Qinglan Sword Sect

Early the next morning, Ye Ling solemnly bid farewell to her parents, the Ye family ancestor, the family head, and the elders.

Turning around, she followed Leng Zhiwei, who had reappeared, and together they soared through the wind toward the Qinglan Sword Sect.

Standing in the courtyard, everyone looked up at the young girl's receding figure, their hearts filled with comfort and surging pride.

The early-stage Xiantian Realm Ye family ancestor was especially emotional.

As the one with the highest cultivation and the broadest horizons, she knew better than anyone present what climbing nine thousand steps of the Heavenly Spirit Stairs represented in terms of terrifying talent.

Not to mention that the Sect Master of the Qinglan Sword Sect, one of the four major sects, had personally descended just to escort a disciple back home.

This honor and significance spoke for themselves.

The elder watched the two distant afterimages in the sky, a warm light shining in her cloudy eyes as a thousand emotions welled up in her heart.

With hundreds of years of heritage accumulated, the Ye family had finally produced a true dragon that would soar straight into the highest heavens.

High in the sky, after bidding farewell to her family, Ye Ling composed her expression. With a calm gaze, she quietly stared down at the mountains and rivers rapidly receding beneath her, lost in her own thoughts.

Leaving her homeland and parting from her loved ones, a hint of melancholy and reluctance inevitably lingered in the young girl's heart.

Flying alongside her through the wind, Leng Zhiwei took in her expression and smiled to herself.

She was, after all, only a fifteen-year-old girl. Leaving home for the first time to cultivate at a sect, it was only natural for her to have such delicate emotions.

To dispel this gloom, she took the initiative to speak, bringing up the aftermath of yesterday's assessment.

“Ye Ling, did you know? In the end, Ye Chen joined the Burning Heaven Martial Academy yesterday.”

Hearing this, the dazed Ye Ling slowly raised her eyes to look at Leng Zhiwei beside her.

She saw through Leng Zhiwei's intention to make small talk, knowing that the other woman was worried about her spirits being low and was trying to comfort her.

A warm feeling rose in Ye Ling's heart, and she let out a faint smile.

“The Burning Heaven Martial Academy? He told me earlier that his goal for this assessment was indeed the Burning Heaven Martial Academy.”

“He told you?” Leng Zhiwei frowned slightly, her eyes filled with surprise. “You two know each other?”

“Yes,” Ye Ling nodded gently, her tone calm and natural. “He and I both belong to the Ye clan.”

This simple reply shook Leng Zhiwei's heart, and her expression changed.

Waves of shock surged within her, and she was filled with disbelief.

Climbing nine thousand steps of the Heavenly Spirit Stairs was something unseen in the entire Qingyun Kingdom for a century. Such a peerless genius was enough to startle all four major sects.

Yet, these two top geniuses who had both reached the summit and stunned the entire territory actually came from the same small Ye family in Baiyun City.

Last night, she had concealed her figure and stayed at the Ye family estate the entire night. She had carefully investigated the area and found that the spiritual energy there was mediocre, with no special anomalies. It seemed completely ordinary, utterly lacking the geographical conditions to nurture peerless geniuses.

Yet, such an inconspicuous small family had produced two supreme geniuses who shook the entire cultivation world of the Qingyun Kingdom at the same time.

Seeing Leng Zhiwei, who was always calm, detached, and unperturbed by anything, rarely showing such a completely shocked and flustered expression, Ye Ling could not help but chuckle softly. Her crisp laughter echoed clearly in the high-altitude wind.

Leng Zhiwei's body suddenly stiffened, and her heart skipped a beat.

She felt a wave of annoyance at herself. She had been too shocked just now, and in her momentary lapse, she had completely let down her usual composure and revealed her true thoughts in public.

She was the Sect Master of the Qinglan Sword Sect, a top Tongxuan Realm Great Perfection expert in the Qingyun Kingdom.

She had always been dignified, self-possessed, and proper. Today's loss of composure practically swept away the esteemed demeanor she had maintained for many years.

In an instant, the surprise on Leng Zhiwei's face vanished, and she returned to her usual cold and indifferent appearance, though the tips of her ears were quietly flushed with a faint tint of red.

She did not utter another word. Silently circulating her dense spiritual energy, the green light around her suddenly flared, and her flying speed instantly doubled.

Carrying Ye Ling beside her, she turned into a sharp streak of green light, hurtling toward the Qinglan Sword Sect at extreme speed.

A day passed in the blink of an eye.

The two green streaks of light broke through layers of clouds and pierced the widespread mist, finally arriving at a vast mountain range brimming with majestic spiritual energy.

This place was completely different from the mortal world. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was dense here; taking a breath made one's entire body feel refreshed, nourishing the meridians and soothing one's spiritual energy.

The entire mountain range stretched for thousands of miles. Majestic peaks towered high, and the mountains were grand and magnificent, naturally carrying a supreme, noble aura.

Dozens of main peaks stood straight and tall like unsheathed divine swords, piercing the sky. Rooted amidst the clouds and mist, they were sharp and majestic.

Cranes circled and spiritual birds fluttered between the mountains. Clouds and mist billowed everywhere, and glowing clouds filled the sky.

Atop many steep and towering peaks, magnificent pavilions and jade palaces with carved beams and painted rafters were scattered.

The halls and towers were grand and solemn, their upturned eaves hidden in the sea of clouds and immortal mist. The green bricks and jade tiles reflected the sky, shimmering with a faint spiritual glow. Brimming with immortal aura and deep Dao charm, they fully displayed the magnificent heritage and transcendent style of a major sect.

This was the territory of the Qinglan Sword Sect, the head of the four major sects in the Qingyun Kingdom.

Seeing Ye Ling's gaze wander, completely captivated by the immortal scenery of the mountains, Leng Zhiwei had already put aside her embarrassment from yesterday's loss of composure. Her expression returned to its usual cold dignity as she softly introduced the place.

“This is the Qinglan Mountain Range, from which our Qinglan Sword Sect takes its name.”

With those words, she carried Ye Ling and turned into a brilliant green light, heading straight toward the core main hall of the sect.

The disciples on guard outside the mountain gate had sharp eyes. Spotting the figures tearing through the air from afar, they instinctively gripped their weapons, preparing to step forward and intercept them.

But in the next instant, when they clearly saw the familiar, noble figure riding the green light, they froze.

Hastily lowering their weapons and bowing their heads, they stood respectfully in place, not daring to show the slightest discourtesy as they quietly watched the Sect Master fly past.

Yet, their hearts were filled with doubt. The Sect Master had returned, but why was she accompanied by an unfamiliar young girl?

It was not just the guarding disciples. Inside the sect, countless inner and outer sect disciples who were hard at work cultivating looked up one after another. Watching the two figures passing through the sky, their faces were filled with curiosity and surprise.

The disciples had no idea of the girl's identity. They could only discuss and speculate among themselves, curious about who could possibly be personally brought back to the sect by the Sect Master, enjoying such supreme honor.

However, the moment the sitting elders of the sect saw that slender figure, their eyes flashed with brilliant light, unable to conceal the wild joy and excitement in their hearts.

They knew the entire process of the Heavenly Spirit Stairs assessment and were extremely clear about the weight of the young girl before them.

This was the peerless genius who had climbed nine thousand steps in the Heavenly Spirit Stairs assessment, completely crushing the entire younger generation of the Qingyun Kingdom.

She was the second peerless genius born in the Qingyun Kingdom to set foot on the nine thousandth step of the stairs since Su Qingyue three hundred years ago.

She was the key figure who could truly support the prosperity of the Qinglan Sword Sect for the next few centuries and elevate the sect's foundation to new heights.

Without needing any orders, the elders rose one after another, stepping into the air. They all flew and gathered toward the main hall, quietly waiting for Ye Ling to enter the sect.