The news of Chen Xuan and Ayin Qingzhu officially dissolving their marriage had, after spreading for some time, reached all the major super sects across the Eastern Xuan Region.
"Have you heard? Chen Xuan of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace has parted ways with Ayin Qingzhu!"
"No way, isn't Ayin Qingzhu the foremost beauty of the Eastern Xuan Region?"
"Chen Xuan is also the foremost prodigy of the Eastern Xuan Region!"
"Does anyone know why they split up?"
"Who knows? Word is that after Chen Xuan broke through all the way to the Four-Yuan Nirvana Stage in one go at the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, he simply left."
"Brilliant, brilliant! This is the ultimate opportunity to snap up Chen Xuan!"
"Report this to the sect immediately!"
...
The Dao Sect had also received the news.
The masters of the Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang Halls sought out Ying Xuanzi.
Qi Lei, master of the Heaven Hall, took the initiative to volunteer: "Leader, I am willing to represent the Dao Sect and go search for Chen Xuan, inviting him to join the Heaven Hall of the Dao Sect!"
Xia Yan, master of the Earth Hall: "Leader, you should let me go instead. The Earth Hall is the best fit for him."
Zhu Shan, master of the Xuan Hall: "Nonsense! Leader, let me go! Our Xuan Hall is the one truly suited for him!"
Chen Zhen, master of the Huang Hall: "My going is far more appropriate. The Great Desolate Scripture of the Huang Hall is what suits him best!"
Qi Lei: "Old man Chen, you will only ruin a promising youth! My Heaven Hall is the most suitable, and I am the most appropriate person to go!"
Xia Yan: "The Earth Hall is suitable, and I am the only one who should go!"
Zhu Shan: "The Xuan Hall, I'm going!"
Chen Zhen: "We have the Great Desolate Scripture!"
The hall masters of the Dao Sect were arguing so fiercely over a single disciple that their faces turned red and their necks swelled, stopping just short of coming to blows.
Ying Xuanzi interrupted them: "You are all dignified masters of your respective halls. Why are you making such a huge fuss over a single disciple?"
"Leader, haven't you heard? That Chen Xuan actually surged straight from the One-Yuan Nirvana Stage to the Four-Yuan stage in an extraordinarily short span of time!"
Qi Lei didn't see anything improper about this; in fact, he felt it necessary to emphasize just how formidable Chen Xuan was.
Ying Xuanzi's body gave a slight start: "That can't be right. Isn't Chen Xuan a disciple of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace?"
Zhu Shan chimed in first: "That's true, but he dissolved his marriage with Ayin Qingzhu and has already left the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace for quite some time now!"
At this moment, the reasons behind why Chen Xuan and Ayin Qingzhu had parted ways no longer mattered.
The important thing was that he had left the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace!
That meant every single super sect in the Eastern Xuan Region had a chance to win over this once-in-a-millennium prodigy.
Seeing that Ying Xuanzi remained silent, all four of them grew frantic.
Qi Lei couldn't help urging: "Leader, make your decision quickly! If we're too late, he'll likely be snatched up by another sect!"
"Indeed, Leader, this is a matter of the utmost urgency!"
The masters of the other three halls were equally anxious, wishing they could force Ying Xuanzi to make a decision on the spot.
Ying Xuanzi frowned and said, "You needn't worry yourselves over this matter; I will make my own arrangements!"
Qi Lei stared in disbelief: "Leader, what time of day is it, and you're still playing riddles with us?"
Zhu Shan grew frantic: "To break through three consecutive Yuan stages in such a short period of time is simply unheard of!"
Chen Zhen corrected him: "Rubbish! I heard it was from the Half-Step Creation Stage all the way to the Four-Yuan Nirvana Stage within a single month!"
Xia Yan: "Leader!!"
Ying Xuanzi was speechless: "Enough! There is no need for the four of you to go out personally. Just pick one disciple from each hall and send them off!"
Hearing this, the men immediately turned and rushed off to select their disciples, terrified that if they lagged even a step behind, Chen Xuan would be snatched away by another hall!
Similar scenes were continuously playing out across sects such as the Sword Sect, the Myriad Puppet Sect, the Pill Valley, the Divine Sect, the Great Desolate Hall, the Ghost Blade Gate, the Hongya Cave, and the Fire Cloud Sect.
Each had arranged for their respective elite disciples to scour the entire Eastern Xuan Region in search of the vanished Chen Xuan, hoping to bring him into their fold and let their own sect make a dazzling display at the upcoming sect tournament!
...
Meanwhile, the Yuan Gate had also received the news.
To discuss the matter, the elders of the Yuan Gate specially convened an elders' council meeting.
Great Elder Lu Feng stated: "In this old man's opinion, this is merely a trick concocted by the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace to deliberately deceive people."
In his view, Chen Xuan possessed exceptional talent, but even Hua Chen, who had once been the foremost prodigy of their Yuan Gate, along with the Three Little Kings, had never been quite this astonishing back in their day.
Let me ask you this: who in their right mind would simply let such a talented disciple walk out of the sect?
Unless they were out of their minds!
Cheng Pu tilted his head: "Does the Great Elder have any brilliant insights?"
The rest of the company similarly wore attentive expressions, ready to receive his instruction.
"That old hag Qin Xiuqing is simply hoping to watch us fight over her disciple so she can find some amusement." Lu Feng wore the expression of someone who had seen through everything.
The crowd was stunned.
Ah?
Watching us fight over her disciple just for amusement?
Wasn't that sort of hobby... a bit strange?
Wang Su asked: "Great Elder, what if it's true?"
Lu Feng sneered: "True? Do you take Qin Xiuqing for a fool? Would she ever let such a talented disciple go?"
Wang Su: "This..."
Zhao Kui: "Great Elder, I still think we ought to err on the side of caution."
Cheng Pu: "Better to believe it true than to believe it false!"
Lu Feng turned his gaze to the others. "What about the rest of you? Do you share this view?"
Wang Su and Zhao Li offered dry laughs, choosing to withhold their opinions.
Lu Feng understood, a cold flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes.
"Since that's the case, we won't bother worrying about whether it's true or not. We'll simply dispatch a disciple at the Nine-Yuan Nirvana Stage to eliminate him!"
Lu Feng had thought the matter through thoroughly.
No matter what kind of game Qin Xiuqing was playing, since you dared to let Chen Xuan out, very well, I'll send someone to execute him.
You want to hold my Yuan Gate accountable?
I am sorry, but please produce evidence!
No evidence?
My apologies.
Our Yuan Gate is not to be trifled with—until you offer an apology and restitution, this matter is far from over!
Cheng Pu immediately chimed in with flattery: "The Great Elder is truly wise!"
...
Eastern Xuan Region.
Inside the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace.
After taking several days of painstaking effort, Ayin Qingzhu successfully advanced into the Nirvana Stage, specifically the One-Yuan Nirvana Stage, having successfully weathered her first Nirvana tribulation.
Stepping out of her courtyard, Ayin Qingzhu stretched lazily, her captivating curves perfectly outlined by the motion.
In particular, her slender, willow-like waist and rounded, full hips pulled the fabric of her dress into a breathtaking arc that inspired endless imagination.
Even the female disciple standing guard nearby couldn't help drawing a sharp breath.
Senior Sister Qingzhu is so breathtakingly beautiful!
Yet... why on earth did she have to betray Senior Brother Chen Xuan?
He was the foremost prodigy of the Eastern Xuan Region, the one who constantly kept the formidable disciples of the Yuan Gate pressed into the dust with them completely powerless to stop it.
The female disciple simply could not wrap her head around it.
She bit her lower lip, fighting hard to calm the turmoil in her heart.
Ayin Qingzhu seemed to notice her small movements as well.
Without pressing the matter, she merely asked: "Have there been any news of Junior Brother Chen recently?"
Didn't you two dissolve your marriage?
And you're still caring about Senior Brother Chen?
The female disciple desperately wanted to retort, but mindful of the gap in their cultivation, she could only answer respectfully: "Replying to Senior Sister Qingzhu, scouts report that Senior Brother Chen has gone..."
Seeing her hesitate mid-sentence, Ayin Qingzhu furrowed her delicate brows and urged: "Speak!"
The female disciple hesitated for a few seconds before blurting out: "Senior Brother Chen has gone... gone to the Great Yan Empire!"
"What?! Are you certain?"
Hearing this, Ayin Qingzhu's pretty face instantly changed color.
Has he gone there to seek revenge?
No, I must find someone to bring him back!
That is not a place he should go...