Highly Respected

Upon hearing the sudden sound, Yan Yun and Xie Yuyan were startled, with Yan Yun instinctively pushing Xie Yuyan away.

“Hey? What are you so scared of? It’s not like we’re romantically involved.” Xie Yuyan immediately quipped.

Yan Yun instantly rolled her eyes at her.

Turning towards the entrance, they saw that the newcomer was a deacon from the Disciple Management Office, and promptly bowed in respect.

“Greetings, Martial Uncle.”

The newcomer was named Gu Huai, a Divine Mark Realm cultivator and an outer sect deacon of the Yunhua Sect, responsible for various disciple affairs.

“Oh? Aren’t you Xie Yuyan from Huoyang Pavilion? What are you doing here? Do you know this girl?” Gu Huai inquired curiously upon seeing Xie Yuyan.

Casting a glance at Yan Yun, Xie Yuyan quickly offered an explanation.

“Martial Uncle, you see, we two happened to meet on the way to the Yunhua Sect to seek mentorship, so we decided to travel together and eventually joined the Yunhua Sect as disciples.”

Gu Huai nodded, refraining from further questions.

“Understood. Ziyun, you are the first disciple of our Yunhua Sect’s Purple Abyss Pavilion since its establishment. The Sect Master wishes to see you. Come with me.”

Yan Yun’s heart gave a jolt, yet she did not hesitate for long.

“Alright, I’ll go ahead then.” Yan Yun bid farewell to Xie Yuyan.

Meanwhile, Xie Yuyan grew somewhat worried, fearing that the Yunhua Sect’s higher-ups might uncover her true identity.

However, this concern was quickly dismissed, for with Yan Lingyun’s presence, even Fairy Yunshuang herself would be unable to discern Xie Yuyan’s disguise.

Thus, Yan Yun was led by Gu Huai, soaring towards the main hall of the sect.

“Martial Uncle, what exactly does the Sect Master wish to discuss, to specifically summon me?” Yan Yun could not help but ask Gu Huai.

Gu Huai pondered for a moment.

“Most likely, she wants to understand your poison cultivation technique. After all, you are currently the only one in the sect who has successfully cultivated it, and the Purple Abyss Pavilion has only you. Little girl, prepare yourself; I have a feeling the Sect Master might ask you to temporarily oversee the Purple Abyss Pavilion.”

These words made Yan Yun pause in surprise.

“Ah? No way! How could I, a mere outer sect disciple, temporarily oversee the Purple Abyss Pavilion?” Yan Yun exclaimed, feigning shock, though inwardly, she was overjoyed.

“I can’t say for sure; you’ll find out once we get there.” Gu Huai himself was uncertain of Fairy Yunshuang’s exact intentions.

Soon, the two descended at the entrance of the grand and solemn main hall.

Following closely behind Gu Huai, Yan Yun strolled into the main hall. The moment she stepped inside, numerous sharp gazes immediately fixated upon her.

These piercing stares made Yan Yun’s hairs stand on end instantly, for they belonged to seven formidable Divine Venerable Realm experts.

“Greetings, Sect Master, and esteemed Elders. Ziyun, a disciple of the Purple Abyss Pavilion, has arrived.” Gu Huai bowed respectfully to those present, then moved to stand to one side, leaving Yan Yun alone in the very center of the grand hall.

Yan Yun’s arrival sparked the curiosity of everyone present.

“So this is the first person in our Yunhua Sect to successfully cultivate the poison cultivation technique? Little girl, your name is Ziyun, isn’t it? Come, let this old man take a good look at your internal condition.” Yunyan chuckled, beckoning Yan Yun over.

However, upon seeing him, Yan Yun’s immediate reaction was one of strong distaste; Yunyan was a boorish, burly man, and his smiling expression struck her as that of a creepy uncle.

“Cough, cough, Senior Brother Yunyan, don’t scare the child. Allow me. Little girl, come over here. I am Sixth Elder Yun Ning. Don’t be afraid; we merely wish to understand the nature of this poison cultivation technique.” Sixth Elder Yun Ning spoke gently to Yan Yun.

Yan Yun glanced at Fairy Yunshuang, who was seated in the center, and then obediently walked over.

Upon reaching Yun Ning, the elder rose, lifted her hand, and pressed a finger to Yan Yun’s glabella, allowing her divine sense to penetrate Yan Yun’s body for a thorough examination.

“Indeed, it is quite unique,” Yun Ning remarked as she observed. “A special spiritual root, completely independent of the five elemental spiritual roots. The Qi Sea storing her power is also different from that of conventional cultivators, yet overall, it shares remarkable similarities with ordinary cultivators.”

After completing her inspection, she withdrew her finger and instructed Yan Yun to unleash her poison cultivation technique.

“Little girl, release your poisonous power and attack me.”

Yan Yun’s expression stiffened upon hearing this, feigning a look of apprehension.

“It’s fine. If your poison could kill a Divine Venerable cultivator like me, then I would have wasted hundreds of years cultivating.” Yun Ning found Yan Yun’s reluctance amusing.

Since the elder insisted, Yan Yun could only ‘graciously’ acquiesce to her request.

“Very well.” With that, Yan Yun raised her hand, and as poisonous mist emanated from her palm, she struck towards Yun Ning’s wrist.

Immediately, the poison swiftly spread across Yun Ning’s body.

Yun Ning meticulously observed and felt its effects. Although the poison furiously assailed her body, it was, regrettably, like countless ants trying to bite through steel; the toxins were utterly incapable of penetrating her defenses.

Nevertheless, Yun Ning’s expression grew increasingly solemn.

“What potent poison! Even a Cavern Heaven Realm cultivator, if they were to accidentally come into contact with it, would likely be poisoned to death. Truly, it lives up to its reputation as the cultivation technique practiced by the Heavenly Poison Maiden, renowned throughout the lower realms a thousand years ago.”

“Little girl, according to the cultivation technique’s description, it requires specializing in a single type of poison. You’re cultivating a corrosive poison, aren’t you?” Yun Ning asked, waving her hand to dispel the poisonous power.

Yan Yun nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Yun Ning then immediately nodded to the other elders and Fairy Yunshuang, indicating that her inspection was complete.

“Little girl, how did you manage to cultivate it successfully? As far as I know, the success rate of this technique is quite low. Do you have any special insights?” Yunhong inquired with curiosity.

After a moment of thought, Yan Yun shared her insights.

“Elder, the first step of this poison cultivation technique involves condensing a poison body. This process is incredibly painful; one absolutely cannot faint, as losing consciousness means instant death. Therefore, it demands extraordinarily tenacious willpower. During this period, several individuals from our medicine fields have successively died from failed cultivation attempts, simply because they were utterly unprepared for the rigors of cultivating this poison technique.”

Yunhong and the others immediately fell into deep contemplation.

“It seems this poison cultivation technique, though powerful and low in entry requirements, places extremely high demands on a cultivator’s willpower, consistent with the information we received from the Immortal Alliance. Little girl, as the first person in our Yunhua Sect to successfully cultivate this poison technique, are you willing to assist others in the sect who wish to practice it, to safely overcome this difficult hurdle?” Fairy Yunshuang asked.

Currently, all major forces in the Jiang Country cultivation world were researching the poison cultivation technique, eager to acquire firsthand information about it.

In three years at most, the Jiang Country cultivation world would host an exchange conference for the new generation of disciples, and by then, many cultivators practicing the poison cultivation technique were sure to emerge.

“This? Disciple has only just succeeded in cultivating it. I, I may still need time to ponder and refine it.” Yan Yun certainly couldn’t make any direct promises.

Fairy Yunshuang offered a slight smile.

“Little girl, don’t be afraid. You are entirely free to boldly ponder and research. The sect can assist you in developing this poison cultivation technique. Moreover, since you are currently the sole occupant of the Yunhua Sect’s Purple Abyss Pavilion, we have decided to temporarily appoint you as the acting Pavilion Master. If, in the future, you are the first to reach the Divine Venerable Realm, you will directly become the official Pavilion Master of the Purple Abyss Pavilion. What do you say?”

Yan Yun’s heart bloomed with joy, but her face displayed a deferential apprehension.

“This? Sect Master, is this truly permissible? I am merely an outer sect disciple.”

Fairy Yunshuang glanced at the other elders, who, it seemed, had no significant objections.

For this Purple Abyss Pavilion, none of them wished to see another elder in charge, as it touched upon issues of future power.

Allowing a junior cultivator to temporarily manage it meant that all of them could intervene and exert some influence.

Fairy Yunshuang raised her hand, using her spiritual power to send a purple token towards Yan Yun.

“This item is the Pavilion Master Token, which controls all formations within the Purple Abyss Pavilion. With it, you can exercise the Pavilion Master’s authority. Should the Purple Abyss Pavilion require anything, you may report it at any time, but it must be reasonable, and its purpose must be clearly explained.”

Only then did a look of excitement finally appear on Yan Yun’s face as she accepted the token.

“Yes, Sect Master, this disciple will strive her utmost!” Yan Yun declared, her voice filled with excitement.