"No wonder the Sect Master first allowed Chu Feng to enter the Dragon's Den, but then intervened to help."
"This subordinate previously thought…"
"You thought that I intended to eliminate Chu Feng?" Shangguan Huangquan asked.
"Uh… that…" Sikong Changsheng did not dare answer.
"Your concern is understandable."
"Actually, had he refused to join the Ancestral Martial Sect, I myself do not know whether I would have continued to value his talent."
Shangguan Huangquan said.
"Sect Master, then that Spirit's inheritance?"
Sikong Changsheng asked again.
"Mm. That was something I personally bestowed upon Chu Feng's Spirit."
As Shangguan Huangquan spoke, she looked in Egg's direction.
Egg was completely unaware, but Shangguan Huangquan could see clearly.
The aura swirling around Egg had almost entirely merged into Egg's body.
However, the power circling around Chu Feng was still lingering.
"Oh? So you made that choice?"
"As expected — a truly rare and wonderful Spirit in this world."
"Since that is the case, I shall grant your wish."
As Shangguan Huangquan spoke, she closed her eyes and formed hand seals.
Sikong Changsheng, meanwhile, watched with a look of unease.
He noticed that as Shangguan Huangquan channeled her power once more, the cracks on the seven-colored gemstone on her forehead grew even more numerous.
Even Shangguan Huangquan's body had begun to grow translucent.
This time, it was likely no disguise on her part — she had truly reached her limit and could no longer sustain herself.
After a moment, Shangguan Huangquan released the seals. By now, the seven-colored gemstone on her forehead was completely covered in cracks.
Her body had become entirely ethereal, drifting with the wind as though it could scatter at any moment.
"It seems the time has come for me to leave."
Shangguan Huangquan sighed upon observing her own condition, then turned to look at Sikong Changsheng.
"Why are you crying? It is not as though I am dead. I am doing perfectly well in the Ninth Heavenly River."
It turned out Sikong Changsheng had been wiping away tears.
"This subordinate does not know when he will be able to see the Sect Master again."
Sikong Changsheng said.
"Enough, enough. We will meet again."
"First, use the remnant consciousness of the True Dragon to heal your injuries and strengthen your bloodline."
"With your talent, you will accomplish great things in the Ninth Heavenly River as well."
Shangguan Huangquan comforted him.
"This subordinate will not fail the Sect Master's expectations."
Sikong Changsheng replied, but tears continued to fall from his eyes nonetheless.
Seeing him like this, Shangguan Huangquan did not press further. Instead, she turned her gaze into the distance.
"Allow me one final, good look at this Martial Cultivation World."
In that instant, her eyes underwent a dramatic transformation.
They seemed capable of containing the boundless starry sky — the entire Martial Cultivation World fell within her gaze.
And the direction she was observing was, in truth, quite close.
It was the Ancestral Martial Heavenly River.
It was the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect.
But upon looking, surprise flickered through her eyes, and her heart was deeply shaken.
She thought to herself: "Even now, I still cannot see through it?"
"Who exactly founded this mysterious sect?"
…
Meanwhile, deep within the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect.
A colossal dragon phantom awoke — Lord Long Xie.
"That little girl Shangguan Huangquan has actually cultivated to this level."
"If she continues like this, catching up to me is only a matter of time."
"In that case, she does have the qualifications to compete with my Crouching Dragon Martial Sect for disciples."
With that, a faint arc curled at the corner of Lord Long Xie's mouth before he closed his eyes once more.
As for Lord Long Xie's observation, Shangguan Huangquan was completely unaware.
She had already turned her gaze in another direction.