Chapter 10

This strange feeling vanished quickly, and Yu Youyou didn’t dwell on it too much. However, she did feel that the name sounded familiar.

The Tomb of Demons and Gods.

It was probably something she had heard about in a book, but it wasn’t a place she had paid much attention to, so she couldn’t quite remember.

“In that case, let our Gatekeepers explore toward the west, but not too close to the dangerous areas. As for the far west…” The Sect Leader Yu was deep in thought when a delicate, peach-faced female cultivator raised an eyebrow and said, “Sect Leader, you should remain in charge of the sect. I will undertake the exploration.”

When she spoke, the Sect Leader treated her with utmost respect, clearly holding her in high regard.

Although this female cultivator was barely in her twenties, cultivators rarely showed changes in appearance once they attained the Dao, so one could not judge someone’s youth or experience simply by looks.

As she spoke, she smiled and glanced at Yu Youyou, who was calmly watching, and said pleasantly, “This child has just returned to the sect and truly needs the comfort of a father like you. She was recently ill, and it’s important that you stay by her side. Take good care of the sect and her. As for your master’s affairs, you shouldn’t bear that burden alone.”

She approached Chu Xingyun, lowered her head to rest on the child’s tawny hair, and after a moment sighed softly, “Miao Hua…”

Mentioning Gong Miao Hua, her gaze carried a hint of melancholy and complexity.

“A pure heart… this child is indeed a good child,” she said while placing a multicolored floral wreath upon Yu Youyou’s head.

Wearing a wreath adorned entirely with flowers and their fragrance, the little one grew a bit shy but twisted her small garment in secret delight.

She felt that this elder liked her very much.

“I will head to the far west,” the man in the azure robe looked at Yu Youyou for a moment, noticing her carefree smile toward the female cultivator, the way she unabashedly flaunted the flower wreath, and said calmly, “Uncle, you must not take reckless risks. The Tomb of Demons and Gods has already begun to affect the far west… besides, aren’t you planning to visit the Azure Dragon clan soon?”

Another cultivator quickly spoke up, “I have always been cautious. Why don’t I explore the far west? Uncle knows me well — I’m best at running away…”

He was nervous and concerned in front of the man in the azure robe, who snorted coldly, his handsome face tightening as he said icily, “You are no match.”

“I’m not stupid. I won’t approach the Tomb of Demons and Gods.”

“I wasn’t referring to the Tomb of Demons and Gods.” The man in the azure robe looked toward the Sect Leader Yu, whose expression had changed, and said coldly, “Your master has long reached the Great Ascension stage and is adept at magical combat. Even if someone were to fight him, it wouldn’t be so silent and secretive.”

He turned his gaze to the hall’s entrance and said gravely, “To extinguish his true spirit lamp instantly, and to remain undetected for years despite our search, this is no ordinary cultivator.”

“An immortal rank?” Chu Xingyun couldn’t help but ask.

“More than just immortal rank.” The man in the azure robe’s eyes rested on Chu Xingyun, and he showed a bit more patience, clearly willing to instruct his talented disciple. He said slowly, “He disappeared without a trace before leaving the sect, naturally hiding his path along the way, likely avoiding others. To find him silently and strike so decisively, he must not only be immortal rank, but someone who has been closely watched and thoroughly understood.”

His words were laden with meaning.

Everyone present had their own speculations over the years, so hearing this didn’t surprise them much.

Sect Leader Yu instinctively looked at Yu Youyou and said, “It is probably connected to the Gong clan’s massacre back then.”

Yu Youyou’s maternal family, the Gong clan, had ancient celestial bloodlines. Although their population was not as numerous as other prominent families, their cultivators were strong. To be wiped out overnight, with only an infant in a swaddling cloth escaping, was indeed a matter that invited many suspicions.

The previous sect leader had never let go of the Gong clan massacre. The reason he held back before was because he still bore the responsibility of the entire sect.

Now that he had stepped down as sect leader, he likely had his own suspicions about the matter. After all, even his fellow disciples concealed their tracks. His journey to the west of the cultivation world to investigate the Gong clan’s incident meant he had uncovered something.

Or perhaps, he trusted no one.

This matter was precisely what brought about the assassination attempt on him.

---

“Are you not returning to the Dragon Clan?” Sect Leader Yu asked anxiously. “Wasn’t the Azure Dragon Clan in urgent need?”

“It’s just about an egg. Since it hasn’t hatched in three hundred years, there’s no rush to wait a few more years.” The man in the azure robe replied coldly.

Sect Leader Yu hesitated.

Even Chu Xingyun fell silent.

This was clearly something everyone already knew.

Yu Youyou wanted to know as well but held back.

The man in the azure robe’s jet-black eyes fixed on her for a moment, then he said faintly, “It’s related to…” He frowned, evidently displeased at the mention of Gong Miao Hua’s name, and so he left it unsaid.

A blue light landed in the little one’s arms.

Looking down, she saw a single blue scale, vibrant and full of spiritual energy. Though the size of a fingernail, it shimmered with an exquisite luster.

Seeing it was a scale, Sect Leader Yu exclaimed gratefully, “How could I dare accept my uncle’s scale!”

“Nonsense!” The man in the azure robe, who had just been discussing such grave matters without a change of expression, suddenly flushed and scolded, “You dare covet my scale, you scoundrel! It’s just a blue dragon scale.”

Seeing Sect Leader Yu too intimidated to respond, he instinctively covered his arm, tightened his azure robe, then glared fiercely at several elders who looked his way and shouted, “Get lost! You dare covet my scale, insolence… treacherous ambition!”

He turned on a dime, and because of his seniority, no one dared to speak. He strode to the hall’s entrance, then turned back and barked, “Teach your daughter well. Swearing oaths at every turn! Next time I hear anyone swearing, I’ll…”

“Uncle!” The little one held the dragon scale in both small hands and finally managed to say thanks.

She obediently looked up at her great-uncle with wide, round eyes.

After a moment, seeing she had nothing to offer the elder as a gift, she took out some spirit flowers from the storage ring given by Sect Leader Yu.

She offered the flowers to her great-uncle.

The man in the azure robe was silent for a long moment.

A blue light swept over, taking the ordinary spirit flowers away, and he transformed into a blue light, vanishing beyond the hall’s doors.

“Take good care of it. If you dare strike her, I dare strike you!” With those words left behind, he disappeared. After a while, someone in the hall stifled a laugh.

“This uncle’s temper about his precious scales is no wonder he’s of dragon descent.” Although the dragon clan didn’t care much about appearances, they absolutely hated losing scales and becoming patchy.

Moreover, this uncle was a paragon among the Azure Dragon clan, cherishing his scales. To have one plucked was like losing his very life.

The delicate female cultivator smiled at the dazed little one and said, “Though it’s not your great-uncle’s scale, judging by its quality, it must be from another powerful Azure Dragon. It’s excellent material for refining artifacts. You must keep it safe, Youyou. It’s very precious.”

No one knew which unfortunate Azure Dragon had been plucked by the uncle, probably too scared to transform into dragon form now for fear of revealing a bald patch.

Yu Youyou could sense the spiritual energy on the scale was genuine and liked it very much.

She carefully stored the beautiful dragon scale, silently noting that dragon scales could be plucked and were valuable. Then she took out a handful of spirit flowers and distributed one to everyone in the hall, even Chu Xingyun and Zhu Changshu.

“Heart.” The little one, small and thin, had already learned to hold her heart like Xi Zi, cupping her small fists over her chest.

“What does that mean?” the female cultivator asked.

Those who understood nodded knowingly.

---

“My little junior sister holds all the elders, master, me, and the senior apprentice brother close to her heart.”

After a long pause, Zhu Changshu, with a stern face, slowly said under the little one’s expectant gaze.

The second senior sister understood her!

The delicate female cultivator immediately burst into laughter.

“What an interesting child. No wonder uncle never resents her harsh words.” She wiped tears of laughter from her eyes and softly said to the little one who nodded eagerly in agreement, “Good child, once you recover your health, come visit my Peach Blossom Retreat to relax.”

Looking at the frail and slender child, she refused to pity her with eyes that might bring more pain or pressure, treating her as no different from other children.

Though her face was youthful and charming, it bore a trace of world-weariness and loving kindness as she spoke, “When you were too young to remember, I held you in my arms. After so many years apart, you’ve grown up.”

When Yu Youyou was born in the sect, these elders had all seen her, though they hadn’t expected Gong Miao Hua to run off so soon afterward.

Not only had she fled, but she had taken the child with her... insisting that she couldn’t survive without the child, yet once she had her, she wouldn’t treat her kindly.

She hid her expression but didn’t reveal much.

Yu Youyou instinctively felt it and reached out a small hand to gently touch the woman’s arm, as if to comfort her.

The female cultivator smiled.

She turned her head and saw all the Sect Leader Yu’s attention fully on his daughter, then transmitted sound, “Gong Miao Hua certainly was a scoundrel, but her greatest achievement was giving you, Youyou.”

She noticed the obvious closeness between Yu Youyou and Sect Leader Yu and was happy for him.

Sect Leader Yu couldn’t help but nod and whispered, “Youyou is my treasure.”

The little one tilted her head.

The beautiful elder had scolded her birth mother.

But... let her scold.

Having lived quietly in the demon city, Yu Youyou was good at pretending not to hear. In fact, she secretly cheered the elder on, hoping for more scolding to speak up for her father.

Her father had been wronged in matters of marriage.

Someone was on her side and her father’s side, and the sect elders were truly kind.

Thinking this, the little one buried her face in her senior brother’s neck, as if holding a little secret, giggling.

She was clearly much livelier than she had been in the demon city.

Chu Xingyun smiled as he smoothed the little one’s tender, thin back, but his gaze turned worried as he looked at the female cultivator who had obviously whispered something to his master.

... He’d have to remind his master sometime soon.

Transmissions didn’t work well with his little junior sister.

From now on, if he wanted to share secrets, he’d need another method.

Otherwise, whispering loudly in the little junior sister’s ear was no different.