Apart from establishing the basic guidelines for future cooperation, this alliance between the Human Race and the Demon Race had another extremely important goal—they had decided to pool the resources of both races to create a new Saint.
It sounded somewhat absurd.
They weren’t even the same race, so why should one side give their resources to the other?
It couldn’t possibly be a case of the first Saint helping the next Saint along.
The real reason lay in the fact that the threat of the Mara Clan was too great.
The Abyss, which seemingly only had a few minor disturbances, was by no means as calm as it appeared on the surface.
According to the investigations of the high-level members of both races, in the 10,000 years since the Mara Clan had been sealed, as many as five Saint Realm powerhouses had been born among them.
In contrast, the Human Race and the Demon Race each had only one Saint.
If they did not do something, they would likely face the calamity of extinction.
It was against this background that the plan to gather the strength of both races to jointly create a Saint was launched.
This sparring match between the Human Race and the Demon Race appeared to be limited to the disciples, but in reality, the overt and covert struggles between the various Venerables had already begun.
There was only one spot for a Saint, and no one wanted to give it up.
This was also why the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable had to temporarily leave her Cave Residence to display her strength, giving Qian Yu the time to sever her Sacred Body.
Originally, after she revealed her cultivation as a Semi-Saint, her position for the Saint spot was already secured.
There were other Semi-Saints among the two races, but none of them had her potential, nor were they as upright or well-reputed as she was.
That was until the appearance of the Nirvana Black Thunder, which suddenly gave the Venerables of the Human and Demon Races a glimmer of hope.
This was Nirvana Black Thunder, after all; the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable had surely incurred the wrath of heaven.
She had been struck right before attempting to touch the Sacred Body, and it might even be related to the Mara Clan.
What?
You say she has no demonic energy?
There were many ways to draw Nirvana Black Thunder in history.
For example, offending the Ancient Heavenly Fox would definitely draw the Nirvana Black Thunder, so it wasn’t necessarily because she had committed a crime.
But would you dare to bet on it?
Would you dare to dump the one and only set of resources on such a person?
Regardless, in the face of the Opportunity to become a Saint, even if the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable was truly innocent, they were determined to throw this mud at her.
Who knew if they would be the one to become a Saint once she was eliminated?
Even if it wasn’t them, they could take advantage of the vacancy to invest in and win over others in advance, exchanging their support for greater benefits after the other person became a Saint.
If all else failed, after dragging the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable down, they could still step in to offer help in her time of need.
As a pure, harmless Little Fox with no schemes, Qian Yu only knew that the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable eventually became a Saint.
She didn’t realize that the foundation of that ascension lay in this joint recommendation by the Human and Demon Races.
This act of revenge was actually far more than just simple mud-slinging.
It was a direct attempt to cut off the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable’s path to Sainthood—a blood-feud of severing her Dao.
Small as she was, she didn’t know this.
If she did, she would have been even happier.
The woman wanted to kill her, so why should she care about anything else?
Moreover, once the other party failed to become a Saint, all the subsequent greater Opportunities would have nothing to do with her.
That would be truly wonderful.
***
As her thoughts swirled, the sky gradually cleared.
The Cloud-Weave Star Venerable was a Semi-Saint, after all.
Though the quality of the black thunder Qian Yu had summoned was high, the quantity was nowhere near enough to pose a real threat to her.
In fact, the woman who stepped out of the thunderclouds even managed to minimize her losses.
By actively revealing her Semi-Saint cultivation, she stabilized her image in the hearts of the people of the Luoxia Immortal Sect.
The world had just been washed by the Nirvana Black Thunder, and everywhere was filled with the lingering echoes of destruction that made the soul tremble.
The Cloud-Weave Star Venerable stood alone in the high heavens, yet her figure was more dazzling and divine than ever before, so perfect it was almost surreal.
She didn’t deliberately release any pressure, but the Dao Rhythm that had completely surpassed the Venerable Realm still forced those Venerables, who had been harboring various thoughts just moments ago, to look down.
The broken Star Sea gathered spontaneously beneath her feet, and the scattered flowing clouds reshaped themselves into magnificent forms, a scene as dreamlike as time flowing backward.
This was a Saint. Even if she was only a Semi-Saint, she was already an existence standing at the pinnacle of this world.
Now that Qian Yu had offended her, life would likely be very difficult in the future.
Any bit of retaliation would be enough to turn her to ashes.
However, quite unexpectedly…
Even though she had already guessed she had been framed by Qian Yu, and even though the killing intent in her heart was overwhelming, the first thing the Sect Master of the Luoxia Immortal Sect did after displaying her Semi-Saint majesty was not to take revenge.
Instead, she took the initiative to speak up for Qian Yu in front of everyone.
“Everyone, what just occurred was a Heavenly Tribulation caused by me using a heaven-defying method to forcibly break through to the Semi-Saint Realm in order to combat the Mara Clan. It has nothing to do with Little Yu, nor does it involve the Sacred Body. Please do not speculate blindly or disturb her life.”
This woman truly had hypocrisy written into her very bones.
First, she used her cultivation to suppress everyone, ensuring they were in the right frame of mind to listen to her.
Next, she used a very righteous explanation to account for the source of the Nirvana Black Thunder.
She had drawn the divine punishment because she was trying to fight the Mara Clan.
The noble Sect Master hadn’t even been willing to explain—she only did so because she was worried everyone would suspect Qian Yu since she was present when the black thunder appeared.
Everything was for the sake of protecting this little niece from suspicion and disturbance; she only revealed the truth because she felt forced to.
How selfless, how moving.
Qian Yu felt a strong urge to raise both hands over her head and jump around weeping with tears of joy.
‘She’s always been like this.’
As for those middle and low-level disciples or elders of the Luoxia Immortal Sect whose experience and cultivation weren’t very high, they were even more affected.
Some were in awe of her exceptional cultivation, their faces flushed red.
“Senior Sister, our Sect Master is a Semi-Saint, a Semi-Saint! The Luoxia Immortal Sect is destined to soar…”
Some felt ashamed of their previous guesses and wept bitterly.
“Oh, I was so wrong! I even suspected the Sect Master was a member of the Mara Clan just now. I didn’t expect she suffered the Heavenly Tribulation just to fight them. I am a sinner! Ahhhh!”
And the majority, including many elders, were marveling at her noble and humble character.
To make a heaven-defying breakthrough to fight the Mara Clan—such a sacrificial act, and she had never told them.
If it hadn’t been for accidentally involving Qian Yu today, they would probably still be kept in the dark, ignorant of the Sect Master’s sacrifices.
“With such a Sect Master, I would be willing even if I were told to march to my death.”
“I used to feel that Junior Sister Qian Yu was a bit pitiful for losing her Master at such a young age, but now it seems that Master’s death was worth it. If her Master hadn’t died, would she have been able to get involved with such a great Sect Master? Look at them, the picture of maternal love and filial piety. I’m truly envious to death. If only my Master had also…”
Hearing these words, many disciples present turned their gazes toward the position where Qian Yu and the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable were.
Their eyes likewise reflected relief and envy.
On the warmest auspicious cloud in the Sunset Star Sea, the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable landed gently beside Qian Yu.
Her eyes narrowed into crescents as she pulled the girl into her arms to comfort her, softly asking if she had been frightened by the Heavenly Tribulation.
The fluffy Half-Yao girl’s eyes also narrowed into crescents as she leaned dependently into the other’s touch, expressing concern over whether the other had been injured by the lightning.
Under the setting sun, a heartwarming scene unfolded.
The way the two cared for each other made them look more like a true master and disciple than anyone else.
“Martial Aunt, you should keep this Sacred Body. Little Yu feels it suits you better.”
“No. I may not have that fortune for the time being. As for you, Little Yu, continue staying in my Cave Residence to cultivate these next few days. I have many things I want to teach you.”
“I’d rather not. Little Yu wants to go home with Senior Sister Nalan for a visit. she said her mother wants to meet me.”
Qian Yu’s expression showed difficulty as she quickly looked at Nalan Yunyan on the side, blinking her eyes slightly.
‘Big sis, quickly agree…’
‘Only your mother, a peak Venerable, can protect me now!’
She was incredibly anxious, and the feeling of being pressed against the older woman’s chest made her extremely uncomfortable, but Nalan Yunyan didn’t catch Qian Yu’s meaning.
Looking at the harmonious pair before her, Nalan Yunyan felt both envious of the warm relationship and confused.
Her mother hadn’t said she wanted to see Qian Yu.
Besides, the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable was a good person who cared for and loved her niece, and she was a Semi-Saint.
Wouldn’t it be great to cultivate with her?
Why did Qian Yu’s expression seem to hold a hint of resistance she couldn’t quite hide?
Was she unwilling to cultivate diligently and trying to find an excuse to escape?
This wouldn’t do.
As the leader of their group, Nalan Yunyan immediately frowned.
Under Qian Yu’s gradually despairing gaze, she lectured:
“The Sect Master is letting you follow her for your own good. How can you refuse just because you’re lazy, Qian Yu?”
In the next moment, the little Half-Yao’s eyes went completely hollow.
‘Nalan Yunyan, you…’
“Sect Master, Qian Yu and I have an agreement to explore a Secret Realm together. Before she follows you into secluded meditation, could she be allowed to fulfill that first?”
Just as Qian Yu was about to be dragged away by the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable for “personal instruction” under the blessed and envious eyes of the crowd, a clear, cold voice rang out from behind.
To everyone’s surprise, the black-haired girl named Gu Qinghan stepped forward.
After bowing to the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable, she gave Nalan Yunyan a brief glance. Her expression was devoid of emotion as usual, but Nalan Yunyan’s breath suddenly hitched.
She read a mysterious sense of superiority in the other’s eyes, as if she were saying—I’m smarter than you.
Huh?