Translator: AnubisTL
After hearing True Lord Fu Xuan's polite refusal, Li Qing felt surprisingly little disappointment.
The man was much like himself—a rogue cultivator who shunned conflict. This outcome had been entirely within Li Qing's expectations.
Rogue cultivators of True Lord Fu Xuan's caliber were highly sought after by all the major immortal dao factions.
Compared to the established cultivation sects of the Great Wilderness Domain, the Lingyun Sect—which lacked even a mountain gate—offered little to attract such a figure.
As Li Qing pondered his next words, Chu Lingyi, temporarily immobilized by Ice Spirit Power, strained to move her eyes, her expression one of intense urgency.
Noticing this, Li Qing's earlier hesitation melted away.
Now was the time to leverage Chu Lingyi's connection.
With this thought, Li Qing spoke:
"Junior Sister Shen, release Junior Sister Chu's restriction. She seems to have something to say."
Shen Ningbing hesitated briefly before placing her slender, jade-like finger on Chu Lingyi's shoulder once more.
The Ice Spirit Power receded from Chu Lingyi's body, and she finally exhaled a long breath.
"Hah!"
Just as Li Qing and Shen Ningbing expected Chu Lingyi to plead with True Lord Fu Xuan, she instead declared nonchalantly:
"Hmph! Senior Brother Li, Senior Sister Shen, if he won't help, let's leave right now!"
"Honestly, I think we can rebuild the Lingyun Sect just fine on our own!"
"Besides, I don't want to study talismanship here with him anyway. The Azure Ridge Domain is where I was born and raised!"
As she spoke, Chu Lingyi grabbed Li Qing and Shen Ningbing by their sleeves, pulling them toward the exit.
But the next moment, True Lord Fu Xuan, who had been observing the scene, finally couldn't hold back any longer and called out:
"Wait!"
Hearing this, Li Qing, who had initially thought Chu Lingyi was just being impulsive, immediately felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Every creature has its weakness, he thought. It seems only Chu Lingyi could persuade True Lord Fu Xuan.
"Fellow Daoist Fu Xuan, is there anything else?" Li Qing asked. "We were planning to gather our fellow disciples."
True Lord Fu Xuan replied with displeasure:
"You barge in here and demand to take away the disciple I've finally managed to find? That's hardly appropriate, wouldn't you say?"
His tone grew heavier as he spoke.
But Li Qing remained unfazed, his clear smile unwavering.
"Heh, Fellow Daoist Fu Xuan, you misunderstand," he said. "Since ancient times, master-disciple relationships have always been based on mutual consent. A forced melon is never sweet!"
"Junior Sister Chu belongs to the Lingyun Sect. While you may wish to take her as your disciple, I see no indication that she desires to become your disciple."
"Though the Lingyun Sect exists in name only, I will not allow outsiders to bully my junior sister."
Li Qing's demeanor suddenly hardened. He stepped forward, his tall figure shielding Chu Lingyi and Shen Ningbing, his mid Core Formation Realm aura subtly radiating outward.
While he harbored some apprehension toward the renowned True Lord Fu Xuan, it was ultimately just apprehension.
Both were at the mid Core Formation Realm. The opponent possessed talisman techniques, but Li Qing had his own magical artifacts to rely on.
Moreover, Shen Ningbing's combat prowess was beyond doubt. Having cultivated her ice spirit root to the core formation realm, she could now fully unleash the advantages of her variant spirit root!
If Fu Xuan truly intended to force Chu Lingyi to stay, Li Qing wouldn't hesitate to test the true lord's capabilities.
Daoist Jin Bao, watching the increasingly tense atmosphere, paled visibly.
The auras emanating from the core formation true lords pressed down on him with suffocating force. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead and back, and his body trembled faintly.
If today ended in a disastrous clash, his fate would be utterly miserable. Whether Li Qing or Shen Ningbing emerged victorious, the outcome would be equally dire for him.
He was the one who had initiated True Lord Fu Xuan's decision to accept Chu Lingyi as his disciple. Moreover, he had personally led Li Qing and Shen Ningbing to this very place!
As these karmic connections weighed on his mind, his head felt heavy, and his heart tightened with anxiety.
After a tense, silent standoff, True Lord Fu Xuan finally sighed:
"Ah, very well."
"This old one will join the Lingyun Sect and contribute to its reconstruction. However, I must make certain conditions clear beforehand!"
Li Qing's heart leaped with joy, but he maintained a composed smile as he replied:
"Fellow Daoist Fu Xuan, please state your conditions without hesitation!"
True Lord Fu Xuan continued:
"As I mentioned earlier, the reason I never joined any sect was my aversion to the petty intrigues and power struggles within immortal dao factions."
"I will intervene only once: to help you eradicate the so-called Shangqing Sect. After that, I will retreat into seclusion, dedicating myself solely to the study of talismans."
"From then on, no sect matters, however trivial, shall disturb my seclusion!"
This time, Li Qing could no longer conceal the joy on his face.
He burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Fu Xuan, rest assured! In truth, the Lingyun Sect and Moonchase Palace have long maintained friendly relations, and our founding principles are quite similar. As long as no faction provokes us, we will never initiate any conflicts."
"I guarantee you that after the Lingyun Sect is rebuilt, we will absolutely uphold our secluded ways!"
Li Qing was truly overjoyed. He had come seeking talismans, but he never expected to gain such an unexpected windfall—directly recruiting True Lord Fu Xuan himself!
Even if nothing else, Fu Xuan's mastery of talismans alone made him an invaluable asset.
Moreover, he was a mid Core Formation Realm cultivator, likely not far from advancing to the late-stage core formation.
As Li Qing's assurances rang out, True Lord Fu Xuan's expression softened slightly.
Soon, his gaze fell upon Chu Lingyi, who was hiding behind Li Qing. His tone turned stern.
"You wicked disciple! Come here at once!"
Chu Lingyi stuck out her tongue and reluctantly stepped forward.
Seeing this, Li Qing immediately proposed:
"Now that Brother Fu Xuan has agreed to join our Lingyun Sect, we're all in the same boat now!"
"Junior Sister Chu, why don't we complete the missing master-disciple initiation ceremony right here, with Junior Sister Shen and me as witnesses?"
Since entering, Li Qing had noticed that Chu Lingyi had spoken at length but never once addressed True Lord Fu Xuan as "Master."
Hearing this, Chu Lingyi pursed her lips and said:
"Fine, if that's the case, I'll consider this a small sacrifice for the sect!"
Thus, with Li Qing and Shen as witnesses, Chu Lingyi knelt slowly before the seated True Lord Fu Xuan, holding a teacup in both hands.
"Chu Lingyi pays respects to Master!"
As the words fell, she offered the teacup.
Upon hearing the title "Master," True Lord Fu Xuan broke his usual stern demeanor with a rare, gentle smile.
"Good, good!"
In truth, since accepting her as his disciple, he had never once heard Chu Lingyi address him with this honorific.
Though the apprentice ceremony was simple, it filled True Lord Fu Xuan's heart with joy.
Daoist Jin Bao, standing nearby, finally caught his breath and exclaimed, "Excellent! Excellent!"
"Today is truly a day worth celebrating! Though I am but a humble cultivator, I have several jars of fine spirit wine. I would be honored to offer them to our esteemed seniors for their enjoyment!"
The atmosphere finally turned festive.
Even Chu Lingyi and Shen Ningbing, who rarely drank, couldn't resist a few cups.
Chu Lingyi's cheeks flushed crimson, and she began to ramble incoherently under the influence of the wine:
"Hmph! To have me, Chu Lingyi, as your disciple is a blessing you earned in your past life! I am an unparalleled prodigy of talismanship, destined to shake the entire cultivation world!"
"I will even create the Ascension Talisman—a single talisman that grants enlightenment and ascension!"
True Lord Fu Xuan, who was drinking with Li Qing, couldn't help but feel his face darken further at his disciple's boastful words.
Li Qing, however, chose to ignore the matter. The apprentice ceremony was complete, and True Lord Fu Xuan had officially become an ancestor of the Lingyun Sect. Any further intervention from him would be inappropriate.
(End of the Chapter)
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