"No!"
A cold and resolute voice rang out, leaving no room for argument.
Before Chu Yun could even speak, Murong Nanxian had already beaten him to it.
"Why not?" Huang Shan asked, slightly startled.
"No means no. There is no why," Murong Nanxian said coldly.
"You girl, how can you make decisions on your own and speak for your master?" Assuming Murong Nanxian was Chu Yun's daughter, Huang Shan didn't mind her rudeness; instead, she felt a pang of regret.
Saying such things right in front of the man's daughter was indeed rather inappropriate.
"Xiaoshan, I live at Fallen Dragon Mountain on the north side of Hualong City. If you have time, you are welcome to visit me anytime," Chu Yun said hastily.
"That works too." Huang Shan nodded.
She didn't harbor any improper intentions toward Chu Yun; it was just that the shock of reuniting after all these years had momentarily overwhelmed her, causing her to speak without thinking.
If it were more than a decade ago, she certainly would have held a faint, unspoken fondness for him.
However, ever since that overwhelmingly brilliant woman appeared out of nowhere, any lingering thoughts she had were thoroughly extinguished.
Combined with her father's accidental death, Huang Shan, completely lost and heartbroken, had left the Qingxuan Sect and never returned.
*Sigh. In terms of both appearance and talent, I am far inferior to that woman. In this world, perhaps only that ethereal and untainted fairy is worthy of Master Uncle.*
For a moment, Huang Shan felt a sense of disillusionment.
Murong Nanxian still hadn't lowered her guard. A sharp intuition told her that the woman before her seemed to fancy her master.
*Wait... What does it matter to me whether she likes Master or not?*
Murong Nanxian suddenly snapped back to her senses, unable to fathom why a wave of anger had just surged within her, prompting her to reject Huang Shan's invitation on Chu Yun's behalf so bluntly.
Talking back to an elder in such a manner was actually quite impolite.
*Master has always treated me with care; he shouldn't blame me for this, right?*
Murong Nanxian glanced sideways at Chu Yun in secret. Seeing his calm expression and no sign of anger, she let out a quiet sigh of relief, mixed with an indescribable trace of joy.
*What... what is wrong with me?*
Confusion filled Murong Nanxian's eyes as she muttered to herself involuntarily.
Chu Yun didn't notice anything amiss, as his disciple had always possessed a cold and aloof temperament and wasn't particularly well-versed in worldly affairs.
A large seal suddenly materialized in Huang Shan's hand, and she pressed it heavily onto the piece of paper Chu Yun had handed her.
"Master Uncle, why the sudden leisure to build a sect? Weren't you always a free spirit who disliked being entangled in such trivial matters?" Huang Shan asked in confusion.
If Chu Yun hadn't always detested fighting for power and profit, he would have likely become the master of the Qingxuan Sect long ago. Why the sudden change of heart now?
"One must always have a place to settle down in this lifetime," Chu Yun replied casually.
"Listening to Master Uncle, does this mean you don't plan to return to the Qingxuan Sect?" Huang Shan paused for a moment and asked in surprise.
"I have already been expelled from the sect. Even if I wanted to go back, I couldn't," Chu Yun said with a self-deprecating laugh.
Not only that, but all the various spells and divine arts concerning the Qingxuan Sect in his sea of consciousness had also been completely erased by the sect, leaving behind only a few useless memories.
Major sects had always been exceptionally harsh toward expelled disciples.
Had Chu Yun's meridians not already been withered, he likely would have had his dantian shattered, his meridians destroyed, and been forcefully driven out.
"This... This is impossible!" Huang Shan exclaimed, her expression blank and stunned.
Feeling the weak cultivation aura emanating from Chu Yun, a sudden ache pierced her heart.
"Master Uncle, there was never anything good about the Qingxuan Sect anyway. Since we aren't going back, then we just won't go back." Huang Shan didn't know how to comfort him.
"Haha, rest assured, I severed all ties with the Qingxuan Sect long ago." Chu Yun smiled with carefree detachment, though a trace of unresolvable sorrow lingered deep within his eyes.
It had been many days since they parted, and he wondered how Tian'er was doing now.
Once the strength of the WenDao Sect grew a bit more, he would go and bring the boy over.
"Master Uncle, this newly established sect of yours is quite interesting. I wonder if you might count me in?" Huang Shan hesitated for a moment before suddenly speaking.
"Uh... Better not," Chu Yun said, shaking his head in refusal, as he wanted nothing more to do with entanglements involving the Qingxuan Sect.
"Master Uncle, I joined the Dengxian Mansion, so I am no longer really considered a member of the Qingxuan Sect. With my current cultivation, joining your sect will be more than enough to elevate the WenDao Sect to the rank of a first-rate sect." Huang Shan spoke leisurely.
At the same time, she allowed a trace of her own aura to leak out—terrifying and awe-inspiring.
"The Celestial Realm? I never expected that in just over a decade apart, you would actually reach this realm." Chu Yun was somewhat surprised.
Huang Shan's talent was not exceptionally outstanding, yet in just over ten years, she had managed to cultivate to the fourth realm. That was no small feat and must have cost her an unimaginable amount of hardship.
"Master Uncle is just teasing me. What is this meager cultivation of mine worth? Compared to you from over a decade ago, I am still behind by a hundred thousand miles." Huang Shan curled her lips.
"Don't sell yourself short; you are already very impressive," Chu Yun said with heartfelt emotion.
The little fledgling he once protected beneath his wings now possessed the ability to stand entirely on her own.
Sensing the formidable and biting aura radiating from Huang Shan, a flash of disdain vanished deep within Murong Nanxian's eyes.
"Master Uncle, won't you reconsider and let me join your sect? I promise to eat very little and will definitely not eat you out of house and home." Huang Shan blinked, smiling broadly.
"This..." Chu Yun felt a slight stirring of temptation.
Huang Shan's strength was not weak, she belonged to the Dengxian Mansion, and she had a good relationship with him.
If she was willing to join the WenDao Sect, it would naturally be like adding wings to a tiger.
It could even propel the WenDao Sect to become a first-rate sect in an extremely short period of time.
The minimum requirement for promotion to a first-rate sect was to have a cultivator in the Celestial Human Realm within its ranks.
"Master Uncle, just say yes... Rest assured, I certainly won't cause you any trouble." Huang Shan suddenly stepped forward and gently shook Chu Yun's arm.
In a trance, Chu Yun felt as though he had traveled back more than ten years.
Back then, Huang Shan was still a little girl who hadn't grown up, frequently getting into trouble and holding onto his arm to act spoiled, begging him to back her up.
"Very well. If you aren't afraid of being wronged, you can take up the position of elder in the WenDao Sect." Chu Yun's heart softened as he spoke in a gentle tone.
He had already guessed this girl's intentions; she simply wanted to help him in whatever way she could.
"Thank you, Master Uncle!" Huang Shan leaped for joy, almost jumping up.
"Hmph..." Murong Nanxian let out a soft, cold snort, feeling quite displeased.
"Master Uncle, I will apply for the second-rate sect assessment for you tomorrow." Huang Shan smiled as she returned to her seat, bowing her head over the desk to write and sketch continuously.
"Once we become a second-rate sect, I'll immediately apply for the WenDao Sect to be promoted to a first-rate sect." Huang Shan beamed from ear to ear.
If any other cultivators from the Dengxian Mansion were to witness this scene right now, their eyeballs would likely pop out in shock.
To think that the ice-cold female Asura, who was utterly merciless to everyone, actually knew how to smile?
And that she could smile so brilliantly.