In the main hall of the Seventh Palace, Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan are seated, on their knees, before the raised dais. Since they arrived, nearly an entire hour had passed in silence. Only then did the main gate of the Palace open once more, allowing a lone figure to pass through and enter the hall.
“Junior greets Palace Master Qin,” the two say, cupping their fists and bowing their heads. They do not move to stand.
Elder Qin casts a sidelong glance at them as she passes by their kneeling forms and continues walking towards the dais where a rather large throne awaits. The throne itself is lined with pale blue cushions and lined with soft fur, while the body itself is made of pale rose gold.
However, Elder Qin does not sit on the throne, which easily has the capacity to seat five or six people. In fact, judging by the state of the throne, it is extremely possible that it has not been used in at least ten years.
Once she is upon the dais, Elder Qin turns around to face the two Inner Disciples — her so-called direct disciples — and she crosses her arms at her chest.
“It has not even been three months, and you are already back,” Elder Qin says, her eyes narrowing. She seems displeased. “Don’t tell me you have more requests — or worse; another incident to report?”
Lan Xiaohui keeps her head lowered. This is not merely an act of submission on her part — Lan Xiaohui does not know the meaning of the word “submission” — but rather respect toward the Elder. As a cultivator, Elder Qin is much further along the Dao than she herself is, and in Lan Xiaohui’s cultured mind, infringing on Elder Qin’s time is already a very serious matter.
“We wish to compete in the Sky Continent Martial Conference, Palace Master Qin,” my owner says in an even, quieter-than-usual tone.
Elder Qin barks out a “Ha!” and shakes her head, the smile on her face something between amusement and disbelief. “Challenging applicants in the Junior Martial Meeting of the Galaxy Sword sect, or even the main tournament, is one thing, but climbing the ranks of the Inner Disciple Rankings is a completely different endeavor. Ten of you couldn’t make it into the first twenty, let alone the first ten.”
Lan Xiaohui frowns at those words and her hands ball into fists.
“Palace Master Qin,” Wu Yulan says, also keeping her head down. “How could this be? Sun Yongzheng is ranked tenth, but he is only at the peak of Foundation Establishment.”
“Sun Yongzheng, when he arrived at the Galaxy Sword sect, was in the peak stage of Foundation Establishment, and even back then, he could easily defeat a late-stage Core Foundation cultivator; in fact, when he obtained the tenth place ranking was exactly on that day!” Elder Qin explains to the shock of Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan.
“His true strength is even greater than that,” Elder Qin continues. “But he has neither ambition nor desire to compete. You are lucky that he became a True Disciple last year, after the Ranking was closed, and will yield his tenth-place ranking to someone else. But it won’t be you! You are still too weak!”
Lan Xiaohui raises her head and stares at Elder Qin. “I must compete in the Martial Conference, no matter what!”
“Why?” Elder Qin asks, uncrossing her arms and resting her left hand on her hip. “You are only interested in crossing swords with Yu Shun. Why does this Conference concern you?”
“The Rainbow-Colored Rebirth Lotus,” Lan Xiaohui says. “The first place reward. I need it to save Yun Fei.”
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Hearing Lan Xiaohui’s ambition to achieve first place in the Sky Continent Martial Conference renders even Elder Qin speechless.
If placing in the top ten Inner Disciples was a completely different realm from being shameless and challenging those geniuses at the Junior Tournament, then achieving first place in the Sky Continent Martial Conference is a completely different universe.
“You…” Elder Qin begins, eyes narrowing to thin slits. “You are serious?”
“Yes, Palace Master Qin,” Lan Xiaohui calmly replies.
“Are you out of your mind?” Elder Qin asks. “There must be a limit to your arrogance, Zhu Xuelian!”
Lan Xiaohui frowns at this admonishment. “I may be confident in my ability, Palace Master Qin, but not even I am that confident. However, this is something I absolutely have to do, even if I have to die to do it.”
“Why? What is Yun Fei to you?” Elder Qin asks.
“She is a friend,” Lan Xiaohui replies.
“That is it? A friend?” Elder Qin asks.
This time, Lan Xiaohui remains quiet. Even I don’t understand why my owner wishes to go this far for Yun Fei. When it comes to that girl, I sense a lot of chaos in Lan Xiaohui’s heart, and guilt.
After a moment, Lan Xiaohui decides to speak. “The method that Yu Shun practices — Heart Sacrifice Sutra — is a demonic art that thrives on the misery of those who are closest to the one practicing the art. Yun Fei’s current condition is most likely because of me. Yu Shun did this — left her in that state — in order to cause me suffering.”
Wu Yulan looks at my owner, surprised, and then at Elder Qin.
“That is why I have to do this — and will do anything — because it should be me, not Yun Fei, who must suffer. Only because she values friendship toward a person that no longer exists — only for this reason — was she chosen to endure such a pitiful fate,” my owner says, lowering her tear-filled eyes. Tears of regret and anger.
Elder Qin sighs. “I understand your feelings, Zhu Xuelian,” she says. “But this is not possible. Your sword is sharp and you, indeed, have the qualifications to be arrogant, but these are the most gifted Inner Disciples on this entire continent. Even if you were a true genius — like Sun Yongzheng — you would be only one among fifty others. Even if I were to personally teach you, there simply is not enough time. If you had come to me a year earlier and had already comprehended Empty Moon Prana, there could’ve been a chance. But without either, it is hopeless.”
Lan Xiaohui swallows audibly and hesitates for a brief moment. Then, lowering her head once more to not look at Elder Qin, she says. “We have already comprehended the first layer of Empty Moon Prana.”
To demonstrate that this is not a lie, she circulates her Qi to the formula of [Empty Moon Prana].
Wu Yulan nods, and keeps her head lowered, and does the same as Lan Xiaohui, allowing her Qi to circulate.
They do not see it because their eyes and heads are lowered, but I record the changes in Elder Qin’s expression and body language with great satisfaction.
Elder Qin takes a step back, eyes wide open as she stares in utter disbelief at the two, truly, as if she suddenly realized that they are not humans, but monsters.
Dozens of seconds pass in complete silence, and neither of the two disciples makes a move.
“How?” Elder Qin finally asks. “The shortest time it took for someone to piece together Empty Moon Prana was six years. I gave you a year to see how resolved and dedicated you are to pursuing the Dao, and to determine if you are worthy of me passing my skills to you. I did not expect you to succeed. In three months, no less!”
“It was an auspicious event that led to an enlightenment,” Lan Xiaohui says, likely referring to meeting me as the auspicious event in question.
“Sword Law in the Foundation Establishment, extremely sharp sword Qi, terrifying comprehension ability…” Elder Qin murmurs. “It was all true…”
Lan Xiaohui raises her head. “Palace Master Qin?”
Elder Qin focuses her gaze once more and looks at Lan Xiaohui. “I was speaking to myself,” she says, clasping both hands behind her back. “Are you two serious about this? You really want to compete in the Sky Continent Martial Conference?”
“Yes, Palace Master Qin.”
“Are you ready to risk your lives for it?” Elder Qin asks.
Perhaps understanding that this is not an idle question, Lan Xiaohui hesitates for only a second before she nods. Wu Yulan follows suit and also nods in agreement.
“If you die, it just very well may be the greatest tragedy of the Galaxy Sword sect — perhaps this entire continent,” Elder Qin says, frowning. “But if you succeed…”
“Palace Master Qin, what do we have to do?” Lan Xiaohui asks.
“This concerns the true purpose of the Galaxy Sword sect, and the clan that stands behind it. Come with me,” Elder Qin says, gesturing with her hand for the two to stand. “I will take you to Heavenly Sword Villa.”