After speaking, Zhang Xin pointed to the Martial Arts Arena and said, "I suggest you make friends with these people. They arrived a few days before you, so you can ask them if there's anything you don't understand."

After saying this, Zhang Xin found a residence for Xu Chang and then leisurely turned to leave.

"Senior Brother, should we go over there..."

Once Zhang Xin left, a junior sister from the Golden Sword Sect softly asked, her gaze directed towards the Martial Arts Arena.

"Go for what? What's there to discuss with those heretical demon paths? Learn how to kill and skin people?"

Xu Chang snorted coldly. As a Sword Cultivator, he had his own pride and disdained mingling with those Demon Cultivators.

Moreover, Xu Chang didn't think Ghost Ridge Palace had anything to teach him. They were Sword Cultivators, not bug enthusiasts; their expertise didn't match.

He came to Ghost Ridge Palace with the intention of just spending his days, planning to return to the Sect after half a year.

If he truly learned from Ghost Ridge Palace and went back, what if the Golden Sword Sect accused him of abandoning his sect's principles? Even if he had reasons, they would be hard to explain!

A few disciples from the Golden Sword Sect could only follow Xu Chang back to the house after hearing this.

That evening, several Righteous Sect disciples came knocking on the house, intending to have a chat with Xu Chang and the others.

However, Xu Chang was unwilling to speak, not thinking much of these Righteous Cultivators who were clinging to Ghost Ridge Palace, feeling ashamed to associate with them and appeared very distant and arrogant.

The enthusiasm of these Righteous Cultivators met with cold disregard, so naturally, they wouldn't seek to please him.

Before leaving, faint mutterings from the Righteous Cultivators could still be heard: 'These guys who practice swordsmanship have fried their brains, so stubborn,' 'What's so great about being a Sword Cultivator, if you've got guts, don't come here! Who are they putting on airs for,' and 'They'll suffer for it sooner or later.'

Xu Chang paid no attention, assuming they were just envious of his noble demeanor.

The night passed without incident!

The next morning, while the morning mist had not yet dissipated, the morning bells rang in the schoolhouse.

Xu Chang got up to see a group of Qingzhou Righteous Cultivators running to the Martial Arts Arena.

There, an old man with an immortal aura was sitting cross-legged on a cushion. The old man's face looked kind and gentle, his silver-white eyebrows as white as snow, a jade gourd hanging from his waist, holding a duster in his left hand and forming a Taoist gesture with his right.

Invisible spiritual power surged, and countless runes seemed to flow in the void, with the sound of the Dao faintly heard.

"Who is this person!"

Xu Chang's heart skipped a beat when he saw the old man with an immortal aura. The aura emitted by the old man was far more powerful than his Master's at the Secret Realm Third Level, immeasurable, like a sparrow viewing an eagle, a stream meeting the sea, deep and unfathomable.

"Elder Tang!"

"Elder Tang!"

"Elder Tang!"

One by one, the Righteous Disciples greeted respectfully, their excitement barely concealed. They quickly ran to grab the cushions on the ground, hoping to get closer to the immortal-like elder.

"Elder Tang, could it be Tang Peiqing, a Great Power in the Taoist Platform Realm! Such a great figure is giving us a lecture?"

The disciples from the Golden Sword Sect were taken aback when they heard the title Elder Tang.

Before coming to Ghost Ridge Palace, the elders of the Golden Sword Sect had briefed them on the powerful figures in Ghost Ridge Palace.

Among them was the Supreme Elder Tang Peiqing, with a lifespan of several centuries, an authentic Taoist Platform Realm powerhouse.

These Golden Sword Sect disciples didn't expect Ghost Ridge Palace to be so generous. Initially, they thought having a lecture from a Secret Realm Elder would be good, but it turned out to be a Taoist Platform Realm powerhouse personally explaining the way.

"Today we continue the lecture, discussing the crucial points from the Fifth Level to the Sixth Level of Yunling Realm, hoping it will aid those present who wish to advance and become inner disciples."

Tang Peiqing stroked his snow-white goatee, with a kindly expression, and began: "The method of immortals differs from ordinary people in the sanctity of immortality. As it is said, gold and jade in the nine orifices prevent decay for the dead. If brine touches the flesh and marrow, the preserved meat will not rot. What more when things beneficial to life are taken within oneself, how then is it surprising that it grants longevity?"

The teachings were as if the flowers were bursting from the tongue, the Daoist sounds resonated, and the Righteous disciples listening were mesmerized. Some were immersed, listening and comprehending, others furiously jotting down notes to study carefully later.

"Just attempts to seduce me, not worth mentioning."

Xu Chang forced himself to resist, maintaining composure and remaining steadfast.

However, some junior disciples of the Golden Sword Sect didn't have such self-control. After all, this was a lecture by a Taoist Platform Realm great power!

A lecture by someone of this realm, they had no chance to hear at the Golden Sword Sect, nor would there be a Taoist Platform Realm powerhouse willing to answer the questions of these Outer Disciples. Even Secret Realm Elders would not specially give lectures to them, as those were reserved for inner disciples.

Especially for many Outer Disciples, Tang Peiqing was discussing the breakthroughs from the Fifth Level to the Sixth Level of Yunling Realm, the dividing line between Outer and Inner Disciples. This was an incredible opportunity for many Outer Disciples.

"Senior Brother, my stomach hurts a bit; I'll go to the restroom first."

Seeing the lecture start, a junior brother from the Golden Sword Sect clutched his stomach, appearing in great pain. Before Xu Chang could respond, he dashed out with a whoosh, quickly disappearing.

"Senior Brother, I'm hungry, I'll get something to eat."

A junior sister's eyes darted as she coyly remarked before hurrying out of the room, her walk a shimmy that betrayed her urgency.

Xu Chang then realized, glaring sternly at the remaining junior brothers.

"What, are you going to run too, having forgotten the teachings of your sect? Where's your Sword Cultivator pride?"

The two junior disciples who were also thinking of slipping away looked at their senior brother blocking the door, complaining pitifully.

"Senior Brother, you misunderstand me. I had no intention of sneaking off to listen to the lecture. I'm not like Junior Sister Jia Chuchu; I'm not hungry."

"Senior Brother, me too. Yu Ning is lacking in loyalty. He's already at Fifth Level Yunling Realm, yet claims his stomach hurts. He's obviously coveting the Taoist Platform Realm Elder's lecture. When he returns, I'll surely scold him severely."

Hearing the two junior brothers, Xu Chang's expression softened a little, and he admonished them, warning against mingling with Ghost Ridge Palace, then turned to shut the door.

But as he approached the door, an involuntary twitch occurred at the corner of his eye.

Because he saw his junior brother and sister, Yu Ning, who claimed stomach pain, was now in the Martial Arts Arena, sitting on a cushion, eagerly listening, with no sign of his earlier discomfort.

His junior sister was even more outrageous, showing no feminine reserve. Squeezing out several Righteous Cultivators, amidst annoyed glares, she both acted cute and apologized, using her advantage as a female cultivator to forcibly move forward for a better hearing of Tang Peiqing's lecture.

"Disgraceful, utterly disgraceful. They've completely discarded our Sword Cultivator pride."

Xu Chang's face turned ashen with anger, infuriated by these two. He had said to keep distance from Ghost Ridge Palace last night, yet his junior brother and sister had gone to listen today. Their betrayal was too swift.

Slamming the door shut, Xu Chang turned to see the eager faces of his two junior brothers, their eyes longing to join those outside.

"Stop looking, pull back your eyes."

Xu Chang snorted coldly, waking them, and warned, "I'm telling you, there's nothing worth listening to from Ghost Ridge Palace. Do they understand Sword Cultivation? Our Golden Sword Sect materials are enough for you to learn."

The two disciples shrank back, daring not to speak.

But what they thought inside was unknown to outsiders, as the lecture-giver was a Taoist Platform Realm powerhouse!

Knock, knock!

Suddenly, the door was knocked; it was a servant disciple from Ghost Ridge Palace bringing breakfast, curiously glancing at those inside, saying, "Hey, aren't you going to listen to the lecture? Elder Tang is personally lecturing; such opportunities aren't an everyday occurrence!"

This statement seemed to touch Xu Chang's sore spot, as if a cat had its tail stepped on, he furiously declared, "Attend the lecture? I, Xu Chang, would rather starve, die outside, jump out from here, than listen to a word from you!"

This voice was extremely firm, with an undoubtedly unyielding attitude. Xu Chang was just such a steadfast Sword Cultivator; he would never betray his sect.

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