Open the Sect Gate! Recruit disciples!
These words instantly made the eyes of several Great Saints turn red, feeling a surge of hot blood rushing straight to their heads.
After a brief deathly silence, several Great Saints scrambled forward:
Fire Cloud Great Saint, the first to react, rushed forward with an arrow's leap to stand in front of Xue Qing, his expression excited:
"I have a great-grandson in the direct lineage, only ten years old this year, his Root Bone not yet fully formed, the perfect age for building a foundation, and he possesses a Fire Spirit Body, obedient and clever, with excellent comprehension, destined for greatness! If you take him under your wing, my entire clan, with all our possessions and Secret Techniques, are at your disposal!"
"Miss Xue Qing, don't listen to him, he's utterly impoverished, what foundation does he have to speak of?"
The oldest among them, Chao Qiankun, was almost jumping in anxiety, pushing aside Fire Cloud Great Saint who stood in his way, speaking in a deep voice:
"I have a great-granddaughter, just eight years old, with jade-like skin and bones, full of Spirituality, naturally sensitive, quiet, sensible, smart, she would never disturb your cultivation, I am willing to offer an Emperor Weapon, passed down in my family, as a gift, just for Miss Xue Qing to guide her a little."
"Miss Xue Qing, although the Chai Family has no children of appropriate age, we are blessed with many talents throughout the lineage, regardless of gender, as long as the lady thinks well of them, you may take them, and our Sky-splitting Saber Pavilion will defend your path for thirty thousand years." The Sky-splitting Blade Saint, usually cold and taciturn, could not contain his urgency, his voice tinged with eagerness.
Several Great Saints formed a circle, almost turning into a chaotic mess.
"Get lost, I came first." Fire Cloud Great Saint roared angrily, "Chao Qiankun, your great-granddaughter is already eight years old, her Root Bone is set, she doesn't have the ten-year-old adaptability of my great-grandson!"
"Tu Fugui! You damn fat bastard! You've hoarded all the benefits!"
Several Great Saints began to turn black into white.
Xue Qing's voice rang out again, her expression showing no joy or anger.
The arguing stopped abruptly, all the Great Saints immediately went silent, all eyes turned to Xue Qing, filled with tension and anticipation.
Xue Qing pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly:
"This opening of the Sect Gate, I will accept two disciples."
The eyes of several Great Saints instantly brightened, with two places, there was still a chance.
"If the great Saints are interested," Xue Qing said solemnly, "you may bring your juniors of appropriate age to Lingbi City, at which time I will select one to enter the sect."
Which meant Tu Fugui's son had taken one spot, leaving the others a chance to vie for the remaining one.
Several Great Saints' eyes brightened immediately.
"I am grateful to the Saints for your care during this time." Thɪs chapter is updated by novel⸺fire.net
Xue Qing spoke again, pausing between words, as if weighing them, before delivering news that would shake the entire Lingbi City, and indeed the entire Martial Pavilion:
"I will soon wed, and I hope you will honor me with your presence at the celebration."
Her tone was extremely calm, as if merely remarking on a fine day's weather.
This time, not just around the Martial Arts Arena, it was as if the air of the entire arena solidified, time seemed to freeze.
Miss Xue Qing, getting married?!
Is it the person tied to the Jade Talisman?
Tu Fugui, clutching the Jade Talisman, immediately had his expression freeze, and promptly turned to flee.
Yun Tianji stood outside the crowd, deep in thought.
In the matter of Xue Qing's marriage, besides Zheng Chu, he couldn't conceive of anyone else.
Soon, the people in the Martial Arts Arena went their separate ways, and the Great Saints also departed one by one, seeking suitable disciples within their families, this rare opportunity naturally needing to be seized.
Xue Qing's future as the Martial Emperor seemed certain, and with the right opportunity, she might even enter the ancestral realm.
Such a personage, ordinary Great Saints could never even meet, such a chance, perhaps once in a million years.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Yun Tianji slowly stepped forward, offering a cupped salute:
"Miss Xue Qing, it's been a long time; I hope you have been well."
Meeting Yun Tianji, Xue Qing was somewhat surprised.
"I am soon to leave the Near Immortal Realm, and have come specifically, wishing to speak to the two of you."
Regarding the 'two' Yun Tianji mentioned, Xue Qing naturally understood, nodding immediately and saying:
"Brother Yun, please wait, until Zheng Chu arrives, I will arrange a banquet especially for you."
Yun Tianji spoke no more, nodded in agreement, and turned to leave.
After leaving the Martial Arts Arena, Yun Canglan, walking beside Yun Tianji, could not help but speak:
"Does the young master actually know Miss Xue Qing?"
The behavior of those Great Saints earlier had indeed left him quite shocked.
"You could say that."
Yun Tianji nodded, a gleam in his eyes.
By midday, the sun hung high.
Deep in the Wilderness Mountain Range.
Towering Ancient Woods, their gnarled boughs entwined, their interwoven leaves forming a canopy, sifting sunlight into tiny spots scattered on the soft earth.
The wet, cold air mixed the bitter freshness of plant sap with the musky smell of soil; this was a secluded and remote land, where even the sound of the wind was muted by layers of giant leaves above, low and like a lament.
A Deep Valley surrounded by steep cliffs was where the three, including Chu Zheng, resided.
Chu Zheng sat cross-legged at the center of the valley, eyes slightly closed, his breath concentrated; each inhalation and exhalation drew the exceptionally pure Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi around him.
Over a decade had passed; his Cultivation had steadily advanced to the Dao Integration Perfection Realm, his Yuan Qi rushing like a mighty river, his Divine Sense condensing as if tangible, his internal organs, limbs, and bones all refined to a radiant luster, seemingly only a thin barrier away from stepping into Immortality and achieving the threshold to become a Heavenly Immortal.
Yet, this step seemed like a heavenly chasm.
He had attempted countless times, simulated magic techniques numerous times, but still found it difficult to grasp that mysterious and profound opportunity.