Since she was a spiritual entity, Yaoyun appeared wreathed in a soft, ethereal glow. Her skin was as flawless as jade, her beauty like a painting. Currently, her presence had an added air of liveliness and mystique. She stood quietly as the surrounding brilliance gradually dimmed. Though her feathered gown left much of her skin exposed, she was so dignified that she exuded no trace of impropriety. Yaoyun's dark hair coiled about her temples like drifting clouds, and her crimson hairpin complemented her delicate lips. Moreover, her eyebrows and eyes shimmered with subtle charm, and her jade-like skin looked radiant under her cold immortal aura. Her personality had some resemblance to Mu Wanxuan's, but her gaze conveyed a natural authority and a cool indifference that made her difficult to approach. Mu Wanxuan looked far gentler in comparison. The villa now had a trinity of dazzling beauties. Xi Lian's allure leaned toward mortal charm. Though. Slightly lacking in immortal grace, she was faintly overshadowed. Yaoyun looked at Wang Sheng. Had they not seen her fly out of Spiritless, no one would have believed that she was only a spirit. Her lips only moved ever so slightly as she instructed, "You will preside over the ceremony later." Wang Sheng nodded. "Alright." Beside her, Mu Wanxuan and the projection of Qing Yanzi both cupped their hands and bowed respectfully. Wang Sheng's parents also bowed somewhat nervously. Yaoyun returned their courtesies one by one. Though her expression remained distant and cold, her manners were flawless. "Today I shall take Xiaomiao as my disciple. I will pass down to her the profound techniques of immortality and entrust her with my legacy. I ask all of you to bear witness. Should anyone question her master's lineage in the future, let there be no doubt." Qing Yanzi chuckled and clasped his hands. —Worry not, Senior. However, if others ask who exactly Xiaomiao's master is, what should we tell them? Yaoyun's tone softened slightly. "I am the daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, enlightened by the Jade Lotus of the Jade Pool. I have cultivated for over one hundred thousand years and attained immortality." Wang Sheng blinked. Isn't she only at the Heavenly Immortal Realm? I remember her telling me that she was still on the verge of stepping into the Golden Immortal Realm, yet now… Well, maybe she just got carried away due to her self-introduction. Exaggerating one's own realm a little is understandable. Wang Sheng smiled in amusement. Yaoyun glanced at him, then sat gracefully beside Spiritless. As a princess of the Heavenly Court, she maintained a stately posture and always moved with elegance. No one could find the slightest flaw in her demeanor. Once seated, Mu Wanxuan served her a cup of fragrant tea. Unable to drink it since she was a spirit, Yaoyun simply left it before her as a formality. "I'll go check on Xiaomiao," Wang Sheng said. "No need! She's coming!" Xi Lian shouted from upstairs. The elevator slowly descended, and Xiaomiao hopped out, fully dressed and adorned. Her looks were a testament to Xi Lian's skills. Just yesterday, Wang Xiaomiao had been a simple middle-school girl. Now, clad in an ancient gown with her hair bound in twin buns, she looked like a little palace maid who had stepped out of a period drama. Wang Sheng stepped forward. "Xiaomiao, meet Yaoyun, the master I have invited for you. She is a true immortal. To be accepted as her disciple is an extraordinary blessing. When you perform the disciple's rites, you have to be respectful; make sure not to make even the slightest negligence." "Understood!" Xiaomiao answered crisply. She then cast a puzzled glance at her brother. Why is he suddenly speaking so formally? Wang Sheng then led her into the living room. Mu Wanxuan had already brought over a meditation cushion using her enchanted power and placed it before Yaoyun. Xi Lian also reverted to her graceful form and walked forward, her eyes filled with charm as she respectfully bowed to Yaoyun. The atmosphere in the living room grew solemn. Wang Sheng's parents watched their daughter nervously, afraid she would blunder during such an important moment. Fortunately, while dressing her, Xi Lian had already whispered instructions. "When you meet your master, don't hesitate to kneel and kowtow." The moment Wang Sheng introduced Yaoyun as Xiaomiao's master, her immortal majesty momentarily dumbfounded Xiaomiao. However, recalling Xi Lian's reminder, she promptly knelt upon the cushion. I am but a head-bowing machine, she thought. Without hesitation, she raised her small hands and began kowtowing. Momentarily stunned, Yaoyun almost rose to help her up. Wang Sheng quickly pressed on his sister's shoulder. "Calm down. Listen to your master first." "Oh." Xiaomiao pursed her lips and fixed her gaze on the dazzling woman before her. "Xiaomiao," Yaoyun called. Yaoyun nodded in satisfaction. Slowly, she said, "Before I accept you as my disciple, you must first understand three things." "I understand, Master." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✦𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚✦𝕟𝕖𝕥 Wang Sheng chuckled. "She hasn't even told you the three things yet." Xiaomiao stuck out her tongue and glared at her brother. Can you stop spoiling the moment? "These things are of great importance," Yaoyun added. "I will explain them to you as best as I can today to show you the path you are about to take." She rose and circled Xiaomiao slowly, as if examining her new disciple. "First, I am now but the sword spirit of your brother's longsword. I can guide your cultivation, but I cannot pass down my own cultivation to you. Your path will be filled with hardships." "I'm not afraid," Xiaomiao answered firmly. "Second, I was once a princess of the Heavenly Court. However, the Heavenly Court has fallen into calamity. Beyond this realm, I am seen as an enemy. If you become my disciple, you may find fewer paths of retreat in the future." "Nevertheless, I'm willing to follow you, Master," Xiaomiao replied without hesitation. "You're my brother's sword spirit, Master, which means you share his fate. As his sister, I should share his and your fate as well." Yaoyun's and Mu Wanxuan's lips curved in a faint smile. Meanwhile, Xi Lian muttered under her breath, "Sounds like a tongue-twister." "Third." Yaoyun now sounded gentler. "As my disciple, should you one day find the Heavenly Court, it will be your duty to help restore its former glory. Do you accept?" "Good. From this day forth, you are now my disciple." Yaoyun returned to her seat, which was beside a cloud-wreathed incense altar. Behind her stood Spiritless and a divine diagram. "Commence the disciple's rite," Wang Sheng instructed. "Master, I offer you my respects!" Xiaomiao raised her small hands and kowtowed once more. Though she was still a little stiff, her bows were now firmer and even a little joyful. She kowtowed seven to eight times before Yaoyun raised her hand and, with invisible force, lifted Xiaomiao upright. Threads of immortal light flowed into Xiaomiao. The primal qi of heaven and earth within a hundred miles had been stirred, all surging toward this place. At Yaoyun's fingertips, the surging qi condensed into strands of pure immortal power, reshaping Wang Xiaomiao. She telepathically declared to everyone, "From now on, you are to respect the Dao and honor me, your master. You must revere heaven and earth, respect your parents, honor the Three Pure Ones, and bow to the immortals of the Heavenly Court. Do not defy me, do not offend your elders, do not bully the weak, and do not cause needless bloodshed. "Be righteous, loyal, and filial. Understand the difficulty of all living things in their struggle to survive and learn that the Great Dao is merciless yet embraces compassion. If you attain immortality one day, then all my efforts will not have been in vain." Xiaomiao raised her head as though waking from a dream. Yaoyun then extended a finger and touched her disciple's forehead. A spark of divine light instantly blossomed in the area she had touched, and immortal light enveloped Xiaomiao. Yaoyun passed enlightenment to Xiaomiao in a way best described with the Buddhist phrase, "pouring nectar into the mind." The immortal's touch had implanted countless information into the young girl, granting her wisdom and heightening her comprehension. When Yaoyun withdrew her finger, Wang Sheng noticed that she had grown fainter and suffused with weariness from within. Nevertheless, she smiled softly and gazed at the glowing child before her with satisfaction. She glanced at Wang Sheng, then let out a pleased sigh. "I will rest for a few days. Take care of Xiaomiao." She dissolved into a stream of light and vanished into Spiritless. Still wrapped in immortal radiance, Xiaomiao remained standing still, eyes closed as if asleep. Wang Sheng gestured at everyone to be silent. Together with his senior sister, he carried the phone displaying the projections aside. Xi Lian stayed where she was, lost in thought. Memories flickered in her eyes, touching her expression with nostalgia. That one touch of Yaoyun's finger had reminded her of the time, long ago, when she had been but a little fox. Her master, too, had once touched her forehead the same way, awakening her spiritual intelligence and her understanding of human speech. —An immortal's methods truly defy imagination. We worried so much about the child's average aptitude, never once realizing that even aptitude could be improved. Wang Sheng replied, "Yaoyun must have paid a heavy price to do this, though." His father softly posed a question. —How can we help Little Miao's master recover? "Don't worry, Dad," Wang Sheng answered with utter seriousness. "I've already prepared a dozen peerless swords. Once Spiritless devours them, Yaoyun will quickly recover." Qing Yanzi was shocked. Mu Wanxuan covered her mouth to stifle laughter, while Wang Sheng scratched his head awkwardly. Qing Yanzi, too, could not help but laugh out loud. —You rascal. Instead of cultivating properly, all you've been doing is learning how to talk slick. Anyway, I have to go. I still have a meeting to attend. "Master, did Mistress approve your leave?" Wang Sheng asked quickly. Qing Yanzi folded his hands behind his back and sighed toward the sky. —Then she said that as husband and wife, we have to share everything. She aligned her leave with mine… and sent me to work overtime. If only someone could run errands in my stead for a few days, then maybe I'd be able to enjoy a little rest. Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan exchanged a look of sympathy. Before Qing Yanzi could lament further, Wanxuan promptly pressed the "end call" button. She would never give their master a chance to assign them extra tasks!