Chapter 3: The Hidden Truth
Zhang Xian stood before the girl, feeling the weight of her words settle in the air. Her presence was unlike anything he had encountered within his own sect, though that didn't necessarily mean it was strange. The cultivators of the Supreme Celestial Sect were known for their unique traits, but the girl's aura was subtly different, as if something deeper and more complex was hidden within her. Her gaze was uncertain but determined, and Zhang Xian understood she was carrying more than just the weight of her cultivation.
The door opened, and the thirty-six cultivators—the elite guardians of his sect—entered the room. Zhang Xian looked at them with a nod, acknowledging their presence, but his attention remained on the girl. Their eyes flickered briefly toward her, each of them sensing the subtle energy that surrounded her.
Xian Long, the Celestial Swordmaster, stepped forward, his expression neutral but intense. "Master Zhang, we've heard her words. Do we truly believe her?"
Zhang Xian remained silent for a moment, studying the girl, who looked nervous but resolute. She was hiding something, he could sense it. But the thirty-six—his most trusted cultivators—had already spoken, and they, too, were aware of the girl's secret.
"You speak of a power that many desire, but none of us can truly claim," Xian Long continued. "It's true that your cultivation is at its peak, but her presence is... different."
The girl's face flushed with discomfort, and she lowered her gaze. Zhang Xian took note of her unease and turned his focus back to the cultivators. He was beginning to understand, though there was much that still eluded him. He would need to be patient.
"I haven't told you everything," the girl spoke up softly. "But I trust you all now."
The room went silent as she hesitated, gathering her thoughts. Zhang Xian gave her the time she needed, his gaze steady and encouraging.
"What is it?" he asked gently.
"I… I possess something rare," the girl began, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I've kept it a secret. Not because I wanted to, but because I've never been able to control it, and I fear the consequences." She paused before continuing, her words slow and measured. "I have a Dao body."
The cultivators, even those who had reached the highest levels of cultivation, exchanged glances, though none reacted overtly. They understood the weight of her words, but Zhang Xian did not. He had never encountered a Dao body before, and so he remained silent, watching the girl closely.
"I don't fully understand it," she added, her voice trembling slightly. "But it's said that if someone with the right intentions were to... perform dual cultivation with me, they could increase their cultivation quickly, surpassing their limits." She looked around the room, her eyes wide with fear. "I've been chased, hunted, and used by many for this very reason. Even though I haven't gone through dual cultivation with anyone yet, my Dao body is a target. I've never been able to escape them—until now."
Zhang Xian's thoughts raced, trying to comprehend the situation. A Dao body… From what he could gather from the girl's words, it was something that could elevate others' cultivation, something highly sought after. He could feel the unease in the room as his cultivators processed what she had said.
Liu Fang (Legendary Chef) was the first to speak, his voice calm but firm. "Master Zhang, we have no use for such powers. We are already at our peak, and nothing in this world can further our cultivation. She is not a threat to us."
Xian Long nodded, his expression unchanged. "That is true. We cannot gain anything from her Dao body."
The girl's face was filled with both relief and apprehension. She had been dreading this moment—the moment when the true extent of her power would be revealed. But to her surprise, the thirty-six cultivators did not seem interested in exploiting her, despite the temptation her Dao body might hold.
"But," Liu Fang continued, "that does not mean we don't need to protect her. If others discover her power, they will stop at nothing to capture her. This is why we must remain vigilant."
Zhang Xian observed the girl carefully, noting the way she flinched at their words. He could see the scars of her past—those who had taken advantage of her, those who had pursued her relentlessly for her power.
"We will protect you," Zhang Xian said, his voice steady and assuring. "You will not be alone in this."
She met his gaze, her eyes filled with uncertainty but also a flicker of hope. The cultivators nodded in agreement, their loyalty to Zhang Xian unshakable.
"I don't want to be used again," she said quietly. "I've seen what people do when they find out about my Dao body. They only want to take from me, and I... I don't know how to trust anyone anymore."
Zhang Xian's expression softened. He could sense her fear, her desperation to not be seen as an object, as something to be used and discarded. Her Dao body, while rare and powerful, had become a curse in the wrong hands.
"You're not a tool to be used," Zhang Xian reassured her. "You are a person, and you will have the freedom to choose your path here. We are not interested in exploiting you."
He paused, allowing his words to settle in the room before continuing. "But if you ever feel threatened again, we will be here. You are part of this sect now, and we will protect you with all that we have."
The girl's eyes shone with gratitude, though a sense of wariness lingered. She had been through too much to easily trust anyone, even those who offered her protection. But for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to feel a sense of security.
The cultivators began to file out, leaving Zhang Xian and the girl alone in the room. He could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on him. While the thirty-six cultivators had no use for the girl's Dao body, there were others out there who would stop at nothing to claim it for themselves. And Zhang Xian knew that this was just the beginning of a much larger story.
"Thank you," the girl said softly as she looked up at him.
Zhang Xian gave a small nod. "Rest now. You've earned it."
With that, the girl retired to her quarters, and Zhang Xian stood alone, deep in thought. There was much to consider, but one thing was clear—his sect would be drawn into a much larger world than he had initially anticipated. And whatever came next, he would face it head-on, with the strength of his cultivators by his side.
---
End of Chapter 3