"Master, have you been discovered?! Is this all fake?" At this moment, Xiao Ling'er's mind raced with doubts. Could it be that she had been deceived?
Her teacher, Liang Danxia, however, remained calm and said, "That's not necessarily the case. This sect rule was likely set before you joined the sect, not after. Therefore, it's not necessarily aimed at you or me. Besides, even if some things are false, the sect's treatment of you—whether it's the Earth Core Demon Fire or the efforts of the five elders to gather elixirs and materials for you—has been genuine. So, there's no need to overthink it."
Though Liang Danxia was also shocked, she far more experienced than Xiao Ling'er and was able to calm down quickly, reassuring her disciple.
"Okay." Xiao Ling'er's expression softened. "No matter what, even if there's some ulterior motive, the kindness Master and the sect have shown me is real. That can't be faked."
"But why is there do they have such a rule? No, why are there so many strange sect rules?"
She was puzzled. Liang Danxia shared her confusion. After all, this was truly outrageous. Which sect would have rules like this?
"I don't know either." Liang Danxia didn't understand, but that didn't stop her from analyzing. "However, we can try to make sense of it. I believe this sect rule was written before you joined the sect, or at least before the sect opened its doors to recruit disciples this year. Only this year did they stop valuing talent and start focusing on fate. Furthermore, it's unlikely to be aimed at you or me. They may not even know of my existence, as there are dozens of new admission rules, each targeting a specific group of people. While they seem unrelated, they each have their own... 'specialty.'
"Perhaps..." She paused, then continued slowly, "The person who set these rules must have had a specific idea in mind, believing that those who meet these conditions are extraordinary?"
As she said this, Liang Danxia herself found it absurd. How could people who meet these conditions be extraordinary? But upon further reflection, she grew even more confused.
"These conditions may seem unrelated and confusing, but in reality, they are..."
"They are what, teacher?" Xiao Ling'er blinked.
"Actually, they seem to make sense." Liang Danxia slowly spoke these words. "After all, they selected you from over ten thousand people based on these rules and have spared no effort in cultivating you. They've invested almost everything in you. This proves that these seemingly confusing and bizarre sect rules must hold some extraordinary significance!"
Xiao Ling'er was stunned. It seemed... that was the case.
"Moreover, from the attitudes of your master and the Fifth Elder, it's clear they place great importance on these rules, or perhaps unconditionally believe in them?!" Liang Danxia seemed to gradually understand and continued, "In my opinion, these rules were likely set by your master.
"How can you tell?" Xiao Ling'er asked, curious.
"You've noticed that your master is no ordinary person, haven't you? His cultivation speed is almost faster than yours. Remember, you have my personal guidance, the techniques I've provided, and the blessings of the strange fire they have given you. He's also refined many elixirs himself. Yet your master has been consistently above you. You've never been able to close the gap between you and him. Secondly, your master only recently ascended to the position of Sect Leader. Before that, the Moon Embracing Sect likely didn't have such rules. Otherwise, given how much they value these rules, why wouldn't they have used them before this year's recruitment? All of this points to your master. He... has a secret. And it's likely a bigger secret than yours or mine!"
Xiao Ling'er fell silent after hearing this. Liang Danxia didn't say anything more. After a moment, Xiao Ling'er smiled. "I've been overthinking things, teacher. Everyone has their own secrets. It's normal for Master to have secrets, isn't it? Just as Master knows I have secrets but never probes into them, instead dedicating the sect's resources to my cultivation. So why should I care so much? As long as the sect and Master treat me sincerely, I will repay them tenfold. Moreover, this has given me direction. In the future, if I meet someone who meets these conditions, I can bring them back to the sect."
"Good, very good!" Liang Danxia laughed. "That's the right attitude."
'Who doesn't have secrets? I have secrets too! There are things I haven't told this girl, but as long as I'm treated well, what does it matter?' Liang Danxia thought to herself, looking at Ling'er.
"But teacher, leaving aside the earlier sect rules, the latter part of the rules—the sect's bylaws—aren't they a bit too timid and harsh?" Xiao Ling'er turned her attention to the second half of the rules.
She expected her teacher to agree, but Liang Danxia's response was the opposite.
"No! We can only speculate about the rules of admission, but the bylaws are truly wise!"
"Ah?!"
"You're still young and haven't experienced much. You'll understand in time. For now, just follow the sect's rules, and you won't go wrong."
"Uh… Ok, teacher."
A few days later, outside Hongwu Immortal City. Duan Qingyao and Xiao Ling'er landed slowly.
"Ling'er, this is Hongwu Immortal City." She smiled and explained, "Isn't it spectacular?"
"It is." Xiao Ling'er was amazed.
"That's natural." Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao said with emotion, "Hongwu Immortal City has a permanent population of over 100 million. Including temporary residents, the number reaches 200 million. The strong are as numerous as clouds! Especially the current city lord, known as the Hongwu Earth Immortal, a true master of the Loose Immortal Realm."
"Loose Immortal?" Xiao Ling'er was puzzled.
"Loose Immortals are cultivators who failed to ascend to immortality but didn't die. Instead, they chose the path of Loose Immortals, also known as Earth Immortals. Ordinary Loose Immortals are stronger than Void Breaking but weaker than Ascending Immortals, falling somewhere in between. However, Loose Immortals can undergo tribulations. Each tribulation they survive boosts their cultivation and combat power significantly. If they survive twelve tribulations, they can transcend the immortal realm and ascend directly to become 'True Immortals!'"
"I see!" Xiao Ling'er understood, but in her mind, Liang Danxia sighed, "Elder Duan is right, but the twelve tribulations of a Loose Immortal are incredibly difficult. In the entire history of the Divine Martial Continent, very few have succeeded. Not to mention twelve tribulations, even surviving seven is a feat achieved only by the most talented. Reaching the immortal realm after seven tribulations isn't difficult. But the Loose Immortal Tribulation occurs only once every five hundred years and cannot be avoided. So unless absolutely necessary, you must never consider the path of a Loose Immortal!"
"Yes, teacher. Disciples understand." Seeing Xiao Ling'er absorb the lesson, Liang Danxia smiled slightly.
"Fifth Elder, how many tribulations has Senior Hongwu survived?"
"I don't know." Duan Qingyao shook her head. "It's far beyond my level."
"Teacher?" Xiao Ling'er asked Liang Danxia.
Liang Danxia also admitted she didn't know. "Before my accident, I had been here, but he wasn't the city lord then. After the accident, I lost touch with such information."
"Oh~~~"
Xiao Ling'er remained curious but knew better than to push further. Soon, they joined the queue to enter the city. Those above the sixth level of the Cave Heaven Realm were considered top powerhouses in the outskirts of the Million Mountains where the Moon Embracing Sect was located. But here, they were nothing special.
Thus, Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao remained cautious.
Not wanting to attract attention, he paid the entrance fee and led Xiao Ling'er straight to an inn.
Xiao Ling'er also stayed cautious, covering her face with a veil to avoid drawing unwanted attention due to her extraordinary beauty.
After all, the sect's bylaws were clear.
Article 48: All female disciples with extraordinary beauty who lack the absolute ability to protect themselves must not reveal their faces when going out, to avoid unnecessary disasters.
Lin Fan's reasoning for this rule was simple.
——
Beauty is a double-edged sword. When paired with other advantages, beauty is a powerful asset. But alone, it can be a curse. If it is the protagonist, they wouldn't have to worry much, even if the beauties around them were exposed. After all, the protagonist's most common move is to play the fool and then strike back.
Every time they arrive at a new place, the easiest enemies to provoke are the playboys or second-generation immortals with more lust than sense. They often fall for the stunning female companion of the protagonist, only to be humiliated or defeated before they can even act.
This kind of plot is essentially free experience for the protagonist. But they were not the protagonist! At least not yet. The female disciples in the sect may not have the protagonist's plot armor. Moreover, with a sect behind them, even if they have the protagonist's template, such incidents might leave the protagonist unscathed, but there's no guarantee the sect will be fine. Therefore, until they have absolute strength, caution is paramount.
Be careful, and you'll sail safely for ten thousand years.
Covering one's face or altering one's appearance is a simple precaution. Under the constraints of the sect's rules, Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao and Xiao Ling'er kept a low profile, and nothing untoward happened along the way. Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao was no weakling outside the city, but within the city, rules prevailed, and most didn't dare cause trouble.
As long as they remained discreet, they'd be fine. Thus, they settled in Hongwu Immortal City for the time being. During the day, they cultivated at the inn or explored nearby, and all was well. However, it was clear that Hongwu Immortal City was growing livelier, with more and more people gathering.
"There's no shortage of outlaws." Three days before the conference began, Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao solemnly warned, "We must be even more low-key and cautious in the coming days. While most don't dare cause trouble in the Immortal City, there are always exceptions. Some outlaws don't care about the rules."
"Yes, Fifth Elder. I understand." Seeing Xiao Ling'er's tense expression, Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao smiled.
"But don't worry too much. As long as we stay low-key, there shouldn't be any major issues. I heard there's a night market nearby tonight, and many will attend. If you'd like, you can go and take a look. While we must remain discreet, that doesn't mean we should shut ourselves in. Good things can appear at such night markets. Whether you find something valuable depends on your luck."
"That's what I was thinking." Xiao Ling'er smiled. Liang Danxia agreed. Finding hidden treasures was a common enough occurrence to be talked about, yet rare enough that most never encountered them in their lifetime. But with Liang Danxia's guidance, Xiao Ling'er might just find something valuable. It was worth a look.
——
Night fell. The two—or rather, two and a half—headed to the night market discreetly. The night market was bustling, with people from all over displaying their wares. There were elixirs, equipment, spells, techniques, secret arts, oddities... even fragments Xiao Ling'er couldn't identify. It was overwhelming.
"Night markets, also known as black markets." As they browsed, Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao explained softly, "Many things here can't be found in the open. So, a keen eye is essential."
He didn't hold back, sharing all he knew. Though Xiao Ling'er had Liang Danxia's guidance, Duan Qingyao's teachings still felt valuable, reinforcing the sect's sincerity. Some things are worth buying, but others, though good and cheap, may not be safe."
"Why?"
Xiao Ling'er was puzzled.
"Because their origins are questionable. See that flying sword over there? It's a top-grade spiritual weapon, worth at least 10,000 spirit stones. But the stall owner is asking only 5,000—half the price. Yet, few are interested, and most who are interested, are young cultivators who can't afford it. Why do you think that is?"
Xiao Ling'er realized, "Stolen goods?"
"Exactly. Likely obtained through murder. And the original owner's faction is powerful. The sword is a good item, but it's a hot potato. If you buy it, you'll likely be tracked down by the original owner's faction. The result..." Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao shook her head, leaving the rest unsaid. The consequences were obvious.
"Disciples understand."
"Ling'er, you're still young. Your talent and temperament are excellent. As long as you grow up safely, your future is limitless. But the key is to grow up safely. So, be cautious and don't capsize in the gutter." Duan Qingyao warned seriously. "I've seen too many geniuses die young."
Liang Danxia added, "I've seen even more. That's why I say your Moon Embracing Sect's rules are excellent."
Xiao Ling'er's expression tightened at this.
——
After wandering for a while, Liang Danxia suddenly exclaimed, "Go buy that patina-covered fragment over there. Use the method I taught you."
"Is it something good?" Xiao Ling'er approached quietly.
"It's likely a fragment of an inheritance site. If we can gather all the pieces, we might unlock a legacy." Xiao Ling'er's eyes sparkled. She went to the stall, picked through some items, and feigned interest in something of little value. After some haggling, she pretended to hesitate, then casually picked up the target fragment among the pile.
"Eighty spirit stones, but you have to throw in this fragment."
The stall owner examined the fragment but couldn't see anything special. "Deal!"
After securing the item, Xiao Ling'er remained calm and left once the transaction was complete. As they walked away, Duan Qingyao smiled. "Well done. Though not perfect, it's impressive for your age."
"Fifth Elder, did you notice? That fragment must be special, right? Then we'll need to gather the rest."
"Don't rush. We're not spending much anyway. Take your time. Even if we don't find all the pieces, it's no loss."
Seeing Duan Qingyao's lack of greed, Xiao Ling'er smiled beneath her veil.
——
Three days later.
The conference officially began.