Mu Nanqing fell silent for a while, then said, "Master, please don't tell Fourth Junior Sister."
She had thought about this matter for a long time.
The Myriad Magic Forbidden Land only opens once every fifty years.
Moreover, this place is only accessible to young cultivators under the age of one hundred.
This time is her only opportunity.
Whether it's for herself or for Shi Nian, she must make this journey.
"Nonsense." The Ling Tian Sword Master said angrily, "The Myriad Magic Forbidden Land is said to be a place where nine out of ten perish, but many times, the chance of survival is even slimmer. Do you know that during the last opening of the Forbidden Land, not a single person made it out!"
The Ling Tian Sword Master very much supported his disciples in taking challenges.
But not like this. Not by walking to their doom!
Mu Nanqing remained unmoved, "Master, there are always those who survive. Besides, there are examples of people leaving the Myriad Magic Forbidden Land and soaring straight to the heavens."
"That place! It's normal for disciples with average talent to want to take the risk, Nanqing, you are different, with your talent, as long as you progress steadily, you will eventually become a supreme strong cultivator! You really don't need to wade through this murky water." Ling Tian Sword Master said gravely, "As for Shi Nian's situation, I, as your Master, will naturally have a way to handle it. It's not your place to charge into the fray."
In a soft voice, Mu Nanqing said, "Master, if there was a way, you would have used it already, right? Over the years, we have tried all possible methods, yet there is still no way for Junior Sister to break through the bottleneck of the Qi Cultivation Stage. It is said that the Breakthrough Fruit, as long as one has reached the peak of their cultivation below the Divinity Transformation Stage, can naturally break through to the next realm upon consumption. The Myriad Magic Forbidden Land is incredibly miraculous; the rumors say it comes from the Immortal World. If methods from the Human World can't help Junior Sister break through, then we must try the methods from the Immortal World."
Mu Nanqing's expression was resolute.
No matter what.
She was unwilling to watch Shi Nian with only a mere hundred years of life.
Ling Tian Sword Master looked at her and spoke slowly, "You yourself are about to reach the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage, even if you really obtain the Breakthrough Fruit, you could use it to break through to Divinity Transformation in one fell swoop! Wouldn't that be more valuable than helping Shi Nian break through the bottleneck of a mere Qi Cultivation Stage?"
Mu Nanqing said calmly, "I don't know what value is. All I know is that to me, Junior Sister is countless times more important than my own cultivation."
Ling Tian Sword Master fell silent.
Mu Nanqing bowed slightly and said in a soft voice, "Master, the Sect Leader has already consented. This journey to the Myriad Magic Forbidden Land is now irrevocable. Please rest assured, Master, I will... try my best to stay alive."
Among cultivators under a hundred years old, those like Mu Nanqing in the Nascent Soul Late Stage are extremely rare.
But.
Even Mu Nanqing couldn't say for sure that she would definitely survive.
Ling Tian Sword Master looked at Mu Nanqing's stubborn appearance and sighed, "You may leave now."
"Yes." Mu Nanqing responsively agreed, turned, and left.
After Mu Nanqing walked far away.
Ling Tian Sword Master said indifferently, "You can come out now."
After a while.
Shi Nian, with red-rimmed eyes, walked out from the side.
She stood earnestly in front of Ling Tian Sword Master, her voice trembling slightly, "Master, my sister... she is doing this all for me."
She had never really cared about lifespan.
In her world.
Living to a hundred was already an enviable fate.
But Shi Nian never expected.
She didn't care.
Yet Mu Nanqing cared for her.
She was even willing to risk her life in the face of death for her.
If Ling Tian Sword Master hadn't secretly signalled her just now, pretending to leave and then come back through a secret passage, she might have never known about any of this.
Ling Tian Sword Master sighed, reached out his hand, and gently touched Shi Nian's head, speaking warmly, "Shi Nian, I let you overhear all this not to put any psychological pressure on you. Your Master just wants to let you know that in many people's eyes, you may be a little good-for-nothing, but in the eyes of your Master and your fellow disciples, you are always the most precious treasure."
Shi Nian's heart was touched by an inexplicable emotion, her head lowered, silent and speechless.
"Master. Must Sister go this time no matter what?" Shi Nian asked softly.
"Yes." Ling Tian Sword Master said expressionlessly: "The Myriad Magic Forbidden Land opens once every fifty years, and each sect has a certain number of spots that must be filled. Every time, there are very few applicants, and in the end, we resort to drawing lots to decide. This time, your sister signed up in advance, and your Sect Leader uncle is very pleased with it."
There was a hint of mockery in Ling Tian Sword Master's voice: "How could he send away someone who comes offering themselves? This time, your sister has no choice but to go."
Shi Nian pursed her lips.
Ling Tian Sword Master put away his emotions and calmly said, "The Forbidden Land will open in one month. Once your sister goes, she may not be able to come back. Spend more time with her this month. The two of you are known as sister-disciples, but you have raised her with your own hands, and your affection is almost like that between a mother and daughter. Cherish the time you have."
"Yes." Shi Nian replied softly.
Ling Tian Sword Master glanced at Shi Nian, somewhat surprised.
This fourth disciple of his was always so delicate.
Even asking her to practice Qi a bit longer would result in her crying and clinging to him for half the day.
This time.
He thought Shi Nian would cry even more terribly.
Unexpectedly, she showed a calm that surprised him.
This child.
Has actually grown up.
Ling Tian Sword Master waved his hand: "Go. Remember, don't let your sister know that you're already aware of this."
Shi Nian nodded, respectfully performed a salute, and then withdrew.
Ling Tian Sword Master sat alone for a long while.
Then, a trace of coldness flickered in the depths of his eyes.
Sect Leader brother, what a Sect Leader brother.
He has been accommodating at every turn.
Yet it only led his brother to press in closer and closer.
This incident was indeed Nanqing's own wish.
But were it not for the Sect Leader hastily fixing things in place, it might not have come to this.
Ling Tian Sword Master clenched the teacup in his hand.
The next instant.
The tea in the cup evaporated into nothingness.
Ling Tian Sword Master lowered his gaze, as if the anger had never existed.
Below Ling Tian Peak.
Shi Nian stood, lost in thought for a moment.
"System." Shi Nian calmly asked, "Why can't I break through the Qi Cultivation Peak?"
The system was silent for a while before speaking, "I thought you would never ask me."
Shi Nian spoke softly, "Originally, I only wanted a hundred years of time, but now, I've changed my mind."
The system fell silent again.
Shi Nian patiently waited.
After a long while, the system said, "The so-called Spiritual Power of this world is too complicated and impure, absorbing too much of it will affect your Pure Body. Qi Cultivation Peak is already the limit your body can bear, any more and your body will be contaminated."
Shi Nian narrowed her eyes, "Then where did the power that I used to slay the Snake Demon that day come from?"