After Faking Her Death and Fleeing, the Emotionless Daoist Master Regretted It - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The Sect Master’s Command – Shizun’s Proposed New Rules

Above the auspicious clouds, Ling Yunyue looked at her disciple’s great increase in cultivation, and a faint smile once again appeared on her usually indifferent face.

However, remembering the events that had just transpired, the smile quickly faded. She turned to the woman in the ink-colored long dress beside her and said in a soft voice: “In my opinion, the sect’s rules for recruiting disciples should be changed.”

Rong Jiangzhu raised her delicate eyebrows: “Did Junior Sister conceive this notion because of the recent events?”

Ling Yunyue did not deny it: “Some people should not have been recruited into the sect from the start. Over the years, the assessment of disciples entering the sect has focused on spiritual root aptitude and neglected character. With the multitude of disciples in the sect, continuing like this will eventually lead to disaster.”

Rong Jiangzhu lowered her eyes and pondered: “Character is indeed important, but Junior Sister, don’t forget that most disciples are children around seven years old when they first enter the sect, and their minds are not fully developed. If we set up a trial by ‘Heart-Refining Illusion’ now, those who pass will be less than one in ten. For the sect to develop long-term, we must widely recruit disciples, otherwise, it is highly likely that there will be a lack of talent continuity.”

There was reason in her words, and Ling Yunyue had considered this before.

“The Heart-Refining Illusion trial can be postponed. If anyone fails to pass later, they can then be asked to leave the sect.”

Rong Jiangzhu did not agree with this move: “After entering the sect, one can gradually gain access to Daoist magic secrets. Junior Sister should know that even the most basic cultivation methods in the sect are much better than those outside. If we expel those people from the sect then, there is a possibility of the secrets leaking out.”

Ling Yunyue said faintly: “Some years ago, when I was gaining experience outside, I saw a technique in the relics of an ancient cultivator that can erase a cultivator’s memory. If used on those people, it can eliminate the relevant hidden dangers.”

Rong Jiangzhu frowned slightly: “As far as I know, casting such secret techniques always requires a certain price, which is detrimental to one’s own cultivation. Those who are expelled from the sect are those with poor character. If you really do that, it’s better to just kill them directly and be done with it.”

Hearing this, Ling Yunyue fell silent for a moment.

Directly eliminating those who failed the Heart-Refining Illusion was indeed the most effective way to eliminate hidden dangers, especially when she thought of the situation Lingqing encountered in the trial earlier, this thought became even stronger.

Rong Jiangzhu observed her expression and was somewhat uncertain: “What I said just now was just off the cuff. Junior Sister isn’t seriously planning this, are you? Tianyan Sect is, after all, a Daoist sect. If we truly follow this path and the news leaks out, it will be extremely detrimental to the sect.”

Ling Yunyue raised her eyes slightly: “Then let’s screen them upon entry, adding a character assessment. If Senior Sister doesn’t agree, I have another suggestion.”

“I’d like to hear it.”

“From now on, Tianyan Sect will only recruit female cultivators.”

Hearing this, Rong Jiangzhu was somewhat surprised, but she considered it seriously.

Although one cannot generalize, female cultivators are indeed generally superior to male cultivators in terms of character.

Taking the current trial on the three thousand arenas as an example, female cultivators, when defeated, mostly accept it calmly and do not stir up trouble.

Furthermore, within Tianyan Sect, those who can cultivate to high ranks and become Nascent Soul or Mahayana Realm elders are basically female cultivators.

Their conversation was not deliberately kept quiet. Above the auspicious clouds, the elders all heard it and began to speak, expressing their agreement.

“Senior Sister Ling is absolutely right. Only accepting female cultivators can avoid a lot of trouble.”

“For the sect to have a long legacy, the character of the disciples is indeed of paramount importance. The original assessment standards truly need to be changed.”

“Sects like the Qingyin Sect and Xuanniao Sect on the Azure Profound Continent, and the Houtu Sect on the True Martial Continent, all only have female cultivators. They all have long legacies, and there has never been any internal strife. In contrast, in our Tianyan Sect, although the main reason for the great battle a thousand years ago came from external forces, it was also due to the assistance of traitors, and those traitors were, without exception, male cultivators. Therefore, I agree with Senior Sister Ling’s suggestion. From now on, the sect will only recruit female cultivators!”

Seeing that the elders were unanimous in their opinions, Rong Jiangzhu took the opportunity to issue the corresponding command.

“Effective immediately, Tianyan Sect will only recruit female cultivators. After the trial at Yanwu Peak concludes, the Sect Master’s Golden Order will be issued to all peaks. Henceforth, when you take on disciples outside, it will also be limited to female disciples. Any violation will be severely punished according to sect rules!”

This command was augmented by spiritual power for amplification.

At that time, the sixth round of the trial was in the middle of lot-drawing and had not yet begun. The moment they heard the Sect Master’s command, the cultivators on the peak, who were discussing the previous trial, all fell silent for a moment and respectfully replied “Yes.”

The reactions that followed were varied.

Female cultivators were either calm or showed approval, believing it was long overdue.

As for the male cultivators, a few were expressionless, wondering what to think, but most began to blame Wang Miao and Zhang Wu, who were now reduced to ashes.

In their view, if the two had not been morally corrupt and violated the trial rules, the Sect Master would not have issued such a command.

Above the auspicious clouds, Rong Jiangzhu took in the expressions of the cultivators below and began to contemplate the suggestion about the Heart-Refining Illusion that her Junior Sister had mentioned earlier.

Perhaps… she truly should find a suitable time to eliminate the existing morally corrupt individuals in the sect and eliminate future troubles forever.

In the martial field, the results of the sixth round of lot-drawing had been announced.

Su Lingqing happened to draw a bye and did not participate in this round.

She had naturally heard the Sect Master’s command earlier and wholeheartedly agreed with the decision.

She had a vague intuition that Shizun had proposed this matter.

The protective spiritual pattern left by Shizun had also saved her earlier when she was attacked by the self-destructing artifacts.

Although only a day had passed since she last saw her, she felt as if a long time had gone by.

She desperately wanted to return to Shizun’s side and never leave again…

Su Lingqing lowered her eyes, concealing the various thoughts in her heart.

The continuous sound of clashing blades reached her ears, but she had no interest in continuing to watch.

The sixth round of the trial quickly concluded, and the information for the seventh round gradually appeared on the light screens surrounding the nine-story pavilion.

Su Lingqing drew a Senior Sister from Dan Peak (Pill Peak), Le Xi.

Le Xi liked wearing red clothes and was very personable, enjoying excellent popularity on Dan Peak.

The two successively stepped onto the arena and exchanged courtesies.

Le Xi held the purple rhyme flute artifact. The moment the trial began, an intoxicating flute sound instantly rang out.

Su Lingqing instantly cast the Solid Mind Spell, protecting her sea of consciousness, and easily blocked the sound attack that carried an illusionary effect.

In the next moment, a snowy silk streamer resembling a pibai (shawl) flew out from Le Xi’s sleeve, wrapping around the girl’s waist.

Realizing this was not an artifact, Su Lingqing did not slash at it with her sword, only deftly shifting her body to avoid it.

However, there was more than one snowy silk streamer. In just a moment, her retreat paths were completely blocked.

At the same time, a subtle medicinal fragrance reached her nose.

Su Lingqing felt momentary dizziness in her mind. She immediately realized that the streamer contained a special pill.

Her spiritual energy rapidly drained. At this moment, her heart grew even calmer. She secretly seized the opportunity, locked onto Le Xi’s location, and before her spiritual energy was completely depleted, she used her divine sense to control the Flowing Light Sword and subdued her opponent.

The moment she won the trial, Su Lingqing withdrew the flying sword. The defeated Le Xi immediately came to her, poured out a snow-white pill, and handed it to the girl.

“Junior Sister Su, this is a Spirit Recovery Pill. After taking it, it will counteract the poison of the Spirit Dissipation Pellet contained in the Snow Streamer.”

“Thank you, Senior Sister Le.”

Su Lingqing took the pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

Le Xi was about to support her Junior Sister and slowly walk off the arena. However, the moment she touched the girl’s clothing, her spiritual intuition suddenly gave a warning.

She was stunned and her movement to offer support slowed down.

The spiritual intuition warning also vanished at that instant.

Could it have been an illusion?

A trace of doubt surfaced in Le Xi’s heart. To verify her guess, she tried to approach her Junior Sister again. Just like before, the moment she touched the girl’s sleeve, her spiritual intuition gave a warning once more.

She recalled the previous five trials. The girl had not been in close contact with anyone, so she couldn’t see any clues.

As for now…

The Junior Sister was poisoned by the Spirit Dissipation Pellet. Although she had just defeated her, her depleted spiritual energy had not yet recovered, so it shouldn’t have caused such a strong spiritual intuition warning. Moreover, judging from the Junior Sister’s expression, she didn’t seem intent on continuing the trial with her.

So, where did this spiritual intuition warning come from?

Le Xi looked at the girl’s gradually receding back. The doubt in her heart grew stronger. To solve the mystery, she quickened her pace and caught up.

“Junior Sister Su, please wait.”

Su Lingqing, whose spiritual energy had not yet recovered, was about to look for a quiet place to meditate. Hearing Le Xi’s voice, her footsteps immediately paused, and she slowly turned around.

“Senior Sister, are you looking for me?”

Le Xi nodded repeatedly, quickly running to the girl’s side: “I… I have a question I want to ask Junior Sister.”

Considering the crowd on the peak, she switched to a voice transmission and continued: “Has Junior Sister noticed any anomaly with her body?”

Su Lingqing misunderstood and slowly nodded: “The poison hasn’t been dispelled yet. My spiritual energy is temporarily unusable.”

Hearing this, Le Xi’s pretty face flushed. She was the culprit who caused this.

“Junior Sister, I’m not asking about that. I mean… has Junior Sister had any restriction placed on her body?”

Su Lingqing’s delicate eyebrows furrowed: “What do you mean, Senior Sister?”

Le Xi hesitated for a moment and continued the voice transmission: “Earlier, when I wanted to help Junior Sister off the arena, my spiritual intuition gave a warning the moment I approached. The same thing happened when I tried just now. I am wondering if someone has placed a restriction on Junior Sister, forbidding others from getting close to her.”

A look of surprise appeared on Su Lingqing’s face.

The protective spiritual pattern set by Shizun would only activate when encountering danger. What Senior Sister Le said shouldn’t be that.

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I was unaware of this. After the trial ends, I will try to investigate.”

The girl’s reaction was within Le Xi’s expectations. She then continued the voice transmission: “Junior Sister can carefully recall past experiences and see who might have done this, to be careful.”

There were only two reasons for placing a restriction on someone else: one was for protection, and the other was driven by possessiveness.

Above the auspicious clouds, Ling Yunyue watched her disciple and Le Xi standing face-to-face, their eyes seemingly focused only on each other. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, quietly clenched.

In the next moment, her figure flashed, instantly disappearing from her original spot and arriving on Yanwu Peak.

At that time, Su Lingqing was concentrating on recalling past events, guessing the source of the possible restriction on her body.

Because she was too absorbed, she did not notice Shizun’s arrival.

It was only when Le Xi bowed deeply to her location and called out the word “Venerable” that her thoughts instantly returned. She subconsciously turned around and saw the all-too-familiar figure…