The Ancestral Master

Zongmen Hall, Xuanji Sect.

“You say your master is Elder Yuanming?”

Xu Yi nodded, “Indeed.”

Elder Qingfeng stroked his chin, appraising the figure before him, clad in an old-fashioned Daoist robe.

She stood tall and slender like a bamboo shoot, with a lively aura in her youthful countenance, which he found intriguing.

When he had first brought her back, she appeared ashen and lifeless, just an ordinary disciple in his eyes.

Little did he expect her to utter such astonishing words, claiming such a lofty status.

Elder Qingfeng dismissed her words as the ramblings of a confused disciple struck by lightning, not taking them to heart.

However, when Elder Chen, responsible for managing the sect’s ancient records, presented an aged portrait before him, any trace of indifference vanished from Elder Qingfeng’s countenance.

He gazed at the vivid depiction of the woman in the painting, then turned his eyes to the vibrant Xu Yi standing before him.

Slapping his forehead as if struck by fire, he leaped up from his chair.

Elder Chen, equally astonished, looked at Xu Yi and said to Elder Qingfeng, “This portrait was left behind by Elder Yuanming. According to the records, it depicts his senior disciple who went missing during his travels, and it bears an uncanny resemblance to her.”

Elder Qingfeng stared at the signature on the painting, which unmistakably read “Yuanming,” then pointed at Xu Yi, struggling to find words but failing, his face turning red.

Elder Chen swiftly slapped Elder Qingfeng’s hand, his expression unwavering.

“Don’t be disrespectful.” Elder Qingfeng hastily withdrew his hand, realizing the impropriety of his actions only after being reminded by Elder Chen.

If Xu Yi’s words were true, then in terms of seniority, he would have to address her as…

Ancestral Master?

Ancestral Master!

Looking at Xu Yi, whose age was akin to that of his granddaughter, Elder Qingfeng found himself unable to utter those two words.

Xu Yi, upon seeing the portrait and thinking of her master, felt her eyes welling up with tears, barely managing to hold them back.

Observing Elder Qingfeng’s struggle to speak, Elder Chen asked, “This person…” Elder Chen hesitated, clearly unsure how to address Xu Yi.

After a moment of hesitation, he decided to ignore the issue of address and asked directly, “In the collection left behind by Elder Yuanming before his ascension, apart from this portrait, there is no other evidence to confirm your identity. Do you have anything on you that can serve as proof?”

It was not unreasonable for Elder Chen to be cautious.

Anyone would have doubts when suddenly confronted with a supposed ancestral master who had been missing for two thousand years.

“I do.” Xu Yi replied and proceeded to retrieve a handful of items from her storage pouch, pointing them out one by one to the two elders.

“This is my identity token, this is the introductory technique bestowed upon me by my master, this is the spiritual key to unlock the barrier in the main hall, and this is…”

As one of the senior disciples accepted by Elder Yuanming, Xu Yi possessed numerous items that symbolized her status.

With each familiar item that appeared, the concerns of Elder Chen and Elder Qingfeng were completely dispelled.

Exchanging a glance, they both held a single thought in their minds: it seemed that their Xuanji Sect was truly gaining a young ancestral master.

After Xu Yi finished introducing all the items, the two elders respectfully addressed her, “Greetings, Ancestral Master.”

Xu Yi nearly stumbled in disbelief, looking at them with a mixture of shock and fear. Ancestral… Ancestral Master?

“No, no, I am not the Ancestral Master… um…”

In a moment of haste and chaos, Xu Yi accidentally bit her tongue, causing her to hop around while covering her mouth.

Elder Chen anxiously approached, “Be careful, Ancestral Master Xu.”

Xu Yi could only wave her hands, unable to speak.

Seeing Xu Yi’s agitated state, the slight reluctance in their hearts diminished.

After a moment of panic and commotion, Xu Yi and the two elders finally sat down and engaged in a heated discussion regarding the title of “Ancestral Master.”

Xu Yi expressed her youth and limited experience, feeling unworthy of such a weighty appellation.

However, the two elders remained resolute in their stance.

According to seniority, Xu Yi was undoubtedly deserving of the title “Ancestral Master.”

Without addressing Xu Yi as such, they had no better alternative.

It would be disrespectful to address her by name alone.

Xu Yi’s opposition held no sway against the dominance of the two elders.

As she walked out of the sect’s main hall with a heavy heart, she could still hear them discussing when to hold the sect ceremony to publicly announce her identity.

The thought of being respectfully addressed as “Ancestral Master” by all disciples of the Xuanji Sect wherever she went overwhelmed Xu Yi.

She blamed it all on that accursed secret realm!

With a dejected demeanor, she returned to her resting place, only to spot Putao lingering outside the door.

Xu Yi’s eyes brightened, and she beckoned Putao to come in.

Putao smiled radiantly and hurried inside, but just as she was about to reach Xu Yi, she hesitated and asked, “Greetings, Ancestral Master?”

Xu Yi felt as if she had been plunged into an icy abyss, her whole body stiffening.

After a long pause, she asked softly, “You know too?”

Putao glanced at her expression and cautiously nodded, taking out a palm-sized disc from her storage pouch and aiming it at Xu Yi.

Just then, a resounding voice emanated from within.

“Whenever you encounter Ancestral Master Xu Yi, you must pay your respects and greet her, never to be taken lightly.”

“The date for the sect ceremony is tentatively set for a month from now, and disciples currently outside the sect must return to participate.”

“In case of special circumstances, please report to your respective masters, but you must observe the ceremony through your respective scrying lenses.”

Xu Yi looked at the disc in astonishment, “What is this? How can it transmit sound over long distances? And what is a scrying lens?”

So many unforeseen changes had occurred in the past two thousand years, leaving Xu Yi bewildered.

Besides the astonishment filling her heart, there was also a sense of panic from being abandoned by the flow of time.

Putao had already held a favorable opinion of Xu Yi, and upon learning that she was the long-lost Ancestral Master of the sect, she told Xu Yi everything she knew.

A thousand years ago, Fairy Jinghong had been stuck in the late stage of the Great Attainment, unable to ascend.

As a result, she focused her efforts on the study of talismans and artifacts, eventually creating many unique formations and tools.

For example, the Thunder Array mentioned earlier, which aids cultivators in crossing their tribulations, was her creation.

The disc in Putao’s hand was a treasure called the Sound Transmission Disc, capable of transmitting sound regardless of distance.

By inscribing the imprint of the cultivator one wishes to communicate with onto the disc, one can engage in conversation through it.

More advanced versions can even project images.

There were also the Glass Realms, which clearly reflected the appearance of cultivators, luminous light bulbs for easy transportation, and scrying lenses that allowed one to observe scenes from afar.

These exquisite and ingenious creations greatly improved the quality of life for cultivators, and the name of Fairy Jinghong became widely known.

After listening to Putao’s words, Xu Yi was filled with shock, never expecting her junior sister to possess such abilities.

Indeed, Fairy Jinghong was Xu Yi’s junior sister, Lui Jinghong.

When Xu Yi woke up from her dream, believing that she had died, she was unaware of what had transpired afterward.

“Master, you probably don’t know this, but Fairy Jinghong is actually your junior sister. Her experiences are quite legendary.”

Putao held her face in her hands, filled with longing.

“I heard that when she ascended, she did so alongside seven of the most formidable cultivators from the Nine Provinces. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been born yet, so I couldn’t witness that magnificent scene with my own eyes.”

Xu Yi’s eyes were filled with complex emotions.

So, her junior sister had already ascended.

It made sense, especially since her own child, Ji Buwang, had become the Sect Master.

That was truly… wonderful!

She no longer had to live in constant fear for her own life.