Mortal: Fifteenth Realm Sword Cultivator

Upon hearing this, Jin Kui sighed.

"You are indeed a rare filial daughter, but unfortunately the Star Palace order has just been established. A single move can affect the whole situation, and this matter is far from as simple as you think. Taking action against the demonic forces of the Extreme Yin Island rashly would have far-reaching consequences and could easily trigger a backlash from both the righteous and demonic paths, which would harm the overall situation of the Star Palace. It is something I cannot do for the time being."

Ultimately, this matter depends on you. The promise I can give you is that you can act freely regarding the Miaoyin Sect. Although Zhao Zheng is a confidant of the Sixth Elder, he is currently in seclusion and preoccupied with his own affairs; there's no need to worry about him too much.

Saying this would be tantamount to rejecting another request that Zi Ling might have made.

They took direct action to eliminate Zhao Zheng.

After all, the other party was a confidant of the sixth elder. If the elder himself were to deal with him personally, even if there were reasons for it, it would be hard to guarantee that it wouldn't be interpreted as another internal power struggle within the Star Palace, or even an opportunity to eliminate dissidents.

For the newly stabilized order of the stars and palaces, this is tantamount to creating new waves and variables.

Although Jin Kui also harbored the idea of ​​eliminating the Sixth Elder's supporters and consolidating his own power, the timing was not yet ripe, and the situation did not allow him to act so hastily.

Some things can only be done gradually, or... by entrusting them to others.

Zi Ling remained silent.

She knew, of course, that the chances of success were slim, and that she had only spoken up in the hope that was the faintest of all.

I was prepared for the Elder to say such a weighing of pros and cons, but hearing it with my own ears still made me feel a sense of loss.

However, it's good news that we can learn from the other party that we don't need to care too much about Zhao Zhengxing Palace's special envoy status.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder. Zi Ling understands now."

Jin Kui looked at the girl's forced composure and sighed inwardly.

He possessed a resilient spirit, but unfortunately, his fate was fraught with hardship.

"If you can find a suitable opportunity, I may also provide some support, which would be a way to fulfill my past relationship with my nephew Wang Heng."

Upon hearing this, Zi Ling's eyes shone brightly.

This was exactly the sentence she had been waiting for.

"Zi Ling is dull-witted, please enlighten me, Elder."

Although the other party did not explicitly state that they were on Miaoyinmen's side, this promise at least provided an invisible "safety net".

She knew perfectly well that Jin Kui's words were not merely due to his father Wang Heng's shallow old friendship.

It's highly likely that they're plotting something similar to what the Sixth Elder was planning.

They all want to control or influence the Miaoyin Sect.

However, the Grand Elder is more particular about rules and boundaries. If you can succeed, that's your ability, and he will go along with it.

If it doesn't work out, don't even think about dragging his Jin Kui name into it.

Under the hood, no change in Jin Kui's expression could be seen at all.

He gently tossed the rolled-up green bamboo slip in his hand, tapping it against his palm.

"The Void Heaven Palace will open in a few days, and Ji Yin will surely prepare to ascend to the throne. Perhaps you can find an opportunity here, and this opportunity itself lies with the Hidden Fiend Sect. This is all the advice I can offer; the rest ultimately depends on yourself."

"Your cultivation level is still low; you haven't even broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage yet. You really need to hurry. Let me give you an extra reminder: never underestimate any opponent."

Upon hearing this, Zi Ling immediately bowed deeply and replied respectfully, "Thank you for your teachings, Elder. I will remember them forever."

Looking at the girl before him, Jin Kui pondered for a moment, but ultimately couldn't help but reveal a little more of the secret.

"Actually, sometimes it's better to look at things from a different perspective, and perhaps... a breakthrough will appear."

Upon hearing this, Zi Ling assumed that Jin Kui was still reminding her of the old story from Ji Yin Island, so she didn't delve into the deeper meaning behind his words. She simply bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder!"

Looking at Zi Ling's expression and reaction, Jin Kui knew that she had not truly grasped the hidden meaning behind his words.

He was too lazy to explain further, partly out of personal reasons.

Everyone has their own destiny; if the opportunity hasn't arrived, forcing it will be futile.

The fact that he made an exception and said that extra sentence was already out of consideration for his past friendship with his sworn brother Wang Heng.

According to his original plan, he would never have mentioned such a thing.

What he wanted was to bring the entire Miaoyin Sect under his control, but not to directly annex and take it for himself like the sixth brother did.

He prefers to subdue them, bring them under his control, and make them a manageable force.

The value of commercial organizations like Miaoyinmen lies in circulation and connection, and they must have a smart enough leader who can judge the situation and win people's respect.

The Zi Ling before me is of excellent talent and temperament, and she acts with great method. She is a promising talent, but unfortunately, she is too utilitarian.

But this is for the best.

If we can bring her under our control, then the Miaoyin Sect will naturally be ours for the taking.

The Star Palace is indeed riddled with deep-seated problems, especially the lineage of the sixth brother, which is in a state of chaos and disorder, only knowing how to engage in smuggling and trade, line their own pockets, and exclude dissidents.

This is why Jin Kui chose not to take direct action and instead adopted a cautious approach.

After all, he had just come out of seclusion, the situation in the inner seas had just stabilized, and everything was still unstable.

If we resort to forceful intervention and coercion, we will not only give others ammunition and give them grounds for criticism, but we may also cause greater turmoil.

If you were to switch to a dual-saint setup, you wouldn't need to worry about these things.

With absolute power and status, they can eliminate whomever they want; their ruthless methods leave no one daring to object.

But Lao Liu and he were both at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm and were fellow disciples from the same Star Palace lineage.

If they were to openly turn against each other and engage in open infighting, it would be a loss of face for both sides and would severely damage the prestige of the Star Palace. This is definitely not the situation that Jin Kui wants to see.

It's fair to say that what awaited them after leaving the pass was a complete mess.

Moreover, we cannot use absolutely harsh methods to rectify the situation.

If it weren't for the restless stirrings of both the righteous and demonic paths...

Jin Kui, on the other hand, didn't mind making a clean break.

But for now, we can only proceed gradually.

In any case.

Before the Void Heaven Palace is opened, the entire Star Palace must be thoroughly sorted out!

Upon returning to the Miaoyin Sect's base from the Holy Temple, Zi Ling frowned slightly as soon as she landed.

It was simply because she ran into Zhao Zheng.

It didn't seem like a chance encounter; rather, it was as if the other person had been there all along, deliberately waiting for them.

Zhao Zheng was dressed in a dark blue robe, and his appearance was that of a middle-aged man with a jade pendant hanging at his waist. He had a gentle and composed demeanor.

However, his eyes were slightly sunken, and there was always a hint of indulgence in his gaze. His cheeks were flushed. Anyone with a little knowledge would know that this was clearly the result of his frequent indulgence in dual cultivation and sexual pleasure, which had made him appear strong on the outside but weak on the inside, with his vital energy depleted.

"Sect Master Ziling, did your journey back be smooth?"

Zhao Zheng spoke gently, while leaning forward and slightly narrowing his eyes.

The meaning is obvious.

Book lovers are hotly debating: What exactly happened? Join the discussion!

Why don't we sit down and have a proper talk?

Then his eyes darted around, looking her up and down without any restraint.

Although her face was covered by a light veil, making it difficult to see her full appearance, Zhao Zheng, who prided himself on having seen countless women, was already certain in his heart that this woman's charm far surpassed that of Fan Jingmei, and she was truly a beauty.

Zi Ling covered her mouth and chuckled, "Elder Zhao works tirelessly day and night, yet he still has the heart to worry about these trivial matters of mine."

Before she finished speaking, she had already turned around and walked calmly inside.

Zhao Zheng was about to reply when he saw this and grunted.

He deliberately lagged behind by half a step, his gaze following her like a shadow, fixed on her tall and graceful back.

Beneath the flowing skirt, the snow-white skin and jade-like bones, faintly visible, and the breathtaking curves of her back, were like invisible hooks, scratching fiercely at his heart.

His gaze caused an unusual blush to rise on his slightly sickly face.

Unlike Fan Jingmei's mature and alluring charm.

The pure, snow-white virginity emanating from this girl was what truly made him drool and unable to resist.

Upon seeing Zi Ling return, the Miaoyin Sect disciples stationed nearby all curtsied.

When Zhao Zheng saw Zi Ling go in, the smile on his face instantly vanished. He casually glanced around, then impatiently waved his hand and said, "You may all leave."

The dozen or so disciples of the Miaoyin Sect standing outside were mostly Qi Refining cultivators. Faced with this Star Palace envoy in the Core Formation stage, the sect elders naturally dared not disobey in the slightest.

The group exchanged glances, then quickly lowered their hands to say goodbye and filed out.

One of the clever young female disciples did not return to her residence after leaving, but instead ran straight towards Fan Jingmei's location without touching the ground.

Zi Ling gracefully sat down on a wooden chair, without taking the initiative to speak. She simply looked calmly at Zhao Zheng, waiting for him to speak first.

Zhao Zheng walked over to Zi Ling, but instead of sitting down, he looked down at her and questioned her directly:

"Which important figure from the Star Palace did the Sect Master meet just now?"

To him, she was ultimately just a young girl.

At only eighteen years old, what can he do, no matter how scheming or calculating he is?

Without sufficient time and experience to hone one's skills, how can one develop composure out of thin air?

So young and only at the Qi Refining stage, if it weren't for her title as the Master of Miaoyin Sect, Zhao Zheng would have taken her down long ago, instead of letting her sit here.

Do you really think his mid-stage Core Formation strength is just for show?

If it weren't for the vow she made before the Sixth Elder.

How could I possibly feign compliance with her and play games with her like this until now?

Zi Ling would never reveal the whole story of her meeting with Elder Jin Kui just because Zhao Zheng questioned her.

The time is not right, and even if I did say it, what difference would it make?

Aside from making Zhao Zheng feel anxious and fearful for a few days, it did not bring any real benefit to the overall situation.

Moreover, the true meaning behind the elder's words was definitely not something she should use to reprimand a minor character like Zhao Zheng.

"Elder Zhao has truly gone to great lengths for the Miaoyin Sect. My trip to the Holy Temple this time was to visit an old friend of my father's. He had been in seclusion for many years and only recently emerged. Remembering our old friendship, he thought of inviting me to catch up and also to inquire about the current situation of the Miaoyin Sect."

"Elder Zhao has single-handedly managed the affairs of the sect, and his hard work and contributions are immense. I feel sorry for him. So I was thinking, could we ask this senior in the Core Formation stage to condescend to serve as an honorary elder in my Miaoyin Sect? This would relieve Elder Zhao of some of his burdens and prevent him from overworking himself. Wouldn't that be a sin on my part as the sect leader?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zheng's tense nerves instantly relaxed considerably, and he slowly sat down.

As long as you don't curry favor with any powerful elder, everything is fine.

His face regained its gentle smile, but there was a hint of wariness in his words.

"Oh? I see. It's good that you haven't forgotten your old friendship."

He changed the subject, his tone inquisitive, "Then, I wonder if this fellow practitioner has granted the sect leader's request?"

Zi Ling spoke in a relaxed tone and calm voice, "Senior cherishes old friendships and naturally shows great care for juniors. However, he is busy and has not yet given a clear answer, only saying that it depends on the opportunity. Nevertheless, I think that since he is an old friend of my father, this friendship must exist. Elder Zhao, don't you think? If we can really persuade this senior to become an honorific, it will be a great help to the sect and to you."

Zhao Zheng sneered inwardly.

You little brat!

Do you want to use a cultivator whose background is unknown to share power and hinder me?

"What you say is absolutely right. It is certainly a blessing for the sect to have another Core Formation cultivator in charge. However, recruiting a senior elder is no small matter. The sect leader is young and still needs experience in judging people, so there is no need to rush this matter."

Zi Ling deliberately conveyed a sense of worry and exhaustion in her tone, then let out a soft sigh.

"Although I have temporarily secured cooperation with several business alliances and preserved some of my interests, I am ultimately at the mercy of others and subject to their control at every turn."

Ultimately, the problem is that my Miaoyin Sect has too few Core Formation cultivators, which inevitably makes us look down on. This situation is not a long-term solution.

"In the future, the Miaoyin Sect's trade share will be gradually eroded, and I really... really don't want to see my parents' dying wish ultimately lead to its complete decline in my hands."

Zhao Zheng slapped the coffee table beside him, causing the cups and saucers to bounce slightly.

"Outrageous! Are these people blind? Don't they know that the Myriad Sounds Sect has a special envoy from my Star Palace stationed here! Sect Master, rest assured, now that the situation has reached this point, how can I stand idly by?"

He then changed the subject, leaning forward slightly, and said, "It's quite a coincidence. Among my old acquaintances is a cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation. This person and I have a very close relationship. I have already invited him to join my Wonderful Sound Sect as a guest elder on behalf of the sect leader. In this way, the sect will have two Core Formation cultivators in charge!"

Upon hearing this...

Zi Ling's heart sank, making her breath quicken.

That old lecher!

He's really determined to completely take Miaoyin Sect for himself!

Over the past few years, relying on his status as a special envoy of the Star Palace, he has already placed many confidants in the sect and cultivated his power.

Now he even wants to squeeze in another Core Formation cultivator under his control.

If he succeeds, then how can she, as the "Sect Leader," have any say in the Miaoyin Sect?

Moreover, she found it difficult to directly refute these words on the surface.

Because this suggestion was brought up by her own words.

Zhao Zheng's move was a perfect example of using someone else's strength against them, going with the flow, and was extremely cunning!

What's even more infuriating is that the other party is using the title of "Star Palace Envoy," and this arrangement seems reasonable on the surface, and can even be said to be entirely for the benefit of Miaoyin Sect.

If she were to refuse outright at this moment, she would not only appear ungrateful, but she might also be labeled as "disregarding the interests of the sect" and "unfit for great responsibilities."

Zi Ling felt an extreme tightness in her chest.

A feeling of pent-up frustration was stuck there, unable to go up or down.

She's really suffering in silence right now, unable to express her grievances.

(P.S.: Sorry, fellow cultivators, I have something to do today and won't be able to update much...)