Qi Cultivation Starting from the Repair Panel

On that Cloud Couch, during those intimate moments she initiated, filled with punishment and possession, Chu Zheng's gaze made her feel as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, her whole body uncomfortable.

Deep within that gaze, it was not rejection or anger, but rather a softness that made her heart tremble.

However, that hint of softness was not directed at her, not at the person skin-to-skin with him.

That gaze seemed to see through her body, her Divine Soul, looking at another person.

A shadow that she did not know, but that always lingered, hauntingly.

This feeling, like a malignant growth attached to her, made her heart twist with pain, humiliated and furious with every capture of his gaze like that.

A violent impulse would uncontrollably surge up her head, almost making her want to stretch out her hands, to fiercely strangle him, watching him suffocate, closing those eyes, making that damned shadow vanish completely!

This thought was too dangerous.

Dangerous to the point where even she felt terrified; when had she ever been so out of control, when had she ever wanted to utterly destroy someone she thought she desired?

Perhaps, for now, letting go, allowing both of them time to cool down, was the best choice.

Xue Qing slowly lowered her hands covering her face, her fingertips icy and moist, yet her expression had returned to normal.

She stepped lightly out of the grand hall, the doors closing heavily behind her, isolating the scattered remnants of red inside.

Xue Qing stood beneath the corridor, the chilly air rushing into her lungs with a bite.

She slightly tilted her head up, closing her eyes, long lashes casting faint shadows on her pale eyelids.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, the tumultuous undercurrent in her eyes suppressed, leaving only calmness. She raised her hand, Blood Qi flickering at her fingertips, silently shattering a Communication Jade Talisman, which transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the Void.

In the blink of an eye, several powerful auras broke through space from different directions in Lingbi City, arriving instantly before Xue Qing—it was the Great Saints from the Martial Pavilion.

The Great Saints landed, their gazes sweeping across Xue Qing's face, which was calm to the point of indifference, the air stilled for a moment, filled with awkwardness and silence.

No one mentioned the just departed Chu Zheng; the Great Saints tacitly stood with hands down, their gazes on Xue Qing, waiting for her final judgment.

On the square, the children brought by the Great Saints stood quietly.

"Thank you, seniors, for waiting." Xue Qing slightly bowed to the Great Saints, giving a polite salute.

She straightened up, her gaze calmly sweeping over the Great Saints, finally resting on the children beside them, with no hesitation or deliberation, she spoke slowly:

"As per our prior agreement, today I will take Tu Jingchuan as my disciple."

Xue Qing's gaze did not linger on the Tu family father and son, she paused slightly, her eyes then landed on a few other children.

"As for the other one..."

Xue Qing's gaze flowed over the children, without much hesitation or deliberation, she lifted her finger, pointing to the girl with a child's bun, dressed in a moon-white Vestment robe, behind Chao Qiankun.

"I will take this girl as my disciple."

A trace of uncontrollable joy flashed across the ancient face of Chao Qiankun, known as the Great Saint, who had long since tempered his heart to be as firm as a rock; this overwhelming joy merely flickered in his eyes, forcibly suppressed, his face remained calm.

He subtly extended his hand, gently pushing the girl on her back, his gaze carrying unnoticeable urging and expectation.

The girl was pushed forward a step, only then did she seem to understand what was happening, she lifted her little face, looking at Xue Qing, who stood a few steps away, clad in plain white, with an aura of coolness, her clear eyes holding no fear, only pure curiosity and a touch of bewilderment.

"What is your name?" Xue Qing's expression softened slightly.

The girl imitated the adults, giving a salute, her voice crisp:

"Reporting to Master, my surname is Gongyi, name Zi Yu."

The milky voice echoed, diluting the awkwardness in the air.

Xue Qing looked at the little girl named Gongyi Zi Yu before her, her eyes reflecting the girl's pure and sincere gaze, she nodded slightly in response.

She looked up towards Chao Qiankun and Tu Fugui, giving a hand salute:

"Today my mind is somewhat disturbed, the ceremony for taking in disciples will have to be simplified, I hope the two seniors won't mind."

"Miss Xue Qing, you speak too highly of it, being able to enter your tutelage is already fortunate, no need for cumbersome rituals," Chao Qiankun waved his hand repeatedly.

Beside him, Tu Fugui nodded repeatedly:

"Indeed, Miss Xue Qing's major competition is imminent, she should indeed focus her energy on cultivation, there's no need to worry about other matters."

Xue Qing said no more, glanced at the two disciples, and said softly:

"Follow me."

Tu Jingchuan and Gongyi Zi Yu exchanged a glance, stepping forward to follow the moon-white silhouette.

On the square, the expressions of the Great Saints were varied, they did not converse or offer congratulations to each other, before quickly dispersing.

The Cold Star Martial Ancestor was approaching the end of his life, with Xue Qing's talent, she would surely enter the Pavilion Master's and the high-ranking officials' sights during the next competition of the Martial Pavilion, perhaps with a chance to become the Son of Heaven of the Martial Pavilion.

If nothing went wrong, in the future, apart from Tu Fugui and Chao Qiankun, the connection with the others would end here.

.....

.....

Chu Zheng left the square, aimlessly wandering around Lingbi City.

Many people had seen him at the previous wedding feast, he was quickly noticed, drawing numerous curious glances from all directions, but at this moment Chu Zheng had no extra energy to care, only feeling thoroughly exhausted.

"Daoist Zheng Chu, it's been a while."

A voice transmitted into Chu Zheng's ears.

This voice...

Chu Zheng halted slightly, looking in the direction of the sound, his expression subtle.

At the corner of the street, in front of a tea house with ancient decor, stood two figures. The person in the lead was tall, wearing a cyan-patterned brocade robe with a clear and noble aura, his face was still handsome, it was Yun Tianji, whom he had not seen for a long time.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man with an aura like an unfathomable ocean, his face steady and resolute, his posture upright.

Immortal Venerable.

Noticing this middle-aged man's cultivation, a trace of surprise flashed in Chu Zheng's eyes: "Brother Yun?"

"When did you arrive in the Upper Realm?"

Meeting Yun Tianji here was truly unexpected for Chu Zheng.

"By a stroke of luck, I ascended not long ago."

Yun Tianji's lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile, a smile that didn't reach his eyes, like a mask: "This is not a place for conversation, if Daoist Zheng Chu has time, why not find a place to chat?"

Chu Zheng was silent for a moment, his gaze passing over the deeply auraed Immortal Venerable beside Yun Tianji, he nodded slightly: "I'll be intruding."

.....

.....

The private room was serene, shutting off the noise from outside.

Wisps of tea fragrance rose from the jade kettle, with a calming and mind-cleansing aroma.

Yun Canglan stood quietly outside the door, like a guardian deity.

Inside the quiet room, Chu Zheng and Yun Tianji sat facing each other.

"Congratulations to Brother Yun, for such progress in cultivation." Chu Zheng held up the warm jade cup, warmth spreading from his fingertips.

"Just luck," Yun Tianji responded, looking out at the lavish Lingbi City through the window, his gaze distant: "The Universe is vast, our cultivation level is just the beginning."

At this point, he suddenly changed the topic: "Daoist Zheng Chu, do you still remember when I mentioned the upcoming opening of the Heaven Burial Palace to you?"

Heaven Burial Palace.

Chu Zheng's grip on the teacup slightly tightened: "Of course."

"The number of people who can enter the Heaven Burial Palace is extremely limited, across the entire Great Universe, only a hundred thousand in total, so before it opens, there will be a Heaven Burial Ceremony, which is now being prepared."

Yun Tianji withdrew his gaze from the window and looked at Chu Zheng, his expression serious: "The upcoming internal competition of the Martial Pavilion is for this preparation."

He paused slightly, his tone becoming heavier: "During the Heaven Burial Ceremony, all races in the Universe, including the Ten Great Ancient Clans, will send their most core elite bloodlines to participate. This competition is no longer just a contest within a pavilion or domain, but is linked to the future layout of the entire Great Universe."

Chu Zheng's eyes moved slightly, the Ten Great Ancient Clans were truly the giants standing at the pinnacle of the Great Universe.

"Moreover, the location of this Heaven Burial Ceremony is somewhat different from before." Yun Tianji's expression grew more serious, his gaze turning cold, as if tempered with ice:

"It's in the deserted wilderness of the Universe."