The Purple Sun Sect—for the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance—was a legend.
For a mundane kingdom, a Hidden Sect was an incredibly mysterious and awe-inspiring sanctuary. If a mortal martial artist could capture the eye of a Hidden Sect, they were sure to rise in status, bringing their entire clan up with them.
Within the Sixteen Kingdoms Alliance, there were quite a few Hidden Sects. But the four most powerful were known as the Great Sects. The Purple Sun Sect was one of them.
This day, at the Purple Sun Sect's holy grounds, the morning sun was just rising.
A lake, its surface as smooth and bright as a mirror, stretched out to the horizon, shimmering with ripples. It gave off an aura of serene sanctity. This water was called Shuiyue Lake. Scattered across the lake were numerous islands, like stars strewn across the sky. This was the home of the Purple Sun Sect's Shuiyue lineage.
Auspicious light bathed Shuiyue, while auspicious energy reflected upon the islands.
At this moment, deep within a certain island, at the end of a bamboo grove colored a deep purple, stood a magnificent palace hall. This was the base of Master Shuiyue's lineage.
A plaque hung above the grand doors, inscribed with the characters for "Shuiyue" in seal script. The calligraphy was majestic, possessing a profound artistic conception of its own.
Inside the hall, Chu Xinghan stood with his hands clasped respectfully. Below him stood Yu Jie and Long Juxue. All three kept their eyes lowered and didn't dare make a sound.
Upon a lotus throne at the head of the hall sat a woman cross-legged. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties, with elegant features. Her aristocratic air was tinged with a sense of being otherworldly. Yet, when her discerning gaze slightly opened, it carried a power that pierced the soul.
"Xinghan," she said, her voice clear but cool, "recount this matter to me from beginning to end. Do not omit a single detail. Yu Jie and Juxue, listen closely. If Senior Brother Xinghan forgets anything, you are to supplement it."
The woman on the lotus throne was, of course, Master Shuiyue herself.
Chu Xinghan nodded, running through everything in his mind once more. He then took a deep breath and began to narrate in detail everything that had happened before the Second Crossing Pass.
He was especially meticulous in repeating the words spoken by the mysterious powerhouse, not daring to omit or alter a single word, conveying the message exactly as he had heard it.
After Chu Xinghan finished, Master Shuiyue's brows furrowed slightly. Her gaze shifted to Yu Jie and Long Juxue, clearly seeking their confirmation.
"Master, Senior Brother Xinghan's account is very comprehensive. That mysterious powerhouse indeed said exactly that. It's that Jiang Chen who is truly arrogant, completely disregarding our Shuiyue lineage!" Yu Jie recalled the battle and ground his teeth with hatred for Jiang Chen.
"Enough of this pointless chatter," Master Shuiyue snorted softly. She was rather dissatisfied with Yu Jie's competence.
If Yu Jie had handled the matter efficiently, perhaps there would have been no need for Chu Xinghan to intervene, or even for that mysterious powerhouse to arrive at all. Of course, this was merely a hypothetical.
Considering the entire affair, Yu Jie's performance was indeed somewhat disappointing to Master Shuiyue.
Truth be told, Master Shuiyue was known for fiercely protecting her own. She was already aware of the enmity between Jiang Chen and Long Juxue. Given her protective nature, she was naturally going to seek justice for Long Juxue.
Although Chu Xinghan's account of the mysterious powerhouse's tone sounded quite serious, Master Shuiyue had lived her life with an aloof pride. Who had she ever feared? Would she let her disciple's matters go unattended because of a few empty threats?
"Xue'er," she said, her tone softening as she addressed Long Juxue, "when you were born, you triggered a celestial phenomenon. What does that prove? It proves you are a Heaven-Born Talent. We martial cultivators, our worldly ties in this mortal realm must eventually be severed. However, if your family's grudge remains unavenged, it will cast a shadow over your heart and hinder your future cultivation. Your vengeance—I, as your master, have it in mind."
Long Juxue was skilled at acting coquettishly. Knowing Master Shuiyue doted on her, she lowered her head and sobbed softly. "Xue'er is all alone now, with no family or support. I can only rely on Master to decide for your disciple."
Having cultivated for half her life, Master Shuiyue's reputation for protecting her own was well-known throughout the sect world.
"Who is this Jiang Chen, really? To command an army of Sword Birds in battle? And for them to fight without fear of death?" This sort of thing left even a powerhouse as strong as Master Shuiyue somewhat perplexed. Controlling spirit beasts or spirit birds in combat wasn't something that could be achieved by sheer strength alone.
Martial sects had their own experts skilled in commanding spirit creatures. But every sect possessed its own unique methods. Some used talismans, some used secret incantations, and others employed divine abilities or mysterious arts. There were also those with immense power who subdued spirit beasts and made them part of their fighting force. But regardless of the method, these techniques were closely guarded secrets of the sects.
In the vast Purple Sun Sect, there was practically no one who possessed such a skill. In the domain of commanding spirit beasts for battle, the Purple Sun Sect was practically a blank slate.
Therefore, Master Shuiyue felt a genuine spark of curiosity about this Jiang Chen.
Curiosity aside, however, what Master Shuiyue valued far more was the genius that was Long Juxue. An Innate Azure Phoenix Body—such a congenital constitution was exceedingly rare even in the entire history of the Purple Sun Sect.
What did an Innate Body signify?
It meant that one could step into the Spirit Realm with almost no barriers, and once there, the path of cultivation would be much smoother and progress far swifter compared to ordinary Spirit Realm powerhouses.