The Cold and Aloof Palace Master's Daily Demon-Slaying Life

Chapter 118 What a sinful woman!

The swordsman was not dressed in fine clothes, but only in a faded blue cloth outfit, with a long sword hanging at his waist and hemp shoes on his feet.

His skin was a bronze color from years of exposure to the wind and sun, his face was angular with sharp eyebrows that reached his temples, and his eyes were incredibly bright, as if they contained an inextinguishable flame.

He wasn't particularly tall, but standing there, he was like a peerless sword hidden in its sheath.

Although it was not yet drawn, its sharp and incomparable aura, capable of cutting through everything, was already faintly revealed, making it incongruous with the many other immortal cultivators around it who were elegant and dignified.

He walked into the square, ignoring the curious, scrutinizing, or surprised glances coming from all directions. He didn't exchange pleasantries with anyone, but went straight to a relatively secluded corner of the square and found an empty prayer mat to sit down.

Then, he took the wine pot from the jade table in front of him, filled a cup, and drank it all in one gulp.

His movements were crisp and clean, carrying the boldness of a wandering swordsman, yet also subtly revealing a lingering loneliness and melancholy.

"That's... the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, Li Baitian?"

"Sword Profound Immortal? The closed-door disciple of True Monarch Talisman Water? He actually came—"

"True Lord Fu Shui—that's a veteran True Lord who has lived for eight thousand years. To actually send his personal disciple here? This is an immense honor."

"It's more than just saving face. Li Baitian himself is at the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm, possessing unparalleled swordsmanship and the reputation of 'Great Hero Qingping.' He has slain countless demons and monsters, earning him immense fame and high prestige among the people. His personal presence is of extraordinary significance."

"But—judging from his expression, something seems off? Could it be—"

Secret spiritual communication spread among the people.

The appearance of Li Baitian was indeed unexpected by many.

True Lord Fu Shui was one of the few dozen people who truly stood at the pinnacle of the Old Earth Continent. His lineage, the "Fu Shui Immortal Sect," was an extraordinary super sect that ordinary first-rate sects didn't even have the right to associate with.

His personal disciple attended the grand ceremony of a newly enthroned True Lord, the implications of which are intriguing.

Li Baitian seemed oblivious to the surrounding chatter, simply drinking one glass of wine after another in silence, his eyes fixed on the distant, misty mountains, lost in thought.

That somber mood, so out of place with the festive atmosphere around him, was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating some unusual ripples.

Before long, Jiang Shaoling, the current leader of Taihua Sect, led ten extraordinary figures with unfathomable cultivation to slowly ascend the high platform in front of the square.

It was the ten elders of Taihua Gate who were present.

The leader was an old man dressed in a black Taoist robe, wearing a lotus crown, with a thin face and three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest.

His eyes appeared cloudy, like those of an ordinary old man, but when they occasionally opened and closed, it seemed as if a river of stars flowed deep within them, and the image of the birth and death of the universe flashed by.

It was none other than the Grand Elder of Taihua Sect, True Man Qingwei.

The ten elders appeared together, and the square fell silent for a moment before a flood of congratulations poured in.

"Congratulations, Master Qingwei! Congratulations to Taihua Sect! A Golden Core True Monarch has emerged. From now on, the True Monarch lineage will flourish, and the sect will become a super sect with a thriving lineage."

"The Taihua Sect enjoys a long and prosperous history, and the Zixu True Monarch is a man of extraordinary talent. This is truly a blessing for the sect and a good fortune for our path."

"Brother Qingwei, please take good care of us in the future, Taihua Sect."

With a warm smile, Master Qingwei returned each greeting, speaking politely and gracefully, displaying neither excessive humility nor arrogance, perfectly embodying the demeanor of a great elder of a sect.

The other nine elders also stood with smiles, or nodded to their familiar fellow Daoists.

The sect leader, Jiang Shaoling, stood to one side, wearing a polite smile, but his mind was filled with a thousand thoughts.

His gaze swept over Li Baitian, who was drinking alone in the corner, and a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes.

After exchanging pleasantries, the auspicious time was approaching.

Master Qingwei stood in the center of the high platform, his breath concentrated in his dantian. His voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire square and even through the array, resounding throughout the seventy-two peaks of Taihua: "The auspicious time has arrived—respectfully inviting the True Lord of the Nine Heavens Taihua Purple Void Responding Thunder Ancestor."

As soon as Master Qingwei finished speaking, the wind and clouds above Mount Taihua suddenly changed.

It was not a sudden change in the celestial phenomena, but rather the gathering of an invisible "force".

The clouds parted automatically to the sides, revealing a clear, blue sky.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting golden rays that fell upon the summit plaza. It was not hot, but rather warm and peaceful.

The next moment, a figure as ethereal as moonlight and as lofty as clouds appeared silently in the sky above the center of the square.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling escape light.

She stood there in mid-air, as if she were meant to be there, one with the heavens and earth.

In an instant, all sounds in the square disappeared.

Hundreds of eyes were focused on that figure.

Today, Zuo Qingqiu dressed in an extremely formal Taoist nun's attire.

Her black hair was tied into a dignified high bun, secured with an antique-style ebony hairpin, without any other pearls or jade.

He wore a wide, dark black Taoist robe, with simple cloud and thunder patterns embroidered in silver thread on the sleeves and hem. A matching silk sash was tied around his waist, and he wore cloud-patterned shoes.

The Taoist robe was conservative in style, completely concealing her graceful figure.

However, even such simple, almost rigid attire could not conceal her breathtaking beauty and charisma.

Her skin was as smooth as ice and her bones as delicate as jade, and her features as beautiful as a painting. These descriptions are not even enough to capture a fraction of her beauty.

Her beauty transcends mere appearance; it is a serene and sublime beauty that originates from the essence of life and is in harmony with the great Dao.

Her skin was as white as snow, with a jade-like luster;

His eyes and brows were clear as the moon's reflection in a cold pool, deep and calm, without any ripples.

Her nose was delicate and straight, and her lips were as pale as cherry blossoms.

Every feature is exquisitely crafted to the point of being impeccable, and when combined, they create a breathtaking perfection.

What's even more unsettling is the aura that emanates naturally from her.

It was not a deliberate act of coercion, but rather a kind of indifference and vastness that believed "existence is truth."

She stood there, like a clear, aloof moon hanging in the mid-sky, or an ancient, towering iceberg overlooking the world, inspiring involuntary admiration and a sense of inferiority.

Those present were all ancient monsters who had cultivated for hundreds of years, their wills as firm as iron, long accustomed to the vicissitudes of life, and unmoved by external things.

However, upon first seeing Zuo Qingqiu's true appearance, most people were still shaken to their core, their Daoist convictions wavered, and they even experienced a moment of disorientation and loss of focus.

"Hiss—this is the Purple Void True Lord?"

"How wonderful—his appearance and demeanor are astonishing."

"Truly a peerless genius who attained the Golden Core stage at the age of over two hundred. Such demeanor is indeed beyond the reach of us mortals."

"No, I can't look anymore. I've lived a life of seclusion, abstaining from women. How can I be deceived by such a vain appearance?" Some with strong willpower secretly warned themselves, quickly averting their gaze and calming their minds.

Amazement, shock, awe, and even a hint of indescribable jealousy—a complex mix of emotions surged in everyone's hearts.

But no one dared to show the slightest disrespect.

The Golden Core True Lord has reached the pinnacle of the Old Earth, his words carry the weight of law, and he is as revered as the Dao.

Zuo Qingqiu seemed oblivious to the myriad rays of light emanating from below.

She hovered in the air, her expression indifferent, and slowly raised her right hand, her slender white fingers gently stroking in the air.

A wisp of green light bloomed from her fingertip, rapidly expanding into the illusory image of a budding green lotus flower.