After paying her respects, she stepped into the innermost courtyard.
"Back so early? Have you finished cultivating all of today's techniques?" A hoarse, icy female voice rang out from within the Mansion Gate ahead.
"I have." Qu Qingyao nodded.
Only then did the voice soften slightly before asking again:
"What is it?"
Qu Qingyao had long grown accustomed to her master's temperament.
Her name was Xiao Lingyu, and she was a Supreme Elder.
In Qu Qingyao's impression, her master's mood seemed never to have been good.
Moreover, she often muttered to Qu Qingyao about old grievances from years past.
Such as the betrayal that had followed the sect's decline back then. She always ground her teeth and insisted that she had suffered the most pain in that upheaval.
Far more torment than those fellow disciples who had died outright.
Yet Qu Qingyao had never voiced any opinion on the matter.
Because many years ago, not long after she had entered Xiao Lingyu's tutelage, when she first heard her bitterly recount those events, Qu Qingyao had replied based on the simplest logic:
"Since you think it is more painful than death, Master, why don't you just die?"
The result was several heavy, thunderous slaps.
If not for fearing that Qu Qingyao would seek revenge after growing stronger, Qu Qingyao was certain Xiao Lingyu would never have spared her.
"Martial Uncle gave me an image jade slip concerning the third-ranked person on the Latent Dragon Ranking."
Qu Qingyao presented the jade slip in her hand and said calmly,
"She said you should take a look as well, so I came back early."
As soon as she finished speaking, the Mansion Gate ahead finally opened with a creak.
A long-haired woman clad in a dark purple robe slowly emerged from within.
Her features