Chapter 265: Sinful Psalms

"Ning Changjiu?" It sounded like a very ordinary name, though the meaning was quite good. Although the disciples had never heard it before, they all made a mental note of it.

Ning Xiaoling stood by the cliff edge, her blood-stained skirt fluttering in the wind. When she spoke these words, her eyes sparkled, and there was an unexpected sense of vigor and high spirits about her.

Zhu Ding looked at the young girl. For some reason, he was suddenly reminded of the portrait hanging in the deepest part of the sect.

They clearly looked nothing alike…

The old man clasped one hand behind his back and stroked his beard with the other. He let out a long sigh, which was like the wind sweeping through the valley, gently erasing the woman's image from his mind.

"The champion of this Spirit Valley Grand Competition: Ning Xiaoling," Zhu Ding announced, giving Ning Xiaoling a profound look.

Ning Xiaoling bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Martial Uncle."

Zhu Ding looked at the long blade she held, its tip lowered towards the ground, his brow furrowing again. "What you're holding…"

Ning Xiaoling looked at the blade, which was connected to her spirit, and gripped it tighter, saying, "This is my blade."

Zhu Ding asked, "Do you know what kind of blade that is?"

Ning Xiaoling was a little worried, fearing it would be confiscated by the sect on the grounds of being a precious treasure that needed to be returned to its rightful owner.

She thought for a moment and then honestly replied, "It's said to be Shen Tu."

Zhu Ding confirmed his suspicion. Had Ning Xiaoling not drawn this blade, he would have even forgotten that it was still enshrined in the Secluded Pavilion.

His ancient Dao heart stirred with ripples. "Do you know what Shen Tu is, then?"

Ning Xiaoling replied, "It's said to be one of Lord Mingjun's personal swords."

"Aren't you surprised at all… or even afraid?" Zhu Ding asked, puzzled.

Ning Xiaoling earnestly replied, "My senior brother said that people only need to fear the unknown. For instance, when a Martial Uncle of incredibly profound cultivation stands before me, I don't feel afraid; in fact, I feel very safe. Because we all know Martial Uncle wouldn't harm a disciple."

Zhu Ding was slightly stunned, then he chuckled. "What a clever person. I wonder if I'll ever get to meet your senior brother in my lifetime."

Ning Xiaoling thought to herself, although these words weren't actually spoken by her senior brother, it was never wrong to attribute any wise words she found reasonable to him.

Jiang Xian registered Ning Xiaoling's name in the ledger and remarked, "I imagine the record you've set will be hard to break even a thousand years from now."

Ning Xiaoling mumbled quietly, "The previous record of five isn't that many, actually…"

Zhu Ding's smile faded. He looked at Ning Xiaoling, his expression serious, and said, "Xiaoling, if you didn't have this blade, would you have been able to find five? Try it."

Ning Xiaoling was exceptionally clever and immediately understood that the record must have been set by this Martial Uncle.

Zhu Ding composed himself. He looked at Ning Xiaoling and asked, filled with emotion, "How old are you this year?"

Ning Xiaoling replied, "Seventeen."

Zhu Ding nodded slowly and said, "A seventeen-year-old in the Purple Court Realm… Ah, if it had been two years earlier, it would have been truly unprecedented."

While these words sounded ordinary coming from the old man, they struck the other disciples like a thunderbolt.

They could sense that Ning Xiaoling's demeanor had changed considerably. As she stood by the cliff, her petite and adorable figure even held a hint of a grandmaster's aura; that aura, mixed with her blood-stained clothes, made her seem more like a demonic empress who had yet to fully mature.

But they hadn't realized that Ning Xiaoling had already entered the Purple Court Realm.

A seventeen-year-old in the Purple Court Realm was a rare sight across the entire Middle-earth.

Of course, the latter half of his statement also astonished them… The youngest Purple Court Realm cultivator in the Ancient Spirit Sect was only fifteen? Who could that person be? And why had they never heard of them before?

Ning Xiaoling calmly stated, "Disciples cultivating the Dao believe in letting things happen naturally, without deliberately striving for speed."

Zhu Ding asked, "Did your senior brother say that too?"

Ning Xiaoling replied, "This is Xiaoling's… honest truth."

The red-dressed girl whose pouch had been snatched earlier listened to her speak such words with a flat tone, grinding her teeth in frustration, but could do nothing about it.

Fortunately, she wasn't in the same group as Ning Xiaoling, otherwise, her Dao heart would surely shatter from vexation sooner or later.

Zhu Ding looked at her, nodded, and said, "You will surely become a person of great talent in the future. If you ever feel that the Spirit Control lineage is too limited, I can also help you find another renowned master. Of course, this old man also happens to be looking for a final disciple."

Zhu Ding was a peerless master at the peak of the Purple Court Realm, with profound Dao arts and mighty cultivation, and held great prestige in the Ancient Spirit Sect. Becoming his disciple was something many dreamed of.

Although the Spirit-Speaking masters of the Ten Veins Wood Hall were adept at teaching, their own cultivation realms weren't high, most likely at the upper stages of Longevity. For instance, after Ming Lang entered the Purple Court Realm, several highly cultivated Martial Uncles had already begun secretly vying to take him as a disciple.

Many cast envious glances at her.

Ning Xiaoling thought for a moment, shook her head, and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, Martial Uncle, but I think my teacher is quite good."

Zhu Ding didn't press the matter. He said, "Very well. Respecting one's teachers is a virtue. You can further solidify your foundations with your teacher. Whenever you've thought it through, you can come find me."

Jiang Xian looked at the girl and found a blind spot: "Ning Xiaoling, when you first entered the valley, weren't you in the Longevity Realm?"

"That's right."

"Then why did your breakthrough not trigger a Heavenly Lightning Anomaly?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ding realized he had been 'blind to what was right under his nose'. He had almost forgotten such an important detail.

He also asked curiously, "Could it be that you had already broken through before entering the valley?"

Ning Xiaoling shook her head and explained, "Three years ago, I entered the Purple Court Realm by chance. If Martial Uncle is concerned, I can explain in more detail later."

"Three years ago…" It was a simple calculation, but Zhu Ding still counted on his fingers.

This old Martial Uncle was usually amicable and calm in the face of trouble, never flustered by anything, priding himself on having seen all kinds of storms. But today he realized he hadn't lived long enough after all.

"From today onwards, the youngest Purple Court Realm cultivator in the Ancient Spirit Sect will likely be fourteen," Zhu Ding said with a helpless laugh.

The other disciples listened to their conversation, their ears ringing with a constant roar. Some were envious, some admired, and some were crestfallen. The red-dressed girl listened to their infuriating conversation, stomping her small foot, and muttered, "Such an act… her senior brother must be no good either!"

Seakingdom, Dragon Mother's Feast.

It was a day later when Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia were finally granted an audience with the Dragon Mother.

The Palace of Rainbow Affection floated on the sea, its reflections shimmering on the waves, a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors. Its glazed immortal pillars resembled strange hourglasses. If the seawater was the long river of time, then the palace was an art that could forever exist within history.

The champion of the Zither Dao was a woman holding a zither. Dressed in a long purple gown, her graceful steps made her seem like a fairy treading on waves. Through the light veil that partially covered her face, her gentle and beautiful features were faintly visible.

She was a female disciple of the Purple Qi Sect and held considerable renown in the Seakingdom. Many who came to this feast also wished to glimpse her ethereal beauty.

But now, not many gazes were fixed upon her.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the pair dressed entirely in white.

It was Lu Jiajia and Ning Changjiu.

Lu Jiajia's beauty differed from that of the Purple Qi Sect disciple. She was like a peerless, aloof sword, forged in the clearest water and tempered by the purest fire. Thus, she was lucid and cool, flawlessly beautiful, and utterly striking.

What angered people, however, was that the young man beside her, the Chess Dao champion, had taken her hand, which ought to have remained untouched by the mundane.

Within a day, their deeds had already spread widely. However, Ning Changjiu's defeat of Cao Rao and the death of the unknown old man in their match had far less impact than the white-robed fairy's defeat of Liu He, the seventh disciple of the Sword Pavilion. This led people to feel that they were not a well-matched couple.

Many people had initially hoped they were merely spiritual Dao companions, but the inconspicuous little girl accompanying them shattered everyone's last illusion.

The little girl's every cry of 'Mama' was clear and genuine, and the white-robed fairy responded to her calmly.

They even had a child…

It was a pity they had offended the Sword Pavilion. The Sword Saint was famously protective of his disciples. If they dared to walk around brazenly in Middle-earth in the future, they would surely encounter hidden obstacles from the Sword Pavilion.

Ning Changjiu paid no attention to the gazes of those around him.

Liu He's appearance yesterday had somewhat surprised him, but his surprise was solely due to Liu He's sword intent.

That sword intent felt somewhat familiar, quite similar to the Sword Body cultivated by Fourth Senior Sister.

Although he knew Lu Jiajia had turned the tide of the battle with the Vermillion Bird feather drawn by First Senior Sister, he didn't find it inappropriate.

Because he knew very well that while the Sword Pavilion's cultivation method was strong, Lu Jiajia was walking the true path of human and sword as one. Even if she was slightly inferior to her opponent at this moment, her future path would always be longer and more profound.

"Later, when we meet the Dragon Mother, about the matter of 'Evil,' will you ask or shall I?" Lu Jiajia transmitted her voice into a thread, asking quietly.

Ning Changjiu leaned close to her ear and said, "If you have no other questions, you can ask."

With her earlobe assailed in plain view, Lu Jiajia's body tensed further. She quietly pushed Ning Changjiu away and gave him a quiet, resentful glare.

"Mm." Finally, she responded with an indifferent hum.

After the feast reached its climax with the sounds of strings and flutes and dancing, a rain of light descended from the magnificent dome of the Palace of Rainbow Affection, carrying with it the Dragon Mother's decree.

Within the rain of light were six particularly resplendent rays.

They resembled letters, fluttering like butterflies before the six champions.

They would ascend to the tower one by one, following the order of the letters.

The zither-holding fairy was the first to step onto the stairs formed from solidified seawater and ascended with graceful steps.

Before long, the fairy descended again. She couldn't help but pluck a few notes on her strings, and a smile was visible through her veil, seeming very satisfied with the Dragon Mother's answer.

Next was the champion of the 'Dao'.

An old man ascended, his face etched with worry, but when he descended, his expression was open and bright, as if he had met a wise teacher and confidant.

The next few individuals were similar. After descending, they were full of praise for the Dragon Mother.

Ning Changjiu was the third to last.

He held the letter, stepped onto the stairs formed from solidified seawater, and slowly ascended.

Qiu Yue softly asked, "What does Daddy want to ask?"

Lu Jiajia gently shook her head. She was equally curious about this matter.

Qiu Yue said, "Daddy isn't going to ask about me, is he?"

Lu Jiajia's heart tightened slightly. She also didn't trust this little girl, yet with their cultivation, they couldn't find any clues to prove the little girl's identity was suspicious. Hearing the little girl ask that question, a subtle change occurred in her heart. She wondered, 'Is she afraid?' Or, perhaps she actually knew about them knocking her out…

But Qiu Yue continued, "Oh, I know Daddy is very good to me, and he must want to ask about my origins and then send me home… But I don't even remember where I came from."

Ning Changjiu walked up the seawater stairs and met the Dragon Mother in a splendid hall that resembled a starry sky.

As Ning Changjiu stepped into the hall, a sense of familiarity washed over him.

The structure of this hall felt familiar. He had seen a similar dreamlike scene in Sima Ming's Star Palace in Broken Realm City before.

Just like before, the one now seated in the most secluded part of the Palace of Rainbow Affection was also an extremely beautiful woman.

The Dragon Mother sat gracefully on a throne shaped from surging seawater, her head adorned with unusual dragon horns carved from coral, the jagged horns intertwined with her ink-black long hair. The Dragon Mother's skin was like snow, and her demeanor was like that of a young girl, while her long gown was of the utmost extravagance and beauty, adorned with countless unnamed ornaments that formed a galaxy paved with gems.

Ordinary people who saw the Dragon Mother couldn't help