Early the next morning.
Liu Ruyan had already finished packing and stood in the plaza outside the Main Hall, waiting quietly.
Today, she had changed into a slightly formal light red dress. Her long hair was simply tied up and secured with a jade hairpin.
Although she was only seventeen or eighteen years old, the composure she gained from living through three lifetimes, combined with her Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Peak cultivation...
...naturally gave off an extraordinary aura.
Her gaze involuntarily turned toward the Main Hall. Her heart held both anticipation for returning home and a trace of subtle anxiety.
Master had arranged for the Vice Palace Master to accompany her. This deep affection moved her, but it also made her feel an invisible pressure.
This was not just a simple return home; it likely represented the Immortal Palace's "debut" to the outside world.
"Second Junior Sister!"
A crisp voice interrupted her thoughts.
A Yao, wearing a cute little dress and holding Gu Luoli's hand, ran over from a side path.
Gu Luoli had clearly risen early to Cultivate as well. Her aura was calm, and her Double Pupils flickered with a faint golden light in the morning sun.
"Senior Sister, Third Junior Sister."
A gentle smile appeared on Liu Ruyan's face. She crouched down and tidied A Yao's hair, which had become messy from running.
"Second Senior Sister, have a safe journey."
Gu Luoli said softly, her eyes filled with sincere blessings.
"Mm, I will return as soon as possible."
Liu Ruyan nodded, then instructed A Yao,
"Senior Sister, while I am away, you must listen to Third Junior Sister and the Elders. Cultivate well, okay?"
"I know!"
A Yao nodded vigorously, then her little face showed some reluctance,
"Second Junior Sister, come back quickly. A Yao will miss you."
While they were talking, the doors to the Main Hall opened silently.
Two figures walked out one after the other. It was Gu Han and Yun Yun.
"Master! Vice Palace Master!"
The three of them quickly bowed in greeting.
Gu Han nodded slightly. Her gaze swept over Liu Ruyan. Seeing her calm demeanor and the hidden anticipation in her eyes, she was satisfied.
"Is everything ready?"
"Reporting to Master, this Disciple is ready."
Liu Ruyan replied respectfully.
"Mm."
Gu Han acknowledged, then flipped her palm.
A round stone, about the size of a fist, appeared in her palm.
The moment the stone appeared, an indescribable dao rhyme that seemed capable of seeing through all things quietly spread out.
It wasn't intense, yet it made everyone present feel a sensation of being "scrutinized" from the depths of their Soul.
"This object is called the 'heaven-observing stone'."
Gu Han's voice rang out calmly as she explained its purpose,
"It can measure the talent and potential of living beings, manifesting it as a number of stars. One star is the lowest, while ten stars or higher is top-tier."
"What it measures is the Origin potential, which has little to do with current cultivation, age, or even physical condition."
As she spoke, she looked at Liu Ruyan.
"Ruyan, besides reporting that you are safe, there is one more thing for your trip home."
"You may use this stone in Qingyang City and its surroundings to recruit a group of Disciples for the Immortal Palace."
"Those with five to six stars can enter the Outer Sect, six to eight stars can enter the Inner Sect, and nine stars can become Core Disciples of the Immortal Palace."
"If there is a ten-star... bring them back first and we'll see..."
Gu Han basically held no hope for a ten-star, as Disciples with ten-star potential weren't as common as cabbages.
Last night, Gu Han had the System check, and there were currently no Disciples in the entire Southern Region exceeding ten stars.
Hearing Gu Han's words, Liu Ruyan was shaken, instantly understanding the deeper intention!
Recruiting Disciples!
The Yaochi Immortal Palace now had its framework established and lacked no high-level combat power, but it was severely lacking in low-level Disciples.
While Qingyang City was a small city, its population base meant it wasn't impossible to find some buried talent.
More importantly, having her, a local, return with such a miraculous treasure to recruit Disciples...
...would undoubtedly be a huge boost to the Liu Family's status and the first step in extending the Immortal Palace's reach to the outside world!
"This Disciple understands!"
Liu Ruyan took a deep breath and solemnly received the warm, slightly cool heaven-observing stone with both hands.
The stone felt heavy in her hand, as if it carried some mysterious weight.
She carefully placed it into the Storage Pouch her Master had given her yesterday.
"Yun Yun." Gu Han looked at the Vice Palace Master beside her.
"Palace Master." Yun Yun bowed slightly.
"On this trip, you will be the lead, with Ruyan assisting."
The recruitment of Disciples can be handled at your discretion, prioritizing the assessment of Heart-Nature. If there are suitable candidates, you may bring them back to the Immortal Palace."
"Additionally, if you encounter anyone blind enough to offend you..."
Gu Han paused, her tone flat but carrying an unquestionable weight,
Our Yaochi Immortal Palace will not take the initiative to cause trouble, but we are not afraid of it either. Just do as you see fit."
These words were spoken casually, but the dominance contained within them made Liu Ruyan's heart burn with excitement.
"Yun Yun obeys."
Yun Yun nodded in agreement, her eyes showing no ripples.
With her cultivation at the ninth level of undergoing tribulation Peak, there was truly nothing in this border of the Southern Region worth her concern.
"Go then." Gu Han smiled and waved her hand.
Yun Yun nodded gently and flicked her sleeve. A gentle yet majestic spiritual power enveloped Liu Ruyan.
Their figures flickered slightly and then vanished.
Gu Han watched the direction they disappeared for a moment before turning back to the Main Hall.
A Yao blinked and pulled Gu Luoli's hand:
"Third Junior Sister, Second Junior Sister and Vice Palace Master Sister are gone. Let's go back and Cultivate!"
"Mm, Senior Sister, let's go."
Gu Luoli nodded, took A Yao's hand, and walked toward her Qingyin Pavilion.
She knew that when Second Senior Sister returned this time, she would surely bring new Disciples for the Immortal Palace.
As for herself, she needed to seize the time to Cultivate and not fall behind... Meanwhile, in the Southern Region, Qingyang City.
As a medium-sized cultivation city within the Great Yan Dynasty.
Although Qingyang City was not as prosperous as Linyuan City, it was still densely populated with constant trade.
Three main Family powers were entrenched in the city: the Liu Family, the Lin Family, and the Zhao Family.
The three families both fought and cooperated with each other, maintaining a delicate balance.
Among them, the Liu Family focused on Medicinal Pills, with two third-rank Alchemists in the Family, which was their foundation.
The Lin Family focused on Artifact Refining, while the Zhao Family specialized in taming Spirit Beasts.
On this day, Qingyang City seemed no different from usual.
People came and went at the city gates, and the shouting of vendors filled the streets.
The Liu Family estate, located in the east of the city, covered a vast area with continuous pavilions and terraces, showing the Family's extraordinary heritage.
However, recently, the atmosphere within the Liu estate had been somewhat subtle.
In a pavilion in the back garden, the Liu Family Head, Liu Beichuan, was frowning deeply, discussing something in low voices with several clan Elders.
Liu Beichuan looked to be around forty, with a refined face, but at this moment, he carried an unerasable worry.
His cultivation was at the Late Golden Core Stage, and he was currently the strongest person on the surface of the Liu Family.
But anyone who truly understood the Liu Family knew that the real strongest person was the one in long-term seclusion.
He was the Liu Family's true stabilizing force, Liu Ruyan's father, Liu Beihai, a Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator.
"Family Head, that girl Ruyan has been away from home for so many days with no news at all, we..."
A white-haired clan Elder said worriedly.
"Yes, when she left, she said she was going to the outskirts of the Wan Jue Mountain Range for experience, but that place... Sigh!"
Another clan Elder sighed,
"If an accident happened, how would we explain it to her father..."
Liu Beichuan rubbed his temples and said in a heavy voice:
"I have already sent people to several cities around the outskirts of the Wan Jue Mountain Range to inquire, but there is no news."
"Wait two more days. If there is still no news, I will personally lead people in to find her!"
How could he not be anxious?
Liu Ruyan was his biological niece whom he had watched grow up, and she was the most outstanding talent among the Liu Family's younger generation.
She was already at the Peak Qi Refining Stage before the age of twenty and was one of the Family's hopes for the future.
Her disappearance was a significant blow to the Liu Family.
Moreover, Liu Ruyan still had an engagement with that boy from the Lin Family... Thinking of the two Nascent Soul Cultivators the Lin Family now possessed and their recent subtle pressure, his head hurt even more.
Just as the Liu Family members were filled with gloom.
High above Qingyang City, the space distorted slightly.
The figures of Yun Yun and Liu Ruyan quietly emerged, without attracting the attention of anyone below.
Yun Yun's Divine Sense moved slightly, like an invisible tide instantly covering the entire Qingyang City.
The city layout, the various Family powers, the strength of the Cultivators, and even some hidden Formation fluctuations were all clearly reflected in her mind.
"We have arrived!"
Yun Yun withdrew her Divine Sense, her voice flat.
Looking at the familiar city outline and the familiar streets and pavilions below, a complex emotion welled up in Liu Ruyan's heart.
It was nothing more than the anxiety of returning home.
But soon, this emotion was replaced by a sense of determination.
In this life, she was no longer that Liu Ruyan who needed her father's protection and often brought trouble to the Family.
She was the Second Personal Disciple of the Yaochi Immortal Palace, the Liu Ruyan who possessed the Reincarnation Dao Body and memories of three lifetimes!
"Vice Palace Master, shall we go directly back to the Liu Family?"
Liu Ruyan asked.
"Mm."
Yun Yun nodded slightly, "Just keep a low profile."
She did not deliberately restrain her aura, but she did not flaunt it either.
The aura of the Tribulation Crossing Stage had long since returned to simplicity; unless she actively released it, ordinary Cultivators had no way of detecting it.
The two of them slowly descended, landing in a quiet alleyway not far from the Liu estate's main gate.
Liu Ruyan straightened her dress, took a deep breath, and stepped toward those two familiar vermilion gates.
Yun Yun followed half a step behind her, walking calmly, as if she were just an ordinary accompanying Elder.
The Liu Family guard at the gate was originally a bit lazy, but when he clearly saw the person walking toward him, his eyes widened, and his face showed an expression of disbelief.
"E-Eldest Young Miss? Is it the Eldest Young Miss who has returned?!"
He cried out in surprise and quickly rubbed his eyes.
After confirming it was correct, he immediately turned and ran wildly into the estate, shouting excitedly as he ran:
"The Eldest Young Miss is back! The Eldest Young Miss is back!"
This shout was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the silence of the Liu estate!
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