Elder Zuiyue was a cultivator who, within the Xuanqing Sect, was as renowned as the True Person Canghai, the wielder of the Heartless Sword.
Her signature technique, the Drunken Life, Dreamy Death Butterfly Blades, was even counted among the nine top blade techniques on the Jiuzhou Continent.
She possessed formidable strength and a capricious nature, having caused no small amount of trouble in the past.
Only after she exceptionally took in two disciples did she begin to temper her impetuosity.
However, her self-cultivation did not mean her sharp edges had been completely smoothed away.
Elder Qu, blinded by his affection for his beloved daughter, forgot about Elder Zuiyue’s existence, but the Sect Leader of Qinglian did not.
As expected, Elder Zuiyue remained as formidable as ever.
“Elder Qu, you see…”
Before the Sect Leader of Qinglian could finish speaking, Elder Qu preemptively responded, “It is most welcome that Elder Zuiyue is willing to go. I am willing to follow orders.”
The elders present knew full well the past misdeeds of Elder Zuiyue.
If Elder Qu dared to refuse, Elder Zuiyue would have her Butterfly Blades out in the next instant.
Elder Qu had long passed the age of seeking contention. In fact, Elder Zuiyue’s willingness to accompany them was excellent news for him.
After all, the Westwater Domain’s secret realm had a fearsome reputation, and even he dared not underestimate it.
With Elder Zuiyue’s company, the safety of their journey would be greatly enhanced.
“Do the other elders have any objections?” The Sect Leader of Qinglian turned to the remaining elders.
The other elders all shook their heads. Only Elder Bai rose and said, “Sect Leader, the spiritual medicine needed for the fire poison affecting the three, Long Haotian, is in the sect’s treasury. However, refining an eighth-grade spiritual medicine takes an extremely long time.
Therefore, I suggest that after Elder Zuiyue and Elder Qu receive Long Haotian and the others, they first take them to a place where fire elements gather. As Elder Zuiyue possesses fire spiritual roots, she can attempt a method of drawing out the poison.
I will also refine antidote pills within the sect. This way, both methods can be employed simultaneously.”
Upon receiving the news, Elder Bai had already begun considering how to arrange for Long Haotian and the others.
An eighth-grade pill was not something that could be refined in a day or two, and furthermore, this was a pill Elder Bai had never attempted before. He estimated it would take at least two months.
In two months, he could not guarantee whether the toxins within Long Haotian and the other two would spread.
Therefore, he believed they could not rely solely on his pill refinement. Another method could proceed concurrently, thereby maximizing their safety.
Elder Bai’s proposal was reasonable. The Sect Leader of Qinglian said gently, “Elder Zuiyue, this matter is entrusted to you.”
Elder Zuiyue lazily cupped her fists, “I obey the Sect Leader’s command.”
“It is my belief that Elder Qu and Elder Zuiyue could select some disciples to accompany them,” said an elder who suddenly stood up as the discussion was about to conclude.
“What are disciples going for? I’m not leading a field trip,” Elder Zuiyue curled her lips into a cold smile.
Her two disciples were missing, and she had no mood to look after other disciples.
Even agreeing to the Sect Leader’s request just now was contingent on finding her disciples.
“This is an excellent opportunity for training. Elder Zuiyue, as an elder of the sect, should you not contribute to the sect?”
At these words, the great hall fell into an awkward silence.
Elders Qu, Bai, and others looked at the elder who spoke, Elder Qianji, with incredulous gazes, a trace of pity hidden in their depths.
Had Elder Qianji, due to his age, forgotten Elder Zuiyue’s temperament, daring to threaten her with the sect’s greater good?
Several of them inwardly clicked their tongues in admiration. The elder sitting next to Elder Qianji deliberately shifted sideways, creating space for a potential fight.
“Elder Qianji, the Westwater Domain’s secret realm is extremely perilous and not suitable for disciples to train. Please do not mention it again.”
The Sect Leader of Qinglian frowned, then quickly relaxed his expression and softly persuaded.
Elder Qianji responded reluctantly, his face showing undisguised displeasure.
The Sect Leader of Qinglian sighed inwardly, attributing Elder Qianji’s increasingly erratic behavior to his stagnant cultivation. Such a thing had never happened before.
The Sect Leader of Qinglian, being broad-minded, did not intend to dwell on it and was about to let the matter pass, but Elder Zuiyue did not possess such a good temper.
“Qianji, if you are so concerned about the sect, why don’t you lead a separate team to the Westwater Domain, preferably bringing all your disciples with you, and leave no one behind.”
How could Elder Zuiyue not understand Elder Qianji’s ulterior motives?
He was essentially trying to use her as a convenient scapegoat, leveraging the sect’s name to insert his own disciples into the team.
Individually, Elder Qianji’s disciples were considered talented, dragons among men, but compared to Jin Biao and Hong Shengyi, they were inferior.
For instance, with the Westwater Domain’s secret realm opening, many disciples within the sect had gone on their own, but Elder Qianji’s disciples, for some unknown reason, had not.
Now that Elder Zuiyue had urgent matters, Elder Qianji wanted to foist disciples upon her to slow her down.
Elder Zuiyue simply wanted to tell him, “Wishful thinking.”
“Elder Zuiyue, what do you mean by that? You have accepted the sect’s mission and should fulfill your responsibilities. Why must you involve my disciples?”
Elder Qianji, who had already sat down, shot up again upon hearing Elder Zuiyue’s words, his face contorted with anger.
“You know very well what I mean. The Sect Leader has no objections, so who are you to dictate?”
“Zuiyue!”
Elder Qianji pointed at Elder Zuiyue, his voice booming with rage.
“What, I hit the nail on the head, and you’re angry?”
“You’re slandering me!”
“Your intentions are malicious!”
As they argued, Elder Qianji and Elder Zuiyue began to fight.
The Sect Leader of Qinglian and the other elders had anticipated this. They did not intervene but instead set up a barrier around them to prevent the spiritual energy from leaking out.
They then stood together and began to comment on the spar between Elder Zuiyue and Elder Qianji.
One would say Elder Zuiyue’s Butterfly Blade technique was increasingly exquisite, while another would praise Elder Qianji’s Star Luo Chessboard formation as unpredictable.
However, no one speculated on the outcome of this battle, as the result was already predetermined.
Half an incense stick later, Elder Zuiyue withdrew her Butterfly Blade, which was held an inch from Elder Qianji’s neck, under his murderous glare.
“Elder Qu, we can set off now,” Elder Zuiyue said to Elder Qu, as if nothing had happened.
Elder Qu quickly stepped out from the crowd.
After bidding farewell to the Sect Leader, the two left the hall together and headed for the Westwater Domain’s secret realm.
After they departed, Elder Qianji’s face flickered with various emotions, turning green and white. Finally, he let out a heavy snort and strode away.
“Elder Qianji’s temper has become increasingly unpredictable.”
“Indeed, he and Elder Zuiyue seem to have swapped places. In the past, Elder Zuiyue would never have let him off so easily.”
“Zuiyue has seen through it, yet he remains deluded. Alas.”
The elders present all shook their heads and sighed.
They had watched clearly from the sidelines. Elder Zuiyue’s state of mind had advanced further, and her strength would likely increase significantly soon.
Conversely, Elder Qianji’s unstable state of mind had led to his cultivation regressing instead of advancing.
The Sect Leader of Qinglian watched Elder Qianji’s retreating back, pondering when he should have a talk with Elder Qianji, hoping he wouldn’t encounter any setbacks in his cultivation.