124 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

**Chapter 124: The Junior Disciple** The clandestine conversation lingered on for quite some time. However, during a moment in Xiang Shi Yan and Long Ruiqing's discussion, no one noticed a pool of water slowly receding from the wall, quietly seeping out through the crack of the door. Xiang Shi Yan furrowed her brow slightly but chose to temporarily overlook the peculiarity, mentally noting the unusual occurrence for later reflection. Elsewhere, a young girl leaned lazily against the guardrail of the deck, gazing into the night sky and humming with interest. Just a couple more hours, and at dawn, she'd once again be able to glimpse the distant waterfall neighboring the Tai Xu Sect master's residence. Yet, old scenes and memories held little intrigue; the important person was no longer present. He He cast a glance at the faint purplish-red clouds on the horizon before turning to head back into the cabin. The flying vessel gently descended onto a massive makeshift platform outside Qingyuan City. The whirlpool of spiritual energy gradually subsided, and brackets reached out from both sides to stabilize the ship. Yu Ming had already sought permission from the sect leader to separate from the group, choosing to ride her sword towards Qingyuan City beforehand. By now, she should have contacted the people from Tianji Gate and settled into the lodgings arranged by them. Given her nature and the subtle wounds from a recent heart demon assault, she was likely still isolating herself within her room, just as she had been when still aboard the vessel. Hence, she remained unaware that the disciple, whom she believed might have been either imprisoned or executed on Xiang Shi Yan’s orders, was walking with a steady gait and leading a group of Yu Cang Mountain members. This disciple followed calmly behind the sect master and the two elders, showing no signs of any disturbance, as if nothing had happened. The girl's composed demeanor even caught Xiang Shi Yan's attention. If Long Ruiqing's account was accurate, she was a spy meticulously chosen by the demon clan, whose intelligence far surpassed her peers. Her capability to maintain a secret connection with the Tai Xu Sect and the demon clan for ten years, without ever arousing suspicion, indicated her formidable temperament and disguising skills. They arrived late; only a handful of Tianji Gate disciples were still waiting on the platform outside the city. Tianji Gate, as was customary, treated all sects impartially, providing two guides regardless of size, and prepared guides for any unaffiliated cultivators interested in joining. Tianji Gate remained aloof from the five major sects and seven great families within the Thirteen Pillars of the Immortal Gate, choosing not to ally with any external force while maintaining a friendly and neutral stance. Though not among the most powerful of the Thirteen, their otherworldly disposition and mysterious qualities granted them a unique standing among various human groups. It is said that Tianji Gate is adept in divination, able to glimpse the workings of the heavens. Its founding master, once a reclusive figure, established the sect under divine mandate to maintain balance across the world and protect human peace. The first generation of "Tianji" was appointed thus, with each subsequent leader possessing a unique gift suited to the title. Two young women in navy garments awaited below the stone platform. The difference in attire among Tianji Gate members wasn't as pronounced as that of Yu Cang Mountain, but certain adornments identified them as elder disciples. These Tianji Gate disciples, appearing remarkably youthful, only boasted the cultivation level of the Jin Dan stage, suggesting they weren’t much older than they seemed. The disciples’ robes were long and flowing, tied back elegantly with jade crowns, presenting a stark contrast to the practical attire of Yu Cang Mountain disciples. This disparity seemed to extend to their demeanors; their movements and speech were gentle and smooth. Particularly, the elder girl offered a sense of morning mist or a creature of the forest, soothing and harmonious. The two exchanged a glance, with the less advanced one stepping aside to stand behind her senior sister. The poised young woman stepped forward, bowing with folded hands, "We've been awaiting your arrival for a while. Even Sect Master Li himself has honored us with his presence this time. I assume Yu Cang Mountain is quite determined to succeed in this year's Hidden Dragon Rankings?" Judging by her spiritual essence, her cultivation was merely at the late Jin Dan stage. Yet, she displayed no sign of intimidation before the Yu Cang Mountain's three seniors, indicating a blend of her own nature and possibly some familiarity with sect hierarchies and individual temperaments. True to form, Li Huai wasn’t offended by the Tianji Gate disciple’s approachable manner. Instead, he responded with a congenial smile, "Ha ha, my disciples are dull-witted. As their master, I daren't impose. We'll be relying on our gracious hosts for guidance." "Of course." The young woman responded, "Yu Ming has already settled in the quarters prepared by us. My junior sister and I will escort you there." The other girl not only exhibited weaker cultivation but also seemed less adept socially, remaining silent during her sister’s interactions with the Yu Cang Mountain party. Her eyes swept over the accompanying disciples, as if searching for something, arms crossed—a stark contrast to her sister’s amiable demeanor. "I am Mu Hua, disciple to the Great Elder of Tianji Gate, and this is Fu Xiao, the youngest under the second senior uncle's tutelage. We are responsible for your stay in Qingyuan City." Due to some disciples' inability to fly with swords, they opted to walk, allowing time to introduce the city and necessary information to their guests while accommodating everyone's travel. Upon hearing her elder sister’s introduction, Fu Xiao gave a slight nod in acknowledgment to the Yu Cang Mountain entourage, a silent greeting. With an air of expectation, she glanced back once more, her eyes searching for a response that never came, prompting her to turn her indifferent gaze aside. “We’ll trouble the two young friends then,” Elder Jing Wu addressed the pair of mere Jin Dan stage elder disciples tersely, while Sect Master Li Huai engaged in cordial small talk with them. "This gathering promises to be unprecedentedly lively; I hope it proves worthwhile for all of you." Mu Hua said with a smile. "The accommodations we’ve prepared for our guests share no distinctions, so please forgive any lack upon discovering the sect master is in attendance.” Hearing this, Xiang Shi Yan's gaze flickered. Tianji Gate's hospitality was consistently impartial; however, treating a sect master with such casual parity seemed out of place. In the original work, Sect Master Li Huai had not traveled to Qingyuan City, as it was during a time of tense relations between the Tai Xu Sect and the demon clan. He had to remain at the sect to stabilize morale. Additionally, after Huai Ye's death, there was little necessity for him to accompany. In the original narrative, the most prestigious visitors to Qingyuan City were led by Bai Jinghuan, an elder of the Tai Xu Sect. As both a direct disciple of the Tai Xu Sect master and the younger brother to the Bai family head, he boasted both noble lineage and cultivation at the middle Dacheng stage, securing a lofty status within the cultivation world, comparable to a sect master and perhaps only slightly lower than his own brother and master. Although merely an elder, his rank nearly equated to that of a sect head. Bai Jinghuan's status was so extraordinary that even Tianji Gate afforded him a certain degree of respect, hence in the original story, during the meetings of the Hidden Dragon Rankings a few years later, his lodging was positioned within the main gates of the Tianji Sect, nestled within the concealed mountains behind Qingyuan City. This time, however... Xiang Shi Yan quickly deduced the crucial elements. Bai Jinghuan’s unique status and cultivation were unparalleled among ordinary sect elders. Being notoriously arrogant and unruly, both other immortals and Tianji Gate found humoring him the simplest approach. If Li Huai weren’t present, this might have persisted. Yet upon learning of Yu Cang Mountain’s master's presence, Tianji Gate adjusted their arrangements. No matter Bai Jinghuan's illustrious reputation or the Tai Xu Sect's eminent status, in name, all Thirteen Pillars of the Immortal Gate are considered equal. Treating him equivalently to or alongside Li Huai would breach decorum. Just half a year earlier, the upheaval at the Mixed Yuan Border led to Tai Xu Sect facing reproach from the celestial realm, with Yu Cang Mountain disciples sustaining the heaviest losses. Showing any special favor to Tai Xu Sect now would not only disrespect Yu Cang Mountain and their peers, but Li Huai’s considerable forbearance would merely highlight placing the other sect elders beneath Bai Jinghuan, inviting unwanted trouble onto Tai Xu Sect. For Tianji Gate, treating everyone equally is beneficial. Favoring Tai Xu Sect would signal cowardice under its influence, threatening their hallmark neutrality. Upon hearing Mu Hua subtly clarify that the Tai Xu Sect elders, along with their disciples, were also lodging within the city, Xiang Shi Yan felt a slight relief. The hot-tempered, unreasonable elder from Tai Xu Sect hadn’t caused a fuss, indicating they understood there was little to argue. It also confirmed that Tianji Gate’s role as a mediator remained unaltered, continuing their aim of balancing powers and reducing conflict. Hence, should any disputes arise during the competition, it seems Tianji Gate would adjudicate fairly. Qingyuan City lies among the few mortal realms governed by the sects. While typical factions pursue secluded cultivation, the otherwise enigmatic Tianji Gate openly protects the city—a peculiarity not well-publicized but known for its size, exceeding most mortal towns, and boasts a reputation surpassing that of the unattainable Huaihai City for common folk. "Qingyuan City isn't just under the direct jurisdiction of Tianji Gate; quite a bit of the city's land and buildings are part of the Gate itself. Mortals and cultivators live side by side, attracting many unaffiliated cultivators over time, making the marketplace here quite bustling," Mu Hua explained. "Sect Master Li and the elders might not find much of interest, but the junior disciples can explore and perhaps find some trinkets to their liking." Nestled within the group, Xu Youqing gazed intently at the Tianji Gate senior sister, pulling Qian Danni down to her level and whispering in her ear, "That senior sister smiles just like a lucky cat." The atmosphere grew a bit awkward; Xu Youqing, merely a child at the sixth level of Qi Refining, was obviously not adept at reading the room or transmitting sound into someone’s ears. She didn't realize how her comment embarrassed her mentors, while the "lucky cat" senior sister narrowed her eyes and spotted her in the crowd. The girl added, "Dragon Senior Sister smiles like that too." After a quick glance at He He who was snickering, she internally noted him as a paper tiger but dared not say it aloud. Walking behind the trio, Huai Ye silently pulled the young junior sister into his embrace, covering her mouth with one hand as he cast an apologetic look towards Mu Hua. But indeed, there was a resemblance. Like Long Ruiqing, she seemed like one of those grinning, beckoning, strange cats that ironically made people apprehensive. Xiang Shi Yan gave an exasperated glance at her foolishly grinning senior brother. Being approachable… well, that was a good thing. Her gaze casually fell upon the girl named Fu Xiao, clearly distinct from Mu Hua. Despite being of a similar age and appearance, Fu Xiao couldn't conceal her thoughts as well as her senior sister. Since their arrival at the outskirts of the city, Fu Xiao had seemed particularly curious and expectant, her eyes scanning the array of disciples—maybe due to her rare encounters with members of other sects. It wasn't unusual but suggested intriguing implications if any disciples were to stand out as noteworthy individuals. A particularly tall girl among the newcomers was busy taking in the sights of Qingyuan City's streets, oblivious even as Xiang Shi Yan's gaze lingered on her momentarily. Fu Xiao's subtle anticipation was eventually unmet. Xiang Shi Yan was rather surprised—could she not recognize her own sect member? Yet the disguise was seamless. Xiang Shi Yan had attempted to get close multiple times but found no flaw, indicating some hidden methods of Tianji Gate. It wasn't until she accessed fragmented memories and the original text, confirming Yu Ming only had Long Ruiqing as a disciple, that Xiang Shi Yan took note of this individual. Fu Zhi was curiously observing everything around her. She had only passed through Qingyuan City once before, when her master brought her to the mountain, considering the dense mist surrounding Tianji Gate rendered flying spells and treasures ineffective. The only way to ascend was on foot through the city and along the lengthy mountain path. Despite her visual impairment, just knowing she stood at the foot of Tianji Gate filled her with a thrill. Seeing her enthusiasm, He He privately teased, "Haven't you seen it before? Why so excited?" "And how can you tell I'm excited?" Fu Zhi shot back, retracting her gaze with a stiff face. After a while, she couldn't help but vent, "Surely the demon who can conveniently discard limbs doesn’t understand the struggles of the blind." This was a clear jab at her "celestial detachment," which He He met with a chuckle. "These two are like your fellow disciples, and given that Jin Dan cultivators are not so common, do you recognize them?" Fu Zhi immediately felt her hair stand on end, casting a wary yet puzzled look at him, suspecting some scheme. But on second thought, He He couldn’t gain much from these junior nieces either. Probably, among all of Tianji Gate, only her master might catch his eye, so resignedly, she replied via sound transmission, "Though we're of the same sect, I don't interact with them much... they count as my junior nieces, and I heard somewhere that Mu Hua damaged her meridians due to a prophecy, so despite her extraordinary talent, she's only at the late Jin Dan stage even after a hundred years." "Our sect doesn't value cultivation achievements as much as others. As Tianji Gate's grand-disciple and an elder's disciple, Mu Hua possesses capabilities that earn her respect, often participating in elders’ gatherings," Fu Zhi added. Though she couldn’t see, she recognized Mu Hua by her voice. The pool-of-life affair being a sect secret, Mu Hua likely thought she was still in seclusion. "And the other one?" Fu Zhi pondered before replying, "I can’t even recognize all my senior sisters. How could I possibly remember everyone in Tianji Gate so well?" "I don't recall ever seeing her before." **Author's Note:** I apologize for being late... There were many matters to attend to today, and I only started writing at nine, hitting a writer's block until now. QAQ. Thank you to the little angels who cast overlord votes or nourished me with nutrient solutions between May 8, 2022, and May 13, 2022! Thanks to the angel who threw the landmine: Yuan Dachui 1; Thanks to the angels who nourished me with nutrient solutions: Get up early during summer vacation 14 bottles; Wait for the cloud to disperse 10 bottles; I am very grateful for everyone's support, and I'll continue to work hard! This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)