"Please wait, all of you."
Just as Daniel and the others were about to leave the gates of the Qionghua Sect, a gentle but commanding voice rang out from above. A flash of swordlight descended in front of them, and soon a figure dressed in the uniform of the Qionghua Sect appeared before them.
"This Daoist, what can we do for you?" Han Lingsha asked immediately, her tone polite but cautious.
"I am Xu Yi. By order of the Sect Leader, I am here to summon you four for an audience," the figure responded calmly.
"The Sect Leader? Who's that?" Yun Tianhe asked, puzzled.
"That's the head of the sect," Han Lingsha explained briefly. "The one in charge of everything, the most powerful person here. Everyone listens to them."
"Oh, so like that Huangdi guy," Yun Tianhe said, nodding in understanding.
"Uh… close enough," Han Lingsha replied with a faint smile. Yun Tianhe's interpretation was off the mark, but it was probably the simplest way for him to grasp the concept.
"Before you meet the Sect Leader, I must remind you to conduct yourselves properly," Xu Yi continued, casting a glance at Yun Tianhe. "Regardless of whether you are officially part of our sect or not, decorum and rules must always be observed."
"What does the Sect Leader want with us?" Liu Mengli asked.
"The Sect Leader's intentions will become clear once you meet them. Please, follow me," Xu Yi said as he gestured toward the grand staircase leading up to the sect gates.
The gates of the Qionghua Sect were primarily symbolic, meant to impress outsiders and those seeking admission. For sect disciples, the gates were rarely used except by those assigned to guard duty. Most disciples entered and exited the sect by means of their swordflight techniques.
"Let's go. This can't be bad news," Han Lingsha said, taking the lead to follow Xu Yi.
As they entered the Qionghua Sect, Daniel's eyes were immediately drawn to the massive statue of the Nine Heavens Goddess, surrounded by four other statues. Unlike the grand figure of the goddess, which dominated the landscape, the four surrounding statues were smaller in scale but still impressive in their craftsmanship.
"Are those the Four Sacred Beasts? No... they're not," Daniel murmured to himself. Upon closer inspection, he recognized one of the statues as Yingzhao, the horse-bodied, human-faced beast with tiger stripes and bird wings.
"Wow, what's that? It's so huge!" Yun Tianhe exclaimed, staring up at the Nine Heavens Goddess statue in awe.
"Stop gawking. The Sect Leader is waiting," Xu Yi chided them sternly as he led the group.
Daniel and Yun Tianhe had been examining the statues, while Han Lingsha seemed more interested in the architectural layout, and Liu Mengli had been observing disciples practicing sword techniques in the distance.
"Got it," Han Lingsha quickly responded, pulling Yun Tianhe along to keep him from saying anything else.
"Master Yun Tianqing once said the Nine Heavens Goddess fell in love with a human long ago… Could that human have been Yun Tianhe's ancestor?" Daniel mused to himself as they walked.
"Master, the guests have arrived."
"Send them in," came a cold but clear voice from inside a grand palace. The massive hall bore a golden plaque engraved with the words "Qionghua Palace," radiating an aura of majesty and authority.
Upon entering Qionghua Palace, the group immediately noticed a high platform at the center of the hall. Standing upon it was a woman clad in white robes adorned with blue patterns. Her demeanor was noble, her gaze cold and imposing. This, as Xu Yi's earlier words confirmed, was none other than the current Sect Leader, Su Yao.
"You may leave," Su Yao commanded Xu Yi with a wave of her hand.
"Yes, Sect Leader," Xu Yi replied respectfully, bowing before exiting the palace.
"The Sect Leader is a woman?!" Han Lingsha blurted out in surprise, covering her mouth in shock.
"Silence," Su Yao said softly, her voice carrying a strange pressure that immediately silenced Han Lingsha's next words.
"You," Su Yao said, her gaze landing on Yun Tianhe. "What is your name?"
"Me? I'm Yun Tianhe," he replied, looking around uncertainly before realizing the question was indeed directed at him.
"Yun Tianqing—what is he to you?" Su Yao asked.
"He's my father. Sect Leader, did you know my dad? Was he a sword immortal?" Yun Tianhe's voice was tinged with excitement.
"Indeed, your father was once a disciple of the Qionghua Sect. However, he abandoned his training midway and left the sect. Are you here today because he sent you?" Su Yao's expression remained unreadable as she asked.
"No, it was my own idea to come. My father passed away long ago. He never told me anything about this. I just wanted to learn more about his past," Yun Tianhe replied, his tone calm even as he spoke of his father's death.
"So, he has already passed..." Su Yao murmured, closing her eyes briefly as if in contemplation. After a moment, she opened them again and continued, "I performed a divination in the Sky-Watching Chamber and foresaw the arrival of an old connection. I didn't expect it to turn out this way."
"Currently, the sect is facing a major event, so entry trials have been suspended. However, given your connection to a former disciple, I will grant you all an opportunity to undergo a special test. Whether you succeed depends entirely on your own abilities."
"And if we fail?" Yun Tianhe asked, scratching his head.
"Then it simply means that fate does not favor you for the path of cultivation. You will be asked to leave the mountain," Su Yao replied with measured calm.
As Yun Tianhe and Su Yao continued their conversation, Daniel lowered his head slightly, inwardly scoffing at her apparent righteousness. She made it sound as though she were doing them a great favor, but Daniel suspected otherwise. If they had truly turned away, Su Yao would have been far more anxious than she let on.
Su Yao had only risen to the position of Sect Leader due to the depletion of the Qionghua Sect's talent pool. Many of the more promising disciples had either died, defected, or suffered setbacks during conflicts with the Demon Realm. Her own talents paled in comparison to her predecessors, and she had worked tirelessly to suppress outstanding disciples like Murong Ziying to protect her position.
It was no wonder the current Qionghua Sect was a shadow of its former self. Nineteen years ago, the sect had been home to numerous elite sword immortals, including Xuan Zhen, Xuan Xiao, Su Yu, and Yun Tianqing. Now, aside from Murong Ziying, there were no other promising younger disciples.
"Step forward. I will cast a spell to send you to a hidden realm. How you return will depend on your own understanding," Su Yao said as she motioned for the four of them to approach.
When they reached her, Su Yao began to chant and weave her fingers in intricate patterns. The spiritual energy within the hall surged in response to her movements.
"By decree of the Goddess, I summon all spirits. Open the way to the Violet Constellation," she intoned.
Daniel felt the space around them begin to shift. He offered no resistance to the energy enveloping him. In the blink of an eye, the four of them found themselves in a new environment.
They now stood in a strange space that resembled an endless void. Beneath their feet was a floating platform, and countless wine jars hovered in the air above them.
"So, this is the hidden realm. I didn't expect the Qionghua Sect's leader to be such a beautiful woman—she really looks intimidating too! She had me so nervous earlier," Han Lingsha said as she glanced around and recalled their encounter with Su Yao.
"That spell was amazing. She transported us here in an instant," Liu Mengli remarked, focusing on the impressive technique rather than Su Yao's appearance.
"This is spatial manipulation. It doesn't seem to be an illusion, which means this place is real... likely created using a formation," Daniel observed, his senses attuned to the unique energies surrounding them.
"Hey, there's an old man over there! Let's ask him!" Yun Tianhe pointed toward a white-bearded elder lounging on a massive gourd. Behind him stood a large bronze cauldron.
The group approached the elder cautiously.
"Good wine, good wine..." murmured the old man, seemingly in a dreamlike state.
"Excuse me, sir..." Han Lingsha called out gently.
"Sir!" she repeated, raising her voice when the old man failed to respond.
Startled awake, the elder groaned, "Who dares disturb my nap? My dream wine is gone now! Don't you youngsters know to respect your elders?"
Han Lingsha looked apologetic, but Liu Mengli quickly stepped in to explain, "Apologies, elder. We didn't mean to disturb you. We were just wondering if you could tell us how to leave this place?"
The elder studied them for a moment before saying, "Ah, young ones from the Qionghua Sect. It's been a long time since I've seen anyone from your sect... too long to remember, actually."
He paused before continuing,
"If you want to leave, do me a favor first—fill this wine jar. Maybe then I'll remember how to help you."
"And if we refuse?" Yun Tianhe asked bluntly.
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