Chapter 972: Chapter 976: The Collapse of Guo Man

Today was a day of celebration for the Osmanthus Sect, and Xia Liu naturally had his share of social obligations.

Witnessing Xia Liu’s overwhelming prowess, everyone present felt a surge of pride as they raised their glasses together.

Xia Liu truly lives up to being the Heavenly Mansion Chief.

At such a young age, he was already capable of annihilating a Late-Stage Innate Warrior.

With him in the Huaxia Warrior Realm, the future undoubtedly promises a new chapter of supremacy.

Moreover, as the Heavenly Mansion Chief, Xia Liu ensures stability in the Warrior Realm’s order.

Today, Xia Liu is not only the Mansion Chief but also the Supreme Elder of the Osmanthus Sect.

Soon enough, a legendary tale will be passed around in the Warrior Realm.

The Supreme Elder of the Osmanthus Sect–taking on five foes at once, severely injuring a Path-Entering Peak Warrior, and slaying an Innate Warrior!

Such achievements are enough to command awe across the entire Warrior Realm!

On this day, Xia Liu is also a good son-in-law, an admirable husband.

Among them, the Guo family was especially filled with admiration and excitement.

Little did they know their alliance was with a supreme warrior surpassing the Late-Stage Innate Realm.

Late into the night, most of the warriors had already returned to Hejing; they didn’t leave immediately.

After all, Xia Liu had mentioned during the grand ceremony…

That over the next couple of days, Guo Po and Guo De–the Guo family’s Innate Warriors–would share their martial training insights.

This announcement electrified the crowd.

Guo Po was an Innate Warrior!

Among them, Guo De was even more renowned–the White Jade Sword Saint from a century ago.

While Xia Liu was an untouchable figure they revered, Guo De was someone they deeply esteemed, someone they could aspire to emulate.

Receiving insights from an Innate Warrior is a priceless opportunity, worth cherishing for a lifetime by warriors of any rank.

After arranging the warriors’ accommodations, Xia Liu tasked Tie Shan with taking care of the girls’ families.

Most of them had traveled from the cities and, unlike warriors, didn’t have nimble legs. Hence, they rested directly within the Osmanthus Sect’s mountain gate.

…

After handling a series of matters, Xia Liu returned home around two in the morning.

Fang Fei and the other girls hadn’t gone to bed; it was as though they’d been injected with adrenaline. They were diligently cultivating–in the living room, in their rooms, and even on the rooftop.

Today had truly ignited a fire within them.

If only their cultivation had been more advanced, they would have surely displayed their skills before the warriors of the realm.

But alas, their cultivation levels were too low; they couldn’t aid Xia Liu as much as they’d hoped.

Thus, they resolved to work even harder.

Among the girls, one was different; she had locked herself in a room on the second floor, hugging her knees, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Hmm?”

Detecting Guo Man’s odd behavior with his Divine Sense, Xia Liu grew perplexed. Today ought to have been joyful; why was she so melancholic, even sorrowful?

“Xiaoxue, Xiaoman, you’ve been spending time with Guo Man the past few days–did anything happen to her?”

On the rooftop, Xia Liu found the two girls and asked them.

“No, we’ve been having fun with Sister Guo Man these past couple of days,” Zhang Xiaoxue replied, puzzled at Xia Liu’s question.

Zhang Xiaoman shared her confusion. Did something happen to Guo Man?

“By the way, has she become acquainted with the Immeasurable Sword Art and begun cultivating it?”

Suddenly, Xia Liu thought of something alarming.

Perhaps this very thing was the reason for Guo Man’s unusual behavior.

Over the past few days, Xia Liu had been consumed by the grand ceremony…

And neglected Guo Man.

“Yes, Sister Guo Man is diligent and smart; she understands things quickly and far better than we did in the past.”

“Exactly! Sister Guo Man is incredible. Brother Xia Liu, you should really make a move soon!”

Zhang Xiaoman couldn’t help but tease.

“Got it. You two go back to cultivating; I’ll check on her.”

Without waiting for their response, Xia Liu turned and headed downstairs.

He felt a sense of urgency.

With his Divine Sense, he saw Guo Man had opened a window, her gaze distant and dazed.

The locked door was instantly opened from the inside using his Divine Sense.

“Little Man, stop!”

Before his words had finished, Xia Liu shot forward like a meteor, crossing the distance and wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Ah!”

Guo Man screamed sharply, the events unfolding so suddenly that she hadn’t yet processed them.

When she finally came to her senses, she turned and clung to Xia Liu, letting out heart-wrenching sobs from her throat.

“Wuuu…”

Gently soothing the crying Guo Man, Xia Liu spoke tenderly, “Little Man, don’t do anything rash. No matter what happens, I–and everyone else–will face it with you.”

“Xia Liu, I’m different from everyone else… different…”

Guo Man lifted her head, abruptly pushed Xia Liu away, tears streaming down her face.

With a wave of his hand, Xia Liu locked the door and covered the entire room with his Divine Sense, severing all connection with the outside world.

“Little Man, calm down. Let’s talk this through slowly.”

“I can’t calm down! I thought I was a descendant of warriors, blessed with incredible talent–only to find that I can’t even circulate a Cultivation Technique!”

Guo Man’s tears spilled like a collapsed dam, pouring out endlessly.

“Little Man! Please don’t get worked up!”

Seeing her like this, Xia Liu immediately stepped forward, holding her tightly so she couldn’t harm herself.

“Xia Liu! How do you expect me to calm down? I’m not like you, or the other girls–I’m completely different!”

Guo Man might have resisted cultivation in the past…

But being with Xia Liu made her realize that if she remained just an ordinary person…

She had no right to stand alongside him.

Even those younger than her possessed terrifying power.

The thought of being unable to cultivate for her entire life was unbearable for Guo Man.

She was destined to walk a different path from Xia Liu.

“Little Man, don’t let your thoughts spiral! No matter what, we mustn’t give up.”

“I can’t calm down! I’m fated to be a mere mortal–fated to walk a different path from you all!”

Guo Man’s emotions surged higher and higher, but her strength was no match for Xia Liu’s.

Finally, after exhausting herself, she slumped in Xia Liu’s embrace.

Her cries had been so gut-wrenching that her voice had grown hoarse.

“Little Man, you’re not unable to cultivate; you’ve simply been approaching it the wrong way. I’ve neglected you the past few days–that’s my mistake. Let me fix it now.”

“It’s not your fault; it’s my lack of talent–it’s me. I can’t cultivate.”

“Little Man, the cultivation principles you’ve been taught before are those of warriors. The Immeasurable Sword Art is a cultivator’s spell–it’s different. Trust me.”

“Really?”

Guo Man looked at Xia Liu earnestly, her tear-filled eyes blinking incessantly, as a sliver of hope surfaced in her heart.

“Of course. I’m a high-strength cultivator; I would never mislead you.”

Xia Liu nodded. He wasn’t entirely sure yet but intended to confirm fully before making promises.

“So… I can really become a cultivator?”

“Yes. First, you need to calm down, then follow my method to circulate the Cultivation Technique, and finally transcend the Body Tempering Stage and advance to the Qi Cultivation Stage.”

Xia Liu nodded.

However, as he spoke, an unsettling feeling quietly arose within his heart…