The top-level junior sister also wants to act weak today

Wan Jin'an nodded slightly and replied, "I've also heard about the bet you made with that candidate over your engagement. It seems like it would be best to resolve that matter first to avoid any further complications. However, after the exam is over, you must come to the First Peak."

"Okay, Master, I promise you!" Before even entering the door, Chu Ying accepted the call of Master.

Wan Jinan was very satisfied, and then looked at Jiang Yingxue beside him: "What do you think? If you are willing, then come with me now and become my disciple."

Jiang Yingxue lowered her eyebrows, her expression obedient and gentle: "Thank you, Master, for taking me in. Yingxue is very grateful."

In this way, Jiang Yingxue no longer had to worry about how to hide her strength and pass the third exam.

"Then Yingxue, Yanchuan, you come with me. Chuying, you wait here for a moment."

After saying this, Wan Jinan came to the temple gate and paused. The rain had just stopped. He looked up at the sky and whistled softly.

A moment later, a white shadow suddenly appeared in the distant sky. It was an elegant crane with white wings spread out like clouds in the air, and the flapping of its wings brought up a gentle airflow.

The crane circled down and landed gracefully in front of the two of them. Its broad wings gently folded, its slender neck raised high, and it lowered its head slightly, as if to greet Wan Jinan respectfully.

Wow, this is the treatment of the master of the first peak, Jiang Yingxue sighed silently in her heart.

For the past few days, I've only been able to occasionally see cranes flying across the sky while practicing. This is the first time I've seen a crane land right in front of me. It's as big as a helicopter...

Wan Jinan patted the crane's wings and whispered, "Come up."

Yan Chuan took the first step forward, and Jiang Yingxue followed suit, carefully climbing onto the crane's back. The feathers were soft and warm, like stepping into a sea of ​​clouds.

"Hold on tight." After saying that, the crane flapped its wings and flew into the sky.

After a while, the crane carried the two of them to a solemn temple.

Stone steps lead to the towering temple gate, surrounded by lush green pines and flanked by ancient stone tablets, creating a solemn and mysterious presence. The temple's exterior walls are mottled yet majestic, and the stone pillars are carved with lifelike auspicious beasts, seemingly guarding this sacred site.

The plaque above the hall clearly reads four large characters: Cheng'en Hall.

Located within the inner reaches of the Xianyun Sect, Cheng'en Hall is one of the sect's most secretive and solemn places. It's a place of deep silence, almost cut off from the outside world, so secluded that even outer disciples rarely have the opportunity to approach.

Wan Jinan looked at Jiang Yingxue and said slowly, "Other peaks accept inner disciples with great fanfare and even elaborate ceremonies. But First Peak has always been simple and unpretentious. Yingxue, I hope you can accept this."

To put it bluntly, it’s just poverty.

Jiang Yingxue immediately said politely, "Just keep it simple. For someone like me who has no cultivation and relies entirely on luck to get into the inner sect, making a big fuss would only make me look bad."

Wan Jinan nodded slightly upon hearing this, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. "Very well, then, follow me and burn incense to our ancestors."

After saying that, he turned to look at Yan Chuan and said lightly: "Yan Chuan, go prepare tea."

"Yes, Master." Yan Chuan nodded, turned around and went to prepare.

Wan Jinan brought Jiang Yingxue into Cheng'en Hall. The temple door slowly opened with a creak, and what came into view was a quiet and solemn hall.

Several bronze chandeliers hung from the high ceiling of the hall, their dim light emanating an ancient and mysterious atmosphere. The surrounding walls were inlaid with intricate relief carvings, depicting the heroic figures of the Xianyun Sect's ancestors and their glorious achievements.

The hall was so silent that only the sound of footsteps could be heard, as if every step could trigger memories of this sacred place.

The most prominent feature in the center of the hall was a massive platform, atop which stood portraits of past clan leaders. Five towering stone tablets, several feet tall, were neatly arranged atop the platform. Carved entirely from ancient black stone, their surfaces were densely inscribed with names. The writing was vigorous and powerful, emanating a faint, ethereal aura.

These five stone tablets represent the five main peaks of Xianyun Sect, from Peak 1 to Peak 5. However, some of the names on these stone tablets are shining, while others are dim.

Wan Jinan led Jiang Yingxue to the stone tablet on the first peak. Unlike other stone tablets, most of the names on this stone tablet had lost their luster, only the names of Wan Jinan and Yan Chuan were glowing.

Wan Jinan pointed and explained calmly, "These five stone tablets represent the five main peaks of the Xianyun Sect. All inner disciples have their names engraved on the corresponding stone tablets, becoming part of the sect. These names that glow white represent that they are still alive and their soul power has not yet disappeared. As for those dim names—" He paused, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, "they have fallen."

Wan Jinan looked at Jiang Yingxue's surprised expression and continued, "Fifty years ago, the miasma of the northern demonic realm spread crazily, breeding countless demons and monsters, wreaking havoc on the mortal world. All the major sects sent their most elite forces to suppress it. And at that time, the strongest force of the Xianyun Sect—" He changed the subject, revealing a hint of pride and bitterness, "was none other than our First Peak. Our disciples are all skilled warriors, with unparalleled lethality. Therefore, the Sect Master personally led the disciples of First Peak to the north to fight the demons."

At this point, his tone suddenly hardened, his eyes revealing a suppressed rage, "But we underestimated the enemy. In that battle, some died, and many were injured. My First Peak was almost completely wiped out, and the other sects who had agreed to join the battle dragged on for days and still haven't arrived."

Wan Jinan gritted his teeth, a cold glint in his eyes. "They didn't arrive until almost all of the Xianyun Sect's disciples were killed, leaving me alone. When those sects entered, the demons had already been mostly slain by my First Peak disciples at the risk of their lives. They simply took advantage of the situation and wiped out the remaining demons. As a result... these 'belated reinforcements', especially the Lingxi Sect, became the saviors of the world. And we, the First Peak disciples who truly sacrificed our lives in this battle, have been forgotten by history and treated as background. In short, after that great battle to subdue demons, a large number of new sects were born, and the Xianyun Sect's position as the world's number one sect was replaced by the Lingxi Sect."

His fists were clenched tightly, the knuckles turning white, and his eyes were filled with hatred and unwillingness that he could not let go. Suddenly, he realized that Jiang Yingxue was still watching him, so he quickly loosened his fists.