Chapter 156: The Strange White Waterfall

Amidst the crowd, only a single youth stood completely expressionless.

"Long'er, your trip to the mystic realm was a narrow escape from death. Did you gain anything?"

The youth was named Bai Long, a scion of the reclusive Bai family clan.

"No."

Bai Long replied with extreme coldness.

The middle-aged man standing before him frowned slightly.

"Long'er, the prodigies of the various clans are all willing to stay by Xia Jiuxuan's side. What are your intentions?" the middle-aged man inquired.

Bai Long raised his head, his gaze piercing through the crowd and landing on Xia Jiuxuan.

His pupils constricted momentarily, a flicker of fear flashing across his eyes.

"I am not staying," Bai Long said decisively, withdrawing his gaze.

"Why is that?"

The middle-aged man looked puzzled.

"The prodigies of the other clans are willing to defy their elders just to stay behind. Why are you unwilling?"

Bai Long's body trembled slightly, and a mist of blood flashed within his icy pupils: "Going home is better."

A inexplicable chill gripped the middle-aged man. "Long'er, did something traumatic happen to you in the mystic realm? Why do you seem like a completely different person?"

The icy expression on Bai Long's face vanished instantly, replaced by a smile. "I am just a bit tired. Father is overthinking."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man pressed no further.

After all, most of the clan prodigies who entered the mystic realm this time had perished within.

For Bai Long to escape with his life from the jaws of death was already supreme fortune.

"Very well, Father supports you. Let us go home."

The middle-aged man patted Bai Long's shoulder, but a deep sense of disgust welled up in the depths of Bai Long's heart.

Subsequently, the middle-aged man walked over to Xia Jiuxuan.

"Young Friend Xia, my boy Long'er is feeling unwell and needs to return home to recuperate, so he cannot remain in the Immortal Martial Kingdom. My apologies."

The middle-aged man presented a spiritual ginseng to Xia Jiuxuan as a token of gratitude.

"Please do as you wish."

Xia Jiuxuan nodded slightly.

Anyone who wished to leave was free to do so; he would not deliberately obstruct them.

At that moment, a youth on good terms with Bai Long walked over.

"Bai Long, are you a fool? Following Big Brother Xia is such a wonderful opportunity! Who knows, we might even receive guidance and make our strength soar by leaps and bounds!" The youth tried to persuade Bai Long to stay.

"It has nothing to do with me," Bai Long replied coldly.

The youth laughed and punched Bai Long's shoulder playfully. "You brat, what on earth is wrong with you? Why do you feel so strange?"

Ever since emerging from the mystic realm, the youth had felt that Bai Long was acting weird. He spoke very little, refused to participate in anything proactively, and always cowered behind the others, lost in unknown thoughts.

"Cut the nonsense."

Bai Long merely cast a cold glance at him and turned to walk away.

"Sigh, this guy."

The youth sighed as he looked at the suddenly unfamiliar retreating figure.

"Everyone, farewell. I shall take my leave first."

Several elders of the Bai family, along with Bai Long, prepared to depart.

Xia Jiuxuan's gaze lingered intentionally or unintentionally on the retreating figure of the youth.

He, too, felt that this youth was somewhat peculiar, yet he could not quite pinpoint where the strangeness lay.

Immediately afterward, he swept his spiritual sense across the youth, detecting no abnormalities whatsoever.

Meanwhile, Bai Long, with his back turned to the crowd, had a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead.

Only when he felt that probing spiritual sense withdraw did he regain his composure.

Xia Jiuxuan shook his head internally and ceased paying attention to Bai Long.

Before long, people from the various reclusive family clans successively took their leave.

"Big Brother, I wonder if we will have the chance to become as formidable as Brother Mo?"

"Indeed, Big Brother, impart some guidance to us! In the future, whenever trouble arises, you won't even need to make a move—we brothers will surely sweep away all obstacles for you."

Everyone looked at Xia Jiuxuan with eyes full of anticipation.

"What is the rush?"

Xia Jiuxuan murmured thoughtfully.

"Your aptitudes are all quite decent. I will grant you appropriate guidance, but not right now."

With that, Xia Jiuxuan turned to Han Yu. "Han Yu, arrange quarters for them. Anywhere within the Taixuan Academy is fine."

"Understood, Teacher."

Han Yu bowed deeply and led the group toward the rear of the academy.

Shortly after, Xia Jiuxuan's divine will surged, and utilizing advanced artifact-crafting techniques, he began to repair the spiritual artifact residence.

Roughly an hour later, the restoration of the mansion was complete.

Inside the spiritual artifact residence:

"Luoyan, I brought something wonderful back for you."

Inside the room, after settling the deeply slumbering Xia Ran, Xia Jiuxuan spoke.

"What is it?" Li Luoyan felt a surge of anticipation.

"Look!"

With a thought from Xia Jiuxuan, a single drop of imperial blood materialized before Li Luoyan.

"This is?" Li Luoyan could not comprehend it.

"Try examining it with your spiritual sense," Xia Jiuxuan instructed.

"Mhm!"

Li Luoyan nodded softly, releasing her spiritual sense and merging it into that drop of imperial blood.

Hum.

Within her mind, a tumultuous river of blood seemed to surge forth.

Above that blood river drifted the figure of an peerless young man.

He wielded a long sword, his gaze ice-cold, seemingly staring right down at her.

"What a terrifying aura!"

Li Luoyan felt that if this youth truly existed, even she at her absolute peak would find it difficult to withstand a fraction of his power.

"This is imperial blood—essence blood left behind by a Sword Emperor."

Seeing the look of lingering fear on Li Luoyan's face, Xia Jiuxuan explained softly.

"Sword Emperor's essence blood?"

Li Luoyan expressed utter astonishment.

She herself had formerly been a Sword Emperor.

She knew very well that the realm of a Sword Emperor could never possess such terrifying might.

Before she could voice her question, Xia Jiuxuan took the initiative to speak: "Of course, this Sword Emperor is different from the Sword Emperor you understand. He is a Sword Emperor from the great myriad worlds!"

"No wonder the sword qi is so formidable."

Li Luoyan finally understood.

"However, Young Master, the power contained within this blood is too immense; I am afraid I cannot refine it."

It was not that Li Luoyan could not refine it; rather, she simply dared not attempt it.

A single misstep would cause the meridians throughout her entire body to burst, resulting in death.

"Who told you to refine it?"

Xia Jiuxuan smiled.

"I will guide this drop of essence blood into your sword core, allowing its power to permeate your body gradually."

Li Luoyan was astonished. Such potent essence blood could actually be integrated into a sword core? The Young Master's methods were truly formidable.

"Young Master, if that is the case... will my sword core be able to recover to its original state?"

Deep excitement and boundless anticipation stirred within Li Luoyan.

"Of course it will recover, though the process will be somewhat slow."

Xia Jiuxuan nodded, then continued, "I will also pass down to you a sword technique for condensing the sword soul. You must enter seclusion and practice it with utmost dedication. In no more than three years, you will be able to forge an imperial-grade sword soul and recover your former strength."

"Ah!"

Li Luoyan cried out in pleasant surprise, lunging forward to embrace Xia Jiuxuan.

"Thank you, Young Master!"

At this moment, her overwhelming excitement was beyond words.

Hunted down and driven into this world, she had been suppressed by the world's laws for a full hundred years.

Had she not met the Young Master, she would have remained forever trapped in loneliness and torment, with no hope of redemption!

Now, not only had she regained her freedom, but she also had the prospect of returning to her peak.

How could she not be overjoyed?

"Alright, focus on your cultivation from now on. I shall still need to rely on you for a time."

Xia Jiuxuan gently pushed Li Luoyan away.

"Yes! I will willingly brave fire and water for the Young Master!"

Li Luoyan said with profound gratitude.

Xia Jiuxuan nodded, then used a secret art to guide the imperial blood directly into Li Luoyan's sword core.

Shortly after, he transmitted a soul-condensing sword manual straight into Li Luoyan's mind.

"Go on. Dedicate yourself to seclusion during this period."

Li Luoyan nodded heavily and stepped into the secret chamber.