Establishing the Divine Maiden Sect

Hearing her younger sister's plea, thinking of her own unique method of "cultivation," and feeling her long legs still slightly sore and weak...

An almost imperceptible flush instantly swept across Qi Zhaoyue's jade-like cheeks.

She quickly shook her head. "Little Lanxing, you're still too young. We'll talk about it later..."

Seeing her older sister refuse her, Qi Lanxing pouted, her face full of grievance.

"Big sister, I'm not little anymore!!"

"I've already started cultivating with my master big sister. I can already draw qi into my body!"

As she spoke, Qi Lanxing proudly held out her little hand, gathering a faint wisp of white spiritual qi at her fingertip.

But just then...

Qi Lanxing suddenly sniffed at Qi Zhaoyue's lower abdomen, then moved a little farther down and asked curiously:

"Huh?"

"Big sister, do you smell something strange?"

Qi Zhaoyue looked at the tiny little girl who only reached her waist. "What strange smell? Why can't I smell it?"

"It smells like..."

Qi Lanxing tilted her little head, looking puzzled. "It smells like pho..."

Pho... photinia?

Before Qi Lanxing could finish, Qi Zhaoyue instantly realized what she meant.

Her earlobes turned as red as rubies, and she pressed her legs together.

I clearly sealed it inside with spiritual power. How could Little Lanxing still...

Though puzzled, Qi Zhaoyue was in no mood to investigate.

She quickly reached out and pulled Qi Lanxing away, forcing herself to remain calm. "Little Lanxing, you must have smelled wrong. There's no strange smell."

She paused, then added, "Go play for now. I still have some important business to attend to."

Without waiting for Qi Lanxing to speak again, Qi Zhaoyue turned around. "Luoxue."

A tall woman emerged from the shadows and followed behind Qi Zhaoyue, wearing tight black battle armor and high heels, a Tang-style straight saber at her waist and her hair secured with a hairpin, killing intent spreading around her.

Watching her older sister hurry away, Qi Lanxing raised a hand and scratched her little head, her face filled with confusion.

"Did I smell wrong?"

"But it was so clear. It seemed to be coming from big sister..."

Qi Lanxing's little eyes were filled with enormous confusion.

But she was young and innocent, after all, and soon stopped dwelling on the question.

Instead, she clenched her tiny, chubby fists and watched Qi Zhaoyue's retreating figure disappear at the end of the corridor, her large eyes filled with a determination beyond her years.

"Big sister, I won't give up!"

"I'll become just as strong as you and avenge Mother!"

Walking toward the study in the rear courtyard, Qi Zhaoyue paused slightly and looked back at her younger sister, Qi Lanxing, with a complicated expression.

The lingering sunset fell upon her, gilding her with a dazzling golden halo.

"Lanxing, do you want to become stronger too?"

"But..."

"What about the price?"

Qi Zhaoyue lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting small shadows beneath them, leaving her expression unreadable.

She turned and continued toward the study.

"I only hope you can be happy every day... That's enough. Let me shoulder everything!"

The study in the inner courtyard of the eldest princess's residence.

The room was furnished simply but elegantly, without excessive luxurious decorations, containing only a desk, a few chairs, and a bookshelf filled with books and jade slips containing sword manuals.

A silver longsword hung on the wall, its scabbard carved with exquisite lotus patterns.

It was Qi Zhaoyue's personal sword.

White Lotus Heavenly Heart, one of Great Yu's ten famed swords.

Inside the room, Qi Zhaoyue sat in the seat of honor and elegantly lifted the teacup beside her, taking a light sip to suppress the strange taste in her mouth as she spoke. "Luoxue..."

"In the blink of an eye, you've followed me for ten years, haven't you?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Qi Zhaoyue's personal guard, Ye Luoxue, knelt on one knee before her, head lowered as she answered respectfully.

"Ten years, seven months, and twenty-three days have passed since the day I began following Your Highness."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"If Your Highness hadn't saved me back then, I would likely have died on that snowy night."

"Ten years have passed without me even realizing it..."

Qi Zhaoyue stood and walked to the window, gazing at the sun gradually sinking on the horizon.

Her eyes were deep, and she said nothing more.

Now that I've advanced to the eleventh realm, the Celestial Person realm, advancing to the twelfth realm, the Dao-Severing realm, will require more than increasing my law power. I must also sever my own impure and mixed Dao.

In other words...

I'll no longer need to seek out Xu Changsheng every night to "cultivate."

Since that's the case...

Qi Zhaoyue's gaze grew as sharp as a sword.

"It's time to begin the plan!"

Although the thought of sharing Xu Changsheng with others made Qi Zhaoyue feel inexplicably uncomfortable...

She thought of the blood debt owed for her mother!

She thought of the immortality she sought!

In an instant, Qi Zhaoyue stopped hesitating and looked up at Ye Luoxue.

"Now that I've entered the eleventh realm, the Celestial Person realm, I qualify for the right granted to every member of the Great Yu Dynasty's imperial family, male or female, upon reaching the eleventh realm: to establish an independent residence and sect, building a power of their own."

"I imagine Father will soon issue a decree granting me that right."

"I intend to establish my own sect."

"A sect?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Luoxue's eyes. She had not expected Qi Zhaoyue to have plans to establish a sect of her own.

After all, establishing one's own power was always for the struggle over the succession.

Yet in the more than thirty thousand years since the Great Yu Dynasty's founding, there had never been a female emperor.

Qi Zhaoyue ignored Ye Luoxue's surprise and concern, merely nodding faintly. "This sect will be called the Divine Maiden Sect."

"Whether they practice Confucianism, Buddhism, or Daoism, or are demon cultivators, sword cultivators, or martial cultivators, all may be admitted so long as their talent is exceptional enough."

"There is only one restriction..."

"We will accept only women."

"I need you to take charge of the preliminary preparations for the Divine Maiden Sect."

Ye Luoxue immediately cupped her fist in salute, her voice ringing firm. "I will not disappoint Your Highness!"

Qi Zhaoyue looked at Ye Luoxue, whose cultivation was at the eighth realm, Nascent Soul.

"However..."

"Luoxue, although your cultivation already qualifies you as a genius at your age..."

"And you even hold a place on the Hidden Dragon Earth Ranking published by the Star-Picking Tower..."

"Ultimately..."

"You're still a little too weak."

A flicker of dejection crossed Ye Luoxue's eyes. She cupped her fist again and said resolutely:

"Though my cultivation is weak, I will do everything I can to improve it. I only ask that Your Highness give me some time."

"I absolutely will not delay the establishment of the Divine Maiden Sect!"

Hearing this, Qi Zhaoyue walked up to Ye Luoxue and reached out to help her up.

"Luoxue, I didn't mean to blame you."

"We've spent more than ten years together, day and night. I've long regarded you as my only family besides Lanxing. I know how hard you've worked at cultivating to reach your current level."

"I only wanted to..."