Enduring humiliation for three years, seizing the elixir, the treasure, and the holy maiden.

Su Chen didn't ask any more questions.

"Come in and talk."

The window of the side room was open, and the old pine tree outside had grown quite a bit taller, its branches almost reaching the eaves.

Su Chen sat down and poured himself a cup of tea.

The tea is cold.

Su Chen was too lazy to ask someone to change it. He took a sip and found it very astringent.

"These years, though just a blink of an eye for us cultivators, must have taken quite a few years."

The questions were naturally about the war between good and evil, and the situation on Hong Fu's side.

Furthermore, is there any opportunity or new power emerging in this world?

Lu Yao covered her mouth and smiled.

"The war between good and evil lasted for fifty years, and a ceasefire was reached twenty years ago."

"Haori Sect has the greatest military achievements, and now all the righteous sects look to Haori Sect for guidance."

"The losses on the demonic path weren't too great. Both sides agreed to fight again in thirty years."

Su Chen nodded.

Actually, Su Chen had somewhat anticipated the last battle.

Although those sects didn't say it, many cultivators actually avoided Su Chen like the plague.

This saved Su Chen a lot of trouble.

All of this was naturally directed at his old master, Master Deng...

With Li Changfeng's return to the Spirit Realm, the sect is bound to rise again.

Every sect has, to some extent, a Mahayana-stage cultivator in charge.

However, the strength of cultivators in the Mahayana stage varies greatly.

More importantly, Su Chen discovered the so-called war between good and evil sects.

It's just a corner of the spirit world.

Now that I'm in the Integration Stage, I'd like to have the opportunity to get a glimpse of the entire Spirit Realm.

"Within the Demon Spirit Sect, Lady Wangqing has surpassed Elder Hongfu, but Elder Hongfu has not fallen, and the Yunlei Peak lineage is still firmly in their grasp."

"Elder Tiandu used that Starfall Furnace to refine the Fire Nourishing Pill, and he is now at the mid-stage of the Integration Realm."

Su Chen paused for a moment while holding the teacup, then continued drinking.

That old man, at least he wasn't taken advantage of for nothing.

"Blood Butcher didn't die. His injuries have healed, and I heard he's now a disciple of Lady Forgetfulness."

"Furthermore, in preparation for the upcoming battle thirty years later, the sect invited several Nascent Soul cultivators from outside and appointed them as guest elders."

"These guys all have quite the airs."

After Lu Yao finished reporting, the room was quiet for a while.

The shadow of that old pine tree was imprinted on the window paper, and it swayed when the wind blew.

"Where is the saintess?"

Lu Yao paused.

The first question the Lord asked was this.

"In the past seventy years, the Holy Maiden has turned down two marriage proposals."

Su Chen put down his teacup.

"Explain in detail."

"The first chapter is the twentieth year of the Great War."

Lu Yao recalled for a moment, then spoke very slowly.

"A rogue cultivator from the righteous path, in the early stage of the Integration Realm, who has made many meritorious contributions in the Shattered Star Cluster, came to the sect to propose marriage on the behalf of Venerable Yunmeng."

"The second door was ten years ago."

"The newly arrived guest elder is named Xiao Dingyue. He is in the mid-stage of the Integration Realm and comes from a righteous sect that has long been destroyed."

"Elder Xiao took a liking to the Holy Maiden as soon as he entered the Haori Sect."

"Both times, the Holy Maiden refused in front of Master Yunmeng."

Lu Yao's voice trailed off as she finished speaking.

"The Holy Maiden said that Su Chen and I have long been bound by a Daoist partnership. Although we have not yet held the dual cultivation ceremony, I have been waiting."

Su Chen remained silent for a long time.

The wind outside the window stopped, and the shadow of the old pine tree also stopped swaying.

Seventy years ago, in that dilapidated tent in the Shattered Star Cluster, Lin Zhiya said she wouldn't wait.

Lu Yao secretly glanced at Su Chen's expression.

I have never seen you with such an expression in all the years I have served you, my lord.

On the way to the main peak, you have to cross three mountain ridges.

The stone steps on the mountain ridge have been worn smooth by the disciples who have come and gone over the years, and in some places there is water that reflects the clouds in the sky.

Su Chen walked slowly.

Just past the second ridge, a series of hurried footsteps came from the stone steps ahead.

Someone is running.

A figure in light blue rushed out from around the corner, her hair disheveled from running. Upon seeing Su Chen, she abruptly stopped in her tracks.

Over the years, Lin Zhiya has waited for Su Chen every single day.

In fact, she had already decided on Su Chen all these years ago.

He had long since lost all affection for his junior brother.

In fact, before Su Chen went into seclusion, Lin Zhiya had been waiting to complete the dual cultivation ceremony with Su Chen.

Unfortunately, there was no chance at all.

Unexpectedly, seventy years have passed since Su Chen went into seclusion.

Now, through the sect's continuous tempering with rare and precious treasures, he has also reached the late stage of the Void Refinement realm.

The two stood facing each other, two steps apart...

"They've combined?"

"Um."

Lin Zhiya nodded, raising her chin.

"So you know how to leave the pass?"

Su Chen didn't mention the two marriage proposals, nor did he mention anything about seventy years.

"Is there any tea left in that can?"

Lin Zhiya was stunned.

Tears immediately streamed down my face.

After it fell, Lin Zhiya raised her hand and wiped it hard, until the corners of her eyes were red, but the more she wiped, the more red it became.

This saint has not shed a single tear in seventy years.

That scoundrel's words...

Su Chen went up one step, but didn't wipe Lin Zhiya's face. He just stood there and waited.

In fact, Su Chen had also figured it out; this proud and aloof saintess had been waiting for him all along.

How could I not know?

Now that I've emerged from seclusion, I'll find an opportunity to complete the dual cultivation ceremony with her.

...

The news of Su Chen's emergence from seclusion spread throughout the Haori Sect on the same day.

Those newly initiated disciples had never seen Su Chen, but had only heard of the name of the true disciple on the side peak.

They all craned their necks to peer down from the side peak, hoping to catch a glimpse of it from afar.

Several lotus plants on the hillside were trampled and damaged.

Lu Yao watched from the stone steps, her brows furrowing with heartache.

As evening approached, a group of people came up the mountain path.

The leader was dressed in a black robe with a jade pendant hanging at his waist. He was followed by four followers, all of whom were at the Refinement stage of cultivation.

Mid-stage of fusion.

Su Chen was peeling spirit fruits on the stone table outside the cave. He glanced up, then lowered his head and continued peeling.

"The True Story of Su".

The man stopped in front of the stone table and cupped his hands in greeting.

"I, Xiao, was passing by Pianfeng when I heard that the true master had emerged from seclusion, so I came here to offer my congratulations."

Pianfeng is located in the most remote corner of the sect, isolated from all sides.

This passing by sounds like "I'm just passing by," but the journey has been quite long.

Xiao Dingyue sized up Su Chen as if he were weighing an ordinary spiritual weapon.

"Su Zhenchuan has been in seclusion for seventy years. He must have worked hard."

"In that battle outside, we outsiders, Xiao, finally fought it off for the Hao Ri Sect."

One of Xiao Dingyue's followers chuckled softly.

Xiao Dingyue knew exactly what was going on.

A true disciple who relied on his master's name to establish himself, went into seclusion for seventy years, thus escaping the entire great war. Now that he has emerged from seclusion, he wants to come back and reap the rewards.

The Holy Maiden rejected Xiao for the sake of this person.

joke.

Su Chen peeled the spiritual fruit in his hand, threw it into his mouth, and chewed it.

This fruit is still so sour; it hasn't changed in seventy years.

"Elder Xiao, you've worked hard."

Su Chen patted the fruit peels off his hands and smiled.

"I'll go back to the storeroom and ask about the offerings the sect has given to Elder Xiao over the years."

"Elder Xiao has done so much for the sect, it would be inappropriate to offer less. As his true disciple, I should give more on behalf of the sect."

Offerings are for outsiders.

The moment these words were spoken, the expressions of the four attendants behind Xiao Dingyue changed.

One hand had already placed on the magic weapon at the waist.

Xiao Dingyue raised his hand to stop him.

"Su Zhen Chuan Shuo laughed."

Xiao Dingyue's tone remained unchanged, and his face showed no emotion.

"I'll take my leave."

...