"Not at all. Men and women are born beneath the same heavens and earth. They can run, jump, and cultivate alike. In my eyes, men and women are equals."
"That's right. The True Qi multiplying inside me can break through more than one layer."
"With this kind of catalysis, given Martial Ancestor Uncle's circumstances, not only could he break through one layer, he could even make a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment with plenty to spare."
Seventh Elder Liu Yun's eyes suddenly lit up. She clapped her hands and asked, "Miss Tang is also at the Heavenly Spirit Root level, just like you were back then, and her temperament is decent enough. She'd just about qualify to be your disciple."
"I only wanted to see what kind of sect the Azure Nether Sword Sect was." Bai Qiuran rolled up the sleeve on his other arm too.
"Exactly, exactly."
The young woman had come here mostly out of curiosity, wanting to see what her benefactor's sect was like. But she couldn't rule out the possibility that she felt some subtle fondness and affection for the person who had saved her life, family, and country.
Tang Ruowei hesitated, then quietly reminded him, "Don't call me Miss Tang anymore. I've joined the sect, so I'm one of its disciples. And you must be a senior of great standing in the sect, so I should address you respectfully. We can't neglect proper etiquette."
Fifth Elder frowned in surprise. "Why did Martial Ancestor Uncle only break through one layer? And so casually, at that?"
Elder Qing Yun, standing nearby, chimed in at just the right moment. "Martial Ancestor Uncle is telling the truth. I can vouch for him."
That was what Tang Ruowei thought as she nodded to Bai Qiuran. "Of course I'm willing. I don't really understand how Cultivators' realms are divided, but even if your cultivation is low, your strength is the real thing."
Tang Ruowei raised a hand to cover her forehead.
Bai Qiuran offered her a word of praise.
"Mm."
In front of the Sect Master and elders of the Azure Nether Sword Sect, Tang Ruowei decided to maintain her image.
Princess Shangxuan felt as if something were stuck in her throat, and didn't know what to say.
Hearing Bai Qiuran's words, Tang Ruowei was both angry and incensed.
Seeing their behavior, Bai Qiuran asked suspiciously, "What are you doing?"
Liu Yun turned to her fellow senior brothers and sisters and frantically gave them meaningful looks.
"But now that you've joined the sect, even if you're only a provisional black-robed disciple, you're still part of the Azure Nether Sword Sect. Welcome, Miss Tang."
Hearing Bai Qiuran's words, no one objected. Third Elder lifted Sect Master Jueyunzi down from the crooked-necked tree, then the elders dragged the Sect Master along and led Tang Ruowei into the little courtyard where Bai Qiuran lived.
"Miss Tang, would you be willing to take me as your master? I'll say this upfront: I really am only at the Qi Refining Stage."
Everyone present marveled in amazement.
Bai Qiuran shot her a glance.
"Really?"
Second Elder Xuan Yunzi slapped his thigh and said, "Who would dare say Martial Ancestor Uncle is a poor teacher? Wouldn't that be the same as saying the seven of us—and even the Grand Elder—and the Azure Nether Sword Sect are all incompetent?"
Bai Qiuran waved his hand. "So let's each follow our own way of addressing one another. Besides, apart from the Sect Master and elders, hardly anyone knows I exist. You don't need to worry about people saying you lack proper manners."
Bai Qiuran waved his hand. "Why don't one of you seven take her on?"
Bai Qiuran beckoned Tang Ruowei and the elders over.
Bai Qiuran lifted his teacup and took a sip. "I have plenty of free time. What's wrong?"
Bai Qiuran answered with a blank expression, "So now I feel like I'm about to break through again."
"Don't worry. If you really had to mind my seniority, neither you nor Jueyun and the others would be able to speak to me properly."
Seventh Elder asked, "If you're going to continue secluding yourself to attempt Foundation Establishment, and this isn't a good time, we'll take our leave and bring this young woman back another day."
He called out to the elders, "Everyone agrees, right?"
Tang Ruowei instinctively glanced at the Azure Nether Sword Sect's elders. She found that all of them except the comparatively honest Third Elder and the unconscious Sect Master were making faces at her. Second Elder was even twisting his mouth almost out of shape.
Bai Qiuran asked suspiciously, "That day, you chased me for ten miles with only first-layer Qi Refining cultivation."
"Everyone agrees, right?"
"But I wasn't trying to attack you."
"Oh, well, then welcome!"
"No, no. Absolutely not."
"So that means Martial Ancestor Uncle doesn't have anything to do for the time being?"
Bai Qiuran looked at Tang Ruowei, who sat to the side silently drinking tea, barely daring to join the conversation.
"I'm not angry anymore."
"That's right. Bai Yun's cultivation is impressive."
"By the way, who's going to get that blockhead down from the tree?"
"Yeah."
"Besides, Bai Qiuran, as a gentleman, shouldn't you be so petty with a woman, should you?"
Although she had never cared much for the title of Princess Shangxuan, and didn't want her father to decide her life and fate as he pleased, she had traveled so far, left everything behind, and passed through layer upon layer of trials just to enter the gates of Qingming Mountain and see Bai Qiuran again.
Tang Ruowei sighed faintly, feeling somewhat helpless.
Bai Qiuran heard that and immediately broke into a smile.
"Like holding in a shit."
Mm. I had no idea what they were doing, but they were important figures in the sect, after all, so I'd better play along for now.
"No, no need. I don't want to break through for the time being."
"Young lady."
"I'm asking if you're all plotting something behind my back."
The elders hurriedly nodded.
"Holding it in."
"Why are you asking me to teach her? I'm only at the Qi Refining Stage."
"So what does Martial Ancestor Uncle plan to do?"
"I really have no idea."
"Anyway, we still need to ask what she thinks."
Fifth Elder, who was the most knowledgeable about medicinal properties, sniffed and asked somewhat woodenly, "Martial Ancestor Uncle, you... you used so many ingredients that catalyze True Qi in this Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"Why not let you teach little Ruowei, then?"
"All seven of us were taught by Martial Ancestor Uncle. That's how we achieved what we have today."
In Bai Qiuran's residence, he had already used a magical art to brew a pot of tea. He personally held the teapot and poured tea into the nine cups on the table. As soon as the elders and Tang Ruowei entered, they were greeted by an incredibly rich medicinal fragrance.
"Ah, we seven have experienced Martial Ancestor Uncle's teaching firsthand. You can trust him completely."
Bai Qiuran wore a deathly blank expression.
The result was that now, after all that trouble, she'd finally seen him, only for him to barely exchange a few words with her before asking if she'd traveled a thousand miles to chase him down and cut him up—and then rolling up his sleeves as he said it.
"My True Qi is so abundant that there are hardly any tonics left in this world that would have any real effect on me. Rather than waste such rare treasures, I might as well catalyze my own True Qi and let it grow on its own."
Tang Ruowei asked curiously, "What does it mean to suppress your realm?"
The six elders shook their heads together. The Sect Master, Jueyunzi, had fainted by then, so Sixth Elder held his head and shook it along with them.
"Mm?"
"My True Qi is so abundant that there are hardly any tonics left in this world that would have any real effect on me. Rather than waste such rare treasures, I might as well catalyze my own True Qi and let it grow on its own."
"Without any preparation, even if I break through again, I'll only gain another layer. I plan to suppress my realm for a while and see if I can compress my True Qi into a liquid."
Before you continue