In the fire, Qin Ruqing looked into Feng Mingyue’s eyes. “I can also cultivate the Xuanming Path. According to my understanding, killing is merely an expression of Xuanming; its true meaning should be destruction.”

“Strengthening is one direction. By strengthening power to its utmost, one can indeed destroy heaven and earth.”

“But weakening is another direction. Killing a person, if you slit their throat, they will die. Even if you don’t hit the vital points, as long as the blood flows out, they will die. How did they die? They died from weakness. Weakness destroyed them.”

“Fairy Mingyue, when you find there is no way forward, consider trying a different direction. A change in direction might not necessarily change the destination.” Qin Ruqing spoke calmly, the flames in her hand never ceasing.

Feng Mingyue seemed not to notice that her magic weapon was undergoing a severe test.

She stared at Qin Ruqing in a daze, her lips slightly parted.

Through the flames, she seemed to see another world.

The magic weapon could not withstand the heat, melting into a reddish-golden liquid, falling to the ground, losing its sword shape.

Only then did Feng Mingyue seem to awaken.

She released her grip, and the molten metal slid away, yet she was not burned.

Qin Ruqing politely stepped back and glanced at the shapeless magic weapon on the ground, apologizing, “Sorry, Fairy Mingyue, I destroyed your magic weapon.”

Feng Mingyue didn’t stop her; she continued burning.

“No—!” Feng Mingyue suddenly shook her head.

“No need!”

She blurted out, as if just emerging from her previous state of thought.

She then softened her tone, saying, “No need for that sword anymore.”

“And thank you. I finally understand,” Feng Mingyue said to Qin Ruqing.

The impact was not just on Feng Mingyue.

The seasoned old experts atop the mountain were also contemplating Qin Ruqing’s insight that “the true meaning of Xuanming is not killing, but destruction.”

They seemed to grasp something, yet felt they knew nothing.

Having lived so long and reached deep levels of cultivation, this signified strength and also meant they could no longer change.

The Third Elder felt that the last bit of subtle discomfort had vanished.

From any angle, she could no longer look down on Qin Ruqing, the young girl from the Qin family.

If age were the sole factor, it would make her feel even more ashamed.

The Third Elder could only say to Feng Qinxue, “It’s fortunate that you asked me to leave the council hall that day.”

Her tone was filled with emotion.

Had she not left in anger that day and instead remained to assert her authority and made some offending remarks, it would have created a huge risk for the Feng family in the future.

Which family… even if they were of the Celestial rank, would want to be enemies with someone like this, a top genius destined to dominate the cultivation world of an era?

Even when an immortal being sincerely put aside their pride to seek friendship with such a young prodigy, they found it very difficult.

The Fourth Elder worried, “Her temperament is unpredictable and difficult to befriend. Since she didn’t choose the Fifth Family before, she likely won’t choose the Feng family this time.”

Even if the Feng family could offer more sincerity than the Fifth Family, the Fourth Elder felt it would be hard to truly move Qin Ruqing.

Feng Qinxue looked down at the bottom of the cliff.

“Because she is someone without a stance or a camp, only loyal to herself and her own interests,” she said.

“She is chaotic, undefinable. Such a person cannot be bound; instead, we must understand one thing—do not harm her interests. More importantly, align with her interests and help her gain benefits, then we will be her most loyal allies.”

This young Celestial leader gave such an evaluation.

Then she glanced at the sky, which was already brightening.

Feng Qinxue withdrew her gaze and said softly, “Go down and call them.”

“It’s time to leave.”

There was a story behind why someone like Qin Ruqing, with the surname Qin, managed to wedge herself into the Feng Clan’s envoy team.

Initially, the Lu Clan was definitely against it.

They argued, “This is cheating! Why is there an outsider with a different surname in the Feng Clan’s envoy team? This isn’t what we agreed upon. We refuse to accept this.”

The Feng Clan responded candidly, “There’s no issue here. Qin Ruqing is now a guest elder of our Feng Clan. She has status, a title, and an official token to prove it. You never said Feng Clan elders couldn’t participate, did you?”

The Lu Clan was furious, cursing the Feng Clan’s shamelessness countless times in their hearts.

But when they tried to negotiate further, the Feng Clan simply started playing dead, refusing to engage.

To put it bluntly, adding Qin Ruqing did violate the original agreement, but the Feng Clan had at least found a reason that could pass on the surface.

If the Lu Clan insisted on a tough stance, the Feng Clan would inevitably find other ways, which might eventually force them to resort to violence.

In that light, it was better to just let Qin Ruqing participate.

After all, even with her presence, what impact she could truly have was still uncertain.

This was clearly a psychological battle between the Lu and Feng Clans.

On the surface, the Feng Clan seemed to have won, but the Lu Clan didn’t consider themselves to have lost either.

The reason was simple—

“They can’t seriously believe that just having Qin Ruqing will stir up a major wave, can they?” remarked the Third Priest of the Lu Clan, a composed figure in a sapphire robe with his hands resting calmly on his knees.

Within the Lu Clan, the position of priest was equivalent to that of an elder in the outside world.

“Qin Ruqing might have some skills, but she’s also a wild horse. Whether the Feng Clan can fully control her remains to be seen. They might even end up causing trouble internally—just like what happened to the Fifth Clan before.”

This was the Lu Clan’s general consensus on Qin Ruqing’s involvement in the Feng Clan’s envoy team. It was also an objective assessment.

After everything that had happened, they had already noticed that Qin Ruqing was unpredictable.

With such an unstable factor, it was possible that the Feng Clan was more anxious about this than they were.

“There’s just one thing we still need to understand,” the Lu Clan’s patriarch said slowly.

She was a dignified woman with intricate patterns painted on her forehead. “Why did the Feng Clan choose Qin Ruqing?”

“An esteemed clan like the Feng isn’t foolish. They can see Qin Ruqing’s unpredictability just as we can. What could have driven them to risk betrayal and insist on involving an outsider in such a critical family affair?”

“Are they truly that confident Qin Ruqing can awaken the spirit artifact?”

The Lu Clan couldn’t make sense of it.

“Maybe it’s not about confidence but about hedging their bets—not putting all their eggs in one basket. Their greatest hope is likely still placed on Feng Mingyue,” one of the priests speculated.

The others in the secret chamber nodded in agreement. This seemed the most logical and probable explanation.

The Lu Clan’s patriarch tapped her fingers on her knee, pondering for a moment before saying, “Summon the Saintess. She walked the path of inheritance alongside Qin Ruqing in the Void Realm. She may understand the depth of this person.”

“Her depth?” Lu Zhiyao, the Saintess, arrived and, hearing the question, responded without hesitation, “I can’t gauge her depth.”

“At the very least, she’s no shallower than Feng Mingyue.” Seeing the astonished looks from the priests, she elaborated in simpler terms.

Not shallower than Feng Mingyue… this description, though blunt, provided a straightforward answer.

Feng Mingyue, while not necessarily an unprecedented genius, was undoubtedly the number one among the current younger generation in the cultivation world.

Her talent and potential were widely recognized.

Saying Qin Ruqing was no shallower than Feng Mingyue essentially implied that Qin Ruqing was on par with, or even superior to, Feng Mingyue.

The Lu Clan’s patriarch asked, “Could you elaborate, Zhiyao?”

Lu Zhiyao thought for a moment and spoke calmly, “I can see Feng Mingyue’s back and feel the desire to chase after her. With Qin Ruqing, at first, I didn’t pay her any mind. But when I finally did, the first thought in my mind was, ‘I can’t compare.’ If I can’t compare, then I won’t. That’s why I still focus on Feng Mingyue.”

Lu Zhiyao’s words were filled with her strong personal perspective, leaving everyone puzzled.

But those who knew her well understood her perfectly.

While the Lu family’s senior members discussed how to handle the Feng family’s envoy, Feng Qinxue was explaining the Lu family to Qin Ruqing.

“Hidden families are certainly ancient, but not necessarily powerful. However, the Lu family is one of the strongest among them. This is not only because they have inherited part of the Xuanming legacy but also because they had their unique aspects before obtaining this legacy.”

Qin Ruqing sat up straight, preparing to listen carefully to these unique aspects, when Feng Qinxue solemnly said, “Spirit breeding. This family reveres natural forces and masters an ancient method of nurturing nature spirits.”

“The Lu family’s Saintess, Lu Zhiyao, has inherited an Ice Spirit. The combination of the Ice Spirit with the Xuanming legacy allows her to compete with Mingyue.”

“Oh, so Lu Zhiyao is the Saintess,” Qin Ruqing realized.

Moreover, from what Qin Ruqing could discern, Lu Zhiyao might not have been exceptionally talented in cultivating Xuanming herself, but the special “Ice Spirit” filled in some of her shortcomings, elevating her talent to the top tier.

“Isn’t the ability to awaken the artifact spirit and control it likely related to their mysterious spirit-breeding techniques?” Qin Ruqing asked, phrasing it as a question but speaking with certainty.

Feng Qinxue nodded, “So, when we go over, the Lu family will definitely do something in advance.”

That was certain. Qin Ruqing glanced around and deliberately said, “Aunt Feng, I can only guarantee a try, but whether it will succeed is not assured!”

“That’s only natural.” The Feng family was aware of this.

Calling Qin Ruqing was not only to increase the chances of success but also to build a good relationship with her.

After traveling for about an hour, the flying boat finally arrived at the Lu family’s territory.

The Lu family members showed respect to the Feng family by having their clan leader personally greet them.

Qin Ruqing thought that, in some ways, the Lu family was indeed similar to the Feng family.

For instance, both families had a high proportion of female leaders.

This might also be related to Xuanming valuing feminine energies and being more suited for women’s cultivation.

The Lu family’s territory was located in a picturesque area with no tall buildings. The houses were made of wood or bamboo, surrounded by mountains and dense forests.

To Qin Ruqing, it seemed more like a village than a mysterious hidden family.

Seeing Qin Ruqing’s confusion, Feng Qinxue, walking with her and a priest, sent a mental message explaining, “This is related to the Lu family’s reverence for natural forces. Additionally, their spirits prefer this kind of environment.”

Qin Ruqing nodded in understanding.

Standing side by side with Feng Mingyue, Qin Ruqing looked quite similar to the Feng family members in appearance and demeanor.

However, her name had likely already spread to the Lu family, as some young Lu family members whispered behind their elders, not bothering to hide their comments.

“Which one is Qin Ruqing?”

“That one!”

“Tsk, a Qin family member daring to come to Lu Family…”

Lu Zhiyao was surrounded by a group of chattering young people.

In her own clan, her attire was different from the outside world, wearing a silver hat with shiny tassels, giving off a distinct ethnic minority vibe.

She was currently answering questions from the young girls in her clan.

“The one in red, tall and slender, very pale and striking, that’s her.”

The young girls looked towards Qin Ruqing, some murmuring:

“She’s not bad-looking!”

“She’s standing with Feng Mingyue.”

“Is the Qin Clan now latching onto the Feng Clan’s support or what?!”

To be honest, Qin Ruqing might actually be younger than some of these girls, but she inexplicably felt a bit of an elder’s mentality.

Watching these young ladies, she found them vibrant and lively.

Listening to them discuss her, she didn’t feel annoyed at all; in fact, she even deliberately curled her lips into a smile and threw a flirtatious glance their way.

“Ah~”

The young ladies from the Lu Clan immediately reacted with exaggerated surprise.

“Is she provoking us?”

“Uh, doesn’t seem like it. It’s more like one of those scoundrels in storybooks teasing the noble female cultivators.”

Hearing the growing chatter, Lu Zhiyao frowned and coldly snapped, “Show some respect! They are our guests, after all!”

“And don’t be fooled by Qin Ruqing smiling at you. You haven’t seen her in the Void Realm, casually grabbing someone by the throat and throwing them into the Rule Storm with the same expression.”

The girls fell silent in astonishment.

Qin Ruqing noticed that the beautiful ladies had stopped looking at her and pouted in boredom.

“You don’t seem to dislike the Lu Clan that much,” Feng Mingyue observed coldly, watching everything unfold.

“I never really disliked them. As long as they don’t directly provoke me, I find all pretty cultivators pleasant to the eye.” Qin Ruqing smiled at Feng Mingyue, then turned her gaze forward.

At this moment, Feng Qinxue had just refused the Lu Clan’s invitation to a banquet.

“I believe your clan already knows the purpose of our visit, so let’s skip the formalities and get straight to the point.”

Feng Qinxue’s tone wasn’t particularly polite; as the steward of an esteemed clan, she had no need to show courtesy to anyone.

The high-ranking members of the Lu Clan exchanged glances but didn’t refuse.

The Lu Clan’s patriarch smiled, “We simply thought that since the envoy has just arrived, you must be tired from your journey. Hosting a small banquet or two is just our way of hospitality.” Her tone then shifted, “But if the Steward is in a hurry, let’s proceed directly.”

With that, she turned and opened her arms in a welcoming gesture.

Qin Ruqing had imagined many possible places where the spirit artifact might be hidden, but she never expected that the ancient and mysterious artifact would be placed in a pond filled with lotus flowers.

Well, calling it a pond might be an understatement; it was at least a lake, and the spiritual energy was thick. But considering the ancient artifact’s legendary status, wasn’t this setting a bit underwhelming?

Qin Ruqing wasn’t the only one with doubts; even Feng Qinxue frowned and asked, “Is it really here?”

The place was so unusual that it was hard not to suspect that the Lu Clan was up to something.

Sensing the skepticism, the Lu Clan’s patriarch put on a look of alarm (which Qin Ruqing thought seemed a bit fake). “We wouldn’t dare deceive the Steward. It is indeed here.”

“We are well aware that leaving such a valuable artifact out in the open is highly improper, but this location was chosen by the spirit itself!” The patriarch pointed toward a spot at the center of the lake.

Beyond the varied heights of lotus leaves and blossoms, amidst the red and green scenery, one lotus stood out.

Its petals were tightly closed, resembling a bud.

Unlike the others, it had no surrounding lotus leaves, and it was encircled by a clear space without any other plants.

This unopened lotus stood alone, its slender stalk piercing straight into the water.

Yet its simplicity didn’t detract from its beauty.

In the dim evening light, the entire flower emitted a glow reminiscent of moonlight, captivating anyone who laid eyes on it.

Qin Ruqing’s eyes locked onto it, and she instinctively straightened her posture.

From this lotus, she felt an inexplicable and familiar presence!