NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 23:
Chapter 23: Have You… Divined It?:
Bai Ningruo was smiling, but a faint sense of loss lingered in her heart.
Lu Chen was once the pride of the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect, while she was the Holy Maiden of the Azure Sun Sect.
For hundreds of years, the two sects had been locked in endless conflict, and she had crossed swords with Lu Chen more times than she could count.
Lu Chen was upright and magnanimous, a man of honor.
She admired his breadth of mind and his character.
She was certain that Lu Chen did not see her merely as an enemy.
If he truly hated her, why would he have spared her so many times?
A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Bai Ningruo’s lips.
“I had thought I could lure you back to the Azure Sun Sect this time… but it turns out I’m still not capable enough.”
“Bai Ningruo, you must be joking. With your abilities, you could easily recruit plenty of people into your sect.”
“But none of them are you. So what meaning would there be in bringing them back?”
Lu Chen fell silent at her words.
Even though Bai Ningruo had accepted that Lu Chen had no intention of joining the Azure Sun Sect, she still wasn’t quite ready to give up.
“Lu Chen, tell me honestly—do you not want to join the Azure Sun Sect, or do you not want to join any sect at all?”
Lu Chen was slightly taken aback, then answered seriously, “No sect can be my home.”
Bai Ningruo’s heart instantly lightened.
That answer was enough for her.
If the Azure Sun Sect couldn’t have him, then neither could any other sect!
With that thought, Bai Ningruo suddenly felt much better.
After walking a few more steps, she abruptly turned back.
“Lu Chen, I have to return and report to my sect. Let’s part ways here!”
“Three months from now, we’ll meet at Nine Suns Peak!”
Lu Chen frowned slightly.
“You mean… the Chongyang Tournament?”
“That’s right. I’ll be training hard during this time. When the day comes, we’ll have a proper duel!”
Bai Ningruo’s heroic demeanor had returned, completely different from the gentle and affectionate stance she had taken earlier.
Thinking about the upcoming competition, Lu Chen felt a slight stir in his heart.
At his current cultivation pace, he would be able to participate.
That time, he would be Lu Chen—not representing any sect, but fighting purely as himself.
“Alright. I hope Bai Ningruo gets what she wishes for.”
“That’s a given. See you then!”
With that, Bai Ningruo turned and swiftly disappeared into the vast mountains.
Lu Chen gazed into the distance.
“Time flies. Little one, we must make haste too.”
When he once again wielded his sword atop Nine Suns Peak, what would his state of mind be then?
Lu Chen did not linger in Blacksmith Town.
He did not turn back when he left.
Since goodbyes were inevitable, why prolong the sorrow?
By dusk, Lu Chen had already traveled a hundred miles beyond Blacksmith Town.
At the foot of a nearby mountain, he spotted a firewood hut and quickened his steps toward it.
If he could stay there for the night, that would be ideal.
If not, he would have enough time to find another place before nightfall.
Upon entering the courtyard, he realized the hut was unoccupied.
Judging from the arrangements inside, it seemed the owner had been gone for quite some time.
A wooden table and stools were neatly arranged, and there was even a tea set on the table—though it was covered in dust.
Lighting the oil lamp on the table, Lu Chen carefully surveyed the surroundings.
The room bore a striking resemblance to his old quarters in the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect.
It was sparsely furnished, simple to the extreme.
Tonight, he would rest here.
The surroundings were quiet, undisturbed by anyone.
Lu Chen quickly sat cross-legged and entered a state of cultivation.
The contents of the first page of the Divine Scroll were already deeply ingrained in his memory.
As he circulated his spiritual energy once more, he was startled to discover that his aura… had doubled!
He had never experienced such an effect before.
Did this mean that the more he cultivated, the more his spiritual energy would multiply?
Elated, Lu Chen quickly refocused his thoughts.
A faint glow enveloped his entire body, white as moonlight—cool and tranquil.
One layer.
Two layers.
The luminescence became increasingly pronounced, layer upon layer surrounding him.
The surrounding airflow grew more turbulent…
The tea set on the table trembled slightly.
Lu Chen had completely immersed himself in his cultivation, losing all sense of the outside world.
…
Unlike the dimly lit firewood hut, the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect was ablaze with light.
The sect master had yet to arrive, but the elders were already gathered, discussing Meng Yu’s return.
Chi Lingxiao sat in silence, her face dark as iron.
Lately, one disaster had followed another.
The Alchemy Hall had become the laughingstock of the sect, and she had no mood to concern herself with anything else.
She had only come because the Second Elder had reported sighting Lu Chen in Blacksmith Town.
Beside her, Qi Ze kept glancing toward the grand hall’s entrance.
The fact that Meng Yu had been with Lu Chen—and had even prevented the Second Elder from bringing him back—was thrilling news to him.
If Lu Chen did not return to the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect, that was the best possible outcome!
Who had stopped him didn’t matter.
As discussions continued, neither Chi Lingxiao nor Qi Ze participated.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Xu Qingshan strode forward, followed by a group of disciples from the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect.
“The Second Elder is back!”
“Elder Xu, quickly, tell us what happened!”
“Where is Lu Chen? Why didn’t you bring him back? Didn’t you see him?”
“Did you fight him? Has he really regained his cultivation?”
Before Xu Qingshan had even steadied his footing, the questions bombarded him from all directions.
He did not respond immediately.
Instead, his eyes swept the room—only to find that Meng Yu was not present.
Xu Qingshan frowned and asked, “Meng Yu… hasn’t returned?”
As soon as he spoke, a sharp voice rang out.
“Who says I haven’t returned?”
“If I hadn’t hurried back, would the Second Elder have already pinned false charges on me?”
With unhurried steps, Meng Yu walked into the grand hall.
The hearts of those present clenched.
Though they had not witnessed the scene firsthand, it was evident that some conflict had occurred between Meng Yu and Xu Qingshan.
Was it truly over Lu Chen?
Doubt flickered in their eyes.
Chi Lingxiao’s brow furrowed deeply.
Something was off about Meng Yu today.
Among everyone in the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect, aside from Lu Chen, Meng Yu had always been the most mild-tempered.
Yet today, she spoke with an aggressive edge.
Before Chi Lingxiao could voice her concerns, the grand hall fell into utter silence.
Sensing the sect master’s presence, the elders immediately quieted, their expressions growing solemn.
Meng Yu stood straight, as if prepared for an argument.
However, what happened next caught her off guard.
Yu Yanxue approached the ceremonial jade throne, a trace of warmth flickering in her gaze.
“Meng Yu, you’ve finally returned.”
“You must already be aware of Lu Chen’s situation.”
“Have you… divined it?”
Yu Yanxue no longer cared about what had already happened.
She only wanted to know how Lu Chen’s departure would affect the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect.
Xu Qingshan stiffened in embarrassment.
He had returned to report to the sect master.
But now, she had completely bypassed him?
Xu Qingshan blinked several times, still utterly confused.