A few incense sticks' time later, the Grand Elder of Jade Mountain Palace arrived at the Nangong estate and descended into the courtyard. His eyes swept over the gathered crowd and landed on the Jiang Clan envoy. He quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
The Jiang envoy gave him a faint nod, but that was all.
After all, this was the remote edge of the Eastern Province.
Even someone of equal cultivation, even the Palace Master of Jade Mountain himself—would still need to show deference.
Because he represented the Eternal Jiang Clan.
After bowing, the Grand Elder turned to Nangong Mingyue and said flatly:
"The Palace Master was moved by your unshakable Dao heart. Though your talent is lost, you still pursue the path of cultivation. He deeply admires this spirit and wishes to restore your status as an Inner Disciple."
"Do you accept?"
His words caused a ripple of surprise among the Nangong disciples.
Didn't they just strip her of that title a month ago? Now they're offering it back?
The Nangong Grand Elder stood silently to the side, eyes lowered. He understood full well—this wasn't admiration. This was fear.
Fear of Jiang Xuan.
Mingyue may have lost everything, but finding such a loyal fiancé… was a blessing in disguise.
Mingyue's steady eyes trembled slightly.
She knew the truth.
This so-called "respect for her perseverance" was a pile of nonsense. They were terrified of Jiang Xuan's wrath and were now scrambling to save face.
She still remembered this same Grand Elder's cold expression when he personally revoked her status just a month ago.
And now they wanted to welcome her back?
"Pathetic."
She was about to refuse when a thunderous voice rang out from the heavens, laced with mockery:
"Furong, offering mere Inner Disciple status… and you think that's enough to recruit a true prodigy like Nangong Mingyue?"
"Jade Mountain's vision is truly laughable."
A white-robed middle-aged man rode down from the sky atop a blazing beast wreathed in fire.
The waves of heat swept across the entire courtyard like a surging sea of flames.
Everyone's heart jolted in unison.
"The Sect Master of Qingyang Gate—Bei Qing?! What is he doing here?"
This was a true monster of a cultivator.
He had once been a wandering rogue cultivator who accidentally offended Jade Mountain. They sent assassins after him—but he not only survived, he counter-killed dozens of Jade Mountain's top talents.
Through many trials and fortunes, he ascended to the Heaven Origin Realm, founded Qingyang Gate, and became one of the region's top two powers.
Though Jade Mountain's heritage remained stronger, Qingyang's momentum had long since surpassed it.
Rumor had it that a hundred years ago, Bei Qing had already stepped into the Half-Step Venerable Realm—only one breath away from reaching true Venerable status.
As for the Firecrow Beast beneath him? Said to be the guardian spirit beast of the ancient legacy he inherited, bearing traces of Golden Crow bloodline—its strength rivaled that of peak-stage Venerables.
One of the key reasons Qingyang Gate could stand shoulder to shoulder with Jade Mountain!
Furong glared upward, his face darkening.
"Bei Qing! My Jade Mountain's recruitment has nothing to do with you!"
Bei Qing dismounted from the Firecrow Beast and respectfully greeted the Jiang envoy first.
Even if his strength surpassed the envoy's, he still had to show respect—because the man was from the Eternal Jiang Clan.
He feared no one… except Jiang Clan.
Then he turned to Furong and chuckled:
"Recruitment?"
"For an Inner Disciple?"
"Furong, your judgment is just as pathetic as it was back then."
"Remember when I once asked to join Jade Mountain? You said I lacked talent. Then you tossed me off the mountain."
Bei Qing stepped closer, his voice colder with each word.
"Three thousand zhang high…"
"And I was only at the Body Tempering Realm."
"But I survived. And now… I stand before you."
"And today, you have the gall to offer only Inner Disciple status to a girl like this? You haven't learned a damn thing."
The whole courtyard erupted into gasps.
So that's the history between Bei Qing and Jade Mountain?!
Furong's face twisted with rage—but he had no rebuttal.
Everything Bei Qing said… was true.
And worse—Bei Qing's current strength far surpassed his own.
"What are you planning? Want a war?!" Furong growled.
The atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
Two of the region's biggest powers—were they really going to fight here and now?
Bei Qing sneered.
"War? With you?"
"Don't flatter yourself."
"I just want everyone to see how pitiful your judgment still is."
He brushed past Furong and walked directly up to Nangong Mingyue.
With a wave of his sleeve, a token glowing with golden flames floated into his palm.
"This is the Firecrow Emblem—symbol of Qingyang Gate's personal true disciples."
"Nangong Mingyue… I wish to take you as my disciple."
"You will be Qingyang Gate's First True Disciple."
"Will you accept?"
Everyone was stunned.
He came… for her?!
The tension in the air melted instantly, replaced with sheer disbelief.
Isn't she supposed to be a cripple?
Why were people fighting over her?
First Jade Mountain's Grand Elder, now the sect master of Qingyang himself?
And not just any disciple—Qingyang's First True Disciple!
This title carried immense weight.
It was a signal—she could very well be the next Sect Master.
What is going on?!
Even the Jiang envoy, who had stood silently until now, glanced at Bei Qing and smiled faintly.
Let's be honest—he's just trying to curry favor with Jiang Xuan.
"First True Disciple, huh?" he thought. "That… does suit Young Lord Jiang's fiancée."
Furong glared at Bei Qing's back, face twitching.
Trying to impress Jiang Xuan by picking up a cripple?
What a fool!
Nangong Mingyue stared blankly at the blazing token.
Then she looked up.
"Sect Master Bei Qing," she asked calmly, "do you wish to recruit me for my talent—or for my fiancé?"
The courtyard fell dead silent.
Was she insane?!
Who dared ask something like that—to Bei Qing's face?!
Of course this was about Jiang Xuan! Everyone knew that!
You're a cripple. What talent?
But Bei Qing only blinked.
Then laughed honestly.
"Seventy percent is for Jiang Xuan. Thirty percent… is for your own sake."
"If I earn favor with the Jiang Clan, Qingyang may finally surpass Jade Mountain for good."
"And frankly—I trust Jiang Xuan's judgment. If he chose you, you're no ordinary woman."
"And finally…"
He looked her straight in the eye.
"You remind me of myself."
"Fallen into dust, yet never broken. That kind of spirit… is rare."
"If you can walk this path again… Qingyang Gate will be yours."
Mingyue was stunned.
She hadn't expected such blunt honesty.
Strangely… it made her like him.
She took a deep breath, then knelt on one knee, accepting the token with both hands.
"Disciple greets Master!"
Bei Qing smiled, lifting her to her feet.
Then he turned to the crowd and declared:
"From this moment forward—Nangong Mingyue is the First True Disciple of Qingyang Gate."
"Anyone who dares insult her… insults me!"
Gasps swept the field.
This was real.
The once-forgotten cripple had become Qingyang Gate's most important disciple.
Not to mention…
She was personally acknowledged by Jiang Xuan as his betrothed.
She now stood above all in this region.
The onlookers gazed at her with complex emotions.
The fallen star… had begun to rise again.
Furong turned pale, a trace of dread flashing in his eyes.
He summoned his beast mount and fled without another word.
"Qingyang is cozying up to the Jiang Clan…"
"This… could spell disaster for Jade Mountain."
And the worst part?
"Have I… completely misjudged Nangong Mingyue?"
As he flew through the clouds, Furong's face twisted in fear.
"What if Jiang Xuan truly chose her—for real?"
"Did I… make a grave mistake?"