Chapter 377

Chapter 377: Killing Intent

Zhou Luo detected something off about the other’s state and chose to take the initiative.

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Zhi Xuan froze for a moment, then revealed a bitter smile.

"Senior Immortal, your insight is truly vast. It’s actually nothing major."

"It’s just… when I entered the sect, I was already quite old. Although I won my master’s favor, the Senior Brothers within the sect weren’t fully convinced by me."

He hadn’t obtained the chance to enter an Immortal Sect until he was forty years old, setting foot on the path of cultivation.

For a cultivator, this was far too late.

If it were anyone else, even possessing Second Grade Spiritual Roots, they likely wouldn’t have been accepted as a disciple.

Therefore, after Zhao Zhi Xuan entered the sect, those Senior Brothers younger than him felt somewhat dismissive, even looking down on him.

This was only natural.

Where there are people, there is competition.

If one takes on too many disciples, they inevitably cannot pay full attention to each.

In such times, the disciples must strive to stand out, displaying their talents to catch their master’s eye.

So, in the eyes of the other disciples, Zhao Zhi Xuan, this "older" cultivator, was nothing but an obstacle, naturally leading to their cold attitude.

Zhao Zhi Xuan was well aware of this. He became anxious and indecisive, deeply troubled.

Understanding this, Zhou Luo had already guessed the gist. He gazed at the mist-veiled scene before him and remarked calmly, "You feel sorrow over this? I am too disappointed in you."

He deliberately emphasized the last phrase.

Such matters ultimately depended on the individual, not on relying on others.

If he lacked resolve himself, any words would be meaningless.

These words made Zhao Zhi Xuan flush red, overwhelmed by shame.

His head bowed, his tone humble, he said, "I am sorry. I have failed Senior Immortal’s expectations."

"I have no expectations for you." Zhou Luo’s voice turned icy, and he subtly released a trace of pressure.

Zhao Zhi Xuan violently shuddered, feeling an immense heaviness pressing down, forcing him to grit his teeth hard.

"You have failed the expectations of those who truly valued you—such as your master."

"When you had missed the prime opportunity for practice, your master still chose to let you enter the Immortal Gate. That shows he held expectations for you."

"If you remain in this state, then that is failing his expectations."

"The path of cultivation has never been about the journey. Only the outcome holds truth."

"No one cares how your journey unfolds. As long as you grow strong, they will show you respect. They will show you awe."

Zhou Luo’s voice, imbued with spiritual energy, made each word ring out, sharp and piercing.

It caused Zhao Zhi Xuan’s heart to tremble.

Any rational person could comprehend Zhou Luo’s words.

After this guidance, the tangled knots in Zhao Zhi Xuan’s heart gradually loosened. Though still troubled, he felt he had grasped at least some measure of clarity.

His so-called inner turmoil actually stemmed from deep-seated inferiority.

It was precisely this inferiority complex that made him consider giving up whenever challenges arose.

What Zhou Luo tried to make him understand first was that no one else could help him, and that this so-called inferiority meant nothing in others’ eyes.

Nobody except himself was his audience.

"Immortal Senior, I understand." Zhao Zhi Xuan lifted his head, gaze firm as he spoke these words.

Enlightenment dawned within him, and his previously despondent will gradually revived.

As he uttered this declaration, the scene before him twisted and distorted once more.

The second trial of the illusion formation had passed.

Outside, Shangguan Qianxue was still restraining her Senior Brother.

She noticed that after touching the tombstone, Zhou Luo stood utterly motionless, like a wooden stake.

Clearly, he had fallen under the formation’s influence.

But earlier, when Senior Brother tried to break the formation, he was immediately countered by safeguard measures left by that Golden Core master.

Why then, was Zhou Luo unaffected?

Could he truly possess a way to dismantle the formation?

Shangguan Qianxue’s thoughts raced wildly.

She had already considered Zhou Luo prudent and astute.

Witnessing his apparent immunity strengthened her conviction further.

As time trickled by, the frenzied aura radiating from Song Zhan gradually dissipated.

The formation’s master sought only to warn intruders—deep inside, he still hoped to find a worthy heir. Thus, no lethal force was employed.

As the intoxicating effect faded, Song Zhan slowly regained consciousness.

"Junior Sister?"

Song Zhan stared at Shangguan Qianxue, poised defensively before him, and called out in bewilderment.

"Senior Brother, you’re finally alert."

Shangguan Qianxue breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Containing him had drained a great deal of her spiritual power.

"What happened?" Song Zhan wore a dazed expression.

He only recalled preparing to dismantle the formation with the formation disk in hand when suddenly, a dense, brilliant radiance engulfed his entire body.

The next moment he was aware of anything, consciousness had abandoned him.

Shangguan Qianxue stood her ground and recounted the events that transpired.

Only after listening to her explanation did a wave of chilling fear grip Song Zhan’s heart.

He hadn’t realized he had succumbed to such dangerous manipulations, almost losing himself forever.

Thankfully, the formation’s wielder had shown mercy, combined with his Junior Sister’s intervention.

Otherwise, recovery might have been impossible.

"He is Zhou Luo?"

Coming fully to his senses, Song Zhan now eyed the man standing utterly motionless before the tombstone.

Previously oblivious to his identity, Song Zhan had assumed he was merely some helper Long Yunshuang recruited casually.

He hadn’t expected it to be Zhou Luo.

Within the Qinyuan Sect, Zhou Luo’s name had sparked considerable talk once.

One reason was, naturally, his immense luck. Defying his Ninth Grade spirit root, he achieved Foundation Establishment and later rose as a second level Pill Master.

The other reason centered on the remarkably talented offspring he fathered.

Whether it was the earlier Zhou Chang Le and Zhou Shiling, or the later sudden rising star Zhou Changqing, each shone brilliantly within the Immortal Sect.

Thus, people naturally knew about their father.

Learning this man was the father of their junior brother did nothing to foster kinship in Song Zhan. Instead, his expression turned serious as he stated, "If he obtains that spiritual artifact and eventually hands it over to Master Zi Yun, our master will surely punish us severely."

The Master Zi Yun he referred to was the master of Zhou Chang Le.

Their own master belonged to a different faction, locked in competition with Master Zi Yun.

Originally, Zhou Changqing was slated to study under Master Zi Yun.

It was only after their master argued persuasively and leveraged his status as a Pill Master that he managed to secure Zhou Changqing as his own disciple.

Once accepted, he immediately placed him in Closed-Door Training, terrified of rivals stealing him away.

If Zhou Luo acquired that spiritual artifact, he would likely gift it to his children.

Compared to favoring their own faction, the chances of him giving it to Master Zi Yun’s faction seemed far higher.

Shangguan Qianxue’s beautiful eyes flickered slightly; she understood these intricacies perfectly. Her voice lowered as she murmured, "He might not necessarily obtain it."

"Our master has always said: rather kill wrongly than let go."

Song Zhan grasped a snow-white greatsword, his voice chillingly cold. A layer of murderous intent surfaced in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Luo.

If this threat were eliminated somewhere unknown, no one would ever discover what truly happened here.