When Zhu Xia proposed that Leng Yanqiu go to Yunxia Sect to become Gu Qingfeng's Dual-Cultivation Dao Companion, almost everyone in the Bingxuan Sect found it incomprehensible and unacceptable.
In their minds, even though this was the Ancestral Master's dying instruction and an agreement between the two sects, the matter had been buried by time and there was no need to follow it. Moreover, Leng Yanqiu had now fused with the Bing Xuan Heart, the nine Direct Disciples and eighteen Chief Disciples were all formidable, and the Bingxuan Sect was destined to rise to prominence.
In contrast, Yunxia Sect was not even comparable to a third-rate family; one could say it was on the verge of collapse at any moment.
Now, the Ancestral Patriarch was actually saying they should follow the Ancestral Master's instruction and fulfill the Dual-Cultivation Pact with Yunxia Sect. How could they understand this? How could they accept it? Most importantly, Leng Yanqiu had been proud and aloof since childhood. After fusing with the Bing Xuan Heart, her arrogance had soared to the heavens. She didn't even regard Si Qianhua, the Hall Master of the Thousand Expeditions Hall of the Jiuhua Alliance, as worthy of her attention. Now, to have her become the Dao Companion of a successor from a minor sect that could vanish at any moment—how could she possibly be willing?
"What kind of thing is that Gu Qingfeng? In my eyes, he's not even worth trash. He doesn't even have the qualification to polish my shoes. And now... now you, Ancestral Patriarch, want me to become Dao Companions with trash? Hah..." Leng Yanqiu shook her head, biting her lip, her expression resolute. "Ancestral Patriarch, it is impossible for me to become Dao Companions with a piece of trash. Impossible!"
"Exactly! What is Gu Qingfeng anyway? He's utterly unworthy of Sect Leader Senior Sister!"
The nine Direct Disciples and eighteen Chief Disciples were all indignant. In their eyes, Leng Yanqiu was a goddess-like existence. How could they tolerate the goddess they admired becoming Dao Companions with a trash good-for-nothing?
On the high platform within the great hall, hearing these people call him trash and good-for-nothing one after another, Zhu Xia shook her head with an extremely complex expression, thinking to herself: Ignorant! So ignorant! A bunch of ignorant juniors. If he is trash, then who in this world would dare call themselves a genius? Those Edict Envoys came this time all for the Empress. The moment he appeared, those Edict Envoys didn't dare utter a single word! And now you call him trash? How laughable! Forget this world—even across heaven and earth, who would dare call him trash? No one dares! Immortals and demons dare not, heaven and earth dare not! No one dares! Even the Empress, after deducing her karmic bond with him, had no choice but to set up a scheme spanning three thousand years, willingly incurring a body of sin, all to sever that karma. Such a terrifying person, yet in the eyes of you ignorant juniors, he's become trash? What a colossal joke!
If possible, Zhu Xia truly wanted to reveal Gu Qingfeng's identity.
Unfortunately.
She could not.
She did not dare.
Because she understood clearly in her heart that once that person's identity was exposed, it would cause unimaginable upheaval—more than just throwing the world into chaos. That wasn't the important part. The important part was that all the Empress's efforts would be in vain.
Sigh!
Zhu Xia sighed inwardly. Looking at Leng Yanqiu before her, she patiently advised: "Yanqiu, this old one asks you to become his Dual-Cultivation Dao Companion. Firstly, it is to follow the Ancestral Master's instruction, but more importantly, it is for your own good. Although you have fused with the Bing Xuan Heart, it is only a fusion. Only after Dual Cultivation with the Yanyang Heart can the mysteries of the Bing Xuan be unlocked."
"But... but right now, the Yanyang Heart of Yunxia Sect is in the hands of the Jiuhua Alliance's Young Master Long."
Leng Yanqiu took a step forward, her demeanor haughty. "Moreover, I have already met with Young Master Long, and we have agreed that once he fuses with the Yanyang Heart, I will become his Dual-Cultivation Dao Companion. At that time, I can still unlock the mysteries of the Bing Xuan Heart!"
"That Young Master Long is merely taking advantage of your youth and ignorance. Forget that he doesn't actually possess the Yanyang Heart; even if he did, he would be incapable of fusing with it." Zhu Xia remained unmoved, speaking gravely. "In this world, aside from Gu Qingfeng, there is no one who can fuse with the Yanyang Heart. No one!"
"It's that trash Gu Qingfeng again! Hah..." Leng Yanqiu laughed scornfully, her laughter filled with utter contempt. She roared, "Ancestral Patriarch! Why do you value Gu Qingfeng so highly? In my eyes, he is just trash! I, Leng Yanqiu, absolutely cannot become his Dao Companion! Impossible! If you love following the Ancestral Master's instruction so much, you go follow it! I will not become Dao Companions with trash..."
"Impudent!"
Whoosh!
Zhu Xia was greatly enraged. Her figure flickered, instantly appearing before Leng Yanqiu. She raised her hand and slapped Leng Yanqiu across the face, causing the beautiful cheek to swell instantly.
"Ancestral Patriarch... you... you actually hit me for the sake of trash... you..." Leng Yanqiu covered her swollen cheek, her face ashen, eyes wide with disbelief.
This slap not only stunned Leng Yanqiu but also frightened everyone present into a frozen silence, not daring to speak.
Everyone knew the Ancestral Patriarch had always doted on Leng Yanqiu.
Since childhood, it had been so. Although they did not have a formal master-disciple relationship, the reality was one. Over the years, the Ancestral Patriarch had painstakingly guided Leng Yanqiu, investing immense effort in her. The entire Bingxuan Sect knew how much the Ancestral Patriarch cherished Leng Yanqiu. No one would have imagined that today, to make Leng Yanqiu become Gu Qingfeng's Dao Companion, the Ancestral Patriarch would actually strike her.
The truth was indeed so.
Since taking Leng Yanqiu in, Zhu Xia had always treated her as her own child. Her purpose might have been for Leng Yanqiu, after fusing with the Bing Xuan Heart, to help the Empress escape her karma. But at the same time, she also hoped to nurture Leng Yanqiu into a true heaven-defying daughter.
Looking at Leng Yanqiu opposite her, covering her cheek, face pale, eyes filled with anger, expression complex, Zhu Xia also felt some regret in her heart. After a long while, she finally sighed slowly. "Yanqiu! This old one has always treated you as her own child. There are some matters this old one cannot explain clearly to you, but I would never harm you!"
Zhu Xia spoke with solemn seriousness: "The existence of that Gu Qingfeng is beyond your imagination. Forget that aside from him, no one can fuse with the Yanyang Heart. Even without the Yanyang Heart, if you could become his Dao Companion, it would be a heaven-defying fortune for you!"
"If you can become his Dual-Cultivation Dao Companion, once you unlock the mysteries of the Bing Xuan Heart, then... the Great Nature itself will be yours to roam freely... you will become the favored daughter of the Great Nature!"
Zhu Xia's tone was also quite complex, filled with helplessness and deep affection. She did not know if, after this matter, the Empress could escape her karma. But if she could make Leng Yanqiu the favored daughter of the Great Nature, then these three thousand years of effort would not have been in vain.
"Silly girl, oh silly girl!" Zhu Xia sighed repeatedly. "Such a great fortune, and you are still unwilling. Little do you know, even if you were willing, whether Gu Qingfeng would be willing is still unknown. This old one is seizing this fortune for you by leveraging the Ancestral Empress's karma. Do not fail to recognize the blessing you are in... and do not ruin such a great fortune!"