Chapter Fourteen: An Yue'er

A glimmer of intelligence shone in the woman's eyes as she continued, "Though the Fire Moon Sect may be insignificant in strength, it represents the weaker factions. Moreover, it has managed to survive under the dominance of the Crimson Flame Sect—clearly, this sect is not as simple as it seems!"

At these words, Chen Lin was momentarily taken aback.

...

Fire Moon Sect.

The main hall of the sect.

Yu Qiushui was gathered with the sect elders, holding council in the ancient hall.

"Old Sect Master, why not activate the mountain-guarding formation? If the Crimson Flame Sect comes, at least we would have some means of defending ourselves!" one elder said nervously.

Ever since the sect master's decree was issued, the elders had been on edge day and night.

To declare war against the Crimson Flame Sect was nothing short of courting death.

Yet, judging by the calm expressions of the former sect master and his companions, they exuded great confidence.

Not only that, but they had instructed the disciples to focus on their cultivation behind closed doors, paying no heed to the Crimson Flame Sect.

At first, the elders thought their leaders had lost their minds.

But unexpectedly, the notoriously ruthless Crimson Flame Sect had yet to make a move against them.

This contradicted everything known about their domineering nature.

"Rest assured, everyone. An entire month has passed; if they intended to come, they would have done so already!" Yu Qiushui smiled faintly, a weight lifted from his heart.

He had refrained from activating the mountain-guarding formation for a reason: if the forces behind the Crimson Flame Sect were to strike, even the greatest defense would be useless.

But if their provocation did draw out those hidden powers, then the sect could at least offer some small assistance to Senior Zhu.

And should those powers make their move, it was unlikely that Senior Zhu would stand idly by. In that case, what reason was left for fear?

Their decision was, in truth, a gamble. Though it might spell doom for the sect, Yu Qiushui believed that, in light of Senior Zhu's immense kindness to them, sacrificing the entire sect would be a worthy price.

With Senior Zhu's peerless cultivation, if he remembered their debt, he could surely rebuild the Fire Moon Sect into something even more glorious.

Yet, events had not unfolded as he had hoped.

The infamous Crimson Flame Sect still had not acted against them.

Those wretched cowards—at the critical moment, they proved utterly useless.

Yu Qiushui waited and waited, until his hair turned white.

A miscalculation!

...

"Princess Anyue of the Annan Kingdom has come to visit the Fire Moon Sect."

Suddenly, a powerful voice rang out from beyond the sect gates.

The faces of all present in the great hall changed at once.

"Why would the princess of Annan Kingdom come here?"

"Anyue—she is the third daughter of the Annan Emperor."

"When did our Fire Moon Sect ever have dealings with the royal family? For what reason has the third princess come?"

The elders began to speculate among themselves.

Yu Qiushui, however, was keenly aware that even the royal family had taken notice—clearly, this visit was of no ordinary purpose.

"Everyone, come with me to welcome the princess!" he declared.

Yu Qiushui then led the elders out to greet Anyue.

"Welcome, Princess Anyue!" he called, and at his words, the airship at the mountain gate sailed gracefully inside.

Chen Lin, observing the state of the Fire Moon Sect, was puzzled. "This sect is simply reckless. After declaring war on the Crimson Flame Sect, their defenses are so lax—not even the protective formation has been activated. And from the looks of it, everyone is going about as usual, without a trace of vigilance!"

Anyue's eyes shone with a different light. "Reckless? I rather think the Fire Moon Sect simply does not take the Crimson Flame Sect seriously at all!"

Yet, inwardly, she was deeply curious. How could such an unremarkable sect possess such confidence?

The airship descended gently.

"I am Huang Xiantang, sect master of the Fire Moon Sect. This is my master, Yu Qiushui, the former sect master. Together with the elders of our sect, we greet Princess Anyue with the highest respect." Huang Xiantang offered a respectful bow.

Anyue nodded, waved her jade hand, and stored the airship within her sleeve. She then gazed at Huang Xiantang in surprise. "Sect Master Huang, have you ascended to the Spirit Severing Realm?"

With her powerful spiritual sense, she could easily discern his level.

Yet, according to her information, the Fire Moon Sect was only of star rank, with their strongest cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage.

But Huang Xiantang had clearly reached the Spirit Severing stage.

This was no ordinary star-ranked sect—this was a genuine moon-ranked sect!

She swept her divine sense over the gathered crowd, and her astonishment deepened.

The elder named Yu Qiushui was not only at the Spirit Severing Realm, but faintly showed signs of entering the Void Fusion stage.

This could not even be considered a mere moon-ranked sect—it was on the verge of becoming a sun-ranked sect.

Though the royal family of Annan Kingdom was exceedingly powerful, a true transcendent force with experts at the Grand Ascension level, even a sun-ranked sect would command their attention.

Yet, none of them seemed to realize the true state of the Fire Moon Sect.

At that moment, her gaze fell upon Leng Qianxue, and she involuntarily trembled.

"A genius for the ages!"

This young woman, about the same age as herself, had already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and showed signs of stepping into the Spirit Severing Realm.

How terrifying was this?

She stared intently at Leng Qianxue. "May I ask who this young lady's master is?"

Yu Qiushui smiled and replied, "This is Leng Qianxue, our Fire Moon Sect's Saintess. Her cultivation is modest and surely beneath your notice, Princess!"

He paused, then added, "As for Qianxue's master, forgive this old man for keeping that a secret. I cannot share that information."

Though Huang Xiantang was her teacher in name, Leng Qianxue's true cultivation was bestowed by Senior Zhu.

But since Senior Zhu had not formally taken her as a disciple, Yu Qiushui could not claim otherwise.

At his words, Anyue's lips twitched, her expression complex.

You call this 'modest cultivation'? Are you trying to infuriate me?

As a princess of Annan Kingdom, she had never lacked for resources, and her master was a Void Fusion expert—she enjoyed every possible advantage, yet had only just reached the eighth level of the Nascent Soul stage.

Even so, few in all the kingdom could match her.

Yet here, in this supposedly insignificant Fire Moon Sect, was a peerless genius, her own age, on the threshold of the Spirit Severing Realm.

Instantly, she felt her pride was sorely wounded.

Such a prodigy—there could be few equals in all Annan Kingdom.

Then, her mind began to turn.

Yu Qiushui had just refused to reveal Leng Qianxue's master.

Did that mean her master was not present here, but was rather a formidable presence lurking behind the Fire Moon Sect?

Perhaps... Leng Qianxue's master was the true foundation of the sect's confidence.

For a moment, she felt as if she had glimpsed the truth.

"Your Highness, please come take your seat in the hall," Huang Xiantang invited.