The mountain gate of Xuantian Sect was faintly visible in the morning mist, with ninety-nine jade steps winding upwards and reaching into the clouds.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Bai Ying looked up at this sacred place of cultivation that had stood for thousands of years, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She suddenly thought of the Lingxiao Sect, which was just like this place, with such a long flight of steps.

"Miss, it's so high up here..." Xiao Tao gripped Bai Ying's sleeve tightly, her voice tinged with fear.

Bai Ying snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at the little maid. Dust still clung to Xiao Tao's cheeks, but her almond-shaped eyes shone with anticipation. She reached out and brushed the dust from Xiao Tao's face, whispering, "Don't be afraid, this will be your home from now on."

Xiao Tao looked at Bai Ying with some confusion.

I thought the young lady was going to settle down here. I don't know if I, as a maid, am allowed to go in.

Bai Ying suddenly addressed Tinglan Zhenren, "Zhenren."

Master Tinglan glanced sideways, his long, snow-white beard fluttering in the wind: "Young friend, please speak freely."

Bai Ying gently pulled the trembling Xiao Tao in front of her, her movements incredibly tender: "I wonder if this girl could join the Xuan Tian Sect?"

"Miss!" Xiao Tao looked up suddenly, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, her little face filled with disbelief.

She thought she was already very happy that her mistress had brought her here.

Unexpectedly, the young lady asked the sect leader of Xuantian Sect to accept her into the sect.

Xiao Tao stared blankly, her mouth agape.

Bai Ying gently rubbed the little girl's head and said to Master Tinglan, "Don't worry, Master, I've examined her, and her aptitude is quite good."

Master Tinglan's eyes flashed like lightning as his divine sense swept over Xiao Tao's entire body. Suddenly, this usually stern and unsmiling sect leader revealed a look of shock: "A single spiritual root!" He looked at Bai Ying in disbelief, "Young friend, you have discerning eyes! This girl actually has a water spiritual root that is very suitable for cultivation!"

Xiao Tao stood there dumbfounded, her lips trembling but unable to utter a word. A single spiritual root? Her? A girl sold into slavery from childhood, who never even had enough to eat?

"Excellent!" Master Tinglan waved his sleeve, his voice booming like a bell, "Summon the Grand Elder!"

Before the words were finished, the sea of ​​clouds churned in the distance, and an old man with white hair and a youthful face arrived in an instant, riding on a blue phoenix.

Master Tinglan pointed at Xiaotao and said, "This girl possesses a water elemental root. From today onwards, she will become your disciple, your personal disciple."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder was taken aback at first, then his face lit up with joy. He quickly took out his treasured spirit-testing jade disc. As Xiao Tao placed her hand on the jade disc, the entire disc immediately emitted a brilliant blue light, reflecting a watery hue onto the sea of ​​clouds.

The Grand Elder's beard trembled with excitement. "Good, little girl, from this day forward, you are my last disciple!"

Xiao Tao's legs went weak, and she knelt down on the ground. She first kowtowed three times to Tinglan Zhenren, then turned to Bai Ying, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls: "Miss... Miss..." A thousand words choked in her throat, and in the end, they turned into a sob.

She originally thought that being able to come to the immortal sect with her young lady to broaden her horizons was already a great blessing, how could she dare to hope that she could also...

Bai Ying gently ruffled her hair, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

She never revealed the cruel truth—the silly girl who had carried her mistress on her frail shoulders all the way had already closed her eyes forever at the bottom of the cliff.

After all, during their time at the Xia residence, Xiao Tao and Xia Qingdai had found solace in each other. Although they addressed each other as mistress and servant, they were already like sisters.

If Xiao Tao knew that Xia Qingdai, whom she had worked so hard to carry back, had passed away, the little girl would probably cry her eyes out.

Some things are better left unsaid...

After the Grand Elder left with Xiao Tao, who kept turning back to look at him, Master Tinglan suddenly straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully to Bai Ying: "Young friend Bai."

Bai Ying raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly somewhat surprised by the title.

But it makes sense, since Wei Ji knew he wasn't the real Xia Qingdai, and the people of Xuantian Sect naturally knew that too.

Master Tinglan bowed to Bai Ying: "Young friend, I have a favor to ask. I need your help."

Bai Ying: "Please speak, Sect Leader."

Master Tinglan said with unusual solemnity:

"Seven days from now, the 'Dao Source Divine Tree' on Tianque Mountain will bear fruit." Master Tinglan's expression was solemn as a scroll of flowing light flew from his sleeve, displaying a towering ancient tree. "This tree blossoms once every hundred years and bears fruit once every hundred years; the fruit contains innate Daoist essence."

Bai Ying's eyes flickered slightly. The ancient tree in the painting had branches like dragons, and mysterious Dao patterns flowed on its leaves. It was indeed extraordinary.

"But..." Master Tinglan sighed, and more than a dozen powerful auras appeared in the scroll, swirling around the divine tree. "This time, it's not just my Xuantian Sect that's vying for it."

"Does the Master want me to come along?" Bai Ying smiled knowingly, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes.

Master Tinglan nodded: "Indeed. If you are willing to lend a hand, young friend, the Dao fruit you obtain will be split fifty-fifty between you and my Xuantian Sect."

A glint flashed in Bai Ying's eyes. The Dao Source Fruit was extremely precious; even though she had cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage in her previous life, she had never actually seen one.

I've heard that the innate Daoist essence contained in that fruit is very beneficial for breaking through realms.

Although Bai Ying had broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage and reached the half-step Deity Transformation realm, there was still an insurmountable gap between her and the Deity Transformation stage.

If one could obtain this Source Fruit, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage would not be impossible.

"Okay," Bai Ying readily agreed.

When Master Tinglan heard Bai Ying agree, he visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and his snow-white eyebrows relaxed.

He knew perfectly well that the seemingly young woman before him was actually exceptionally powerful, no less so than himself. With her assistance, the Xuan Tian Sect's chances of winning the fruit-seizing event would increase by at least 50%.

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