The current Zhang Guilin had already become the First Grand Elder of the True Martial Sacred Ground.

He wore a deep blue long robe draped over his body.

His hair had grown long, cascading down his back, tied with an azure ribbon.

His expression looked much more resolute, carrying the bearing of one who held authority.

When he saw Xu Zimo appear, Zhang Guilin said in surprise, “Senior brother, you’ve emerged from seclusion.”

Xu Zimo smiled and nodded.

“That’s right, counting the time, it’s been nearly a hundred years,” Zhang Guilin nodded as well. He asked, “Has senior brother gained anything?”

“Somewhat,” Xu Zimo smiled. “You look in such a hurry, where are you going?”

“Isn’t it the time for the core disciples’ annual competition? I was ordered to preside over it,” Zhang Guilin replied. “Why not come with me, senior brother? You can see how our younger generation of the True Martial Sacred Ground is thriving. Sometimes I even feel like I’ve grown old.”

“And Ruhu?” Xu Zimo asked.

“He’s like you. These hundred years, if not training, then secluded cultivation. I haven’t seen him for a long time either,” Zhang Guilin answered.

“Then let’s go take a look,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “After closing myself off for a hundred years, I’ve become somewhat like dead wood. I should go somewhere lively to readjust.”

Humans, after all, are social creatures.

Forget a hundred years, even if you were confined in a closed space for just a few days, you’d probably break down.

On their way to the core disciples’ competition, many disciples greeted Zhang Guilin when they saw him.

But very few still remembered Xu Zimo.

The disciples now were all of the newer generation. When they joined the True Martial Sacred Ground, Xu Zimo had already been in seclusion.

So it was natural that they didn’t recognize him.

“Have any interesting things happened these past few years?” Xu Zimo asked.

“What could happen? It’s still just talk of where some prodigy appeared, or where some secret realm opened,” Zhang Guilin replied. “This world never changes. I’ve grown tired of it.” Then he added, “But within our sect, there have been a few promising seedlings. They’ve made me feel the urge to personally cultivate them.”

The two arrived at the competition grounds.

The area was already packed with countless inner disciples.

There were also innumerable disciples, from both the inner and outer court, gathered around to spectate.

This competition was considered a grand event within the True Martial Sacred Ground.

“Grand Elder Zhang is here, everyone quiet down.”

“Huh? Who’s that person next to Grand Elder Zhang? Looks unfamiliar.”

“If he’s with Grand Elder Zhang, his identity surely isn’t simple.”

The competition stage was divided into eight platforms.

Xu Zimo sat down on one of the seats at the front.

Before he could even settle in, a disciple beside him suddenly said, “This senior brother, this is Grand Elder Zhang’s seat. Please move aside.”

Xu Zimo looked at the disciple, then turned his gaze toward Zhang Guilin.

“Who are you?” Zhang Guilin asked with a frown.

The disciple quickly replied, “Grand Elder Zhang, I’m inner court disciple Yan Xing.”

“Do you know who he is?” Zhang Guilin pointed at Xu Zimo and asked.

“I... I don’t,” the disciple hurriedly shook his head. He was only trying to act clever, wanting to make a good impression in front of Zhang Guilin.

“There are some people you can never afford to offend. Get lost,” Zhang Guilin waved his hand with some annoyance.

“Ah, yes, yes,” the disciple froze for a moment, then ran off in panic.

“No need to get angry over such a small matter,” Xu Zimo smiled.

“If it weren’t for the fact he’s a disciple, I would’ve cut his head off on the spot,” Zhang Guilin said coldly.

He then sat beside Xu Zimo.

After his opening remarks, the core disciples below had already begun their matches.

“See that young man?” Zhang Guilin pointed at one of the stages. He said, “Among all the disciples recruited in recent years, he’s grown the fastest. Also the most diligent and hardworking. I even have the intention of training him as a successor.”

Hearing this, Xu Zimo looked up.

And found it quite a coincidence.

He actually recognized that youth.

It was the half-beast boy he had encountered before when returning to the sect at the mountain gates.

He remembered that he had even given the boy a cultivation manual back then.

What was only a casual act at the time turned out to become such a strange karmic coincidence.

“Senior brother knows him?” Zhang Guilin asked curiously.

“I’ve met him once. I recall he also had a younger sister,” Xu Zimo replied.

“Don’t bring her up. That girl is now nothing but a beauty that brings calamity. Many of our sect’s disciples waste their days chasing after her instead of cultivating. I can’t even stop them,” Zhang Guilin said.

“Greed and lust are part of human nature. If one had no desires, what meaning would life have?” Xu Zimo smiled. “As long as they don’t break the rules, everything is fine.”

On stage, the fights were heated. But Xu Zimo barely paid attention.

The strength and outcome of each battle were obvious to him at a glance.

Such fights were only worth watching for the atmosphere. Otherwise, they held little meaning.

As expected, the half-beast youth lived up to Zhang Guilin’s expectations and won first place in the competition.

“What’s his name?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Zhang Shaopu,” Zhang Guilin replied. “Rare to see senior brother interested.”

“Pass along my words to him: he has already proven himself,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand.

Zhang Guilin went up to announce the rewards for the first place winner, naturally also giving words of encouragement.

Xu Zimo, however, intended to bid farewell to his parents, so he left.

…

On stage, Zhang Shaopu stood brimming with energy, eyes shining as he looked around.

At this moment, he was the brightest disciple of the True Martial Sacred Ground.

Then suddenly, in his field of vision, he caught a familiar silhouette.

That figure was gone in a flash, disappearing into the crowd.

Zhang Shaopu’s heart trembled, recalling the scene at the mountain gates.

That manual that had almost changed his fate.

He wanted to chase after him but was stopped by Zhang Guilin.

“Now is the award ceremony. As the first place, if you’re absent, it won’t look right,” Zhang Guilin said with a smile.

“That person just now, who was he?” Zhang Shaopu asked quickly.

“You’ll know in the future,” Zhang Guilin replied. “He asked me to tell you that you’ve proven yourself.”

Zhang Shaopu fell silent, then bowed deeply toward the direction where the figure had vanished.

…

A hundred years had passed.

The flowers, grass, and trees on Green Mountain were still as lush as ever.

Unchanged.

The only difference was that along the path up the mountain, many purple poplar trees had been planted.

Similar to poplars, but their trunks and even their leaves were all purple.

The red and purple spread across the mountain in a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

When Xu Zimo saw his parents again, he could clearly feel that they had aged.

Xu Qingshan’s temples were already turning white.

Wen Renyun was in the wooden house, cooking.

In truth, with their cultivation, they had long since transcended the need for food.