325: Chapter 325 A New Look (Happy New Year)

On the deck of the tianque divine boat.

Gu Qingyao stood leaning against the railing, her simple and elegant light-green cloud-patterned ruqun fluttering in the wind, outlining her slender and cool figure. Her dark hair was half-tied with a green jade hairpin carved in the shape of bamboo joints, with a few stray strands falling by her cheeks, making her snow-white skin look even more transparent and flawless.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like misty smoke, her nose delicate and upright, and her lip color as pale as cherry blossoms. At the corners of her eyes, a natural fine mark shaped like a blue feather added a touch of enchantment to her peerless beauty.

She looked like a solitary bamboo on a cliff, standing aloof from the world, exuding a cold yet alluring Aura in the silence.

As far as her eyes could see was the magnificent and grand Moonshadow Sect.

The mountains were like dark ink, with peaks rising one after another. Ten towering main peaks stood like giant pillars supporting the heavens amidst the clouds, topped with exquisite pavilions and surrounded by swirling clouds and mist, presenting a majestic sight.

In the center, Tianyuan Peak reached into the clouds, its glazed golden roof shimmering in the sunlight. At its base, Twin Lakes lay like two giant emeralds embedded in the earth—one clear as golden dawn, the other deep as sunken jade, with light rippling across the water.

A magnificent floating island hung high in the sky, its pavilions standing tall. Above it, the Zhou Tian Instrument slowly rotated, shedding a vast clear light that enveloped three thousand miles of mountains and rivers.

Several spiritual rivers, like silver jade belts, meandered through the cloud-shrouded peaks, nourishing the spiritual fields, waterfalls, and deep pools along the way.

Further away, one could vaguely see the Sky-Reaching Giant Tower, the Martial Arts Training Ground, and valleys filled with blooming flowers.

Immortal cranes and auspicious clouds lingered, while spiritual birds darted through the air. Waterfalls hung like chains, rainbow bridges spanned the sky, and the light from thousands of Cultivators dotted the scene.

It was a scene of immortal splendor that filled one with longing.

"So beautiful..." Gu Qingyao murmured softly.

As the divine boat entered the thousand-mile range of the Moonshadow Sect, the scenery before Gu Qingyao's eyes shifted slightly, as if space had been gently plucked by an invisible hand.

She focused her gaze again and was shocked to find that on the eastern horizon, a vast, shimmering "sea" had appeared out of thin air, quietly spreading between heaven and earth.

"Is it beautiful?" Ling Hao's voice sounded beside her.

Gu Qingyao regained her senses and nodded, saying:

"It's breathtakingly beautiful. It's just... the inside and outside seem a bit different?"

Ling Hao smiled slightly, looking down at the magnificent mountains and rivers below.

"The Moonshadow Sect is both within and not within Tianyuan County."

Nowadays, the scope of Tianyuan County was the same as the former Qing State. After the establishment of the Tianyuan Immortal Dynasty, the old immortal cultivation states were all abolished and replaced with counties.

For example, the Cao State was now Cao County, and the Cangmu Kingdom was now Cangmu County. The Qing State was changed to Tianyuan County.

Gu Qingyao thought for a moment, a sharp light flashing in her eyes: "It's not in this spatial layer?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Ling Hao's eyes, and he praised: "As expected of Fengyi's right-hand woman, your reaction is fast enough."

When the Tianyuan Immortal Dynasty was established, the original Tianyuan Capital City (Six Ridges Giant City) could not be expanded due to its proximity to the Moonshadow Sect, so Ling Hao simply moved the entire city three thousand miles away.

Not only the Tianyuan Capital City, but other Sect forces and cities were also moved beyond the three-thousand-mile range.

Now, the area within three thousand miles of the Moonshadow Sect was all its physical Domain.

The original core area of the Sect had expanded tenfold, and the distance between the ten main peaks had increased, adding to its majestic spirit.

To accommodate the growing number of Disciples, one hundred and eight secondary peaks were added around the main peaks, scattered like stars protecting the center from all sides.

Ling Hao raised his hand and made a light brushing motion in front of him, and a scroll shimmering with light unfolded out of thin air.

Mountain and River Map: Wherever Divine Thought reaches, the real mountains and rivers of the outside world can be completely "harvested" or "replicated" and directly taken into the space within the map! The map contains its own small world, where the landscape layout and the flow of Spiritual Veins can be optimized and arranged at will.

Gu Qingyao's gaze was immediately drawn to it.

On the scroll, the Moonshadow Sect and its three-thousand-mile territory were depicted in minute detail. The mountains, rivers, pavilions, and towers all contained Dao rhymes and were lifelike.

That suddenly appearing "sea" was clearly labeled on the map with two large ancient seal characters—Silent Sea.

This was something Ling Hao had specifically traveled to the Nanli Sea south of Cangwu to replicate, preparing for the Merfolk Race and for future... cough... aquatic races.

Gu Qingyao looked at Ling Hao,

"Is this a map of the entire Moonshadow Sect territory?"

Ling Hao said with a smile:

"The Moonshadow Sect is all within this map."

"A world contained within a map?!"

Gu Qingyao's heart shook violently. Such a treasure would likely be hard to find even in the Holy Lands of the Central Province; perhaps only relics from the Immortal Realm would possess such power. "Are you not afraid I will leak this secret?"

The corners of Ling Hao's mouth curled slightly as his slender fingers gently lifted Gu Qingyao's smooth chin. His gaze was deep as he said:

"Naturally, it is because I trust you that I am telling you this."

Ling Hao's voice was low and certain,

"You won't tell anyone, will you?"

As their eyes met and with such proximity, the ambiguous action caused Gu Qingyao's heart to suddenly skip a beat.

She had just opened her lips to speak: "Um... mmm..."

A warm sensation had already pressed against her lips.

Gu Qingyao's eyes instantly widened, and her mind went blank.

She... had been kissed? Her body's instinct made her subconsciously want to raise her hands to wrap around his neck, but just as her fingertips moved, Ling Hao had already pulled away.

Her lips suddenly felt empty, and a faint sense of melancholy welled up in Gu Qingyao's heart. She couldn't help but look up and give him a lingering, soulful glance.

The divine boat landed on the wide square in front of Tianyuan Peak.

"Welcome back, Sect Master!"

The sound waves were like a tide, echoing through the clouds. Moonshadow Sect Disciples and Elders stood solemnly on both sides, their Aura like a rainbow.

The two leading figures were of peerless grace.

Yu Lingshuang wore an ice-blue thin gauze long dress, its hem like flowing clouds, her straight and slender leg lines faintly visible as she walked. Her face was as cold as frost and snow, and her temperament was noble. A cinnabar tear mole at the corner of her left eye added a touch of cold glamour, and her curvaceous figure revealed breathtaking curves under the thin gauze.

Beside her, Yu Linglong wore a moon-white chest-high ruqun, charming and lazy. Her bare feet were untainted by dust, with small gold bells tied to her delicate ankles and her toenails painted as red as beans. She had a cinnabar tear mole at the corner of her right eye, looking like a pair of twin sisters with Yu Lingshuang.

A step behind them, another woman stood quietly. Her plain white cloud-patterned wide-sleeved robe made her appear even more transcendent. Her long silver hair was loosely tied with an ice jade hairpin. Her face was cold and stunning, her ice-blue eyes like an ancient frozen pond, and even the wide robe could not hide her mature and curvaceous Physique.

Huang Yutong, Hua Youyou, Hua Qing Dai, and other core Elders were also in the welcoming line.

Ling Hao's gaze swept across them and noticed that Yu Ling Ling, Nangong Mei, and Baili Qiao were not present.

His gaze settled on the woman behind Yu Lingshuang and the other. Ling Hao's eyes flickered; he hadn't expected her to have come out of seclusion as well.

Standing together with Yu Lingshuang and her sister, Yu Zhaohua looked like one of three stunning sisters with different temperaments.

If one weren't familiar with them, no one would imagine that she was not only the Revered Master of the two Deputy Sect Masters of the Moonshadow Sect but also their adoptive mother.

Facing Ling Hao's gaze, Yu Zhaohua gave a graceful bow, her face devoid of any smile.

Ling Hao naturally knew why this was and nodded in response.

After instructing the others to disperse, Ling Hao turned to Shui Liuli and the group of Jade Fox Clan members and said:

"Go to the Nine-Turn Corridor first and complete the entrance trial."

In fact, Ling Hao already knew the results from the character panel.

Shui Liuli, Tushan Bailing, Tushan Baixue, and Tushan Hongye could all reach the Ninth Turn, and the other Jade Fox Clan members were all above the Eighth Turn.

But... the process still had to be followed.

As for the issues of purity and belonging, the Nine-Turn Corridor had its own detection mechanism. Only those whose first time belonged to Ling Hao could pass.

Just like the monthly tests later on, those who had engaged in Dual Cultivation with Ling Hao could also pass the test.

Soon, the trial results came out, and as expected, they caused a stir and exclamations among the watching Elders and Disciples.

"Ninth Turn! It's the Ninth Turn again!"

"Heavens! Above the Eighth Turn! Everyone the Sect Master brought back has peerless talent!"

"As expected of the Sect Master!"

Witnessing this scene, Gu Qingyao's eyes sparkled with brilliance, and her curiosity and competitiveness were piqued.

"May I... also give it a try?"

She also wanted to know what height she could reach in this Moonshadow Sect trial.

Ling Hao glanced at the character information interface.

[Name: Gu Qingyao]

[Age: 685]

[Spiritual Root: Wood Spiritual Root (Heaven Grade)]

[Physique: Yi Wood Longevity Physique]

[Cultivation: Void Tempering Third Layer]

[Favorability: 93]

The corners of his lips curled into an arc, and he gently tapped her forehead with his fingertip.

"Of course. I believe you will definitely reach the Ninth Turn."