Azure Sky Retreat.
Outside the retreat lay a grove of emerald bamboo, sparse and dense in pleasing measure. A small stream flowed quietly past the retreat, threading through the bamboo grove as it ran downhill.
The bamboo was fresh green, the stream limpid, and the retreat pristine.
This bamboo courtyard halfway up Divine Firmament Peak was Azure Cloud Sect's highest-standard retreat, reserved specifically for hosting Dao Venerables.
Nine Yin and Changzhen, the two Dao Venerables, had both been lodged here. Today, Zhi Zhen had brought Xiao Jinse over, and the few sixth-rank cultivators had gathered in Nine Yin's room to chat.
Xiao Jinse was a disciple of the Joyous Union Sect. Though she had advanced to sixth-rank Pure Yang, she remained rather restrained before Nine Yin. On the other hand, she could sense Nine Yin's wariness and distance toward her, and there was little she could do about it.
The Joyous Union Sect could have only one sect master, and Peace Province could have only one Command Envoy.
Nine Yin Dao Venerable had no wish to step down, so naturally she was deeply wary of Xiao Jinse, this newly ascended sixth-rank Pure Yang. Not to mention that Gao Xian stood behind her.
Likewise, Xiao Jinse was full of wariness toward Nine Yin Dao Venerable. She knew this Founder was ruthless and vicious; who knew what methods she might use against her?
For that reason, Xiao Jinse had specifically gone to the Supreme Sect to seek refuge with Zhi Zhen. There, in the Supreme Sect, she had weathered the lightning tribulation and attained the Pure Yang Dao.
Xiao Jinse had not gone to Azure Cloud Sect mainly because there were too many women there.
Zhu Qiniang, Yun Qingxuan, Yue Shenxiu, and Xiao Hongye—all four shared exceptionally intimate relationships with Gao Xian.