"Yes, Master's Wife." Ding Jifeng sighed deeply and stopped trying to persuade her.
Perhaps the Demon Way has the thod of Possessing a Body, achieving the so-called "reincarnation," but the Nanhua Sect does not possess this thod. Instead of allowing the Divine Soul to perish in vain, it would be better to inscribe the legacy of the Immortal Sutra and pass it to cultivators of future generations.
"Master, please, and Sect Master Cui, step out for a mont," Ye Hualian said. "I have a few matters to discuss privately with Master Xu and Xiao Ying."
When Cui Tong heard this, a flicker of doubt crossed his face. He could understand Ye Hualian asking Xu Xing to stay, but why Zuoqiu Ying as well? Zuoqiu Ying wasn't a disciple of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. Despite his reservations, he deferred to Ye Hualian's wishes. He and Ding Jifeng exited, waiting outside the door.
After Cui Tong and Ding Jifeng had departed, Ye Hualian turned to Zuoqiu Ying, whose face was etched with confusion. "Xiao Ying," she began, her expression softening into a gentle smile, "do you know why I asked you to remain as well?"
"Master Ye, Xiao Ying does not know," Zuoqiu Ying replied, shaking her head.
"You must be aware of the... unpleasantness that occurred three days ago between myself, the Sect Master, and the other House Elders. It is why I ca to this Cave... to pass on." Ye Hualian paused, then beckoned Zuoqiu Ying closer. Then, she continued in a gentle voice, "This ti, by severing the red silk with your sword, you destroyed the Marriage Contract between our two sects. From the Nanhua Sect's perspective, you have made a grievous error. Ruan Baii acted willfully. When he returns to the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, there will be those to deal with him. The sa, conversely, applies to you." She was addressing Zuoqiu Ying's unspoken apprehension.
"Master Ye... please, show a path forward..." Zuoqiu Ying perford a deep obeisance, her face etched with a touch of desperation.
Although the mistake she had made this ti was unlikely to cost her life, she could anticipate that her standing and treatnt within the sect would significantly deteriorate. She was not the only female cultivator with the Zuoqiu surna in the Nanhua Sect. Cultivators of the sect, while enjoying its resources, were also bound by the constraints of its rules. Willfulness was a grave transgression!
"My ti is short; I won't be alive much longer. That is not a path I can point out for you," Ye Hualian said, shaking her head. With those words, she raised her hand, and a Dao technique gently propelled Zuoqiu Ying out of the living room. Then, Ye Hualian activated a shielding Magic Formation.
"Now, only the two of us remain..." Ye Hualian glanced at Xu Xing, gesturing for him to take a seat in a nearby Zitan Armchair.
After Xu Xing was seated, she began, "With you, I won't mince words. Zuoqiu Ying is a disciple of the Nanhua Sect. Having been the prospective party in a marriage alliance between two Higher Teachings, she has beco a key figure in your rivalry..."
"I understand," Xu Xing acknowledged with a nod.
Ye Hualian had, in fact, already hinted at Zuoqiu Ying's path forward. The contest for Orthodoxy between the Butian Sect and the Nanhua Sect had reached a conclusion: the Nanhua Sect had chosen the Butian Sect. However, major powers often have many considerations... The Nanhua Sect would support the Butian Sect. Yet, concerning the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, the Nanhua Sect wouldn't be so foolish as to make an enemy of them by directly severing all ties. Thus, at this juncture, the choices made by Zuoqiu Ying, this pivotal figure, beca critically important.
"I am willing to cooperate with the Nanhua Sect and play my part in this performance," Xu Xing stated. "Upon returning to my sect, I will dispatch envoys to the Nanhua Sect to formally propose marriage to Immortal Ying."
The Nanhua Sect would not officially bestow the Marriage Contract with Zuoqiu Ying upon the Butian Sect—at least, not yet. They were not prepared to make such a definitive decision at this ti. However, the Nanhua Sect would leverage the Butian Sect's "marriage proposal" to create a certain narrative, thereby tacitly permitting Zuoqiu Ying and him to cultivate a private relationship. This was the path forward for Zuoqiu Ying. It was also a necessary step for the developnt of the Butian Sect. If he possessed the capital to truly contend with the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, then the Marriage Contract, or rather the formal alliance, would naturally fall into place. If he were to et his demise prematurely, his connection with Zuoqiu Ying would be considered a private affair. Even if they had beco Daoist spouses, it would not impact the diplomatic relations between the two Higher Teachings in the slightest.
"You are very astute," Ye Hualian praised Xu Xing with a smile. "The Nanhua Sect is a major power. They will not commit easily before witnessing the true potential of the Butian Sect... Or, to put it another way, the Nanhua Sect will only truly enter the fray if you manage to survive after leaving our protection..."
In the Cultivation World, strength reigned supre; strategy was rely an auxiliary.
Had Xu Xing not been a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord of Sect Leader caliber, possessing astounding battle achievents in East Huangzhou—such as slaying three Demon Repairs of the sa realm in a single engagent and overpowering Heavenly Saint Sect Master Cui Tong—the Flying Feather Immortal Palace would not have been so thoroughly outmaneuvered and outmatched today.
Within the Nanhua Sect, in terms of actual strength, Xu Xing and the Butian Sect had consistently held the upper hand. Ruan Baii and his contingent lacked the power to overwhelm the Butian Sect, forcing them to resort to verbal sparring. However, once outside the Nanhua Sect, the circumstances would shift dramatically; the tables would instantly turn.
While Nascent Soul Saint Monarchs could not easily leave their Caves, this didn't an they *were unable* to leave. Faced with the nace Xu Xing represented, the Flying Feather Immortal Palace would undoubtedly dispatch a Sage Monarch to eliminate this internal threat.
"This... I understand," Xu Xing replied, his expression unchanging.
"It appears you were long prepared for this. Indeed, for soone of your intellect, how could you not have made thorough preparations?" Seeing his composure, Ye Hualian was not surprised. The fact that Xu Xing was still alive and thriving after "defecting" from his original sect, had advanced his cultivation to the Nascent Soul Daoist Lord realm, and had established the Butian Sect, spoke volus of his capabilities. Truly, one must first secure oneself before making other plans!
"The 'Feather Transformation Immortal Sutra' contains three core techniques, corresponding to the three types of Purple Mansion within the Purple Mansion Realm: the Flying Immortal Art, the Feather Transformation Art, and the Mysterious Truth Art."
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