Chapter 174: Zixia

The next morning, Su Yun left Qingyun Palace with Zi Ling.

Twenty female Disciples of the Zixia Sect walked in front, with Zi Ling leading the way. Su Yun blended into the middle of the group, wearing a dark blue robe, looking like a Disciple sent by Qingyun Palace to see them off.

No one spared him a second glance.

After flying for three days, the mountains in the south unfolded before his eyes.

The Peaks were continuous, range upon range, with the summits shrouded in purple mist.

That mist was not ordinary water vapor but the Spiritual Qi emitted by the Zixia Sect's Mountain Protection Array, thick as unspreadable paint.

Zi Ling pointed to the highest Peak in the center, saying that was Zixia Peak, the residence of the Sect Master, Fairy Zixia.

Su Yun asked about Fairy Zixia's Realm.

Zi Ling said she was at the Mahayana Middle Stage, stuck at that Realm for eight hundred years, unable to make a Breakthrough to the Late Stage.

Su Yun then asked how many female Cultivators of the Void Refining Stage were in the Zixia Sect.

Zi Ling said there were over three hundred, most of whom were in the Inner Sect, while the Outer Sect was primarily composed of Soul Transformation and Nascent Soul Cultivators.

The group landed in front of the Zixia Peak mountain gate.

The mountain gate was a massive purple archway, with the three characters "Zixia Sect" carved onto it. The brushwork was soft and beautiful, carrying a feminine elegance.

Behind the archway was a wide stone staircase, with purple spiritual flowers planted on both sides. The petals swayed gently in the wind, resembling a sea of purple.

The two female Disciples guarding the gate saw Zi Ling and hurriedly bowed. "Senior Sister Zi Ling has returned."

Zi Ling nodded and led the group up the stone steps.

Su Yun followed behind, his gaze sweeping over the two gate-guarding Disciples; they were at the Golden Core Stage, young and pretty. He made a mental note of them.

Zi Ling arranged for Su Yun to stay in the Inner Sect guest quarters, an independent small courtyard planted with a few purple bamboo stalks. The shadows of the bamboo danced, and it was very quiet.

She told Su Yun to rest first while she went to report to the Grand Elder.

Su Yun sat down in the courtyard and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

Within his Dantian, the feedback Spiritual Qi was still circulating slowly; the barrier of the Lianxu Peak Stage had been worn down to just a final thin film.

If he Enslaved another batch of female Cultivators, he would be able to make a Breakthrough.

By evening, Zi Ling returned. She pushed open the courtyard door with an unhappy expression. "Master, the Grand Elder wishes to see you."

Su Yun opened his eyes. "How does she know about me?"

Zi Ling lowered her head. "Your subordinate said you were a Lianxu Peak Stage Cultivator who ascended from the Lower Realm and wished to visit the Zixia Sect to exchange cultivation insights. The Grand Elder said the Zixia Sect does not receive male guests and refused. Your subordinate then mentioned it was recommended by Fairy Yuling, and the Grand Elder reluctantly agreed, but only gave you the time of one incense stick."

Su Yun smiled. "One incense stick, that is enough."

He stood up and followed Zi Ling out of the small courtyard.

The Grand Elder's residence was deep within the Inner Sect—a separate bamboo building with a grove of purple bamboo planted in front. The bamboo leaves rustled in the evening breeze, like someone whispering.

Zi Ling stopped in front of the bamboo building and let Su Yun go in alone. Su Yun pushed open the bamboo door and walked in.

The interior of the bamboo building was simple: a bamboo table, a few bamboo chairs, and a landscape painting hanging on the wall.

A middle-aged woman sat by the bamboo table, slowly sipping a cup of tea. She wore a long purple dress, her long hair held up by a jade hairpin. Her Face was cold, and her brows held an Aura of authority that commanded respect even without anger. Mahayana Initial Stage. The Grand Elder of the Zixia Sect, Zi Yun.

She set down her teacup and looked at Su Yun. "Someone recommended by Fairy Yuling? It is rare for her to open her mouth for anyone."

Su Yun sat down opposite her. "I am Su Yun, a Cultivator who ascended from the Lower Realm. I have long admired the Zixia Sect and have come specifically to pay a visit."

Zi Yun sized him up; Lianxu Peak Stage, solid Foundation, steady Aura. "You did not come to see me just for a visit, did you?"

Su Yun nodded. "I wish to see Fairy Zixia."

Zi Yun frowned slightly. "The Sect Master has been in seclusion for many years and does not see outsiders."

Su Yun looked at her. "What if I insist on seeing her?"

Zi Yun's expression darkened. "Young man, the Zixia Sect is not Qingyun Palace. Fairy Yuling giving you Face does not mean we have to."

Su Yun said nothing more. He raised his hand and tapped a finger on the center of Zi Yun's brow.

Zi Yun's expression changed drastically; her Mahayana Initial Stage Spiritual Qi surged out frantically, trying to resist. But Su Yun's fingertip was too fast, and the golden light had already submerged into the center of her brow.

[Enslavement Successful] [New Slave Acquired: Zi Yun, Loyalty 47] [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for receiving the Enslavement partial Spiritual Qi feedback; Cultivation improved significantly.]

Zi Yun's body stiffened, and the anger in her eyes gradually turned into confusion. She looked at Su Yun, her lips moving. "Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand and stood up. "Take me to see Fairy Zixia."

Zi Yun lowered her head, pushed open the back door of the bamboo building, and led Su Yun into a purple bamboo grove.

Deep in the bamboo grove was a quiet path, and at the end of the path was a stone cave. On the stone door were carved the four characters "Zixia Immortal Cave".

Zi Yun raised her hand and knocked gently on the door. The stone door opened, and a young woman walked out.

She wore a light purple long dress, her long hair loose, her Face exquisite, and her brows held an air of laziness. Mahayana Middle Stage. Fairy Zixia.

She saw Zi Yun and smiled slightly. "Senior Sister, what is the matter?" She then saw Su Yun, and her smile froze. "Who is this?"

Zi Yun lowered her head. "Sect Master, this is Young Master Su Yun, who ascended from the Lower Realm. He wishes to see you."

Fairy Zixia's gaze swept over Su Yun; Lianxu Peak Stage, not worth mentioning.

Just as she was about to speak to drive him away, Su Yun moved.

He stepped forward, appeared in front of Fairy Zixia, and tapped a finger out.

Fairy Zixia's expression changed drastically; her Mahayana Middle Stage Spiritual Qi exploded frantically, and she struck a palm toward Su Yun's chest.

Su Yun did not dodge; he took the blow head-on, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but his finger had already tapped the center of Fairy Zixia's brow.

[Enslavement Successful] [New Slave Acquired: Fairy Zixia, Loyalty 39] [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for receiving the Enslavement partial Spiritual Qi feedback; Cultivation Breakthrough.]

Within his Dantian, the barrier as thin as a cicada's wing was finally broken. The distance from the Lianxu Peak Stage to the Mahayana Initial Stage was only one step, yet it felt like a chasm. At this moment, the chasm was filled by the feedback Spiritual Qi from Fairy Zixia.

The Aura around Su Yun surged, reaching the Mahayana Initial Stage. He opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing in his pupils.

Fairy Zixia's body stiffened, and the laziness in her eyes gradually turned into obedience. She lowered her head. "Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He turned to look at Zi Yun. "Gather all the female Disciples of the Zixia Sect."

Zi Yun accepted the order and left. Half an hour later, the plaza in front of Zixia Peak was full of people.

Twenty-five thousand female Disciples, from Foundation Establishment to Mahayana, all wearing uniform purple dresses, formed a vast, dark sea that stretched as far as the eye could see.

They did not know what had happened, only that they had been urgently summoned by the Grand Elder, and they were whispering among themselves, the noise as loud as a marketplace.

Su Yun stood on the high platform in the center of the plaza, his gaze sweeping over those twenty-five thousand Faces. He took a deep breath and walked down from the platform.

Starting from the first row, he tapped them one by one. Golden light flickered in the setting sun, like countless fireflies dancing across the plaza.

Every speck of golden light represented a female Cultivator becoming his slave. Every speck of golden light sent a wisp of feedback Spiritual Qi surging into his Dantian.

[Enslavement Successful x 25000] [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for receiving the Enslavement partial Spiritual Qi feedback x 25000; Cultivation improved significantly.]

Su Yun stood in the center of the plaza, closing his eyes to feel the new power surging within his body.

The feedback Spiritual Qi from twenty-five thousand female Cultivators converged into a rushing river, surging from the Void Realm and pouring into his Dantian.

His cultivation climbed all the way from the Mahayana Initial Stage, through the Mahayana Initial Stage Peak, to the Mahayana Middle Stage.

He opened his eyes, and a purple-gold light flashed and vanished in his pupils.

Fairy Zixia stood behind him, head lowered, her expression obedient. Zi Yun also kept her head lowered, not daring to look at him.

The twenty-five thousand female Disciples knelt on the plaza, shouting in unison, "Master." The voices were uniform, shaking even Zixia Peak.

Su Yun turned and walked back to the high platform. He looked into the distance, where the remaining five of the Seven Great Immortal Sects of the Immortal Realm were located: Heavenly Sword Sect, Wanhua Valley, Star Pavilion, Taixu Hall, and Biluo Palace.

Each Immortal Sect had tens of thousands of Disciples, and each had female Cultivators of the Mahayana Stage. He would go to them one by one and Enslave them one by one. The Immortal Realm was vast, but he had plenty of time.

He walked down from the high platform and headed toward the summit of Zixia Peak. There lay Fairy Zixia's Immortal Cave, her Mahayana Middle Stage cultivation insights, and the thousand-year accumulation of the Zixia Sect.

He needed these things to consolidate his Mahayana Middle Stage cultivation and prepare for his next target.

The night wind blew over, carrying the faint fragrance of purple flowers. He took a deep breath, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.