CHAPTER 255: 0170 DISCOVERED AN AMAZING SECRET (TWO IN ONE)_2

"What’s ordinary?" Li Zhibai retorted.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

He had nothing to say.

"In short, you’re very special now, perhaps it has something to do with your stable Spirit Platform." Li Zhibai frowned, glanced at Xu Chang’an: "Do you really not know... why it turned out this way?"

"Sir." Xu Chang’an held the umbrella, sighed: "You taught me personally, you should know how capable I am."

Xu Chang’an quickly realized that if others, including the Sect Leaders in the Steward Hall, couldn’t fend off the rain, yet he could... what does this signify.

Anyone would think he conjured the rain.

But the problem is, he had nothing to do with it.

Xu Chang’an knew his own abilities clearly.

Unless—

[System]

——

Xu Chang’an squinted his eyes, his apprehension of the system deepened further, nothing in the world happens inexplicably, what purpose does such a grand rainstorm intend to serve?

"It’s because I know, that... forget it." Li Zhibai looked into Xu Chang’an’s eyes and said: "I’m aware of your temperament, in any case, before things are clarified, don’t flaunt, take an umbrella when you go out."

Even if you want to show your talent, wait until the guests from all directions have departed, it’s not convenient now with the mixed crowd.

"Hmm." Xu Chang’an nodded vigorously.

Given his temperament, of course he knew how to act.

"These days, the rain has been frequent, make sure no one sees you using the Spiritual Barrier when going out." Li Zhibai asked with some concern.

"I shouldn’t have, I quite like small rains, no need to use the barrier, such torrential rain was rare, so..." Xu Chang’an said and then paused, his expression growing more serious: "No, someone did see."

He was talking about a red-robed woman.

"I knew it." Li Zhibai expressed a troubled look, which soon shifted to an odd expression.

She found it strange.

Because if he was truly seen by someone... how come there hasn’t been any commotion?

For the entire Chaoyun Sect and even the Cultivation Realm across Qing Province are speculating the origin of this rootless water as a celestial phenomenon, any hint, anyone who could block it with mere spiritual power... it would’ve already spread widely.

Yet it’s strangely quiet.

The one who discovers Xu Chang’an’s ability yet keeps silent... who could it be?

Li Zhibai harbored a guess but didn’t express it, she slowly asked: "What exactly happened?"

Xu Chang’an didn’t want to become the center of attention, especially when he has to support his wife, so he explained everything about the encounter with the "Senior Hongyi" around the time of the Celestial Tribulation to Li Zhibai.

That day, when he was leaving Celestial Bright Peak, he happened to encounter a Heaven-Reaching Purple Thunder and then met a woman in a red robe.

Xu Chang’an still remembered the surprised look of the red-robed woman as she got drenched in rain seeing him walk by using the barrier.

At that time, he thought her "cultivation method" had issues, but now upon reflection, it was clear she was astonished he blocked the rain.

Thus... when Senior shattered his Spiritual Energy Barrier, it wasn’t to deliberately get wet but to know how his Spiritual Barrier was achieved?

Xu Chang’an sighed and said: "Sir, I haven’t seen Senior after that day."

"Hmm." Li Zhibai’s odd expression intensified, she asked softly: "You’re sure it was a red robe?"

"Yes, a red robe."

"..." Li Zhibai pondered, wasn’t the Sect Leader fond of red robes, and the location at Celestial Bright Peak matched, she coughed: "You mentioned she lent you an umbrella?"

"Yes, it was a light-colored umbrella, it blocked the rain cleanly."

"I didn’t ask the color of the umbrella." Li Zhibai was exasperated, then said: "Then, after the Celestial Tribulation ended and the rain stopped, you returned the umbrella back to her?"

"Even though it’s Senior’s umbrella, I couldn’t keep it." Xu Chang’an earnestly said: "Sir, Senior didn’t spread this incident, even helped me conceal it, could she be related to the Senior who gave me the Glazed Jade?"

"I don’t recognize many people." Li Zhibai replied.

"True." Xu Chang’an nodded, almost forgetting his sir’s reclusive nature, with hardly any friends.

Li Zhibai looked at the Glazed Jade on Xu Chang’an’s waist and said: "However, she gave you the umbrella to prevent your uniqueness from being exposed, so... you can rest assured."

"I hope so." Xu Chang’an said with a hint of bewilderment.

"What’s the matter?" Li Zhibai inquired, noticing his expression.

"Naturally, there’s nothing to hide from you." Xu Chang’an brooded, his expression puzzled: "It’s just... that Senior seemed odd, when I returned the umbrella, she was lying in mud, looking quite pitiable."

Li Zhibai: "..."

Xu Chang’an remembered the scene.

As the ground was drenched with wet soil, the red-robed woman was covered in mud, white hands stained dark, as if she’d rolled through water, her hairband blown by the wind, hanging on a distant bamboo branch.

Her long hair soaked in water.

Veil clipped on her face, thoroughly drenched, sweat mingling with rain, utterly disheveled.

"Sir, could Senior have been affected by the Celestial Tribulation, injured and in seclusion for recovery... hence why this remains under wraps?" Xu Chang’an worriedly asked: "Or does Chaoyun Sect really have such a cultivation method?"

Li Zhibai: "..."

She felt her Qi Cultivation Skill was entirely shattered today.

The Sect Leader is the person she respected most, bar none.

Previously, when Shi Qingjun summoned her to discuss her view on "Saints", the first saintly image that flashed in her mind... was the Sect Leader’s face.

Yet, Li Zhibai envisioned the Sect Leader playing in mud, her Dao Heart faltered for a moment.

Thankfully she didn’t cultivate the Dao, her Dao Heart was mere plaything, fundamentally unimportant.

"Who else have you told about this?" Li Zhibai asked solemnly.

"Only mentioned it to you." Xu Chang’an shook his head, he hadn’t given it much thought, definitely didn’t tell anyone, not even Lian Yunqian.

"Forget about this incident." Li Zhibai said, suddenly recalling something, her pupils dilated momentarily, then shrank sharply.

She experienced the terror of that Tribulation Thunder, as her cultivation was similarly sealed completely.

At that time, she noticed a Yin Yang Array unfolding, rumored to be by the Sect Leader, so everyone assumed it was the Sect Leader’s doing, didn’t delve deeper.

But what if it wasn’t the Sect Leader?

If the Sect Leader also had her cultivation sealed, accompanied by lost cultivation...

Falling into mud would be understandable enough.

Of course, most "shocked" Li Zhibai was the Sect Leader’s prior inquiry.

——

"Zhibai, you’ve cultivated for thirty years, your view on Saints?"

"There’s no Saints in the world?"

"Indeed, should be no Saints. A few days ago, a Heaven-Reaching Tribulation with Purple-White Jade and today’s Void Sun Soaring, in your view... which more resembles the emergence of a Saint."

"Heaven-Reaching Tribulation."

"Why?"

"Saint’s emergence harmonizes the world."

"I think so too."

——

"Is this... so?" Li Zhibai murmured, recalling the Sect Leader’s gaze meeting hers when she called Xu Chang’an "child"...

The pieces aligned.

If really as she speculated, then the Sect Leader’s sudden change in temperament is comprehensible.

Everything seemed to connect, Li Zhibai seemingly discovered an incredible secret, but on second thought, the Sect Leader didn’t intend to conceal from her by summoning her.

Being absolutely trusted by someone she looked up to, Li Zhibai felt both joy but also conflicted upon pondering the potential secret.

She looked at Xu Chang’an, feeling this student of hers might indeed be someone extraordinary.

"..."

Li Zhibai’s emotions were tangled, she fervently hoped the red-robed woman Xu Chang’an mentioned wasn’t the Sect Leader—though this possibility was remote.

"Sir, are you alright?" Xu Chang’an noticed the quiver in Li Zhibai’s eyes, concernedly asked: "What’s wrong today? Could Alchemy have been too tiring..."

"I’m fine." Li Zhibai repeated insistently, mumbling: "Purple Saint, Heaven-Reaching Purple Thunder."

"From ancient to now, peaceful world... Chang’an... Chang’an... hmm? Chang’an?"

Under the Tribulation Thunder, everyone’s cultivation was sealed, hence called "Peaceful World".

"Chang’an, the White Jade Purple Thunder at that time, had nothing to do with you, right?" Li Zhibai suddenly asked.