Chapter 180 – Return to Mo City Pavilion, Comprehension of Nascent Soul Shards

“Hmm?”

Li Shuxian slightly furrowed her brows, glancing at Fang Jue—but she quickly understood.

Right.

Yu Xian was not her disciple, nor did he have any particular relation to her.

He had only come with her because Fang Jue had given his tacit approval.

Now that Fang Jue was returning to Mo City and taking Yu Xian along to save him the trouble of a detour—there was nothing improper about it.

But Li Shuxian… just felt a little displeased.

It was as if her own disciple was being ordered around and taken away by someone else. That kind of displeasure.

Her beautiful eyes shifted slightly, and she looked toward Yu Xian and said mildly, “Yu Xian, are you going back with Fellow Daoist Fang? Or would you rather return with me?”

Her voice was calm, but within her gaze was a trace of… expectation.

If Yu Xian was willing to go with her, she might truly consider accepting him as a disciple—passing on her Dao, guiding his cultivation, nurturing him to greatness.

After all, she really had developed quite a fondness for this youth.

Fang Jue’s expression shifted subtly. The look he gave Li Shuxian carried a hint of something unreadable.

But he said nothing to interrupt.

Yu Xian looked at Li Shuxian, bowed respectfully, and said, “Many thanks for your care, Senior. But since Senior Fang is heading back and willing to bring me along, I’ll just travel with him so as not to trouble you further.”

He didn’t want to get further entangled with Li Shuxian.

She had brought him to this place and allowed him to acquire four Nascent Soul fragments—a great fortune.

But he had also done everything he could to refine the Six Harmony Fragrance Powder for her.

He owed her nothing.

If he were to return with her and receive any more “special treatment,” things would only get more complicated and difficult to resolve.

Li Shuxian’s expression froze. That trace of expectation vanished instantly—replaced by disappointment, then indifference.

She gave Yu Xian a final glance, said nothing more, and stepped forward, mounting her rainbow light to vanish into the distance.

Fang Jue, however, revealed a faint smile.

His face was still pale—clearly still injured from the array being forcibly broken by Mo Yao.

But the damage hadn’t affected his foundation. With his golden flesh and jade bones, and being a Golden Core expert, his injuries would recover fully within a few days.

“Well then, let us be on our way,” he said softly.

With a flick of his hand, his folding fan treasure expanded in the wind, becoming several zhang wide.

He flew up first and sat cross-legged.

Yu Xian naturally followed, leaping onto the fan and sitting in meditation.

Mo Yao pouted, visibly annoyed—she still believed she was right, and the others were in the wrong for scolding her!

It wasn’t until Fang Jue gave her a glare that she reluctantly got on the fan, plopping down with a humph.

What else could Fang Jue do? He could only sigh inwardly.

Once back, he would have to speak seriously with his master. This girl couldn’t be spoiled any further—if she kept this up, she’d bring disaster sooner or later.

With a flick, the treasured fan soared through the skies toward distant Mo City.

The journey was silent.

Due to Fang Jue’s injuries, their speed was noticeably slower than when they came.

After a day’s flight, Mo City was still hundreds of thousands of li away—they’d need at least half a day more.

Mo Yao, after a day of reflection, seemed to finally realize her mistake.

She had let a monstrous creature go—who knew what havoc it might wreak in the future?

Scooting closer to Fang Jue, she said softly, “Uncle Fang… was I wrong?”

Fang Jue sighed and turned to her. “Mo Yao, you’re nearly eighteen. It’s time to grow up. You can’t just do whatever you like. In this matter, you made a grave mistake.”

“Oh…”

Mo Yao lowered her head, ashamed.

“And you even used the treasure talisman that our master crafted for you with great effort—that was meant to save your life, not to save a demon. You’re too soft-hearted. Kindness needs limits.”

Fang Jue sighed again, heart aching at the waste.

That was a Nascent Soul talisman!

Mo Yao muttered, “It’s just one talisman… I’ll have Grandpa make another… I already know I was wrong. Don’t tell him, okay? I don’t want to be grounded…”

“Just one talisman…”

Fang Jue twitched.

Neither he nor his two senior brothers had one of those!

Such talismans were formed by forcibly sealing a full-blown Nascent Soul spell—something immensely difficult to do, even for Nascent Soul cultivators.

Why would someone go to such trouble and cost, except out of immense love and fear for her safety?

He was trembling with cold fury.

“Uncle Fang? Are you okay? Are your wounds acting up? Why are you shaking?”

Mo Yao’s concerned words only made things worse.

“I’ll ask Grandpa for some good stuff to make it up to you, okay?”

“You… mmm…”

Fang Jue’s body shuddered violently. It felt as if something slammed into his chest—his face turned pale!

He swallowed back blood, but a thin trickle still emerged from the corner of his mouth.

“Uncle Fang! You’re bleeding again! I’m sorry! You must be badly hurt! Please don’t be mad!”

“Shut up…”

He was seeing stars.

He’d survived countless life-and-death crises over the years, but today… was this brat going to drive him to death?

“Okay…”

Seeing him pale and trembling, Mo Yao finally quieted down and sat down to cultivate.

Fang Jue calmed himself with pills and breathing techniques.

Before Mo Yao could speak again, he quickly said, “If you bother me again, I’ll tell Master and make sure you’re punished! Sit quietly and don’t speak until we get back!”

He had to protect his own life. He was an old man, after all—he couldn’t take this kind of stress.

Mo Yao beamed. “You said it! No take-backs!”

She obediently moved away, sat down, and began cultivating.

Fang Jue exhaled in relief. Fighting an enemy felt easier than dealing with this niece.

Half a day later, the silhouette of Mo City appeared ahead.

Soon, the three descended and entered the city.

Fang Jue wanted nothing more than to return to Golden Scale Pavilion to heal—and prepare an absurdly expensive compensation package to appease a few furious Golden Core cultivators.

Yu Xian, likewise, wanted to return to continue learning artifact crafting from Yue Pingfeng.

Mo Yao, however, dragged her feet. She dreaded her grandfather’s wrath and likely punishment.

In the end, she was still pulled along.

Yu Xian finally returned to Golden Scale Pavilion with relief.

After buying many third-rank refining materials at the Spirit Tower, he went back to Yue Pingfeng’s crafting room.

He knocked softly, not saying a word.

A voice called out, “Who is it?”

Yu Xian replied, “Big Brother, I’m back.”

The door flew open. Yue Pingfeng stood there with joy on his face. “So soon!?”

Yu Xian smiled, “It wasn’t too serious. I just went for a spin and came back.”

“Come in, come in!”

They entered and Yu Xian recounted the events of the past few days.

Yue Pingfeng’s eyes lit up. “Little Brother, you may have missed a major opportunity. That Golden Core expert likely wanted to take you as a disciple.”

Yu Xian just smiled and shook his head. “Please, Big Brother. I’m just an ordinary cultivator. And I already have a master—one is enough for me.”

Yue Pingfeng paused, then nodded in understanding. “You… really are something.”

Then Yu Xian held up two glowing shards. “Big Brother, these are Nascent Soul fragments. I want you to study them—they might help with your breakthrough.”

“What?!”

Yue Pingfeng was stunned. “This… you worked so hard to get them. You should keep them for yourself! They’re vital for breakthroughs—you’ll need them later!”

“Big Brother!”

Yu Xian stepped forward, voice firm. “I got four in total. These two are for you. We each take two—it’s only fair. If you really consider me a brother, then take them!”

Yue Pingfeng trembled, his eyes misting slightly.

This was Nascent Soul essence—no cultivator would willingly give that up.

But Yu Xian just… shared them.

“Fine,” he said at last, clenching the fragments.

Yu Xian smiled. “Cultivate well. When you break through, that will be a true celebration.”

Yue Pingfeng nodded solemnly. “Everything depends on fate. But now that you’re back, I’ll resume teaching you refining starting tomorrow. Rest tonight.”

“Of course,” Yu Xian grinned. “I’ve been looking forward to learning more.”

Yu Xian returned to his spot and sat cross-legged.

Yue Pingfeng, overwhelmed with emotion, went into the inner room to study the fragments.

Yu Xian smiled faintly, his hand lifting.

In his palm—another Nascent Soul shard.

Of the four he’d obtained, two were large, two were small.

He gave Yue one of each—keeping a balanced share.

Truthfully, Yue needed them more. He’d been stuck at peak Foundation Establishment for years.

But giving all four? That would have shown Yue was greedy. This way, their bond stayed clean.

With a sigh, Yu Xian placed the shard to his brow.

He closed his eyes.

And what he saw… was awe-inspiring.

The Ten Thousand Barbarian Mountains stretched before him in breathtaking majesty!

At that moment, the elm tree in his chest glowed brightly.

He became a towering tree—several dozen zhang tall, like a pillar of heaven.

The sky grew dark. Thunderclouds gathered. Lightning brewed.

A heavenly tribulation!

The pressure was terrifying—making even his soul tremble.

The giant tree shook, glowing green, roaring silently: Why must I die? What wrong have I done?!

But the heavenly lightning gathered and formed into a massive thunder dragon that descended from the sky!

“I also have thunder!”

Yu Xian roared in defiance.

“Divine Lightning of the Three Treasures!”

Thunder surged from him. Azure arcs danced wildly.

From the core of his tree-form, an azure dragon formed—Eastern Wood Azure Dragon, the ultimate embodiment of wood element lightning.

Kill!

He roared, his branches flailing as the azure dragon shot upward to meet the heavenly dragon in battle!

Light flashed!

Yu Xian gasped, opening his eyes.

The fragment had dimmed—its power nearly consumed.

His spirit sea expanded—now eleven zhang wide.

He wiped sweat from his brow.

Was it an illusion?

No—it was the shard’s remnant memory.

“Was this shard… left from the tree’s death under heavenly tribulation?”

He took a breath and placed it to his brow once more.

Again, the scene unfolded.

This time, he wasn’t completely immersed.

He studied it calmly—this was the nature of heavenly tribulation.

Grass and tree spirits faced tribulation when achieving sentience, unlike humans.

Thunder laws… perhaps his Divine Lightning could contend against tribulation?

You are the tribulation of all sentient beings?

Then tell me, heavenly tribulation—do you submit or not?

He struck with full power.

But compared to the true might of the heavens—his dragon was laughably small.

Lightning roared down like a divine judgment.

With a shout, Yu Xian opened his eyes again.

The fragment was now gone.

His spirit sea expanded another foot.

“Too real… terrifyingly real.”

He sat in silence for a long while, then brought out the smaller shard.

“I wonder… what part of your life this one holds?”

He placed it to his brow.

And what he saw—was peace.

Birdsong. Spring breeze. Ten Thousand Mountains alive with beauty.

The great tree danced in joy, basking in the sunlight.

Yu Xian smiled slightly.

The elm in his chest shimmered, happily absorbing ambient qi.

Wood has spirit, the mountain has root.

Heaven and earth bear a soul—my Dao shall sprout and flourish.

I am the great Phoenix Tree… and you—what tree are you?