"Master, you've been discovered?"
"Could it be... that all of this is fake?"
At this moment, Xiao Ling'er contemplated a lot.
Could it be... that she had been deceived?
Her teacher, Liang Danxia, maintained her composure and spoke in a deep voice, "That's not necessarily true."
"This sect rule was most likely established before you joined the sect, not after. Therefore, it's not necessarily aimed specifically at you and me."
"Moreover, if we say that everything is fake and insincere, how can we explain the sect's sincere efforts in cultivating you? Whether it's the Earth's Core Flame or the five elders tirelessly gathering various spirit herbs and materials for you, they are all genuine and valuable."
"So, you don't need to overthink it."
Although she was equally shocked, she had experienced much more than Xiao Ling'er, which allowed her to calm down faster and comfort her disciple by unraveling the situation.
"That's true."
Xiao Ling'er's expression improved significantly, "Regardless, even if there was a purpose, the kindness shown by my teacher and the sect towards me is genuine, and that cannot be faked."
"However, why is there such a rule in the sect rules? No, why are there so many bizarre rules?"
She couldn't understand it no matter how she thought about it.
Liang Danxia was equally perplexed.
After all, who would write such sect rules?
"I don't know either."
Liang Danxia didn't understand, but that didn't stop her from speculating, "However, we can analyze a thing or two based on the clues."
"I think the time when these rules were written was definitely before you joined the sect, at least before this year's grand recruitment. Only this year, they didn't consider talent but relied on fate."
"Furthermore, it's not necessarily aimed at you and me, and they might not even know about my existence. There are dozens of new recruitment rules, and each one corresponds to a specific group of people. Although they seem unrelated, each has its 'specialty'."
"It seems..."
Liang Danxia paused for a moment before continuing, "The person who set these rules must have had their own intentions, and they firmly believed that those who met these conditions would be extraordinary?"
As she spoke, Liang Danxia herself found it absurd.
How could meeting these conditions make someone extraordinary?
But upon further reflection, she became confused again.
"These conditions seem unrelated and chaotic, but in reality..."
"What do you mean, Teacher?" Xiao Ling'er blinked her eyes.
"In reality, it makes sense."
Liang Danxia spoke these words slowly.
If she were a modern person, she would have found the perfect word to describe it.
But she wasn't.
"After all, they must have relied on these rules to pick you out of tens of thousands of people, and they have cultivated you with such dedication, one could say they gave their all."
"This also proves that these seemingly confusing and bizarre rules are truly extraordinary!"
Xiao Ling'er was taken aback.
Seemingly... it seems so.
"Indeed!"
Liang Danxia gradually seemed to understand, and she continued, "In my opinion, these rules were most likely set by your teacher."
"How can you tell?"
"You should have noticed that your teacher is not ordinary! Her cultivation speed is almost faster than yours, and you have my dedicated personal guidance, the cultivation technique I gave you, the empowerment of the unusual flame, and the numerous pills she refined herself."
"But your teacher firmly suppresses you! You've never been able to close the gap."
"Secondly, your Master has only recently ascended to the position of Sect Master, and before that, the Moonseizing Sect would not have had such a rule! Otherwise, if they value this sect rule so much, why didn't they open the mountain gate earlier this year?"
"All of this, and the target is pointing at you, Master."
"He... has a secret."
"And it should be a bigger secret than you and me!"
Xiao Ling'er fell silent after hearing this.
Liang Danxia didn't say anything else.
After a moment, Xiao Ling'er smiled and said, "It seems I've troubled myself over nothing, Teacher."
"Everyone has their own secrets. It's normal for the Master to have secrets, isn't it? Just like how the Master should know that I have secrets, but she has never asked about them. Instead, she cultivates me with the full strength of the sect."
"So, why should I care so much?"
"As long as the sect and Master treat me sincerely, I will repay them with a gushing spring."
"Moreover, this has pointed me in a direction. In the future, when I'm outside and encounter someone who meets the conditions, I can bring them back to the sect."
"Excellent, truly excellent!" Liang Danxia exclaimed.
Who doesn't have secrets?
I also have my own secrets!
There are also things I'm hiding from this girl, but does having secrets mean it's truly good?
"However, Teacher, I don't understand the first part, but I vaguely feel it's an impressive sect rule. Let's not discuss the first part for now, but the latter part... isn't it a bit too timid and harsh for a sect rule?"
Xiao Ling'er started to pay attention to the latter part of the sect rule.
She had thought that the teacher would agree with her, but she never expected her answer to be the complete opposite: "No!"
"We can only guess about the first part, but the latter part is truly a reasonable statement!"
"Huh?!"
"You're still young, and you've experienced too little. In the future, you'll understand."
"As for the sect rule, follow it without deviation."
Xiao Ling'er: "Σ(⊙▽⊙"a... hmm."
...
Several days later, outside Hongwu Immortal City.
Duan Qingyao brought Xiao Ling'er down slowly.
"Ling'er, this is Hongwu Immortal City."
She explained with a smile, "Isn't it magnificent?"
"Magnificent!" Xiao Ling'er exclaimed.
"Of course." Duan Qingyao sighed, "Hongwu Immortal City has a permanent population of over a hundred million. If you include the temporary residents and visitors, it reaches two hundred million."
"So many powerful individuals!"
"Especially the current City Lord, known as Hongwu Earth Immortal, is a genuine Loose Immortal expert."
"Loose Immortal?" Xiao Ling'er was puzzled.
"The so-called Loose Immortal refers to cultivators who fail to ascend after reaching the Loose Immortal realm but do not die. Instead, they undergo Body Dissolution and embark on the path of a Loose Immortal."
"A Loose Immortal is stronger than a Void Breaker but weaker than an Ascended Immortal, existing between the two realms. However, a Loose Immortal can still undergo tribulations, and each tribulation will greatly increase their cultivation and battle prowess. If they successfully pass through twelve tribulations, they will directly surpass the 'Immortal' realm and ascend to become a 'True Immortal'!"
"So, there are also twelve tribulations for Loose Immortals."
"So that's how it is!"
Xiao Ling'er suddenly understood, but in her mind, Liang Danxia sighed, "Elder Duan's words are correct. However, the twelve tribulations for Loose Immortals are too difficult, and in the long history of the Immortal Martial Continent, there are very few successful cases."
"Not to mention twelve tribulations, even those who can pass seven tribulations are considered heaven-blessed talents."
"A seven-tribulation Loose Immortal can easily defeat an Ascended Immortal."
"And the tribulations for Loose Immortals occur once every five hundred years, and there's no escaping them."
"So, unless it's absolutely necessary, one must never have the thought of undergoing Body Dissolution to become a Loose Immortal!"
"Yes, Teacher."