*
"Taipei, don't pull so tight, loosen it a bit."
"Master, I'm afraid..."
Nan Qing: "...Oh."
Nan Qing, exuding an ethereal aura, stood on a flying sword. In front of her stood a tiny figure tugging at her clothes, while an unidentified bird or beast, Xiao Ba, perched on her shoulder.
【Host, you can actually follow the original plot and send him back to the Qingyun Sect. Then I'll take you directly to twenty years in the future, by which time he will have grown up.】
"No, this is quite interesting."
Xiao Ba clearly doesn't understand what she's enjoying.
In just a moment, they traversed thousands of miles of mountains and rivers in the mortal realm, arriving directly at the imperial city of the Southern Kingdom.
When Nan Qing appeared at the main gate of the Southern Kingdom's palace with Tan Taibei, the entire royal family, including the current emperor and empress of the Southern Kingdom, were already waiting.
As the white figure descended from the clouds, everyone knelt down in unison:
"Welcome, Ancestor!"
Nan Qing lightly flicked her wide sleeves: "Rise."
"Please, Ancestor—"
Apart from the emperor, everyone else only dared to steal glances at this legendary ancestor, the most brilliant and talented princess of the Southern Kingdom a thousand years ago, and now the most senior member of the Qingyun Sect, Master Ling Shuang.
The last time "Nanqing" came was a hundred years ago, so this was the first time that anyone, including the other members of the royal family and the emperor, had ever seen the true face of their ancestor.
Every three years, the major sects of the cultivation world would go to the mortal realm to test talents and recruit disciples. As long as one had spiritual roots, regardless of whether one's talent was extraordinary or average, one would join a first-class sect like the Qingyun Sect, or join some small sects, or choose to become a carefree rogue cultivator.
To prevent cultivators from interfering too much in the affairs of the mortal world, this area was sealed off by an ancient powerful being, making it a place devoid of spiritual energy. Not to mention cultivation, even Foundation Establishment cultivators who reside here for an extended period will experience a decline in their cultivation level. Therefore, anyone who has been tested and found to have spiritual roots will go to the cultivation world.
After all, the path of cultivating immortality is about defying fate.
To cultivate immortality, severing karmic ties in the mortal world is essential. The main reason why "she" has been unable to ascend is that she still has ties with the Southern Kingdom. Without severing karmic ties in the mortal world, how can she ascend?
Nanqing sat at the head of the banquet, a rank higher than the emperor's.
She propped her head up with one hand, urging her little apprentice to eat more while casually toying with a glass cup, her expression indifferent.
In fact, she didn't do much in the Southern Kingdom every hundred years, just sat around, but that was enough for the Southern Kingdom. With the support of the Supreme Elder of the Qingyun Sect, no other country would dare to be presumptuous.
Even though there is a rule that the cultivation world does not interfere in the mortal world, some rules simply cannot restrain those strong enough individuals.
She glanced at the handsome young man kneeling beside her, pouring her wine, and then looked up at the emperor below.
The fortunes of this southern land have come to an end with this generation.
How exactly did the previous emperor choose his successor?
"Ancestor, the spiritual roots of the fifth and seventh brothers were tested some time ago and they are found to be quite good. I wonder... I wonder if they could become disciples of the True Master?"
Looking at the emperor bowing respectfully below and the several young princes kneeling behind him, Nan Qing's calculating eyes were obvious.
They knew, of course, that this was their last visit to the Southern Kingdom, so they wanted to give her a few disciples to continue this protection.
"oh?"
"Then let's take a look..."
The emperor was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to bring out a pure white spirit-testing stele.
The fifth prince and the seventh prince stepped forward to be tested in turn.
"Fire and Wood Twin Forest Roots".
"Dual spiritual roots of metal and earth".
"Hmm, not bad."
"Someone from the Qingyun Sect will be coming to the Southern Kingdom next year. We can send them there directly then."
The emperor was secretly pleased, thinking that he had made the right bet and that the ancestor would not refuse!
So when he suddenly heard this, he immediately became anxious.
Although Shuang Lingen is decent, he can never become a direct disciple of the Qingyun Sect, let alone a direct disciple of the Supreme Elder!
Becoming a disciple of the patriarch means being on the same level as the sect leader of the Qingyun Sect, which is completely different from being a regular direct disciple.
“Ancestor, the fifth and seventh sons have admired you since they were young. After their spiritual roots were discovered, they both clamored to become your disciples and to fulfill their filial duties to you.”
As he spoke, he winked at the two young princes.
How could a child raised in the palace be truly dull-witted?
Two chubby boys, one five years old and the other six, dressed in small python robes, ran up to Nan Qing with short, quick steps. They knelt down in unison and kowtowed three times.
"Please, Ancestor, accept us."
"Yes, Ancestor, please accept me and my brother. Yunheng will definitely behave well."
Nan Qing suddenly asked, "Why do you want to cultivate immortality?"
"To serve the Ancestor!" the fifth brother replied without hesitation.
"To pluck stars for our ancestor!" the seventh brother quickly added.
The emperor below was secretly pleased. Who wouldn't be tempted by such a clever child?
Tan Taibei was also a little nervous. He raised his hand and gripped Nan Qing's sleeve tightly. He... he didn't want his master to take on other disciples...
If Master had other disciples, would he treat them just as well?
Little Tantai looked at the two princes who were pretending to be well-behaved, his eyes revealing hostility.
The master belongs to him, and to him alone!!
Just when the Emperor and Tan Taibei thought that Nanqing had developed feelings for him, she suddenly chuckled.
"Do you know that those with impure minds, even if they have good aptitude, will not go far on the path of cultivation?"
The younger one, the palace maids serving him, all had red marks on their wrists.
The older one, being still young, couldn't control the emotions in his eyes; he was practically about to say he wanted to use her, his ancestor, as a stepping stone.
Nan Qing ignored their expressions and turned to look at Tan Taibei.
"Are you full?"
Dan Taipei quickly nodded.
Nan Qing took his little hand, turned and stood up, not looking at the crowd again.
"The thousand-year promise has been fulfilled. Take care of yourself."
After saying that, he took Tan Taibei and they transformed into streams of light, disappearing together from the hall.
Above the sky, Nan Qing carried him, walking directly through the air, shrinking the earth to an inch, with the mountains and rivers beneath their feet rushing backward, their bodies shrouded in a spiritual energy shield, not even a strand of hair moving.
"Master..."
"explain."
Nan Qing glanced down at him and saw that he had a tight frown on his fair face, looking like a little adult pretending to be mature.
She's only five years old, and she already has such a serious face. Will she grow up to be an ice block?
"Master, will you... will you accept other disciples?"
Tan Taipei looked up at his master with his little face up. Although he was much more composed than an ordinary five-year-old child, the tension on his face was easy to see.
Seeing his forced composure, Nan Qing reached out and pinched his soft cheek:
"Supporting you alone is enough; I have no interest in raising children."
The last syllable rose in pitch, carrying a hint of lazy banter.
That's right, she doesn't have a hobby of raising other children, it's only because this little brat is him.
Upon hearing this, Dan Taipei's eyes lit up instantly, but the next second he seemed to remember something and hurriedly pursed his lips, which were about to turn up, resulting in a strange expression that was neither a smile nor a frown.
Nan Qing was so happy she burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha~ Taipei, you're so funny~~~~"
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