Though he had seen it, Li Xing Tian didn't rush to take it. Instead, he turned around again and clasped his fists in thanks, saying, "Thank you, senior."
Chu Xingchen waved his hand dismissively, his expression indifferent.
Li Xing Tian slowly stood up and walked directly toward the thousand-year Bone Jade that he had yearned for since his reincarnation. He lifted the table corner and grasped the stone-like Bone Jade in his hand again, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.
After once again thanking Chu Xingchen, Li Xing Tian hurriedly exited the dilapidated temple with the precious Bone Jade in hand.
Li Yingling watched as he left, then stepped into the temple, her tone somewhat incredulous. "Master, you just let him go like that?"
Her master, who usually wouldn't even budge for any benefit, suddenly let someone take something and leave freely?
Hearing Li Yingling's words, Chu Xingchen dropped his aloof demeanor. "You practice at home for now; I need to step out for a bit."
Li Yingling showed a look that indicated her master should have acted this way, but before he left, she curiously asked, "Master, is our sect really called the Heavenly Path Alliance?"
After all, her master didn't always speak the truth; he might be deceiving that foolish boy.
"Yes." Chu Xingchen replied tersely before transforming into a streak of rainbow light and disappearing.
Li Yingling rubbed her chin, deep in thought.
Then, she gathered her spirit power, and her wooden sword flew back into her hand.
She decided to practice first; she was almost at the threshold of mastering the Three Thousand Weak Waters Sword.
Li Yingling felt that once she got past the initial difficulty, there would be a qualitative leap.
Having been called a genius her whole life, this was the first time she felt utterly frustrated with a technique.
It had been five whole days! She was still just on the brink of the basics.
No wonder her master was eager to take on new disciples; perhaps her talent seemed lacking in his eyes.
With a sigh, she resolved to push herself harder.
——————
Li Xing Tian had a clear target, heading straight for the nearest town.
Refining the thousand-year Bone Jade required a quiet and safe space, and he needed a whole day to do so.
There was no way he could return to the original, ridiculous sect; who would want to go back to such a place, especially when he had sneaked out?
He was probably already marked as a fugitive by the sect.
He would find an inn in the nearby town and pay extra to ensure he wasn't disturbed.
Once he refined the Bone Jade, he would head straight to the Central State, where more opportunities awaited him.
However, one concern lingered in his mind.
The words of that senior still echoed in his head.
Had he really missed out on true opportunities?
With a sigh, he recalled how deeply disappointed he had been with his previous sect.
In his last life, he hadn't relied on a sect and still became a renowned figure in the Central State.
He could certainly do it again in this life; why should he attach himself to a so-called sect?
Resolving firmly in his mind, he cleared away all distractions. If he was going to do this, he wouldn't have any regrets.
A day later, after a long journey, Li Xing Tian finally reached his destination.
In a not-so-small town.
Upon arriving at the inn, he didn't rush up to the second-floor room to refine the Bone Jade.
Instead, he ordered a table of food first.
After all, he was only at Qi Refining Level 2, and after trekking for so long, his provisions had long been consumed.
He was starving, but this feeling of hunger was something he hadn't experienced in a while.
Li Xing Tian chuckled lightly, feeling an extraordinary sense of reality.
However, he quickly stopped smiling.
Because…
He encountered disciples from his previous sect, the Qingfeng Sect.
On the second floor, several outer disciples dressed in white and green garments were slowly descending the stairs.
Li Xing Tian quickly lowered his head when he noticed them out of the corner of his eye, not wanting to be seen.
Inwardly, he cursed his bad luck. The more he feared something, the more it seemed to come true.
One of the Qingfeng Sect disciples scanned the first floor and spotted the crouching Li Xing Tian. He felt a sense of familiarity, and after a moment, he seemed to remember something. He quickly tugged at the sleeve of the senior disciple in front of him.
Seeing the puzzled look from his senior brother, the disciple signaled with his eyes for him to look at Li Xing Tian.
The senior brother followed his gaze, his eyes narrowing as he led the four disciples to Li Xing Tian's table.
He swaggered over and sat down boldly, glaring at Li Xing Tian with sharp eyes. "You brat, are you the one who's on the wanted list, Li Xing Tian?"
Knowing he couldn't hide anymore, Li Xing Tian suddenly looked up, sweeping his gaze over the five disciples.
None of them were in the Foundation Establishment stage; he could tell that three were at Qi Refining Level 3, one at Level 4, and the leading senior brother at Level 5.
Although he was only at Qi Refining Level 2, the extraordinary techniques retained in his mind from his previous life were enough to defeat these newcomers who were just starting out in their cultivation.
If he killed them, he could then escape; otherwise, he would definitely be chased down without a chance of getting away!
Strike first, take the advantage; strike later, get beaten!
Li Xing Tian chose to strike first, grabbing a pair of chopsticks beside him, and suddenly unleashed his spirit power.
He aimed to take down the leading senior brother first!
However, the senior brother was already prepared!
With a cold laugh, he met Li Xing Tian's attack with his own, unleashing the full force of his Qi Refining Level 5 cultivation!
With a powerful swing, his hand came crashing down toward Li Xing Tian's head.
How could a mere Qi Refining Level 2 waste understand the realm of Qi Refining Level 5?
The chopsticks and hand collided!
The outcome, however, was beyond everyone's expectations!
Li Xing Tian's chopsticks pierced through the senior brother's hand, the weak spirit power unexpectedly carrying a strong penetrating force.
After piercing through the hand, Li Xing Tian didn't hold back and continued his attack straight toward the senior brother's head.
Just as it seemed he would succeed…
A sharp and fierce Golden Core aura suddenly erupted.
With a casual strike, it shattered the second floor's room, and a massive wave of spirit power surged toward Li Xing Tian like a dragon.
A warning blared in his mind. He glanced to the side and saw a white-haired elder gazing silently at him.
Li Xing Tian recognized him as the second elder of the Qingfeng Sect—a mid Golden Core cultivator!
It was over!
As soon as that thought crossed his mind, the massive spirit power transformed into a crimson dragon and slammed into Li Xing Tian.
He felt as if his organs were shattered from the blow, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
The second elder slightly rose, his expression neither happy nor sad. "You've betrayed the sect and attacked its disciples. According to Qingfeng Sect rules, you are to face punishment."
Li Xing Tian had no space left to struggle; his meager spirit power had already been scattered by the blow.
His meridians were severely injured.
In his mind, the words of that elder echoed again.
Time is a torrent; it's a trend, a law. Everything he did in his previous life was in direct defiance of it.
He had become too arrogant and forgotten that disrupting causality would change the course of all events!
Perhaps the elder had already warned him that recklessly altering history would come with a price!
That invitation to join as a disciple might have merely been a way to save his life.
After all, someone capable of seeing through the currents of time could certainly foresee this outcome!
Li Xing Tian didn't regret it; he just… felt too unwilling to accept it!
"Stop! Can you show me some face?"
A familiar voice called out, and Li Xing Tian turned to look.
He saw Chu Xingchen, who wore a look of disappointment, casually sipping from a cup of tea.