The Cold and Aloof Palace Master's Daily Demon-Slaying Life

The man on the left looks to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He has a handsome face, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and a faint, gentle smile at the corner of his mouth.

He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a gentle and refined temperament. His long, black hair was tied back with a simple jade hairpin, and a few strands fell in front of his forehead, adding to his elegant and dashing appearance.

If it weren't for the immense, palpable pressure emanating from his body, a power that seemed to emanate from the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm, and the occasional flash of worldly wisdom in his deep eyes, one could only imagine him as a dashing and charming young man, the kind of gentleman who would make any young girl yearn for love.

He was Lu Zixu, the chief disciple of True Lord Fu Shui.

Cultivation level: Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion Realm.

Within the Fu Shui Xian Sect, his status was second only to the Supreme Elder and the Sect Leader. He was a true sect giant and a legendary figure whom countless disciples looked up to.

The person on the right stands in stark contrast to Lu Zixu.

He looked to be around thirty years old, with a angular face, a bronze complexion from years of exposure to the sun and wind, and a short beard that gave him a slightly rugged appearance.

His brows carried an indelible sharpness and untamed spirit, as if etched into his very bones.

He was equally upright, but he was more like a drawn sword, saturated with blood. Even when standing still, he gave people a sense of fierceness that could suddenly strike and cleave the sky at any moment.

He casually hung a simple, scabbarded longsword at his waist, its hilt wrapped with worn strips of cloth.

Standing there, he was a living, breathing image of a free-spirited, unconventional, yet sharp-witted swordsman.

He was the seventh disciple and the last disciple of True Lord Fu Shui, Li Baitian.

Their cultivation level is also at the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm.

Unlike his senior brother Lu Zixu, who was gentle, reserved, and wise, Li Baitian was a well-known "outlier" in the Fu Shui Xian Sect and even the entire Central Plains.

He disliked the mundane affairs of the sect and spent most of his time traveling. He especially loved slaying demons and monsters and upholding justice. Countless demons perished under his sword, earning him the prestigious titles of "Sword Xuan Zhenren," "Qingping Hero," "Qingping Sword Immortal," and "Sword God Li" in the cultivation world. He was an idol worshipped by countless rogue cultivators and young swordsmen.

Within the sect, he was also unconventional, and apart from his master and a few senior brothers and sisters, almost no one could control him.

One looks like a young man, but is actually an "old monster" who has cultivated for countless years and has mastered the art of preserving his youth; the other looks like a middle-aged man, but is actually a "young" upstart who is unkempt.

The two brothers, though of very different temperaments, were both exceptional individuals. Standing atop the clear peak, before the stone gate, they waited in silence.

The mountain breeze swept across the smooth peak, fluttering the clothes and hair of the two people, but it could not dispel the solemn silence.

a long time.

"Squeak—"

A faint yet crystal-clear friction sound, as if resonating deep within the soul, broke the silence.

The naturally formed, gray-white stone door, which had been closed for countless years, remained unopened.

But from inside the door came an aged, peaceful voice, yet carrying an indescribable weight and sense of vicissitude, like an ancient god awakening from slumber, whispering the secrets of time.

"Defeat Heaven".

The sound rang out directly, not through the air, but like a stone thrown directly into the lake of Li Baitian's heart.

Li Baitian's body trembled slightly, and he immediately restrained all his unruliness and nonchalance. He stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the stone gate, and said, "Disciple is here."

"One month from now, the enthronement ceremony of 'Nine Heavens Taihua Purple Void Responding Thunder Ancestor True Lord' of Taihua Sect will take place." The voice from inside the stone gate was unhurried and devoid of any emotion. "You will go on my behalf and bring gifts to attend the ceremony."

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Li Baitian's eyes, but he immediately suppressed it.

Without any hesitation, he bowed again and said, "This disciple obeys."

"Yes, go ahead. The gift will be delivered to you later," the voice from inside the stone gate said calmly.

"Yes, disciple takes his leave." Li Baitian bowed, nodded slightly to his senior brother Lu Zixu beside him, then turned and strode away.

His steps remained steady and powerful, and his back remained straight as a sword, as if this were just an ordinary mission.

Only after Li Baitian's figure disappeared into the clouds below Chengche Peak did Lu Zixu step forward, bow deeply to the stone gate, and say with a hint of doubt and caution, "Master."

"Hmm," came the reply from inside the stone gate.

"This disciple is dull-witted." Lu Zixu carefully considered his words. "My junior brother... is carefree and unconventional, and he is not very proficient in etiquette. Is it... perhaps inappropriate to send him to attend the enthronement ceremony of True Lord Zixu? If there is any conflict, it may cause trouble and damage the harmony between our two sects."

He put it tactfully, but his meaning was clear: Li Baitian was a dissolute playboy with a stubborn and foul temper. Sending him to such a solemn and grand ceremony that concerned the reputation of another True Lord was like sending a wild horse to walk a tightrope; he could mess things up at any moment, or even cause a major disaster.

There was a moment of silence inside the stone gate.

Then, the aged voice rang out again, its tone calm, but it asked a seemingly unrelated question:

"Zixu, do you think it's worthwhile for your master to send a personal disciple with lavish gifts to pay a visit and offer congratulations to a newly promoted True Lord?"

Lu Zixu was slightly taken aback, then his mind raced.

Master, there must be a profound meaning behind this question.

He hesitated for a few breaths before cautiously replying, "Master, in all matters of common sense, our Fu Shui Xian Sect is a super sect in the Central Land Realm, and Master is a highly respected veteran True Monarch. Even if a newly promoted True Monarch is exceptionally talented and capable of destroying a sect overnight, he is still a junior with an unstable foundation. For his enthronement ceremony, our sect sending an elder with a congratulatory gift is already giving him ample face. Sending a personal disciple... especially someone of Junior Brother's status, is indeed a bit... excessive."

This is the truth.

The pride of a super sect and the composure of a veteran True Monarch are not something that a newly promoted "junior" True Monarch can easily shake.

Sending a respected elder is already a perfectly proper gesture.

Sending personal disciples? That's something sects of equal status would do, or when they intend to cultivate a close relationship and attach great importance to each other.

"Well said." The voice from inside the stone gate seemed to carry a hint of approval, but then its tone shifted, becoming somewhat unfathomable. "In that case, do you know why I still sent Bai Tian?"

The unease in Lu Zixu's heart suddenly intensified.

He vaguely sensed something, but dared not be sure, so he could only lower his head and say, "Disciple...is dull-witted, please enlighten me, Master."

From within the stone gate came a barely audible sigh, as if it had been weighed down by eight thousand years.

"As your teacher, I naturally do not wish to make enemies with this True Lord Zixu. It is better to avoid trouble and live a peaceful life in the long run."

Fu Shui Zhenjun paused, as if organizing his thoughts or weighing some deeper secrets.

"However," he abruptly changed the subject, his tone now tinged with an indescribable coldness and helplessness, "for some unspeakable reasons, I must test her."

Lu Zixu was shocked and suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with horror.