"Shizun," Chen Zhaoyun called Gu Tianzhu. "Does it mean Ling Yu can cultivate even though she has no core?"
Gu Tianzhu nodded.
"Then where is her spirit energy stored?"
Gu Tianzhu shook his head. "I don't know either. I have never heard of a cultivator without a core."
"Ling Yu is the first?"
"She might be the only one," Gu Tianzhu replied.
"Does this mean she will be more powerful than regular cultivators?" Chen Zhaoyun asked again.
"I really don't know. I don't even know if she can continue to cultivate. Everything about her is unprecedented." Gu Tianzhu was as confused as anyone else.
Zhao Zhi and Xu Yun overheard the conversation. They, too, had no answers. This was beyond anything they had ever encountered.
"Shizun might know," Zhao Zhi lamented.
"That old man might," Xu Yun agreed.
They continued their work. Only twelve victims had been awakened, leaving nine still trapped in a hypnotic state.
"They can't stay like this for too long," Zhao Zhi sighed. "Their cores will become unstable soon."
"How long do we have?" Xuan Tian asked as he entered the chamber.
Zhao Zhi turned to him. "They won't explode at the same time. The earliest could be by tomorrow afternoon. The latest within three or four days."
Xuan Tian thought for a moment. "Let's separate them. Place them in different chambers, one per room. I'll seal those chambers. The most unstable ones should be placed in the farthest chamber."
Zhao Zhi looked concerned. "That's a lot of spirit energy."
Xuan Tian was unfazed. "I'll be fine." I have to be.
His gaze swept across the room. "And," he continued, "do not mention Ling Yu's ability to cultivate without a core to anyone. This will raise both curiosity and alarm."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Only the five of us know about this. And if I find out that others know…"
A wave of unseen pressure filled the room.
"I will know who to look for," Xuan Tian's voice vibrated with power, a reminder that he was not to be trifled with.
Chen Zhaoyun couldn't help but admire him. He truly cares about the safety of a human.
Zhao Zhi and Xu Yun nodded. "Understood."
Xu Yun hesitated before adding, "What about Lei Wen Dage and Lin Qian Jie-Jie…?"
"I will tell them," Xuan Tian replied before turning to Gu Tianzhu and Chen Zhaoyun.
Both of them immediately bowed. "Understood, Shengzun."
"Good."
"How are things here?" Xuan Tian continued.
"Everything is finished here. The awakened victims are now resting," Zhao Zhi reported. "I will now isolate the remaining nine based on their core instability."
"I will help," Chen Zhaoyun volunteered.
The doctors and Chen Zhaoyun went to work, while Gu Tianzhu stayed behind. He had something to discuss with Xuan Tian.
"Shengzun," Gu Tianzhu bowed. "I have something I'd like to discuss."
"Go ahead."
"May I know what Shengzun's plan is regarding the awakened victims?" Gu Tianzhu asked.
Xuan Tian stared at him, unblinking. The silence stretched. Gu Tianzhu's palms began to sweat, but he forced himself to hold Xuan Tian's gaze.
Xuan Tian continued to stare. The pressure in the room thickened. Gu Tianzhu dared not circulate his spirit energy to defend himself.
The pressure mounted. Gu Tianzhu clenched his fists, his back drenched in sweat. His head felt like it was about to explode.
"Argh!" Gu Tianzhu screamed, unable to bear it any longer.
"Shizun!" Chen Zhaoyun ran toward him, but the moment he crossed five steps, he felt the pressure too—and vomited blood.
"Zhaoyun! Stay… away!" Gu Tianzhu gritted out, struggling against the invisible force.
Then, suddenly, the pressure vanished—like it had never been there.
Gu Tianzhu gasped for breath, barely holding onto consciousness. Then he saw a hand reaching toward him.
He knew whose hand it was.
Blinking rapidly, forcing himself to stay awake, Gu Tianzhu reached out and took it.
Xuan Tian helped him stand, then extended the same aid to Chen Zhaoyun.
The master and disciple stood before him, panting.
"You may," Xuan Tian said simply, before turning and walking away to begin sealing the nine chambers.
Gu Tianzhu collapsed to the floor, sitting as he regulated his breath and spirit energy.
Chen Zhaoyun sat cross-legged and began circulating his spirit energy to heal himself.
"Shizun, what happened?" Chen Zhaoyun asked after a while.
Gu Tianzhu was still panting slightly, but then he turned to his disciple with a wild grin, like a madman.
"I passed!"
"Huh?" Chen Zhaoyun looked dumbfounded. He had never seen his Shizun grin like that.
"I passed, Zhaoyun," Gu Tianzhu said, this time in a calmer manner. "I passed Shengzun's test. I think I can say, now he trusts me."
"Shizun, this disciple doesn't understand."
"You know how I've always wanted to make our sect great again. We have been declining since Lingxu Sect began using those damn pills. I've always racked my brain on how to restore our status," Gu Tianzhu began his explanation.
"Yes, this disciple knows how hard Shizun works to make our sect great again," Chen Zhaoyun nodded.
"And now I've found a way," Gu Tianzhu whispered. "Shengzun."
"Huh?" Chen Zhaoyun still didn't understand.
"Imagine our Ziyu Sect having Shengzun's support!" Gu Tianzhu continued in a hushed tone.
"What? Shengzun said that?" Chen Zhaoyun asked in surprise.
"Use your head!" Gu Tianzhu smacked the back of his disciple's head. "Of course, Shengzun will not say that explicitly!"
"Shizun, this disciple is stupid," Chen Zhaoyun admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Please explain it further."
Gu Tianzhu sighed. "I asked Shengzun's permission to recruit the awakened people as our disciples. You know that now they need to cultivate to keep their cores stable. Even if they are taught basic cultivation methods, they still need guidance. You know the dangers if they don't, don't you?" Gu Tianzhu looked at his disciple menacingly.
"Yes, this disciple knows," Chen Zhaoyun nodded.
"I'm sure Shengzun is also thinking about this. That was why I volunteered. We hit two birds with one stone—we gain new disciples, and we gain Shengzun's support. Of course, this doesn't mean Shengzun will openly support us yet. But getting his trust is the first step." Gu Tianzhu smiled smugly.
"How—how are those two connected?" Chen Zhaoyun asked.
"Hmph! You really are hopeless!" Gu Tianzhu's face turned grim. "I asked Shengzun's permission, and if Shengzun agrees, it means he trusts me. You saw how protective he is!"
"OH!" Realization dawned on Chen Zhaoyun. "That was Shengzun testing Shizun! To see how determined you are and if you're truly a good person! And Shizun passed! Congratulations, Shizun!"
"It wasn't easy. I thought I might die from the pressure," Gu Tianzhu shuddered. "He is extremely powerful. Don't ever cross him."
Chen Zhaoyun nodded. "Yes. That pressure was terrifying. I thought I was going to explode on the spot!" His eyes were filled with admiration.
"Now, if only Ling Yu also became a disciple of our sect, we could really soar again!" Gu Tianzhu smiled broadly.