Bai Susu cleared her throat and cast her eyes toward the silent little black-haired girl.
Chen Ye and Qing Jun had already "submitted," leaving only the acceptance of her first disciple.
As long as she acknowledged her, her position within this household... no, this mountain would be solidly secured!
Zhiwei met her gaze, performing a polite salute before speaking with dignity:
"True Inheritor Bai’s swordsmanship is exceptional, Zhiwei is impressed."
Her every move was flawless, impeccable.
Yet Bai Susu felt uneasy... it was too polite, polite to the point of formality.
Zhiwei continued in her cool and distant tone, "Thank you, True Inheritor Bai, for your assistance today in rescuing my master. This kindness, both my master and I will remember."
Her words expressed gratitude and highlighted the favor, while also aligning herself with her master.
It was as if she was an outsider... no, Bai Susu was indeed an outsider.
Bai Susu felt a frustration stuck in her chest, neither up nor down.
What she wanted was a look of admiration, like Qing Jun’s starlit eyes of wonder, not this businesslike gratitude!
"Tsk, what an uninteresting little girl..." she mumbled to herself, looking at Zhiwei’s indifferent little face, unable to get angry.
Never mind, the girl’s nature was as such, cold and mature like a little adult.
If she were to bicker with her, it would be childish, and Chen Ye would laugh at her.
At this thought, Bai Susu’s fighting spirit ignited.
This pair of master and disciple was increasingly interesting, she refused to believe she, a true inheritor from Lingyin Sect, could not win over a little girl?
But now time was of the essence, she could not afford to waste it.
Bai Susu looked at Chen Ye and said seriously:
"Chen Ye, tomorrow you will return to the sect with me. Delay leads to chaos, staying in Lisong Valley is like a turtle hiding in its shell, self-deception."
Chen Ye appeared surprised by her words.
This is unlike Bai Susu, who has always acted on her whims, when would she ever consider others?
Even as a true inheritor of Lingyin Sect, she would take action decisively.
Bai Susu eyed Chen Ye, dissatisfied, "What do you mean by this? Do you think of me as a reckless brute?"
Seeing Chen Ye shake his head, Bai Susu’s expression eased slightly, only to hear him say:
"True Inheritor Bai is certainly no brute. I merely thought that you were free-spirited and unrestrained, never daunted by others, thus my surprise."
Bai Susu’s face darkened, her teeth clenched in anger.
He was implying she was a brute, just putting it nicely.
Ungrateful bastard...
She was about to lose her temper, but Chen Ye seemed to predict her reaction and spoke gently:
"Precisely because of this, you have my utmost gratitude. If not for True Inheritor Bai’s consideration for me, how could you be bound and restricted?"
Despicable!
Why could Chen Ye always preemptively interrupt her anger?
Bai Susu snorted, turning her head away, speaking awkwardly, "As long as you know. Remember, you must repay me diligently in the future!"
Return to the sect...
Chen Ye’s gaze sharpened; he indeed intended to return to the sect.
During his Qi Cultivation stage, he could fulfill his cultivation needs through the Market.
But after Foundation Establishment, be it Second Tier Techniques, or insights from predecessors, were difficult to obtain from the Market.
Additionally,
Chen Ye planned to refine Second Tier Pills, and upgrade both Qingzhi and the Iron Sword to the second tier.
None of these could be accomplished without the support of the sect.
Peach Mountain District was, after all, a small place, lacking Second Tier Artifact Refiners, quality Earth Fire, or exchanges with Foundation Establishment Cultivators...
It was time to return to the sect and truly settle down.
Chen Ye pondered silently, nodding, "True Inheritor Bai’s kindness is deeply appreciated by me!"
Seeing Chen Ye nod in agreement, Bai Susu was satisfied, and she said matter-of-factly, "Since you’ve reached Foundation Establishment, you naturally qualify to be promoted to sect Guardian. I suppose you didn’t even know this, right?"
Chen Ye was intrigued; as a Loose Cultivator, he knew little about the sect’s internal hierarchy, now was the chance to gain some understanding.
He cupped his hands, "I am indeed not well-versed in the sect’s structure, I seek True Inheritor Bai’s guidance."
"Hmph, such a bumpkin."
Though Bai Susu mocked, she began to explain,
"In Lingyin Sect, we are organized by peaks. The Inner Sect has Twelve Peaks, and the Outer Sect has Thirty-six Peaks. Those who serve as Peak Masters of the Inner Sect Twelve Peaks are all pillars of the sect, with nine being Great Cultivators of Late Period Foundation Establishment, and the remaining three are strong cultivators of the Middle Period. These Peak Masters hold significant influence within the sect, common affairs are essentially decided by them."
"As for the Outer Sect’s Thirty-six Peaks, the strength of the Peak Masters varies greatly."
She continued,
"There is the Peak Master of Purple Cloud Peak, who is at Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer, a former true inheritor of the sect forty years ago, once in the limelight. Unfortunately, due to a battle, his Tao Foundation was severed, and his cultivation made no progress since. And then there is the Peak Master of Herb Peak, at Foundation Establishment Second Layer, who is actually your direct superior."
Bai Susu’s examples featured the peaks most familiar to Chen Ye.
His Luoli Courtyard was situated on Herb Peak, while Li Qiuyun’s father, Li Yanfeng, was an instructor at Purple Cloud Peak; Chen Ye had practiced with the Flying Swords there.
Still, he hadn’t known that Purple Cloud Peak’s Peak Master was once a true inheritor of Lingyin Sect...
The path of cultivation indeed is fraught with perils, a single misstep might lead to eternal ruin.
It seems that among the true inheritors of Lingyin Sect over the generations, only a few successfully mature.
Bai Susu glanced at Qing Jun playing in the yard with Zhiwei, and continued,