CHAPTER 265: TURNS OUT, MY MASTER IS CRAZY [1]

Yu Xuan recalled the bizarre encounter he’d just had with his master, his expression twitching slightly.

"Forget it... everyone has their hobbies," he muttered under his breath, trying not to think about the sight of his Master cosplaying as a scholarly expert.

He shook his head hard enough to dislodge the memory and used [Unheard and Unseen Void Steps].

His form blurred, and in the next instant, he vanished.

The sensation of traveling through the void was strange.

If Yu Xuan had to describe it, it was like walking underwater, not heavy or suffocating, but weightless, drifting in rhythm with unseen currents.

Later, he reappeared near his small residence at the Main Elemental Heaven Peak.

He exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

’This is... definitely awkward,’ he thought, recalling his master’s cracked glasses and stunned face.

’Let’s just hope she forgets about that whole... "You are fated" thing. She’s old enough to have thick skin anyway.’ he thought.

But suddenly, a chill ran down his spine.

An invisible pressure brushed against him like a warning.

Yu Xuan froze, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"W–Was that... killing intent?!" he muttered.

’No, I’m just being paranoid. Probably.’

Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and began walking toward his master’s mansion, determined to act like nothing had happened.

Soon he stood before the grand gates.

"Master, this disciple seeks guidance!" he called out respectfully, cupping his hands.

The massive doors creaked open automatically, a sign that he was permitted to enter.

Yu Xuan stepped through the courtyard and into the main hall.

And there she was, seated elegantly upon her throne, robes flowing, eyes calm, aura commanding.

If he hadn’t just seen her fumbling through an "scholarly expert act" not too long ago, he might’ve believed she was truly invincible.

But her image in his mind had crumbled.

Suddenly Yu Xuan had an epiphany.

’Is this face? I see.’

The shattering of image previously which he didn’t quite value, now seems to have some face value. He suddenly gained a deeper understanding of the term ’face’.

The Peak Master’s expression was serene, but her voice... had an edge of frost.

"Are you having trouble cultivating?" she asked.

Yu Xuan immediately felt his heart tighten.

A bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple.

"Uh... Master, about that," he began nervously.

"I may have... accidentally... broken through."

For a brief moment, silence filled the hall.

"...What?"

The Elemental Heaven Peak Master, now had question marks practically floating over her head.

She blinked in disbelief.

"You... accidentally... broke through?" she repeated, her brows furrowing.

Yu Xuan gave an awkward laugh.

"Haha... yeah, it kinda just happened, you know? One moment I was... cultivating, the next thing I know, boom, foundation deepened."

A vein throbbed faintly on her forehead.

For the first time, the Elemental Heaven Peak Master wondered whether accepting this disciple had been a blessing or curse.

One moment she was seated upon her throne.

The next, she vanished.

She reappeared directly in front of Yu Xuan.

Before Yu Xuan could even blink, her slender hand pressed firmly against his chest, right over his heart.

Yu Xuan earlier nonchalance evaporated; his expression grew serious as he saw the look on her face — she appeared very serious.

"Explain, what happened?" she said, her tone calm.

Her eyes shimmering with countless hues — seemed to see through everything.

He composed himself.

Of course, he couldn’t tell her everything.

He couldn’t exactly say, "Oh, by the way, Master, there’s another me called Old Yu who’s basically gardening in my soul."

So, he decided to use one of his favorite cultivation world strategies —

"blame the higher-ups."

Two birds with one stone.

Not only would this explain his sudden breakthrough, but it would also conveniently justify why the Martial Ancestor took an interest in him.

"Master," Yu Xuan began carefully, putting on a sincere tone, "when I was at the Chaos Heaven Peak, the sky suddenly turned golden..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing.

Encouraged, Yu Xuan continued, telling the story in vivid detail, how the golden phenomenon enveloped him and the others, how he fought with unmatched brilliance against the disciples from all peaks, and how the Martial Ancestor himself appeared, testing everyone personally.

He may have exaggerated slightly, describing himself as "the last one standing amidst countless fallen geniuses," or "the one whose will shake the heavens" — but overall, his story flowed smoothly.

He recounted how the Martial Ancestor had explained the matter of Heavenly Demons, the difference between heavens and fallen heavens, and how, in the end, he was personally chosen as the Martial Ancestor’s successor and given a reward.

"...and then, Master, at the very end, the Martial Ancestor said after I ascend, he would take me as his disc—"

Yu Xuan didn’t even finish.

A terrifying pressure exploded from the Elemental Heaven Peak Master.

The air rippled violently, the marble beneath their feet, and outside the entire Main Peak trembled as if in fear of her wrath.

The elements themselves responded to her fury — lightning arced across the distant sky, flames burst into existence and extinguished just as quickly, water vapor coiled through the air, and the earth groaned beneath them.

Yu Xuan froze, his words catching in his throat.

The Peak Master’s expression had turned cold, and very scary.

"So..." she said slowly, her voice echoing with restrained power, "some old fossil of the Martial Heaven Peak dared to take my disciple... as his own?"

Yu Xuan raised his hands in panic.

"Uh, technically, Master, I—I didn’t agree yet! Though I got his legacy, it was just a verbal offer! Nothing official, yet!"

Her gaze turned sharper.

"Yet," she said.

Yu Xuan gulped.

’Oh no,’ he thought miserably. It was technically a slip of tongue on his part.

But the Elemental Heaven Peak Master wasn’t done.

Her voice softened, dangerously soft.

"Yu Xuan... my dear and lovely disciple," she said, her hand still pressed against his chest, "tell me... do you plan to be his disciple?"