Plant this seal and you will be mine

The time had come.

The ceremony to honor the Heavenly Dao was to begin immediately.

Originally, an elder was supposed to preside over the ritual.

However, Qin Ximo had volunteered to take on the task herself.

Given the Sect Master’s authority, no one in the sect dared to refuse.

Thus, the many disciples in the Daoist hall saw an extraordinarily beautiful woman slowly ascend the altar.

Qin Ximo rarely appeared before the disciples.

Yet several of the senior disciples present immediately recognized her.

The woman stepping onto the altar was none other than the Sect Master of Qingyun Sword Sect!

“Which elder is that? I’ve never seen them before.”

“Are you out of your mind?! Elder? That is the Sect Master herself!”

“Ah, the Sect Master?” Many disciples were stunned.

“Wasn’t it said that apart from the centennial ancestral ceremony, the Sect Master rarely presides over any other rituals?”

“You are new to the sect, so naturally you wouldn’t know.

The Peak Master Xiao, who is about to accept a disciple today, shares a master with the current Sect Master!

Given this connection, it is perfectly acceptable for the Sect Master to preside over the Heavenly Dao ceremony.”

“I see… That disciple Cao Xueyan truly receives unparalleled favor.

Even the Sect Master is her supporter.

In the future, she must not be provoked.”

As they spoke, Qin Ximo stood atop the altar.

The moment she opened her mouth, a commanding voice resonated throughout the hall.

“I am Qin Ximo, the seventeenth-generation Sect Master of Qingyun Sword Sect.

Vast Heaven above, the mirror suspended high, may all beings witness this.

From this day forth, Xiao Menglan and Cao Xueyan shall be master and disciple.

Henceforth, sharing honor and disgrace, steadfast until death!”

This was the Heaven-Worship Ceremony.

After speaking, Qin Ximo waved her hand.

Three incense sticks, each as tall as a person, appeared in front of her.

These sticks, guided by her spiritual power, flew to the three corners of the hall.

Upon reaching the ground, they ignited by themselves, filling the entire hall with smoke and flame.

After some time, the once clear sky suddenly birthed a golden cloud.

Above the cloud seemed to stand magnificent pavilions and towers, jade-like and glittering.

Countless indistinct figures appeared within, difficult for the human eye to discern.

The disciples on the ground looked up, soon feeling their eyes sting and burn.

“Return your focus!” Qin Ximo commanded from the altar.

“This is the will of the Heavenly Dao.

Your cultivation is too shallow to look directly!”

A calming force spread outward.

Disciples feeling discomfort broke into cold sweat, averting their gaze and bowing to the ground, not daring to lift their heads.

The strange phenomenon in the sky lasted over an hour.

Qin Ximo and the other Golden Core cultivators could look directly without harm.

Cao Xueyan was protected closely by Xiao Menglan and was unharmed.

For some reason, she could faintly perceive the outline of the simulator panel in her mind when the phenomenon appeared, even though she had not consciously activated it.

Her face remained calm, but her heart was uneasy.

Such a situation had never occurred before.

It was a serious matter, and her worry was understandable.

Fortunately, after over an hour, the celestial anomaly faded.

At the same time, a thunderous voice echoed from the horizon, reverberating through the entire Sword-Hiding Valley.

“Approved.”

A single word, yet it caused all present to exhale in relief.

Though the ceremony might seem formal, if the Heavenly Dao did not recognize it, the following rituals would be meaningless.

Even if carried out regardless, it would be in name only.

Having received approval, Qin Ximo proceeded to the next step.

The large bronze cauldrons around the altar trembled violently.

They lifted into the air, flying straight toward the faint anomaly above.

Soon, the cauldrons shrank to the size of a needle’s eye before disappearing entirely into the golden cloud.

Only when the Heavenly Dao accepted the prepared offerings was the “Heaven Worship” part of the disciple-acceptance ceremony complete.

Next came the Ancestor Worship.

First Heaven, then Ancestors, finally the Master.

The Ancestor Worship was usually presided over by the most virtuous and respected in the sect.

Naturally, only the Sect Master Qin Ximo qualified.

Coincidentally, the three incense sticks previously lit had burned down to ashes within the hour.

Qin Ximo waved again, producing three more incense sticks.

Since the ritual shifted from Heaven to Ancestors, these sticks were slightly different in appearance.

Ancestor Worship required no offerings.

However, all members of Qingyun Sword Sect, including Qin Ximo, had to kneel before the statue of the founder.

The statue depicted the sect’s founder from thousands of years ago, known as the Qingyun Immortal Lord.

Legends said that during that era, Nascent Soul cultivators were widespread, Golden Core cultivators were rare, and only those above the Nascent Soul stage could occupy the world.

The Sword-Hiding Valley was originally used to honor the founder, where the statue was kept.

Normally, even Golden Core cultivators could not see it.

Only the Sect Master holding the heirloom sword could summon the statue.

At some point, Qin Ximo had the sword in both hands, solemn and meticulous.

She bowed deeply, facing a particular spot in the valley.

“I, Qin Ximo, respectfully invite the Founder!”

“We respectfully invite the Founder!”

Following the Sect Master’s lead, the others knelt.

This was repeated twenty-four times.

Finally, a colossal stone statue appeared at the valley entrance.

Despite thousands of years passing, its details—clothing, features—remained clear.

The statue depicted a dignified middle-aged man, lips slightly parted as if about to speak.

After the statue was summoned, everyone knelt again, completing the Ancestor Worship.

The final step, accepting the disciple, was to be performed before all present and before the founder’s statue.

Qin Ximo dispersed her spiritual power, exhausted from summoning the founder, but everything proceeded smoothly.

The altar was now handed over to the master-disciple pair, Xiao Menglan and Cao Xueyan.

Understanding this, Xiao Menglan stepped toward the altar, brushing past Qin Ximo.

She instinctively wanted to hold Cao Xueyan’s hand but hesitated, realizing it was improper.

The small motion went unnoticed by almost everyone, except Lu Jiansheng, who seemed aware but made no move.

Cao Xueyan had rehearsed this process countless times in her mind.

She walked with her head held high, neither humble nor arrogant, following Xiao Menglan to the altar.

The view was broader than she imagined.

Looking down, she saw all the disciples clearly, and they could also see her.

Hundreds of eyes focused on her for the first time.

Previously somewhat socially anxious, her heart now raced wildly.

She focused on Xiao Menglan, finding comfort and gradually calming herself.

Ancestor Worship had twenty-four bows.

Next was the Master-Worship.

To show respect, it required three kowtows repeated three times—nine in total.

No one else presided; Xiao Menglan, as the master, nodded, signaling the start.

Cao Xueyan stepped forward, raised her hands in salute, and bowed her head, performing the three kowtows.

After rising, she continued until nine sets were completed.

After the ninth, she stood just one step from Xiao Menglan, close enough to sense each other’s scent.

“Cao Xueyan, do you wish to enter my tutelage and become my personal disciple?”

Cao Xueyan met Xiao Menglan’s gaze knowingly.

“I am willing to remain by your side and serve you forever,” she declared clearly.

“Do you swear an oath?”

“I swear.

If I ever act against you or betray our lineage, from the skies above to the depths below, heaven and earth shall punish me, and all may strike me down!”

At that moment, the golden cloud in the sky rumbled with deafening thunder as affirmation.

The founder statue’s stone eyes glowed, silently witnessing the vow.

The ritual was complete.

Cao Xueyan exhaled slightly in relief.

Xiao Menglan stepped forward, touching her brow, leaving a faint, mysterious seal.

Then, in a voice only they could hear, she said:

“With this mark planted, from now on, you belong to me.”

Cao Xueyan’s face flushed, and she nodded subtly.

Xiao Menglan’s heart surged, wishing she could embrace her disciple and cherish her then and there.