The elder martial sister was shockedshe quickly looked over and saw a tall, muscular cultivator walking imposingly out from the cultivation room.

"Yao Yong the Fire Tiger, Ranked 45th among the North Ocean Prodigies!"

"They say hes already in the Second Layer Core Forging Realm. But even though Elder Senior Sister is in the same cultivation layer, shes clearly no match for an experienced fighter like him. Things arent looking good for the senior martial sisters."

The chatter naturally found its way into the elder senior martial sisters ears, and her pale-white face darkened with gloom. But before she could say anything, another round of exclamations was heard.

"Enlightened Masters Jade Swords!"

Note: Yu means Jade, Jian means Sword.

"Enlightened Master Ma Xuan-Yu and Enlightened Master Zhong Xuan-Jian, ranked 73rd and 74th in the North Ocean Prodigies. Together, they learned a dual swordsman technique that helped them defeat a Third Layer Core Forging Realm monster before!"

Some disciples were proudly introducing Ma Yu and Zhong Jian to the other martial siblings.

"This is Enlightened Master Xuan-Ling. Although she isnt ranked, she and Senior Sister Hu have been teaching the side hall disciples. Rumor has it that she isnt any weaker than the others."

Second Senior Sister and Third Senior Sister were left in a daze, while the elder senior martial sister was already planning her escape. As a Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master in the sect, she knew more than the rest, that Shi Lingling was the descendant of a Great Ancestor, and daughter to an Enlightened Master, granting her a high standing in the sect.

"Ive seen him somewhere before, I think hes also a Master Immortal from the side hall."

Compared to the rest, Zhang Zi-Chengs presence was less significant.

"Look, another North Ocean Prodigy! Du Feng the Ruthless Sword!"

"Its really him! He killed a monster Enlightened Master not long after advancing to the Core Forging Realm, thats what brought him to Rank 62."

"Whats the matter, why are all these third-generation talents here in Fourth Senior Sisters cave-dwelling? Are they here to congratulate her open house?"

"The senior martial sisters are in trouble!"

But that wasnt all. Another female disciple pointed ahead, her eyes shining as she happily said, "Enlightened Master Chen Lian, the Flying Blaze, ranked 51st, and the most promising talent to become the next Master Smith."

Just as she said that, another female disciple exclaimed in shock again, "The Zhen Ling Twin TalentsEnlightened Master Ji Xuan-Xuan and Yin Xuan-Chu!"

"What? The Twin Talents who killed a Fourth Layer Core Forging Realm monster, thrashed a Fifth Layer monster to the brink of death, then fought Ouyang Wei-Jian into retreating? Theyre ranked 37th and 38th!"

Ji Zi-Xuannow Ji Xuan-Xuan after his Core Forging Realm advancementturned with a helpless look and said to Yin Xuan-Chu: "I couldve been Zhen Ling Three Talents, but some fellow decided to go missing in the East Ocean for years. So, three became two."

Yin Xuan-Chu merely glanced back expressionlessly and didnt say a word, a reaction which Ji Xuan-Xuan was long used to. He shook his head, a shiver running through him.

At present, everyone in the cave-dwelling was busy looking compassionately at the three senior martial sisters. The elder senior martial sister was struggling to stand upright, while the second and third senior martial sisters were completely numb.

It was at this time, Lu Ping walked out last from the cultivation room.

Immediately, the crowd fell dead silent for a second, then abruptly burst into a commotion.

"This is"

"Water Sword Immortal!"

"Master Alchemist!"

"Great Ancestor Tian-Lings ninth official disciple!"

"Is he Senior Sister Hus lover?"

"."

Lu Pings appearance was like adding oil to the fire heating up the crowd, and also the straw that broke the camels back for the three senior martial sisters.

The eldest fell back into her chair, her mind in chaos and regret. It was likely that her state of mind had collapsed, with no chances of progressing in cultivation if she couldnt snap back from this.

After all, who wouldve guessed they were Hu Lilis friends!

Together, they comprised the majority of the third-generation talents, who were seen as the future pillars of the sect. As a group, even the higher-ups and Great Ancestors wouldnt dare to take them lightly!

Just as the Blood Condensation Realm disciples were excited to see these third-generation talents, particularly Lu Ping, a clear and sweet voice spoke from outside of the cave-dwelling.

"Ninth Senior Brother, why didnt you invite me to Senior Sister Hu Lilis open house!"

The voice appeared to come from a hundred feet away at first, then two little girls barged into the cave-dwelling as the sentence ended.

One of them was in her seventies, wearing a palace dress and holding the hand of another bold-looking girl in her early teens. They were obviously Jiang Xuan-Xuan and Lu Qin.

These two were also Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters and looked extremely young!

This shocked the crowd, while the elder senior martial sister almost fainted to see Jiang Xuan-Xuan, whom she recognized as the daughter of Great Ancestor Jiang Tian-Lin and Great Ancestor Liu Tian-Ling!

"Huh?"

Ji Xuan-Xuan abruptly looked at Lu Qin with a flash of light in his eyes, while on the other side, Yin Xuan-Chu had been staring at Lu Qin since she entered the cave-dwelling.

Right after them, Yao Yong and Chen Lian also noticed Lu Qin, while a jade pendant on Shi Linglings waist moved softly on its own.

In response, Lu Qin lowered her stance and stared back at them with fiery eyes. Beside her, Jiang Xuan-Xuans palace dress billowed softly, slowly changing colors between jade-green and fiery-red.

Naturally, all of this didnt escape Lu Pings eyes. He smiled and said, "Little Junior Sister, youve been hiding in Liberal Palace all this time, how could I reach you?"

He called Lu Qin to come over and introduced her. "This is my god-sister, Lu Qin. She is the little bird that youve all met. Qiner, come and greet your big brothers and sisters!"

Lu Qin obediently walked to Lu Ping, her boldness fading as she said shyly, "Qiner greets the big brothers and sisters!"

Right away, the serious atmosphere dissolved on its own.

Shi Lingling said in surprise, "Qiner is the little Verd girl! Oh my youve grown so big now, I didnt recognize you!"

The other disciples in the cave-dwelling werent aware that Lu Qin was a monster cultivator, with the exception of onethe elder senior martial sister lowered her head quietly, covering the light that flashed in her eyes.

Wave after wave of spiritual energy ebbed away and flowed back into the Wave Listening Palace to the rhythm of the tides.

Some time later, when the tides receded, the spiritual energy also turned calm.

In the cultivation room, Lu Ping quietly opened his eyes, showing a trace of short-lived disappointment before returning to tranquility.

Taking the water-filled jade bowl in front of him, he casually put it back into his interspatial ring, He then glanced at an empty jade bottle, stood up and checked the time. This round of cultivation had lasted six days, and the side hall competition was already around the corner.

Six days ago, while he was returning from Hu Lilis cave-dwelling open house, hed inadvertently heard the sounds of the tides and was attracted by it. It was then that he knew; his time to break through to the Mid Core Forging Realm had come.

Immediately, he ignored everything and went straight into closed-door cultivation. He quickly took out the jade bowl which contained the low-grade Earth-class wonder water, the Magnificent Wave Water, together with his Core Forging Realm cultivation pellets, and plunged into cultivation.

Although the Magnificent Wave Water wasnt outstanding compared to the other wonder waters, it was abundant in quantity. Furthermore, not many cultivators could use an Earth-class low-grade wonder item in their Mid Core Forging Realm breakthroughs.

With Lu Pings current prowess, the bowl of Magnificent Wave Water was just enough for him to use. Unfortunately, something was still lacking in his cultivation, and he missed the opportunity to break through.

On the bright side, after fusing with some of the Magnificent Wave Water, his true energy had grown much more abundant compared to beforehis cultivation foundation had solidified further, and he felt more prepared for the next attempt.

A few days after the closed-door cultivation ended, Lu Ping arrived at the side hall and looked at it with sudden emotion. Unknowingly, more than ten years had passed since he graduated from the side hall. Now, he returned as an Enlightened Master.

Today was the day of the Zhen Ling Side Hall Competition which would be the grandest and largest yet for these past dozens of years.

Lu Ping didnt enter the side hall but nonchalantly hid in a corner just outside of it. Even though he wasnt inside, he could see everything happening through his divine revelation.

Compared to before, the side hall had been expanded to occupy more disciples. With the increase in numbers, their cheers were louder and more booming whenever an Enlightened Master flew into the side halls plaza.

Weekly Chapters (3/5)