Volume 1, Chapter 42 – The Heaven-Gazing Stone

Early the next morning.

Liu Ruyan had already finished preparing and stood quietly in the square outside the main hall.

Today, she had changed into a somewhat formal pale-red dress. Her long hair was simply gathered and secured with a jade hairpin.

Although she was only seventeen or eighteen years old, the composure in her brows, accumulated over three lifetimes, together with her cultivation at the peak of the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, naturally gave her an extraordinary bearing.

Her gaze drifted involuntarily toward the main hall. She felt both anticipation at returning home and a faint, almost imperceptible unease.

Her Master’s decision to have the Deputy Palace Master accompany her moved Liu Ruyan deeply, but it also placed an invisible pressure upon her.

This was not merely a simple journey home. It might also represent Yaochi Immortal Palace’s first “appearance” before the outside world.

“Second Junior Sister!”

A clear voice interrupted her thoughts.

A-Yao, dressed in an adorable little skirt, came running along a side path while holding Gu Luoli’s hand.

Gu Luoli had clearly risen early to cultivate as well. Her aura was calm, and an almost imperceptible golden light flowed through her double pupils beneath the morning sun.

“Eldest Senior Sister, Third Junior Sister.”

A gentle smile appeared on Liu Ruyan’s face. She crouched down and smoothed the bangs A-Yao had mussed while running.

“Second Senior Sister, have a safe journey.”

Gu Luoli spoke softly, sincere well-wishes in her eyes.

“Mm. I will return as soon as possible.”

Liu Ruyan nodded, then reminded A-Yao,

“Eldest Senior Sister, while I am away, you must listen to Third Junior Sister and the elders and cultivate properly. Understood?”

“I know!”

A-Yao nodded vigorously, but a trace of reluctance soon appeared on her little face.

“Second Junior Sister, you have to come back soon. A-Yao will miss you.”

While they were speaking, the doors of the main hall silently opened.

Two figures emerged one after the other, walking at an unhurried pace. They were Gu Han and Yun Yun.

“Master! Deputy Palace Master!”

The three hurriedly bowed.

Gu Han nodded slightly and looked Liu Ruyan over. Seeing her composed expression and the anticipation hidden in her eyes, Gu Han felt satisfied.

“Is everything ready?”

“Reporting to Master, this disciple is fully prepared.”

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Liu Ruyan answered respectfully.

“Good.”

Gu Han responded, then turned over her palm.

A perfectly round stone about the size of a fist appeared in her hand.

The instant it appeared, an indescribable Dao resonance that seemed capable of seeing through all things quietly spread outward.

It was not powerful, yet everyone present felt as though they were being “examined” from the very depths of their souls.

“This object is called the Heaven-Gazing Stone.”

Gu Han’s calm voice rang out as she explained its purpose.

“It can measure the talent and potential of living beings, manifesting the result as a number of stars. One star is the lowest, while ten stars or above represents supreme potential.”

“What it measures is one’s innate potential. It has little connection to current cultivation, age, or even physical condition.”

As she spoke, she looked toward Liu Ruyan.

“Ruyan, besides informing your family of your safety, there is another matter for you to handle during this trip.”

“You may use this stone to recruit a group of disciples for Yaochi Immortal Palace from Qingyang City and its surrounding areas.”

“Those rated five to six stars may enter the outer sect. Those rated six to eight stars may enter the inner sect. Those rated nine stars may become core disciples of Yaochi Immortal Palace.”

“As for anyone rated ten stars… bring them back first, and we will discuss it then.”

Gu Han held almost no hope of finding a ten-star disciple. After all, disciples with ten-star potential were hardly as common as cabbages.

The previous night, Gu Han had already asked the System to inspect the entire Southern Region. At present, there was not a single disciple there whose potential exceeded ten stars.

Liu Ruyan’s heart trembled when she heard Gu Han’s words, and she instantly understood the deeper intention behind them.

Recruiting disciples!

Yaochi Immortal Palace’s framework had now been established. It lacked no high-level combat power, but it was severely short of ordinary disciples.

Although Qingyang City was only a small city, it still had a sizeable population. There was no guarantee that they could not uncover a few overlooked talents there.

More importantly, Liu Ruyan was a local. If she returned while carrying such a wondrous treasure and recruited disciples in Yaochi Immortal Palace’s name, it would undoubtedly raise the Liu family’s status tremendously.

It would also mark the first step in extending Yaochi Immortal Palace’s reach into the outside world!

“This disciple understands!”

Liu Ruyan took a deep breath and solemnly accepted the warm yet faintly cool Heaven-Gazing Stone with both hands.

The stone felt heavy in her palms, as though it carried some mysterious weight.

She carefully placed it into the storage pouch her Master had given her the day before.

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“Yun Yun.”

Gu Han turned toward the Deputy Palace Master beside her.

“Palace Master.”

Yun Yun bowed slightly.

“You will take the lead on this journey, with Ruyan assisting you.”

“You may recruit disciples as circumstances allow, but give priority to examining their character. Should you encounter any suitable talents, you may bring them back to Yaochi Immortal Palace.”

“Also, should you encounter anyone foolish enough to cause trouble…”

Gu Han paused. Her tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable meaning.

“Yaochi Immortal Palace will not provoke others without cause, but neither are we afraid of trouble. Act as you see fit.”

She spoke lightly, but the dominance contained within her words made warmth surge through Liu Ruyan’s heart.

“Yun Yun accepts the order.”

Yun Yun nodded, her eyes entirely unperturbed.

With her cultivation at the peak of the ninth heaven of Tribulation Transcendence, there was indeed little on the borders of the Southern Region worthy of her attention.

“Go.”

Gu Han smiled and waved her hand.

Yun Yun nodded lightly and brushed her sleeve. A gentle yet vast surge of spiritual power enveloped Liu Ruyan.

Their figures flickered slightly, then vanished without a trace.

Gu Han stood quietly for a moment, looking in the direction where they had disappeared, before turning and returning to the main hall.

A-Yao blinked and tugged on Gu Luoli’s hand.

“Third Junior Sister, Second Junior Sister and Deputy Palace Master Big Sister have left. Let us go back and cultivate!”

“Mm. Eldest Senior Sister, let us go.”

Gu Luoli nodded, took A-Yao by the hand, and headed toward her Qingyin Pavilion.

She knew that when Second Senior Sister returned, she would certainly bring new disciples back to Yaochi Immortal Palace.

As for Gu Luoli herself, she needed to seize every moment to cultivate. She absolutely could not fall behind.

…

At the same time, in Qingyang City of the Southern Region.

Qingyang City was a medium-sized cultivation city within the Great Yan Dynasty.

Although it was not as prosperous as Linyuan City, it was still densely populated and enjoyed a constant flow of trade.

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Three major families held power within the city: the Liu family, the Lin family, and the Zhao family.

The three families competed with one another while also cooperating when necessary, maintaining a delicate balance.

The Liu family specialized in medicinal pills. It had two third-grade alchemists, who formed the foundation of the family’s standing.

The Lin family specialized in artifact refining, while the Zhao family excelled at raising and taming spirit beasts.

On this day, Qingyang City appeared no different from usual.

People came and went through the city gates, while the cries of shopkeepers filled the streets.

The Liu family estate was located in the eastern part of the city. It covered a large area, with pavilions and towers extending one after another, displaying the family’s considerable foundation.

In recent days, however, the atmosphere within the Liu estate had become somewhat uneasy.

Inside a pavilion in the rear garden, Liu family head Liu Beichuan sat with tightly furrowed brows, quietly discussing something with several clan elders.

Liu Beichuan appeared to be around forty years old. He had a refined face, but it was now clouded with an irresolvable worry.

His cultivation was at the late stage of Golden Core, making him the strongest known cultivator in the Liu family.

However, anyone who truly understood the Liu family knew that its actual strongest cultivator was the person who remained in seclusion throughout the year.

That person was also the Liu family’s true pillar of support: Liu Ruyan’s father, Liu Beihai, an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

“Family Head, that girl Ruyan has been away for so many days without sending back any word. We…”

A white-haired clan elder spoke with deep concern.

“Indeed. Before leaving, she said she was going to gain experience on the outskirts of the Wanjue Mountain Range, but that place… sigh!”

Another clan elder sighed.

“Should something happen to her, how could we possibly explain it to her father?”

Liu Beichuan rubbed the space between his brows and said in a low voice,

“I have already sent people to make inquiries in several cities around the outskirts of the Wanjue Mountain Range, but there has been no news.”

“We will wait another two days. Should there still be no word, I will personally lead a group inside to search for her!”

How could he not be anxious?

Liu Ruyan was his own niece. He had watched her grow up, and she was also the most talented member of the Liu family’s younger generation.

Before even reaching the age of twenty, she had already reached the peak of Qi Refinement and was one of the family’s hopes for the future.

Her disappearance was no small blow to the Liu family.

Furthermore, Liu Ruyan still had a marriage agreement with that boy from the Lin family…

When he thought of the Lin family’s two Nascent Soul cultivators and the pressure they had been subtly applying recently, his headache only worsened.

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Just as gloom hung over everyone in the Liu family, space distorted slightly high above Qingyang City.

The figures of Yun Yun and Liu Ruyan quietly appeared without attracting the attention of anyone below.

Yun Yun stirred her divine sense. Like an invisible tide, it instantly spread across the entirety of Qingyang City.

The city’s layout, the various factions, the strength of its cultivators, and even the fluctuations of certain concealed formations were all reflected clearly in her mind.

“We have arrived.”

Yun Yun withdrew her divine sense, her voice calm.

Liu Ruyan looked down at the familiar outline of the city and its familiar streets and buildings. Complicated emotions surged through her heart.

This was precisely the nervousness one felt upon nearing home.

However, determination soon replaced those emotions.

In this life, she was no longer the Liu Ruyan who needed her father’s protection and frequently brought trouble upon her family.

She was the second personal disciple of Yaochi Immortal Palace, the Liu Ruyan who possessed the Samsara Dao Body and the memories of three lifetimes!

“Deputy Palace Master, shall we go directly to the Liu family?”

Liu Ruyan asked.

“Mm.”

Yun Yun nodded slightly.

“We need only keep a low profile.”

She did not deliberately conceal her aura, but neither did she display it openly.

The aura of a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator had long since returned to a state of perfect simplicity. Unless she actively released it, ordinary cultivators had no way of detecting it.

The two slowly descended and landed in a secluded alley not far from the gates of the Liu estate.

Liu Ruyan straightened her dress, took a deep breath, and walked toward the two familiar vermilion gates.

Yun Yun followed half a step behind her, walking with calm composure as though she were merely an ordinary elder accompanying Liu Ruyan.

The Liu family guard at the gate had originally appeared somewhat listless. However, the moment he clearly saw the approaching figure, his eyes widened and disbelief spread across his face.

“Y-Young Miss? Has the Young Miss returned?!”

He cried out and hurriedly rubbed his eyes.

Once he confirmed that he was not mistaken, he immediately turned and sprinted into the estate, shouting excitedly as he ran.

“The Young Miss has returned! The Young Miss has returned!”

That shout was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattering the silence of the Liu estate!