The name of the Divine Maiden Sect, White Deer Academy

Three days later.

For Ye Luoxue to have earned Qi Zhaoyue's regard and trust, and been given full responsibility for the Divine Maiden Sect's founding affairs, she was naturally highly capable.

In just three short days, throughout the Great Yu Dynasty, anywhere that was not especially remote, everyone from peddlers and porters to nobles of exalted birth-

Even the immortal sects and sacred lands had learned that the Great Yu Dynasty's eldest princess, Qi Zhaoyue, the youngest Eleventh Realm sword immortal in the thirty thousand years since Great Yu's founding...

Was going to establish her own force, named the Divine Maiden Sect.

The Divine Maiden Sect claimed to embrace all rivers like the sea. Whether disciples of the three traditions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, rogue cultivators of the wilderness, Demon Race cultivators, or exceptional talents specializing in the Sword Dao, the Dao of Alchemy, or the Dao of Talismans, all could join.

The sole restriction-only female disciples would be accepted!

Of course, none of this amounted to much...

What truly sent countless female cultivators flocking to it was this: those with exceptional talent would not only receive vast quantities of cultivation resources supplied by the Divine Maiden Sect, but would also have the chance to receive personal guidance from Eldest Princess Qi Zhaoyue.

This was Qi Zhaoyue, hailed as the person most likely to reach the Thirteenth Realm in Great Yu's thirty thousand years!

For almost any young cultivator, receiving her personal guidance represented an immense fortuitous opportunity.

For a time, countless young women across the Great Yu Dynasty who harbored dreams of cultivating toward immortality surged toward the imperial capital like a tide, some carrying their bundles alone, others escorted by their lineages.

Meanwhile.

At the west gate of Great Yu's Capital, the notice board standing three zhang tall was surrounded so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Amid the jostling heads, voices rose and fell in discussion.

"The eldest princess really is establishing the Divine Maiden Sect. It seems Her Highness has considerable ambitions!"

"Naturally. After all, her cultivation now stands above that of every prince and princess!"

"The Divine Maiden Sect... I want to give it a try. What if I catch the eldest princess's eye..."

"How could it be that easy? Who is the eldest princess? The Great Yu Dynasty's youngest Eleventh Realm grand sword immortal!

"Her standards for disciples must be absurdly high. With your poor bloodline, don't even think about it!"

"Bloodline? Didn't the notice say it? Her Highness will welcome talent without rigid conventions!

"As long as you're talented enough, even an ordinary person with no cultivation has a chance to become her direct disciple..."

"Heh, just read it and leave it at that! In Great Yu, no humble households reach the upper ranks, and no clans fall into the lower ranks. You think that's a joke?"

"Fuck! Those damned clans..."

"Shh! You dare curse the clans? Do you have a death wish?!"

Just then, a small, thin figure struggled into the crowd.

She wore coarse hemp clothes covered in patches, her disheveled white hair hanging loose and obscuring more than half her face, leaving her features indistinct.

Clutched tightly in her hand was half a steamed bun dusted with dirt, which she carefully nibbled in tiny bites.

Only after she finally squeezed her way to the notice stone with great effort did she slowly raise her head, revealing one eye hidden beneath her tangled hair.

It was a large, very bright eye, its iris a peculiar pure gold, like the sun.

"The Divine Maiden Sect..."

She looked at the notice and murmured softly to herself, "If I can join the Divine Maiden Sect, does that mean I won't have to go hungry anymore?"

At that thought, a brilliant light instantly lit up the girl's large golden eye.

Her face was still indistinct, and her body was still filthy.

Yet at that instant, people inexplicably felt that she was so clean, pure, noble, and compassionate toward all.

The Great Yu Dynasty's most renowned Confucian sacred land-the White Deer Academy.

Deep within the academy, in an elegant little courtyard planted thickly with green bamboo.

Xu Jianjia, the White Deer Academy's only female teacher, sat kneeling before a stone table.

Opposite her was a young woman dressed in white Confucian robes.

The young woman was holding a volume of the Analects, her head lowered as she read it carefully.

Sunlight spilled through the gaps between the bamboo leaves onto her face, tracing its gentle contours. Her bearing was serene and refined, like a secluded orchid in an empty valley.

"Qingci, Zizhan and Ziyan have joined the crown prince and the ninth prince respectively."

Xu Jianjia finally spoke.

The young woman called Qingci raised her head, set down her book, and nodded slightly. "Aunt, I know."

"Qingci, as the most outstanding female student of our White Deer Academy's current generation, I intend to have you represent our academy and join the Divine Maiden Sect."

Xu Qingci showed no surprise at her words, as though she had anticipated them long ago.

"Yes, Aunt."

"Remember," Xu Jianjia reminded her niece quietly, regarding her with satisfaction, "on this trip to the Divine Maiden Sect, seek not merit, but freedom from fault."

"Our White Deer Academy has stood for eighty thousand years, enduring seven dynasties without falling. We have never relied on choosing sides, but on not putting all our eggs in one basket."

"The crown prince and the ninth prince have fought for so many years, evenly matched, with neither able to do anything to the other."

"Now, Eldest Princess Qi Zhaoyue has suddenly emerged and established the Divine Maiden Sect. The situation has become complicated all at once."

"She is an Eleventh Realm grand sword immortal. Her talent cannot be underestimated."

"Our White Deer Academy cannot place all its hopes in the crown prince and the ninth prince. We must leave ourselves a way out."

"However, once you reach the Divine Maiden Sect, you need not deliberately curry favor with Qi Zhaoyue, nor need you help her do anything that oversteps the bounds."

"You need only quietly observe developments and promptly send word of the Divine Maiden Sect's movements back to the academy."

Xu Qingci listened attentively, committing each of her aunt's instructions to heart.

Only after making certain she had remembered everything did she rise and perform a formal Confucian bow to Xu Jianjia. "This disciple understands."

"This disciple will hold fast to her true heart and will not disgrace the White Deer Academy's name."

A trace of gratification appeared in Xu Jianjia's eyes. "Your aunt has always trusted you to handle things."

"Go, pack your belongings. Set out for the imperial capital tomorrow."

"Remember, be careful in all things. Qi Zhaoyue is unfathomable, by no means as simple as she appears."

"This disciple takes her leave."

Xu Qingci bowed once more, then turned and left the courtyard.

Watching Xu Qingci's retreating figure, Xu Jianjia sighed softly and gazed toward the imperial capital, her eyes deep.

"Qi Zhaoyue, oh, Qi Zhaoyue. When we first met back then, I already knew there was nothing simple about you..."

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Is establishing the Divine Maiden Sect truly just for the sake of fighting for the throne?"

Within the study at the crown prince's residence.

The current crown prince, Qi Tiannian, sat behind a red sandalwood desk, toying with a white jade thumb ring as he looked with a complicated expression at the young woman standing before him.

The young woman wore plain white Daoist robes without any superfluous decoration, her long black hair secured with nothing more than a simple wooden hairpin.

Her face held no expression, as impassive as a pool of autumn water, yet that face was exquisitely formed, with skin fairer than snow and features like a painting, carrying an innocent loveliness untouched by worldly affairs.

"Xiao Liang..."

"Master Yufu should have told you why your father suddenly called you back, yes?"

Qi Tiannian set down the white jade thumb ring, making his tone as gentle as he could.