at the hem as his voice trembled. “Girl... It’s been three or five years since you last came back, hasn’t it? Come, come inside. I’ll slaughter a chicken for you at noon!”

As he spoke, he walked toward the kitchen. But when he turned around, tears welled up in his eyes.

Song Zhi’ang’s heart trembled. She quickly explained, “Dad... I’m not hungry. You don’t have to cook.”

The man immediately smiled again, nodding repeatedly. “What do you mean you’re not hungry? Even if you’re on the path to immortality, you still have to eat! Recently, during the sect’s recall ceremony, there were plenty of leftover spirit fruits and ingredients. I saved them all and didn’t touch a single one.”

He lifted the steamer lid. Inside was plain white rice mixed with a few chunks of sweet potato. From another cabinet, he carefully took out leftover dishes and spirit fruits wrapped in oil paper.

He excitedly called her over. “I’m telling you, these are all spirit fruits! A grape-sized one would cost hundreds of taels of gold outside!”

The man, his temples gone gray, didn’t notice that his daughter’s thoughts had already wandered elsewhere. As she sat down, she asked casually, “Dad, how’s Li Guanqi doing these days?”

The man had been busy these past few days. Naturally, he had witnessed the grand recall ceremony himself. He sat down, pushed the oil paper toward her, and described the event in detail.

Song Zhi’ang rested her chin on her hand, listening intently. When she heard about Li Guanqi drawing his sword and intimidating the crowd, her eyes lit up. “Oh? And then what happened?”

Han Chengxian, flying as he searched for a suitable peak to cultivate on, caught sight of the scene. A glint flashed in his eyes, and with a light probe of his divine consciousness, he left a faint mark on Song Zhi’ang.

A strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He murmured, “What is this woman’s relationship with him?”

A short while later, Han Chengxian shouted, “Lu Kangnian, you damn old geezer! I only wanted a peak. I wasn’t even asking for the one in the Purple Spirit Paradise Realm. Why won’t you give it to me?”

Lu Kangnian sat high on his throne, looking coldly down at the old man, and leaned forward. “I said no, so no. What can you do about it? Don’t think that just because you were a sect master in a past generation, you can play by your own rules in front of me. I’m not above leaning on Guanqi’s connections.”

“Besides... Guanqi’s temper isn’t very good. Don’t let him find out about this.” Lu Kangnian stared at the man below, a teasing smile forming on his face. “He’s not exactly gentle. He might just rip off your arms and legs.”

Han Chengxian’s face turned incredibly dark. He hadn’t expected such a small request to be rejected. Every word from Lu Kangnian carried an unmistakable threat.

Recently, Li Changqing had been staying at the Daxia Sword Sect, and Xi Yunhuai had remained there as well. The two were helping establish a trans-territory teleportation array linking the Six Gates Holy Sect and the Daxia Sword Sect.

Han Chengxian stormed off, sleeves fluttering. For now, he could only find a mountain rich in spirit qi and cultivate there.

Li Guanqi, his body still surging with demonic qi, remained oblivious to the brewing unrest within the Daxia Sword Sect.

Lu Kangnian sat calmly on the top platform, slowly rubbing the jade pendant in his palm. On it was a single word: “Guanyun.”

His eyes narrowed, a faint light flickering in them. Heh... already forming factions within the sect, are we?