Having cultivated myself into an immortal, all I want to do is raise female disciples.

Inside the council hall of the Holy Feather Sect.

Duan Xingyao stood with his hands behind his back, his handsome face filled with determination. He stood in front of Duan Xingchen like an insurmountable mountain, preventing anyone from getting close to his sister.

"The City of Chaos is a dangerous place. There is no safe place within a hundred miles. Let alone staying in the city, even wandering outside the city may lead to danger. I do not agree to let Xingchen leave with you!"

The City of Chaos is infamous; practically every cultivator in the Kuntian Domain knows about it.

That place was a melting pot of all sorts of beings, from tiny demons who hadn't even taken human form yet to some top-tier beings. No one knew whether a random passerby they encountered on the road might be a powerful figure capable of annihilating them with a flick of the wrist.

Moreover, there are some unknown taboos in the Chaos City whose origins have not yet been found. You might run into monsters that even those in the Void Realm fear if you take just a few steps outside.

Below the hall, Yun Ping sat in a chair, helplessly spreading his hands, "Do you think I wanted to bring a burden with me? It's just that your sect leader asked me to."

Duan Xingchen's ears perked up, his brows furrowed, and his expression showed some dissatisfaction. "I don't think I'm a burden."

"Come on... With your cultivation level, even if you have a holy body, you wouldn't be enough to fill the teeth of those demons in the Chaos City."

As Yunping spoke, he reached out and patted the head of Yuchan beside him. "I still have to protect my two apprentices right now. Having you is just like having another burden."

"I'm really sorry to trouble you to protect me."

Ye Yuchan raised her head, her dead fish eyes just like Yun Ping's, and stared at the old rogue beside her.

Yunping chuckled and ruffled Yuchan's hair.

However, the old rogue's act of bringing up the sect leader of the Holy Feather Sect could not persuade Duan Xingyao. He still protected Duan Xingchen fiercely and refused to let his sister leave.

"It's really inappropriate to send Xingchen directly to the Chaos City right after she has just survived the demon's attack."

“Master…” Duan Xingchen did not choose to use a more intimate address, but grasped Duan Xingyao’s sleeve with his hand, “I’m fine, and besides, I really want to go to that gambling house they mentioned.”

“Sister… no, my good disciple, listen to me—” Duan Xingyao turned around and grabbed Duan Xingchen’s shoulder, bringing his face close to the Holy Maiden’s face, and said with utmost seriousness, “The Chaos City is really not a good place, let alone that so-called gambling house… even if that place really exists, there’s no guarantee that there won’t be any danger.”

That's true.

Yun Ping also began to echo Duan Xingyao's words, "The City of Chaos is really not a good place. Even if you really have something you want to ask, you might die halfway there."

"Humph."

Duan Xingyao snorted coldly and glanced at Yun Ping.

—It seems this kid is reasonable after all; at least he didn't get excited and ask Xingchen to go with him just because he coveted her beauty.

The hostility in his eyes as he looked at Yunping lessened slightly, but it still wasn't exactly friendly.

"In short... Xingchen, you shouldn't go." Duan Xingyao earnestly grabbed Duan Xingchen's shoulder and advised, "No matter what, life is more important than anything else."

"I've always wanted to know the answer to this question, and now that I have the opportunity, how can I not seize it?" Duan Xingchen looked up, his face unwavering in determination. "Or perhaps, Master, you can answer that question for me?"

"I……"

Duan Xingyao was speechless after hearing that sentence.

As Duan Xingchen said, he didn't know the answer to that question at all, nor did he know any clues, because everyone related to the clues was no longer in this world.

That question... also remains unanswered.

Unfortunately, Duan Xingchen had been pursuing that answer for far too long; she had been thinking about it and searching for clues for a very, very long time…

That gambling den was her only hope.

"Let her go."

The old man's voice echoed once again in the council hall.

An aged figure appeared before everyone. Yun Ping raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "As expected, this old guy still came out."

The Holy Jade Black Gold, or rather, the sect leader of the Holy Feather Sect, looked at Duan Xingchen with a kind smile, his eyes filled with deep and complex emotions.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the two members of the Duan family immediately knelt down to pay their respects, but Shengjie Xuanjin, noticing this, immediately stopped them.

"No need for formalities, please rise."

Duan Xingyao pursed his lips with a complicated expression, then slowly straightened his back. "Yes... Sect Master."

Saintly Xuanjin turned his head and fixed his gaze on Duan Xingchen. At this moment, he seemed to be Duan Xingchen's ancestor, and a warm and gentle smile gradually filled his eyebrows.

He slowly sat down and beckoned to Duan Xingchen, who was startled, then walked over shyly and sat on the arm of the chair.

"Xingchen, you've always wanted to know the answer to that question, I'm sorry?"

His calloused left hand stroked Duan Xingchen's delicate cheek, and his holy, profound tone was so gentle that it was almost unlike that of a sect leader.

Duan Xingchen reached out and grasped the old man's hand, feeling the warmth emanating from it, and nodded resolutely: "Mm..."

"Then go ahead, you're all grown up now, you should know..."

“But Sect Master…” Duan Xingyao grabbed Duan Xingchen’s hand, his face full of worry, “The Chaos City is far too dangerous. Would it be…”

"fine."

Saintly Xuanjin waved his hand, his meaningful gaze falling on the white-robed youth in the council hall, who immediately rolled his eyes at Saintly Xuanjin.

A rather sinister smile bloomed on his aged face—

"Isn't he still here? He'll protect Xingchen."

"he?"

Duan Xingyao gasped, his sharp gaze sweeping over Yun Ping as if trying to gauge what made this young man so remarkable.

No matter how he looked at it, Yunping didn't seem like someone who could protect Duan Xingchen.

Seeing the fleeting hint of defiance on Duan Xingyao's face, the Holy Jade Golden Sage smiled mysteriously and said calmly, "Little Xingyao, there are too many people in this world. There are always people better than you, and there are always higher heavens beyond heavens. What you see is sometimes just the tip of the iceberg."

"metropolitan……"

"Alright, no need for further words." Saintly Xuanjin interrupted Duan Xingyao. "Let Xingchen go. This was Xingchen's wish all along."

Duan Xingyao took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "If we really have to go, I want to go too."

"Star Glory! Stop fooling around!"

A hint of anger appeared on the holy black face. He shouted in a deep voice, his voice as surging and powerful as the ocean waves.

Duan Xingyao couldn't understand why the sect leader would suddenly get angry, but under the pressure of this anger, he had no choice but to swallow the rest of his words.

Duan Xingchen was also startled by the angry shout, but before he could recover, the Holy Black Gold returned to its usual kind smile.

"Alright, Xingchen, this is also a trial for you. I can protect you for many days, but I can't protect you for a lifetime. You will eventually leave me."

As he said this, no one noticed the faint glimmer of sadness in his holy, dark golden eyes.

Duan Xingchen nodded as if he understood, but not quite. Indeed, he might become the sect leader of the Holy Feather Sect in the future, so going out to train early was also a way to improve himself.

She didn't think about the word "leave" that deeply.

"And remember to take care of yourself this time you go out. If you have any trouble, just leave it to that brat over there."

The holy black gold pointed at Yun Ping, who pursed his lips and helplessly spread his hands, indicating that he had nothing to say.

After all, it was something an old friend had asked him to do, so even if Yunping wasn't happy about it, he would still do his best to do it.

"And..." Saintly Xuanjin reached out to stroke Duan Xingchen's soft, golden hair, "Remember the cultivation techniques I taught you, and your Saintly Body. Don't neglect your cultivation..."

"Xingchen understands..."

Duan Xingchen nodded, a look of doubt appearing in her eyes—she felt something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Okay, that's all I can say."

Saintly Xuanjin smiled and waved his hand, "Star, I'll trouble you to take them to see the carriages later. Chaos City isn't far from us; we can just take a carriage there."

"Ah."

Duan Xingchen nodded obediently and walked down the steps of the council hall.

"Shall we go now?"

Yunping gave his old friend a meaningful look, and then asked the question in a very relaxed manner.

"Please take care of Xingchen."

Yunping chuckled, "I'm only taking care of you for a while. I'll return this burden to you in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Duan Xingchen became displeased again, "I'm not a burden, please watch your words!"

Yunping smiled but did not answer.

Saintly Black Gold smiled but also did not answer.

"Alright, let's go."

Duan Xingchen glared at Yun Ping with annoyance and walked briskly out of the council hall.

Yun Ping shrugged and led Ye Yuchan and Zhang Ruoxue away from the council hall.

To him, she was just another girl. As long as he cared a little, those guys in Chaos City probably wouldn't make a move on her.

Therefore, he didn't feel much pressure regarding the request from the Holy Mystic Gold.

Watching Duan Xingchen's retreating figure, Duan Xingyao gritted his teeth and reluctantly turned to the old man beside him.

"Sect Master, why..."

"She has the right to know the answer to that question..."

Duan Xingyao frowned. "Sect Master, do you know Xingchen's..."

The mystery surrounding Duan Xingchen has been a source of great distress for her for a long time. She has even nearly suffered a qi deviation during many cultivation sessions because of it. If it weren't for the Holy Profound Gold helping her on numerous occasions, Duan Xingchen probably wouldn't be alive today.

During a breakthrough, a cultivator must maintain a clear and tranquil mind; otherwise, some unknown and terrifying changes may occur.

Faced with Duan Xingyao's question, the Holy Profound Gold paused for a moment—

“I don’t know.” Saintly Xuanjin shook her head. “But the people in that gambling den must know. So many years have passed, it’s time for her to solve that mystery.”

"Besides..."

He stopped there and didn't continue.

Duan Xingyao was a little confused, so he asked, "Besides what?"

……

Saintly Xuanjin looked at Duan Xingyao, slightly opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just sighed.

"No, it's nothing."