"Well, young hero?" asked Core Elder Ye Xuan, still beaming. "What is it that you want? Cultivation resources? A promotion? Anything is fine—"
"A dicine Valley," said Zar, bringing the room to silence.
Valley Master Yu frowned.
But before she got any grumpier, Zar continued, "Don’t get wrong. I don’t want to leave Azure dicine Valley, I just want one close by that I can care for in the na of my Master. Perhaps a Teleportation Array could be set up that connects the two dicine Valleys? Sorry, I just really enjoy farming, you see..."
Valley Master Yu’s frown transford into a relieved smile. Getting her all worried for nothing; was her Disciple trying to give her a heart attack??
But then a comforting sensation surged from within her heart.
’Is he thinking that, by doing this, he’ll improve my standing within the Sect? How needlessly nice...’
Her fondness for Zar skyrocketed, and she thought about giving him a Martial Technique when they returned to Azure dicine Valley.
"A dicine Valley, huh?" Core Elder Ye Xuan instantly looked at Valley Master Yu, but after receiving a slight head nod, he went back to smiling at Zar. "If that’s really all you want, then I’ll naturally fulfill your request! But considering how lackluster a reward that is, why don’t I send high-rank seeds and a Growth-Accelerant Array your way?? Then you can farm the good stuff for as long as you want, haha!"
Normally, Core Elder Ye Xuan was not so enthusiastic or outspoken, but today was a truly good day.
A Holy Mark Wielder — what sort of crazy good luck was it to find soone like that in an Outer Sect Branch!?
Holy Marks.
They were given out by the gods of the Super Continent of Legeria. But contrary to Godlings, who were also rumored to be indirectly descended from the gods, those with Holy Marks were seen as Children of Providence.
Of course, like most things in the World of Immortal Cultivation, Holy Marks had ranks, though they weren’t nearly as neatly categorized as Cultivation Techniques and the such.
But from what Core Elder Ye Xuan could tell, the Holy Mark i Yue was gifted was of a very high rank. He didn’t even need to check her pulse to figure out that her potential far exceeded the Void Crossing Realm, which was a magical realm that he had struggled for thousands of years to reach.
"You want a dicine Valley!? You’ll get a dicine Valley!" said Core Elder Ye Xuan as he made a claw-grabbing motion and pulled up in front of him with both hands, causing a massive rumbling to shake all of Azure dicine Valley. "How big do you want it, young hero!?"
"Err... Half the size of this dicine Valley...?" Zar answered quickly, not entirely sure of what was going on right now.
"Good, good. Half the size it is then!" Core Elder Ye Xuan showed an ecstatic grin as he finished pulling up with his hands, making the ground shake harder. "There, your dicine Valley!"
"Hum?"
Zar and the other two looked to where Core Elder Ye Xuan was pointing, only to find a massive plateau standing where there previously wasn’t one. This view made everyone go silent, with even Valley Master Yu a bit taken aback by the Core Elder’s flaunting skills.
"You actually... made a dicine Valley just like that...?" Zar asked in awe, acting as if he had just comprehended how powerful Ye Xuan actually was.
"Haha! Young Hero, you needn’t be so surprised," said Core Elder Ye Xuan, laughing like a hearty Viking. "How did you think all these hundreds of dicine Valleys got here to begin with?? Or what about the dicine Valleys that those Demonic Faction swine obliterated—did you think nothing of how they were restored to their original conditions?? Mostly flat mountains are extrely difficult to find made under natural conditions, you know."
"N-No, I suppose I didn’t know," said Zar, while on the inside, he thought, ’Of course I knew; after all, there were so many Deity Transformation Realm Cultivators hanging around following the 1st Bombing Day. But it’s interesting to see it happen not through my Divine Sense.’
"Obviously, I still need to call soone to co bring you the high-rank Spiritual Seeds, but that doesn’t make this place any less your dicine Valley," Core Elder Ye Xuan laughed like a happy maniac, effortlessly making use of his powers to carve the higher-placed plateau into more than just a flat piece of land. "Don’t worry, I’ll give your dicine Valley dinsions and protrusions free of charge, truly transforming it into your new place of residence.
Furthermore, I’ll add in a bridge that you or Miss Yu’s Disciples can use to travel between. It’ll be triple magically enhanced as well, such that even Soul Transformation Realm Cultivators can’t easily destroy or cross without your permission."
"Well, how is it, young hero?" asked Core Elder Ye Xuan, his eyes finding it hard not to look over at the destined heavenly genius standing beside him. "Do you like your new dicine Valley?? If you’d like, I can also hire a few Grandmaster Carpenters and Builders to remodel the place."
"No... Well, if you don’t mind," Zar said with a wry smile.
"Of course not, young hero!" replied Core Elder Ye Xuan with a light-hearted wave. "You na it, and it’s yours! I’ll get into contact with a servant who’ll make everything just as you want it. And worry not about the cost of anything, for this is the Blazing Sun Sect. We lack anything but money!"
Zar could only muster up an awkward chuckle in response.
Afterward, Core Elder Ye Xuan took i Yue and flew back to the Core Sect, where he then got into contact with one of his seniors. That senior, upon seeing i Yue, had his brows reach his hairline, prompting a string of obnoxious laughter from Ye Xuan.
After calming down, Core Elder Ye Xuan’s senior brought all three of them up on a majestic Flood Dragon with Peak Void Crossing Realm cultivation. They then journeyed hundreds of thousands of miles, ascending over ever higher mountains, until eventually breaking through a boundary that signified the beginning of the Direct Sect’s territory.
The two Core Elders then disappeared beyond the paradise-like lands, seeking out a Direct Elder who’d better be able to approximate i Yue’s true value to the Sect.
"So... Master," said Zar now that he was alone with her. "How did it go with that visit to your family back ho?"
"The health declining problem with the Emper... My father." Valley Master Yu caught herself before revealing sothing only those close to their family like Core Elder Ye Xuan knew of. "Well, as it turns out, he has a few more years than expected. And I plan to visit him again in a couple of years."
’Is she wanting to take up the mantle as Empress of the Quixan Dynasty??’
In spite of his thoughts, Zar nodded, showing a rarely seen smile that made him appear all the more charming. "I’m glad, Master. I hope your father lives as long as he can."
"Yes..."
Valley Master Yu was touched, but was not very good at showing it. She simply stared at and discussed cultivation with him until dusk fell. It was only then that they parted ways, with Zar leaving with a Peak-Black Rank Stealth Martial Manual in his hands.
It was of a rank normally only reserved for the most exceptional of Inner Disciples and Elite Disciples, yet it was given out so casually by his Master. This made Zar feel a little bad about withholding so much from her, but then again, they were both keeping secrets.
It was better if things stayed that way...
"Emotion Response Detected: Godling #8777 feels remorse. Highly unusual deviance from original directives..."
After Zar returned to his house, Winter’s snow showers ca to an end. Spring passed him by just as quickly, with the sa thing happening for Sumr.
— 5 Years Later —
It was around the start of another Autumn when Zar received word from a servant disciple that i Yue’s accomplishnts had shocked the entire Sect. In a matter of five years, she had gone from Cultivationless to the Middle Core Formation Realm, placing her above even the talent levels of the Sect’s Direct Disciples.
Even other Lineage Disciples like herself had not progressed so quickly.
That’s right, she had directly ascended to the status of Lineage Disciple, putting her in line for the Sect Leader position!
And even if she never beca the Sect Leader, with her potential, becoming a Grand or even a Supre Elder in the future would be a simple matter!
"Like a Phoenix, she flew," Zar muttered prophetically as he left his multi-storied ho.
Its simplistic grandeur served as a superb backdrop for the black-robed, immortal-like man strolling through his vast, lush garden backyard. His feet never seed to touch the ground, his disposition truly that of an impeccable Master of the Universal Dao that encompassed all—
"Junior Brother Zar, you’re still doing that fancy ghost-floating stuff!?"
’ng,’ Zar thought as he stopped in his tracks, his expression blanking. ’Why is this fellow always visiting my dicine Valley? Does he enjoy embarrassing in front of my disciples that much...?’
*Pat! Pat!*
Slapping Zar on the back, ng smiled like a goofy goober. "You know, with your Senior Brother here being of the Core Formation Realm, I don’t mind giving you so more practical Martial Techniques. Have I told you that since passing the Inner Disciple Exams, I’ve gained access to the Inner Sect Library??"
’No, this is only the millionth ti you’ve told that...’
Zar could swear the only reason this little bastard ever ca around was just to endlessly brag!
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