Side Story Five
The sect leader of the Hidden Sword Immortal Sect actually had a younger sister who became an immortal ten thousand years after Sect Leader Gu ascended to heaven.
The news spread so quickly throughout the vast Immortal Realm, partly due to Gu Wangchuan's current special status—the nominal Immortal Venerable, but in reality, the Immortal Emperor.
Another reason is that this so-called younger sister not only doesn't have the surname Gu, but her bone age is only a few hundred years old!
He ascended to immortality at just a few hundred years old. Even Gu Huaiwei, who is currently the fastest cultivator in the Immortal Realm, cannot match such an ability!
Not to mention this female immortal named Sang Ying, who passed the Long Stairway Trial of the Hidden Sword Immortal Sect in one go. By all accounts, she is a strong contender for the future sect leader.
But if Sang Ying becomes Gu Wangchuan's undisputed successor, what will happen to Fu Qing, who has always helped Gu Wangchuan handle sect affairs? Fu Qing is the senior disciple of the Hidden Sword Immortal Sect; will this senior disciple have to be subordinate to this new female cultivator from now on?
For a time, many immortals who had old grudges with the Hidden Sword Immortal Sect turned their attention to Fu Qing and Sang Ying, wanting to see when the two would start fighting.
Unfortunately, they were still disappointed.
On the third day after receiving Sang Ying, Gu Wangchuan took the initiative to seek out Fu Qing and earnestly said to his most valued disciple, "I know there have been many unpleasant rumors circulating outside these days, but you don't need to pay attention to them. Sang Ying is indeed destined to be with me, and I have taught her a great deal of what I know. Although she is now under my tutelage, with her abilities, it's only a matter of time before she advances to the Immortal Venerable level and sets out to establish her own sect."
"I had already gradually handed over the affairs of the Immortal Sect to you, and I won't change this plan because of Sang Ying's sudden appearance. My successor is still you, as for Sang Ying, she might create a new Immortal Sect herself."
As he said this, Gu Wangchuan showed no regret whatsoever; instead, his face was filled with anticipation.
Looking at his expression, Fu Qing immediately understood that his sect leader was sincere.
It's impossible to say that Fu Qing wasn't influenced by what others said. Even though he was resolute, he wasn't truly without desires. He had done so much for the immortal sect and was regarded as its future successor by all the disciples.
Although what he contributed could not compare to that of Gu Wangchuan, the creator of the Immortal Sect, he was still the most outstanding among all the disciples.
So when Fu Qing learned that Sang Ying might replace him as the new heir, Fu Qing was still somewhat saddened.
However, he wouldn't go so far as to challenge Sang Ying's authority, as some outsiders speculate. At most, he would carefully assess Sang Ying's abilities, and if she lacked real talent, he wouldn't easily relinquish his power.
Now that he had heard the sect leader's words, Fu Qing was completely relieved.
He immediately assured the sect leader, "Rest assured, I will not doubt you or the Immortal Sect because of what others say. I will definitely carry on your will, and I will serve the Immortal Sect well, both now and in the future!"
Gu Wangchuan chuckled and patted his head, "Of course I'm not worried about that. In a few days, when the rumors outside have died down a bit, I'll gather all the disciples of the Immortal Sect and announce to everyone that you will become my successor."
Suppressing his excitement, Fu Qing quickly withdrew.
A second person slowly emerged from the room that had originally housed only Gu Wangchuan.
"Are you satisfied now? You really don't regret it?" Gu Wangchuan looked up at the familiar figure, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "If I were to announce this publicly in a few days, you would truly have no chance of inheriting my immortal sect."
The sect leader, who had been sitting upright, suddenly became languid, reclining in his chair with a completely different air of nonchalance and indulgence.
Sang Ying said calmly, "Didn't you already say that I'll advance to Immortal Venerable sooner or later, and creating my own Immortal Sect is just a matter of time? I'll need to trouble you, my eldest disciple, to come and help me for a few days then."
If these words had come from someone else, Gu Wangchuan would probably have laughed at them, but since it was Sang Ying who said them, he found them inexplicably believable.
However, Sang Ying did not disappoint him.
When Gu Wangchuan found the opportunity to appoint the successor in front of all his disciples, the entire Immortal Realm was once again in an uproar.
None of them expected that Gu Wangchuan would abandon his own sister, Human Immortal who had passed the Long Stairway Trial, and instead hand over the immortal sect he had founded to an outsider!
So everyone turned to see Sang Ying make a fool of herself, but Sang Ying naturally wouldn't give them that chance.
Since entering the Hidden Sword Immortal Sect, she has been in seclusion for cultivation.
Gu Wangchuan had taught her all his sword techniques long ago, and Sang Ying had even cultivated herself into Demigod.
The protection of Heavenly Dao still exists for her, even though she has now ascended to the Immortal Realm. Therefore, Sang Ying's cultivation speed has reached an astonishing level.
Cultivation knows no time, and no one knew how much time had passed. When the pressure belonging to the Immortal Venerable spread from the peak where Sang Ying was, all the disciples who felt this pressure looked in surprise at the distant mountain peak.
"Whose cave abode is that? Which senior brother or sister has advanced to the Immortal Venerable?" a disciple asked in surprise.
His time as a disciple ended, and not long ago, an Immortal Emperor fell, and their sect leader took over the position. Although it would take some time to subdue the forces left behind by that Immortal Emperor, the Immortal Emperor's reputation had already spread far and wide, attracting many newly ascended Human Immortal.
The person who spoke was one of them.
Those who knew the inside story sighed, "You're mistaken. That person isn't really one of our senior brothers or sisters; to be precise, she's just staying here temporarily. It's just unexpected that she actually advanced to the Immortal Venerable so quickly, just as our sect leader said."
Six tolls of the bell resounded Immortal Realm, and a golden Sanskrit script fell from the horizon, landing directly on the mountaintop of the Hidden Sword Immortal Sect. It then pierced into Sang Ying's brow, forming a golden mark between her eyebrows.
After the bell rang, all the immortals understood one thing: a new Immortal Venerable had appeared in the Immortal Realm, and this Immortal Venerable came from the Hidden Sword Immortal Sect!
Sang Ying meditated in the cave abode for a long time before she could barely suppress the active Immortal Power within her body.
She didn't know how much time had passed outside. Over the years, she had gradually transformed the Spiritual Power within her body into Immortal Power, and then continuously cultivated that Immortal Power, tempering her body and bones, before finally advancing to the position of Immortal Venerable.
Exhaling a breath of stale air, Sang Ying moved her hands and feet, waving her hand to release the restriction on the doorway and stepping out.
Under the Satisfaction Tree not far from the entrance of the cave abode, a familiar figure stood there, seemingly having waited for her for a long time.
Sang Ying smiled and went to greet her.