Mia Miao drove her Celestial Steed-drawn carriage at full speed toward Yuyang Commandery, her heart burning with rage. She wished she could immediately lead a force to the Jade Maiden Sect and uproot the entire sect from existence.
After flying for a full ten hours, the carriage finally entered Yuyang Commandery City and pulled up in front of a massive estate.
The guards recognized the carriage as Mia Miao's and did not dare to stop it, so the carriage sped straight in and only halted once it reached the inner courtyard.
The inner courtyard was the heart of the Miao Clan, with strict rules—even Mia Miao, a senior clan member, had to obey them.
After stepping out of the carriage and greeting the guards, Mia Miao made her way to a refined pavilion deep in the inner courtyard—the office of the Miao Clan's patriarch, Skye Miao.
As one of Yuyang Commandery's top powers, the Miao Clan had vast holdings and businesses, with countless matters to handle every day.
Eight guards stood watch outside the pavilion. The leader, tall and handsome with a stern gaze, was Justin Su—one of Skye Miao's adopted sons, whose cultivation had reached the peak of late-stage Golden Core.
"Greetings, Aunt Moon." Justin Su bowed to Mia Miao.
"No need for formalities. Please inform my brother that I need to see him," Mia Miao said kindly, her tone a stark contrast to the domineering attitude she showed at the Jade Maiden Sect.
"Please wait a moment, Aunt Moon."
Justin Su nodded, pushed open the door, and entered. Soon, a deep, authoritative voice called from inside: "Third Sister, come in."
At the words, Mia Miao stepped into the pavilion, climbed to the second floor, and saw Skye Miao standing with his back to her, gazing out the window.
The next moment, he turned around and smiled, "Third Sister, you've arrived?"
Skye Miao looked to be in his early forties, dressed in Daoist robes, a feathered crown, and cloud boots, exuding both elegance and authority.
"Greetings, Big Brother."
Mia Miao hurriedly bowed, showing utmost respect.
She dared not show the slightest disrespect before Skye Miao. Back when he fought for the clan head position, her brother used every ruthless trick, crippling or killing his competitors. If she hadn't been born a girl, she doubted she'd still be alive today.
She even suspected that the assassination attempt on Skye Miao and his wife and daughter over twenty years ago had been orchestrated by him.
After he escaped back then, he pinned the blame for the assassination on his biggest rival.
A man who could abandon even his own wife and daughter—she would never dare rely on being his sister to act disrespectfully.
"Rise, we're siblings—no need for such formalities," Skye Miao said calmly.
"Thank you, Big Brother," Mia Miao replied, but she did not straighten up. Instead, she stayed bowed and reported, "Big Brother, I went to bring Lena Ling back as you ordered, but the Jade Maiden Sect refused to release her. Not only that, they even sent a spirit beast to ambush me, leaving me seriously injured. Please, Big Brother, uphold justice for me!"
"Is that so?" Skye Miao's brows furrowed, and the temperature in the pavilion seemed to drop several degrees, growing noticeably colder.
"I wouldn't dare hide anything from you, Big Brother," Mia Miao said.
Skye Miao nodded and waved his hand, "Enough, I understand. Go rest for now."
"Yes, sir!"
"Wait!" Skye Miao called out to Mia Miao just as she was about to leave, then tossed her a jade bottle. "There are two healing pills inside."
"Thank you, Big Brother!"
Mia Miao said gratefully.
After Mia Miao left, Skye Miao summoned Justin Su and ordered him to take ten mid-stage Golden Core guards to the Jade Maiden Sect and bring Lena Ling back.
Jade Maiden Sect, Sect Master's courtyard.
This time, not only were the seven elders present, but also six elderly Daoist nuns—including the silver-haired Daoist nun.
After a long silence, Lana Snow spoke sorrowfully, "Martial Uncles, Martial Aunts, Senior Sisters, Junior Sisters—this crisis was caused by my mishandling as sect master. I am willing to go to the Miao Clan myself to plead guilty and beg them to spare our Jade Maiden Sect!"
"Where is Lena Ling?" asked an old Daoist nun.
"She is still in the sect for now," Lana replied.
"In that case, I will personally escort her to the Miao Clan. That way, perhaps they won't hold it against us," the old Daoist nun continued.
This old Daoist nun was Abbess Yvonne, the strongest of the Jade Maiden Sect's six Golden Core experts, her cultivation at the peak of mid-stage Golden Core with a chance to advance further within ten years.
Hearing that Lena Ling was to be sent to the Miao Clan, Lana Snow's expression changed slightly. "Abbess Yvonne, Lena Ling does not wish to acknowledge the Miao Clan!"
"Hmph!" Abbess Yvonne's face turned cold, her eyes sharp. "All our troubles stem from her. Are we supposed to risk the entire Jade Maiden Sect just because she refuses to return to the Miao Clan?"
"But she is no longer a disciple of the Jade Maiden Sect—we have no right to dispose of her!" Lana Snow said through gritted teeth.
"Ridiculous! Just because she says she isn't, doesn't make it so. Don't forget, all her cultivation was gained in our Jade Maiden Sect!" Abbess Yvonne sneered. Seeing Lana Snow about to protest, she waved her hand imperiously. "Enough, it's settled. There's no time to waste—I'll take Lena Ling to Yuyang Commandery right now!"
"I disagree!"
A sudden voice rang out.
"Who? Who's playing tricks here?" Abbess Yvonne shouted, her spiritual sense sweeping the surroundings, but she found no trace of anyone.
Just then, a shadow flickered—a young woman in green appeared before everyone.
The woman in green looked ordinary, about twenty years old, with not a hint of true energy emanating from her.
At this, everyone present from the Jade Maiden Sect was startled. She had appeared silently and without any fluctuation of true energy—her cultivation must exceed all those present.
Immediately, Abbess Yvonne grew wary and addressed the green-robed woman, "Who are you, Daoist friend? Why are you eavesdropping on our Jade Maiden Sect's secret meeting?"
"Nonsense! I am openly listening. How is this eavesdropping?" The green-robed woman smirked at Abbess Yvonne's question.
"Then may I ask what brings you here, Daoist friend?" Abbess Yvonne pressed, holding back her anger.
"Lena Ling once showed me great kindness, so I won't allow anyone to force her to do what she doesn't want!" declared the woman in green. Her words shocked everyone—especially Abbess Yvonne, whose face grew even angrier. "This is Jade Maiden Sect business. It's none of your concern!"
"Is that so?"
The woman in green sneered, then threw a punch at Abbess Yvonne.
"Hmph!"
Abbess Yvonne snorted coldly, spat out her magic treasure, which burst forth with a dazzling aura and light to meet the woman's fist.
Her magic treasure, the Purple Jade Ring, had been refined over many years and had gained a measure of sentience. Its power was enough to intimidate even late-stage Golden Core experts. In Abbess Yvonne's eyes, no matter how strong the woman in green was, facing the Purple Jade Ring barehanded would surely put her at a disadvantage.
But the outcome defied her expectations.
In the next instant, the woman's fist collided with Abbess Yvonne's Purple Jade Ring midair. Everyone stared wide-eyed, fixated on the scene.