CHAPTER 671: CHAPTER 670 SAINTESS (4/5)

Shangqing Sect.

The Shangqing Sect seemed as if it were built upon the Celestial Palace itself, with stars in the sky so dense and close it felt as if one could reach up and pluck them. Yang Chen had never seen such a dazzlingly beautiful night sky, not even when he gazed upon the stars from the wild, barren lands of Lijia Continent!

It was deep into the silent night.

In the Shangqing Sect, once night fell, everyone would either start cultivating or had already gone to rest. Only small patrol teams moved through the various paths and corners of the Shangqing Sect.

Xuanliang was truly a talent, not only excellent at painting but also providing very detailed explanations.

For instance, the Martial Hall was a place specifically for practicing martial arts.

The Inheritance Hall was divided into the Inner Hall and the Outer Hall. The Inner Hall was an inheritance hall for the Inner Sect disciples, who received teachings from the inheritance Elders there, while the Outer Hall was naturally the place for Outer Sect disciples to learn cultivation techniques.

Then there was the Scripture Pavilion, which housed a variety of sect cultivation techniques, as well as ancient to modern texts. Some ordinary books were open to the Outer Sect disciples, while Inner Sect disciples had higher access, but some rare books could only be borrowed with the permission of a Palace Master or Sect Elder, and could not be taken out of the Scripture Pavilion.

Hearing this, Yang Chen grew curious about the contents within the Scripture Pavilion.

According to Xuanliang, each layer of cultivation techniques was meticulously categorized, and specialized teachers were required for transmission. There were also frequent lectures, so any questions arising during cultivation could be directed to the teaching instructors.

Although Yang Chen possessed cultivation techniques, he was essentially feeling his way forward blindly, lacking understanding and taking things step by step.

For this kind of orderly sect inheritance of cultivation techniques, Yang Chen wanted to study them.

However, Yang Chen’s current goal was not this, but Yunxin Hall.

Information provided by Xuanliang stated that Ye Xin initially trained in Yunxin Hall under the management of Palace Master Kun Bai.

But after the incident with Palace Master Kun Bai, Ye Xin was no longer seen entering Yunxin Hall, and the guards there were withdrawn.

Even so, no one dared to enter Yunxin Hall.

Therefore, everyone said Ye Xin should have left Yunxin Hall, but no one knew where she was.

Yang Chen’s target today was to enter Yunxin Hall and find Ye Xin!

...

Lingyun Hall.

During the night, Lingyun Hall was brightly lit.

The Sect Master, in a luxurious robe embroidered with golden dragons, sat in the main seat of the Palace Master position, looking at the various Elders and Palace Masters seated on either side below.

Sect Master Kunze slowly said, "I called you all here today to discuss a major matter together."

At the back, Kun Bai’s face remained grim, perhaps due to an internal injury not yet healed, or because of recent news that left him uneasy.

An Elder spoke, "Sect Master, please speak directly!"

Kunze nodded slightly, continuing, "You all may remember, nearly twenty years ago, we discovered a young girl possessing the Fire Phoenix, and we felt hopeful for the revival of Shangqing Sect, thus bringing the girl back to the sect."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

For them, twenty years passed in the blink of an eye, so they naturally recalled clearly.

They still placed great importance on the Fire Phoenix.

Kunze went on, "The Fire Phoenix was very young at that time, and we felt that too early training might ruin her. So, we planned to let her gain some experience in the mundane world to solidify her foundation, thus entrusting her with some basic teachings for her to journey through the mortal realm. Her performance exceeded expectations, impressingly satisfying us. More surprisingly was her return; within just a short month, her cultivation reached a terrifying level, which was astonishing!"

Kunze surveyed the crowd, speaking softly, "Presumably, you all have heard about Ye Xin’s dealings with the sect’s top ten disciples?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of those present turned unpleasant.

Because within the sect’s top ten disciples were their apprentices.

To have their disciples beaten in such a manner, their pride was obviously wounded.

"There’s no need for you to feel aggrieved," Kunze said lightly. "Your disciples are merely injured, while my disciple, known as the sect’s first Shàngyáo, had his cultivation crippled and limbs disabled. You should consider yourselves fortunate!"

At this, everyone’s expressions grew even darker.

They couldn’t imagine how Kunze, who favored Shàngyáo, endured this after Ye Xin crippled him.

"Perhaps you’re curious why, despite how excellent Shàngyáo was, and my fondness for him, taking him everywhere I went—why I now disregard his life or death," Kunze’s gaze pierced sharply, as if seeing through everyone’s thoughts.

He said, "Because I once stated, a child needs protection, but once they embark on this path and come of age, they must tread their own path thereafter. The road to immortality is fraught with challenges, far from smooth sailing. Along this road, how many have perished? Everyone’s fate is ordained by the heavens; the encounters they face are divinely assigned and cannot be blamed on others."

"Moreover, Ye Xin is the hope of our sect. Since the incident a millennium ago, we’ve had to seal the sect, only opening every hundred years to admit fresh blood. But how much longer can such a timeline persist? Thus, selecting the Saintess is critical."

Upon hearing the words ’Saintess,’ everyone present raised their heads to look at Kunze.

Kunze plainly said, "Ye Xin’s cultivation is skyrocketing. I fear if it rises any further, she will be beyond our control. Therefore, three days hence, the sect will hold the Saintess Ceremony. Do you have any objections?"

Someone immediately asserted, "Elder Brother, holding the Saintess Ceremony in three days, what about the ceremony three months later?"

Kunze calmly responded, "The enthronement ceremony will take place three months later. The Saintess Ceremony should be held first."

"But..."

Kunze raised his hand to silence them, "No more words. If Ye Xin’s cultivation advances by another level, she will be completely beyond our control. For the sect’s development, we cannot take any risks. It is merely a formality before seclusion—a show for outsiders. If by then, the Saintess remains unrestrained, it only becomes a farce, a spectacle for outsiders to mock us with!"

After speaking, Kunze looked towards the old chief.

The old chief nodded to Kunze, stood up, and said, "I agree. Our purpose is solely obtaining the Saintess; nothing else is of importance, prioritizing the sect’s revival!"

"I also agree!" The Second Elder stood up and declared.

"And me!" Kun Yuan also stood and stated.

One by one, people stood to voice their agreement, fully aware of the importance of electing a Saintess, naturally not daring to neglect it.

Throughout the venue, one person remained unusually silent—Kun Bai!

As Kun Bai watched everyone stand one by one, his face grew increasingly pale.