Chapter 0.45 Xuan Nu Raksha Palace’s Xian Ning
Three days later.
The trials within the secret realm concluded, and all disciples from the various sects returned to the outside world.
“How strange. Didn’t that official from the Gu Xi Dynasty say he’d be back in only half an hour? Why haven’t we seen any sign of him for days?” Rong Shan’s eyes flickered with doubt.
“I reckon he’s absconded in fear of punishment, ran away on purpose!”
Director Zhou, holding the Secret Realm Spirit Talisman, spoke with a complex expression, “In the Secret Realm trial, the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace has indeed successfully qualified among the Great Dao esteemed sects! What are we to do?”
“What do you mean, Director Zhou?” Rong Shan frowned solemnly. “Since the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace won fair and square, we must proceed according to the rules. Do you intend to bend the law for personal gain?”
“I bend the law for personal gain? Wouldn’t true bending of the law involve taking benefits from the Mystic Maiden Palace and then favoring them in everything?!”
As soon as these words were spoken, Director Zhou shivered inexplicably. His eyes shot towards Rong Shan and the chief of the Hidden Dragon Guard. He also recalled the actions of Ren Chuanyu before.
“Why are you glaring at me, Old Mr. Zhou?” Rong Shan asked calmly, his expression unchanged.
“Nothing, it’s nothing.” Director Zhou eventually waved his hand and dismissed it with a smile.
He thought to himself, even if one official from the Selection Ceremony were bribed, it would be terrifying enough. If all three officials besides himself were colluding with the Mystic Maiden Palace, that would truly be an Arabian Nights tale; the possibility was too remote!
“Alright, let’s not keep the fellow Daoists from each sect waiting any longer.”
At this moment, the chief of the Hidden Dragon Guard also acted as a mediator. The three of them, somewhat belatedly, joined hands and appeared before the gathered cultivators.
At this moment, Qin Gou’s emotions were soaring. He awaited the moment the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace would be announced as having gained the reputation of a ‘Great Dao esteemed sect,’ thus completing their mission. After all, the Celestial Master had gone to great lengths for this Selection Ceremony, from the opening to ensuring the fairness of the trials, no aspect lacked his contribution. He could even be described as the fifth person behind the man backing the dynasty officials, personally involved in every detail.
“Fellow Daoists who did not manage to rank among the Great Dao esteemed sects, do not be discouraged. I shall now announce the cultivator who was most recognized by the Spirit of the Secret Realm during the trial!”
On the ceremonial platform, Director Zhou activated the Secret Realm Spirit Talisman and solemnly inquired, “Who is Fellow Daoist Xian Ning?!”
At the same time, amidst the Mystic Maiden Palace disciples, the identity token Bai Yunxi had used to enter the secret realm suddenly glowed.
“How could it be me?” Bai Yunxi’s pretty face was stunned.
Even though she had already disguised herself and appeared as a charming and cold beauty, as the renowned Peak Master of the Evil Slaying Peak of the Sword Questioning Sect, her true identity could easily be revealed by her spirit tools and profound techniques once she made a move. Qin Gou had simply told her to go with the flow in the trial!
The crux of the problem might lie here. While everyone else was fiercely competing, Bai Yunxi alone seemed detached, never vying for anything. Her primary mission was not fame or fortune, but to save the dying and heal the injured, and to serve as the highest-cultivation cook for Old Qin and the others in history.
Xiao Yan always looked forward to Qin Gou telling her strange and fantastical monster stories. For Peak Master Bai, it turned into her inexplicably pestering Old Qin to rack his brains and recite ‘Bao Cai Ming’ at length, thereby verifying her exquisite ‘pig-raising’ skills… These two mother and daughter were indeed quite similar.
Perhaps it was these anomalies that greatly attracted the attention of the Spirit of the Secret Realm.
Thinking this, Director Zhou’s subsequent words confirmed Qin Gou’s guess: “Please emerge, Fellow Daoist Xian Ning. She is the one who selflessly healed non-sect cultivators who had lost their qualifications the most times during the trial. Her virtuous conduct is admirable.”
“Peak Master Bai, you’ll have to endure this.” Qin Gou said softly.
“Don’t worry, Little Friend Qin.”
For a moment, Bai Yunxi took a deep breath, immediately parting the crowd and walking towards the ceremonial platform where Director Zhou and the others stood.
“Fellow Daoist Xian Ning, you are…” As everyone saw the direction Bai Yunxi came from, their expressions changed in shock.
“That’s right.”
Bai Yunxi secretly made up her mind and the shallow smile she offered was: “This humble woman hails from the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace. I imagine this is quite unexpected for many?”
Director Zhou asked with surprise and uncertainty, “Fellow Daoist Xian Ning, with such profound cultivation, why have we never seen you in any of the great affairs concerning the Mystic Maiden Palace before?”
“It is because I was only recently invited by my sister Cai He to formally pledge my allegiance to the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace.” Bai Yunxi spoke slowly, paused, and her voice turned solemn. “When the time is right and upon being conferred the title by Ancestor Ye, I, Xian Ning, shall become the tenth Saintess of the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace!”
“As for the Spirit of the Secret Realm recognizing me, this identity token serves as proof, so there should be no mistake. I wonder what great rewards the directors will bestow?”
Seeing this, Director Zhou took the identity token, examined it, and nodded slightly. “This token is indeed in order.”
“Wait a moment!”
Suddenly, the crowds from various sects erupted in clamor.
“The disciples of the Mystic Maiden Palace possess ferocious combat power, there’s no dispute about that. But to say that this person is the one most recognized by the Spirit of the Secret Realm is simply absurd!”
“Exactly, Director Zhou, you say this female cultivator repeatedly aided severely injured cultivators in the secret realm, saving lives and healing injuries, but we have clearly never seen this person before!”
“Who knows what methods she used? Was it fraud?”
For a moment, it seemed as if the crowd was in an uproar, and the directors were all plagued with headaches. But then, Bai Yunxi’s eyes turned cold, and she suddenly extended a palm.
“Bang.”
A cultivator who had been fanning the flames in the crowd, with an extremely loud voice, was suddenly snatched over by Bai Yunxi’s palm. His entire body, filled with bewilderment, fell onto the ceremonial platform.
“Would the Spirit of the Secret Realm engage in fraud? Would the dynasty officials of the various peaks engage in fraud? In the end, are you still doubting my Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace?”
At this moment, Bai Yunxi leaned forward slightly, looking down at the fallen cultivator. Her beautiful eyes were as cold as frost, filled with a fierce aura. “It seems that because we have been strict with ourselves these past few days and have appeared too weak towards all of you fellow Daoists, everyone present has forgotten that my Mystic Maiden Palace also has unforgettable methods for dealing with foolish people who repeatedly cause trouble and act unreasonably!”
After speaking, her sharp, blade-like eyes swept across the crowd again. She imperiously placed a jade-white index finger to her lips, making a ‘shut up’ gesture.
“Who wants to try?!”
In an instant, the entire place fell silent and filled with dread. The cultivators felt gagged.
“Good heavens…” Only Qin Gou looked on with surprise and involuntarily blurted out to the person beside him, “Is this still the same Peak Master Bai I know, who speaks softly and is gentle and agreeable?” He then couldn’t help but glance at Li Yuanzhen not far away.
So that’s how it is!
“Peak Master Bai is truly a good teacher!”
Now he finally understood where the ‘little gambler’ learned her divine skill of quickly adapting to various roles during their travels together, fully immersing herself in the parts and changing her face in an instant!
