"Bang~~~"
Zhongshan burst out of the water, leaping towards the shore. His trajectory coincidentally brought him towards the white-haired woman.
Midair, Zhongshan froze. Simultaneously, the woman, still with her hand on her chest, also froze. With the sudden appearance of a person in the hot spring, both were stunned.
A man? How could this be? The woman couldn't believe her eyes. Never before had any man seen her body. What should she do?
Zhongshan, too, saw this astonishing scene. His eyes were filled with whiteness—white skin, white hair, even the unseen parts of her body, all covered in snow-white hair. It wasn't the aged whiteness but a glossy silver-white hue. Only a few pink spots and black eyes caught his attention.
In midair, Zhongshan quickly grasped the situation. He recognized her—Bei Qingsi, definitely Bei Qingsi, the second-generation third senior sister of Kaiyang Sect, a master at the Golden Core stage. Why was she here? And why was she not wearing clothes?
Zhongshan realized the gravity of the situation.
Unable to leverage in midair, he could only pounce towards Bei Qingsi. But if he truly landed on her, he would be doomed. Bei Qingsi was at the Golden Core stage. Intruding upon her bathing place, would she kill him to silence him?
What to do? What to do? Zhongshan was frantic in midair.
However, at this moment, Bei Qingsi finally came to her senses.
"Ah~~~~"
With a scream of shock, in her panic, she sent Zhongshan flying with a palm strike.
"Boom~~~"
With no resistance, Zhongshan was sent flying backward.
"Bang~~~"
As if hitting something, Zhongshan fell back into the hot spring.
"Poof~~~"
Zhongshan coughed up a mouthful of blood, a wry smile on his face. He had brought this upon himself.
Weakly swimming to the shore, Zhongshan lay half-propped against it, feeling extremely frail.
Bei Qingsi's palm had shattered Zhongshan's chest clothes into a palm-shaped imprint, leaving a red mark on his chest that slowly turned purple, then black. Zhongshan felt turmoil inside; if not for his Tempering Demon Body technique, he might have perished from that strike.
"Creak~~~"
Bei Qingsi had already dressed herself, a white longsword now pressed against Zhongshan's throat. She looked at him with complex emotions, lightly biting her lip. It seemed as if she wanted to kill Zhongshan with a sword, but instead of thrusting it in, she merely held it at his throat.
At this moment of life and death, Zhongshan was anxious. Injuries could be healed, but death was final.
With a flicker of movement, he activated the Red Phoenix Scripture, ready to unleash the Phoenix Mist. But he dared not, for the white sword was at his throat. He had to wait until the sword moved away to use the Phoenix Mist, or else he'd be doomed.
"Cough, Miss, I unintentionally offended you just now. I, Zhongshan, was already submerged in the hot spring. You came later," Zhongshan said laboriously.
Hearing Zhongshan's words, Bei Qingsi's pupils contracted, and the longsword at his throat also twitched slightly.
"You, you're Zhongshan?" Bei Qingsi asked, her expression extremely complex. It was as if she would immediately kill him if he denied being Zhongshan.
"Yes, I am Zhongshan, the new disciple from a year ago," Zhongshan said. He sensed an opportunity but remained vigilant, not daring to let his guard down with the Phoenix Mist ready.
"A year ago, the one who brought back the jade slip?" Bei Qingsi looked at Zhongshan with a complicated expression. Her gaze seemed to convey the most difficult thing in the world, her eyes filled with utmost complexity.
Though Zhongshan didn't understand why Bei Qingsi looked like that, he nodded.
Seeing Zhongshan's acknowledgment, Bei Qingsi suddenly sheathed her sword and closed her eyes, tilting her head back slightly as if recalling something extremely sad.
At this moment, Zhongshan realized he might be safe. Though he didn't understand why Bei Qingsi was so concerned about that jade slip, her demeanor indicated that her intent to kill him had dissipated.
"Thank you," Bei Qingsi suddenly opened her eyes, a deep sadness flashing in them as she looked at Zhongshan.
"Thank me? Thank me for what? Seeing you bathe?" Zhongshan frowned, and Bei Qingsi seemed to realize she misspoke. She quickly corrected herself, "Thank you for delivering the jade slip."
"No problem," Zhongshan nodded without saying more.
"This is a Revitalizing Pill. Consider today's incident forgotten," Bei Qingsi suddenly tossed a small white bottle to Zhongshan. Then, with a flick of her hand, she dispelled the clouds around them, grabbed the sixteen small flags, threw the flying sword, lightly stepped on it, and disappeared from Zhongshan's sight.
Watching Bei Qingsi leave, Zhongshan felt relieved. At that moment, the Red Phoenix Mist vanished from his palm.
Glancing at the pale small bottle, Zhongshan gently opened it, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. He sealed the bottle back.
Zhongshan didn't know what a Revitalizing Pill was, but he was sure it was a kind of miraculous medicine for healing injuries. He decided to keep it for the most critical moments, especially after the rigorous Tempering Demon Body technique practice, which always left him heavily wounded.
Quickly diving back into the hot spring, Zhongshan began healing in the Flame Fruit Cave. Three days later, he had fully recovered.
Exiting the Flame Fruit Cave, Zhongshan sealed the entrance carefully, then cautiously left the hot spring to ensure there was no danger before heading to the Listening Waters Pavilion.
After changing clothes and resting for a while, Zhongshan slung his big knife and made his way to the square below Kaiyang Peak. The first-year gathering for new disciples was about to begin.
When Zhongshan arrived at the square, dozens of people were already present. All the new disciples recruited a year ago were gathered, except for Bei Qingsi.
Nan Batian stood in front, just like a year ago, surveying the arriving disciples. Upon seeing Zhongshan, he gave him a nod, and Zhongshan immediately understood, positioning himself properly.
"After a year, we meet again. Today's gathering will assess everyone's cultivation progress. Those whose progress is lacking have ten days to enter the Scripture Repository to choose a new technique. The rest, with the highest achievement being at the Early Stage of the Innate Realm, please step forward," Nan Batian announced.
"Yes!" the new disciples responded eagerly.
"Stand properly. The elders will come to inspect shortly," Nan Batian ordered.
"Yes!" the new disciples replied enthusiastically.
As Nan Batian finished speaking, within moments, over twenty figures descended from Kaiyang Peak.
A white cloud carried everyone, with three Nascent Soul stage powerhouses at the forefront, followed by the second-generation disciples.
When they reached the ground, Patriarch Tianxingzi waved his sleeve, dispelling the white cloud beneath their feet, revealing that he had created it.
Among the group, Zhongshan didn't see Bei Qingsi, but Tianling'er was following Patriarch Tianxingzi closely.
Patriarch and Peak Master carefully surveyed the people on the square. Zhongshan had heard Tianling'er mention before that those two levels higher in cultivation could see through the cultivation of those lower by two levels. Thus, Nascent Soul stage cultivators could see through the cultivation of those at the Innate Realm, but Golden Core stage cultivators couldn't.
After inspecting everyone, the Patriarch and Peak Master's eyes showed some satisfaction. However, when they saw Zhongshan, a hint of curiosity flashed in their eyes.
The Early Stage of the Innate Realm? Had Zhongshan's talent progressed so rapidly within a year?
After a moment of contemplation, the Patriarch and Peak Master shook their heads slightly, not paying much attention. After all, although Zhongshan had reached the Early Stage of the Innate Realm, he still hadn't caught their attention.
"I have assessed your cultivation levels. Those who haven't made significant progress have ten days to choose a new technique in the Scripture Repository. The rest, with the highest achievement being at the Early Stage of the Innate Realm, please come forward," Patriarch Tianxingzi said.
Soon, four excited disciples stepped forward briskly. Three men and one woman stood at the forefront among the disciples.
Seeing these four, several second-generation disciples behind Patriarch Tianxingzi showed a hint of joy. Obviously, these four were the disciples they had chosen as their future successors.
"Good. Early Stage of the Innate Realm. According to the rules of Kaiyang Sect, the top three newcomers will each receive a Lingering Pearl. However, there are now four of you," Patriarch Tianxingzi suddenly said.
Upon hearing this, the four frowned. Lingering Pearl?
Hearing the term Lingering Pearl, Zhongshan also raised his eyebrows, his eyes showing a hint of excitement. Lingering Pearl?
Others might not know, but Zhongshan had heard Nan Batian mention it before. The Lingering Pearl was a fixed magical treasure, a foundation for creating a magical treasure. It must be used as a carrier for the magical treasure.
His Windchaser Boots were not yet a magical treasure.
Magical treasures were divided into nine grades, with the weakest being Grade One and the highest being Grade Nine. The function of the Lingering Pearl was to form an embryo according to the thoughts and ideas of the owner—a formless embryo that could then be infused with the necessary materials to create the desired magical treasure. After that, continuous refinement with one's true energy and cultivation would eliminate impurities within, allowing for the infusion of more materials to create increasingly powerful magical treasures.
Zhongshan knew that good magical treasures were formed through continuous refinement