Chapter 22: The Senior from the Back Mountain

At this moment, on the back mountain.

Chu Qiuci, exhausted from her work, looked at the several newly charred pits in the field and felt a sharp pang of heartache.

This was her land—well, more accurately, the land that her companions had painstakingly cultivated—and it had almost been ruined again, just barely spared.

“Sister Qiuci, don’t be upset. I’ve already buried those five pests,” Feng Ting said seriously, pointing to five small mounds of earth on the right. “The remaining pits will be filled soon and can be replanted.”

“Alright, then thank you for your hard work.” Chu Qiuci patted her on the shoulder.

Feng Ting immediately blossomed into a smile, patting her chest. “Don’t worry! Farming is my specialty.”

Qiuci comforted her by gently stroking her head.

Nearby, Zhen Yi and Jing Hong exchanged bewildered glances.

Everything had happened so fast that they doubted their own eyes.

Those visitors just now were from the Celestial Alliance, correct? Among them were two true Nascent Soul cultivators. This clearly didn’t look like a mere reprimand—it seemed they had come to annihilate the sect. Indeed, they had destroyed the sect’s protective mountain formation and summoned a terrifying storm of thunder and lightning that filled the sky.

At that moment, the two men truly believed their sect was doomed.

Then—

The lightning struck the ground, and the usually gentle Chu Qiuci, who always sat nearby sipping tea, suddenly exploded in fury!

She rose and unleashed a whip of violet lightning, forcibly dragging the five intruders down from the sky. What followed was a merciless beating that completely drained their cultivation.

The timid Feng Ting was wildly applauding on the sidelines and eventually buried the five, leaving only their heads exposed.

Throughout the ordeal, the two men watched in stunned silence…

Women were so fierce, so terrifying!

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When the rest of the Xuantian Sect rushed over anxiously, this was the scene they found: two male disciples standing awkwardly at a distance, while two women energetically filled the pits—one digging, the other cheering and sipping tea.

“Master!” Zhen Yi was the first to spot his own teacher among the group. He called out and then quickly saluted the others. “Greetings, Sect Leader, greetings, Elders.”

He looked puzzled at the white-bearded elder leading them, unsure how to address him.

The Supreme Elder had been in seclusion for years, so naturally, he did not recognize this newcomer.

Jing Hong recognized him but was socially anxious. Although he could call out to his own master, with so many people around, he remained silent, stiff-faced, and followed Zhen Yi’s example, pretending not to exist.

Everyone was too eager to find the expert to notice these details. Huo Zhentian immediately spotted his disciple. “Feng Ting, why are you here too?”

Feng Ting, who had just been swinging her hoe with vigor, was startled. She instinctively hid behind Qiuci but peeked out weakly and waved a small hand when she saw her master.

Four people were present, three of whom were familiar. It was obvious who the expert was.

The elders all understood, but Yu Xuan had already stepped forward and bowed deeply to Qiuci. “Thank you, esteemed elder, for your timely intervention that saved the Xuantian Sect from peril.”

Others might not have noticed, but he immediately sensed that this person showed no spiritual fluctuations, seemingly without cultivation, yet deliberately refrained from releasing any spiritual energy. Someone capable of such restraint likely possessed cultivation far beyond the Nascent Soul stage, possibly even legendary. Without hesitation, he offered his respects first.

Having such a senior as an ally might mean the sect need not fear the Celestial Alliance.

“Oh!” Qiuci hurried to help him up, replying, “It was nothing, just a small matter.” It felt somewhat awkward to be saluted by a white-bearded elder.

“No, it was a small matter for you, but not for us,” Yu Xuan said earnestly. “Had you not intervened, our sect might have faced extinction.”

The elders quickly realized the gravity of the situation and stepped forward respectfully. “Thank you, esteemed elder.”

“No need for such formality. I consider myself half a disciple of Xuantian Sect, so it was only right to help.” Besides her genuine anger, the whip she wielded also expressed her wish to aid the sect. After all, Feng Ting and the others were still here, and she had promised to look after them—she couldn’t allow others to bully them.

Seeing her so approachable, everyone felt reassured and smiled warmly.

“Esteemed elder, we were unaware of your arrival and the humble surroundings you reside in. Please forgive us,” Qi Hong, the sect leader, said with tact. “Would you kindly allow us to escort you to Qianren Peak, where we can properly host you?” Such a powerful figure deserved proper arrangements.

---

“No need! I quite like it here,” Qiuci responded, not wanting to cause trouble. “I prefer some peace and quiet, without constant visitors.” Especially those who liked to strike lightning for no reason.

Qi Hong naturally dared not insist.

“Oh, and these,” Qiuci pointed to several mounds of earth nearby, “take these people away and handle them as you see fit.”

The elders were startled, realizing that the mounds concealed the five Celestial Alliance members, now blackened by electricity and barely breathing—their cultivation had been destroyed.

To have two Nascent Soul cultivators reduced to this state so effortlessly showed just how formidable this recluse elder was. Their respect deepened instantly.

“Understood, esteemed elder.” Qi Hong immediately signaled for several elders to dig them out and even filled in the pits afterward.

Yes, a group that understood their place! Qiuci nodded in satisfaction.

“My name is Yu Xuan. May I ask your name, esteemed elder?” Yu Xuan introduced himself.

“I’m Chu, Chu Qiuci,” she answered candidly. These were her disciples’ seniors and considered semi-family, so she did not hide her real name.

“So you are Elder Chu.”

“Please, no need for such formality, just call me Qiuci,” she said, uncomfortable with being addressed as ‘esteemed elder’ by an old man.

“Very well,” Yu Xuan agreed readily, feeling more at ease. “Then I shall take the liberty of calling you Daoist Chu. May I ask why you have appeared in our sect?”

“By coincidence,” Qiuci glanced at Feng Ting and Zhen Yi, then recounted how the three had come together to Huiyang City and joined the Xuantian Sect, omitting the research institute and system details.

To the others, it sounded as if she was grateful to Qingniu Village and had voluntarily concealed her identity to escort two children into the sect, accidentally passing the test and staying on. When those two were targeted by the Celestial Alliance, she simply stayed along.

“Then it seems Feng Ting and Zhen Yi’s rapid progress in cultivation over just a few months is thanks to your guidance, Daoist Chu?” Yu Xuan stroked his beard and boldly speculated.