Chapter 38: "Peerless Saint"

Chu YueLu's words left Xia Qingyue momentarily stunned.

The fifty-four celestial gates of her meridian—she naturally knew. This was the most basic knowledge all cultivators must possess. She understood what it meant for all the celestial gates to be fully opened… It was a theoretical limit state that had never been reported as having been achieved by anyone, a mythical condition whispered to belong only to the ancient gods—the "Heavenly Spirit Divine Vein"—utterly unattainable for mortals!

Since being refined by Xiao Che with silver needles, her spirit and physical condition had become exceptionally good. The flow of spiritual energy, and the cultivation of it, had become extraordinarily smooth, at times so smooth that she felt an uncanny sensation as if this was not her own body. Upon hearing Chu YueLu's words, her heart erupted in sudden realization…

All fifty-four celestial gates fully opened… The Heavenly Spirit Divine Vein…

This is impossible! This is absolutely impossible!!

But as a member of the Qingyun Seven Immortals, how could Chu YueLu be lying? With her seven-level Celestial Peak level of supreme spiritual power, how could she misjudge the state of her celestial meridian? Moreover, her usually tranquil demeanor now was so agitated—how could it be a lie?

Yet… how could she…

Could it be… it must be…

A vision of Yun Che's face flashed through Xia Qingyue's mind… She recalled how he, at three a.m. every day, used silver needles to refine her body, his stated purpose being to "dispel the cold and unblock the meridians." For this, he would exhaust himself entirely, even nearly depleting his own spiritual energy…

When she thought of the silver needles he used on her each time… They were exactly fifty-four in number!! Precisely corresponding to the number of celestial gates!!

Could it truly be him?

No… it could only be him! No one else had ever touched her body. Because of his "refinement," her body had undergone such tremendous changes.

But how could Xiao Che—a son of the Xiao family, a cultivator whose meridian was completely ruined—possess such abilities…

Seeing that while Xia Qingyue didn't immediately answer, her eyes had suddenly grown unfocused, her expression complex. Chu YueLu was utterly certain that within the short span of a few days, Xia Qingyue must have encountered some extraordinary encounter… a miraculous feat of wonder. Her voice quickened: "Qingyue, tell me quickly—what person, or what thing, has managed to fully open your celestial gates?"

"It was… a person… I just didn't realize… he could…"

"A person?" Chu YueLu's face deepened with utter astonishment: "What was this senior's name? Or what did he look like? How could he possess such a shockingly miraculous ability to open the heavens!!"

A miraculous ability to open the heavens… These words, describing a person's ability to fully open all celestial gates, were absolutely not exaggerated.

"He said he was a divine physician. Do you believe him?"

His words from the time she had scoffed at him then echoed in her mind now. But her current sensations had undergone a transformation beyond mere reversal. Simultaneously, she remembered that after Xiao Che's third refinement of her body, he had gasped and panted, saying to her: "My wife Qingyue, if your master ever notices your body's changes, don't ever say it was me. If you don't want to become a widow…"

A person capable of fully opening a cultivator's celestial gates within a short time. If his abilities and name were to spread, the chaos and number of people who would stop at nothing to find him could be imagined…

"He said he was a divine physician." Xia Qingyue's expression was complex: "He just asked me not to tell anyone about him. Forgive me, master."

Upon hearing Xia Qingyue's words, Chu YueLu felt disappointed but didn't press further, instead nodding: "There must exist some transcendent sage beyond the mortal realm, uninvolved with worldly affairs, a supreme saint! My Azure Cloud Immortal Palace has the title of 'Azure Cloud Medical Saint.' The ancient autumn tiger, Hong, not only possessed extraordinary medical skills but could also directly awaken three celestial gates in a cultivator's meridian, earning him widespread renown and countless petitioners, being hailed as the first divine physician of Azure Cloud. But compared to the senior you encountered, he wouldn't even be worthy to tie your shoes! Such a reclusive immortal generally wouldn't seek recognition, and you, having received his heavenly grace, must keep his secret."

Xia Qingyue nodded, her heart suddenly enlightened.

All those days, he had expended his every ounce of strength, nearly to the point of exhaustion, refining her body. The so-called "dispel the cold and unblock the meridians" was merely a pretext! He was, in fact, opening all her celestial gates… and this "heaven-opening ability" he achieved was nothing more than a few dozen silver needles.

Who was he, really…

Chu YueLu's face broke into an expression of immense joy, her gaze upon Xia Qingyue's eyes now far more intense than before! She spoke solemnly: "After returning to the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace, I will immediately report this to the Palace Master. I believe the Palace Master will be overjoyed, then accept you as my direct disciple. All resources within the palace will be yours to use without restriction. With your current meridian state, given only normal effort, you will surely become the most brilliant prodigy in the history of our Azure Cloud Immortal Palace! In the next realm's Azure Cloud ranking battle, you will surely make a thunderous entrance, your name echoing across Azure Cloud! Perhaps, the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace will finally be freed from the oppression of the Tian Sword Monastery for centuries! To be named first in Azure Cloud!"

"...I will work hard, not failing your expectations, master." Xia Qingyue slightly bowed her head, her mind still a jumble.

"Oh, and that senior—since he went to such lengths to bestow such a heavenly grace upon you, he must be quite fond of you. Did he leave any information about meeting him again?" Chu YueLu asked eagerly. She, even a thousand times more clever, could never possibly connect that "senior" to the nobody that Yun Che was in everyone's eyes.

"...He didn't leave anything." Xia Qingyue shook her head.

"Hmm, I suppose I was too greedy." Chu YueLu smiled nonchalantly, then sighed: "But such a high immortal, if he were to grace the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace, even a brief instruction would surely benefit our sect immensely."

At that moment, Xia Qingyue's heart stirred, hesitated briefly, then spoke: "Master, he once mentioned he was searching for three things… namely, the Purple Vessel Celestial Stone, the Seven Mystical Orchid, and a Divine Beast's Spirit Pill. If, if we were to help him find these three items, perhaps he would appear and show his gratitude to my sect."

Xia Qingyue wasn't one skilled at lying. Her eyes dared not meet Chu YueLu's.

"Purple Vessel Celestial Stone, Seven Mystical Orchid, Divine Beast's Spirit Pill…" Chu YueLu murmured their names, committing them to memory, "These three items, though extremely difficult to find, with the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace's capabilities, it is not impossible for us to locate all three. I will report this to the Palace Master, confident he will make a decisive choice." "Qingyue, let's go now. The Palace Master and your numerous uncles and aunts won't know we've brought such a tremendous surprise."

Chu YueLu clasped Xia Qingyue's wrist, lifting her into the air. In an instant, they ascended nearly a hundred meters, becoming two ethereal figures in the sky, flying toward the northwest.

It was Xia Qingyue's first experience flying through the air. It should have been exciting, yet her chaotic heart was entirely consumed by something else.

Not long after, they had flown beyond the boundaries of Liu Yun City. Xia Qingyue glanced back, her eyes shining as she looked at the city growing smaller and smaller in the distance, her turbulent heart unable to find peace.

Who exactly are you… In this world, who truly understands you?

You gave me such a tremendous favor—are you trying to make sure I never forget you? Because from now on, every time I cultivate spiritual energy, I might uncontrollably think of you…

Where did you go after being expelled from the Xiao family? Where are you now?

"Qingyue, are you awake yet?"

"Wah! Qingyue, you look even more beautiful today! They all say their wives always look more and more beautiful the more they look at them—truly, she is the most beautiful!"

"Sniff sniff… Qingyue, did you go steal jasmine flowers this morning? Otherwise, how could you smell so good? Hmm? Could it be the legendary maiden's fragrance?"

"Qingyue, after this month when you return to the Azure Cloud Immortal Palace, will we never see each other again… Will you ever think of me occasionally when you're there?"

………………

………………

"Qingyue…" he always called her this, adding it before every sentence. She had gone from disliking it, to slowly accepting it… And now, knowing she might never hear this again, a faint pain stirred in her heart, her eyes growing hazy.

"Qingyue? What's wrong? Why is your heart beating so fast?" Chu YueLu tilted her head, looking at her.

Xia Qingyue gently shook her head: "I'm fine, just… missing home a little."

Chu YueLu didn't understand the full meaning of "home" in Xia Qingyue's words, comforting her: "It's natural to feel melancholy on your first time away from home. When your spiritual energy reaches the Celestial Peak, you'll be able to traverse the void like me, traveling a thousand miles a day. Then returning home would be easy."

Thinking of Xia Qingyue's home, Chu YueLu thought of one person, and casually said: "Your younger brother, I recall his name… was… Xia Yuanba. Yesterday I saw his celestial gates—he naturally opened nine of them, his talent average, yet his meridian was thicker than a normal person's by more than a hundred times. I've never seen such a condition in my life, nor heard of it before. Perhaps this is one of the reasons his body is so robust. I was about to return to investigate further, to see if this is some kind of anomaly."

"Thank you for your concern, master." Xia Qingyue bowed slightly. Her gaze turned toward the direction of her home, softly murmuring: "After I leave, Yuanba will also go to the new moon city to enter the new moon cultivation mansion, hoping he can stay safe and not be bullied…"

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[After spending all night figuring out how to unlock Yun Che's cheat, I finally got my thoughts straight, started typing… And by the time I finished the dialogue between Xia Qingyue and her master, an entire chapter had already passed!! Ugh, I guess I'll just leave it like this…………]

[The first female protagonist is finally making her appearance! Monsters, tremble! Mini-bosses, hand over your experience and equipment!]

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Thank you to windK for the ten thousand donations… It's been a long time. Seeing you, my heart is filled with excitement…

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