Volume 8, Chapter 509 – Taking a Master (Part 2)

“Not necessarily? While you may indeed stand out among ordinary cultivators, compared to descendants of immortals with bloodline purity of nine, you’re nothing. For example, some are born at the Unity Realm or even the Incarnation Realm. Are you? Or take those whose true qi grows naturally even without cultivation, can you do that?”

Shi Yuqi fired off one sharp question after another.

“I certainly can’t,” Qi Huang admitted honestly.

“Then that settles it. Coming from a minor sect in the backwaters, you probably don’t even understand the power of an immortal’s bloodline. Let me put it this way, in the world of cultivation, there are only two kinds of cultivators: ordinary cultivators and descendants of immortals. The gap between them is as vast as the difference between cultivators and mortals in the secular world.”

A trace of reverence flickered across Shi Yuqi’s face.

“Heh…”

Qi Huang chuckled noncommittally. To her, those so-called “prodigies” were no different from ordinary mortals.

“Still don’t believe me? It’s a shame the Holy Maiden is under confinement, or I’d take you to meet her. Then you’d understand. Reaching the early Divine Ability Realm at just twenty-six years old, that’s not something effort alone can achieve.”

Shi Yuqi shook her head helplessly.

“Could you tell me more about the Holy Maiden? Why is she confined?” Cheng Hongling seized the opportunity to probe.

“Why else? Spring fever! During the last continent-level Evergreen Conference, that monster from the Cao Clan not only shattered her Dao Heart but also stirred her romantic desires. Since then, she’s been dead set on marrying him. But the Huarong Sect has a rule forbidding the Holy Maiden from marrying, so she was placed under confinement.”

A hint of disdain surfaced on Shi Yuqi’s face.

“If she wants to marry, why not let her? An alliance with the Cao Clan would mean a union of powerhouses,” Qi Huang suggested, attempting persuasion. If the Huarong Sect’s higher-ups could relent, she and her main body wouldn’t need to keep up this charade.

“A union of powerhouses?”

Shi Yuqi also let out a noncommittal laugh. “Do you know why our Huarong Sect only accepts female disciples?”

“To ensure the disciples cultivate with a tranquil heart?” Qi Huang ventured.

“Correct! But the deeper reason is to avoid raising talents only for them to benefit others.”

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Shi Yuqi took a deep breath before explaining the whole story: “The founder of our Huarong Sect was named Hua Ying. She once took in a disciple of extraordinary talent and poured all the sect’s resources into nurturing her. But once that woman achieved minor success, she ran off with a man and was never seen again! After this incident, Founder Hua Ying realized that to prevent such things from recurring, the sect must only accept female disciples and enforce the rule that the Holy Maiden cannot marry.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Qi Huang finally understood.

“But in reality, the rule hasn’t been very effective. Take Hua Yu as an example. The moment she steps outside the sect, she’ll encounter men. If her heart is swayed, it’ll be swayed,” Cheng Hongling challenged.

“Exactly. To be frank, before Hua Yu, several Holy Maidens have already married out. Each of them swore oaths to continue supporting the sect, but in the end, they all drifted away for one reason or another. We’ve been left raising talents for others time and again. So your idea of a ‘union of powerhouses’ is practically impossible. A married-off daughter is like spilled water, even in the cultivation world, it’s the same.”

Shi Yuqi’s explanation was laced with resignation.

“That’s truly tragic. No wonder the Huarong Sect is so wary of men,” Qi Huang murmured sympathetically before pressing further, “There’s one more thing I don’t understand. Since the Huarong Sect is a female-only sect… how did Hua Yu inherit her immortal’s bloodline?”

“Through lineage, of course. What’s the issue?” Shi Yuqi asked, puzzled.

“Lineage? How can lineage pass between women?”

Qi Huang was baffled.

“Disciple, aren’t you overcomplicating things? First, as I said earlier, the Huarong Sect wasn’t always female-only, so the immortal’s bloodline was preserved. Second, while we don’t accept male disciples now, we don’t forbid ordinary female disciples from marrying. Not all descendants of immortals are geniuses, those who marry and have children spread their lineage in the secular world. And what about male descendants of immortals? They’re taken away at birth and have since branched out over hundreds of generations. Any female descendant among them with a bloodline purity of nine marks is recalled for focused training, like Hua Yu.”

Shi Yuqi’s explanation was tinged with exasperation.

“Ah… I see.”

Qi Huang laughed awkwardly, realizing she’d overlooked the obvious. Bloodline inheritance wasn’t confined to the sect, it was like a matrilineal clan system.

“By the way, why do you always wear veils? Even your doppelgänger does?” Shi Yuqi suddenly asked.

“Ah, it’s because we have birthmarks on our faces. It’s… unsightly,” Qi Huang replied smoothly, well-practiced in this excuse.

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“Oh, I see.”

Shi Yuqi nodded in understanding. Girls cared about their looks, she wouldn’t press further.

Soon after, Shi Yuqi led Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang to her residence on Biyu Peak.

“Since you’re joining my tutelage, there must be a formal ceremony.”

Shi Yuqi’s expression turned solemn.

“…”

Both Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling looked awkward. They weren’t here to truly become disciples, this formality felt unnecessary.

“It’s simple. First, kowtow three times to your master, then offer a cup of tea.”

Shi Yuqi began pouring tea as if it were a matter of course.

Qi Huang was startled and immediately retreated into her main body’s Sea of Consciousness.

After a moment of consideration, Cheng Hongling picked up the tea, knelt properly, and kowtowed three times before saying, “Master, please accept this tea.”

“You’re really going through with it?” Qi Huang asked, astonished.

“If we’re putting on a show, we might as well commit. If I don’t kneel, will you?” Cheng Hongling shot back.

Qi Huang fell silent, warmth rising in her chest. Her main body understood the principle that “a man’s knees bear gold”, so she bore the burden herself.

“Don’t overthink it. She is, after all, the head of Biyu Peak in the Huarong Sect. Having this connection will be useful,” Cheng Hongling added considerately.

Qi Huang snapped out of her thoughts, her guilt lessening slightly.

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“Ah!”

Hearing Cheng Hongling call her “Master,” Shi Yuqi responded with a sweet, girlish delight, even choking on her tea in excitement.

Afterward, Shi Yuqi took her new disciple to her quarters and gave a detailed overview of the Huarong Sect’s current state.

As one of the ten great powers in the cultivation world, the Huarong Sect boasted nearly twenty thousand female disciples and over a million ordinary female residents. Its scale rivaled that of a prefecture. Calling it a “kingdom of women” was no exaggeration, and all of this was thanks to the towering Immortal Stele standing atop the main peak.

“Master, I’ve heard that Immortal Steles are ranked. Is that true?” Cheng Hongling inquired.

“Yes. They’re classified into six grades: Heaven, Earth, Monarch, Kinship, Master, and Mortal,” Shi Yuqi answered without holding back.

“What grade is the Huarong Sect’s stele?”

Cheng Hongling pressed, though she’d already heard about it in the Xianyou Empire, she wanted confirmation.

“Master-grade!”

“Master-grade? The second-lowest?”

Disappointment flashed across Cheng Hongling’s face.

“Don’t underestimate it. Among the nine major cultivation forces today, four have steles at the lowest ‘Mortal’ grade. Only three have ‘Master’-grade steles, and there’s just one each for ‘Kinship’ and ‘Monarch’ grades. Above ‘Monarch,’ there are none.”

Shi Yuqi hurriedly clarified.

“What about the Lü Clan’s stele in the Weiyuan Empire of Central Continent?” Qi Huang suddenly interjected.

“Must you pop in and out like a ghost?” Shi Yuqi patted her racing heart before answering, “Theirs is also Master-grade.”

“Even within the same grade, there must be differences in strength. Which is superior?”

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Qi Huang pressed relentlessly, this concerned her and her main body’s future.

“If we’re splitting hairs, the Huarong Sect’s stele is slightly stronger. Ours is a ‘Six Tribulations’ Master-grade stele, while the Lü Clan’s is only ‘Five Tribulations.’”

Shi Yuqi was thorough in her explanation.

“What do ‘Five Tribulations’ and ‘Six Tribulations’ mean?”

Both Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling were lost.

“Each grade of Immortal Stele is further divided into ‘Nine Tribulations’, much like how major cultivation realms have nine minor stages. The strength corresponds to the number of heavenly tribulations the stele’s creator endured before ascension. ‘Five Tribulations’ or ‘Six Tribulations’ refers to how many tribulations the stele’s master survived. Take our Master-grade Six Tribulations stele, it signifies that its creator endured fifteen heavenly tribulations.”

Shi Yuqi explained patiently.

“Fifteen heavenly tribulations?!”

Qi Huang was stunned. She’d seen heavenly tribulations before, surviving fifteen was unimaginably difficult. Right now, she wasn’t confident about surviving even one.

“So never look down on our stele. Each tribulation represents the immortal founder’s monumental defiance of the heavens.”

Shi Yuqi spoke with reverence.

Having clarified the situation, Qi Huang and Cheng Hongling were finally at ease. As long as the Huarong Sect’s stele surpassed the Lü Clan’s, their plans could proceed.

In high spirits, Shi Yuqi personally helped Cheng Hongling settle into her new quarters before reluctantly taking her leave.

“Let’s go. We’ll quietly check Tiandu Peak to see if Hua Yu is truly determined to marry that Cao Clan prodigy. Then we can refine our plans.”

Qi Huang whispered her suggestion. Tiandu Peak was the Huarong Sect’s main peak.