Xu Wen pressed his lips together, took a deep breath, and silently cheered himself on several times before finally stepping forward."My Lord, I have one more matter to report.""What is it?" Tara York asked."I possess an eighth-grade spiritual root, which meets the requirements for your sect's outer disciples," Xu Wen said, nervously licking his lips. "May I have the honor of joining?"
Having said this, he stood there, heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of his throat.
"No need to become a disciple," Tara York said, shaking her head.
Hearing this, Xu Wen felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him, chilling him to the bone.
"But you can serve as an outer sect elder," Tara added.
In the future, once the sect was fully built, there would be mountains of affairs to manage.Tara York had no intention of working a nine-to-five schedule—she needed to quickly nurture some "workers" to run things for her.She herself planned to stay a hands-off boss.
She had already used the Mirror of Heart Reflection to examine Elder Xu's character. He was decent and trustworthy—worth investing in.
Xu Wen had almost given up hope, but hearing this reversal, he was overjoyed."Subordinate Xu Wen, greets the Sect Master!" he said, bowing respectfully to Tara York, voice cracking from excitement.
"Since you're now an outer sect elder of my Star-Moon Sect, you shouldn't look too shabby," Tara said.With a flick of her finger, three items floated out in front of Xu Wen:
A dark brown elder's token, more refined in design than the disciple tokens but with the same function.
A high-grade eighth-tier dagger named Cloud Sunflower, inlaid with a matching element eighth-grade gemstone.
A high-grade eighth-tier cultivation manual, Cloud Trace.
Xu Wen's mouth stretched into a wide grin that practically reached his ears—and it wasn't over yet.
Tara York waved her hand again, and a teaching staff appeared before Xu Wen."This item has no grade," Tara explained, "but it has a special function: it can perfectly suppress all outer sect disciples within the sect.""As an elder, you naturally have the authority to discipline disciples. This staff ignores differences in spiritual roots or cultivation levels.""Of course," she added with a smile, "you must not abuse it.""Understood! I will obey!" Xu Wen declared, accepting the staff with trembling hands.
Off to the side, Lin Danhua and Yu Ruyi were so jealous their eyes practically turned red.Unfortunately, they hadn't resigned from their old sect yesterday.Plus, this was only their first meeting with the Star-Moon Sect's Master today—They couldn't act too rashly.
Tara York was quite pleased. In just one day, she had recruited two outer disciples and one outer elder.And judging by the look on the Misty Sect's Sect Master Gu Chenyuan's face, it seemed that even more disciples and elders might flow into Star-Moon Sect in the future.Pity they were all outer sect people.
She needed to look into where she could find young talents with at least yellow-grade or higher spiritual roots.With her cultivation and resources, stealing a few outstanding prospects from other sects would be a piece of cake!
Thinking of this made Tara even happier.
"Night is falling..."Gu Chenyuan and the others thought Tara was about to politely ask them to leave.
"Why don't you all stay for dinner?" Tara York said with a smile.
Gu Chenyuan's group was stunned by the honor, but their excitement turned into awkward glances when Tara added:"Only... I'm not very good at cooking. Are any of you skilled in it?"
Among them were sect masters, elders, saint sons, and personal disciples—They were used to having attendants prepare everything.Plus, after reaching the Immortal Realm, they hardly needed food at all, eating once every month or two, and usually relying on medicinal pills instead.
As a result, not a single person present could cook.
Finally, Jiang Wanwan stepped forward timidly."Sect Master, I know how to make some simple barbecue," she said.
Tara immediately recalled the roast chicken and roast pork leg Jiang Wanwan had delivered last night...Let's just say—it was edible.Jiang Wanwan came from a small place, and was still a noble daughter there, so it was already remarkable that she could cook meat until it was fully done.
The atmosphere grew slightly awkward.
Xu Wen's mind raced, and suddenly his eyes lit up."Sect Master! I have an old friend whose culinary skills are unmatched!" he said excitedly."His spiritual roots aren't great—only sixth-grade—and his cultivation isn't impressive either," Xu Wen added."He's obsessed with food and has slacked off in his cultivation, so he's only at the Incarnation Stage.""If you don't mind, I could bring him here tomorrow."
"I don't mind at all!" Tara said quickly."For a chef, cooking skills are the most important—spiritual roots don't matter!"Besides, so what if he was only sixth-grade and Incarnation Stage?She had mountains of heavenly treasures—If he cooked well, she could simply "brute-force" his cultivation up to a powerhouse level!
"Rest assured, Sect Master! I'll leave at dawn tomorrow and bring him back within ten days!" Xu Wen promised, pounding his chest.
"Ten days?" Tara frowned slightly.
"My friend loves to wander. When we last spoke, he was in Central Continent," Xu Wen explained hurriedly.Traveling across continents would require taking the intercontinental teleportation array,And even then, once in Central Continent, he would have to rely on a flying boat to get around, since he wasn't familiar with the major sects there.Ten days was already cutting it close.
Tara York dug through her system space and pulled out a talisman, flicking it to Xu Wen."This is a Teleportation Talisman," she said."It can instantly transport up to twenty people anywhere within the Great Wilderness, ten times total, simply by willing it."
Xu Wen received it with shaking hands."Rest assured, Sect Master! I will return with him as fast as possible!"
Tara nodded in satisfaction."Let's go. Tonight, we're having a barbecue!"
She led the group out of the sect's grand hall and, with a wave of her hand, formed a shield of spiritual energy around everyone.Then, tearing open space itself, she carried them all through.
Gu Chenyuan was dumbfounded once again.This Lord could not only tear open space but also bring along a dozen people with her.Incredible strength!Xu Wen was right—this was a massive golden thigh he absolutely had to cling to!
Tara York brought everyone to the courtyard of her residence and smiled."This is where I live. We'll grill food in the courtyard tonight."
Everyone quickly nodded, inwardly even more awed.Compared to this courtyard, the sect's grand hall wasn't even fit to shine its shoes!
Tara casually tore open space again, pulling over a pig, three chickens, a lamb, and seven or eight large fish and shrimp.Then she produced two kitchen knives from her system space:One ninth-grade, one eighth-grade.
She tossed them to Xiao Huohuo and Shi Jingjing."These beasts contain a trace of imperial blood. They have no cultivation, but their defenses are astounding.Give it a try."
Gu Chenyuan clutched his chest in pain.These beasts—containing even a trace of imperial blood—could have been nurtured into guardian beasts for a sect!And now... they were just going to be eaten?!
Of course, Gu Chenyuan only dared to think such things in his heart.He wouldn't dare say it aloud.In the world of true powerhouses, he had no right to speak.
Xiao Huohuo gripped the kitchen knife tightly, his hand trembling slightly.His thoughts were much the same as Gu Chenyuan's.These were spirit beasts carrying a trace of imperial-grade bloodline!In Misty Sect, the strongest guardian beast merely had a tiny sliver of yellow-grade bloodline, yet its treatment was equal to that of the sect elders.
Shi Jingjing, however, didn't think too much.Since the Sect Leader had given the order, she naturally had to give it her all.Brandishing an eighth-grade kitchen knife, she began her duel against a little lamb.
After a fierce struggle, Shi Jingjing finally managed to bring down the lamb and neatly dispatched it.Xiao Huohuo, seeing this, began chasing after the chickens.But these chickens, blessed with wings, were incredibly fast.Even after exhausting himself, Xiao Huohuo only managed to grab a couple of feathers.
His fighting spirit ignited.At last, he caught up with the two chickens and, with a single strike, beheaded them both.
Both he and Shi Jingjing expended tremendous effort, finally managing to bring down all the spirit beasts.They collapsed onto the ground, more exhausted than after any of the sect's grand tournaments.
Jiang Wanwan, following behind, also pulled out an eighth-grade kitchen knife and deftly gutted the slain beasts.Gu Chenyuan and the others, feeling embarrassed to stand idle, hurried over to help her.
Soon, all the ingredients were properly prepared.Jiang Wanwan started roasting the meat, and before long, the aroma of cooking meat filled the air.However, that was quickly followed by a strong burnt smell.
"Miss Jiang, it's burning, it's burning!" Gu Chenyuan panicked as he tried to salvage the meat.Yuruyi, quick on her feet, rescued the grilled fish.
Jiang Wanwan, a bit embarrassed, wiped the soot off her nose and said, "The fire was too strong. I'll make it smaller."
Tara York looked at the charred meat with a heavy heart.She hadn't had a proper meal in two days.Sure, with her Emperor-level cultivation she wouldn't feel hunger, but cravings were another matter.
Having grown up enjoying the delicacies of Blue Star, Tara simply couldn't bring herself to eat a plate full of burnt meat.Last night, the roast meats Jiang Wanwan delivered — she only took one bite before feeding them to the spirit beasts in the garden.
So Tara tore through the void and picked a few eighth- and ninth-grade spirit fruits.
After spending half a day yesterday gathering information, she now understood the general cultivation level of this world.Using eighth- and ninth-grade fruits and teas to entertain guests was something only the Nine Giants of Central Continent could afford to do — and even they did so sparingly, only for their most important visitors.
Since she was stronger than them, Tara decided:From now on, eighth- and ninth-grade fruits and tea would be the standard hospitality for the Star-Moon Sect.It would show her strength without being wastefully extravagant.
Higher-grade treasures? Those she would reserve for her own people.
While Tara looked on with distaste, Gu Chenyuan and the others had no complaints.Although the food was burnt, the meat was rich in spiritual energy and enhanced their physical strength.One after another, they happily stuffed their mouths, ending up with faces blackened with soot.
Once most of the meat had been eaten, Tara waved them over to enjoy the spirit fruits and Enlightenment Tea.Ninth-grade fruits and tea!
The group treated even the fruit pits and stems like treasures, unwilling to waste anything.After drinking just one cup of the Enlightenment Tea, they all instantly entered a deep state of comprehension.
Bored, Tara absentmindedly gnawed on a small deep-purple fruit while opening her system panel to check the chat logs.The group chat showed 99+ unread messages.
Scrolling through, she saw that all the gifts she had sent had been returned tenfold.Xiao Yi was still diligently signing in everywhere.Xiao San, having no way to compete with the top two, was left joking around in the chat, trying to curry favor.
Tara checked her system warehouse — already packed full.If this kept up, it would soon overflow.
Just then, new messages popped up:
[Xiao San]: Congratulations, Host, on acquiring another regular outer sect disciple! Bonus: +10 Warehouse Slots!
[Xiao San]: Congratulations, Host, on acquiring your first elite outer sect disciple! Bonus: One Body-Refining Waterfall! Please select a placement location.
[Xiao San]: Congratulations, Host, on acquiring one outer sect elder! Bonus: One Challenge Tower! Please select a placement location.
Tara was about to ask what the Body-Refining Waterfall was when suddenly a powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from Gu Chenyuan.
It looked like he was about to break through!
Ascending from Immortal Emperor to Immortal Sovereign required passing through fourteen layers of tribulation lightning.
Tara, with her Emperor-level cultivation, could easily scatter such tribulation clouds —but she wanted to show off a little.
"Xiao San, you can dispel my breakthrough tribulation with a single command. Can you do it for others too?" Tara asked.
"Of course!" Xiao San replied cheerfully.
At last, he had a chance to shine.Recently, he had been living under the crushing pressure of his "big brother" and "second sister" in the system hierarchy.He couldn't outfight them, couldn't out-hustle them — it had been miserable.Now, finally, he had a unique strength!
"I'll act, you coordinate," Tara said.
"Host, rest assured, I'll cooperate perfectly!" Xiao San promised loudly.
At that moment, Gu Chenyuan opened his eyes and apologized:"My lord, I'm about to ascend. I'll go outside immediately."
Tribulation lightning wasn't something to mess around with — what if it wrecked the lord's small courtyard?
"No need," Tara glanced at the thick gathering thunderclouds and spoke sharply,"Such insignificant lightning dares to be unruly? Begone!"
At the same moment, Xiao San echoed her words in the system group chat.
In the next instant, the thunderclouds whimpered as if scolded and dispersed completely.
Gu Chenyuan, who had been about to dash outside, stood there, stunned, staring at the now-clear night sky.Where had his massive breakthrough tribulation gone?
Had he succeeded? Had he failed?
Still dumbfounded, he suddenly saw multicolored clouds gather in the starry sky.They transformed into radiant light and poured into his body.