The Iron Blood Great Emperor — Xiao Yun'er's master was actually the Iron Blood Great Emperor!
Yang Kai stood in place, lost in thought for a good while, before breaking into a rueful laugh. Though he felt some regret at not being able to bring Xiao Yun'er back, there would be plenty of time ahead. He would have other chances to see her in the future. With such an excellent master, Xiao Yun'er's path forward would never be as thorny and treacherous as his own had been.
Hua Qingsi flew toward him from the distance, smiling as she drew near. "Palace Master, you've returned."
She had received word and hurried over at once. Accompanying her was Bian Yuqing.
Upon landing nearby, Bian Yuqing seemed somewhat ill at ease. She cupped her fists and bowed. "Greetings, Palace Master!"
Had it not been for Yang Kai's righteous intervention at Spirit Lake Palace all those years ago, she might never have had the chance to advance to the Emperor Realm. Time had passed, and the young whelp who had once stood before her had now become her direct superior — one who had provided her with shelter and a place to cultivate, no less. Bian Yuqing couldn't help but feel a twinge of emotion at the thought.
Still, she had adjusted her mindset well and knew how to be grateful. Over these past days, she had integrated quite nicely into Ling Xiao Palace, and she and Hua Qingsi had even become close enough to address each other as sisters.
Yang Kai nodded gently and looked at Hua Qingsi. "Long time no see. Sister Hua, you've grown even more beautiful."
Hua Qingsi shot him a reproachful glance, though the corners of her eyes couldn't conceal her pleasure. "You're the Palace Master of an entire palace. Don't be so frivolous with your words. If the wrong people heard you, who knows what they'd think?"
"I'm just telling it like it is." He turned to Bian Yuqing. "Are you settling in well at the palace?"
Bian Yuqing replied hastily, "Thank you for your concern, Palace Master. That I have such a place to call home is entirely thanks to your gracious care."
Yang Kai waved his hand. "Once you've entered Ling Xiao Palace, you're one of us. No need to be so formal. This is your home from now on."
Bian Yuqing paused for a moment, then smiled brightly.
Hua Qingsi spoke up. "Palace Master, you've been away on business for so long. Sister Qing has been handling a great deal of palace affairs in your stead. When it comes to managing a Sect, she has far more experience than I do. I haven't had the chance to tell you yet, but I've already appointed Sister Qing as our Ling Xiao Palace's Deputy Steward."
"That works," Yang Kai nodded. "Then from now on, Protector Bian shall be our Deputy Steward."
With his word on the matter, Bian Yuqing's position as Deputy Steward was officially settled.
Though Bian Yuqing had come from a minor Sect and lacked the deep background that Hua Qingsi possessed, she was still a Protector-level figure. Back when Wu Mengchuan, Sect Master of the Emerald Feather Sect, had been imprisoned, it was she and three other Protectors who had kept the Sect running. She had naturally accumulated a great deal of experience in the process.
During her time working alongside Hua Qingsi over these past months, Hua Qingsi had genuinely learned a lot from her.
Ling Xiao Palace might not have many people at present — most were disciples from the Thousand Leaf Sect — but its foundation was extraordinarily deep. Sooner or later, it would rise to become one of the top-tier Sects. When that time came, the number of disciples under its banner could reach tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands, and there would inevitably be a need for capable people to manage the affairs.
It was better to get familiar with the work now, so that when the time came, things wouldn't descend into chaos.
Bian Yuqing replied in alarm, "Palace Master, I haven't really helped all that much. Being accepted into Ling Xiao Palace is the greatest fortune of my life. Living, I am a person of Ling Xiao Palace; dying, I am a ghost of Ling Xiao Palace. If the palace ever has need of me, I will go through fire and water without hesitation. But this role of Deputy Steward — I truly am not worthy of it."
This was no false modesty. It was the plain truth.
When she had first arrived at Ling Xiao Palace, she hadn't thought much of it — merely considered it a rather nice place to settle down. Setting aside the debt of gratitude she owed Yang Kai, this was already a treasure land far beyond anything the old Emerald Feather Sect could offer. To cultivate and live here was something any warrior would dream of.
But as time went on and she came to better understand the true depth of Ling Xiao Palace's foundations, she realized she had gravely underestimated this still-incomplete Sect.
Three Great Monster Kings stood guard, each on par with a Third-Order Emperor Realm cultivator.
The fifth disciple of Miao Dan, the Great Emperor, served as Ling Xiao Palace's chief alchemist. There was also an Emperor-grade Formation Master, an Emperor-grade Artifact Refiner...
There was the Heavenly Sound Treasure Hall, and the Thousand Illusion Dream Realm...
The Palace enjoyed an intimate relationship with Ice Heart Valley, one of the Northern Region's top Sects — practically like family. The other two great Sects, Li Long Palace and Mi Tian Sect, still owed Ling Xiao Palace enormous debts.
A cross-regional spatial formation linked the Palace to the Southern Region, and it maintained a seamless cooperative relationship with the Zi Yuan Trading Company.
Its annual revenue was several times that of other top-tier Sects.
She had even heard that Yang Kai had some unclear relationship with a Dragon Clan member...
Such a foundation — it was hard to imagine that a Sect established not so long ago could have amassed all of this. And every last bit of it had been built by Yang Kai single-handedly.
The more she learned, the more alarmed she became.
A Sect of this caliber — what right did she have to serve as Deputy Steward? Setting aside the fact that she had only recently advanced to the Emperor Realm, even a Third-Order Emperor Realm cultivator might not qualify!
So the moment she heard Yang Kai truly intended to confirm her as Deputy Steward, she hurried to decline. It was no act of modesty. She simply lacked the confidence.
Hua Qingsi understood what was troubling her and smiled. "In our Sect, rank isn't determined by cultivation level — it's determined by whether you can actually get things done. Our Palace Master here is the hands-off type. I know your capabilities, Sister. This Deputy Steward position, you truly cannot refuse."
Bian Yuqing wanted to say something more, but Yang Kai had already waved his hand. "The matter is settled."
He turned to Hua Qingsi. "Has Zhu Qing returned?"
Hua Qingsi shook her head. "No. Wasn't she heading to the Frozen Wasteland?"
Although Yang Kai had come back once before, he had immediately rushed off again in a hurry, so Hua Qingsi had no idea that he had also gone to the Frozen Wasteland and experienced a great many things.