Chapter 539 - 546: The Warmth of the Sect

This girl’s personality was nothing like his little disciple’s; she feared nothing.

But he couldn’t help but admire that spirited drive. It was just that the current situation was unclear.

He was also a little worried.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I will see this through to the end. Even if we have to risk our old lives, we must protect our disciples!"

Ruan Mingyue’s eyes were resolute. As a Supreme Elder, protecting disciples was their duty.

Especially a disciple as outstanding as this.

After coming to an agreement, they all waited for Song Wanning to return to the Sect.

...

Two days later, Song Wanning finally returned.

From the moment she stepped into the Sect, disciples greeted her one after another, admiring both her courage and her power.

She responded with a smile and quickly made her way to the Sect Master Hall. But the moment she stepped inside, she was taken aback by the sheer number of people.

The Sect Master Hall was packed with people, most of them quite powerful. There were even two Combined Cultivators presiding over the assembly.

Song Wanning’s gaze immediately fell upon her master, Leng Qingzhu. She gave her a reassuring smile before looking at the Combined Cultivator behind her, Song Que.

Just as she was about to speak, another figure appeared at the entrance—it was a travel-worn Liu Xingzhi, who had just rushed back.

Liu Xingzhi had also advanced to the Body Integration Realm!

Song Wanning raised an eyebrow. ’As expected of someone targeted by the invaders,’ she thought. ’His talent is truly exceptional!’

With the two of them returning one after the other, Luo Hantian was overjoyed. ’Another Combined Cultivator means another layer of security.’

"Greetings, Martial Ancestor!"

Song Wanning averted her gaze and first bowed to Song Que, then to Ruan Mingyue, Liu Xingzhi, and the others.

They were all her seniors; their status couldn’t be measured by strength alone.

"You’re already at Late-stage Soul Emergence?"

Song Que stared at Song Wanning’s cultivation in astonishment. Even with all his worldly experience, he was stunned.

How long had it been since Song Wanning ascended?

Had it even been ten years?

He almost couldn’t believe his own eyes.

As soon as he said this, the vast Sect Master Hall fell dead silent. Everyone began to inspect Song Wanning’s cultivation. When they confirmed she was at Late-stage Soul Emergence, they were all dumbfounded.

A few of her martial uncles were even more stunned. A few years ago, they had suppressed their own cultivation to act as her sparring partners, but now...

Song Wanning had left them all in the dust.

A trace of heartache appeared in Leng Qingzhu’s eyes. ’For this little girl’s cultivation to grow so fast, I can only imagine how much she must have suffered!’

’How many dangers must she have faced?!’

Even though her disciple’s cultivation had surpassed her own, she felt not a shred of displeasure, only worry for her disciple’s situation.

"Yes. I came across some fortuitous encounters in the Central Domain and was lucky enough to advance!"

Song Wanning said with a calm smile as she walked to the center of the hall.

Looking at the group of seniors gathered here for her sake, as well as Liu Xingzhi who had specially rushed back, she felt a warmth spread through her heart.

She felt a sense of belonging to this Sect, even though she hadn’t been here for long.

"I was the one who undid the restriction this time. I will take full responsibility for my actions and will not let the Sect be implicated."

"The people from the Central Domain won’t come looking for trouble with me. Martial Ancestor, Martial Uncles, you have nothing to worry about!"

Song Wanning didn’t want the Sect to be on edge, so she explained with a smile.

But to the others, it sounded like she was just saying that because she didn’t want to involve them.

"Girl, rest assured, I’ve already communicated with the Ancestor. If they dare to come, the Ancestor will surely step in to protect you!"

"With so many of us here, we will never let anything happen to you. Don’t keep thinking about implicating us or not—we are a family!"

Luo Hantian’s face was filled with gratification; he felt more and more certain that he hadn’t misjudged her back then.

The others also looked like they wanted to persuade her, but Song Wanning, a helpless smile on her lips, quickly stopped them and explained, "That’s not what I mean!"

"The people from the Central Domain really won’t come cause trouble for me!"

"You all should know of the Huo Family, right? Their three ancestors all died at my hands. The Huo Family has already fallen..."

"The people of the Central Domain don’t dare to make a move against me!"

Song Wanning wasn’t bluffing.

The ability to slay three Mahayana cultivators was proof enough of her strength. If other Mahayana cultivators wanted to kill her, they would have to risk their own lives...

They were all on the verge of ascension; who would be so foolish as to seek her out to settle scores?

Therefore, those people were destined not to come.

"..."

The Sect Master Hall fell silent once again as everyone stared at Song Wanning in utter shock.

Had they misheard?

’Song Wanning killed three Mahayana cultivators?’

’Are we crazy, or is she?’

’How is that possible?!’

But Song Wanning’s expression was serious; she didn’t seem to be lying. More importantly, there was no point in her lying...

After a long while, the crowd finally digested this news, and the way they looked at Song Wanning changed completely.

No one dared to treat her as a junior anymore.

Song Wanning could only give another helpless smile. "I came back this time for two reasons. First, to see my master, and second, to tell everyone not to worry."

"With the restriction lifted, our Ancient Cold Sect won’t be affected at all. You can all carry on as you always have!"

She said a few more words before leaving with Song Que and the others.

Luo Hantian and those who remained were left feeling somewhat at a loss, but this was quickly followed by a hidden thread of excitement.

’Let those old coots be sarcastic all they want. They’ll get what’s coming to them!’

’Hmph, they dare mock my judgment?’

’This will piss them right off!’

A great weight lifted from Luo Hantian’s heart, and he began to gloat.

He couldn’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they were thwarted.

Beside him, Liu Xingzhi remained expressionless, but the aura around him fluctuated.

Song Wanning’s rapid growth had also become his motivation.

The little girl from before had actually grown to such an extent. It was truly astonishing.

That being the case, he too had to cultivate diligently and strive for an early ascension.

As for his junior martial sister, Jiang Cen, he had long since cast her to the back of his mind, completely forgotten.

The so-called "master-disciple romance" that Jiang Cen had spoken of had never happened.

His heart was solely devoted to the Dao; he had never had any other intentions.

...

Back at Pursuing Peak, Song Wanning properly bowed to Song Que and received a greeting gift.

The group happily caught up, then spent the evening feasting on roasted meat and drinking, having a wonderful time.

But after a few rounds of drinks, Song Wanning gazed at the sky with a hint of melancholy.

"It’s been so long, and there’s still no news of Martial Aunt..."

Her martial aunt, Liu Lan Yi, had ascended long before her, but despite asking around everywhere, there were no traces of her whereabouts.

She had even been to the Central Domain now, but she hadn’t seen her martial aunt there either.

This couldn’t help but make her worry.

Hearing this, a trace of sorrow clouded Leng Qingzhu’s features.

"Your martial aunt is very fortunate; she surely hasn’t come to any harm. She must be trapped somewhere."

"Don’t you worry about her. Just focus on your cultivation."

She herself had gone out searching for Liu Lan Yi some time ago, but still came up with nothing.

She, too, felt deeply uneasy.

’I can only hope that this time, with Wan Ning’s fame being so great, Liu Lan Yi might hear of it and take the initiative to find them, right?’

’I just hope nothing bad has happened.’