Chapter 210: I Am Lu Yan of the Taiyi Sect

Faced with the alluring beauty so close at hand—her intoxicating rose-like fragrance wafting toward him—Lu Yan’s eyelid twitched ever so slightly.

Had it not been for the fact that they were in public and needed to maintain decorum, this true disciple of the Clear Wutong Sect would probably have already pressed herself onto him.

“I’m here to visit a friend.”

If they were still in the Urban Version, Lu Yan wouldn’t have minded indulging in a few more exchanges with Su Yan. But now, in the Cultivation Version, he chose to steer clear of unnecessary trouble. His tone carried a hint of polite rejection.

Hearing this, Su Yan’s expression grew slightly melancholic as she softly replied, “Ever since that day, I’ve often thought of you, Young Master Lu. I didn’t expect we’d meet again today.”

Lu Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

They had only spent one night together, over a year ago—and yet Su Yan was putting on such a display. Anyone unaware of the truth might assume they were some long-lost lovers.

As one of the true disciples of the Clear Wutong Sect, Su Yan’s public closeness with an outsider naturally drew the attention of numerous sect disciples nearby.

Many cultivators, whether in the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stage, glanced curiously in their direction.

If things dragged on any longer, it would only attract more eyes. That was the last thing Lu Yan wanted.

His lips twitched, and he swiftly changed the topic. “I’m unfamiliar with the Clear Wutong Sect. Would Fairy Su be willing to show me the way?”

A radiant smile bloomed on Su Yan’s face. “Of course. I’d be delighted.”

With a wave of her right hand, a High-Grade flying boat emerged from her storage pouch.

“Please, after you.”

Lu Yan and Su Yan stepped aboard. The moment they entered, the flying boat activated its concealment formation, vanishing from the view of the surrounding disciples.

Only after they were gone did murmurs ripple through the crowd.

“Who was that man?”

“Just Foundation Establishment stage, and yet Su Yan is personally accompanying him?”

“I’m at Foundation Establishment too—why am I not the one standing next to her?”

Several Clear Wutong Sect disciples who admired Su Yan spoke bitterly.

A nearby mid-stage Foundation Establishment inner disciple scoffed at them. “Take a look at yourselves. That man may be early Foundation Establishment, but when I sent out my divine sense to probe him, I was instantly suppressed. His soul strength is far beyond others at his level.

“Not to mention, his composure when facing Su Yan was calm, even slightly aloof. He must be a genius from a major sect or noble lineage.”

Another inner disciple seemed to recall something and his eyes lit up. “Su Yan has been renting cultivation caves and spiritual grounds like crazy over the past year. Her cultivation has soared. Could this man be the reason why?”

That speculation caused many nearby disciples to stir inwardly, though one still warned cautiously, “Without evidence, don’t make wild assumptions. It could bring unnecessary trouble.”

Su Yan’s admirers chimed in righteously, “Even if that man is from a prestigious family, Su Yan is a true disciple of our sect! She’s not someone you can casually slander!”

While the outer sect disciples were caught up in debate, the scene inside the flying boat was entirely different.

Within the tea room, smoke curled gently through the air. Su Yan had changed into a simple, elegant dress and knelt gracefully beside Lu Yan.

Her jade-like fingers poured tea with refined grace, her body ever so slightly leaning toward him. As her skirt shifted with her movements, a glimpse of her snow-white, slender leg was revealed.

Her delicate touch occasionally brushed his hand. Every gesture radiated charm. The fragrance in her hair danced with the rising aroma of tea, weaving a soft, intoxicating atmosphere.

Though this was the Cultivation Version, Su Yan still had her “celestial maiden” persona to maintain. She was more reserved than her Urban Version counterpart, keeping her seduction subtle and restrained.

Back in the Urban Version, she might’ve initiated a “boat-shaking” session by now.

As the fragrance of spirit tea spread through the tea room, the tension eased. Seeing that Lu Yan wasn’t brushing her off any further, Su Yan finally let out a breath of relief.

She had worked so hard to reconnect with Lu Yan—this was her chance to gain more benefits.

From just one night of passion last time, she had received resources that elevated her cultivation dramatically. If she could deepen their relationship this time, she might reach the peak of Foundation Establishment and even step into the Golden Core Realm.

As she calculated inwardly, Su Yan softly asked, “Young Master Lu, which friend are you here to visit? If I’m acquainted with them, I’d be happy to escort you personally.”

Lu Yan was well aware of the conflict between Su Yan and Ji Xingyao. But since they were already on the same boat, there was no point hiding it.

“She’s called Ji Xingyao.”

Su Yan’s hand froze mid-pour, and she looked at Lu Yan with some confusion.

A few years ago, it might’ve been normal for someone to know Ji Xingyao. She was once a famed prodigy of the sect. But ever since her foundation had been damaged during the Forbidden Ground Trial, she had been in decline.

Although she had slightly recovered in recent years, it was barely enough to stay afloat.

Visiting her now of all times? That felt… suspicious.

Then, a sudden thought struck Su Yan.

“Lu Yan!”

A jolt went through her heart.

“An outer sect disciple reported earlier that someone named Lu Yan had returned to the sect.

“And now, this Young Master Lu shows up, looking for Ji Xingyao—and he’s also surnamed Lu. Could it really be a coincidence?”

They had once tracked down a cultivator named Lu Yan after Ji Xingyao gifted a Scripture Transmission Token. The one they found had only been mid-stage Qi Refining.

Later, they verified some details about him from the incident at Qinggu Market.

Su Yan cautiously glanced at Lu Yan, who was sipping his tea with elegance. His posture and presence were regal, his cultivation at Foundation Establishment—but his soul strength even made her, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, feel pressured.

There was no way someone like him had risen from the bottom in just a few months.

The ridiculous thought she had tried to dismiss came rushing back—but this time, it seemed almost certain.

Yet Su Yan quickly concealed her shock and smiled sweetly. “So you’re here to see Sister Ji. But she’s been in seclusion for quite some time—you might not be able to see her.”

Lu Yan remained calm. “I have my own methods. Just take me there.”

Su Yan softly acknowledged and steered the flying boat toward the depths of a mountain range.

As they flew, she introduced, “Our Clear Wutong Sect has four ranks: outer disciples, inner disciples, personal disciples, and true disciples.

“Outer disciples reside in the outer courtyards. Inner and personal disciples are allowed to establish caves on one of the seventy-two Earth-Spirit Peaks.

“Once one reaches Golden Core and earns an elder’s title, they may live on one of the thirty-six Heaven-Spirit Peaks.

“But all of that is still part of the outer mountains.

“Only Nascent Soul cultivators and true disciples are permitted to enter the sect’s core—the blessed land within the inner mountains—where they may open their cultivation caves.”

Lu Yan showed a hint of surprise.

“True disciples have such a high status?”

He had known they were important, but hadn’t realized they were even more privileged than Golden Core elders.

“True disciples are all under a hundred years of age, and every one of them is expected to become a Golden Core. Some may even attain Nascent Soul status.

“Their status naturally surpasses that of ordinary elders.

“Some even say that only after forming a Golden Core does a true disciple become a ‘real’ true disciple.”

She paused for a moment, then added, “The Ten Great Orthodox Sects and even the Demonic Path Upper Sects all place great emphasis on nurturing the younger generation.

“Some secret realms only allow those under a hundred to enter, so disciples like us are given extra care.

“Compared to others, Clear Wutong’s standards are average. I’ve heard that in the Taiyi Sect, the thirty-six true disciples can determine the entire sect’s direction—and even Nascent Soul elders must follow their orders.”

A flicker of longing crossed her eyes.

Su Yan’s talent was already among the highest of her generation, but it still wasn’t enough to qualify for true disciple status.

Ji Xingyao’s ruined foundation would soon leave a vacant position, and everyone was eyeing that slim opportunity with everything they had.

Even if it was a gamble, it was worth trying.

Lu Yan, meanwhile, looked thoughtful.

Given that the Ten Great Orthodox Sects were backed by Immortals, this emphasis on nurturing the young was likely not for age-limited secret realms, but rather for specific world versions.

For example, in the Urban Version, there were no supernaturals, and lifespans rarely exceeded a hundred years.

Not all worlds allowed long-lived cultivators. In such cases, only younger disciples could maintain the sect’s power.

As he pondered this, Lu Yan suddenly felt the spiritual energy around him surge to a terrifying level—nearly a tenth of the cyber version’s infinite spiritual power.

While not as dense as the Cyber Version, it was still extreme.

In this environment, combined with his massive store of merit to suppress inner demons, Lu Yan could likely break through to late Foundation Establishment within half a year.

Before he could speak, Su Yan said, “We’ve arrived. This is the Clear Wutong Blessed Land.

“Personal disciples like me aren’t allowed to stay here for long without special permission. We must find Sister Ji quickly.”

Just as she finished, the protective barrier around the flying boat suddenly shattered with a boom. The vessel jolted violently, sending spirit tea spilling everywhere.

Su Yan’s expression instantly changed from soft to sharp.

“Who’s there!”

She stepped out, only to find several fellow personal disciples barring their path—Xiao Shang, He Wudao, Di Qiwen, and Bai Ruoyan.

Her expression turned cold.

“What are you all doing?!”

Xiao Shang sneered. “That’s my question to you.

“You kept quiet when you learned about Lu Yan, and now you’re even escorting him to Ji Xingyao’s cave. Are you planning to defect to her side?”

Su Yan faltered.

“You’re saying… Young Master Lu is Lu—”

“Yes.”

A calm voice rang out as Lu Yan, dressed in black, stepped forward.

His eyes swept over the Foundation Establishment late-stage and peak personal disciples before him.

“I am Lu Yan. What business do you have with me?”

Su Yan’s heart trembled. The simultaneous appearance of both “Lu Yan” and “Young Master Lu” had shaken her suspicions earlier, but now with Lu Yan’s open admission, she didn’t know how to react.

Xiao Shang eyed Lu Yan with disdain. “A mere rogue cultivator reaching Foundation Establishment… clearly you gained much from Ji Xingyao and Su Yan.

“I, Xiao Shang, have no interest in bullying the weak. Just tell me how Ji Xingyao recovered her injuries, and I’ll let you go.”

But Lu Yan simply gave him a cold glance.

A mere late-stage Foundation Establishment? Lu Yan had slain too many like him in the Demon and Apocalypse Versions.

If not for their identities as Clear Wutong Sect disciples, he wouldn’t even bother replying.

That dismissive look infuriated Xiao Shang. He recalled how Ji Xingyao had extorted him last time to exchange for a Scripture Token on Lu Yan’s behalf. Rage surged within him.

With a flick of his dust-whisk artifact, he barked, “How dare an outsider trespass into our sacred land? You deserve death!”

With his shout, a fierce wind roared, and his artifact summoned a mighty wind spell above.

Su Yan reacted immediately. She removed a jade hairpin from her head, transforming it into a sword beam that slashed through the gust.

“Lu Gongzi is my guest!”

“You intend to protect him?”

Su Yan hesitated, but gritted her teeth and said, “Lu Gongzi has helped me greatly.”

“Very well, then!” Xiao Shang growled and turned to the others. “He’s the one who helped Ji Xingyao recover. If we let him meet her now, we’ll never have a chance at the true disciple position again!”

This revelation left the others unable to stay uninvolved.

Weapons and techniques appeared in their hands. Wind roared, lightning crackled—powerful spells lit up the skies and enveloped the area in a storm of energy.

As personal disciples of a top sect, their strength far surpassed the average. Their combined attack was overwhelming.

Su Yan, standing alone, was clearly outmatched.

But then—Lu Yan finally moved.

Over the past half-year, he had mostly relied on the Human Emperor Banner to command ghost soldiers. But that didn’t mean he was weak.

With the Supreme Dao Foundation, his body, spirit, and magic all exceeded his peers. As a Human Representative of Heaven, he had insight into all techniques below Third Grade and could crush same-level cultivators.

With an open hand, the Four Symbols—earth, water, wind, and fire—manifested around him. His understanding of the Mysterious Female Gate surged through his mind.

Though the true artifact was unusable due to its connection to the Longevity Version, Lu Yan could still replicate some of its properties using his mastery of spellcraft.

In the void, a portal of Four Symbols gradually appeared.

Since the spells cast by his enemies were all elemental-based, the Four Symbols Gate instantly suppressed and devoured them.

Whether it was wind or lightning—it all vanished in an instant.

Xiao Shang’s face turned pale. “A divine ability?!”

“You’ve mastered a divine ability?!”

Lu Yan offered no reply.

The Four Symbols Gate descended.

The disciples tried casting more spells, but none could form before being shattered. They all coughed up blood from the backlash.

Xiao Shang glared in disbelief. “Father! Save me!”

A sigh echoed across the heavens.

Clouds gathered, forming a massive face in the sky—Golden Core peak aura radiating from it.

Stern eyes locked onto Lu Yan as a majestic voice rumbled across the land.

“To strike so ruthlessly against your peers—how are you any different from the demonic path?”

A giant tower crashed down toward Lu Yan.

The Four Symbols Gate shattered in an instant.

Even with the Supreme Dao Foundation, there was no overcoming a Golden Core peak’s absolute power.

Xiao Shang sneered. Talent alone wouldn’t save Lu Yan here.

As the tower descended, Lu Yan didn’t move. His hands were behind his back, as if surrendering completely.

Su Yan, in a panic, cried out, “Lu Gongzi is my guest! Elder Xiao, please stop!”

But the elder was unmoved. The tower kept falling.

Then—

A calm voice rang out once more.

“I am Lu Yan, of the Taiyi Sect.”

In the next instant, time itself seemed to freeze.

The enormous tower stopped—dead still—before it could touch him.

(End of Chapter)