After The Death Escape and Ascension, The Male Protagonist of Long Aotian Went Crazy - Chapter 17

This was the first Daoist preaching assembly that Chi Qingxuan held after presiding over the Xuan Yin Immortal Sect for a thousand years. He hoped the experience he had gained in cultivation so far could help more cultivators improve.

It was not in vain that he bore the responsibility of strengthening the cultivation world.

A thousand years had passed since Immortal Lord Chenxu and the demon clan perished together in mutual destruction. The cultivation world was gravely weakened, and after Chenxu’s fall, he and Shi Hua each shouldered the duty of revitalizing it.

Everything was progressing in an orderly fashion.

“Jinning, hurry up, or we’ll be late!”

At the foot of the Xuan Yin Sect’s mountain gate, two figures in violet robes tugged at each other, muttering under their breath.

The sect’s mountain soared high, shrouded in mist.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a gentle glow.

Hua Jinning raised her hand to block the glare. “Elder Sister, it’s still early. Why so anxious?”

A sharp knock landed on her forehead.

Half-awake, Hua Jinning covered her head and looked at her sister with aggrieved eyes.

Hua Jinrong stood with arms akimbo, disapproving. “Sect Master Chi is Immortal Lord Chenxu’s disciple. That’s the Chenxu Immortal Lord of legend! Though Immortal Lord Chenxu has already fallen, her disciple inherited her will and has been striving to restore the cultivation world.

“Today Sect Master Chi is personally preaching. Of course we should go early and find a good spot. It will only benefit our cultivation.”

In truth, it all came down to Chenxu Immortal Lord’s reputation.

Without that title, Chi Qingxuan’s preaching might not have drawn such a crowd.

Hua Jinning, for one, had little regard for such empty words.

Cultivation was a path carved step by step—how could listening to a few sayings suddenly make one soar?

“Elder Sister, don’t let yourself be deceived by such groundless things—ah!”

Her lips nearly worn out with talking, her younger twin still didn’t take her seriously.

Exasperated, Hua Jinrong tugged her ear with a light show of force. “Even if you won’t listen, you’ll have to. Master has given orders—if you go back and can’t answer questions, don’t expect me to help you.”

The Hua sisters were princesses from the royal house of Ji’an, who had together become disciples under Immortal Lord Yunyao. Now, they served as disciples of Bixu Palace.

This time, it was Yunyao who ordered them to attend.

Immortal Lord Yunyao and Immortal Lord Suyu were close friends, and thus Yunyao placed absolute trust in Suyu’s junior brother.

“All right, all right, Elder Sister, I was wrong~”

The twins were fraternal—Hua Jinning loud and fiery, Hua Jinrong gentle and calm. They complemented and supported one another.

As the start of the preaching drew near, good seats were already gone. Irritated, Hua Jinrong dragged her sister by the ear up the steps.

“Ow! Elder Sister, spare me!”

By the time the assembly began in full force, the sisters were late.

The crowd was dense, pressing them to the outermost edge. Looking out, all they could see were heads; Chi Qingxuan was nowhere in sight.

Fortunately, the assembly would last three days—if they missed today, there was always tomorrow.

The Xuan Yin Sect had expanded housing to lodge visiting cultivators.

The second day, Hua Jinrong pulled her sister along early, securing seats in the very front row.

They watched as a young man in azure robes arrived by sword, stood above, and recited his cultivation insights from the past thousand years. His face, still boyish and immature, was grave with earnestness—an almost comical contrast, like a child playing adult.

Hua Jinrong wanted to listen intently, but seeing his solemnity against his youthful features, she couldn’t help lowering her head, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

Hua Jinning, puzzled, whispered questions.

Sitting in the front made them conspicuous. Fearing being noticed, Hua Jinrong clapped a hand over her sister’s mouth. Yet when she looked up, her eyes met his.

The young man’s lips pressed faintly; he seemed a little displeased, the tips of his ears flushed red. He cast her a brief glare before looking away to continue speaking.

That fleeting look, hardly a warning, made Hua Jinrong’s heart skip.

How pure he seemed.

He had lived thousands of years, yet still looked like a boy.

That night, Hua Jinrong found herself restless, her mind replaying his mild scolding gaze.

Unable to sleep, she went out for a walk under the moonlight—and unexpectedly ran into the very man.

“Sect… Sect Master.”

She felt flustered, though she couldn’t say why.

“You…” Chi Qingxuan began hesitantly, still dwelling on the day. “Was my lecture… very boring?”

Realizing what he meant, Hua Jinrong waved her hands in denial, desperate not to be misunderstood.

“No, no! Sect Master’s experiences are very useful. I laughed because… because Sect Master looks so very young, not at all like someone who’s lived thousands of years, with such a youthful face…”

She wanted to bite her tongue—what nonsense was she spouting? It sounded like flirtation.

Sure enough, Chi Qingxuan’s face flushed scarlet.

His jade-like cheeks were as red and dewy as ripe fruit.

Hua Jinrong scrambled to explain, but the more she spoke, the worse it sounded. At last, she shut her mouth entirely.

The two stood in silence under the moon.

A chill wind slipped through their sleeves, making them shiver.

Chi Qingxuan’s posture eased; without the burden of daytime formality, he looked more relaxed.

Watching the woman before him fretting in embarrassment, he couldn’t help but smile faintly.

After that night, something seemed to change—though on the surface, nothing had.

On the third day of the assembly, Chi Qingxuan lowered his gaze and immediately saw her sitting in the front row again, posture straight, listening intently. When she caught his eye, she bent her brows in a quiet smile.

His ears burned hot once more.

Hua Jinning noticed nothing, but as they left the Xuan Yin Sect, Hua Jinrong kept glancing back as though waiting for someone.

“Elder Sister, are you waiting for someone?”

Her eyes flickered. “S-sort of…”

Was she just being foolish? Perhaps he had no such thoughts at all.

“Who?”

Hua Jinning leaned closer. Her sister’s face grew red.

“Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to someone here behind my back?! I’m going to tell Master!”

“Oh, hush…”

Panicked, Hua Jinrong clapped a hand over her sister’s mouth, lest others overhear and spread rumors.

Yes, she was moved—but feelings required reciprocity.

She had left a sound-transmission for him. If he came, didn’t that mean he felt the same?

“Hua girl.”

A shy voice called.

Hua Jinrong’s heart leapt.

“Is Sect Master calling me?”

Hua Jinning, oblivious, shouted back.

Chi Qingxuan coughed lightly, his face flushed. “The one I’m looking for is Hua Jinrong.”

Hua Jinning’s eyes darted between them, then she grinned knowingly and stepped aside.

What they spoke of remained a secret only to them.

The warm wind of early summer carried not only the coming season but also the stirrings of hidden joy.

Shi Hua, watching from afar, was struck with a pang of memory.

It had been centuries since she’d seen Chi Qingxuan like this.

After Hua Jinrong’s death, Chi Qingxuan buried all his emotions, devoting himself to being a proper sect master. Gentle and measured in speech, he shouldered all external dealings of the sect.

Meanwhile, she, his senior sister, shut herself away in cultivation, neglecting her duties, leaving him to worry.

She had failed him.

But only for a moment did she dwell on it.

Shi Hua turned to the juniors. “The mirror’s last part requires your action. Xiyan, focus on restoring your spiritual power.”

Before entering, Chi Qingxuan had given them all antidotes. The medicine needed time to take effect.

Qin Xiyan answered: “Yes!”

Scenes in the mirror shifted.

Sometimes, a young girl awaited letters from her beloved; sometimes, she blushed as her sister teased her, her feelings detected by their master; sometimes, she immersed herself in cultivation, not lost to love.

Every tender stirring of her heart was witnessed by her twin.

Hua Jinning, more than anyone, saw her sister walk step by step toward death.

Being twins, often just one look was enough to know what the other was thinking.

Immortal Lord Yunyao didn’t oppose her relationship with Chi Qingxuan—she even welcomed it. He was Chenxu’s disciple, the junior of her dear friend Suyu; his character was beyond reproach.

Immortal Lord Suyu thought the same.

They even exchanged letters to discuss marriage between the two.

But fate had other plans.

While Suyu was in seclusion, the demon clan invaded, striking sects one by one so none could aid the others.

The demons believed that without Suyu, cultivators were as ants to be crushed.

They were wrong. Chi Qingxuan, as Chenxu’s disciple, was no weakling. Just because he usually focused on sect affairs didn’t mean he lacked strength.

The demons’ plan to conquer sect by sect was foiled.

Chi Qingxuan alone laid down a barrier to protect the sects, blocking reinforcements, while he led disciples to aid others.

“Chi Qingxuan! The Demon King has captured Elder Sister!”

When Hua Jinning’s urgent transmission came, Chi Qingxuan’s breath caught—he longed to rush there at once.

But he couldn’t—not until he finished matters here.

Resolute, he swiftly cut down his foes, then immediately flew toward Bixu Palace.

With Yunyao present, Bixu Palace would not fall easily.

What worried him was Hua Jinrong.

The Demon King, believing Chi Qingxuan too occupied, never expected him to arrive from behind. Shock and unwillingness filled the Demon King’s eyes as Chi’s sword pierced his heart.

Bl00d splattered Chi Qingxuan’s boyish face, his gaze cold and merciless. He pulled Hua Jinrong into his arms, murmuring softly: “Rong, don’t look.”

Don’t look at him.

He knew he was ragged and fierce, frightening to her eyes.

With a swing, he severed the Demon King’s head, casting it outside the barrier. Seeing their leader slain and the young man’s chilling face, the demon cultivators panicked and fled.

The demons had retreated.

The cultivators cheered, praising Chi Qingxuan.

For the first time, he displayed his true strength before the world, silencing all doubts and proving himself worthy as leader of the sects.

Holding the woman he loved, he smiled shyly, though demon bl00d still smeared his cheeks—as if that smile could soften his ruthlessness.

Hua Jinrong’s face was pale, still shaken. The Demon King’s blade had nearly pierced her heart.

But Chi Qingxuan had arrived in time, shielding her with his spiritual power.

She reached up and wiped the bl00d from his face.

“I know. The one I love has always been amazing.”

He was never the weakling they said he was.