Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 106 - 105: What Does Supreme Self Mean?

"Lord Xu, Lord Xu..." The Historian Hongli rushed into the Governor’s Pavilion of the Moon Gazing Tower in a fluster. Most of the time, Xu Yuanqing would be handling official duties here. Upon seeing the Governor, he immediately knelt down and said, "I am guilty, my lord!"

"What’s the matter..." Xu Yuanqing frowned, "First, tell me the details, and then we will judge if you are guilty or not."

"Today, I heard news that outside the southern suburbs of Chang’an City, there’s a dueling challenge attracting many spectators. I remembered that the Only I am Venerable Sect is to the south, so I sent my subordinates to investigate. It turns out... something big has happened! Although the person holding the duel is wearing a mask, my subordinate confirmed repeatedly that it is your daughter, Xu Xuanling!"

"What?" Xu Yuanqing stood up abruptly, "Xuanling is dueling?"

"Yes... And according to the rules, it’s a one versus ten match!"

Xu Yuanqing could no longer contain himself, "Let’s go, follow me to see!"

Though cultivator sparring happens from time to time, sects occasionally arrange competitions. However, it’s ultimately a risky matter. Even with the Immortal Alliance’s ability to organize sect tournaments, it’s impossible to completely prevent accidents. Serious injuries causing the ruin of a cultivator’s career or instant deaths occur in a few cases every year.

He had full confidence in his daughter’s skills.

Yet, cultivation talent is one thing, real battle on the platform is entirely different from sparring with family at home—once a spar goes awry, distinguishing it from a life-and-death fight can be difficult,

The two of them rode out on horseback, galloping towards the South City Gate.

"Why did you say you are guilty?" Xu Yuanqing asked while rushing on the road. He was aware that Xu Xuanling had decided to join the Only I am Venerable Sect, and he hadn’t been concerned about her coming and going early and late these days, assuming it was normal for a newcomer with many sect obligations—that keeping tabs on the child would only hinder her dao heart... but what does this have to do with the Historian?

Hongli couldn’t help but show a trace of guilt, "Miss Xu once approached me, asking me to deliver a batch of testing instruments to the Only I am Venerable Sect. I should have guessed then that she intended to join this sect."

"What instruments?"

"The Hexagram Instrument and Balance Platform." He added, "Miss Xu paid for them herself... she only asked me to deliver them to the Only I am Venerable Sect and told me not to disclose this information."

This matter of joining the sect was a decision made after discussions between father and daughter, so others not knowing was normal. However, Xu Yuanqing found that the matter wasn’t as simple as he had initially thought.

Why send testing instruments for detecting Qi sensing ability?

Was it because the Only I am Venerable Sect had just been established and had nothing?

But Chen Xuan didn’t need external aid to see through others’ spiritual Qi, did he? A glance would reveal that his daughter’s foundation was not bad, right? If it were any other sect, Xuanling would have surely been accepted, let alone a newly founded sect.

What on earth was that guy up to?

"And then? Delivering items doesn’t count as a crime." Xu Yuanqing pressed on.

"I heard that Miss Xu failed the entrance assessment twice in a row. The third time turned into dueling; she must defeat ten people to join the Only I am Venerable Sect... Since I guessed this possibility, I should have monitored it more closely, I am guilty!" Hongli lamented repeatedly.

The Governor understood; the Historian was worried that if Xu Xuanling got injured, he would eventually be implicated, so it was better to explain it proactively.

What the other party didn’t know was that the matter of entering the sect had Xu Yuanqing’s tacit approval.

But failing twice in a row? That was beyond Xu Yuanqing’s understanding range; was Chen Xuan blind or something?

Outside the city, there were indeed many cultivators walking back on the road to the south.

And they were still eagerly discussing the dueling news, their voices loud enough for passersby to hear.

"...The newcomers in the past two years are really extraordinary."

"...I originally thought to see others make a fool of themselves, but that kind of seedling unable to join makes us what?"

"...But that little girl must have suffered a lot, I wonder if she can still cultivate in the future."

"...Seeing her injuries, it’s unlikely..."

Hearing this, Xu Yuanqing was startled, immediately stepping forward to stop those two who were discussing.

At first, the two were impatient, but seeing the visitor’s insignia, and carefully scrutinizing the owner’s face, the cultivators’ expressions changed abruptly. They quickly dismounted and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Governor!"

He brought the two aside to avoid blocking the road, "What is the situation with the girl you were just talking about?"

The two exchanged a glance, hurriedly detailing the situation of the fifth duel match, "The girl named Lingdang and the Celestial Derivation Tower’s disciple Mo Shuyun both fainted in the arena. Then the Sect Leader of the Only I am Venerable Sect paused the combat and took both of them back to the sect. Numerous spectators were injured at the scene and were kept behind for treatment, but we saw... Lingdang was seriously wounded, with blood covering the mask, which prompted our earlier remarks. Uhm... Governor?"

Before they finished speaking, they saw Xu Yuanqing shaking the reins, urging the horse to continue southwards.

Utterly outrageous!

An uncontrollable rage ignited within Xu Yuanqing. He knew Mo Shuyun, whose strength among the younger generation was quite impressive, wielding the Five Elements of Good Wind, along with the Dragon Roar Technique he uniquely developed, which was an invincible art against cultivators of the same level. However, this Dragon Roar Technique was extremely hard to control, leaving those injured deaf or with internal bleeding, making recovery difficult.

How could Chen Xuan allow Xu Xuanling to face the Celestial Pride Disciple alone?

He dares to scrutinize the Immortal Alliance officials in front of me, indicating that he is quite confident in his Qi Sensing Technique. Could such a person not see the disparity in abilities between Xuanling and Mo Shuyun!

Or perhaps he recognized Xuanling’s skills and deliberately used her to promote his sect, allowing this competition, which might lead to severe injuries for the participants, to continue?

If anything happens to my daughter, I will definitely not let Chen Xuan off!

Xu Yuanqing hurried to the manor anxiously and saw that the audience had not completely dispersed. Many people were leaning against the benches, leisurely eating.... Were they the injured ones affected by the competition?

Without overthinking, he rode straight through the gates, "Chen Xuan, come out!"

"Father?"

Someone beside him suddenly asked in surprise.

Xu Yuanqing turned his head, and who else could it be but his daughter?

Xu Xuanling just walked out of a nearby house, with a piece of honeydew melon in her mouth.

"Are you alright?" He quickly dismounted and squatted in front of her, checking her condition — she looked fine, not at all like someone seriously injured, and as for her Spiritual Qi level.... Xu Yuanqing surprisingly found that his daughter seemed to have even improved a bit!

Hadn’t she just finished a match? How could her Qi not decrease but instead increase?

Moreover, this progress was truly incredible; usually, cultivators with decent talent would have to practice diligently for a whole year to achieve such a noticeable improvement.

"Well... you can’t really say I’m alright." Xu Xuanling said, feeling a bit guilty. "I admit I got carried away, but didn’t you say you wouldn’t interfere with my sect joining? Overall... I’m very well now, and Sect Leader Chen has agreed to let me join the sect, so don’t worry!"

This answer obviously evades something.

"Where is Chen Xuan?"

"Inside," she pointed behind her.

"Lord..." At this time, the Historian finally arrived breathlessly. Seeing that Xu Xuanling was fine, he couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief, "Ah, great, Miss Xu is alright! What nonsense were those people talking about!"

"Stay with her, don’t let her run around." Xu Yuanqing instructed Hongli and then walked into the main building.

As he walked through the corridor, he saw Mo Shuyun approaching him. Recognizing his identity at the moment they brushed past, Mo Shuyun quickly bowed his head in salute, "Governor."

Considering Mo Shuyun is a Celestial Derivation Tower Celestial Pride Disciple, interacting with someone with an Ascension Platform background could easily lead to trouble, so Xu Yuanqing didn’t ask much, he just nodded to let him leave.

Entering the hall, Chen Xuan was sitting at the round table, explaining something to the members of the Envoy Team. Seeing Xu Yuanqing, he appeared unsurprised, waved his hand to dismiss everyone first, then asked with a smile, "What brings the Governor here?"

"Did you know that Lingdang is my daughter?" Xu Yuanqing asked directly.

"I didn’t know half an hour ago, but just now Mo Shuyun recognized her, and with the Governor here, I can be sure she is your daughter."

Chen Xuan did not deceive the other party.

Previously, he just guessed that Lingdang should be related to someone in the Immortal Alliance, otherwise, how could she have lacked testing equipment just a moment ago, and then there would be officials from the Immortal Alliance delivering it. As for whose relative she was, he simply wasn’t interested in investigating, as Chen Xuan initially had no intention of recruiting local cultivators as sect disciples.

Now knowing Lingdang is the Governor’s daughter, he was somewhat surprised, but far from shocked.

Chen Xuan’s response made Xu Yuanqing feel a bit better. If the other party knew Xu Xuanling was his youngest daughter and still pushed her onto a risky platform in a wheel battle, it would be quite brazen.

But that’s not the main point.

"On my way here, I heard people say that Xuanling was severely injured during the competition. Is this true?"

Since it was already open and honest, he no longer needed to use the alias his daughter had casually made up.

"Half true, half false." Chen Xuan shrugged. "Injured, yes, but far from severe. At the time, her liver, intestines, and stomach had minor bleeding, eardrums were ruptured, concussion, neurological dizziness, heightened blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat, but all are injuries that can be treated."

Xu Yuanqing was shocked by a series of culinary-style descriptions.

Although he hadn’t heard most of these terms before, it didn’t hinder the impression of a fairly professional explanation!

Moreover, some conditions were understandable to the Governor, like pulmonary bleeding, which usually requires one to two months of recuperation. Even with the best physicians and medicine, it’s impossible to make someone lively in half a two-hour period.

If what the other party said is all true, wouldn’t it indicate that the Only I am Venerable Sect not only has a completely different understanding of cultivation techniques but even their treatment methods surpass those of various Immortal Alliance sects?!