Bai Lianxin listened with serene attentiveness as her disciples recounted the events of the recruitment ceremony. Her exquisite, jade-like features remained largely impassive, a testament to her profound cultivation and immense self-control, a calm surface to the unfathomable depths of a Saint King's power. Yet, Su Chan, whose senses were perhaps subtly, almost preternaturally, sharpened by the nascent, transformative stirrings of his Chaos Divine Body, and whose entire being had been unconsciously attuned over seventeen long years to the most minute, almost imperceptible variations in his master's presence, thought he could detect an infinitesimal shift. When Ye Fan's name was mentioned in connection with his notable performance – particularly his reawakened cultivation aptitude after years of being dismissed as a cripple – it seemed to Su Chan that the usually placid, immeasurable ocean of his master's Saint King aura experienced a fractional tightening, a ripple so subtle it would have been utterly invisible to almost anyone else.
Master is likely just noting the unusual circumstance of Ye Fan's sudden recovery and good performance, Su Chan mused silently, his own expression carefully neutral. Such a turnaround after years of stagnation would naturally draw the keen attention of someone as discerning and responsible for the sect's future as her. His own verbal report, mirroring Fang Xin's, had been meticulously objective, merely stating the observable facts of Ye Fan's success in the trials. The truly sinister, predatory nature of the "resurgent genius," as Su Chan knew it with chilling certainty from his past life's memories of the novel.
When Fang Xin concluded her comprehensive summary, and Su Chan had added his own concise observations, Bai Lianxin gave a slow, deliberate nod. The soft, ambient light permeating the main hall seemed to gather around her ethereal figure, causing her snow-white robes to shimmer with a delicate luminescence, like moonlight captured on freshly fallen snow.
"I understand," she said, her voice, though soft and melodious, carrying an undeniable, intrinsic weight of authority that commanded respect." Her gaze, as clear, profound, and cool as a starlit winter sky, then moved with deliberate grace from one disciple to another, a silent, almost imperceptible assessment in their depths.
"Fang Xin," she began, her eyes resting on her eldest and most accomplished disciple, "your Nascent Soul foundation is commendably stable, your aura has become more consolidated, more refined. You are nearing the absolute peak of the Nascent Soul realm. Do not allow impatience to cloud your judgment when approaching your breakthrough to Soul Transformation; ensure every aspect of your foundation, every thread of your understanding, is perfect.
Fang Xin bowed with deep respect, her demeanor one of earnest acceptance. "Yes, Master. This disciple understands your counsel and will cultivate with utmost diligence and patience."
Bai Lianxin then turned her serene gaze to Ning Youxi. "Ning Youxi," she began, her voice retaining its melodious quality, "your innate connection to spiritual energy is clearly exceptional, and it continues to subtly yet profoundly harmonize with your cultivation. Your progress through the Nascent Soul realm is commendable, a testament to your natural gifts. Continue to focus on nurturing this inherent potential and understanding the unique flow of energy within you." Bai Lianxin's words were carefully chosen. As a diary reader, she knew about Ning Youxi's Primordial Yin-Yang Body and the dormant bloodline.
However, she could not reveal this knowledge directly, especially not in front of Su Chan. Her guidance, therefore, was phrased to encourage Ning Youxi based on the observable excellence of her cultivation and the unique feel of her spiritual energy, which would naturally be present due to her , even if its precise nature was meant to be concealed from ordinary perception.
Ning Youxi's cheeks colored faintly under her master's direct, appraising gaze. She, too, was now aware of her "Primordial Yin-Yang Body" from Su Chan's diary. Hearing her master allude to her "exceptional innate connection" and "unique flow of energy" felt like a veiled acknowledgment, a subtle encouragement that resonated deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Master. This disciple will not be lax in her efforts and will strive to comprehend the mysteries of her cultivation."
Her gaze, calm and assessing, then fell upon Lin Ruo'er. "Lin Ruo'er, your Core Formation is vibrant, you focus on you cultivation.
Lin Ruo'er beamed, her cute face alight with an infectious, earnest determination. "Yes, Master! I will work super, super hard!
Finally, Bai Lianxin's eyes, now carrying a distinctly softer, almost gentle luminescence, settled on Su Chan. "Su Chan," she said, her voice losing a fraction of its ethereal coolness, imbued now with a quiet, palpable concern that tugged unexpectedly at his heartstrings. "Your cultivation… it has remained at the peak of the Qi Refining realm for many, many years now. I know this perceived stagnation must weigh heavily upon your spirit."
Su Chan lowered his gaze slightly, a practiced mask of humble acceptance, tinged with a hint of resigned melancholy, settling easily upon his features.
Bai Lianxin continued, her tone gentle yet firm, "You do not have to carry this burden alone, nor should you feel unduly pressured by it. With your sisters and myself here to support you, no one within this Holy Land, or indeed beyond its borders, would dare to take you lightly or show you disrespect simply because of your current cultivation level. You are, and always will be, a True Disciple of my Fairy Peak." Her words were a subtle but unequivocal assertion of her unwavering protection, a clear boundary drawn against the often harsh judgments of the cultivation world. "Perhaps… perhaps this relentless path of intense cultivation, with its constant striving and perilous breakthroughs, is not your true, destined calling. You can enjoy your life here on our peaceful Fairy Peak, pursue other interests that bring you contentment, if you so wish. I will continue, as I always have, to search for heavenly treasures or unique spiritual medicines, items of legend that might, by some fortune, improve your innate cultivation aptitude. Do not despair, my disciple, and more importantly, do not feel you must force what is not meant to be."
Her words, though undoubtedly spoken from a place of genuine, deep care, a sincere desire to alleviate what she perceived as his long-standing burden and disappointment, struck Su Chan with an unexpected, almost jolting force. They saw his years of stagnation, his apparent lack of progress, and their immediate, heartfelt response was… to shield him, to offer him a life of comfortable, protected, unquestioned mediocrity.
Before Su Chan could fully process this and formulate a reply, Fang Xin stepped forward slightly, her usually cool and composed beautiful face now softened with a distinct, undeniable sisterly warmth. "Yes, Junior Brother Su Chan," she affirmed, her voice gentle yet imbued with a fierce, protective firmness. "You truly don't have to worry about your cultivation speed or achievements. Master Bai is here for you, and your sisters, we will always, always protect you. No one will ever be allowed to bully you or make you feel inadequate. You can focus on whatever brings you happiness and peace."
Su Chan looked at Fang Xin, her earnest sincerity shining in her eyes. He then glanced at Ning Youxi and Lin Ruo'er, who were nodding in vehement, heartfelt agreement, their young faces filled with an unreserved, genuine concern and affection for him. He then looked back at his devastatingly beautiful master, Bai Lianxin, whose usually glacial facade had cracked just enough to reveal a rare, almost vulnerable, protective tenderness that was profoundly moving.
His heart, a place that had, since his awakening, become a complex, often turbulent, mixture of ancient memories from another world, cold, hard strategic calculations, and a transmigrator's ingrained caution, was suddenly, unexpectedly, profoundly touched. They didn't mock his lack of progress; they didn't look down upon his perceived limitations. Instead, they offered him unconditional shelter, unwavering support, a solemn promise of unyielding protection. They didn't see him as a failure, a disappointment to Fairy Peak, but as their beloved junior brother, their cherished disciple, someone to be cared for, to be shielded from harm. This genuine, unreserved concern, this fierce desire to protect him from the harsh, often cruel, realities of a world that prized raw strength and rapid advancement above almost all else, was a depth of warmth, a profoundness of feeling, he hadn't fully anticipated. It resonated powerfully within the deepest core of his being, a stark, beautiful contrast to the cold, predatory world depicted in the novel he remembered, and an even starker contrast to the equally cold, calculating mindset he had been deliberately, necessarily, cultivating within himself simply to survive it.
A swirling vortex of emotions rose within him – gratitude so profound it almost brought an uncharacteristic lump to his throat, a sharp, poignant touch of guilt for the immense, world-altering secrets he was currently keeping from these incredibly kind and caring souls, and then, overriding it all, a sudden, fierce, almost explosive surge of renewed, unbending determination. He could not, he would not, let their selfless kindness, their precious faith in him, be in vain. He would not, could not, accept a life of comfortable, protected stagnation, however well-intentioned their offer.
He straightened his shoulders, a new, almost incandescent light igniting in his eyes, a resolve as sharp and unyielding as tempered steel that seemed to burn away his previously feigned, carefully maintained humility. "Master," he said, his voice clear, steady, and surprisingly firm, carrying a conviction that none of them had heard from him before. "Senior Sisters. Your profound concern… your unwavering support… it touches this disciple more deeply than words can ever express. I am truly, immeasurably grateful for your kindness, for your faith in me, for everything." He bowed deeply, a gesture of heartfelt sincerity and respect.
Then, he looked up, his gaze meeting Bai Lianxin's directly, holding it without a trace of his former diffidence. "But please, Master, Senior Sisters, do not worry unduly about my path. I will not disappoint myself, and I swear, I will certainly not disappoint Fairy Peak. I may have appeared stagnant for these many years, but I assure you, I have never truly given up hope. I will strive for cultivation. I will grow stronger." A flicker of his true, unyielding spirit, a spirit forged in the crucible of two lifetimes and now armed with an unimaginable secret, shone through his eyes with an undeniable intensity. "And one day, I promise you, I will bring glory and honor to you, Master, and to my beloved sisters. I will become someone whom you can all truly, unequivocally, be proud of."
With Diary rewards I will become powerful sooner or later thinking in his mind
A moment of profound, charged silence hung in the serene, ethereal hall. Bai Lianxin looked at Su Chan, truly looked at him, and for the first time since he was a foundling child brought to her peak, she saw not just her quiet, unassuming, somewhat unfortunate second disciple, but a young man with a hidden, blazing fire in his eyes, a depth of unwavering resolve, a core of unyielding steel she hadn't perceived before.
A faint, almost breathtakingly beautiful smile, as rare and precious as the first tentative, courageous bloom of a snow lotus pushing through a field of ice after a long, harsh winter, touched Bai Lianxin's lips. "Yes," she said softly, her ethereal voice now laced with a hint of genuine, surprised approval that warmed the very air around them. "That is the indomitable spirit I expect from a disciple of my Fairy Peak. You are indeed my good disciple, Su Chan. Master will be here, waiting with anticipation to witness your promised success."
Fang Xin, who had been watching Su Chan's unexpected, passionate declaration with a mixture of initial surprise that quickly blossomed into a dawning, immense pride, also beamed, her usually cool, composed facade completely melting away into a radiant, heartfelt smile that lit up her entire being. "Yes, Junior Brother Su Chan!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing with an uncharacteristic, open enthusiasm. "We are all waiting for your success! Do not let anyone, ever again, look down on you or our Fairy Peak!" Her fervor was so open, so genuine, so utterly out of character from her usual reserved demeanor that if any outsider who knew her only by her reputation as the cold, aloof, almost unapproachable "Frost Fairy" of Fairy Peak had chanced to witness it, they would have been literally stunned into dumbfounded disbelief, their jaws likely hitting the polished moonwood floor.
Ning Youxi, her earlier shyness and anxieties momentarily forgotten in the face of Su Chan's inspiring conviction, clasped her hands together tightly before her chest, her beautiful eyes shining with a bright, almost worshipful light. "Second Senior Brother, I believe in you with all my heart! You can definitely do it!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a pure, unadulterated sincerity that was incredibly endearing and deeply moving.
Lin Ruo'er, caught up in the infectious, exhilarating wave of optimism and shared determination, bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet. "Yes, Senior Brother Su Chan!" she declared with a happy, unrestrained giggle, conveniently forgetting for a moment that she was the youngest among them. "I'll wait for you to become super, super strong so you can protect all of us big sisters! It'll be amazing!"
The atmosphere in the main hall of Fairy Peak, usually a place of serene, almost sacred, profound quietude, was now filled with a rare, vibrant, harmonious warmth, a genuine, powerful current of familial affection, unwavering support, and shared, hopeful anticipation, all centered around Su Chan's unexpected, heartfelt, and utterly transformative declaration.
In the very midst of this heartwarming, emotionally charged scene, as Su Chan felt the genuine, unconditional support of his master and sisters washing over him like a healing balm, a crisp, urgent, mechanical notification suddenly chimed, unheard and unseen by anyone but him, deep within the silent sanctuary of his sea of consciousness.
Ding! Detected Host's emotional state, amplified by profound external validation and internal resolve, has achieved a critical resonance with the foundational energies of the Chaos Divine Body!
The Chaos Divine Body is now on the verge of complete fusion with the Host!