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Qing Xuanling's expression tightened under Sister Wangu's piercing gaze—but relaxed the moment she grasped the situation. She let out a soft sigh and deliberately adopted a timid tone.
"Did I… worry you, Sister Wangu…?"
Sister Wangu stared at Qing Xuanling's feigned shyness, momentarily speechless. She brought a hand to her face and smiled wryly.
"Sigh… I'd planned to scold you for not reporting something so important to the clan. Do you have any idea how worried I was?" She shook her head, moving closer and settling beside Qing Xuanling on the bed. "But what can I do when you look at me like that?"
Sister Wangu's delicate, porcelain-white fingers reached for Qing Xuanling's cheeks, gently pinching and stretching them. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes.
"Explain everything properly to your Sister Wangu—or your cheeks will end up looking like overripe peaches!" Her voice dropped to a playful whisper. "Or shall I tell your teammates how we first met?"
Qing Xuanling chuckled at the first threat—but her expression shifted sharply at the second.
She gently brushed Sister Wangu's hand away and sat up straight. "Ahem… I don't believe we need to go that far, Sister Wangu. I'd be more than happy to share everything about my divine talent."
Sister Wangu's eyes curved into crescent moons as she gestured for Qing Xuanling to continue.
"Sigh… I'm not sure what Xuan Dan told you, but I'll start from the beginning." Qing Xuanling cleared her throat. "It all began a few months after the Spiritual Awakening Ceremony. One night, I suddenly woke up inside my divine sea…"
She recounted the entire story: discovering her divine talent, the arduous effort to gather materials for her incarnation, and every event since Xuan Dan's creation.
Naturally, she omitted certain details—like her ability to create more incarnations, or that Xuan Dan possessed her own divine talent.
Revealing such things would be dangerously. Even without fear of clan oppression, some secrets were safest kept hidden. In a world with soul-probing and memory-reading techniques, exposure could mean grave peril—especially if others learned her first incarnation wielded the Alchemy-Blessed Fanatic talent, enabling high-grade pill refinement within weeks.
Such talent would alarm any sect or clan. A Foundation Establishment cultivator might well be waiting at her bedside if the information was revealed.
Still, a divine talent capable of producing one clone with different spiritual roots was already extraordinary enough.
As expected, Sister Wangu's face lit with surprise and delight.
"So your clone—no, Xuan Dan—is the one truly gifted in alchemy?" she asked eagerly. "Otherwise, I couldn't fathom why you suddenly pursued alchemy!"
Qing Xuanling smiled. "Yes. She's a genuine alchemy prodigy—unlike me. Fortunately, she can transfer her knowledge and insights to me. Though… I can't share mine with her. My divine talent isn't that balanced."
"No matter!" Sister Wangu nearly leaped with joy. "It's more than enough that Xuan Dan possesses supreme alchemical talent and you can inherit her understanding! Haha—you little rascal, you've hidden yourself well!"
Qing Xuanling laughed innocently—prompting Sister Wangu to pinch her cheeks again.
Yet no real anger lingered in the gesture. Quite the opposite: Sister Wangu deeply approved of Qing Xuanling's caution. Contrary to mid-tier clan members' beliefs, the elders and clan head were well aware hidden rats still lurked within the clan—impossible to root out for now.
Third Elder Qing Xuyun especially suspected a shadowy force scheming against them. While these spies couldn't hold high office, they occupied positions sufficient to overhear rumors. Had Qing Xuanling reported her talent during the clan's most vulnerable period, the secret might have leaked.
That Sister Wangu only discovered it today was a blessing—limiting knowledge to a select few Qing Wangu herself chose.
Without such caution… Qing Xuanling might not be here now, cheeks pinched by Sister Wangu.
Sister Wangu sighed in relief. "That was intense. For a moment, I feared an ancient monster had possessed you. Thankfully—it turned out to be wonderful news."
Her eyes softened. "Little Nine… you know I must report this to the other elders, right?"
Qing Xuanling nodded—she'd anticipated this. She was even kind of expecting it. It would grant her greater clan resources and freedom. But her expression twitched.
"…Little Nine?"
She tilted her head, smile faltering slightly.
Sister Wangu covered her mouth, stifling laughter. "Did you truly think the elders ignore what the youths do? Of course I wouldn't miss such a sweet nickname~"
Qing Xuanling's face darkened. "…Do the other elders know too?"
"Naturally! In fact—they all call you that now!" Sister Wangu stood with a radiant smile. "Anyway—alchemy classes are canceled for today! I must inform the elders immediately to decide how to handle Xuan Dan!"
Before Qing Xuanling could reply, Sister Wangu vanished.
The tension finally left Qing Xuanling and Xuan Dan's bodies.
"That was exhausting!" Qing Xuanling collapsed onto the bed. "How did Sister Wangu discover you?"
Her question held curiosity, not blame.
Xuan Dan shrugged, settling beside her. "According to elder Wangu, second-level alchemists often learn eye techniques. And as you know, elder Wangu is a great alchemist... She discovered me with just one look."
Qing Xuanling sighed wryly. She'd expected discovery eventually—but not on the first day…
Just then, Xuan Dan's teasing voice cut through the silence.
"Oh, by the way—What's this about elder Wangu seeing everything about you?"
Qing Xuanling's face flushed crimson. She snatched a pillow and hurled it at Xuan Dan.
"I'll kill you if you ever mention that again!"
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Qing Clan Secret Meeting Hall.
The elders, clan head, and Young Master gathered around a circular table. The Young Master had only recently earned his seat here—but that was history. Presently, all eyes were fixed curiously on Qing Wangu.
Qing Rufeng blurted out, "Why summon us, Old Fifth? You know we're swamped with these new classes!"
Qing Wangu's expression instantly frosted. "…Old Fifth? Did you just call me that, Old Seventh? Has being surrounded by youths made you forget basic manners?"
Everyone swallowed hard as Qing Rufeng paled, momentarily speechless. Fortunately, the Young Master intervened.
"Sister Wangu, please disregard the Seventh Elder's blunt words. We all know you possess the most exquisite beauty. Only the blind would call you 'old'~" He smiled warmly, filling the hall with refreshing ease. "Forget him—please tell us why you gathered us. I'm quite curious!"
Qing Rufeng shot the Young Master a grateful glance. He saved me from a beating. I'll be gentler when I beat him up for calling me stupid and blind!
A defeated smile touched Qing Wangu's lips. "Hah… When did little Yeng become so mature? Even mediating for us now! You shame us sometimes."
The Young Master shook his head. "Don't say that, Sister Wangu. Before you elders, I remain merely a slightly clever child. How many times have you saved me? I still recall that secret ruin expedition where I got lost—young and reckless. Second and Seventh Elders raced to find me, barely saving my life!"
His words brimmed with genuine warmth. If the Young Master cherished one thing about this life, it was being born into such a clan—where he experienced for the first time what it was like to have a family that took care of him.
Everyone smiled at his words. Indeed, he'd been a mischievous youth—but always returned with remarkable treasures. That particular expedition had brought the clan a powerful ocular technique.
After harmonious chatter sparked by the Young Master's intervention, Qing Wangu laughed lightly at a joke, then sighed.
"Well—entertainment aside. Let's address the reason for this gathering."
Her smile turned radiant.
"Little Nine possesses a divine talent!"
The elders' faces flooded with shock.
"What?! When?! She showed no talent at the Spiritual Awakening Ceremony!" Qing Rufeng shot to his feet, stunned.
"…Hmph. This girl is sharper than I thought," Qing Zizhai murmured with a faint smile.
First Elder Qing Meipon chuckled. "…That little brat truly loves surprising people."
Each elder and the clan head reacted uniquely—but all shared one thing: genuine joy.
The Young Master shook his head, smiling. "That girl hides herself well. I suspected she concealed something… but a divine talent? Far better than I imagined."
He'd theorized she might possess a ring housing an ancient spirit—but a divine talent was better. External forces like rings with ancient souls were unreliable. (Though if such a ring ever fell into his hands, he'd kowtow nine times to heaven in gratitude.)
As joyful discussion swirled, Second Elder Qing Chenweng—whose eyes were always unnaturally clear—posed the pivotal question:
"What is Little Nine's divine talent?"
Qing Wangu's eyes sparkled. "Finally someone asks! Haha—I was utterly stunned when she revealed it! She can create a conscious clone possessing…"
She detailed the talent thoroughly—how she discovered it, the mechanics, the implications—ensuring no elder misunderstood.
Silence followed. Then—
"I understand why she hid it," Qing Xuyun sighed, shaking his head. "This is profoundly sensitive. I would have done the same…"
Everyone nodded in approval. For someone so young in the ruthless immortal cultivation world, to possess such caution was something to be praised.
Clan Head Qing Yunkang beamed brightest of all. "Haha—magnificent! This girl is truly a blessing to our clan! Who could have imagined she'd gift us the grandmaster alchemist we desperately needed?!"
A collective breath of relief passed through the room. The secret realm's pill concerns? Solved.
Qing Wangu smiled confidently. "I plan to take Xuan Dan under my personal tutelage for as long as possible. With focused training, I believe I can not only elevate her to that realm's alchemical mastery—but also to the level where she creates new pill formulas within days! If we achieve this, our youths will face no pill shortages in the secret realm!"
After exchanging glances and deliberating, all elders nodded. It was the optimal path—for the clan, and for Qing Xuanling. She likely desired it herself.
They then turned to discussing end-of-month trials for students.
As for the possibility Qing Xuanling could create more clones… no one voiced it. Though all pondered it.
Some things need not be spoken.
Regardless—Qing Xuanling's divine talent had irrevocably shifted how the clan perceived her.
Though already ranked a first-tier talent alongside Qing Wentian, subtle distinctions remained. In celestial resource terms, both were rare third-tier treasures—but Qing Wentian was supreme-grade, while Qing Xuanling had been low-grade. Same tier—vastly different quality.
No longer.
Now, Qing Xuanling stood as high-grade—on the cusp of supreme. (Leaving aside the possibility of creating more clones.)
But it no longer mattered. The clan had already resolved: Qing Xuanling would receive the same treatment as Qing Wentian.