29: Chapter 29 The Third Disciple Advances to a Second-Rank Sect

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto Haoran Tower, dyeing the Lunar Essence Pool by the cliff a warm gold.

Du Yuqing exhausted her last ounce of strength and fell limply backward.

Ling Hao was quick-witted and steady; he caught her cold body. Looking down at her pale, weary little face, a trace of pity flashed in Ling Hao's eyes.

"You've worked hard."

Second floor of Haoran Tower, quiet room.

Du Yuqing slowly came to, feeling as if her bones had fallen apart. Every inch of muscle retained a sour, stinging pain, as if she had been repeatedly beaten.

She lifted the soft, thin quilt on her body and looked down to see herself wearing a clean, white, plain garment.

Looking around, only Ling Hao stood by the window. Not knowing what she thought of, Du Yuqing's cheeks flushed slightly. She subconsciously reached up to adjust her collar, her eyes drifting away from Ling Hao's gaze.

Seeing her state, Ling Hao understood and couldn't help but feel helpless.

Heaven is his witness, he swears! It was truly because her original clothes were soaked by the pool water and dirty, and Vice Sect Master Yu and Chi Wanhe were both in closed-door cultivation, making it inconvenient to disturb them. That was why he had to personally... change them.

"Ahem."

Ling Hao cleared his throat, breaking the subtle silence, "Congratulations, you have successfully stepped into the Qi Origin Realm."

Hearing this, Du Yuqing immediately calmed her mind to feel it. An unprecedented sense of power surged through her limbs and bones, several times stronger than when she had bitterly practiced Mortal martial arts in the past!

The description of the Qi Origin Realm of the Pure World Glazed Body clearly emerged: Draw in lunar essence to refine skin and membrane, wash marrow and cut tendons, increase strength and body health, be immune to all diseases, and initially resist Spells.

At this moment, Du Yuqing was certain that if she met those two Shuimu Pavilion Disciples again, within a short distance, she could completely kill them before they could activate their Spells or Talismans!

The hope of revenge was no longer an unreachable fantasy, but a touchable possibility!

"Thank you, Immortal, for your grace of rebirth!"

Du Yuqing struggled to sit up and salute.

Ling Hao helped her up: "This is what you deserve."

Such inhuman pain was a price that ordinary people could hardly bear.

Ling Hao's gaze swept over the System interface:

Bloodline: Sacred Lotus Heavenly Vein (10%)

Physique: Pure World Sacred Lotus Myriad Tribulation Body (Unawakened)

After cultivating the Pure World Glazed Body, the Bloodline has been stimulated by 10%, but the Physique remains dormant.

Ling Hao frowned slightly. Does it really have to reach that cliché desperate situation between life and death to awaken?

But regardless, Ling Hao had made up his mind.

"Du Yuqing," Ling Hao said with a serious expression, "I intend to take you as my third direct Disciple. Are you willing?"

Accepting her would bring the number of Qi Refining Disciples in the Sect to three, making the promotion to a second-Rank Sect a matter of course!

Du Yuqing was stunned upon hearing this, then slowly shook her head.

Ling Hao's brows tightened instantly: "Why?"

He had exhausted his mental energy; had he helped someone ungrateful?

"Immortal," Du Yuqing raised her head, her eyes filled with pure determination, "This Disciple carries a blood feud and also has a body without a Spiritual Root, I fear tarnishing your reputation. This Disciple... only wishes to follow by your side, to be the sharpest sword in your hand, to cut away the thorns on your path!"

Ling Hao's tense expression relaxed; so that was her thought, not ingratitude.

"You have such a resilient Heart-Nature, why belittle yourself?"

Ling Hao shook his head, his tone gentle but affirmative, "Having no Spiritual Root does not mean being inferior, nor does it mean cutting off the path ahead!"

"Have you heard of 'Mortal Defying Immortal'? You fought a tiger demon with a Mortal body; that was a step into a Heaven-Defying act! Such courage is something even ordinary first-level Qi Refining Cultivators can hardly reach!"

Ling Hao's voice carried a power that ignited hope.

"Furthermore, you carry the Sacred Lotus Heavenly Vein and possess the Pure World Sacred Lotus Myriad Tribulation Body! Your talent for Body Refining can be called supreme!"

"Do you know what the Pure World Glazed Body you Cultivate is? That is a High Grade Immortal-Rank Cultivation Technique! When cultivated to the Major Achievement Realm, moving mountains and filling seas is nothing, punching to shatter stars is easy, and even contending with a Mahayana Supreme is not a delusion!"

"I..."

Du Yuqing was dumbfounded. She had never thought that she was so unique and precious in Ling Hao's eyes, nor did she expect that the Cultivation Technique he bestowed upon her was such an earth-shattering existence!

An unprecedented warm current, mixed with the throbbing of being deeply valued, quietly surged into her heart.

She looked at Ling Hao's solemn and earnest face, her heart surging with excitement.

It was he who saved her from the abyss of despair; it was he who gave her the hope and strength for revenge; it was he who gave her unprecedented value and recognition...

Then, what else could she not entrust to him? As long as he wanted, she would do it!

Du Yuqing suddenly threw off the quilt, disregarding the soreness of her body, got off the bed and knelt on the ground, her forehead knocking heavily!

Her voice was firm and clear, "Disciple Du Yuqing, is willing to take the Immortal as my Revered Master!"

"In this life and this body, since I am a Disciple, I shall respect the Revered Master and follow the Dao, practicing diligently; I am also the sharp blade in Revered Master's hand. Wherever Revered Master points, is where the Disciple's sword edge shall strike, and even if I die a hundred times, I will have no regrets!"

As her voice fell, a cold female voice rang out in Ling Hao's mind one after another.

"Ding! Congratulations on accepting the third Disciple, rebate: Pure World Sacred Lotus Myriad Tribulation Body (compatible with the path of Body Refining), synchronizing Du Yuqing's Body Refining Realm. Sect Master's cultivation increased to the tenth level of Qi Refining!"

"Ding! The conditions for promotion to a second-Rank Sect have been met, Sect level increased to second-Rank. Bonus: three hours of Golden Core Stage Dao resonance."

On the System panel,

Name: Ling Hao

Age: 20

Realm: Qi Refining tenth level (When the number of Sect Disciples reaches ten, can promote to the first level of Foundation Establishment Stage)

[Sect] | [Members] | [Mall] | [Cave Heaven]

Moonshadow Sect (Second-Rank)

Sect Master: Ling Hao

Sect Members: 8 people

Sect Scope (3D mini-map): A radius of one hundred miles

Sect Main Buildings (3D mini-map): Sect Main Hall, courtyard residences, Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring, Sect-protecting Taiyin Cycle Array, Scripture Pavilion, Pill Pavilion, Talisman Pavilion, Artifact Pavilion, Array Pavilion, Nine-Turn Corridor, Spirit Field (New), Spirit Mine (New), Miscellaneous Affairs Department (New), Mission Hall (New), Blessed Cave Heaven (New).

Sect Prestige: 13089

Sect Spirit Stones: 184568 Low-Grade Spirit Stone, 358 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone

Main Quest: Recruit one hundred Disciples, Reward: Marrow Cleansing Pool (Improve Spiritual Root, up to Earth Grade, building can be upgraded)

Side Quest: Establish Sect structure, Reward: Job cultivation bonus module unlocked

[Third-Rank Sect Promotion Conditions]

Standard Strength: Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples ≥ 3 people

Promotion Reward: erosion suppression monument, tower of laws

"Ding! Main quest completed, Cave Heaven cultivation module opened."

"Ding! Mission Hall opened, Sect points mall opened."

Ling Hao's gaze swept over Du Yuqing's character information interface, and the loyalty level clearly displayed: 99!

Ling Hao's heart jumped! 99 loyalty points! Just one step away from the full value! This speed of coming from behind...

The smile on his lips could hardly be suppressed, and he couldn't even pay attention to the newly opened System modules for the time being.

"Get up quickly, my good Disciple!"

Ling Hao hurriedly leaned over, carefully helping Du Yuqing up and settling her back on the bed, "Your body has consumed a huge amount, rest well first."

"Immortal..."

Du Yuqing still wanted to struggle to get up.

"Hmm?"

Ling Hao pretended to be displeased and raised his eyebrows, "What should you call me now?"

"...Revered Master."

Du Yuqing responded softly.

"Since you have called me Revered Master, then be obedient!"

Ling Hao said without room for refusal, with a force that could not be rejected, gently pressing her back onto the soft bed.

The moment she lay down, that heavy fullness swayed slightly due to the tilt of her body, outlining a thrilling rounded arc, and the thin clothing could hardly bear that heavy elasticity.

Ling Hao's gaze subconsciously swept over as if attracted by a magnet, and then quickly moved away in an instant, as if nothing had happened.

"Alright, rest with peace of mind. Revered Master will go arrange the courtyard for you."

Ling Hao's speaking speed was normal, and he turned and walked out of the room quickly.

Listening to the fading footsteps outside the door, Du Yuqing stared blankly at the direction of the door, and it took a long time to come back to her senses.

She lowered her head, her fingertips unconsciously brushing over the proud bulge on her chest, and a faint blush quietly flew across her fair cheeks.

"Revered Master... was he looking at... just now?"

When she practiced martial arts in the past, she only felt that this was a cumbersome burden.

But at this moment, her heart felt inexplicably... for the first time, she felt that it seemed... not entirely a burden either.

Fuqu Courtyard, in the side room.

Chi Wanhe sat cross-legged in cultivation, with faint Spiritual Qi lingering around her.

Finishing her cultivation and opening her eyes, her little face was full of excitement:

"Revered Master didn't lie to me, cultivation is much faster again!"

"Hmm, the Foundation is solid, and the Spiritual Qi is smooth. Seventh level of Qi Refining, not far off." A gentle and steady voice suddenly sounded in the room.

"Who?!"

Chi Wanhe was startled and turned her head sharply.

On the dressing table, a woman in a pink dress was sitting there at some unknown time.

Her figure was only the size of a palm, translucent, as if she would dissipate if the wind blew, but there was a natural mature majesty between her brows.

"You... who are you? How did you get in?!"

Chi Wanhe stood up with a swoosh and retreated vigilantly.

The woman in the pink dress watched her calmly, her voice gentle:

"Do not panic. According to the Bloodline, I am your Chi Family ancestor."

"Ancestor?"

Chi Wanhe was stunned, her face full of disbelief.

The woman in the pink dress did not answer, but slowly raised her hand, her fingertips gently pointing at the inconspicuous, simple jade pendant on the dressing table.