The woman stood quietly there, her figure graceful, her eyebrows like slender willow leaves, her phoenix eyes as bright as black gemstones, her nose delicate and beautiful, her skin as fair and tender as fine porcelain, her chest full, and her figure curvaceous.
"Elder Chen Yi, how about you accompany the envoy team of the Alliance of Righteous Unity to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance this time?"
The sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect looked at the woman and, after some deliberation, spoke with a tone tinged with helplessness and guilt.
The elders and disciples in the square were all startled upon hearing this.
Many elders who had been anxiously hoping not to be chosen now breathed a sigh of relief, then turned their gazes toward the woman named Chen Yi.
A woman in a green dress, with a charming appearance, could not hide the mockery and schadenfreude in her eyes.
Elder Zhou, who carried a long sword on his back and had a cold expression, was also surprised by this outcome, his face showing shock and disbelief.
"It's actually Elder Chen Yi?"
Many disciples couldn't help but whisper in discussion, seemingly very shocked by this result.
Some male disciples did not even try to hide the regret and pity on their faces.
Elder Chen Yi was quite famous in the Crescent Moon Sect, not because of her cultivation, but because of her beauty.
Many elders had pursued her, hoping to become her Dao companion, but Elder Chen Yi had rejected them all, her attitude as firm and unyielding as a rock.
She was privately called the "Stone Beauty" by many elders and disciples.
This time, the person chosen to accompany the envoy team of the Alliance of Righteous Unity to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was actually her.
This was unexpected for many, including the elders, who had not anticipated this outcome. However, it also allowed them to relax, though they still felt some regret and pity.
"Master... How could this be?"
Among the disciples, Lan Xin almost doubted whether she had heard correctly.
Her beautiful eyes widened, her body trembled, and she nearly lost her balance. Her face quickly turned pale.
This was sending her master to her death.
She suddenly understood why Xu Hui had looked so mocking earlier—she must have known about this all along.
A sense of helplessness and indignation welled up in Lan Xin's heart.
"Senior Sister Lan Xin, are you okay?" Gu Xian'er was also surprised and did not expect this outcome. She reached out to support Lan Xin.
The stunning Elder Chen Yi of the Crescent Moon Sect was Lan Xin's master.
"The sect is sending my master to her death at the Heaven-Slaying Alliance..." Lan Xin's voice trembled, her face pale. Her once bright and beautiful eyes were now dim and filled with helplessness.
Gu Xian'er looked at her expression and didn't know how to comfort her.
However, as Lan Xin was the only senior sister in the Crescent Moon Sect who cared for her and treated her well, Gu Xian'er couldn't bear to see her like this. She whispered,
"Senior Sister Lan Xin, perhaps you're worrying too much. The Heaven-Slaying Alliance might not be as dangerous as you think. It's not some den of dragons and tigers..."
"Elder Chen Yi probably won't be in danger."
However, before she could finish speaking, Lan Xin quickly shook her head, interrupting her.
Her eyes still held some fear and terror, as if even mentioning it made her shudder. Her face remained pale as she said, "Junior Sister Xian'er, you don't understand. You're still too naive. You haven't truly experienced those brutal and cruel battles. You don't know how terrifying the Heaven-Slaying Alliance is, the one that has destroyed so many civilizations and nations recently."
"Do you know its name? In the vast expanse, daring to take such a name so brazenly is already an unimaginable taboo."
"Even the Dark Beings dare not attack the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. You should know how terrifying it is..."
Gu Xian'er hadn't expected that Lan Xin, who had always appeared dignified and elegant in front of her, would react so strongly when mentioning the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Although she wasn't sure whether the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, which was so feared and dreaded throughout the vast expanse, was the same as the one she was familiar with.
But she still couldn't help but whisper in defense, "But I've also heard that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance has indeed provided shelter for many beings and cultivators, protecting their homes and lands."
"Those are just rumors. Besides, if a bad person does one good deed, does that make them a good person?" Lan Xin shook her head, her face still pale.
Meanwhile, Chen Yi herself, standing at the front of the square, was also shocked and surprised. She hadn't expected to be chosen in the end.
She frowned slightly, noticing the green-dressed woman not far away who was gloating, and suddenly understood.
The sect master's announcement in front of all the elders and disciples was definitely premeditated, not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
And some elders must have already known about this outcome in advance.
"Chen Yi, didn't expect this, did you? This trip to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance will be your death."
The green-dressed woman sneered, sending a voice transmission, not hiding her schadenfreude at all.
Chen Yi glanced at her coldly and ignored her.
The green-dressed woman was named Luo Bi, also an elder of the Crescent Moon Sect. Due to some past events, the two had a deep grudge against each other, each wishing to eliminate the other.
She didn't know if Luo Bi had played a role in the sect master's decision to send her to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
"Sect Master, can you tell me the reason?"
Then, Chen Yi looked at the Crescent Moon Sect's sect master and asked.
She was well aware of what kind of place the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was. All the elders avoided it, and no one wanted to go. Naturally, she was no exception and didn't want to risk her life by going there.
"This is the rule of the Alliance of Righteous Unity. As a member of the Alliance of Righteous Unity, our Crescent Moon Sect naturally must abide by it."
"After careful consideration and discussions with the Supreme Elders and Ancestors, we believe that Elder Chen Yi, with your formidable cultivation, is the best candidate to accompany the envoy team of the Alliance of Righteous Unity to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance."
"I also understand that this journey may come with unforeseen dangers, but to resolve the Black Calamity as soon as possible, we have no choice but to ask Elder Chen Yi to take this risk."
The sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect spoke in a calm tone, not surprised by the reactions of Chen Yi and the other elders and disciples.
Chen Yi fell silent upon hearing this.
"Sect Master, Elder Chen Yi is injured. You and the Supreme Elders cannot be unaware of this. Under such circumstances, sending Elder Chen Yi on this dangerous mission seems unreasonable, doesn't it?"
At this moment, an untimely voice suddenly rang out. Elder Zhou stepped forward, his brows furrowed, his tone seemingly very dissatisfied.
Some time ago, Elder Chen Yi had been severely injured while out picking a rare herb, pursued by an ancient ferocious beast. Her injuries were serious, and she had been recuperating in the Crescent Moon Sect ever since.
It was also because of this that she had been unable to lead the disciples on their training expedition. Elder Zhou had volunteered to take her place.
"Does Elder Zhou intend to take Elder Chen Yi's place?" A cold voice sounded. Elder Luo Bi, not far away, spoke, displeased that someone was standing up for Chen Yi.
To ensure the sect master and others finalized the selection, she had paid a considerable price.
Chen Yi's injury was no secret in the Crescent Moon Sect, and her injury was no ordinary one. It was a poison that even the Supreme Elders and Ancestors found troublesome and feared.
The toxin had seeped into her soul and true spirit, making it almost impossible to dispel. It would slowly spread over time, consuming Chen Yi's life essence and corroding her Dao fruit.
No matter how much Chen Yi tried to recuperate and heal over the years, there was no sign of recovery. Instead, her cultivation had stagnated and even showed signs of decline.
Compared to other elders who were at their peak, Chen Yi, who had no future, was naturally more suitable as a sacrifice.
Chen Yi now understood this, so when Elder Zhou spoke up, she declined his kind offer.
"I understand, Sect Master. I will prepare to accompany the envoy team of the Alliance of Righteous Unity to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. However, I do not wish to bring any disciples with me."
"Moreover, I have a request. I hope the sect can grant it." She raised her bright eyes and calmly looked at the sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect.
The elders present were all silent. Many who were usually on good terms with Chen Yi sighed, their emotions complex and heavy. Her demeanor clearly indicated that she was already preparing her last words.
"Speak. As long as the sect can fulfill it, we will grant your request." The sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect nodded, his tone filled with guilt.
This time, they had indeed wronged Chen Yi, but there was no other choice.
Her calm and composed acceptance made them feel even worse.
But they could not defy the orders of the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
"I hope the sect will treat my disciples well. Additionally, since I am going to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, I would like to take Gu Xian'er as my disciple before I leave."
Chen Yi spoke calmly, then turned her gaze to Lan Xin, Gu Xian'er, and the others in the distance.
Previously, she had not agreed to Lan Xin's request to take Gu Xian'er as her disciple because she was worried about attracting misfortune and calamity.
But now that she was going to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, she no longer cared about misfortune or calamity.
Before leaving, taking Gu Xian'er as her nominal disciple would fulfill Lan Xin's persistent pleas. In the future, the sect would likely not mistreat Gu Xian'er out of respect for her.
The sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect and the other elders all showed slight changes in expression.
They were not surprised by Chen Yi's first request.
But the fact that she wanted to take Gu Xian'er, whom everyone avoided, as her disciple showed that she had already given up and no longer cared about karma or misfortune.
After a moment of silence, the sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect said, "I grant your request."
Chen Yi smiled slightly, then transformed into a streak of light and flew away to prepare for her journey to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Among the disciples, Gu Xian'er had not expected that the matter would end up involving her being taken as a disciple.
She was stunned by the complex gazes directed at her by the other disciples, her own emotions even more complicated.
She understood Elder Chen Yi's kindness, but she did not actually want to become her disciple.
Her masters were in the Dao Prosperity True World, not in the Crescent Moon Sect.
"Master has finally agreed to take Junior Sister Xian'er as her disciple."
"But I can't feel happy about it at all." Lan Xin's face still carried sorrow, her mood low.
This should have been a good thing, but it also meant that her master had already set life and death aside.
---
After leaving the square, Gu Xian'er did not find Elder Chen Yi. She planned to go directly to her and politely decline her offer.
Unable to do so, she had no choice but to return to her cave dwelling and recount the day's events to the white-robed woman and the big red bird inside.
Even now, Gu Xian'er did not know the white-robed woman's name, and the white-robed woman herself could not remember her name.
When discussing the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, Gu Xian'er noticed that the white-robed woman seemed to be lost in thought, as if the three words had triggered some memory. She remained in a daze for a while.
However, in the end, she still couldn't remember anything, only feeling her headache growing worse.
The big red bird wisely avoided discussing its and Gu Xian'er's origins in front of the white-robed woman.
Both the bird and Gu Xian'er were well aware of the matters concerning the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. They had even discussed it many times before, speculating on its relationship with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance in the Dao Prosperity True World.
After all, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's reputation in the vast expanse was indeed immense, as evident from Lan Xin's reaction earlier.
As for the Dao Prosperity True World, from Gu Xian'er's current perspective, it was merely a newly born true world.
Back then, the strongest cultivator in the Dao Prosperity True World had only just touched the threshold of the Dao Realms, having survived one or two Heavenly Decline Tribulations.
In the Crescent Moon Sect, such a person wouldn't even be considered a mid-tier figure.
After all, some of the Crescent Moon Sect's most talented and blessed young geniuses had already crossed that threshold, easily suppressing ordinary Dao Realm existences.
Only those who had survived three or four Heavenly Decline Tribulations could barely be considered elders.
Although the Heaven-Slaying Alliance in the Dao Prosperity True World had been established by Gu Changge, its foundation and strength were worlds apart from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance in the vast expanse. They were not on the same level at all.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance in the vast expanse had not always existed. It had suddenly emerged thousands of years ago, around the same time Gu Changge had left the Dao Prosperity True World.
Gu Xian'er didn't know if the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was related to him, and she didn't care.
All she knew was that she hadn't heard any news about Gu Changge for a long time. She didn't know where he had gone or what he had done after he quietly left the Dao Prosperity True World.
After leaving the Dao Prosperity True World, she had tried to find traces of Gu Changge, to follow in his footsteps, but she had failed every time, finding no clues or signs of him.
Instead, her attempts had led her into many dangerous situations, from which she had barely escaped by relying on her wits and luck.
After leaving the square, Gu Xian'er wanted to find Elder Chen Yi, partly because she wanted to ask her to take her along.
She wanted to see the Heaven-Slaying Alliance with her own eyes.
She had a premonition that she would meet the person she most wanted to see.
Time passed quickly. After returning to her cave dwelling, Gu Xian'er didn't rest for long before noticing that the sky outside had darkened.
"I wonder if that old woman will appear again tonight in those ruins."
"I need to ask her why she brought me to the Crescent Moon Sect."
She got up and left the cave dwelling, not disturbing the white-robed woman resting inside, nor taking the big red bird with her.
The mountain range at night was eerily quiet, with no sounds of insects or birds, let alone any traces of wild beasts or mountain spirits.
A faint white mist rose in the forest. Gu Xian'er transformed into a streak of light and soon arrived at the long-deserted and broken ruins.
After last night's events, her courage had grown. She knew there were no evil spirits or strange phenomena here, only that old woman weeping under the moon.
During the day, the old woman was almost invisible. Gu Xian'er hadn't seen her for a long time and couldn't find her to ask questions.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to come here at this time to try her luck.
She didn't know what this place had once been.
Why was that old woman so fixated on wandering here, weeping under the moon with such deep sorrow?
The ruins were vast, with nothing but collapsed and broken buildings.
If there had been any treasures, they would have long been taken by the disciples and elders of the Crescent Moon Sect.
Gu Xian'er arrived near the small hill where she had seen the old woman the previous night. After some thought, she hid in a collapsed alchemy room and used an ancient talisman to conceal her aura.
After all, the old woman had noticed her last night and then disappeared.
The night grew darker, and a cold wind began to blow through the empty ruins. By midnight, even the moonlight had dimmed.
Gu Xian'er waited for a long time but did not see the old woman. Feeling disappointed, she was about to leave.
At that moment, a conversation suddenly began not far away.
Gu Xian'er, who had been about to leave, stopped in her tracks. She was surprised—why would anyone come to these ruins at night?
"Young Master, was your trip to the Radiant Ancient Domain successful? Did you meet Princess Weiyang?"
On the path through the broken ruins, a middle-aged man in gray robes, wearing a tall hat and exuding a scholarly air, walked alongside a young man as they conversed.
Gu Xian'er was startled. The gray-robed man looked familiar—he seemed to be an elder of the Crescent Moon Sect, one of those with profound cultivation and unfathomable strength.
He actually addressed the young man beside him as "Young Master"?
Had she accidentally stumbled upon someone's secret scheme again?
When she got a clear look at the young man's face, Gu Xian'er was even more surprised.
"The number one genius of the younger generation in the Crescent Moon Sect, the disciple named Song Yu?"