This was an unexpected situation that neither Chen Yan nor Li Haowen had anticipated in the slightest.

Chen Yan did not respond immediately, merely looking at the young disciple kneeling before him, who appeared to be around twenty years old.

"Why do you want me to guide you?"

After a moment, Chen Yan slowly spoke.

"Because Senior's cultivation is profound, making this junior admire you from the bottom of my heart!"

Xiao Chen answered decisively.

"Is that so? If that's the reason, then you shouldn't ask for my guidance, you should go seek guidance from True Person Caiyun instead."

Chen Yan said teasingly.

"......"

Xiao Chen was speechless for a moment, then lifted his head, mustering the courage to look directly into Chen Yan's eyes:

"Senior! This junior has suffered endless humiliation within the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect, mocked by senior brothers and sisters, looked down upon by junior brothers and sisters. Today, having the fortune to meet you, Senior, such an opportunity... this junior truly cannot bear to miss it!"

"Why do they all mock you and look down on you?"

Chen Yan asked calmly.

"Because... they are all convinced that this junior is unworthy of being a core disciple of the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect!"

Xiao Chen's voice was suppressed with indignation.

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan nodded as if suddenly enlightened, then asked with a smile:

"So, what do you think? Do you feel you deserve the position of a core disciple of the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect?"

"......"

Xiao Chen suddenly froze.

He had never once considered this question, instead exhausting all means to prove himself to others.

"...I do."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Chen spoke.

But his voice lacked confidence.

"Is that so? Then compared to the other core disciples within the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect, where lies your advantage?"

Xiao Chen fell silent again.

"No advantage?"

Chen Yan continued speaking in a steady tone, like an interrogation of the soul.

"That is precisely why I hope Senior can guide this junior, so that I may prove myself before my fellow disciples!"

Xiao Chen said loudly, as if trying to use volume to compensate for his wavering heart.

"But, you can't even comprehend the cultivation methods of the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect. What makes you think that after receiving my guidance, you will suddenly gain enlightenment?"

Chen Yan pressed further.

Xiao Chen fell silent once more.

"Whether in temperament or innate talent, you are still far lacking."

Chen Yan said lightly.

"No, Senior!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen lifted his head again, refuting strenuously:

"This junior acknowledges my talent is average, but my temperament... I believe it far surpasses the vast majority of my fellow disciples!"

"How so?"

Chen Yan found Xiao Chen's words somewhat amusing.

"This junior's temperament is sufficiently resilient and persistent!"

"The temperament you speak of... is it the resilience of being mocked and looked down upon by your fellow disciples yet not facing the reasons, only knowing indignation? Or is it the persistence of wanting to show off in front of a lovely, charming junior martial sister?"

Chen Yan laughed:

"Do you think this has any relation to the temperament required for cultivating immortality?"

"......"

Xiao Chen was dumbstruck, his cheeks flushed red.

This time, he was completely at a loss for words.

"How about I suggest a way out for you?"

Chen Yan said.

"Please, Senior, show me the way."

This time, Xiao Chen's voice finally softened.

"Leave the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect, leave this borderland, go to more prosperous places within the kingdom, find a cultivation family. With your Qi Circulation Realm cultivation, securing a guest elder position among those mortal world cultivation families would be more than sufficient."

Chen Yan said calmly:

"Those family disciples will admire you, and many beautiful young ladies will adore you. Why stay in the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect to suffer grievances?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen was stunned for a while, then his face flushed red with displeasure:

"If Senior does not wish to guide this junior, just say so. Why mock me with such words!"

"That depends on how you interpret my words."

Chen Yan shook his head with a smile, then turned to look at Li Haowen beside him:

"Senior Brother Li, let's continue on our way."

The two Kongshan Sect cultivators clad in white daoist robes continued towards the direction of Shengyuan Mountain, leaving behind the youth in green daoist robes still kneeling on the ground.

Not long after, the youth in green daoist robes stood up and, with indignation, headed back towards the direction of the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect.

Chen Yan was not mocking Xiao Chen.

He was serious, considering Xiao Chen's future.

Because in Xiao Chen, Chen Yan saw the shadow of his own past.

In his first life, Chen Yan had wasted a hundred years in the outer court of the Kongshan Sect.

In the final days of his life, walking alone through the Fallen Sword Mountain Range searching for Su Hongzhen's legacy, he had pondered this question more than once.

If, in this lifetime, he had not exhausted every effort seeking the immortal path, but instead lived freely in the mortal world... how would that have been?

It would have been a splendid life.

But there were no 'ifs'.

For the vast majority of cultivators with mediocre talent, the gap between the Qi Circulation Realm and the Martial Spring Realm was already like an impassable chasm.

Yet they always believed they still had hope.

Only when their lifespan was nearing its end did they discover everything had been in vain.

It was just a pity that by then, it was too late.

Chen Yan deeply understood this.

Beyond that, there was also the issue of being unworthy of one's position.

Just like how Xiao Chen, relying on Elder Xiao Yi's name, managed to occupy the position of a core disciple of the Demon-Slaying Sword Sect.

The Chen Yan of the past, when he had just become a disciple of Kongyuan Mountain, also faced the same predicament.

Especially since, at that time, he had also offended Kongyuan Mountain's Enforcement Hall elder, Song Wencheng. One could say every step was difficult.

It was only after Chen Yan's cultivation "advanced by leaps and bounds" and he improved the Kongshan Art that he was truly recognized by the disciples of Kongyuan Mountain. So much so that later, when he was appointed as Kongyuan Mountain's chief disciple, no one raised any objections.

However, Xiao Chen could not comprehend these truths.

Only after experiencing all hardships and looking back on his life would he suddenly realize.

So, everything that Kongshan Sect senior said earlier was completely right.

...

The Demon-Slaying Sword Sect was only sixty li away from Shengyuan Mountain.

Therefore, it wasn't long before Chen Yan and Li Haowen saw this famously treacherous demon mountain before them.

At a position five li from the edge of Shengyuan Mountain, there was a small town.

The town had no mortal residents; those gathered here were all cultivators.

This was a place for cultivators heading to Shengyuan Mountain to slay demons to rest, recuperate, and organize supplies.

Of course, some also set up stalls here to sell and purchase demon cores, immortal plants, and other materials.

Chen Yan and Li Haowen, clad in Kongshan Sect daoist robes, stood out quite conspicuously here.

Especially Li Haowen, wearing Yuanhua Mountain daoist robes and carrying one black and one white long sword at his waist.

His attire could be said to be extremely recognizable within the borders of Qingque Kingdom.

After all, in this region of Qingque Kingdom, who did not know of "Li Godslayer"?