Chapter 139 ·Returning to the Sect

Ye ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Chen looked at the mountain gate, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍took a deep breath and turned toward Feng Jiuge beside him.

This ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Brother Feng still carried that calm and indifferent demeanor.

Ye ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chen cupped his fists.

“Brother ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Feng, I’ve already returned to my sect. If you’re not in a hurry to return to the Qingyun Sect, why not come inside and sit for a while? Have some tea and rest your feet.”

Hearing ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this, the corners of Feng Jiuge’s lips rose slightly as he returned the salute.

“Then I shall trouble Brother Ye.”

Ye Chen hurriedly waved his hands.

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all. Brother Feng looked after me the entire way. I’m the one who should be grateful.”

As he spoke, however, an indescribable feeling surged within his heart.

Back when he left the sect to venture outside for experience, Sect Master Nether Soul seemed to only possess Nascent Soul Realm cultivation.

At that time, the Azure Wave Sect was merely an inconspicuous mid-tier sect within the Eastern Continent. It did not even possess a single Transformation Spirit Realm expert.

Now, after so many years...

Ye Chen secretly calculated inwardly.

Sect Master Nether Soul possessed extraordinary talent, but no matter how extraordinary, at most he should now only be at the early stage of Transformation Spirit Realm. Perhaps he was even still stuck at the peak of Nascent Soul Realm.

As for himself?

Void Refinement Realm.

Although his journey had been somewhat miserable, his cultivation was real.

A strange feeling arose within Ye Chen’s heart.

That sect master he once needed to look up to...

His cultivation should now be inferior to Ye Chen’s, right?

He shook his head, throwing away those messy thoughts before stepping toward the mountain gate.

Feng Jiuge followed beside him, his expression calm while his gaze subtly swept across the surroundings.

......

Before the Azure Wave Sect mountain gate, two disciples on duty were meditating.

Sensing someone approaching, both simultaneously opened their eyes and stood up.

One of them was just about to ask for their identities when he saw the leading youth pull out a token from within his robes.

The token was ancient and simple. The front bore the character “Bi,” while the back carried the two characters “Inner Sect.”

The disciple accepted the token and carefully inspected it before immediately cupping his fists.

“So it’s an Inner Sect Senior Brother. Please enter.”

Ye Chen nodded, stored away the token, and stepped into the mountain gate.

The disciple glanced at Feng Jiuge behind him. His lips parted slightly, but in the end, he chose not to ask further questions.

Anyone capable of returning together with an Inner Sect Senior Brother while possessing such an unfathomable aura that even his cultivation could not be seen through was either another Inner Sect disciple or the senior brother’s friend.

Either way, there was no problem allowing him entry.

Besides, could the current Azure Wave Sect truly fear troublemakers?

Ye Chen stepped through the mountain gate and followed the paths within his memories.

But as he walked, he gradually realized something was wrong.

Why did this sect seem different from the one in his memories?

Those palace halls and stone stairways—how had they all become completely new buildings and perfectly smooth spiritual jade roads?

Compared to before he left the Azure Wave Sect, it had become over ten times more luxurious!

Moreover, every disciple encountered along the way possessed steady auras. The weakest among them were all at the Golden Core Realm, while Foundation Establishment disciples were almost nowhere to be seen.

The farther Ye Chen walked, the more shocked he became.

Was this truly still the Azure Wave Sect from back then?

He stopped a passing disciple and asked:

“May I ask, Junior Brother, where is the Sect Master currently?”

The disciple sized him up. Seeing his extraordinary bearing and the even more unfathomable white-robed youth behind him, he did not dare show disrespect and hurriedly replied:

“The Sect Master is currently cultivating in seclusion at the rear mountain. If Senior Brother has important matters, you may go there to find him.”

Ye Chen nodded in thanks but could not help asking another question:

“May I ask who the current Sect Master is?”

The disciple froze, giving him a strange look before still answering:

“The Sect Master is Wu Changan, Elder Wu... ah no, Sect Master Wu.”

Ye Chen froze again.

Wu Changan?

Not Sect Master Nether Soul?

He remembered Wu Changan. Back then, he had been an elder within the sect, his cultivation seemingly at either Golden Core Realm or Nascent Soul Realm.

And now he had become Sect Master?

Then where was Nether Soul?

A trace of panic suddenly rose within Ye Chen’s heart.

He hurriedly thanked the disciple and quickened his pace toward the rear mountain.

At the rear mountain, before a quiet cave dwelling.

Just as Ye Chen was about to speak and inquire, the stone doors of the cave dwelling opened and a figure walked out.

It was an old man with white hair and beard, refined features, and gray Daoist robes.

Cultivation—

Early stage of Transformation Spirit Realm.

Ye Chen recognized him immediately.

It was Wu Changan.

After walking out of the cave dwelling, Wu Changan’s gaze landed on Ye Chen. He first froze slightly before revealing a thoughtful expression.

“You are... Ye Chen?”

Ye Chen hurriedly bowed.

“It is indeed this disciple! After being away for so many years, Elder Wu... Sect Master still remembers this disciple.”

Wu Changan waved his hand and laughed.

“I remember, I remember. Although you didn’t stay in the sect for very long back then, I met you several times.”

“Later I heard you went out for experience and never returned. This old man thought you...”

He stopped halfway and did not continue speaking. Instead, he merely patted Ye Chen’s shoulder.

“It’s good that you’ve returned. Good that you’ve returned.”

Warmth rose within Ye Chen’s heart. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw Wu Changan’s gaze move past him and land upon Feng Jiuge behind him.

“Jiuge?!”

Wu Changan quickly stepped forward and grabbed Feng Jiuge’s arm, examining him up and down, his face filled with delight.

“You’ve returned too! Good, good! This old man thought... thought that after roaming outside for so many years, you had long forgotten the sect!”

Feng Jiuge smiled faintly and cupped his fists in greeting.

“Elder Wu, long time no see. How could this disciple dare forget the sect?”

Wu Changan burst into hearty laughter.

Holding Feng Jiuge’s hand, he spoke continuously:

“Back when the Supreme Elder accepted you as a disciple, this old man already knew you were no ordinary kid.”

“Later, when you went out for experience and disappeared for so many years, this old man constantly worried, afraid something might have happened to you out there.”

“Now seeing your cultivation... this old man actually can’t even see through it anymore. Good, good, good!”

Feng Jiuge smiled.

“Elder Wu flatters me too much. On the contrary, after all these years apart, Elder Wu’s bearing surpasses the past even more.”

Wu Changan waved his hand and laughed.

“What bearing do I have? It’s all thanks to the resources left behind by the Supreme Elder that I was fortunate enough to break through into Transformation Spirit Realm.”

Standing nearby and watching this scene, Ye Chen was completely dumbfounded.

He looked at Wu Changan, then at Feng Jiuge, then at their familiar conversation. His mind buzzed noisily.

Elder Wu knew Brother Feng?

And... was this enthusiastic?

Earlier, when Elder Wu saw Ye Chen, he merely greeted him politely.

But toward Brother Feng?

His eyes were practically red with emotion!

The difference in treatment was far too great!

As Ye Chen silently grumbled inwardly, he suddenly heard Wu Changan ask:

“Jiuge, did you return this time specifically to visit Elder Nether Soul?”

Feng Jiuge nodded.

“Precisely. This disciple has been away for many years. It is time to return and pay respects to Master.”

Ye Chen froze once more.

Master?

Subconsciously, he asked:

“Brother Feng, your master is?”

Feng Jiuge turned and looked at him.

“Brother Ye, my master is the former Sect Master Nether Soul. You should know him.”

Ye Chen’s mouth fell wide open.

His mind became complete chaos as countless thoughts surged wildly within it.

Brother Feng was also from the Azure Wave Sect?

He was Sect Master Nether Soul’s personal disciple?

After a long while, Ye Chen finally squeezed out a sentence.

“Y-You... why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Feng Jiuge’s expression remained completely calm.

“When we first met, I did not know your true identity. Being cautious never hurts.”

Ye Chen realized he could not refute those words at all.

He took a deep breath.

Then another deep breath.

“Then back in the secret realm, when you asked about Sect Master Nether Soul, that was also...”

Feng Jiuge nodded.

“It was also a test.”

Ye Chen: “......”

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