Volume 1, Chapter 93 – The Bonds Between Fellow Disciples

After Liu Ruyan left, Ye Ling’er stepped into the courtyard and let out a soft breath.

In the span of only a few days, her life had been completely transformed.

She had taken a powerful and beautiful Master and obtained the opportunity to cultivate that she had once dreamed of.

Everything felt like a wonderful dream, too perfect to be real.

She walked to the window and pushed it open.

In the distance, the waters of Yaochi shimmered. An unknown great tree stood on the island at the center of the lake, and merely looking at it brought an extraordinary sense of peace to her mind.

She took out the jade slip containing the Lunar Canon and pressed it to the space between her brows.

The vast information within the cultivation technique once again poured into her mind, clearer than before.

“The Lunar Dao is supremely yielding and supremely cold. It gives rise to myriad transformations and brings all living beings into existence…”

She sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and began slowly circulating her spiritual power according to the technique’s guidance.

Pure spiritual energy flowed along a specific route through her meridians. With every complete circulation, her control over her own power deepened.

Time passed unnoticed in cultivation.

Only when a gentle knock sounded outside, followed by Liu Ruyan’s warm voice, did she stir.

“Fourth Junior Sister, it is time for dinner.”

Ye Ling’er slowly ended her cultivation and opened her eyes.

An ice-blue gleam flashed through them and vanished, while her aura had become even more refined.

She rose and opened the door, giving Liu Ruyan a faint smile.

“Second Senior Sister.”

The dining hall of Yaochi Immortal Palace was spacious and brightly lit. It was mealtime, and the hall was bustling with activity.

More than a hundred newly recruited disciples of both the human and demon races had gathered there. They sat in small groups, conversing quietly in a harmonious atmosphere.

When Liu Ruyan entered with Ye Ling’er, many gazes immediately turned toward them.

Ye Ling’er’s ice-blue hair and cool, exceptional bearing made her the center of attention at once.

“Look, the girl beside Senior Sister Liu…”

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“Is she the Palace Master’s new disciple? I heard her name is Ye Ling’er.”

“Her hair is blue! How unusual!”

“Her aura is so powerful. She doesn’t seem any weaker than Senior Sister Murong and the others…”

“The Palace Master brought her back personally. She must be extraordinary!”

Quiet discussions arose as gazes filled with curiosity, envy, and scrutiny intertwined.

Ye Ling’er remained calm. She had long since grown accustomed to such attention.

In the past, she had endured far stranger looks because she was known as a “cripple.”

Although the gazes she received now still contained scrutiny, they lacked the contempt and pity of the past. Instead, they held curiosity toward a fellow disciple and a faint measure of respect.

Liu Ruyan led her to a relatively quiet table, and the two sat down.

Before long, Gu Luoli arrived with A-Yao by the hand.

“Fourth Junior Sister, sit over here.”

Gu Luoli pointed to the empty seat beside her.

A-Yao plopped down next to Ye Ling’er, leaned her little head closer, and stared at her with sparkling eyes.

“Fourth Junior Sister, Fourth Junior Sister, let me tell you something!”

“The spirit chefs who cook here are two little monkeys, but the spirit rice they make is delicious!”

“And the soup made with silver fish from Yaochi is especially fresh!”

Amused by her enthusiasm, Ye Ling’er nodded.

“All right. Since Eldest Senior Sister recommends them, I will be sure to try them.”

At that moment, Zhao Ling’er, Wang Zhaojun, Xiao Ya, Wang Teng, Li Zhiwei, Murong Xue, and the other personal disciples of the elders arrived one after another.

They all greeted Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli before curiously studying Ye Ling’er.

Liu Ruyan took the opportunity to introduce both sides.

“This is Junior Sister Ye Ling’er, Master’s newly accepted disciple.”

“Fourth Junior Sister, these are your senior brothers and sisters: Zhao Ling’er, Wang Zhaojun, Xiao Ya, Wang Teng, Li Zhiwei, and Murong Xue…”

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Ye Ling’er stood and greeted each of them in turn.

They all returned her greeting.

Although Zhao Ling’er’s name resembled Ye Ling’er’s, their personalities were entirely different. Zhao Ling’er took the initiative to step forward and start a conversation.

Wang Zhaojun quietly inclined her head. Xiao Ya’s gaze lingered on Ye Ling’er’s hair, as though she found it fascinating.

Wang Teng had become much steadier after everything he had experienced and greeted her with a cupped-fist salute.

Li Zhiwei and Murong Xue merely nodded slightly. Their cool demeanors carried the sharpness unique to sword cultivators.

After the brief introductions, the atmosphere quickly became lively.

They were all young, after all, and belonged to the same sect.

Their conversation soon shifted from cultivation insights to amusing incidents inside the Myriad-Phenomena Tower, and then to their anticipation for the journey into the Law Secret Realm.

Ye Ling’er listened quietly, occasionally answering a few questions about herself.

She could sense that although these senior brothers and sisters were curious about her, they harbored no ill will.

Instead, there was a sense of closeness that came from being fellow disciples.

The feeling filled her heart with warmth.

After dinner, everyone dispersed and returned to their residences to cultivate or rest.

Ye Ling’er also returned to her courtyard.

Rather than immediately resuming her cultivation, she carefully sorted through everything that had happened that day in her mind.

Her Master’s gentle protection, the Deputy Palace Master’s graceful competence, the care shown by her two senior sisters, the friendliness of her fellow disciples, and the grandeur and serenity of the Immortal Palace…

All of it strengthened her determination to cultivate diligently.

The next morning, a melodious bell rang throughout the Immortal Palace.

It was the signal summoning all disciples.

Every disciple, whether human or demon, stopped cultivating and hurried toward the plaza before the main hall.

Ye Ling’er changed into the white robes of an Immortal Palace disciple, simply tied back her ice-blue hair, and followed the crowd to the plaza.

By then, the plaza was already packed with people. More than a hundred disciples stood in neat, solemn formations according to their respective peaks.

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On the raised platform, Gu Han sat at the center, with Yun Yun seated on the other side.

Li Hanyi, Yun Miaoyi, Die Wu, Mo Lin, Fushan, and the five outer sect elders led by Jin Feng stood in two rows to either side.

A-Yao, Liu Ruyan, and Gu Luoli stood at the very front of the disciples’ formation.

Gu Han swept her gaze over the spirited, expectant faces below.

After cultivating under the accelerated flow of time within the Myriad-Phenomena Tower, the disciples’ progress had far exceeded expectations.

“I have gathered all of you today to announce one matter.”

Gu Han’s clear voice reached every person’s ears.

“Eight months from now, the Southern Region’s Law Secret Realm will open.”

“Opportunities and dangers coexist within the secret realm. It will also be a stage upon which you can temper yourselves and make your names known.”

The disciples below immediately grew alert, their eyes blazing with eagerness.

The Law Secret Realm!

They had already heard about it from their respective masters or senior brothers and sisters.

It was the highest-level gathering for the Southern Region’s younger generation, as well as a battlefield where they could test the results of their cultivation and compete for opportunities.

“Yaochi Immortal Palace has only recently been established. This will be our first official participation in such a grand gathering.”

Gu Han continued, her tone calm yet carrying unquestionable authority.

“My demand is not excessive.”

She paused, her lightning-sharp gaze sweeping across the entire plaza.

“Inside the secret realm, I want you to make the name of Yaochi Immortal Palace resound throughout the Southern Region!”

“Let everyone see the true splendor of the disciples of my Yaochi Immortal Palace!”

Gu Han’s words were like sparks falling upon kindling, instantly igniting the hot blood in every disciple’s chest.

“Let the might of our Immortal Palace be known!”

No one knew who shouted first, but the next instant, thunderous cries swept across the plaza like a roaring sea.

The youthful disciples were filled with passion and vigor.

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Even the demon disciples could not help joining in with low roars, their eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Gu Han gently raised a hand, suppressing the surging wave of voices.

“Anyone can shout slogans. True strength, however, must be forged through sweat and blood.”

“Starting tomorrow and continuing until the secret realm opens, the Myriad-Phenomena Tower will be fully accessible to every disciple. Your resources will be doubled!”

“But if anyone grows lazy or neglects their training…”

Her gaze abruptly turned stern.

“They will be punished without mercy!”

“Yes! We will heed the Palace Master’s teachings and never fail the reputation of the Immortal Palace!”

The disciples roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

“Very good.”

Gu Han nodded slightly and looked toward Yun Yun.

Understanding her meaning, Yun Yun rose and began announcing the specific regulations and resource allocations.

“Starting tomorrow, every disciple whose cultivation meets the requirements may enter the Myriad-Phenomena Tower to cultivate by presenting their identity jade token.”

“At the same time, every disciple’s monthly allotment of spirit stones will be doubled, the pill quota will be increased by thirty percent, and the elders of every peak must enter the tower to accompany their disciples.”

The moment she finished speaking, the sounds of sharply drawn breaths and suppressed exclamations immediately arose from below.

The Myriad-Phenomena Tower would be fully opened!

All the elders had to enter the tower as well?

There would no longer be any limit on cultivation time!

Their resources would be doubled!

What did that mean?

It meant that before the secret realm opened, they would have more than ten times as much cultivation time as the disciples of other sects!

It meant that they could use an enormous quantity of resources to make their foundations incomparably solid and hone their techniques to perfection!