"If that child falls, the Shangguan Family will lose its greatest hope."
"On the other hand, no matter how tough a girl is, she will still have her soft side compared to the men. Girls will know to protect themselves better as well, and they lack the ambitious will in comparison to the boys. They don't forget their roots, so they'll be more diligent in taking care of their maternal family… With the presence of a deity, that very same sense of caution can surely secure Shangguan Family's longevity. This is a long-term solution."
Old Mistress Shangguan hesitated at this point, feeling that whatever thoughts she had were blatant before this fairy. It would be detestable if she held back. Finally, she blurted what was kept deepest in her heart. "Also, with Lingxiu's intelligence and beauty… her husband will definitely be an upcoming talent as well if she could rise in the divine realm!"
"If so, the Shangguan Family would have sent only one person away with a high probability of receiving two in return - or even more guardians! This is where my most selfish thought lies."
The old mistress smiled. "This way, even as I fulfill Lingxiu's wishes, the longevity of the family is figured out as well… No matter how I think of it, I don't think it's any loss."
"Old Mistress' words are very sincere," commended the lady in the white dress with a soft smile.
Old Mistress chuckled humorlessly. "It's because I'm before you, divine one. How dare I keep anything from you?"
"You are Shangguan Lingxiu?" The lady in white smiled and looked at Shangguan Lingxiu.
"Yes," answered Shangguan Lingxiu humbly.
"Born in the year of Bing Zi, you're already twenty-three years old this year," said the lady, "What is rare is that you have an innate phoenix physique, your meridians are obscured but smooth-flowing, and you have the quality of yonder Yin and are completely whole. Your meridians are limited by this realm, hidden but not blocked, but it's easy to resolve this temporal shortcoming. It's only a matter, of course, to advance leaps and bounds in the future… Not bad, not bad at all!"
Old Mistress and Shangguan Lingxiu were thoroughly surprised, waves of emotions washing over them.
They had just met, only getting to know each other, and the old mistress had not told her anything about Shangguan Lingxiu, yet she could list everything off as if memorized without any mistake.
"Are you willing to leave with me? To become my disciple?" asked the lady with a smile.
"Lingxiu would be happy to."
The lady dressed in white then asked with a smile, "Is there anything you haven't done before we depart?"
Shangguan Lingxiu blushed and her eyes were rimmed red as she spoke with a slight sob, "Can I ask… divine one to allow me some time?"
"I can only give you four hours at most," answered the lady faintly.
Shangguan Lingxiu was even more perplexed once she heard the reply, not knowing how to react.
"This teacher does not mean to be merciless. Firstly, this realm's level is too low. It can hardly accept my Empyrean Force. Four hours is the limit. Secondly, since you wish to embark on this divine journey, you must learn to get used to everything that follows from now."
"The said pinnacle of martial arts has always been too high, too cold, too… lonely. The higher the peak, the fewer companions one shall have."
The lady dressed in white concluded with a sigh. She then cast a careful glance at Shangguan Lingxiu and said, "Although your destiny is striking, you're fated not to be able to partake in any more of this world's humanly affairs."
"This disciple understands," Shangguan Lingxiu sighed softly as she replied.
"What do you understand?" asked the lady.
Shangguan Lingxiu elaborated sadly, "Once I begin cultivating… time will fly and the journey is long… a universe across, I'm afraid…"
"The deity and human realm are two worlds, it's been so since the beginning of time…" said the lady.
The old mistress spoke up softly from the sidelines, "Lingxiu is under your care from now on, divine one… I'm old, I'm afraid I won't be able to anticipate her return… Everything will…" Her voice became a sob before she could complete her sentence.
The lady in white dress comforted her gently, "Don't worry, Old Mistress. I will take good care of Lingxiu when she's my disciple. As long as she cultivates diligently, I can guarantee that her life will be smooth-sailing and her wishes shall come true. No one across the universe will dare provoke her and no one across the realms will dare bully her. It's only a matter of time."
She then smiled proudly and said, "Even the ten brothers who act brazenly across the universe… they'll have much to ponder about if they want to bully my disciple. When they're done considering, they'll eventually have to give up on the thoughts."
She had spoken very firmly, but it was a pity that Old Mistress Shangguan and Shangguan Lingxiu did not even know who the ten brazen brothers were. Naturally, there was no veneration. They were more intimidated by the Empyrean Force mentioned that Tianxuan Continent could not even contain for more than four hours. What level and standard was such power?
However, the authoritarian tone of Shangguan Lingxiu's new master allowed Old Mistress Shangguan's lurching heart to finally be at ease. It seemed that her granddaughter's deity master was accomplished; the Empyrean Force sounded absolutely magnificent…
"This shall be all that we address for now. We'll complete the ceremony when we go back." The lady in white smiled and said, "Lingxiu is my first disciple ever and I'm afraid she's the only one as well. The ceremony can't be simple and the gifts to be received won't be few. I'll have to hunt for some then."
Old Mistress Shangguan felt even more assured when she heard this. What transpired were obvious hints that the beautiful fairy regarded Shangguan Lingxiu highly. Before she accepted her as a disciple formally, she was already beginning to plan the far future for her to-be student.
"Honestly, I didn't have any plans to take on any disciples. How unexpected that I've skimmed some benefit from fatty after all! The cause and effect of this matter are heaven's will!" The lady smiled faintly and said, "Four hours it is. Complete what you should quickly. No need to pay attention to me. I have to calm myself down and suppress my power. This realm is really too weak. Any leakage of my energy can cause a substantial effect."
Then, the lady vanished with a spin of her body.
Right up to that point, Shangguan Lingxiu was still dazed.
Before the three joss sticks were lit, Shangguan Lingxiu was anticipating something, but she was also slightly skeptical, disbelieving, amazed and very slightly amused.
After the incident of the Seventeenth Master of Ninth Abyss' dragon hide treasure map, Shangguan Lingxiu was already certain that there were deities in this world. There were masterful presences that exceeded the knowledge of this realm's cultivators. However, would they really come over with such 'effortful' summoning, even when they really did exist?
At this time on this realm, it had been a hundred to two hundred generations of the Shangguan Family and at least five thousand long years since the incense was given back then. Not only had time changed, it was not an exaggeration to say that the oceans could have already turned into land. Could the magic still take place?
Furthermore, like what she had said, this was not something to be settled in a few days.
Surprise, surprise, the deity was here before the joss sticks were reduced to ashes!