Chapter 58: Another Master-Disciple Ceremony

A visible wave of sound radiated from the clouds hanging midair, spreading swiftly and enveloping the entire scene in the blink of an eye, descending over the heads of the Violet Gown Sect disciples.

A thunderous rumble followed wherever the sound wave passed; the earth was upturned, and vegetation was reduced to dust. Yet, to the surprise of the women from the Violet Gown Sect, the sound wave merely brushed past their bodies and hit the ground, leaving them completely unharmed.

“A first-grade upper-tier spirit beast!” Zisu exclaimed, astonished, staring at the delicate little girl cradling a puppy in her arms.

First-grade upper-tier spirit beasts were not rare, but sects that owned such creatures were all top-tier second-grade sects. The Violet Gown Sect had once possessed a second-grade spirit beast, but with the sect’s decline, they had been forced to part with it. Yet Mount Hua, before them, was barely a first-grade sect. If not for the blood feud between Mount Hua and the Tianshan Sect, Zisu might not have come at all. But now, seeing Mount Hua’s strength, a faint glimmer of hope rose in her heart.

Before their eyes now were three spirit beasts. Judging by the little girl’s attitude, she seemed to treat her spirit beast as a mere pet—such an act was a sacrilege against spirit beasts!

From this, Zisu deduced that Mount Hua must have more than just these few first-grade upper-tier spirit beasts, perhaps even many more, and possibly of higher grades as well…

Comparing Mount Hua to her own fallen sect, Zisu felt a wave of despair. The Violet Gown Sect had spent all its resources to buy a Bone-Easing Pill, hoping to create a new Foundation Establishment master and restore the sect’s glory. Yet their hopes were dashed; the Violet Gown Sect had fallen under the blades of the Tianshan Sect.

Mu Yun’s wide sleeves fluttered as he leapt nimbly from the back of the Golden-Eyed Eagle. He saluted the women gracefully, saying, “Whether vengeance can be had is not for me to decide; everything is up to the sect master. If you’ve come to apprentice yourselves, I will take you up the mountain. Otherwise, I must follow the sect master’s orders and seek those wishing to become disciples.”

Zisu’s beautiful face dimmed for a moment, but soon she regained her composure. “I trouble you, sir, to lead me up the mountain. I…”

Mu Yun waved his plump hand with a broad smile. “Since you’re here to apprentice, that’s enough. Please board the eagle. The rest can be discussed with the sect master. My only duty is to bring people up the mountain.”

…

On the broad back of the Golden-Eyed Eagle, Duo’er’s small head darted back and forth, taking in the sights of Mount Hua and exclaiming in wonder, “Senior Sister, there’s a training ground over there—the same kind we saw at the Golden Flame Sect! How strange, why is there a six-sided platform in the middle?”

“What a vast square, Senior Sister!”

“What a grand hall, Senior Sister!” Duo’er’s astonished voice rang out repeatedly on the eagle’s back.

Yun Ying looked curiously at the excited Duo’er, inwardly puzzled. “This sister is so strange. What’s so amazing about these things?”

Zisu did not stop Duo’er’s exclamations; she too was shocked. Among all the sects in Linqing Prefecture, only the Golden Flame Sect had a training ground like this. As for such a spacious square, Zisu couldn’t recall any sect owning one, and she had never seen a grand hall as imposing as the one at the far end of the plaza.

Mu Yun went ahead to announce their arrival at the main hall, while Zisu and her fellow Violet Gown disciples waited outside. Glancing around to confirm there were no outsiders, Zisu finally spoke to her junior sisters, “My sisters, the Violet Gown Sect no longer exists. I have decided to join Mount Hua and, with their strength, avenge our master.”

Ding Ning’s face turned anxious. “But Senior Sister, what about the Violet Gown Sect? We are the last surviving disciples. If we join Mount Hua, the Violet Gown Sect will be gone forever.”

Zisu’s expression darkened, her tone sorrowful. “The Violet Gown Sect should have ended long ago. Our master toiled all her life for the sect, only for it to perish in her hands. I—Zisu—do not wish to follow the same path…”

Ding Ning stared at Zisu in disbelief. Was this really the indomitable senior sister she knew?

“Little sister, your spirit beast is so adorable. Do you have any other cute spirit beasts like this one?” Duo’er asked, her eyes shining as she looked at Yun Ying, who was holding the Howling Celestial Dog. The dog was pure white and puppy-sized; if not for its thunderous roar at the foot of the mountain, the Violet Gown women would have thought it just an ordinary pet.

“I do, but it’s sleeping. Senior Brother won’t let me play with it,” Yun Ying pouted, somewhat aggrieved. That golden spirit beast was adorable—why wouldn’t Senior Brother let her play with it?

“There it is, sleeping in the Spirit Beast Garden,” Yun Ying added, pointing into the distance with a hint of pride.

“The Spirit Beast Garden!” The women from the Violet Gown Sect cried out in unison as they saw the Spirit Beast Garden, sealed by the Soul Suppressing Stone.

A Spirit Beast Garden—how many spirit stones must it take to build such a thing? Zisu was filled with awe.

“The sect master invites the ladies of the Violet Gown Sect,” Ning Qian announced respectfully as he stepped out of the main hall.

Seeing Ning Qian, Zisu showed a moment of confusion but then hoisted Lin Ke onto her back and entered the main hall.

Inside, the grand scale of the hall left the women astounded. Dozens of yards wide, more than ten yards deep, and several yards high, the hall was vast and empty except for a raised platform at the far end, with several meditation cushions placed before it.

Approaching the platform, Zisu set Lin Ke down, knelt on one knee, and respectfully pleaded, “Master Jiang, I beg you to save my junior sister’s life.”

Ding Ning and Duo’er also knelt and pleaded with Jiang Yan, “Master Jiang, please save our senior sister.”

Jiang Yan gazed steadily at the Violet Gown disciples kneeling before him, and a transparent information panel appeared in his view.

Name: Lin Ke
Sect: —
Position: —
Cultivation: Second level of Qi training, severe heart meridian injury—can be cured with Huasheng Powder
Weapon: —
Techniques: Water Transformation Art, first-grade mid-tier; Water Arrow Technique, first-grade mid-tier
Merit Points: —

Jiang Yan was a bit puzzled. Ding Ning was Lin Ke’s junior, yet her cultivation had already reached the fourth level of Qi training, while Lin Ke remained at the second level. He surmised the girl must have a story of her own. With a flick of his wrist, a milky-white porcelain bottle appeared in his hand, wrapped in spiritual energy, and floated over to Tang Wan.

“Sister, give Lin Ke this Huasheng Powder.”

Tang Wan hesitated—who was Lin Ke?—but quickly realized that the injured girl lying on the ground must be Lin Ke. Curious how the sect master knew her, Tang Wan took the Huasheng Powder and went to Lin Ke’s side, administering it gently.

Observing Lin Ke’s injuries, Tang Wan’s brows furrowed. What kind of monster could have beaten a girl so badly?

Lin Ke’s body was streaked with blood, and though Zisu had already tended and bound her wounds, a few still oozed, staining the bandages red. She was covered with injuries, but Tang Wan believed that with the Huasheng Powder’s effects, Lin Ke would recover. She worried, however, about the scars that might remain on her face.

After taking the medicine, Lin Ke’s internal wounds rapidly improved. She coughed up several mouthfuls of clotted blood, and her complexion visibly grew rosier.

Seeing Lin Ke’s condition improve, the Violet Gown women prostrated themselves again in gratitude. “Thank you, Master Jiang, for saving her life.”

Jiang Yan waved away their thanks and gestured for them to rise. He spoke calmly, “Zisu, it seems your sect no longer exists. Tell me, who wounded your junior sister so gravely?”

At Jiang Yan’s question, Zisu’s lips pressed into a hard line, her face beautiful but filled with fury. “The Tianshan Sect destroyed us. Our master died fighting, our uncles and elders all perished by the sword of Tianshan. Only our second junior sister survived, thrown off a cliff and barely escaping with her life. Of all our sect—apart from the three of us who were away—dozens of disciples, only she survived. Tianshan’s Lu Tiannan, I swear I will have blood for blood.”

Jiang Yan sighed at the tale. A second-grade sect, gone in an instant. “Zisu, what will you do now? If there’s any small way I can help, I will do my utmost.”