BXBX NOVEL Chapter 59 - 59: My Disciples Are All Worthy of Immortality
Lu Xuan’s reaction was naturally swift. With a thought, a gentle surge of spiritual power emanated from him, allowing him to catch the falling figure.
Following the figure, a mass of black mist, half a person tall with bared fangs and claws, exuding a fierce aura, pounced towards them.
Lu Xuan lifted his hand, instantly weaving a large net of spiritual power that ensnared the black mist.
As the net tightened, Lu Xuan grasped and squeezed, dissipating the black mist and revealing the true form of the creature inside, which squeaked chaotically.
It was a large black rat.
Lu Xuan held the spiritual power net, a look of surprise on his face:
“A beast at the peak of the Qi Refining Stage?”
The rat’s fur was glossy, and it was as big as a small pig, struggling within the net.
Peak-level Qi Refining beasts were not uncommon, but Lu Xuan was surprised to see such a creature in Sancai City.
This was a sacred land of Confucianism, protected by the saint’s presence, where beasts dared not tread. Even the Agricultural Academy’s breeding projects required special formations to shield from the residual aura of the Confucian saints.
Zui Feng Tower, despite being in the outer city, was still within the protected area. Nobody expected a beast attack to happen here.
Lu Xuan’s thoughts raced, and he quickly formed a hypothesis.
He Yuanfeng’s use of the forbidden technique to sever the world’s talent and disrupt the Confucian path had, although halted before success, still impacted the path’s spiritual energy.
This led to the dusting of the saint’s statues and an instability in the saintly presence, allowing nearby beasts to find a loophole.
This large black rat was likely the first beast to be discovered in the city, but Lu Xuan suspected it wouldn’t be the last.
He cast a spell to contain the captured beast, planning to later send it to the Agricultural Institute for the students to deal with.
Cheng Lingzhu approached the woman who had fallen from the building to talk.
The woman, named Ping’er, worked at Zui Xiang Tower. She was diligent in her work, but today she was attacked by the beast while getting ready in the morning.
She wasn’t injured, just startled into falling out of the window.
After thanking Cheng Lingzhu, Ping’er lightly tapped the ground with her toes and flew back up to the tower.
Taking this opportunity, Lu Xuan contacted Zhang Xun and Chen Xu. Although they were busy dealing with the aftermath of the He Yuanfeng incident, he thought it best to inform them about the beast incursion, which
could disrupt daily life.
After finishing these tasks, Lu Xuan stretched and continued his stroll with Cheng Lingzhu.
The presence of a beast in the city was not a major issue. The saint’s statues, though dusted, were not entirely ineffective.
The beasts that slipped into the city were minor; with cultivators all around, a simple notice to stay alert would suffice.
The next day, at Ding Xiang Tower, Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu were having breakfast.
“I heard news from the Southern Ridge that the legendary Barbarian God might be awakening. We should visit in a few days… Mmm, delicious…
Coincidentally, one of my disciples is there, so we can check on him too.”
Lu Xuan swallowed the food Cheng Lingzhu had fed him.
“A disciple?”
Cheng Lingzhu’s curiosity was piqued.
“I’ve taken four disciples over the years. The first two have ascended. The one in the Southern Ridge is the third, whom I haven’t seen in many years.” Lu Xuan explained.
His criteria for accepting disciples were quite high, and each of his four disciples had the potential to become a true immortal.
Lu Xuan could describe them like this—
The eldest disciple had an extraordinary talent and brilliance, his life experiences enough to fill an 8-million-word traditional fantasy novel. He could overcome any obstacle and was the epitome of a talented protagonist in a fantasy novel.
The second disciple was cunning and strategic, a master of manipulation and layers of deception, even more intricate than the founder of the Dao Yan Sect. His thousand-year plans led him to his own path to ascension.
The third disciple, of humble origin, possessed great ambition and strategy. He established an immortal dynasty in the Southern Ridge, rivalling the top immortal sects of the demonic races, such as Thousand Saint Mountain, and protected countless civilians. His dynasty flourished with prosperity and fortune.
The fourth disciple, a natural spirit, was a remnant immortal seed from ancient times. Unrestricted by the usual cultivation barriers, she could achieve immortality given enough time.
Any of these four disciples could astound an era.
“And I am merely their master,” Lu Xuan said.
As they ate and talked, Ding Xiang Tower’s walls were adorned with many portraits, including famous visitors.
One portrait showed a young man in traditional attire with a warm smile, his hand on the head of a young boy beside him. The boy looked touched, creating a heartwarming scene.
“Is that the identity you used back then?”
After finishing their breakfast, Cheng Lingzhu noticed Lu Xuan looking at the painting and guessed its origin.
“Correct. ”
Lu Xuan nodded:
Lu Xuan was about to continue when he suddenly stopped and gestured to Cheng Lingzhu with his eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
Cheng Lingzhu was momentarily puzzled.
“Here…”
Lu Xuan pointed at the corner of his mouth.
Cheng Lingzhu, thinking there might be some pastry crumbs, took out a handkerchief, considering they were still going to stroll around the city. After wiping it, Lu Xuan still pointed at his mouth.
“Is it still there?”
Cheng Lingzhu asked.
“Come here.”
Lu Xuan extended his hand.
Cheng Lingzhu moved closer, and as Lu Xuan gently brushed her hair aside from her ear, he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her on the corner of her lips.
“There, it’s gone now,” Lu Xuan said seriously.
Cheng Lingzhu’s face turned bright red. She raised her hand to hit him but couldn’t bring herself to do it forcefully, ending up just playfully patting his chest.
Lu Xuan pretended to apologize, secretly planning how he might repeat the act in the future.
“We’ve now entered the territory of the Southern Ridge.”
Aboard the flying boat, Cheng Lingzhu unfolded a map.
“We’ll travel overland to the Southern Ridge, but we can take the water route on the way back, passing over the sea.”
Lu Xuan leaned in close to her. “I’ve heard that in the East Sea, aside from the Dragon Palace, there’s also the Merman Kingdom… Since we’re out, we might as well visit.”
This was their seventh day since leaving Sancai Academy and heading towards the Southern Ridge.
Following the beast incident, Lu Xuan and Cheng Lingzhu stayed in the sacred city of Confucianism for three more days, during which they helped capture several small beasts.
The cultivators from Sancai Academy had re-established protective formations outside the city to prevent further breaches by the beasts.
Until the aftermath of the He Yuanfeng incident completely settled, this set of formations would need to operate for some time around Sancai City.
“Okay, let’s do as you suggest.”
Cheng Lingzhu nodded in agreement.
The deep sea was a daunting place, not just because of the towering waves and mysterious marine environments, but also due to the potential for ferocious beasts lurking beneath the surface. Even for cultivators, there was the danger of perishing.
Of course, with Lu Xuan’s strength, these concerns were unwarranted.
Being by his side, Cheng Lingzhu always felt a sense of security..