Chapter 53: Why Let Him Leave?

"Besides, solving this matter not only helps the Xuanshuang Pavilion, but also indirectly helps the Stardust Sect."

Hong An indicated that Luo Xing shouldn't overthink it and should just relax.

"They'll have to thank us!"

Of course, that was assuming their skin wasn't thick enough to say something like "It's not like I asked you to help."

"Oh, there's one more thing..." Luo Xing suddenly remembered something.

"Senior Brother, how do you determine if someone has the aptitude for cultivation? Is it only by using the Sense Testing Stone to detect their spirit root?"

He had been curious just now about why Er Ya had that fragrance on her and how it even gave the [Scent Detection] skill a little experience.

But Zhao Chengyun had come in right then and interrupted his train of thought, so he hadn't continued thinking about it.

Now it seemed that Er Ya might have some special constitution. Maybe she also had a spirit root and cultivation aptitude.

"Oh, you mean that..." Hong An explained as he walked.

"The Sense Testing Stone is a relatively accurate method. It can detect what kind of spirit root a person has, so that proper training can be arranged."

Thus, within the sect, even the menial disciples possessed at least a lower-grade spirit root.

"And if we don't use the Sense Testing Stone?"

"Without the Sense Testing Stone, you use your eyes."

Luo Xing looked puzzled.

"With... eyes?"

'How do you use them?'

'How come I didn't see it just now?'

'Or does Er Ya not have any at all?'

"Because you're only at the Foundation Establishment Realm." Hong An laughed.

"Only after breaking through to the mid-Nascent Soul Realm can you tell whether someone has cultivation aptitude."

For example, his own master had been in a small forest when he happened to glance at him from above as he passed by. Then he was sent to the Xuantian Sect, and after detecting a high-grade spirit root, he was taken as a direct disciple.

Luo Xing and his sister Luo Han were also spotted by Deacon Hu when he was out and judged to have cultivation aptitude, so they were brought back to the Xuantian Sect.

"I see..." Luo Xing nodded with some regret.

"Alright... wait a minute?"

'Isn't Hong An himself at mid-Nascent Soul Realm?'

'Didn't he just notice anything different about Er Ya?'

"Er Ya? Which little girl are you talking about?" Hong An looked puzzled.

"Why would I pay attention to her?"

His attention at the time had been entirely on the beautiful ladies and romantic affairs in the room. How could he have spared a thought for a girl with no figure or charm?

Luo Xing: "..."

'I know you're not wrong, but I still want to curse you a bit...'

"What's wrong, Junior Brother?" Hong An asked again.

"You don't actually think that little girl has cultivation aptitude, do you?"

'How can you tell?'

'Aren't you only at Foundation Establishment?'

Luo Xing shook his head.

"Not sure yet, but if you get a chance next time, you can take a look at Er Ya."

"Alright! Of course, no problem!" As soon as those words came out, Hong An's eyes lit up, and he hooked an arm around Luo Xing's neck with a grin.

"If Junior Brother needs help, just say the word. How could I, as your senior brother, not help you?"

He only heard the word "next time" from Luo Xing's statement; everything else was lost on him.

Hehehe!

Junior Brother!

You said it yourself!

Next time!

And Luo Xing then realized he had unintentionally given Hong An another chance to take him to the Zhenyue Tower...

'Forget it, I'll just consider it helping Er Ya. If she really has cultivation aptitude, then her life will definitely be better than now.'

---

Meanwhile, at the Xuantian Sect, Duan Tian Peak.

Inside the bamboo house, Ye Li sat on the bed, arms crossed, her face clouded with gloom. Her two snow-white jade feet were soaking in the Blazing Sun Spring Basin.

Her beautiful, lard-jade-like small feet contrasted sharply with the red-and-black jade basin, creating an extreme aesthetic of contrast.

Of course, that was if one could ignore Ye Li's incredibly dark expression...

'Unaccustomed...'

'Extremely unaccustomed...'

At this moment, Ye Li's heart was filled with impatience. Ever since that defiant disciple left, no one had brewed her good tea, and no one had given her a comfortable foot massage after soaking...

Luo Xing had only been gone for a few days, and Ye Li was already filled with extreme displeasure and irritation.

She somewhat regretted it.

'Why did I agree to let Luo Xing go out for training?'

'Want to get stronger?'

'What training can compare to my personal guidance?'

'What can he gain from training outside?'

'Can it improve his swordsmanship, or raise his cultivation?'

'If he stayed at Duan Tian Peak, wouldn't she still teach him?'

'As for opportunities...'

'What is meant to be his will come to him no matter what. What isn't...'

'She wouldn't mind snatching it away.'

'So what is the meaning of his training outside?'

Ye Li thought these things.

But another voice inside her was also thinking...

'Let him go out once...'

'See if he comes back...'

'And after returning, if he wants to go out again...'

Yes, Ye Li wanted to know these things.

She wanted to know whether, after this training trip and interacting with Luo Han and Dai Zifu, Luo Xing would still want to become Pei Qingshuang's disciple.

She also wanted to know whether, after he returned, he would want to leave again next time.

But even so, she was still very unaccustomed to the days without Luo Xing.

There was no denying that this little brat had shattered her centuries of peaceful life and brought her emotions she had never experienced before.

She had grown used to Luo Xing's presence, and now he had suddenly left...

Bang!

Suffocated by her feelings, Ye Li kicked the jade basin over.

'Anyway, no one is here to massage my feet, soaking longer won't help.'

Unable to release her frustration, she took out a bottle of wine from her storage ring.

The fragrant, clear liquor poured from the tilted bottle, forming a thin silver stream in the air that fell into her slightly parted lips. A few mischievous drops escaped from her mouth, sliding down from the corner of her lips to her cheeks, then to her neck, finally spreading a damp patch on her collar.

After downing a bottle of strong wine, Ye Li's brows remained tightly furrowed, so she took out another.

In no time at all, the floor of the room was littered with various wine bottles.

But Ye Li's irritation still found no relief. She even had an urge to rush outside, grab that disobedient disciple, drag him back, and make him do what she wanted him to do.

But in the end, Ye Li held back.

To be precise, she thought of another way to vent her frustration.

---

Meanwhile, at Wanyi Peak.

Bai Li Qin Mo, who was playing chess with Wen Chen, suddenly froze. The black stone between his fingers clattered onto the board.

"Wen Chen..." He slowly looked toward the outside of the hall.

"You can feel it, right?"

"Mm." Wen Chen nodded slightly.

"She's coming."

Though he didn't know the reason, he could sense the fierce "Tyrant Sword" sword intent.

'What's going on?'

'Did Bai Li Qin Mo provoke her again?'

'When?'

But this time, Bai Li Qin Mo was neither flustered nor frightened. Instead, he smiled calmly.

"Perfect. I've been practicing diligently lately and my swordsmanship has improved a bit."

With that, he looked at his spirit sword.

"Wen Chen, will you fight alongside me?"

"This is the first time I've seen you dare to face Ye Li like this." Wen Chen was momentarily stunned, then also smiled.

"And your question is quite unnecessary. Apart from me, do you have a second sword?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned into a streak of light, flew into Bai Li Qin Mo's hand, and became a silver-white longsword.

Bai Li Qin Mo grasped the sword and flicked his sleeve.

"Hahaha! Junior Sister! Come and spar with your senior brother—"

---

The next day, the Xuantian Sect's executive elder announced that the Sect Master had encountered some issues during cultivation and needed to go into seclusion for a while.