At the age of one hundred, I inquired about the Dao, awakening the supreme spiritual root that shatt

Ling Xiu frowned slightly, deep in thought.

"I can't stay in the Abandoned Treasure Pavilion any longer. I need to find a safe place, but in the vast Qingyun Sect, where can I find a quiet place to cultivate diligently?"

I can't just defect from the sect, that would be ruining my future and a losing proposition.

The only way out is to find another way to escape.

Suddenly, Ling Xiu's eyes lit up.

"By the way, the sect always assigns missions to its disciples. Why don't I seek out external missions? That way, I won't betray the sect, and I can also temporarily avoid its sharp edge!"

But he quickly remembered his identity; he was merely a nominal inner disciple, but in reality, he was a menial disciple.

Even if he applied for a mission outside the sect, would they agree to let him go?

As Ling Xiu pondered deeply, he thought of Yun Ziling, and perhaps he could ask her for help.

Just then.

Outside the abandoned treasure pavilion, a clear, soft, and joyful girl's voice suddenly rang out.

"Grandpa Ling! Is Grandpa Ling there? Nuonuo has come to see you!"

Such a pleasant voice instantly dispelled the worry on Ling Xiu's face, revealing a look of surprise and delight.

"Nuonuo? It's my Nuonuo!"

Ling Xiu quickly concealed his aura and suppressed it to the second level of the Qi Refining Realm.

Given his advanced age of 100, limited resources, and the fact that Yun Ziling had previously given him a pill to help him, it was the most reasonable and least suspicious outcome for him to reach the second level of Qi Refining after two years of arduous cultivation.

Ling Xiu strode out of the wooden house.

Looking up, he was slightly taken aback.

I could hardly believe my eyes. Nuonuo had transformed from that naive little girl two years ago into a graceful young woman.

Her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her nose was delicate and exquisite, her face was like jade, and her appearance was exceptionally beautiful.

A purple gauze dress fluttered in the wind, her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and a few strands clung to her delicate cheeks.

Every smile and frown exudes an elegant and ethereal charm, shedding her youthful naiveté and gaining a refined and otherworldly aura.

What pleased Ling Xiu even more was that Su Nuonuo's cultivation had already steadily entered the third level of Qi Refining!

"Nuonuo has grown up. Grandpa is so happy to see you."

Ling Xiu relaxed his brows and eyes, revealing a kind and gentle smile, and opened his arms.

Su Nuonuo's eyes lit up, and just like before, without any barriers, she ran straight forward, softly throwing herself into Ling Xiu's arms, looking up at him with her bright little face.

"Grandpa Ling, Nuonuo missed you so much! I can finally come to see you!"

She loosened her embrace and carefully looked Ling Xiu up and down, her eyes filled with joy.

"Grandpa Ling, you look so much better than before! Senior Sister Yun told me that you have successfully cultivated your Qi and embarked on the path of cultivation!"

Ling Xiu gently rubbed her forehead, his eyes filled with warmth.

"In my life, I thought I was destined to be forever barred from the path of immortality. All the good fortune I have today is thanks to you. If it weren't for your earnest pleas to Senior Sister Yun back then, I would never have had the chance to step into the Qingyun Sect."

He looked at the graceful young woman before him again and sighed with admiration.

"My Nuonuo has really grown up, and her cultivation has improved rapidly. Grandpa is truly happy for you."

Su Nuonuo nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with a bright smile, her tone full of pride.

"Grandpa Ling, I have some good news to tell you! I've now become a disciple of Dongxian Peak and have a master!"

"My master is Elder Murong Ye, a powerful expert in the late stage of the Profound Realm! My master treats me very well. I begged him for a long time before he allowed me to come down the mountain to see you."

"A powerful expert in the late stage of the Profound Realm!"

Ling Xiu was overjoyed and genuinely happy for her.

"Great! That's wonderful! Nuonuo now has a true backer. From now on, she should focus on her cultivation and become Grandpa Ling's support in the future!"

Su Nuonuo listened with a smile that curved her eyebrows and gave a playful laugh.

"Great, Grandpa Ling! Oh, and I also brought you a gift this time!"

As she spoke, she affectionately took Ling Xiu's arm, her face full of mystery.

With a wave of her hand, she took out a warm jade pendant, an exquisite cloth bag, and a gray medicine bottle from her waist pouch.

She solemnly handed the jade pendant to Ling Xiu, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Grandpa Ling, this is the jade token that I personally requested from my master to grant you the official status of an outer disciple! From this day forward, you are a legitimate outer disciple of the Qingyun Sect!"

"According to the sect's rules, outer disciples can receive three low-grade spirit stones and three Qi-restoring pills each month, ensuring a stable and worry-free salary."

After saying that, she handed the heavy cloth bag and medicine bottle to Ling Xiu.

"The spirit stones and pills here are my allowance accumulated over several months; I'm giving them all to you!"

Ling Xiu looked down at the heavy cloth bag in his hand, which contained a full sixty or seventy spirit stones and pills, a substantial amount.

A surge of intense warmth instantly swept over my heart.

In the sect, Nuonuo still loves her grandfather the most and is always thinking about him.

He was deeply moved and wanted to decline, since he had plenty of resources.

But looking into Nuonuo's pure and sincere eyes, he couldn't bear to betray her feelings.

"Good child, thank you, Grandpa."

"Grandpa Ling, why are you being so polite with me!"

Su Nuonuo shook his arm, her smile pure and warm.

"From childhood to adulthood, my grandfather has always protected and cared for me; I will always remember that!"

As she spoke, she looked around at the dilapidated and shabby abandoned treasure pavilion, a hint of heartache and loss flashing in her eyes.

The place was deserted and remote, with old houses. Even though Ling Xiu had cleaned it up, it still exuded a desolate and bleak atmosphere.

"Grandpa Ling, please wait for me! I will definitely become stronger as soon as possible. Once my cultivation is sufficient, I will have enough influence to ask Master to intervene and transfer you away from the Ruined Treasure Pavilion! This place is too harsh and too remote; it's simply not suitable for cultivation!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiu's heart skipped a beat!

This is exactly the opportunity he has been searching for but has been unable to find to escape!

He looked up at the girl's unguarded, clear, and innocent smile, and a trace of struggle and guilt flashed quickly across the depths of his eyes.

His face showed only a look of relief, mixed with a hint of vicissitude and worry, and he let out a long sigh.

Grandpa knows Nuonuo's heartfelt intentions.

"Although the Ruined Treasure Pavilion is dilapidated and secluded, it is also undisturbed by many people, making it suitable for quiet and arduous cultivation. However, my grandfather is getting old, and his vision and perspective are limited. Staying in one corner for too long has actually hindered his cultivation."

His tone was gentle, seemingly casual conversation, but in reality, he was laying the groundwork step by step.

"Grandpa wants to travel more, see the mountains and rivers, and experience the different landscapes to broaden his mind. This will greatly benefit his future cultivation. I wonder if the sect has any suitable long-term assignments for Grandpa?"

Upon hearing this, Su Nuonuo nodded vigorously without hesitation.

"Yes! All sect field duty assignments can be applied for at the Hall of Affairs! Grandpa Ling, I'll take you there now!"

"Alright, then Grandpa will pack up quickly and head over right away."

Ling Xiu readily agreed, and the huge weight pressing on his heart finally eased a bit.

But just as he turned to pack his things, his heart suddenly clenched, and a wave of bitterness and guilt washed over him.

He took advantage of Nuonuo's sincerity and her unreserved kindness to seek a way out for himself and avoid disaster.

Even though the world is cruel and the path to immortality is ruthless, and even though he only wanted to save his life, he still felt incredibly despicable in the face of such pure and warm feelings.

"Never mind..."

He let out a helpless sigh in his heart.

He knew that Nuonuo was kind and insightful, and that if she learned the truth in the future, she would surely understand his difficulties.

While it may be understandable, a debt is still a debt.

Regardless, Nuonuo was already one of the few relatives he had in this cold world of cultivation.

From now on, no matter what, he will protect her and never let her suffer any injustice. Even if it costs him his life, he will repay her kindness today.

After quickly tidying up, the two stepped out of the Abandoned Treasure Pavilion and headed straight for the Hall of Affairs.

……

Qingyun Sect, Outer Affairs Hall.

The hall was bustling with people, and many disciples were queuing up to apply for tasks and register their merits.

The outer sect disciple on duty glanced up and saw the old and frail Ling Xiu. His eyes instantly flashed with impatience and contempt.

Ordinary outer disciples of a sect already have very low authority and can only apply for thankless and thankless field jobs that no one wants, which are troublesome, laborious, and offer no reward.

An old man of such advanced age and frail health, with only the second level of Qi Refining cultivation, comes to apply for a mission. He probably doesn't even have the ability to protect himself. Going to accept the mission is just sending him to his death. In the end, the sect will have to collect his body, which is a complete waste of time.

The disciple, too lazy to waste words, impatiently waved him away.

"Old man, what are you doing getting involved?"

"At your age, with such low cultivation, merely at the second level of Qi Refining, you dare to apply for a sect field mission? Get out of here immediately and stop causing trouble!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiu was not angry at all; instead, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.