The Xia couple clearly hadn't expected Xia Qingdai to be so resolute. Old Master Xia trembled with rage, his finger pointing at the door shaking: "Fine! Very well! Get out of here!"

Just as tensions were about to rise, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang out: "What's going on?"

Everyone turned around and saw that Immortal Wei Ji had been standing under the corridor at some point.

He was dressed in white, his clothes fluttering even without wind, and a faint halo emanated from his body as spiritual energy flowed around him. Bathed in the setting sun, he seemed like an immortal descending to earth.

Everyone in the courtyard quickly bowed and paid their respects, even the high-ranking Marquis of Anding bowed slightly.

In the eyes of these mortals, Nascent Soul cultivators are already like gods, and are the kind of people that all the major families are vying to win over.

Upon seeing that it was the immortal being who had spoken to him, Master Xia immediately suppressed his anger and forced a fawning smile: "Immortal, please forgive me, it's just some trivial family matter..."

However, Xia Yuwei eagerly stepped forward, "Immortal Master!" A sinister glint flashed in her carefully drawn eyes. She bit her lower lip, tears welling in her eyes, "My sister..." Her voice choked, pausing, "...for wealth and status, she dared to impersonate the legitimate daughter of the Xia family in public, and even defied our parents..."

Upon hearing this, the guests in the courtyard all showed knowing expressions, their whispers filled with disdain.

Who doesn't know that Master Wei despises those who curry favor with the powerful and wealthy?

Xia Qingdai was willing to do something as crazy as jumping off a cliff in order to join the immortal sect, but if it weren't for Lord Xia, she wouldn't have been able to even enter the sect of the immortals.

Now that she's caused this trouble again, the Immortal Master will surely expel her from the sect!

A ruthless gleam of pleasure flashed in Master Xia's eyes.

Even if this girl is truly his own flesh and blood, so what?

How dare she be so disobedient and unfilial! She should taste what it's like to fall from grace!

He can make her a disciple of an immortal, and he can also make her lose everything!

Xia Yuwei was secretly pleased with herself. She could almost see Bai Ying kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

She stole a glance at Wei Ji, hoping to see the immortal's furious expression.

However--

Wei Ji's gaze swept indifferently over everyone in the courtyard, but when it finally landed on Bai Ying, it softened instantly.

Amidst everyone's astonished gazes, the high and mighty immortal bowed slightly, his tone incredibly respectful: "Miss Bai...Xia, have these people offended you?"

Xia Yuwei's smile froze instantly; her carefully applied makeup couldn't hide her distorted expression.

Her lips trembled slightly, and her nails dug deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

What devastated her even more was what Wei Ji said next:

"If the Xia family cannot accept you, why not return to the Xuan Tian Sect with me? With your... talent, you are more than qualified to be an inner disciple."

As he spoke, he took out a gilded token from his sleeve. The token gleamed brilliantly in the setting sun, and the two characters "Xuantian" on it flowed with spiritual energy. "This is an inner disciple's token. Please accept it."

The audience erupted in uproar!

The guests who had been whispering just moments before now stared wide-eyed at the scene in disbelief.

The round fans in the hands of several young ladies from prominent families fell to the ground with a "clatter," and the young gentlemen were so shocked that they couldn't close their mouths.

You should know that the Xuantian Sect is the most renowned cultivation sect within a thousand miles! Its profound foundation and abundant resources make it the first choice for mortals embarking on the path to immortality.

Every year, countless scions of prominent families would go to great lengths to gain a chance to join the family.

"Inner sect disciple..." a young man in brocade robes murmured to himself, his voice trembling, "That's the qualification to directly obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill..."

The young lady beside him gripped her handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turning white: "My brother has cultivated diligently for ten years, and he's still only at the outer sect..."

The way everyone looked at Bai Ying completely changed. The Immortal Master had previously mentioned taking on disciples, but only outer disciples. Inner disciples? What astonishing talent would be needed to earn such an honor! It was said that out of tens of thousands who participated in the selection each year, only a handful could enter the inner sect.

"This Xia Qingdai..." someone muttered softly, "Could she really be some extraordinary genius?"

"Impossible!" Xia Yuwei suddenly screamed, her carefully styled hair becoming disheveled. "She can't even do the most basic Qi-guiding technique! The Immortal Master must have been deceived by her!"

But her voice was quickly drowned out by the murmurs of the crowd. Those who had once looked down on Bai Ying now looked on with shock and curiosity. After all, it was no ordinary matter for a Nascent Soul cultivator to value her so much, even going so far as to give her an inner sect token.

Master Xia couldn't believe what he was hearing. He couldn't understand why even a Nascent Soul cultivator was so respectful to this girl. His lips trembled, but no sound came out.

Bai Ying glanced indifferently at the ashen-faced members of the Xia family and said, "No need."

The scene instantly erupted in chaos!

"She actually refused a position as an inner disciple of the Xuantian Sect?"

"Is she crazy? But her story about jumping off the cliff to seek a master is definitely fake."

"The Xia family is mistaking a pearl for a fish eye..."

All the questioning gazes turned to Master Xia, making him feel uneasy.

Bai Ying didn't give anyone time to think before turning and leaving. Her back was ramrod straight, and every step she took was firm and powerful.

However, Wei Ji, instead of being angry, actually took a step forward. "Miss Xia, wouldn't you like to reconsider?"

Master Xia then seemed to wake from a dream and hurriedly exclaimed, "Immortal Master! Xia Qingdai's aptitude is extremely poor. How could you accept her as an inner disciple?"

Madam Xia panicked and, disregarding her composure, rushed forward: "Yes! This inner disciple should also be my Yuwei's!"

"roll!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Wei Ji unleashed a burst of spiritual energy that sent the Xia couple sprawling to the ground.

He coldly surveyed the crowd, his voice as icy as ice:

"Hmph, you know nothing! If it weren't for Miss Xia Qingdai's sake, do you think I would even look at your Xia family? You bunch of fools, you can't even tell the difference between a fish eye and a pearl, you're just stupid. From now on, I'd rather not come to the Xia family at all!"

Master Xia's face turned ashen instantly, and he collapsed to the ground. Although he held a reputation in the court, his status had only risen steadily after he met Immortal Wei Ji. Now that the Immortal had departed, he not only lost his greatest backer but would also become the laughingstock of the entire capital!

"Immortal Master!"

He screamed at the top of his lungs, staggering a few steps after them, but could only watch helplessly as Wei Ji disappeared outside the mansion gate with Bai Ying without looking back. The setting sun cast their shadows long and thin, as if mocking the Xia family's foolish decision.

However, the Xia family did not know that the Immortal Master had been summoned by Bai Ying.

Bai Ying wanted to make them suffer. It was easy to force them into submission, but that wouldn't be enough to help Xia Qingdai get her revenge. She wanted them to regret it deeply and suffer more and more each day!