The Saintess’s Grand Proposal

“I hadn’t expected even you, Senior Brother, to be stirred by this.”

“For this child to rouse so many sword arts and cultivation methods, there must be something extraordinary about him. Perhaps he has already comprehended Sword Intent.”

High above Gongfa Cliff, Jiang Tianjian, the Peak Master of Myriad Swords Peak, and Chu Xiuzhu, the Pavilion Master of Hidden Sword Pavilion, regarded Xia Yi at the center of the anomaly with eyes full of profound satisfaction.

“Indeed, the last one to trigger such a commotion on Gongfa Cliff was the Formless Sword Physique. Senior Brother, why don’t we first join forces to claim this child? As for whether he chooses your Hidden Sword Pavilion or my Myriad Swords Peak, we can discuss that later.”

“Hmm, I was just thinking the same.”

As the anomalies clashed with increasing ferocity, an ever-growing number of Peak Masters and Pavilion Masters were drawn to the spectacle.

“Heh heh, everyone, how long has it been since we were all gathered like this?”

“It must have been a millennium, at least.”

“Does our infrequent meeting not simply signify the peace and prosperity of the Immortal Sect?”

“That’s true…”

In mere moments, nearly all the Peak Masters and Pavilion Masters of the entire Azure Feather Immortal Sect had converged upon Gongfa Cliff.

Even the Pavilion Masters of the Spirit Pill Pavilion and the Immortal Artifact Pavilion had made their way there.

“Oh, how rare. To think that two esteemed Rank Six Alchemists and Artifact Forgers would deign to leave their abodes.”

“Heh heh, I happened upon a heavenly secret that my disciple was here, so I naturally came.”

“Hmph, this old man goes wherever he pleases. Do you commoners have the right to question it?”

“Many years have passed, yet Old Man Ran, your temper remains as fiery as ever. Is it perhaps a trait common to all you smiths?”

“What the hell does it matter to you?”

…

“Roar!”

Just as the venerable figures in the sky were reminiscing, a dragon’s roar abruptly cut short their discussion.

A magnificent silver-white true dragon, with an irresistible momentum, swatted aside numerous anomalies and lunged to bite Xia Yi’s fishing hook.

Yet, an ancient, unadorned longsword, seemingly unaffected by the silver dragon, followed closely, thrusting towards the fishing hook as well.

To the astonished gazes of everyone present, the ancient longsword and the mighty silver dragon simultaneously made contact with the fishing hook. Two streaks of light, one after the other, bypassed the token and soared into Xia Yi’s sea of consciousness.

“Unrecorded cultivation methods, astonishing!”

“And two of them!?”

“Ahem, this young man is a disciple of my Spirit Pill Pavilion. He secretly slipped out and caused trouble for everyone. This old man will take him back for proper instruction, sparing you all any further bother.”

“What nonsense about him being your disciple! He’s clearly the Senior Disciple Brother of my Artifact Forging Pavilion. When did he become one of your Spirit Pill Pavilion’s people?”

“Actually, he’s the Senior Disciple Sister dispatched from my Celestial Maiden Peak.”

“Nonsense! What are you Celestial Maiden Peak people doing here, trying to join in the fun? He should rightfully be entrusted to our Dao Law Peak for guidance.”

“Move aside! What do you Dao Law Peak folks know about swordsmanship? It would be far better if he were taught by our Myriad Swords Peak.”

“Zheng!”

Just as the great figures in the sky were locked in an irreconcilable argument, a clear and exquisitely delicate zither note resonated distinctly in every ear.

At the sound of this distinctive zither, the venerable figures, who had been bickering incessantly, ceased their arguments in unspoken understanding.

“Esteemed Peak Masters and Pavilion Masters, might you grant this humble maiden a small favor? Would it be acceptable for this person to be placed under my tutelage?”

The ethereal voice resonated clearly in the ears of every Elder and Peak Master. With just a single sentence, it instantly brought a sense of refreshing clarity, dispelling many of the distracting thoughts within their hearts.

“The Saintess’s mastery of the musical arts has advanced considerably. Since this is the Saintess’s request, this old woman will naturally grant you face. I shall not participate further in this matter, esteemed ones, and will take my leave.”

The Celestial Maiden Peak Master had originally come simply to observe the spectacle and perhaps intervene if an opportunity arose, reasoning that there would be no loss if she managed to claim him.

Now that the Saintess had personally stepped forward, she found it opportune to gracefully withdraw.

Following the departure of the Celestial Maiden Peak Master, several other Peak Masters, who had similarly only come to watch the excitement, also offered their greetings to the Saintess before leaving.

Only those who genuinely wished to take Xia Yi as a disciple remained.

Given the talent Xia Yi had displayed, he was certainly worth contending for, even against the future Sect Master of the Azure Feather Immortal Sect.

“Saintess, this young man has already comprehended Sword Intent, and it is even possible that it is Innate Sword Intent. Entrusting him to our Myriad Swords Peak would truly be the optimal choice.”

Someone capable of stirring so many sword art anomalies is very likely a peerless prodigy possessing Innate Sword Intent. Jiang Tianjian was unwilling to relinquish Xia Yi, a disciple whose talent could rival those with Daoist Physiques or Divine Physiques.

“Precisely, Saintess. A person endowed with Innate Sword Intent, if given proper guidance, will undoubtedly achieve accomplishments no less than our own in the future.”

Chu Xiuzhu echoed from the side.

If possible, he too wished to personally mentor a living Sword Immortal, thereby fulfilling a long-held aspiration from his youth.

“Indeed, I am aware of this matter. Senior Danyang, Senior Ran Wu, where are you?”

After the Saintess’s arrival, those who still remained steadfast on Gongfa Cliff included Danyang, the Pavilion Master of the Spirit Pill Pavilion, and Ran Wu, the Pavilion Master of the Artifact Forging Pavilion.

“Responding to Your Highness, the Saintess, this young man possesses a rich and exceptionally pure fiery aura. If this old man is not mistaken, his spiritual flame must be quite extraordinary.

Coupled with his exceedingly pure spiritual energy, he is also a rare and remarkable talent for alchemy.

This old man wishes to take him as a direct successor.”

“Hmph, Saintess. My view aligns with that old fool’s; this lad is indeed an exceedingly rare talent in artifact forging.”

Even when facing the Saintess, Ran Wu’s temper remained as fiery as ever.

“I see, I now understand the intentions of you esteemed seniors…”

The ethereal voice paused abruptly. The veiled, pink-clad figure left all the Peak Masters and Elders present uncertain of what the most powerful Saintess in history was truly contemplating.

“From the descriptions of you seniors, my beloved… he is indeed a rare and exceptional genius.

Therefore, I propose, why not make him our sect’s Saint Son?”

No sooner had the pink-clad figure’s words fallen than the four Peak Masters and Pavilion Masters present vehemently objected.

“Impossible!”

“Absolutely not!”

“We implore the Saintess to reconsider!”

“We earnestly hope the Saintess will give this matter more profound thought.”

Observing their reactions, the Saintess’s lips curved into a triumphant smile, signifying her plan’s success.

She had originally been pondering how to bring her beloved to her side more swiftly.

Unexpectedly, only a few days had passed, and her beloved had already created such a grand spectacle for her.

Though this event was not present in her memories, it was of little concern. She was always delighted to witness changes that benefited her.

“Esteemed seniors, what is the meaning of this? Did you not just proclaim this person to be extraordinarily gifted, a prodigy seen only once in ten millennia?

Would not such a man—as dashing as a jade tree, exuding an imposing aura, possessing both virtue and talent, and unparalleled through the ages—be perfectly suited to be my Saint Son?”

Everyone: “…”

Leaving aside whether the Saintess was subtly inserting her own agenda with those idioms, their intention was merely to take a disciple, not to elevate him to the status of a Saint Son.

A Saint Son was two ranks higher than a core disciple, holding a status comparable to that of themselves, the Peak Masters and Pavilion Masters.

To make a man merely in the initial stage of Foundation Establishment a Saint Son—how would the Saint Son candidates possibly feel about that?

Even if one were to take ten thousand steps back, to make such a decision regarding a Saint Son without even consulting your Sect Master father, isn’t that far too presumptuous?

“We implore the Saintess to reconsider!” four voices chorused simultaneously.

Ignoring the simultaneous pleas of Jiang Tianjian and the other three, the Saintess continued:

“Then, how about this: if, three years from now, he can claim the title of a core disciple in the Grand Competition, he shall become our sect’s Saint Son? What do you say?

I will personally speak with my father about this. And if he indeed takes first place at that time, I would trouble you esteemed seniors to cast your votes for him.”

Jiang Tianjian and the other three exchanged glances, each understanding the unspoken meaning in the other’s eyes.

No matter how exceptionally talented Xia Yi might be, it was utterly impossible for him to secure first place among the core disciples in just three years.

This was not a matter of underestimating Xia Yi, but rather an absolute impossibility within such a brief timeframe.