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Qin Muling regarded Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord with puzzlement. This esteemed elder had an ordinary background, no family lineage, no dao companion, and only took on several personal disciples after assuming the position of Sect Master due to the sect's rules.
To this day, her lineage of disciples still exists, albeit their emotional ties had grown thin due to her years of deep slumber from severe injuries. Even the emergence of an outstanding disciple didn't seem to warrant her special intervention.
"So, for whom do you intend to secure a position?"
After a moment of silence, Qin Muling finally inquired. Given Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord's status, this favor wouldn't come cheap. Whoever sought her help would surely have to pay a hefty price afterward.
"Of course, it's for my great-granddaughter Luo Huan."
Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord's captivating eyes fixed on Qin Muling as she spoke with a playful smile, "Yueyi Heavenly Lord once mentioned this matter to me, promising many benefits and even insisted on acknowledging this kinship. So, I had no choice but to shamelessly ask this favor of you. Would you be willing to grant your senior sister this face?"
Qin Muling automatically dismissed the flimsy excuse of kinship.
In the cultivation world, unlike the mortal realm, calculating generational relationships was most challenging. High-level cultivators lived for so long that seeing hundreds of generations of descendants was commonplace and impossible to care for, so it was better to ignore them.
Only for those extraordinary descendants, the true prodigies, would the elders break convention and provide selective support.
Qin Muling pondered, "I think it would be better for you to speak with our Sect Master. As long as she agrees, this won't be an issue at all."
"Besides, with the rate of my cultivation progress, even if they don't get chosen this time, they will have another chance soon. There's no need to be so impatient, right?"
Regardless of his current thoughts, Qin Muling had no intention of relenting, at least not personally. If he did, his senior sisters would follow suit, each seeking their own shortcuts. How could he handle that? Better to let Sect Master Mu Yinghua worry about it.
Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord didn't insist further and nodded, "Alright, let's leave it at that."
***
The next morning.
Tens of thousands of carefully selected beauties arrived as promised. The vast courtyard of the inner palace was a sea of colors, filled with chattering and laughter.
These young women, now in new attire and without makeup, their natural beauty like lotus flowers in clear water, stood in lines under the cultivators' direction, eyes filled with hope, gazing at the dazzlingly handsome youth on the high platform.
"Your Majesty, the auspicious time has arrived. Shall we…"
Chixingzi approached respectfully to report, having already changed his form of address.
"Then let's begin the selection."
Qin Muling's tone was indifferent. Chixingzi complied and immediately ordered his subordinates to make arrangements.
Shortly after, the first group of fifty young women stood obediently in a row below the high platform, their graceful figures upright, their bright eyes smiling at Qin Muling.
Without further ado, Qin Muling, holding the roster, used his innate divine ability to inspect each one.
Unlike the previous selection of core disciples in the sect, most of the subjects now were mortal girls, so the strain on Qin Muling was minimal, and the accuracy rate was significantly higher, with little chance of missing any potential cultivators.
"Numbers three, nine, eleven, twelve, twenty-seven, forty-six, and forty-nine are suitable. Have them wait to the side, and the rest can step back for the next group."
In a short while, Qin Muling had his results. The seven chosen girls had decent aptitudes and destinies, and with some luck on their bodies, becoming inner disciples of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace was no issue, while becoming core disciples would depend on their efforts and fortune.
Chixingzi glanced doubtfully at the seven girls selected by Qin Muling. Though they looked fine, they were not the prettiest of the group. The two stunning beauties he had favored were not chosen.
Of course, he dared not question further. Qin Muling might not seem temperamental, but he certainly wouldn't tolerate excessive questioning from his subordinates. Just following orders was never wrong.
Soon, the second batch of fifty girls approached, and Qin Muling silently continued his previous task. Those who met his criteria stayed; the rest were sent back.
The day passed quickly, and after several rounds of selection, the number of girls permitted to stay had exceeded two thousand, averaging one potential cultivator for every thirteen or fourteen girls.
The ratio was somewhat high, but considering these were the cream of the crop from a population of 150 billion, it wasn't hard to understand.
Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord, who had been silently observing, was quite satisfied. Even by her standards, these girls met the threshold, and it was clear that in a few years, a large group of core disciples would emerge from their ranks.
"Arrange accommodations for these women immediately, along with their direct relatives. Those not selected should also be sent back to their homelands without fail."
Qin Muling instructed, knowing that once these girls entered Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, their status would change drastically. To prevent future enemies from exploiting their relatives, it was essential to properly settle their direct families.
Chixingzi faintly understood Qin Muling's intentions and, without further words, took the order and busied himself with the task.
As for the rest, it was left to Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord to coordinate with Mu Yinghua. The sect would soon send people to secretly transport the girls back.
After dealing with these matters, Qin Muling continued with Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord to purify the dead zones on the floating lands, earning merit from heaven and earth.
Since this protector tirelessly replenished Qin Muling's mana and occasionally explained cultivation techniques and the laws of heaven, she too received a share of the merit.
Although the benefits were negligible given her current level of cultivation, having some was better than none.
Every seven days spent outside, Qin Muling would return for a day's rest to digest his gains and consolidate his cultivation, as well as to handle accumulated affairs.
Yang Song once suggested to Qin Muling that they continue to expand, conquer a few small forces, and seize more territory. Qin Muling outright rejected the idea, stating they would consider it after purifying their current lands.
He wasn't particularly concerned about these foundations; he was only interested in earning merit to enhance his cultivation. Eventually, he would leave and couldn't stay here forever. This place would serve as a vassal force for Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace.
Sha Wuye, Chixingzi, and others were diligent and devoted, understanding that the territory Qin Muling had established was not insignificant compared to their previous assets. By working hard, they could secure a promising future by following Qin Muling.
***
A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Qin Muling had purified the dead zones on four floating lands. He then headed to the next and largest piece of territory under his control.
This land once belonged to the Blood Cloud Pavilion, spanning 120,000 miles with dead zones covering about sixty percent of it. Even with Qin Muling's temporary advancement to the True Unity Realm, it would take some effort to cleanse.
On the desolate and silent wasteland, toxic black fog spread, and violent winds occasionally swept through, stirring up blinding sandstorms in the darkened world.
The clear, mercury-like chaos light spread effortlessly in all directions, its faint fragrance permeating the air, dispelling the ancient, unyielding poison.
Suddenly, a disturbance erupted from deep within the earth. A massive killing intent burst forth, and before Qin Muling could react, the ground collapsed hundreds of feet away, revealing a dark chasm a thousand feet across.
Immediately, over a dozen mysterious, non-human shadows burst out at high speed, furiously charging toward Qin Muling.
"What are these things?"
With a thought, Qin Muling activated his treasure-level daoist robes, enveloping himself in a radiant golden shield, while a blood-lit sword appeared in his hand.
In the next instant, dozens of sword lights, thin as paper and honed to perfection, shot through the air, blocking the path of the shadows.
It seemed his purification efforts had disturbed these beings hidden deep in the earth, provoking them to attack.
Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord was nowhere to be seen. Although she was a protector, she was not a nanny. Unless Qin Muling faced a life-threatening crisis, she was under no obligation to intervene. In the current situation, Qin Muling had to rely on his own abilities to resolve the conflict.