Tian Shu Wu Wang Lu

The courtyard returned to silence. The warm sunlight filtered through the layers of leaves of the spirit tree, scattering into golden dapples that gently fell on the intertwined fingertips of the two. The warmth flowed along their touching skin, slowly seeping into their hearts and dispelling all the chill.

Shen Qingyuan slowly raised her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. Her eyes were filled with the warmth of the sun, and she looked at the forest beside her. The tenderness in her eyes was almost overflowing. Her usual cold and aloof demeanor had completely transformed into tender affection. Her eyebrows were curved, and she felt at ease.

Lin Ye's heart softened. Looking at her eyes full of dependence, he reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, tightening his arms to hold her securely in his embrace. His movements were gentle yet full of tenderness, as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the world.

Holding the warm person in his arms, listening to her steady heartbeat, and smelling the faint fragrance of her hair, he finally understood what it meant to truly touch someone's heart. Before, he gave her food; now, he wanted to give her a lifetime of peace and unwavering love.

Xingjin hopped down from the stone table at some point, its round little body rubbing against the two people's feet, happily circling around the overlapping hems of their clothes, its fluffy tail brushing against their shoes, its clear chirping rising and falling, as if cheering for this quiet sweetness, its little appearance lively and cute.

The takeout box on Lin Ye's left arm still glowed with a soft, pale golden light, neither ostentatious nor dazzling, quietly nestled beside him like a most loyal companion, silently accompanying them and witnessing this affection that transcended time and space, endured a long wait, and finally came to fruition.

The two embraced in the evening breeze, without saying another word. Their heartbeats were in sync, and the affection in their eyes spoke volumes. Their hearts were already in sync, and their understanding was beyond words.

Lin Ye lowered his head slightly and gently placed a tender kiss on the top of Shen Qingyuan's soft, black hair. All the playfulness in his eyes faded, leaving only a deep sense of certainty and determination.

In the courtyard of Qingxuan Immortal Abode, the warm sun shone brightly, the spiritual herbs swayed gently, and a warm breeze blew. Even the air was filled with a sense of peace and happiness, a warmth and sense of belonging that Lin Ye had never longed for before.

The following morning, Lin Ye dared not pass on the techniques in his mind to his first disciple, fearing that they would be discovered and bring disaster upon him.

Lin Ye's mind flashed back to the "Star Technique" passed down by his master. He clenched his fingers slightly and sighed inwardly.

He genuinely wanted to pass on this technique to Lu Chenyuan, who had shared hardships with him in the past. If he were to secretly pass on the core technique of his sect, not only would he be severely punished, but Lu Chenyuan would also face a fatal disaster. He absolutely could not risk such a calamity.

Thinking of this, Lin Ye completely suppressed the idea of ​​secretly passing on his master's skills. He looked up at the two people beside him and said in a calm but somewhat helpless tone, "I won't pass it on. I understand. Even if you don't stop me, it will definitely not pass through to my master."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xubai finally breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up the spiritual tea on the table, took a small sip, and nodded gently in agreement, his eyes full of approval: "That's exactly right. The Star Technique is the fundamental cultivation method of Master's lineage. Even direct disciples must swear a solemn oath to keep it a secret and never pass it on to outsiders. If it were to be rashly passed on to outer disciples, it would be against the rules of the sect and the lineage. If Master finds out, he will definitely reprimand you severely. That would not be good for you or Lu Chenyuan at all."

Shen Qingyuan gently took his slightly cool hand, the warmth of her palm passing over him. Her eyes were tender as she patiently offered words of comfort, her tone delicate and considerate: "Lu Chenyuan is inherently strong-willed and eager to rise above others, lacking composure. Suddenly obtaining a top-tier cultivation technique might not be a blessing; it could easily make him restless and impatient for quick success. It would be better to wait until the public secret realm opens soon, then we can enter together, find a suitable top-tier cultivation technique that doesn't violate the sect's rules, and then give it to him. This way, we can preserve your past relationship and avoid giving others cause for gossip."

Lin Ye sighed softly, a hint of lingering resentment in his eyes. He still cherished the bond he shared with Lu Chenyuan when they struggled together at the bottom of society: "I just wanted to give him a hand. Seeing him trapped in the outer sect, working hard day and night but making little progress, it just didn't sit well with me. Since he's restricted in every way, I'll give up now. I'll help him slowly when I find a suitable opportunity in the future."

Lin Ye was inherently righteous, and seeing his former brothers who had suffered together stagnating, he naturally wanted to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately, the rules of the immortal sect were as firm as mountains, and no recklessness was allowed, so he had to give up for the time being.

Jiang Xubai saw the regret in his heart, reached out and patted his shoulder, and said in a calm tone, "The public secret realm is approaching. The most important thing right now is to focus on cultivation and improve your own cultivation level. Don't be distracted by other things. Once the secret realm opens, everything will take a turn for the better."

Shen Qingyuan responded softly, her eyes full of trust: "I believe in you. There will always be a chance to fulfill this wish. There's no need to rush."

The three had spoken with thoughtful consideration and composure, all in accordance with the righteous path and for the greater good. No one else was present when they spoke, but no one could have imagined that in just half a day, when these words reached the ears of the outer disciples, they would be completely distorted, exaggerated, and spread beyond recognition.

At that time, the outer training ground was dusty, the sun was scorching, the ground was burning hot, and even the air was filled with heat.

The outer disciples were practicing hard under the scorching sun, but they were all listless. Only Lu Chenyuan, in the corner, was wearing a faded outer disciple's robe with small wear and tear. He clenched his fists and practiced the boxing techniques that Lin Ye had taught him in the past. He used all his strength in every punch, and the wind from his punches was whistling. Sweat slid down his face and soaked his clothes, but he didn't care at all.

He was a native disciple of the cultivation world, without any background or support. He had an indomitable spirit in his bones and was single-mindedly focused on climbing up the ranks through hard work to escape the predicament of the outer sect. His mind was filled with the idea of ​​"striving to become stronger and stand out from the crowd" and he never dared to slack off in the slightest.

At the edge of the training ground, a few outer disciples were chatting together. Their voices were neither too loud nor too soft, but every word reached Lu Chenyuan's ears. Each word was like a cold pebble, hitting his heart hard.

"Hey, did you guys hear? Senior Brother Lin originally planned to pass on his cultivation technique to Lu Chenyuan, but Senior Brother Jiang Xubai and Senior Sister Shen Qingyuan joined forces to stop him!"

"That's right. Lin Ye is now a personal disciple of Master Xuanzhen, enjoying immense prestige and having joined the inner sect. He has no time to care about his old friends from the outer sect."

"I also heard that even Master Xuanzhen himself firmly disagreed, clearly not wanting to genuinely help him, feeling that as an outer disciple, he was unworthy to learn their profound techniques and was just going through the motions!"

These words, filled with prejudice and misinterpretation, struck Lu Chenyuan's most sensitive spot with every single one.

His boxing practice abruptly stopped, his clenched fist froze in mid-air, and he stood frozen in place, as if all his strength had been instantly drained away. An indescribable bitterness and sense of loss welled up in his heart.

He slowly raised his head and looked towards the distant, misty, and ethereal Qingxuan Immortal Abode, a place he longed for day and night but could never enter.

Looking down at himself, he saw a tattered outer sect uniform, only knew one set of boxing techniques taught by Lin Ye, and practiced low-level outer sect skills day and night, yet his cultivation remained stagnant.

He used to struggle alongside her in the outer sect, but now he has become a disciple of a master, his cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, he is accompanied by a beautiful woman, respected by thousands of disciples, and stands on the clouds, enjoying boundless glory.

This stark contrast was like a fine needle piercing his heart. Jealousy, resentment, unwillingness, and disappointment surged within him. The pure brotherhood of the past gradually became shrouded in a veil of estrangement under this glaring difference, and its flavor quietly changed.

But he wasn't from another time, so he didn't have the open-mindedness and clarity of modern people. His thought process was always straightforward and twisted. He felt bitter and choked up, full of resentment and unwillingness, but he didn't develop a single ruthless scheme. Instead, he twisted this emotion into a stubborn, funny, and exceptionally inspiring fierceness.

He gritted his teeth, his cheeks puffed out slightly, his posture upright and well-proportioned, his face rugged, full of grievance, yet his eyes shone with stubbornness. He clenched his fists and muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with resentment: "Fine, I won't spread it... What's the big deal!"

"You have a master to pass on top-level skills, so I'll bury myself in hard work and climb up step by step!"

If you have a secret opportunity, I will fight with all my might to obtain it myself, and I will never rely on anyone's charity!

Even if you don't help me, I can still make something of myself and I'm no worse than you!

He clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white, and his eyes suddenly became incredibly determined. His clenched teeth and defiant expression made him look both simple and stubborn, which was particularly inspiring.

He stared intently in the direction of the Qingxuan Immortal Mansion, making a firm and resounding vow in his heart:

"Lin Ye, you wait!"

I, Lu Chenyuan, do not rely on your charity, nor on any top-tier cultivation techniques.

With my strength and through day after day of hard training,

Sooner or later, we must strive to reach the inner gate and stand on higher ground.

"Let me show you with your own eyes that I, Lu Chenyuan, am in no way inferior to you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around abruptly, ignoring the gossip of others, and resumed his arduous training. The sounds of "whoosh, whoosh, haha, hey" echoed throughout the corner, the wind from his punches whistling and dust flying all around him. He was like a stubborn bull that had been provoked, putting all his strength into a desperate inward struggle, each punch more powerful than the last, sweat pouring down his face without stopping.

The rift had indeed grown, and jealousy and resentment were certainly present, but his pure heart prevented him from going astray, and he never harbored any intention to harm others.

This estrangement between brothers, which should have been fierce and led to enmity, was instead transformed by his stubborn and naive nature into a hilarious and life-threatening path to becoming the King of the Outer Sect. There was no sinister ruthlessness, only the stubbornness and relentless fighting spirit of a young man who refused to admit defeat.