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

"It's a good match, but..." Master Lieyang stared at the increasingly terrifying vortex above Purple Void Peak, his thick brows furrowing deeply. "The struggle for the Fruition Realm is extremely dangerous. Not only must one contend with Heaven and Earth, with the Great Dao, but also with the unseen origin of the Fruition Realm. One wrong move, and one's body and soul will be annihilated. Although Qiu'er is exceptionally talented, she is still young, and her accumulation of experience may not be enough... Can she withstand it?"

Master Qingwei remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Even if she can't hold on, she must. This is her own path, and we can't interfere."

He glanced at the other nine people, his voice steady and powerful: "Activating the mountain-protecting formation is only the first step. The next twelve hours, or even longer, are the crucial ones. Those old fogies in the Central Plains have noses sharper than dogs. This kind of commotion won't escape their notice. Right now, I'm afraid quite a few spies are already spying from hundreds of miles away."

"What does Senior Brother mean?" asked a young man in black, carrying a long sword and with a cold, icy expression. He was the Fourth Elder, the Heavenly Sword Master, a master of swordsmanship, and the most ruthless in matters of killing.

"Guard the key points of the grand formation and be vigilant against all external enemies." A cold glint flashed in Qingwei Zhenren's eyes. "Our Taihua Sect has been dormant for ten thousand years, and the world thinks we have declined and are merely a first-rate sect. Today, let the world see the foundation of our ten-thousand-year heritage! If Qiu'er succeeds, our Taihua Sect will produce another True Monarch and return to the ranks of super sects. If she fails..."

He paused, his voice turning cold: "That's a matter for my Taihua Sect. Anyone who dares to interfere will have their claws chopped off!"

"yes!"

The nine elders responded in unison, their voices resounding through the heavens.

They all knew very well that today's events concerned the future fortune of Taihua Gate for ten thousand years.

"Go," Master Qingwei waved his sleeve. "Each of you guard a key point of the array. Activate the full power of the 'Nine Heavens Supreme Bright Array.' I want to see which family in the Central Plains dares to provoke this!"

Nine figures transformed into streams of light, scattering towards various parts of Mount Taihua. Master Qingwei stood alone atop Mount Taihua, his black Daoist robe fluttering in the turbulent flow of spiritual energy. He gazed towards Zixu Peak, at the ever-growing, ever-brightening five-colored vortex, his withered fingers slowly clenching within his sleeves.

"Qiu'er..."

"The honor and disgrace of my Taihua Gate for ten thousand years rests on your shoulders."

"Don't let us old folks down..."

-

Just as Master Qingwei had predicted, the strange phenomenon above Zixu Peak could not be hidden from anyone.

The spiritual energy tide that covered hundreds of miles, the five-colored radiance that soared into the sky, the majestic heavenly might that faintly emanated... Not to mention cultivators who had achieved success in their cultivation, even ordinary people in the mortal realm with slightly stronger senses could vaguely feel the abnormality between heaven and earth, and their hearts would inexplicably tremble, as if some enormous thing was awakening.

The Central Plains are vast and boundless, dotted with numerous sects and aristocratic families. However, those that can truly be called "major sects" are few and far between. At this moment, deep within these sects, those ancient beings who have been in seclusion for hundreds of years have all been disturbed.

Jinchi Sect, the forbidden area of ​​the mountain gate, Xuanzhen Grotto Heaven.

An old man in hemp clothing slowly opened his eyes from the prayer mat. His face was withered and his hair was sparse, as if he might turn into a handful of dust at any moment.

But when he opened his eyes, they were as clear as a baby's, and deep within his pupils were images of stars fading and the universe turning.

He did not get up, but simply extended his withered finger and gently tapped the air.

A ripple spread out, transforming into a mirror-like surface. Within the mirror, however, lay the terrifying vortex of spiritual energy tens of thousands of miles away, above Mount Taihua.

The old man stared at the water mirror for a long time before slowly uttering two words: "Golden Elixir".

His voice was hoarse and dry, as if he hadn't spoken for many years.

Outside the cave, a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a purple-gold robe and wearing a tall crown, exuding an air of authority, stood bowing, his expression a mixture of respect and barely suppressed shock: "Ancestor, this commotion... is someone truly attempting to break through to the Golden Core stage? The Taihua Sect... actually possesses such profound resources?"

"It's not about foundation, it's about luck," the old man in hemp robes said slowly. "Judging from the spiritual power attributes, it should be from the Thunder Law lineage. Of the seven stages of Thunder Law, only Yin Thunder remains suspended. That Zixu from the Taihua Sect... that girl named Zuo Qingqiu, is not even three hundred years old, yet she has already reached the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion. I've heard that she is still a virgin and is also proficient in Thunder Law supernatural powers... It fits perfectly, it fits perfectly."

The middle-aged sect leader gasped, "Ancestor, are you saying that Zuo Qingqiu is attempting to break through to the Yin Thunder Fruit level? How... how could she have forged her Metal element so quickly?"

"Such extraordinary talent cannot be judged by ordinary standards." The old man in hemp robes closed his eyes. "Issue the order: all disciples, stewards, and elders of the Golden Pool Sect who are away from home, return to the mountain immediately and seal it off for a hundred years. Also, prepare a generous gift and send it to the Taihua Gate in my name."

The middle-aged sect leader was taken aback: "Ancestor, is this... an attempt to curry favor?"

"A gesture of goodwill?" The old man in hemp robes twitched at the corner of his mouth, a half-smile playing on his lips. "It's a survival tactic. If Zuo Qingqiu succeeds, she will become a True Monarch of the Yin Thunder Fruit. Thunder magic is unparalleled in offensive combat, and she attained Dao at just over two hundred years old. Her combat strength is probably no less than that of those veteran True Monarchs who have been around for many years. My Golden Pool Sect has no grudge against her, so why should we become enemies? While her realm is still unstable, let's forge a good relationship, rather than be purged later."

"But... what if she fails?"

"Failure?" The old man in hemp robes had cloudy eyes that remained calm and unwavering. "Then let's wait until that little girl fails. Now, just do as I say."

"……yes."

-

The myriad methods, the Star Gazing Platform.

A woman holding a jade ruyi (a type of scepter) gazed up at the night sky. She wasn't looking at the actual stars, but rather at the intricate, intertwined threads of destiny. At that moment, one of these threads, originally a dim blue, was expanding and brightening at an astonishing speed, seemingly poised to transform into a dragon.

"Taihua Gate of Yuntai Mountain Range... its fortune is surging, showing signs of taking off." The woman murmured to herself, "Zuo Qingqiu... what a fine junior, she actually managed to seize that opportunity."

Behind her, a girl dressed in a moon-white palace said, "Master, if another True Lord emerges from the Taihua Sect, the landscape of the Central Plains will likely change drastically."

"Change is not necessarily a bad thing," the woman said calmly. "Our Wanfa Sect is founded on deducing the secrets of heaven and harmonizing yin and yang. We do not engage in killing or fighting for territory. Who is in charge is none of our business. Send a message to Taihua Sect, saying that I wish True Person Zixu great success in achieving the Golden Elixir and that the Immortal Path will be forever prosperous. Also, send the piece of 'Ten Thousand Year Soul-Nourishing Wood' that I have treasured as a congratulatory gift."

The girl hesitated: "Master, Soul-Nourishing Wood is a rare treasure of heaven and earth, capable of nourishing the soul and having miraculous effects on stabilizing the realm of newly broken-through cultivators... Isn't it too precious?"

"Valuable?" The woman glanced at her. "A congratulatory gift, forging a good connection with a true lord. Do you think it's valuable or not? Go, don't hesitate."

"Yes."

-

Shenxiao Sect, Leiyun Mountain.

This place is a forbidden area of ​​the Shenxiao Sect, and also a sacred place for cultivating thunder magic.

It is shrouded in thunderclouds all year round, with lightning bolts dancing wildly and roaring incessantly.

At this moment, beside the Thunder Pool atop the mountain, stood a Taoist priest in purple robes, his hands clasped behind his back. He was tall and imposing, with an ancient and unsettling face. His black hair stood on end like bolts of lightning, and his eyes flashed with electricity from time to time. Just by standing there, an invisible field of lightning emanated from his body, and the air crackled softly.

The current sect leader of the Shenxiao Sect, True Man Leihuang, is at the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm and cultivates the "Yang Thunder" lineage of thunder magic.

He stared intently eastward, towards the direction of Taihua Gate. Though separated by millions of miles, he could clearly sense the restlessness of the Thunderous Dao between heaven and earth. It was the resonance of the Daos of the same origin, and even more so, the mutual resonance between those at different stages of enlightenment.

"The Yin Thunder Fruit Position..." Thunder Emperor's voice was deep, like muffled thunder rolling, "...actually...it was activated by someone."

Behind him, a middle-aged Taoist priest spoke with a complex expression: "Sect Master, the Yin Thunder Fruit position has been vacant for thousands of years, yet today it has been stirred up by a junior from the Taihua Sect... Could it be that the rumors are true? That only a virgin, genius female cultivator proficient in thunder magic can inherit this position?"

"Hmph." Master Lei Huang snorted coldly, and the surrounding lightning suddenly became even more violent. "If it weren't for that damned, bizarre restriction, this Yin Thunder Fruit position would have been ours long ago! Countless brilliant and talented predecessors of our sect have been trapped by this strange limitation, unable to enter! And now, a little girl of about two hundred years old has gotten it!"

His eyes flashed with lightning, and his aura surged, clearly indicating his resentment.

"Sect Master, should we...?"

The middle-aged Taoist priest made a subtle gesture.