Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 417 - 243: Liu Ying Ziyi: Something’s Not Quite Right...

At the center of the high platform, upon a magnificent golden throne, sat Qin Mengxuan. With her hair styled in an elaborate coiffure held by a phoenix hairpin and dressed in a bright yellow grand palace gown embroidered with a phoenix amidst the sun, moon, and stars, she exuded an elegant, majestic, and powerful aura.

In her slender hands, she held a Jade Scroll, discussing the Sect’s plan for selecting the next batch of Immortal Seeds with the Elders.

A super-sect like Lu Hua Palace governed a vast territory with trillions of mortal subjects. Every year, a certain number of new prospects would be discovered through various channels.

After entering the Sect, these new recruits with the aptitude for Cultivation would usually start as the lowest-ranking Attendant Disciples, accumulating seniority and merit to gradually climb the ranks.

Those with particularly outstanding talent could, with the approval of high-ranking Elders, skip the Attendant Disciple stage and begin as Outer Disciples.

Under normal circumstances, even a candidate favored by the Grand Palace Master would not receive many privileges in their early days and would still have to serve as an Outer Disciple for a period of time.

The four Direct Disciples Qin Mengxuan had taken on had all now reached the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm and been conferred the title of Saintess. However, they too had once started as Outer Disciples and worked their way up.

Lu Hua Palace, a Sect composed entirely of Female Cultivators, had a long history. Its internal systems and regulations had long since formed a complete and strict framework. One couldn’t call it perfect, but it was largely fair and just.

Otherwise, if the upper echelons monopolized too many resources and privileges while the vast number of lower-ranking disciples had no chance to advance, then over time, the Sect would find it difficult to even protect its existing territories and interests, let alone grow and prosper.

Over tens of thousands of years, countless super-factions had vanished into the River of Time, their decline and fall serving as a perfect illustration of this point.

Any major power that had existed for over ten thousand years and currently occupied a top-tier position in the Yuzhou Cultivation Realm had done quite well in this regard.

As long as a seed was truly talented, had potential, and made contributions, they would be given the chance to be specially cultivated, regardless of their humble origins. They would not be casually overlooked.

"...Alright, let’s handle the matter this way."

Qin Mengxuan gently closed the Jade Scroll in her hand, her charming voice melodic and pleasant.

"I have a new question. If, in the future... that legendary Child of Destiny were to actually join our Sect, how should we accommodate him?"

"..."

The high-ranking Elders present were slightly taken aback, their expressions turning thoughtful as they began to ponder the question.

Lu Hua Palace did not accept male disciples. This was an ironclad rule set by the founding ancestor, and under no circumstances had it ever been broken.

Therefore, in the past tens of thousands of years, not a single male disciple had ever joined Lu Hua Palace, be they from the Human Race or any other intelligent species.

But Ling Changqing was clearly different. If they didn’t let him into the Sect, wouldn’t that mean they would have no claim to the Child of Destiny?

"...Palace Master, I’m afraid we can’t set this precedent lightly!"

A beautiful woman with willow-like eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and an arrogant expression spoke up.

"If we make an exception for Ling Changqing, what will the Sect do in the future? If we encounter a similar situation again, will we have to break the rules once more?

"If this continues, wouldn’t the ironclad rule set by Lu Hua Palace’s founding ancestor become a mere decoration?"

Her opinion won the agreement of a few Elders, but their support wasn’t firm.

From the head seat on the right, Vice Sect Leader Su Qinglian shot her a glance and said calmly:

"Elder Yuqing, Ling Changqing’s identity is extraordinary, and his importance to the Sect is indispensable. If we don’t grant him a sufficient status, how will we win him over in the future?"

"The title of Honored Guest Elder is enough!"

Han Yuqing said in a low voice, "Moreover, he cannot enter the Sect. These are the long-standing rules of the Sect, and he cannot be an exception!"

In the past, Lu Hua Palace had many Honored Guest Elders. They were usually outside Cultivators who had married Female Cultivators from the Sect. They were also not allowed to reside permanently within the Sect and instead had their own Cave Mansion Halls outside.

"Heh, are you that eager to see him snatched away by outsiders?"

Su Qinglian sneered faintly.

All the major powers were coveting the Child of Destiny, Ling Changqing. If Lu Hua Palace treated him this way, weren’t they openly pushing him into the arms of other factions?

To say nothing of others, if the Liu Ying Clan managed to get Ling Changqing, they would absolutely welcome him into the clan and even revere him like an ancestor.

Han Yuqing said coldly, "That is not my intention. I simply feel the Sect’s rules cannot be altered arbitrarily. Otherwise, how could we face the founding ancestor in the future?"

"Then the Child of Destiny is destined to slip through our fingers. Can we, Lu Hua Palace, bear such a consequence?"

A beautiful woman in a red dress, her demeanor as gentle as water, elegant and dignified, spoke up.

Another woman, a pretty, bright, and radiant young lady, smiled and said, "Perhaps in Elder Yuqing’s eyes, it’s acceptable for the future Lu Hua Palace to decline, but the ancestral rules must never be changed, is that it?"

Han Yuqing’s expression changed slightly. "Elder Yunshu, that is not what I meant at all!"

"Heh, it’s good that you don’t! After all, it’s still uncertain whether he’s even willing to come over."

Qi Yunshu gave her a meaningful glance and said no more.

The other Elders spoke one after another. They didn’t deny Ling Changqing’s importance, but for the moment, they truly couldn’t reach a consensus on how to arrange his position in the future.

From the distant immemorial era to the present day, a Child of Destiny could be considered a unique existence. If Lu Hua Palace were to obtain such an unprecedented, supreme opportunity, it might even be their chance to unify this realm in the future.

On the high platform, Qin Mengxuan opened a Jade Scroll and silently recorded Han Yuqing’s name.

’Through certain secret channels I control, I have a general idea of who this woman’s true master is.’

’From the standpoint of a traitor like her, of course she wouldn’t want Ling Changqing to join Lu Hua Palace smoothly. Otherwise, what would her master do?’

’But no matter. Soon, this woman will be going where she belongs.’

"...I think that if Ling Changqing really comes to Lu Hua Palace, it wouldn’t be excessive to promise him the position of the next Sect Leader!"

Su Qinglian’s voice rang out.

Upon hearing this, Han Yuqing flew into a rage. "Absurd! How can the Sect Leader of our Lu Hua Palace be a man? In the future, wouldn’t all the Female Cultivators in the Sect be ruined by him?"

"Well, it’s not like he’ll be ruining *you*, right? What do you have to worry about?"

Qi Yunshu jabbed at her with a sarcastic remark.

"Elder Yunshu, what are you trying to say?"

Han Yuqing said angrily.

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Qi Yunshu smiled. She had long found this woman disagreeable.

Just as Han Yuqing was about to retort, Qin Mengxuan’s voice echoed leisurely:

"Alright, that’s enough discussion for today. Elder Yuqing, you will stay. The rest of you may leave."

"Yes, Palace Master!"

The many Female Cultivators rose, bowed, and exited the great hall together.

"What are your instructions, Palace Master?"

Han Yuqing looked around. Seeing they were alone, her expression remained normal.

Qin Mengxuan said gently, "Supreme Elder Xi Yue has a task and has instructed me to arrange some personnel for her. Go and see her shortly. Take all of your subordinates with you. I expect this mission will not be an easy one."

"I will obey the Palace Master’s command."

Although Han Yuqing felt a little suspicious, she didn’t yet imagine the worst possible outcome, so she still agreed.

After she left, Qin Mengxuan’s figure quietly vanished from the spot.

「When she reappeared, she was already in her Cave Mansion Hall.」

In the quiet courtyard stood a beautiful woman, noble, bright, and exuding a dignified grace. She wore a deep cyan grand palace gown embroidered with a phoenix amidst patterns of wind, thunder, and clouds, her hair styled in a high, jade-green chignon. It was none other than the Patriarch of the Liu Ying Clan, Liu Ying Ziyi.

It seemed she had been waiting for some time.

"Sister, it’s wonderful to see you!"

Qin Mengxuan walked up to her, her face beaming with a smile.

Liu Ying Ziyi’s special visit had, of course, been arranged with her in advance.

"Sister, you’re..."

Liu Ying Ziyi took a few steps forward, then suddenly sensed something. She stared at the beautiful woman before her, looking her up and down incessantly, a clear look of confusion appearing in her lovely eyes.

"What is it? Sister, is something wrong?"

Qin Mengxuan felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze. She looked down at herself but didn’t see anything out of place.

But in Liu Ying Ziyi’s eyes, her close friend seemed truly different after not having seen her for some time.

’She couldn’t put her finger on what it was, she just felt... as if something was off?’