Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 690 - 690 689 Gathering and Scattering

690: Chapter 689: Gathering and Scattering 690: Chapter 689: Gathering and Scattering Zhao Xintong’s tears trickled down, but she smiled brilliantly.

Uncle Hou had arrived with his friends, still as quirky as ever.

Upon hearing about Ying Province, he conjured such a magnificent seascape just to resonate with her poetic realm.

It truly exceeded her expectations.

This fellow possessed unparalleled killing skills, but since when could he recreate marine sceneries?

So vivid, so lifelike, just like the real thing.

She was of the God Sensing Realm herself and knew how difficult it was to achieve this feat, which was even beyond the capabilities of Cultivators in the Tongtian Third Realm—was it a barrier, a mirage, or space mapping?

But she was well aware that out of the hundreds of Tongtian Third Realm Cultivators present, not one could reach this extent, not even close.

Had Uncle Hou spent so much time at sea that he had become a Sea Hou?

She understood these things, and of course, so did the other Cultivators.

Did they realize that this was the work of a powerful Cultivator passing by, or perhaps someone who came specifically to bless Daoist Xintong?

She had never heard of having such a background, and where would Daoist Anhe from Anhe have the ability to do this?

The old Dean, trembling with age, clasped his hands towards the sky, “I do not know which eminent figure has passed by Hong Ye and bestowed such a beautiful scene, intoxicating the hearts and minds of us all…”

A rough voice rang out, “Xiang Anshi from Ying Platform comes to wish his niece peace and safety.

Speaking of Ying Platform, how could it lack spectacle?

I’ve brought things from home, lest I be a laughingstock to the learned…

Niece Xintong, would you come up for a chat?”

Zhao Xintong was full of doubts.

She knew her family matters well—how could she have relatives overseas?

At most, there might be one or two left in Jin City?

But doubts aside, it was impossible not to acknowledge what she had heard.

Her body slowly ascended, drifting towards the largest cloud in the sky.

If not Uncle Hou, then who else in this world, aside from Aunt Xintong, would remember her birthday?

As she went up to meet her relatives, the Cultivators below were abuzz.

At first, nothing seemed amiss, but among them were those well-acquainted with famed figures on the Continent,

“Xiang Anshi, the Constellation True Inheritor of Ying Platform!”

The whole place was astounded.

This was one of the top twelve individuals among the countless Tongtian Third Realm Cultivators of the whole Continent.

But their identity represented more than just that, evoking boundless conjecture.

With such backing…

the old Dean glanced silently at the two Daoists with black beards and white robes and sighed, realizing he could no longer stay.

So be it, why not go with the flow, turn with the wind?

“Both of you, I suggest Daoist Xintong to take over as Dean.

Do you have any objections?”

The black-bearded, white-robed pair exchanged looks and saw deep helplessness in each other’s eyes.

In terms of connections, they might have been numerous, but they couldn’t compete in quality.

Hundreds together could not match even one, which was truly awkward.

“Then let’s follow the elder brother’s suggestion…”

…Zhao Xintong reached the midst of the clouds and immediately saw six smiling men and women looking at her.

Though she did not recognize five of them, one was etched in her heart,

“Uncle Hou, it really is you!”

She leaped into his arms.

Hou Niao hurried to catch her, just like back then in the Poplar Forest,

“This is your Uncle Xiang.

That puddle of ditchwater was his doing.

Not very creative—doesn’t even have a fish beauty…”

“This is your Aunt Bai.

She is quite wealthy.

If you ever need something, go to her.”

After a brief introduction, it became generally clear that these fellows had passed by together, overheard the fight below and were intrigued, so they staged this scene; for Xiang Anshi, it was a skill within his grasp, as easy as lifting a feather, and no trouble at all.

After a brief chatter, Hou Niao showed no desire to stay long.

He pointed below and asked, “Shall I help you resolve this, or will you handle it yourself?”

Zhao Xintong held onto his sleeve, “Uncle, I’ve grown up now.

I’ll handle it myself!”

Hou Niao, feeling reassured, said, “Then I’ll watch from up here.”

Zhao Xintong protested, “No!

Afterward, you’ll just laugh at me.

Uncle, please go.

You have your own matters to attend to.

When I’m free, I’ll come to find you.”

Hou Niao sighed, “Grown up…”

All six were individuals who could take things in stride, not ones to dilly-dally like common folk.

Concealed by the clouds, they drifted away without hesitation.

Xiang Anshi spoke in admiration, “This young girl does not conceal her pure-hearted nature, which is extremely beneficial for the mystic arts.

I have high hopes for her.

She is sure to achieve remarkable things in this field.

Today I’ve made a good connection—should there be misfortune in the future, we might need her to favor us with her auspicious words.”

Xiangfei Bamboo was very curious, “Big brother Xiang, what is a pure-hearted nature?”

Xiang Anshi sighed, “Pure-heartedness is the way of utmost sincerity, of knowledge and action as one, the bridge to the other shore.

While the masses bustle about, enjoying grand feasts and ascending the platform in spring, I alone am aloof, awaiting signs, like an unborn infant.”

“It’s not just about divination; the entire path of cultivation values a pure heart.

Sadly, most of us can’t achieve it—both within and without, both personally and amongst others, too many things make us lose our child-like sincerity.”

“That’s why I say, this child will surely have a great future.

Let’s wait and see if I’m not right.”

Nie Yingnan knew that her senior brother never praised people lightly.

Rough on the outside but proud at heart, since entering the Continent, he had truly admired only two people—one was Hou Niao, the other was this Zhao Xintong.

Even the four of them, close as they were, did not earn such respect on the cultivation path.

She muttered, “In the God Sensing Realm already, she’s certainly not a child anymore.”

Xiang Anshi laughed, “Even if she reaches Core Formation and Nascent Soul one day, she’s still a child.

Only in this way can one continually advance on this path.

If one day she truly grows up, that will be the end of the journey.”

Bai Qingqian was still somewhat worried.

Among them, she was the only one who really understood how things had started and felt pity for the poor child, yet she was completely unaware that this girl had become a cultivator of the God Sensing Realm just like her—and not just an ordinary one.

“Young Master Hou, if Xintong stays here alone, could it be…”

Hou Niao interrupted her, “We should not concern ourselves with what could happen, but rather what should happen; the Hong Ye Dao Academy has been a rare place of peace within the Cultivation World of the Continent.

If she cannot cope with this, then what future can we talk about?

“That’s why Xintong asked us to leave.

She knows very well what she is doing.”

Xiang Anshi nodded in agreement, “What’s called a pure heart does not mean to be raised as a child, well-fed and sheltered from the storms.

It’s about maintaining that purity at the core in the face of great turmoil.

This is hard, something even we struggle with, but it’s not a reason for her to shrink away.”

Bai Qingqian said no more, understanding in her heart that what the men had spoken was the true principle.

With uncles like these, the child’s future likely won’t be easy.

This is fate.

It began with the child’s experiences in her early years; on the path of cultivation, some face a life of hardship while others a smooth sailing, yet it’s difficult to say whom the Heavenly Dao favors more.

Just like her, she didn’t even know how to stir the waters of the backyard pond, yet the two before her were already contemplating turning the entire Continent upside down.

It’s something innate.