Chapter 528: Chapter 528

The events that transpired during the three days Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian spent within the Cyan Treasure Cauldron remain a secret.

A secret that cannot be articulated in words or ink.

At that time, when Zhouyang and the others emerged, Cultivator Yin was too busy refining his magical artifact to react. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel[f]ire.net

Elder Lu, however, looked at the vigilant Zhouyang with a knowing smile but said nothing.

He remained silent, yet Zhouyang could not do the same.

"Junior Zhouyang expresses deepest gratitude to the esteemed elders for their life-saving grace!"

"The life-saving grace of the elders shall never be forgotten, and if ever summoned, we juniors shall repay this kindness even unto death!"

After a momentary change, Zhouyang quickly calmed his mind and, full of respect, bowed deeply to Elder Lu, paying homage and expressing thanks.

At this moment, he understood that the lives of both himself and Jiang Fengxian lay in Elder Lu’s hands.

Therefore, despite harboring caution and wariness towards Elder Lu’s unfathomable depths, it did not prevent him from choosing the most correct response.

Yet what he did not expect was that after hearing his words, Elder Lu looked at him with amusement and said, "Really? Are you truly willing to shatter your body to repay this life-saving grace of mine?"

Zhouyang’s expression immediately changed.

He opened his mouth and, with determination, said, "Of course, without the elder’s life-saving grace, we juniors would have already perished at the hands of that Wood Demon. This life was saved by you, esteemed elder, and if you wish to take it back, there would be no complaint from me!"

Such words were said with a pleasing tone.

Elder Lu laughed upon hearing them.

He laughed heartily then looked at Zhouyang and asked, "My name is Lu Xuanji; have you heard of it?"

Zhouyang exclaimed in shock, involuntarily gasping, "Could the elder be the Grand Elder of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, the renowned Master Xuanji!"

The Grand Elder Lu Xuanji of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, known as Master Xuanji, is a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Great Cultivator who has lived for nearly three thousand years.

Even in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, where cultivation civilizations flourish, Master Xuanji’s strength ranks among the top, with some even calling him the number one master in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm!

Due to his connection with Master Cyan Yang, Zhouyang, in particular, studied the information on other Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators within the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, thus aware that Master Xuanji had become elusive and rarely appeared after reaching Late-Stage Nascent Soul a thousand years ago.

Even during the Nascent Soul formation celebration held by Master Cyan Yang, the grand elder of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect was absent.

Rumor has it in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm that after reaching Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Stage, Master Xuanji left Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm to explore other cultivation realms seeking opportunities to ascend to the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

Zhouyang never expected to encounter this Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Great Cultivator in the Kunxu Realm, but he was even saved by him!

"Esteemed Elder, I did not recognize you as a Zhenren, and I apologize for any offense caused, and hope that you won’t take it to heart!"

Immediately, Zhouyang bowed deeply again before Elder Lu, his sincerity evident as he apologized profusely.

Upon knowing that the person was the Grand Elder of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, he realized he had truly met a benefactor.

It’s laughable how earlier he tried to play tricks before such an existence, recalling it now truly brought both shame and embarrassment, his face burning hot.

"I didn’t expect to meet you here, young one; it seems like fate, as though even the heavens are aiding me!"

Lu Xuanji looked at Zhouyang with bright eyes full of smiles, seemingly not upset by Zhouyang’s earlier little maneuver.

Indeed, he was delighted; as he himself remarked, encountering Zhouyang in the Kunxu Realm was truly a predetermined opportunity.

In his view, it was a heavenly signal, assuring him that the particular plan is bound to succeed.

Of course, Zhouyang did not know why Lu Xuanji was happy, nor did he understand the "fate" spoken of by Lu Xuanji.

But he could sense that Lu Xuanji bore no malice towards him, and that was enough.

Honestly, after experiencing threats from Guo Jinhong, Celestial Killer Corpse King, and the Wood Demon, all these Nascent Soul Stage monsters, Zhouyang had developed a psychological shadow toward interacting with Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.

Now rare to encounter a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator who was kind to him, he was truly moved to tears.

Recalling the past, his interaction with Master Cyan Yang filled him with admiration for Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.

But Guo Jinhong’s appearance quickly shattered his positive sentiments toward these top-tier beings in the cultivation realm, making him realize that not everyone reaching the Nascent Soul Stage is willing to support the youth.

Hence, hearing Lu Xuanji’s words, he mumbled in gratitude, "Encountering Elder Lu was indeed a fortune for us juniors; had Elder Lu not intervened in time, we would have perished to the Wood Demon!"

"Hehehe, speaking of this, you indeed should thank me; without me, how would you embrace the beauty?"

Lu Xuanji chuckled silently, glancing meaningfully at Jiang Fengxian, who had been quietly watching the exchange between him and Zhouyang without saying a word, with an amused look in his eyes.

Hearing this, Zhouyang’s face turned red, and he bowed his head in embarrassment, feeling somewhat ashamed.

The Jiang Fengxian behind him also trembled slightly, her face turning a bright shade of red, almost wanting to hide her head inside her collar.

Only the two of them knew what had transpired in the past three days.

It could be foreseen that the experiences of these three days would become an unforgettable memory for them both.

Lu Xuanji laughed heartily again, clearly in great joy.

He laughed, and Zhouyang could only accompany him with a smile, though that smile looked more painful than crying.

Teasing Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian was just a minor episode. After Lu Xuanji finished laughing, he inquired about how Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian had fallen into the hands of the Wood Demon, and conveniently took out the storage rings left by the Wood Demon for them to retrieve their belongings.

When Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian were captured, their storage rings were seized by the Wood Demon, and all their treasures were taken by him.

After the cultivator Yin killed the Wood Demon, he only retrieved the "Eye of Light" without making any other moves, clearly acknowledging that the other treasures belonged to Lu Xuanji.

In the past few days, Lu Xuanji had already inspected those storage rings. Though there were a few items that tempted him, he did not touch anything in the storage rings because of certain purposes.

Now that he tossed the storage rings in front of Zhouyang, allowing them to retrieve their things, Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian were overjoyed.

"Many thanks, Elder."

Both of them, full of gratitude, bowed to Lu Xuanji, then each selected their own belongings.

The Wood Demon had lived in the Kunxu Realm for over two thousand years, killing countless cultivators and demon beasts. The treasures stored in his storage rings were truly as vast as a sea or mountain.

Upon their first glimpse into the storage rings filled with numerous treasures, Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian were utterly astonished.

However, both were smart enough not to dare take any treasure that didn’t belong to them.

Lu Xuanji’s reputation was too great. With such a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul Great Cultivator overseeing, neither dared to let a moment’s greed lead to his displeasure.

It was just that after Zhouyang finished checking several storage rings, he found the Tier Six Middle-grade Spiritual Artifact Beast-Faced Dragon Cauldron and the life feather of the Tier Six High-Grade Demon Beast Fire Phoenix but didn’t find the "Eye of Light" taken by the Wood Demon.

"What’s the matter? Is there something missing?"

Seeing Zhouyang repeatedly checking several storage rings, Lu Xuanji couldn’t help but ask.

At these words, Zhouyang’s thoughts raced, and he shook his head, saying, "Nothing, just something is missing, probably used by the Wood Demon!"

Although he didn’t know that the Wood Demon died under the power of the "Eye of Light," he didn’t want to mention this treasure in front of Lu Xuanji due to the matter of its origins.

Additionally, he instinctively felt that the disappearance of the "Eye of Light" was inseparable from Lu Xuanji and Cultivator Yin.

Under such circumstances, he naturally wouldn’t mention it, lest it create awkwardness.

If, by chance, the item was something that Lu Xuanji valued and kept for himself, would he really ask him to hand it over?

So he might as well say nothing and pretend it didn’t exist, especially since he couldn’t use that thing anyway.

Lu Xuanji nodded, not saying more.

He obviously saw the insincerity in Zhouyang’s words, but what did that matter?

If Zhouyang didn’t want to speak, would he force him to?

That would be beneath his dignity!

However, he was surprised that the Fire Phoenix Feather, which he valued, and the Tier Six Middle-grade Spiritual Artifact Beast-Faced Dragon Cauldron, both belonged to Zhouyang, making him even more intrigued by Zhouyang, a mere Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

If Zhouyang possessed the "Qianyang Treasure Body" purely by chance, then obtaining treasures like the Fire Phoenix Feather and a Tier Six Middle-grade Spiritual Artifact at the Golden Core Stage was truly thought-provoking.

And then there was Jiang Fengxian, a hybrid born from humans and the Celestial Phoenix Race. Having lived for nearly three thousand years, he had seen only a handful of such hybrids, let alone one who reached the Golden Core Stage.

"These two youngsters are quite extraordinary indeed. If given time to grow, they might truly become one of us!"

Those who Lu Xuanji considered as "one of us" could only be qualified if they were Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

The notion that anyone below the Nascent Soul Stage was mediocre was a prevalent value among the circle of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators.

With thoughts turning, Lu Xuanji looked at Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian with a smile and said, "Meeting is fate. Since you happen to encounter an old man like me here, and given your close relationship with Junior Brother Qingyang, I will give you a meeting gift. You are permitted to each select three more items from the remaining contents of these storage rings!"