The white-haired old man was none other than Daoist Tianxuan!
Surrounding him were four elders, all of them four-star Grandmasters.
And before them, a young girl knelt.
This girl was a disciple of considerable talent from the Tianxuan Taoist Temple.
Her name was Zhou Ying'er, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a pretty face tinged with shyness and apprehension. She appeared quite delicate and lovable.
"Master, I... am I really capable?"
Zhou Ying'er, kneeling on the ground, looked up at Daoist Tianxuan with a timid gaze.
Her eyes were fixed on the ancient tree before them, her heart pounding.
She was very fond of Daoist Tianxuan, but she felt the chasm between herself and Zhou Yan was too vast. Thus, she never dared to express her feelings for Zhou Yan, nor even dared to ponder who she truly liked.
"Of course, you are."
Daoist Tianxuan smiled faintly and said, "However, you must understand that while Zhou Yan has good talent, his disposition is not quite right. If he ever acts against you, you must remember not to trust anyone lightly."
"Yes, Master."
Hearing this, Zhou Ying'er's expression turned serious.
Though young, she knew that without Daoist Tianxuan, she might have perished long ago.
As for Zhou Yan, despite his exceptional talent, his mindset might not be as sound. After all, what use is extraordinary talent if one cannot mature? Geniuses do not always grow, and can even fall.
"Alright, you may go now. Once I have refined this World Tree, I will impart a cultivation technique to you."
Daoist Tianxuan waved his hand and spoke slowly.
Upon hearing Daoist Tianxuan's words, Zhou Ying'er's face lit up with joy.
She knew that the cultivation technique Daoist Tianxuan practiced was the most powerful in the Ancient Realm. If she could obtain it, her strength would undoubtedly soar.
Thinking of this, an excited expression could not help but surface on Zhou Ying'er's face.
"Master, I shall take my leave then."
Zhou Ying'er nodded and retreated from the secret chamber.
Watching Zhou Ying'er's departing back, a hint of a smile appeared on Daoist Tianxuan's face.
"This girl is quite intelligent. If I could take her as my disciple, perhaps I could cultivate a disciple with heaven-defying talent."
Daoist Tianxuan's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"However, this girl seems to have a deep connection with Zhou Yan. Furthermore, I can see that she seems to harbor a sense of dependence on my Tianxuan Sect."
Daoist Tianxuan stroked his white beard and murmured to himself.
"Never mind. Since that brat Zhou Yan has no great ambitions, let this girl Zhou Ying'er help him resolve some troubles."
Daoist Tianxuan sighed and then resumed his work.
Zhou Ying'er returned to her room, shut the door tightly, and sat cross-legged on her bed, beginning her cultivation.
Around her body, streams of pure spiritual energy surged forth, integrating into her being and tempering her physical form.
"This time, I will break through to become a four-star Grandmaster!"
Zhou Ying'er's gaze was filled with ardor and anticipation.
She had been diligently cultivating recently, striving to rapidly increase her cultivation and reach the four-star Grandmaster realm.
However, she had remained stuck at the peak of the three-star Grandmaster, unable to break through.
Now, as she was finally on the verge of a breakthrough, how could she not be excited?
Moreover, she felt that after this breakthrough, her cultivation would undoubtedly experience a significant leap.
With this thought, Zhou Ying'er focused all her attention on her cultivation.
...
In another secret chamber of the Tianxuan Taoist Temple, a white-bearded old Taoist priest looked at Zhou Ying'er before him and smiled slightly. "Zhou Ying'er, your talent is quite good, so I shall impart to you the 'Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Art'."
He was an elder of the Tianxuan Sect, named Tianxuanzi, a genuine five-star Grandmaster.
While his strength was not as great as the Daoist Master's, his artifact refining skills were among the best in the Tianxuan Sect.
"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master..."
Zhou Ying'er was instantly overjoyed, her face beaming with intense elation.
"Alright, go and prepare. I will assess your cultivation progress in three days," Tianxuanzi said, waving his hand to signal Zhou Ying'er to leave.
"En."
Zhou Ying'er nodded respectfully and turned to walk out.
After Zhou Ying'er had left, Tianxuanzi's expression turned grim.
"Hmph, exceptional talent? Do you think I would allow a trash like you to inherit the legacy of my Tianxuan Sect?"
Tianxuanzi sneered and closed his eyes to rest.
Around his body, strands of golden light flickered continuously.
These golden lights converged, forming a massive vortex.
The vortex spun, and a terrifying energy fluctuation emanated from it, sending shivers down one's spine.
...
Zhou Yan's detached courtyard.
Zhou Yan looked at a stone monument before him, his gaze turning extremely somber.
This stone monument was the one he had used when he first began his apprenticeship.
"This is the 'Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Art' that my master taught me. If you want to break through to become a four-star Grandmaster, you must master this 'Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Art', otherwise, don't blame me for being harsh."
Zhou Yan snorted coldly, then fixed his chilling gaze on the stone monument and growled, "Tianxuanzi, you just wait. Once I reach the four-star Grandmaster realm, I will kill you."
By the end of his words, Zhou Yan clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.
Tianxuanzi, he would seek revenge from him sooner or later.
...
Concurrently, hundreds of miles away from the Zhou family, on a desolate mountain, a man in a green robe sat cross-legged on a flat patch of ground.
Before the green-robed man, a black as ink long saber lay quietly.
"Buzz~"
Just then, a crisp sword hum resounded.
As this sword hum echoed, a gust of strong wind swept across the barren land, blowing away all the dry leaves on the ground.
And mixed within this strong wind were fine arcs of electricity, flashing intermittently, appearing exceptionally terrifying.
This green-robed man was none other than Zhou Yan.
"The Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Art is indeed powerful. With one bolt of divine thunder, even a six-star Grandmaster would surely die. But against me, it is no longer a threat."