As one of the "One Sect, One Academy, One Temple, One Peak" among the Two Sacred Lands, Mysterious Maiden Peak is a very special sect.

This is not only because Mysterious Maiden Peak is entirely composed of female cultivators, but also because every sect leader of Mysterious Maiden Peak has been an extraordinary beauty.

Some might wonder, why would cultivators care about appearances? Why would they care if someone is a great beauty?

The majority of male cultivators: Mind your own business! You're just a reader, don't overstep.

In any case, since all the past sect leaders have been extraordinary beauties, it naturally follows that the successor, the Saintess of Mysterious Maiden Peak, must also be a beauty.

And indeed, this is the case.

Gu Qingqing, at the age of twenty-five, in the Lower Core Formation Realm, has a graceful figure, skin fairer than snow, and a face that captivates without the need for makeup.

It's said that after the great poet of the academy saw Gu Qingqing, he composed the line "Beauty surpasses the ages, the lotus shames the jade face" and once presented it to her.

Gu Qingqing's beauty is evident.

...Though later, when that great poet saw Luo Qingyan participating in the Dao Inquiry Assembly of the Azurecloud Sword Sect, he gave the same line to Luo Qingyan, claiming that "this line has finally found its true owner."

But this doesn't really matter. When Gu Qingqing learned of this, she didn't care much, only cursing the poet to be torn apart by wild swords, without any extreme actions.

What Gu Qingqing truly cares about is only one thing—her master's, the current sect leader of Mysterious Maiden Peak, Human Immortal Gu Ziying's opinion of her.

Perhaps it's because Gu Ziying arrived in time to save her from a beast's mouth, preventing her from dying young; perhaps it's because Gu Ziying took in the homeless her and taught her cultivation techniques, leading her onto the path of cultivation; perhaps it's because Gu Ziying has always cared for her meticulously, almost as if she were her own; perhaps it's because Gu Ziying is truly beautiful...

In any case, Gu Qingqing can disregard anyone's opinion, but she values Gu Ziying's thoughts greatly, even using becoming Gu Ziying's pride as her motivation for cultivation.

And objectively speaking, she's done very well—

She reached Qi Refining at ten, Foundation Establishment at sixteen, and Core Formation at twenty-five. In the history of the Mysterious Female Sect, this speed of breaking through ranks is among the top three, and even among the current younger generation, she is at the forefront.

Not to mention that at eighteen, she had already practiced the sect leader's ultimate technique, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Art, to the third level.

It's worth noting that her master only comprehended the third level of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Art at twenty-one.

In summary, Gu Qingqing is indeed a favored daughter of the heavens, the treasure of Mysterious Maiden Peak, and Gu Ziying's pride.

Yet, at some point, Gu Qingqing realized everything had changed.

The praises she used to receive from Gu Ziying suddenly shifted to others.

"Leng Youxue's third disciple, that shorty, recently comprehended the fifth level of the Cloudstep Immortal Art. Her comprehension is truly frightening... Qingqing, you need to work harder."

"That shorty's fourth disciple turned out to have an Immaculate Dao Heart. The Flowing Cloud Sect kept it well hidden. Her future achievements will likely be quite high... Qingqing, you need to work harder."

"Old Zhu complained to me again today, saying he regrets not bringing Yu Qiaoxi to the academy sooner, letting the shorty take her away. Tsk tsk, although Yu Qiaoxi isn't well-known now, she'll definitely become a top Array Formation Master in the future... Qingqing, even though you don't practice array formations, you can't let Mysterious Maiden Peak lose face against her. You need to work harder."

"Sigh, the shorty's first disciple has reached Core Formation. You used to advance faster than him, but now you're behind... You need to keep working hard."

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"The shorty's second disciple, Luo Qingyan, has already begun comprehending her own Sword Dao, and she's only at Core Formation! Is there no justice in the world? It's a pity you were in seclusion and couldn't attend the Dao Inquiry Assembly to see how formidable that child is... In any case, Qingqing, you need to work even harder."

The shorty's disciples, the shorty's disciples, the shorty's disciples.

Gu Qingqing found it increasingly difficult to receive any praise from Gu Ziying, whose praises were all directed at "the shorty's disciples," while for her, Gu Ziying always had only one thing to say.

—You need to keep working hard.

This was something Gu Qingqing couldn't accept.

Especially when she realized that no matter how hard she tried, she seemed unable to catch up with those "shorty's disciples."

She felt sad, she broke down, she secretly wiped her tears, and for a time, she even dreamed of "the shorty's disciples."

Gu Qingqing felt that if this continued, she might develop inner demons.

And once a cultivator develops inner demons, it can severely impact their future breakthrough into the Upper Three Realms.

Coincidentally, she recently succeeded in reaching Core Formation, breaking into the Core Formation Realm.

So Gu Qingqing decided to make a resolution.

She spent half a year stabilizing her realm, then confronted Gu Ziying, asking her to challenge Sect Leader Leng's strongest disciple—Luo Qingyan—on her behalf.

Gu Ziying, after a moment of silence, agreed to Gu Qingqing's request, but she also stated that while she could issue the challenge, that shorty might not be willing to send Luo Qingyan to fight.

Gu Qingqing didn't mind; if Luo Qingyan didn't come out, she could fight the others first. Once she defeated the other disciples of Sect Leader Leng, the latter would naturally send out Luo Qingyan.

No matter how strong, monstrous, or incredible Sect Leader Leng's disciples were rumored to be, she was not afraid.

She was determined to prove that she was stronger than "the shorty's disciples"!

...

...

Having activated the mark and successfully restored Ning Yunmiao's sense of taste, resolving an immediate issue, Xiao Lin was temporarily relieved.

...Though the mark's performance was not as he expected, it was of no consequence.

What he truly cared about was the phantom that appeared after he activated the mark.

However, after getting no answers from Leng Youxue, he somewhat resigned himself to doing nothing.

As long as his master didn't mention any danger, there shouldn't be any major problems for now.

He would deal with the sparring first.

...

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