Chapter 41

Early in the morning, another day of training was about to begin. A sizable crowd had already gathered outside the training chambers, yet no one dared to step forward and draw a number.
The reason was simple.
No one knew where Ling Qingxiao would be today.
Some disciples from the C-group training chamber still hadn’t emerged. Their miserable fates were a stark warning to the rest—no one wanted to risk their luck.
Ling Qingxiao usually arrived early, yet today, even with the gathering time fast approaching, there was no sign of him.
From behind, Star Lord Tianyu approached and cleared his throat. "Training is about to begin. Why are you all still standing around?"
Startled, the disciples hurriedly turned and saluted him. They hesitated, glancing at each other, until finally, someone gathered the courage to ask, "Star Lord, Ling Qingxiao isn’t here yet today."
Once the first person spoke up, the others chimed in as well.
"Yes, and that veiled woman isn’t here either."
"Wait...where’s Xiao Bai? Zou Jibai isn’t here either."
The disciples scanned their surroundings and suddenly realized that several people were missing.
Star Lord Tianyu coughed coolly, silencing the restless murmurs before saying, "They have already passed the individual assessment and are now working on team coordination. They will not be participating today."
A collective "Ahhh" rippled through the crowd, filled with a mix of disappointment and relief.
With Ling Qingxiao absent, drawing numbers was suddenly a much less stressful affair.
Star Lord Tianyu watched in silence as the disciples quickly drew their numbers, only to drop an unexpected bomb on them:
"However, after the destruction of the B-group training chamber yesterday, Ling Qingxiao felt deeply remorseful. At Star Lord Gu Xing’s request, he has personally gone through and recalibrated the scoring for every training chamber."
"…"
"From today onward, all training chambers will have the same standard. Number drawing will be abolished. You may enter whichever chamber you choose."
"…"
Elsewhere, inside another training chamber, Luo Han stood at the heart of a swirling sandstorm, both hands controlling her spiritual energy. A sphere of crimson light enveloped her entire figure.
The terrain was brutal—three massive tornadoes spiraled chaotically, their paths impossible to predict.
The outside world was nothing but flying debris and shifting winds. In such a volatile environment, even walking was a challenge. And on top of that, they had to battle spirit beasts.
How they ended up here was a long story.
That morning, Luo Han had planned to head to the training hall as usual. But before she got halfway there, Star Lord Tianyu called her over.
As always, Star Lord Tianyu was a man of few words. He gave no explanation and simply led her to a separate training hall. Since Luo Han had left together with Ling Qingxiao, she wasn’t surprised to see him here as well. After a short wait, Zou Jibai arrived too.
Well, that explained it. These were her new teammates.
Tianyu and Gu Xing had been closely observing everyone’s performance over the past few days. Now, they had handpicked the most outstanding disciples and grouped them into specialized teams for focused training. Luo Han, Ling Qingxiao, and Zou Jibai were among those selected—not that they were the only ones, but their skills happened to be the most complementary, making them an ideal trio.
Ling Qingxiao was adept in both swordsmanship and spellcasting, capable of both close combat and ranged attacks—he was the team's primary firepower. Luo Han excelled at battlefield control, highly attuned to shifts in spiritual energy, and played a strong supporting role. Meanwhile, Zou Jibai, with his immense strength and tanky resilience, was perfect for drawing enemy attention and soaking up damage.
Both Tianyu and Gu Xing had set their sights on these three for a team, and neither had any objections to the arrangement. However, three people seemed a bit too few for a proper squad. They deliberated for a long time, but no matter how they turned it over, no one else felt like a necessary addition.
Since they couldn’t decide, they simply didn’t.
And so, the three-person team was finalized.
Up until now, everyone had been taking the same classes, running the same drills. But from this point on, the gap would start to widen. The first batch of selected disciples would be the main force in this mission, receiving the best training, the best resources...and facing the highest risks.
Their new training hall was completely private. It had everything—formation platforms, rest areas, a cultivation chamber, even a strategy room. There was even a small flower pavilion.
This wasn’t a training hall. It was a fully furnished suite.
At the very least, they no longer had to worry about blowing up the formation array mid-training.
After bringing them in, Tianyu left without another word. The three of them waited for a bit, and once they were sure no one else was coming, they activated the formation and got straight to work.
Tianyu and Gu Xing hadn’t brought them here just to drink tea in a flower pavilion.
And sure enough, the very first map they rolled was a vast sea of sand.
To make matters worse, this desert had three converging tornadoes. The whirling sands and flying debris were completely unpredictable. The monsters they had to fight were heavily armored, with no obvious weak points, and could burrow underground at will.
In other words—this was a nightmare.
As usual, Luo Han took on the role of battlefield control. Scorpions and centipedes constantly crawled out of the sand, forcing her to divide her attention—dodging airborne rocks, keeping an eye on the ground for poisonous creatures, and shielding her teammates from debris.
The mental strain was intense. She had to stay hyper-aware of every movement in the battlefield, without a moment to rest.
In the distance, Zou Jibai kept luring the beast away, forcing it to chase him. Ling Qingxiao, meanwhile, stayed hidden in the storm, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
A stray boulder hurtled toward Ling Qingxiao. Luo Han intercepted it midair, redirecting it into the storm so that it smashed into the monster instead. Seeing that Zou Jibai was about to step on a cluster of buried scorpions, she swiftly conjured a fire that sent them scurrying away just in time—by the time Zou Jibai’s foot landed, the sand was smooth and undisturbed.
Small actions, but they made all the difference.
Keeping control of the battlefield was mentally exhausting, but at least her teammates could hold their own. It didn’t take long for Ling Qingxiao to pinpoint the beast’s weak spot. Without hesitation, he unleashed a relentless assault on that exact point.
Sensing danger, the monster tried to flee. But Luo Han was faster—she hardened the underground sand into solid rock, cutting off its escape. Zou Jibai followed up, blocking it in. With all three of them attacking together, the monster finally collapsed.
It was over. Luo Han let out a long breath, finally allowing her arms to relax.
Just one fight, and she was already more exhausted than after an hour of training yesterday.
She wasn’t sure if the normal training rooms were just too easy, or if their squad had been placed on hard mode.
Each training map had a set duration. Since they’d cleared the fight quickly, they now had a brief window to rest.
Ling Qingxiao sheathed his sword and descended from the wind to stand beside Luo Han. Zou Jibai struggled through the sand, finally making his way back. "I fought on this map yesterday too," he grumbled. "Got hit by boulders like, five times. Hurt like hell. But today, for some reason, I barely got hit at all. Must be my lucky day."
Luo Han, arms sore to the point of numbness, didn’t even bother replying.
Lucky day, her ass.
Someone had just been quietly carrying him the whole time.
Ling Qingxiao noticed her discomfort. He raised a hand, conjuring a cool, blue light that settled over her arms. A wave of refreshing chill spread through her limbs, easing the soreness.
Luo Han murmured a quiet, "Thanks."
Ling Qingxiao simply shook his head. "I should be thanking you instead. You shielded me from those flying rocks earlier."
Honestly, he could have dodged them himself. Several times, he’d been ready to move, only to notice at the last second that the rock’s trajectory had shifted—never once hitting him.
Being protected by someone else...it was an unfamiliar feeling.
Luo Han had thought something was off about Ling Qingxiao yesterday. But now, speaking with him like this, it felt like everything was back to normal. Maybe she’d just imagined it?
At that moment, Zou Jibai finally trudged over, only to find the other two speaking in hushed tones, exchanging thanks.
A strange sense of exclusion crept over him.
Was it just his imagination, or...was he the third wheel here?
Ling Qingxiao, noticing Zou Jibai’s arrival, swiftly ended the conversation and switched to business mode, analyzing the weaknesses in their previous fight. Luo Han and Zou Jibai nodded along, but before they could even finish discussing, the next battlefield materialized before them.
Meanwhile, in the highest level of the training complex, Gu Xing watched the floating mirror and smiled at Tianyu. "So, what do you think?"
"Their teamwork is starting to take shape," Tianyu said flatly. "But they still have a long way to go."
Star Lord Gu Xing chuckled. “You’re only talking about their teamwork, not their individual abilities. Does that mean you’re completely satisfied with all three of them?”
Tianyu ignored the teasing and said solemnly, “For their age, what they’ve achieved is already extremely impressive. If I were in their place, I wouldn’t even come close.”
That last sentence was referring to Ling Qingxiao. Tianyu was a warrior, and in the world of martial arts, competition was absolute—there was no such thing as a tie. For someone like him to offer such praise spoke volumes about Ling Qingxiao’s standing in his eyes. Gu Xing raised an intrigued brow and suddenly recalled something. “He’s not just skilled with the sword—his talent in formations is remarkable as well.”
Tianyu was caught off guard. “What?”
“Hard to believe, right? I didn’t believe it at first either.” Gu Xing continued, “I once saw him explaining formations to a young lady and noticed his exceptional talent. At the time, I thought he was more inclined toward scholarly pursuits. But then I found out he also scored the highest in the martial assessment.”
For both Gu Xing and Tianyu, this was almost inconceivable. One was a scholar, the other a warrior—Tianyu couldn’t imagine himself calculating formations, and Gu Xing certainly wasn’t fit for battle.
It was...unexpected.
This time, Tianyu let out a genuine sigh. “No wonder he’s of dragon descent. Sometimes, you just have to accept their superiority.”
A clan of madmen.
Gu Xing chuckled without commenting. He rotated the light mirror to continue observing the training room. After a while, he pointed at someone and mused, “Every generation produces new talents. This batch has no shortage of promising individuals. Look at this young lady—she doesn’t stand out at first glance, but she’s never made a single mistake. No matter the terrain—forest, water, desert, or glacier—she seems to instinctively understand how the environment will shift. Every decision she makes is flawless.”
Tianyu observed for a moment and found himself somewhat envious. “Having a teammate like that...what incredible luck.”
For a soldier, life and death often depended on fate. The battlefield was unpredictable, and the greatest luxury was not having to worry about one’s back.
“All of them are prodigies.” Tianyu sighed sincerely. “Zou Jibai may not seem as exceptional next to those two, but on his own, he’s immensely capable. His explosive power and endurance are top-tier—no wonder he’s the strongest of the younger generation of the Zouyu Clan.”
Gu Xing nodded. “Indeed. And what’s even more impressive is that they’re only a thousand years old.”
Tianyu was stunned. “Only a thousand? Ling Qingxiao too?”
“That’s right.” Gu Xing confirmed. “Ling Qingxiao just turned a thousand, and Zou Jibai is nine hundred and eighty-something—he’ll reach a thousand soon. As for the young lady...her identification token doesn’t list her age, but judging by her bone structure, she’s incredibly young.”
Tianyu was momentarily at a loss for words. A thousand years old was barely the beginning of one’s journey in the immortal realm, yet they had already reached such heights. Truly, the younger generation was both formidable and full of potential.
“So young, yet so gifted. Their clans must be pouring everything they have into raising them as successors.”
But Gu Xing merely arched a brow with a knowing look. As someone in a scholarly position, he had access to scattered bits of information. For instance, he knew that Ling Qingxiao...was not.
Tianyu noticed Gu Xing’s expression and said, “If you have something to say, just say it. It’s only the two of us here—there’s no need to be so secretive.”
“You were right about Zou Jibai,” Gu Xing said slowly. “As for the young lady, I know too little to say. But as for the one you favor most—Ling Qingxiao—it’s quite the opposite.”
“What?” Tianyu was visibly taken aback. “How is that possible?”
“The dragon clan is ancient, and their interests are deeply entangled.” Gu Xing explained, “Ling Qingxiao’s father is the Lord of Zhongshan, and his mother was the sister of the Ling Clan Head. But his identity was stolen. He was raised as a mere concubine’s son. If not for that heavenly tribulation some time ago, this secret would have remained hidden for much longer.”
Tianyu frowned in confusion. “Why? He’s extraordinarily talented, dedicated to cultivation, has an excellent character, and even looks quite decent. Why would his own father replace him?”
Gu Xing spread his hands helplessly. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask the Ling Clan Head. Since we’re on the topic, I might as well mention—his replacement is also on this flying vessel.”
Tianyu immediately understood. “That day, when the Ling Clan Head specifically introduced someone to us…?”
“Yes, that’s the one.” Gu Xing pulled up Ling Zhongyu’s assessment records. Tianyu, determined to clarify his doubts, watched several of his training sessions. But after some observation, he only grew more puzzled.
It wasn’t that Ling Zhongyu was bad—he was just...average.
Tianyu shook his head in bewilderment. “Isn’t the dragon clan all about benefits? It’s clear that investing in Ling Qingxiao would yield far greater returns. Why would Zhongshan…”
Gu Xing smirked but said nothing, silently adding a mental note: Not necessarily.
Tianyu was straightforward and direct, unlikely to grasp the intricate power plays of politics. Human nature...was a complicated thing.
Ling Qingxiao was undoubtedly more talented than Ling Zhongyu, but he was also far more difficult to control. Setting aside their personalities, Ling Qingxiao had the Ling family backing him. Ling Zhongyu, on the other hand, had only Ling Xianhong to rely on.
When someone has too many options, they become harder to manipulate. And for a clan as power-hungry as the dragons, an obedient successor was far more valuable than an outstanding one.
Now aware of a bizarre secret within the dragon clan, Tianyu found Ling Zhongyu increasingly unconvincing. Not wanting to make an unfair judgment, he carefully observed several more of his practice sessions. But in the end, he could only shake his head and sigh. “He’s too calculating. He’d rather flee than admit he’s inferior. He’s dishonest with himself and secretly undermines his own brother. Such a person is unfit for any significant role.”
Gu Xing refrained from commenting, but he agreed.
Ambition was natural. So was selfishness.
Gu Xing didn’t think having a scheming mind was necessarily bad, but being so obvious about it that others could see right through you? That was pathetic.
Ling Zhongyu’s petty calculations were as transparent as glass to Gu Xing.
And frankly, he found them unimpressive.
With a mental note, Gu Xing erased Ling Zhongyu from his list of concerns. Someone weak and foolish wasn’t worth his attention.
As for Tianyu...a soldier could never have any goodwill toward a deserter.
At this moment, Ling Zhongyu had no idea that his evaluation in the minds of Gu Xing and Tianyu had plummeted to rock bottom. He was still busy networking, striving to present himself in the best light.
If he could attract the attention of the two Star Lords and gain access to the Celestial Palace, that would be even better.
He had been busy like this for several days when he suddenly realized that the people around him were becoming fewer and fewer. The ones he had been trying to befriend were being chosen one by one to join new teams for higher-level formation training.
It struck him abruptly—what about him?
He had entered with the second-highest score in Zhongshan, so why had several days passed, yet no one had picked him?
A wave of panic surged in Ling Zhongyu’s heart. He couldn’t help but reflect on his recent actions—had he gotten his priorities completely wrong?
Ling Zhongyu, Su Yinyue, and a few young masters walked out of the training room. It was mealtime, and they had arranged to have lunch together. As they exited, other training rooms were also releasing people. The corridor bustled with movement; it was the busiest time of day.
As they chatted, a commotion arose from the other side. Several disciples dressed in sect robes descended from the upper floor and ordered chilled energy-restoring drinks from the tea hall.
At this moment, the dining hall was already quite full. When these people entered, half the hall went silent. The Celestial Palace had long been under the rule of the Dragon Clan, and many of its customs followed suit. It made no effort to hide its preference for the strong—only the winners reigned supreme.
In just a few days, the disparity in resource allocation had become glaringly obvious.
The disciples who had been promoted upstairs were undeniably the best in every aspect, and the gap between them and ordinary disciples was widening.
These elite disciples had little in common with the others anymore. Their rigorous training left them with no time for socializing.
Besides, the saying "birds of a feather flock together" held true. The only way to break into an elite circle was to become elite oneself. Naturally, those at the top preferred to associate with peers of similar caliber.
Standing by the roadside, these disciples sipped their chilled drinks and conversed.
“How’s your team’s training going? Have you cleared the Sand Sea yet?”
“Not quite,” another replied. “The sand worms are too difficult. Six of us surrounded one and nearly had it down to half-health, but the moment we let our guard down, it burrowed into the sand and escaped. Half an hour of grinding—wasted.”
The others nodded in deep understanding.
“So, are you guys training late again tonight, or heading back?”
“No, we’re staying. Ling Qingxiao and his team trained until the second watch last night, and they were back at it again by dawn. I went to check—they’ve already finished all the maps. I heard that in two days, they’ll start simulating the Devourer Beast. With them pushing so hard, how can we afford to rest?”
The group collectively pressed their temples, looking exhausted.
“They’re just three people, but their damage output is insane. We’re a team of eight, and we still can’t match their attack volume.”
“They have monsters on their team. Ling Qingxiao can single-handedly tank a beast, and with their battlefield control, those creatures can’t even escape. No wonder they’re fast.”
Just talking about it made them anxious. One of them downed his ice drink in one go. “I can’t sit around. I’m heading back to train.”
The others immediately echoed, “Yeah, we’re going too.”
As soon as they left, conversation gradually returned to the dining hall.
The earlier silence had made it easy to overhear their discussion. Su Yinyue looked at her beautifully plated meal and suddenly lost her appetite.
After all, everyone on this flying vessel had been carefully selected—whether by background or by strength, each had a decisive advantage. Su Yinyue had always prided herself on being the eldest daughter of the Linyue clan. But now, she had become the weakest link.
Proud as she was, she could not accept such a drastic shift in status.
For the past few days, Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han had not appeared in the main training halls, yet their presence was felt throughout the entire flying vessel.
Even now, Ling Qingxiao’s performance remained an unattainable nightmare in all six training rooms.
Su Yinyue had always seen herself as a favored daughter of heaven, yet she couldn’t even comprehend what those disciples were discussing.
Sand Sea? Sand worms? She didn’t even know what those were.
Yet Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han’s names kept coming up in conversation, always in tones of admiration and awe.
Ling Zhongyu and Su Yinyue were dining with other young masters from prestigious families, most of whom relied on spiritual medicine rather than training. Having overheard the discussion, one of them sighed and said, “Zhongshan really is full of hidden dragons. I’ve never even heard of Ling Qingxiao before, but I never expected him to be this powerful.”
Ling Zhongyu remained silent. These people weren’t from Zhongshan, so they didn’t understand that Ling Qingxiao had never been unknown there.
His expression darkened. Ling Qingxiao’s lack of fame outside Zhongshan had been due to Su Yifang’s influence.
Before his background was exposed, Ling Qingxiao had always been treated as an illegitimate son. There was no way Su Yifang would allow a branch descendant to outshine her own direct heir.
But in the end, those destined to rise could never be suppressed.
Someone across the table suddenly thought of something and asked, “By the way, Miss Su, aren’t you related to Ling Qingxiao?”
Su Yinyue’s face stiffened, and she gave a forced nod. “Yes.”
“Then why don’t you two spend time together?” the young master asked with interest. “I heard Ling Qingxiao is always with that girl, Luo Han. If you have the chance, why not invite them to join us for tea sometime?”
Another added, “And Zou Jibai too. I heard they’re a team. More friends, more opportunities. We should all get to know each other—maybe we can go on an adventure together in the future.”
Su Yinyue forced out a laugh and nodded, but once she lowered her head, her eyes were devoid of any mirth.
She and Ling Zhongyu wanted nothing more than to drop the topic, but the others had become too engrossed, their curiosity now fully ignited.
“You know, what’s the story with Luo Han? She always wears a veil—why won’t she show her face?”
“No idea. Maybe she’s just ugly?”
“How is that possible? Her eyes are so beautiful. Someone with eyes like that couldn’t be ugly.”
“Maybe the rest of her face is plain, nothing special compared to her eyes. That’s why she only shows her eyes?”
A group of second-generation cultivators debated for a long time but couldn’t reach a consensus. Su Yinyue listened from the side, struggling to maintain her composed smile.
She actually knew what Luo Han really looked like.
Back in the Biyun Secret Realm, Luo Han’s veil had fallen. At the time, she was still wearing a white gauze over her eyes, revealing only the rest of her face. Su Yinyue had wondered—what kind of eyes must she have to outshine such striking features?
Now, Luo Han had changed to a different veil. The moment Su Yinyue saw those eyes, she was utterly speechless.
No wonder. Only eyes as breathtaking as these could match a face like that. This was true harmony—so much so that even Su Yinyue, a fellow woman, had nothing left to say.
At the dining table, the conversation was still centered around Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han. Suddenly, Ling Zhongyu stood up and said, “I’m done. I have things to attend to. Please excuse me.”
“Cousin!” Su Yinyue called after him, quickly rising to chase after him.
After the two of them left, the others at the table exchanged glances, raising their eyebrows with knowing smiles.
The Immortal Realm was vast, and immortals lived long lives. Sometimes, information traveled slowly. Other times, there were no secrets at all.
For instance, the matter of the two children being switched in Zhongshan—most of them had at least heard whispers about it.
Ling Zhongyu stormed off in fury, with Su Yinyue’s voice calling after him repeatedly. He walked in a rage for a long time before abruptly stopping, as if possessed.
He looked at the grand, meticulously crafted Celestial Palace flying vessel before him, the white clouds drifting past. Slowly, he realized—this was no longer Zhongshan. Many things were different now.
Star Lords Gu Xing and Tianyu openly favored Ling Qingxiao. Even the others spoke of him in tones of awe and admiration.
Back in Zhongshan, Ling Xianhong had favored him, Su Yifang had protected him, and Bai Lingluan had devoted herself to him. Ling Zhongyu had always believed he was more likable than Ling Qingxiao—because everyone adored him, everyone praised him.
Only now did Ling Zhongyu realize...that wasn’t the case at all.
A strange, uncontrollable force surged through his body. It wasn’t unfamiliar—he had felt it many times over the years.
It was as if something deep within his blood was constantly calling to him. He had always struggled with immortal cultivation, as if it never quite fit him. Because, in truth, he was never meant to be part of the Immortal Clan.
A sinister red light suddenly flickered in Ling Zhongyu’s eyes.