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

Bai Yuling is not human.

Her true form is a white dragon, belonging to the ancient race that once roamed the world and commanded the wind and rain in the ancient era, but has now long since lost its glory and disappeared.

A hundred years ago, Zuo Qingqiu was only at the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm. While training outside, she accidentally entered an ancient secret realm. That secret realm was left behind by a long-fallen dragon emperor, fraught with danger but also full of opportunities. In the deepest part of the secret realm, she discovered a dragon egg protected by heavy restrictions, almost devoid of all life.

She went to great lengths to break the seal and retrieve the dragon egg. It took her several years of nurturing it with her own life essence and rare treasures before it finally regained its vitality and hatched.

What hatches from the shell is the little white one.

A young white dragon with pure blood, but exceptionally weak due to congenital deficiencies.

The dragon race was the overlord of heaven and earth in the ancient times. A mature true dragon has at least the strength equivalent to the early stage of the Golden Core in the human immortal system. The best among them are even comparable to the powerhouses above the Golden Core.

But those are all outdated almanacs.

Since the beginning of the Emperor's Era, humanity has risen to prominence, experiencing the transition between the Immortal Era and the Heavenly Emperor Era. Ancient powerful races such as the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, Qilin Clan, and Golden Crow Clan have either become extinct, survived on the fringes of the world, or simply merged into humanity. Today, true pure-blooded dragons are almost extinct. Those who occasionally appear are mostly mixed-blood descendants with diluted bloodlines, or simply "dragon beasts" that have acquired a trace of dragon blood.

If a pure-blooded white dragon like Xiaobai were placed in the Primordial Era, it would be considered royalty among dragons, incomparably noble.

In today's world, however, it would be an absolute "oddity" and "trouble." Once exposed, it would attract countless covetous eyes—dragon blood, dragon scales, dragon tendons, dragon soul—aren't they all treasures that cultivators dream of?

Therefore, from the day Xiaobai hatched, Zuo Qingqiu kept her by her side and used a secret method to help her transform into human form ahead of time, concealing her dragon aura. After transformation, she was only told to the outside world that she was an orphan she had found, with extraordinary talent, and was taken in as a maid. For a hundred years, she has taught her with great care, like a teacher, a mother, and a sister.

Xiao Bai lived up to expectations. Although her cultivation was slow due to congenital deficiencies and she was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage of the human immortal path system, she was kind-hearted, obedient, and sensible. She was one of the few warm colors in Zuo Qingqiu's cold and lonely cultivation life.

The two were nominally mistress and servant, but in reality, they were as close as sisters. The higher-ups of the Taihua Sect were well aware of this, yet no one dared to point it out. After all, Zuo Qingqiu's talent was exceptional, and her status was extraordinary; keeping a little white dragon as a pet was hardly a big deal for her.

"Sister is a True Lord now!" Bai Yuling quickly recovered from her lingering fear, her little face full of pride, her eyes sparkling. "I overheard the elders whispering that in the entire Central Plains, True Lord level experts can be counted on two hands! Sister is now the youngest and most powerful one!"

Zuo Qingqiu chuckled and flicked her smooth forehead with his finger: "Don't listen to people's nonsense. Among the True Lords, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. I just happened to get there first."

"Anyway, my sister is the best!" Bai Yuling muttered, rubbing her forehead in dissatisfaction. Then, she curiously leaned closer, sniffing like a puppy, and exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, the scent on you... seems different! It used to be cool, like bamboo after the rain, but now... um... I can't quite put my finger on it, but it smells even better! And, it feels... so scary." She shrank back, yet couldn't resist getting closer.

That is the "Taoist charm" and "powerful aura" that naturally emanate after a leap in the level of life.

Although Xiaobai is a descendant of a true dragon and has keen senses, he can't quite explain it. He only feels that his sister is "taller", "more majestic", and "smells better".

Zuo Qingqiu didn't explain, but simply took her small hand and said, "Let's go, the Grand Elder and the others must be getting impatient."

It was cool to the touch; Xiao Bai's hands were small and soft, with a childlike delicacy. Zuo Qingqiu held them in her hand as if holding a piece of warm jade.

"Mmm!" Bai Yuling nodded vigorously, following closely beside her, her other small hand still clutching Zuo Qingqiu's sleeve as if afraid she would run away.

The two walked side by side along the jade corridor, heading outwards.

-

The cave gate opened.

Sunlight streamed in from outside the door.

It wasn't the soft, filtered light from the "skylight" inside the cave, but rather the intense, pure sunlight at midday, completely unobstructed.

The light, like a golden waterfall, cascaded over Zuo Qingqiu, giving her simple Taoist robe a hazy golden edge.

Outside the gate was a jade corridor that was much wider than the interior of the cave. Rare and exotic flowers and herbs were planted on both sides. Clouds and mist swirled outside the corridor, and distant undulating mountains and palaces and pavilions that looked like sesame seeds could be seen even further away.

This is the summit of Zixu Peak, the entrance to her cave.

At the end of the corridor is a spacious platform paved with white marble and edged with jade railings.

Beyond the railing lies a sheer cliff, with a sea of ​​clouds churning around it.

On the platform, ten figures stood silently, waiting.

These were the ten elders of the Taihua Sect, led by Master Qingwei.

Zuo Qingqiu took Xiaobai's hand and stepped out of the corridor onto the platform.

The platform, paved with white marble, shimmered with countless golden rays under the sunlight. A mountain breeze swept by, carrying the unique chill of the heights, fluttering the clothes of those on the platform.

The Ten Elders, the true foundation of the Taihua Sect, each had lived for nearly a thousand years, their cultivation reaching the pinnacle of the Purple Mansion realm. Within the Taihua Sect's territory, even a stomp of their foot could shake the entire area. Yet, at this moment, they all bowed deeply, performing a standard disciple's salute to this excessively young newly promoted True Monarch.

"Welcome the Supreme Elder, and welcome the True Lord of the Nine Heavens Taihua Purple Void Responding Thunder Ancestor."

The voice was not loud, but steady and solemn, carrying far across the open mountaintop platform, mingling with the howling mountain wind, carrying a certain solemn sense of ritual.

Bai Yuling was startled by this scene.

Although she has lived for a hundred years, her mind remains as innocent as a young girl's, thanks to the long growth period of the dragon clan and Zuo Qingqiu's protection.

I usually see kind and gentle "uncles" and "aunts," but I've never seen them be so solemn and almost humble.

She subconsciously shrank behind Zuo Qingqiu, her small hands tightly gripping the corner of her sleeve, revealing only half of her face as she timidly peeked at her.

Zuo Qingqiu felt the force from the corner of her sleeve, turned her head slightly, and saw Bai Yuling's frightened deer-like appearance. A barely perceptible tenderness flashed in her eyes. She raised her other hand and gently placed it on the top of Bai Yuling's silver-white hair, ruffling it naturally and affectionately.

"Don't be afraid." Her voice was soft, but it clearly reached Bai Yuling's ears, carrying a calming power.

"I'll take care of everything."