The Hehuan Sect Was Squeezed Dry for Ten Thousand Years, but It Became a Sacred Ground?

Chapter 12: Junior Sister, Do You Seek an Opportunity?

Liu Ruyan’s voice was firm and unwavering, leaving no room for argument.

This was the result of careful deliberation on her part.

Three days for Ling, and over twenty for herself.

With such a vast gap, even if Ling had extraordinary talent, there was no way she could easily catch up.

After all, Ling was her only official disciple on the surface; it wouldn’t be appropriate to deny her outright.

“Three days?”

Nangong Ling mulled it over, finding it a bit too short.

But then she considered that Senior Brother always needed time to replenish his yang energy and felt a little better about it.

Three days were better than nothing.

“Whenever you’re ready, just come and collect the sect master’s token from me,” Liu Ruyan instructed again.

Nangong Ling cupped her hands in gratitude. “Understood. Thank you, Master, for your generosity.”

“If there’s nothing else, you may leave. Focus on comprehending your innate divine ability and do not tarnish the name of our Green Lotus Sect.” Liu Ruyan waved her off.

“Yes, Master. I will take my leave,” Nangong Ling responded before picking up the black silk on the floor, wrapping it carefully around herself, and exiting the grand hall.

Before she had gone far, she encountered someone.

She immediately stopped and greeted, “First Elder.”

“Hmm.” Xu Qingyao nodded with a warm smile.

“Is your master inside?”

“Yes, she is,” Nangong Ling replied truthfully.

Xu Qingyao stood still for a moment, watching the younger woman fade into the misty pre-dawn twilight.

Was it just her imagination?

Something seemed different about this niece of hers… Hmm, was it her walking posture?

Had she been injured in the Demon Suppression Prison?

Remembering her purpose, Xu Qingyao brushed back a stray strand of hair and headed toward the grand hall with quickened steps.

***

What happened outside the hall did not escape Liu Ruyan’s keen senses.

She leisurely sat back in her main seat, waiting.

Moments later, the crisp sound of footsteps echoed as Xu Qingyao approached, bowing slightly in greeting.

“Sect Master.”

Liu Ruyan smiled. “Didn’t I tell you before? In private, you may simply call me Senior Sister. Why the formality?”

“Etiquette must not be discarded. You are the sect master first and my senior sister second,” Xu Qingyao replied respectfully.

Liu Ruyan was inwardly pleased by her attitude and responded warmly, “What brings you here, Junior Sister?”

“Senior Sister, I have a question,” Xu Qingyao said.

“What is it?” Liu Ruyan raised an eyebrow, already having some idea based on earlier events.

As expected, Xu Qingyao didn’t mince words. “What exactly is inside the Demon Suppression Prison?”

“What could there be? Just some vicious, malevolent beasts,” Liu Ruyan replied dismissively, trying to brush the topic aside.

But Xu Qingyao wasn’t going to let her off so easily.

“Then why is the prison designated a sect-prohibited zone? Why have you broken through multiple times there over the past century? And why is Junior Niece being sent there now?”

Her words barely stopped short of accusing Liu Ruyan of hoarding treasures for herself.

Liu Ruyan’s expression darkened, her anger rising. “Watch your words!”

Her immense aura bore down like a storm cloud, nearly causing Xu Qingyao, a peak Golden Core cultivator, to buckle under the pressure.

A metallic taste rose in her throat, but she forced it down.

Xu Qingyao smiled bitterly.

The gap between them was *insurmountable.

[*too great to be overcome.].

While the Green Lotus Sect was ranked among the top sects in the Xia Dynasty, it owed much of its status to Liu Ruyan.

Without her, the sect barely qualified as second-rate.

And for someone like Xu Qingyao who was two major realms below the sect master, serving as the first elder was unheard of.

This thought sparked an idea in her mind.

Without any regard for her dignity, she suddenly dropped to the floor, causing her ample figure to ripple.

She pounded the ground dramatically, wailing like a common street woman.

“Sect Master, Senior Sister! Your Junior Sister is in agony!”

Liu Ruyan was momentarily stunned. Her oppressive aura dissipated as she asked, “Junior Sister, what’s wrong? Get up!”

But Xu Qingyao didn’t move. Instead, she sobbed harder.

“Senior Sister, you know me. Ever since our master ascended, I’ve been diligently assisting you, tirelessly managing sect affairs. I’ve even delayed my own cultivation for the sect’s sake.”

“But watching you grow stronger and lead the sect to new heights terrifies me!”

“I fear that one day, I won’t even see your shadow anymore—that the Green Lotus Sect will abandon me!”

Her heartfelt words, accompanied by tears, painted a poignant picture.

Liu Ruyan was taken aback. “How could that happen? You’re my only Junior Sister!”

“Senior Sister treats me well, but I understand… The Green Lotus Sect cannot settle for mediocrity. Its future cannot tolerate a mere Golden Core cultivator as its first elder.”

Xu Qingyao lowered her gaze, her delicate features hiding a mix of emotions.

Her words carried a genuine plea.

She knew her Senior Sister’s nature well. If things continued as they were, she would undoubtedly be cast aside in the future.

This was why she had been so bold in bringing up the secrets of the Demon Suppression Prison.

If both her Senior Sister and Junior Niece could benefit from it, then the opportunities inside must be shareable.

For the sake of her cultivation, no matter how slim the chance, she had to try.

Losing face in private was a small price to pay. Being stripped of her position and cast aside one day—that would be a complete and utter defeat.

Liu Ruyan finally understood her Junior Sister’s roundabout words.

She was asking for access to the Demon Suppression Prison.

Though her request displeased Liu Ruyan, it was the first time she’d seen Xu Qingyao so humble.

Her conflicting emotions—annoyance and satisfaction—warred within her.

One thing was certain: Xu Qingyao had a point.

Right now, aside from herself, the Green Lotus Sect had no one truly capable of holding the fort.

Her Junior Sister, a peak Golden Core cultivator, was actually the second strongest in the sect.

That wouldn’t do.

Sect strength was a key metric for evaluating a sect’s status.

Liu Ruyan’s gaze fell on Xu Qingyao’s alluring figure.

As an idea formed in her mind, her lips curved into a faint smile.

“Junior Sister, do you seek an opportunity?”