Council Hall.

"Sit down, everyone! Have a few sips of Spirit Tea to cool off."

Mysterious Trace True Master personally brewed the tea and served it to the two junior sisters.

"This is Snow Mountain Spirit Tea, extremely rare. Senior brother usually can't bear to bring it out."

Master Gu Feng glared at Master Cold Jade and slowly savored the tea.

As for Shen Xuan, he was not yet qualified to drink the Sect Leader's Spirit Tea.

He could only stand there obediently, like a child who had done something wrong, waiting for a verdict.

Yet, there was a slight smile on Master Cold Jade's face.

Clearly, in this wave of difficulty, she had the upper hand.

"I see that Shen Xuan's ancestral bloodline is extraordinary, still in awakening."

"His talent and aptitude are worthy of being a Core Formation Seed."

"However, etiquette cannot be abolished. Shen Xuan is Master Gu Feng's direct disciple; this matter is indisputable."

Mysterious Trace True Master looked at Master Cold Jade, his expression solemn.

"Cold Jade junior sister, do you understand my meaning?"

Master Cold Jade nodded gently.

"I understand the Sect Leader senior brother's meaning."

"Good that you understand."

Mysterious Trace True Master shifted his tone.

"Gu Feng junior sister, what do you think?"

Master Gu Feng replied frankly, "Several years ago, I asked Shen Xuan. Cold Jade wanted to accept him as a disciple. He said he didn't wish to change allegiances."

"Oh, Shen Xuan."

"Disciple here."

"Share your thoughts."

Shen Xuan was silent for a few breaths.

"Before I joined my master, I was a Loose Cultivator."

"I had a friend who went through countless hardships and finally married the one he loved, becoming Dao companions."

"Years later, this friend met another female cultivator, whose family background, appearance, talents, temperament, and cultivation were all better than his original Dao companion, and she intended to form a bond of marriage with him."

"He came to ask me what to do."

Shen Xuan said slowly: "I didn't answer him but instead drew a line between us, cutting our ties, and never communicated again."

"In my view, a person cannot stand without integrity."

Shen Xuan didn't continue.

The meaning was very clear.

His friend would encounter many female cultivators better than his Dao companion.

Shen Xuan would also encounter many high-tier cultivators stronger than his master.

He did not wish to associate with those who lack integrity.

And he even less wished to become someone ungrateful and treacherous.

The bond between master and disciple is deep.

If one can betray and abandon even their master.

What else are they capable of doing!

How is it any different from being a Demon Cultivator?

"Shen Xuan, I understand your meaning. You may leave for now."

"Yes, Sect Leader uncle."

After Shen Xuan had left.

Mysterious Trace True Master sighed.

"Shen Xuan is indeed a Core Formation Seed."

"There is a glimmer of hope for reaching the Golden Core."

With these words, Master Gu Feng's expression became unnatural.

Master Cold Jade wasn't wrong.

Being a Wood Cultivator herself, she couldn't guide Shen Xuan's cultivation.

As Shen Xuan's Realm Cultivation advances, he will increasingly need his master's guidance.

Techniques are not lightly passed on.

In the world, people say: thousands of books in a False Inheritance, but a single word in a True Inheritance.

For cultivators, direction matters more than effort.

Many times, during cultivation, one may stray into the wrong path or encounter difficulties.

A master's guidance can make everything clear.

If Shen Xuan does not change allegiances, he can only rely on himself for his path of cultivation.

Master Gu Feng's help to him is limited.

"Gu Feng junior sister, I remember your eldest disciple, Yun Chixin, has reached Foundation Establishment Perfection and returned to the sect after experiences, right?"

"Yes, Sect Leader senior brother."

Mysterious Trace True Master took out a Jade Box, inside which lay a pitch-black Nine-Petaled Strange Flower.

"What is this?"

"A Core Formation Spiritual Object, the Nine Nether Soul Refining Flower."

Mysterious Trace True Master spoke gently.

Even for him, for the sake of the sect's greater good, offering such a Core Formation Spiritual Object was still somewhat heart-wrenching.

This Nine Nether Soul Refining Flower grows in the depths of the Nine Netherworld, a place shrouded in Nether Qi, using the Nether Qi of the Nine Netherworld as nourishment, and it takes a thousand years to mature and bloom.

It is one of the best Core Formation Spiritual Objects for Wood Cultivators, capable of strengthening and enhancing Divine Soul Power.

"Yun Chixin is about to strive for Condensing the Inner Core. From my perspective, if preparations are thorough, the chance of success is not small."

"Gu Feng junior sister, I suggest you focus on assisting Yun Chixin with Condensing the Inner Core, how about it?"

Master Gu Feng fell silent.

The situation was quite clear.

Standing from Mysterious Trace True Master's perspective, considering from the sect's viewpoint, Shen Xuan should change allegiances, transferring to Master Cold Jade's tutelage.

As an Ice Cultivator True Master, she is a high-end power in the sect, with significant deterrence externally.

As the Sect Leader, Mysterious Trace True Master certainly does not wish for Cold Jade Peak to break off its inheritance.

"How about this. Shen Xuan remains Master Gu Feng's direct disciple. At the same time, he also joins Cold Jade junior sister's tutelage as her direct disciple."

"Junior sister listens to Sect Leader senior brother."

Having spoken to this extent, Master Gu Feng could only comply.

If she continued to refuse.

It would be detrimental both to herself and to Shen Xuan.

"It's just, over at Shen Xuan's side..."

Shen Xuan had just made his stance clear, and now the sect wanted him to change allegiances, Master Gu Feng found it difficult to tell him.

"No worries, I'll speak to him personally about this matter."

"Very well. Junior sister shall take her leave first."

Master Gu Feng glanced at Master Cold Jade.

This time, Master Cold Jade appeared solemn, cupping her fists in salute.

Master Gu Feng nodded slightly, accepted Master Cold Jade's full salute, and Shi Ranran walked out of the council hall.

"All right! Cold Jade junior sister, I've finally resolved your issue!"

Mysterious Trace True Master's voice carried a hint of fatigue.

Being the Sect Leader is so exhausting.

Really want to resign and focus on cultivation in peace.

But the sect's five Golden Cores.

Spirit Sword focuses solely on sword training, Hidden Aspect is laid-back by nature, Celestial Thunder has a fiery personality, and Celestial Wind is stubborn.

Aside from him, no one else is suitable for the role of Sect Leader.

Master Lingxiao is indeed a suitable candidate.

It's just that his qualifications are still shallow, his foundation isn't deep, and he has no family backing or prospects.

After condensing a Golden Core, he can only be the head of the Thirteen Outer Peaks.

To take over as Sect Leader, without over a hundred years of accumulation, it's difficult!

"Cold Jade thanks Sect Leader senior brother."

Master Cold Jade rarely showed a smile.

This time, she gained.

She acquired a direct disciple for free.

Not only is he extraordinarily talented, but also excels in management.

Truly a well-rounded talent.

"My Nine Nether Soul Refining Flower..."

"The Sect Leader Senior Brother is not one to care about mere Nine Nether Soul Refining Flowers!"

Master Cold Jade resolutely said.

Not to mention she didn't have any Core Formation Spiritual Objects of the same quality.

Even if she did, she certainly wouldn't bring them out.

Mysterious Trace True Master, as the Sect Leader, discovering and nurturing Core Formation Seeds, mediating disputes, and balancing the powers of the peaks is naturally his responsibility.

"Alright then! In this way, your Cold Jade Peak will have successors! Don't come complaining to me in the future."

Mysterious Trace True Master shook his head and said.

...

Leaving the main hall for deliberations.

Master Cold Jade returned to Cold Jade Peak.

Her only direct disciple, Liu Bingyu, greeted her at the entrance.

"Master, some say you and Uncle-Master Gu Feng got into a fight!"

Liu Bingyu observed her master's expression and quietly asked.

Master Cold Jade disdainfully said, "Nonsense! Does Gu Feng dare to make a move against me?"

"Then, they say you want to snatch Uncle-Master Gu Feng's disciple, is it true?"

"What snatching! Where did you hear such nonsense?"

Master Cold Jade revealed a slight smile.

"Shen Xuan has great Talent in Ice Technique. I cannot bear to let such a brilliant jewel be tarnished by Gu Feng, so I specially suggested to the Sect Leader Senior Brother to let Shen Xuan transfer to my tutelage."

"Ah!"

Liu Bingyu's small mouth opened wide and couldn't close.

Isn't this exactly snatching Uncle-Master Gu Feng's disciple! Yet, Master spoke so righteously.

"What did Uncle-Master Sect Leader say?"

"What could he say? I considered the sect's interests, he naturally gave strong support."

"Did Uncle-Master Gu Feng agree?"

"She has no choice but to agree! For public and private reasons, she must agree!"

Master Cold Jade said with not a little pride.

This is an open conspiracy.

Master Gu Feng cannot unravel it.

"Congratulations Master on gaining such a fine disciple!"

"Master, should I call him Senior Brother or Junior Brother?"

Master Cold Jade thought for a moment.

"In the Gu Feng lineage, it seems they are ranked by age."

"Then I'll respect him as Senior Brother!"

Liu Bingyu's joy was evident.

Hmm, here's to Senior Brother Shen taking over the mantle of Cold Jade Peak's inheritance in the future.

No more self-pitying over cultivation issues.

For an Ice Cultivator, condensing the Inner Core is extremely difficult.

It's not that she didn't work hard.

She truly couldn't meet her master's expectations.

In the future, such matters will all be borne by Senior Brother Shen.

Master Cold Jade had long understood Liu Bingyu's thoughts.

Seeing her so joyful, she couldn't help but sigh slightly in her heart.

Even among the sect's Core Formation Seeds, less than twenty percent successfully condense the Inner Core.

For one with qualifications and disposition like Liu Bingyu.

The most likely outcome is merely a Fake Pill.

Though it can enhance power and prolong life.

But compared to a True Pill Master, a Fake Pill Master's path is blocked, the power gap is evident, and their status is not to be mentioned in the same breath, incomparable.

...

At this time.

Shuiyue Residence, Practice Room.

Shen Xuan quietly recalled today's events.

"Need to change sects!"

When Mysterious Trace True Master asked him, he expressed his intentions under the guise of swapping friends for Dao partners.

In truth, he leaned towards transferring to Master Cold Jade's tutelage.

After all, Master Cold Jade is genuinely an Ice Technique True Master, with astonishing combat power.

Following Master Cold Jade as a mentor, his future cultivation path would be smoother,

Master Gu Feng is indeed a kind person.

However, in terms of 'companions, methods, and land', aside from the 'land', she could not offer much help.

"No matter what, Master took me in as a disciple during my most difficult times, bestowing me with a Cultivation Technique and status, this kindness I must not forget."

Shen Xuan felt clear-hearted.

In the face of sect interests, his personal stance was insignificant.

Although he made clear his intention to be under Master Gu Feng,

for the sake of sect interests, to support him in condensing the Inner Core, they would let him transfer to Master Cold Jade's tutelage.

It's merely persuading Master Gu Feng to relinquish some benefits.

Shen Xuan was determined to condense the Inner Core.

But on Little Gu Feng, there was already Senior Sister Yun Chixin at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

And his peer and long-time friend Qin Yuehan.

If Shen Xuan stayed on Little Gu Feng,

it would inevitably affect these two's efforts to achieve Core Formation.

This was something Shen Xuan was unwilling to see.

Moreover, after transferring to Cold Jade Peak.

There, only Liu Bingyu was a direct disciple.

The hope of her condensing the Inner Core was dim.

Master Cold Jade would surely exert all efforts to support him, to achieve Core Formation, and continue her heritage.

This is what Shen Xuan hoped for.

Cyan Cloud Sect is one of the seven major sects of Song Country.

It is the de facto ruling class of Song Country.

Staying under this mighty tree, with the Mysterious Jade Talisman in hand, as long as he had sufficient Cultivation Resources, the chance of successfully condensing the Inner Core was high.

Shen Xuan was not aware.

At the same moment.

His master, Master Gu Feng, was discussing his transition with Senior Disciple Yun Chixin.

"Junior Brother Shen is going to be under Master Cold Jade?"

Yun Chixin looked at Master Gu Feng in astonishment.

Maintaining his original status while entering under Master Cold Jade.

Such a thing was extremely rare.

Yun Chixin heard of it for the first time.

Master Gu Feng nodded slightly.

Then, she took out a Jade Box containing the Nine Nether Soul Refining Flower.

"Nine Nether Soul Refining Flower! Master, where did you get this?"

"This is given to you by Uncle-Master Sect Leader."

Yun Chixin fell silent.

She understood that this Nine Nether Soul Refining Flower was the Sect Leader's compensation to Master.

The so-called maintaining original status was merely a respectable way of putting it.

After a while.

Yun Chixin suddenly asked, "Master, I heard that Lei Yaoyang from Celestial Thunder Peak has repeatedly troubled Junior Brother Shen?"

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