As the azure light flashed across the sky, the entire sect entered battle readiness.
Elders and stewards who had been in seclusion emerged one after another.
Based on past experience, the beast tide would arrive within two to three days.
Lu Changsheng watched all this unfold, puzzled.
"Why does the beast tide come back every so often?"
"Can't they choose a different direction?"
Could there be something in Cangyun Sect that these beasts just couldn't let go of?
But he'd been here ten years.
If there really was something precious, wouldn't he have found it already?
Ye Tianyi returned after registering and reminded Lu Changsheng to be prepared.
Lu didn't argue.
At the same time, atop a mountain, the three disciples from Xuanyuan Sect stared at Qingyun Peak from afar.
"I lost to Zhou Qingyu. I await Elder's punishment."
Li Changfeng knelt with a hand cupped in respect, head lowered.
The old man shook his head.
"Zhou Qingyu's brilliance exceeds expectations. There are few who can rival him in all of Cangzhou. This isn't your fault."
Li Changfeng said no more.
Shi Feng stood by with a furrowed brow. He had watched that battle from start to finish—and he was still shaken.
Not even thirty, Zhou Qingyu was already on the verge of forming a Core, and his swordsmanship… even the sword-dedicated elders of major sects might not compare.
"So what do we do now?"
"He's probably reaching the seventh level of sword intent. That's terrifying. Even among the top sects, he'd be elite. If he were just some average genius, we could ignore him. But at this level..."
"He must not be allowed to live."
A cold glint flashed in the elder's eyes.
"What do you need us to do?"
"You'll proceed as planned. Help defend Cangyun from the beast tide. Leave the rest to me."
"Yes, Elder."
Time passed quickly.
Soon, the sect reached the rallying moment.
A few powerful cultivators were left to guard the sect while the rest, led by the Sect Master, departed to intercept the beast tide and protect the mortal villages nearby.
After reminding Ning Yuxin of a few safety points, Lu Changsheng followed his eldest senior brother to report in.
The entire sect was on high alert.
Disciples were pumped with excitement, full of ambition and resolve.
For many, this was their first real battle—a chance to make a name for themselves.
After all, cultivators sought ascension, fought to grow stronger, and loved to test their limits.
Young and burning with passion, each one was eager to make their mark.
Well—except Lu Changsheng, who dragged his feet the entire way.
Soon, all the various peak disciples gathered.
Zhou Qingyu, along with Ye Tianyi and Lu Changsheng, stood at the front of their group, backed by dozens of inner sect disciples.
At that moment, Luo Qianling arrived.
"Greetings, Senior Brothers!"
She bowed politely to Zhou Qingyu and Ye Tianyi.
The two nodded back with a smile.
Then Luo Qianling happily skipped over to Lu Changsheng.
"Senior Brother Changsheng~"
Hands behind her back, her smile sparkling, eyes shining like crystal water.
"What's wrong, Junior Sister?"
"I brought you the spirit stones!"
She pulled out a cloth pouch and shoved it into his hands.
Lu Changsheng froze.
With a quick spiritual sense scan, his face stiffened.
One… ten… a hundred… a full ten thousand spirit stones?!
A peak master received a little over a hundred stones a month, and the Sect Master only two hundred.
But this? This must have taken years to save up!
Outside of someone like Ning Yuxin—a literal moneybags—this was a massive fortune.
He stammered, hand trembling.
"This… so much… you…"
"Don't worry. My dad doesn't know!"
Luo Qianling smiled sweetly, then shyly added:
"Besides, he said it was for my dowry anyway. So I just took it in advance~"
She's serious?!
Lu Changsheng's hands shook even more. He looked at his junior sister and… didn't know what to say.
Guiltily, he glanced toward the Sect Master—only to see a cold, soul-piercing gaze aimed straight at him.
"Junior Sister… you're sure the Sect Master doesn't know?"
That look definitely doesn't say 'I don't know.'
Elsewhere, the Sect Master, Luo Tian, stared daggers at Lu Changsheng.
A nearby elder whispered,
"Did Little Changsheng offend the Sect Master somehow?"
"No!" Luo Tian replied—but his face remained dark.
"Then why…?"
The elder followed his gaze and finally understood.
Oh. His daughter. Yeah, that'd do it.
Luo Tian grumbled after a pause:
"I don't know why, but whenever I see that kid, I just want to beat him. There were a few times I nearly couldn't hold back."
"Sect Master, isn't that a bit much? Changsheng may be lazy, but he's a good kid. I heard he even broke through to Qi Gathering Stage 4 under Tianyi's guidance."
"So what? You think level four is that much better than level three?"
The elder chuckled.
"To be fair, Peak Master Qianjun has always had good eyes. Changsheng's talent isn't bad—he's just lacked guidance and experience."
Luo Tian shot the elder a dark glare but said nothing.
Qianjun was Lu Changsheng's master—head of Qingyun Peak.
After a moment of silence, Luo Tian cursed softly:
"That little beast…"
"My daughter's only sixteen or seventeen, and he dares try something?! Absolute beast!"
Lu Changsheng, of course, heard all of this through spiritual sense and let out a long breath.
"Whew… I thought I got caught for the spirit stones…"
Luo Qianling reminded him again:
"If the spirit stones aren't enough, let me know! I'll get more!"
Then she returned to her father's side.
As the Sect Master's daughter, she had to lead by example and stand beside her father.
Still, she worried about Lu Changsheng.
"Dad, this is Senior Brother Changsheng's first beast tide. He doesn't have any experience—will he be alright?"
"What do you mean 'will he be alright'? Is there a single disciple here who isn't facing it for the first time?"
Luo Tian's tone was annoyed.
"I don't care. You have to protect him!"
Luo Tian's frown deepened.
After a long silence, he sighed. She was his daughter, after all—he had to give in a little.
"Zhou Qingyu will be watching him, and the Qingyun Peak elders will be there too. He'll be fine."
"Great!"
Luo Qianling looked relieved.
Luo Tian, however, muttered:
"Ling'er… do you really like him that much?"
"Can't I?"
"You'll leave the sect eventually. You'll be separated from him. Sometimes, things are beyond your control. I'm afraid it'll affect your cultivation and future."
"He can't keep up with you, child."
Luo Qianling frowned, her expression turning complicated.
But after a moment, her eyes firmed with resolve.
"Then I'll become strong enough… to protect him."
Her words were calm but unwavering. Luo Tian was momentarily stunned.
He glanced again at Lu Changsheng—who stood behind his senior brothers like a background character—and fell into deep thought.
"I just don't get it. What do you see in that boy?"
Luo Qianling turned her head slightly, eyes shining like starlight, her voice full of hidden joy.
"He's handsome."
Luo Tian: "???"
Of all reasons… you picked his face?
In this world, people valued talent, background, effort—anything but looks.
Can you eat a pretty face?
Luo Tian fell silent.
He subconsciously touched his own face.
Wasn't I good-looking too?