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

Chapter 98: How many times have I said it? When working, you must use your job title. (Fifth update)

The study in the rear hall of the sect leader, though not as grand as the main hall, is more elegant and refined.

The walls are lined with bookshelves, displaying classic texts, jade slips, and some rare and precious objects for appreciation.

A large, dark wood desk is placed by the window, complete with the Four Treasures of the Study. A pot of gracefully spreading Bird of Paradise orchids is placed in the corner of the desk, emitting a faint fragrance.

When Jiang Shaoling entered the study, two people were already waiting inside.

The leader was a young man dressed in the dark blue brocade robe with cloud patterns that was commonly worn by the direct descendants of the Jiang family. He had a handsome face and his eyebrows and eyes did resemble Jiang Shaoling's. However, he lacked the composure of someone who had been in a high position for a long time and had more of the sharpness of a newly promoted Purple Mansion cultivator and a hint of imperceptible urgency.

It was Jiang Zhoumian.

Slightly behind and to the side of him stood a little girl. She was about ten years old, wearing a well-fitting pink and white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with her hair styled in two buns and adorned with two small pearl flowers.

She was beautiful and lovely, with fair skin and a pair of large, clear eyes. At this moment, she was looking around the unfamiliar study and the legendary ancestor with a mixture of curiosity and timidity.

Her little hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her father's robe, appearing both dependent and reserved.

Jiang Shaoling's gaze lingered on Jiang Zhoumian's face for a moment, confirming the connection between the bloodline connection and the vague memory, before falling on the little girl.

With his keen eyesight, he could naturally see that the girl had a pure and refined physique. Although her aura was weak, it was already faintly connected with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. She had indeed entered the Qi Refining stage, and her foundation was quite solid.

"Grandson Jiang Zhoumian, accompanied by his daughter Jiang Shuiyin, pays respects to our ancestral master!"

Upon seeing Jiang Shaoling, Jiang Zhoumian immediately lifted his robe to perform a grand salute, while gently tugging at his daughter.

The little girl realized what was happening and quickly followed her father, about to kneel down in worship.

"No need for such formalities." Jiang Shaoling flicked his sleeve, and a gentle yet irresistible spiritual force supported the two of them. "Inside the study, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit."

He took the lead and sat down in the main seat behind the desk, pointing to the two rosewood armchairs next to him.

Jiang Zhoumian quickly thanked him, then carefully led his daughter to sit down, sitting only on one side of the chair, with his back straight and his posture respectful.

Jiang Shuiyin was even more proper, with her small hands on her knees and her eyes looking down at her nose.

A young Taoist attendant entered silently, served the sacred tea, and then quietly withdrew.

Jiang Shaoling picked up his teacup, gently skimming off the foam with the lid, but didn't drink. This gesture merely softened his tone before he asked directly, "Zhoumian, why are you in such a hurry to see me, even invoking the name of your 'great-grandson'? Speak frankly. The sect is currently swamped with affairs, and I don't have much time."

His voice was calm, yet it carried an inherent pressure.

Jiang Zhoumian took a deep breath, clearly having been prepared.

He first glanced at his daughter beside him, his eyes revealing undisguised love and pride, then turned to Jiang Shaoling, his tone earnest and excited: "Grand Ancestor, please forgive my presumptuous request to see you. It is truly for the sake of my daughter Shuiyin's future, and also a matter of great importance concerning the future fortune of our Jiang family!"

"Oh?" Jiang Shaoling raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"Grand Ancestor, please look," Jiang Zhoumian gently pulled Jiang Shuiyin forward, "Yin'er just turned ten this year. She sensed Qi at six, officially entered the first level of the Qi Refining stage at eight, and is now at the third level of the Qi Refining stage! This speed of cultivation is truly outstanding among her peers!"

Jiang Shaoling nodded slightly. Reaching the third level of Qi Refining at the age of ten was indeed excellent, but it was not considered extraordinary among the inner disciples of Taihua Sect.

Given the Jiang family's abundant resources, it's not surprising that they cultivated such a promising talent.

Seeing the old ancestor's lukewarm reaction, Jiang Zhoumian quickly added, "That's not the key point! The key point is that Yin'er possesses a first-class aptitude!"

"A Grade A hollow orifice?" Jiang Shaoling paused, his hand holding the teacup still, and his gaze returned to Jiang Shuiyin.

This time, it came with scrutiny.

A first-class acupoint, guaranteed admission to the Purple Mansion realm, truly a genius talent, even among the true disciples of the Taihua Sect, he is considered a top-tier individual.

"Excellent!" Jiang Zhoumian's tone grew even more excited. "Not only that, I also had an elder skilled in astrology calculate Yin'er's birth chart. Yin'er's destiny is noble; she is born with a 'Thunder and Fire' fate!"

"Fire borrows the power of thunder, and thunder amplifies the might of fire, making it fierce and violent—perfect for cultivating the thunder magic tradition! Ancestor, just think about it, this top-grade acupoint, coupled with this innate thunder and fire destiny—Yin'er is simply a peerless talent born to cultivate thunder magic!"

A life destined for thunder and fire? A peerless talent for cultivating thunder magic?

Jiang Shaoling's heart stirred.

He couldn't help but look at Jiang Shuiyin more closely again.

The little girl seemed a bit nervous under his gaze, her face slightly flushed, but her eyes were clear and she didn't look away.

He secretly used a secret detection technique and indeed sensed that the girl's aura carried a faint but exceptionally pure heat and pulsation, which was different from ordinary five-element spiritual energy. It was indeed a sign that she possessed a special destiny.

If what Jiang Zhoumian said is true—

Jiang Shaoling put down his teacup and gently tapped his fingers on the smooth, star-patterned wood tabletop, making a soft, rhythmic sound.

He didn't immediately respond, but instead asked, "Even so, what are you going to do? The Jiang family is a powerful and influential clan; surely the cultivation resources they can mobilize are insufficient to nurture a first-grade Void Aperture Thunderfire Fate cultivator?"

"We will naturally do our best to cultivate her as a family!" Jiang Zhoumian immediately said, "But Ancestor, I feel that the family's strength is ultimately limited and its vision is insufficient! If we only cultivate Yin'er's talent according to the family's conventional methods, although she can become a talent, it will probably bury her true potential and make it difficult to bring the greatest benefit to our Jiang family."

He paused, looked into Jiang Shaoling's eyes, and said his true purpose, word by word: "Your grandson dares to humbly request that the Ancestor intervene and find a way for Yin'er to become a disciple of True Lord Zixu!"

The study fell silent instantly.

Jiang Shaoling stopped tapping his fingers on the table.

His face remained expressionless, but his eyes suddenly sharpened, piercing Jiang Zhoumian as if they were tangible.

"Nonsense!" He uttered two words, his voice not loud, but carrying a heavy sense of authority and coldness. "Jiang Zhoumian, do you know what you are saying? True Lord Zixu is now the Supreme Elder of my Taihua Sect!"

Her status is so esteemed, and the matter of accepting disciples is so significant. How could you or I so easily interfere, let alone attempt to "find" or "become" her disciple?

His tone was clearly reproachful: "Do you know what the True Lord despises most? It's the sons of the powerful and wealthy who use connections and back channels! She was born into the Zuo family, yet she severed ties with her family early on, climbing to the top through her own efforts. Haven't you heard about her character?"

"My reputation? Heh, before the True Lord, my reputation as the sect leader is probably worth less than a talisman! Don't mention this matter again, or don't blame me for disregarding our blood ties!"

Jiang Shaoling's refusal was decisive and stern.

He knew Zuo Qingqiu's character well; she was someone who truly regarded the Great Dao as her sole pursuit, someone with her own inner world and profound wisdom.

Moreover, they were monks of great principle.

Although she had a good relationship with her mother, it was more of an appreciation and support from a senior to a junior. It was an equal relationship based on Zuo Qingqiu's own talent and temperament, and it was by no means a means to seek personal gain for the family.

To rashly bring up the matter of accepting disciples through "back channels" is not only unlikely to succeed, but may also offend the True Lord, resulting in more harm than good.