Hao Yi finished reading the jade slip where Yun Xi had carefully compiled her findings. The corner of her lips curled into a faintly mocking smile. Whoever was behind this truly had been calculating, laying out their scheme so early.
The events that had happened around those elite disciples and the people they encountered seemed coincidental on the surface, but upon closer inspection, everything carried a deliberate weight. Young disciples lacked experience, so they naturally could not see the threads connecting these incidents. But how could someone like her, who had lived for nearly ten thousand years, fail to notice?
"Yun Xi, you did well. To notice such problems from just a few scattered connections is far sharper than your predecessor, the so-called Hive King."
Yun Xi quickly cupped her hands with a humble bow. "Ancestor flatters me. It is only because the Hive provides information so thoroughly and without missing even the smallest detail. Otherwise, I would not have discovered anything."
Hao Yi's gaze sharpened slightly. "Then tell me, how do you think we should proceed?"
It was clearly a test.
Yun Xi thought for a moment before speaking carefully. "Ancestor, I believe we should cut this matter cleanly. The disciples who keep circling around these elite ones must be captured at once. We can interrogate them and force some answers out."
Hao Yi tapped her slender fingers on the jade table, her voice calm but heavy.
"That risks alarming the snake in the grass."
"That is exactly the point, Ancestor. Stir the snake and then watch how the other disciples react. Perhaps we'll uncover even more."
Yun Xi was convinced that many of these disciples were mere chess pieces. They might not even know their true purpose. They were only performing seemingly harmless acts, whether knowingly or unknowingly, setting the stage for something much larger to come. Of course, it was not impossible that this was another form of evil cultivators' manipulation.
"This matter," Hao Yi finally said, "will be handled by the Law Enforcement Hall. Some will be taken openly, others in secret. As for follow-up, the worker bees will continue gathering intelligence."
"Ancestor is wise."
Yun Xi bowed deeply.
Hao Yi gave a slow nod. "I will be away from the sect for several days. Do you have any other matters to report?"
Yun Xi spoke without hesitation. "Ancestor, I wish to go into seclusion for a time."
Hao Yi did not question further. She simply tossed a jade tablet into Yun Xi's hands.
"This is the restriction token for a cave dwelling in the back mountain. It once belonged to my senior brother before his ascension, a place of quiet cultivation. It is both safe and rich in spiritual qi, perfect for your closed-door recovery. Once you finish your duties, you may go there. The jade token will guide you."
Yun Xi received it with both hands, her face lighting with a smile. She had been worrying about where to seclude herself, and now the perfect place had been handed to her. She could hardly wait to leave right away.
"Ancestor, what about the Hive? To whom should I hand over my duties?"
"Why, to your master, of course."
Hao Yi's lips curved with amusement.
Yun Xi's eyes sparkled. "Then Master has already emerged from seclusion?"
"Yes. Yu Ling only needed to stabilize his cultivation. At the Divine Transformation stage, further progress depends on comprehending the laws of heaven and earth. Pure closed-door cultivation is no longer enough. One must also step into the mortal world. That is why every sect ensures at least one or two Divine Transformation cultivators remain behind to guard the sect. My own reawakening was also not without reason."
Her explanation was patient, but Yun Xi only nodded earnestly. "Disciple understands."
"Good. Yu Ling will be here shortly. Make your preparations."
And with that, Hao Yi's figure vanished before her.
"Tsk tsk… Ancestor really does carry herself with style."
Yun Xi muttered in admiration, then busied herself with preparing the jade slips for handover. She had spent five years within the Hive untangling every thread of its operations. For her master to suddenly take over would surely cause chaos unless she prepared everything carefully. She needed to ensure Yu Ling could smoothly inherit the position of Hive King before she could rest easy in seclusion.
Meanwhile, Yu Ling had only just stepped out from his own seclusion. He had used this period to completely stabilize his early Divine Transformation cultivation. It was only during this time that he realized how invaluable the Xianling Grass his disciple had once handed him truly was.
Back then, an endless flood of pure spiritual energy had surged into his meridians, needing no refinement. It had gone straight into his dantian and veins, expanding his meridians, broadening his sea of consciousness, and strengthening his soul without any impurities to expel. It was thanks to that miracle that he had recovered so quickly.
As he opened the restriction of his cave dwelling, a transmission talisman floated to him. After reading it, his icy expression stiffened for a brief moment before he sighed. His figure vanished into the air.
At that same moment, Yun Xi was still disguised in her master's cold, otherworldly face, working diligently. Suddenly, a white-robed figure appeared before her. She looked up immediately and broke into a bright smile, rising to bow.
"Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Master."
Two identical faces stood in the same space. If not for Yun Xi's cheerful smile, it would have been impossible to tell who was real and who was fake.
Yu Ling sighed wearily and waved his hand.
"I only lent you my identity so you could stay hidden. How did you end up becoming the Hive King?"
He had known she was impersonating him, and he had even given her some of his usual belongings to help with the disguise, thinking she would only move quietly in the back mountains. Never had he expected Hao Yi to push her into the Hive, where she had risen in just five years to become its leader. In truth, even he felt he had been dragged into Hao Yi's schemes.
Yun Xi raised her hand, brushing across the Glazed Jade Mask on her face. In the blink of an eye, her own features returned. She respectfully invited her master to sit and poured him spiritual tea, looking helpless as she began recounting the entire chain of events that had unfolded during his seclusion.
Two full hours passed before she finished explaining everything and pushed a stack of jade slips toward him. Her smile returned.
"Master, your disciple's abilities are limited. This is all I managed to uncover. Now that I must enter seclusion to repair my dantian, Ancestor Hao Yi has instructed me to hand over the role of Hive King to you."
From the moment Yu Ling learned that the Wei Yu Realm had been deliberately suppressed, his aura had become unstable. For him, this was no trivial matter. Especially upon hearing that the sect's elite disciples had been deliberately manipulated, his already cold face turned even harsher.
He knew Yun Xi was the very variable their Sect's founding Ancestor had spoken of, the brightest star among her generation. As long as she did not fall midway, she was destined to become a future pillar of Haoran Sect. Which meant she would face even more plots against her life.
Already, she had repeatedly foiled the plans of evil cultivators. She had inherited the legacy of Yixian Gate. She had fought fiercely against the fallen evil cultivator Li Chang in the recent secret realm. Each of these deeds had painted a target on her back.
And now, her dantian still lay damaged. It was for her protection that he had originally lent her his identity. Yet now, his disciple had given him a far greater surprise.
"Yun Xi, you mean you have found a way to restore your dantian?"
"Yes, Master. Within the inheritance of Yixian Gate there is a method. Before, my meridians were destroyed and my sea of consciousness sealed, so I could not attempt it. But after five years of recovery, aside from my dantian, the rest of my injuries are healed. I intend to fully repair my dantian in one go. Ancestor Hao Yi has even arranged a secluded cave dwelling for me."
She held out the jade token Hao Yi had given her.
"In that case, you must go into seclusion as soon as possible. In two years, the Five Regions Grand Competition will be held, and great upheavals are bound to occur. Your injuries must not be delayed."
===
"the brightest star among her generation." and "she was destined to become a future pillar of Haoran Sect."
No, she isn't. You just force her to become one of yours. You just want the brightest star to become one of your own.
I'm still mad about this