Though the reinforcements of the Western Sacred Sect had arrived, both battles had ended in defeat. The morale of the disciples wavered; doubts and unrest rippled through the ranks.
Ling Xian'er once more raised her voice:
"You still have a sliver of hope. Whoever wishes to cast aside darkness and turn toward the light, step to my left. Hesitate, and the chance shall be gone!"
To speak such words before the gathered disciples, sowing dissent and shaking faith—this made the Western Holy Mother Chen Jinfeng seethe with hatred. Yet, constrained by Ling Xian'er's formidable skill at such a critical moment, a thought suddenly stirred within her:
Why not win this girl over and make her ours?
Thus she spoke, her tone turning gentle and dignified:
"I am the Western Holy Mother of the Western Sacred Sect. I possess divine and wondrous spiritual qi, ordained by Heaven to establish this sect and enlighten the masses. Our sect hungers for talent. Since you are gifted in martial skill, if you can awaken and pledge yourself to the true path, why not turn swords into jade and silk, and join us today? You may cultivate and ascend, and in time, even succeed me as Holy Mother."
Ling Xian'er merely let out a cold laugh and spat to the side:
"I am but a mortal of flesh and bone, shallow in virtue, whose sole talent is slaying the corrupt and depraved. I know well that I shall never ascend to your so-called immortal realm!"
Chen Jinfeng, intending kindness, instead struck a nail. Her anger flared.
"You ignorant child!" she roared. "To oppose the Heavenly mandate of the Western Sacred Sect—do you not fear divine punishment?"
Liu Yun, hearing this, burst into laughter and said mockingly:
"My sister already told you—she's merely a common woman of flesh and blood, nothing like you with your 'immortal bearing,' founding sects and crowning yourself the Western Holy Mother!"
Her sarcasm was sharp enough to draw blood. How could Chen Jinfeng not be enraged?
"Who are you?" she demanded furiously. "Speak your name! I, the Western Holy Mother, do not kill nameless rabble!"
Liu Yun replied proudly:
"I sit without changing my name, walk without altering my surname. I am Liu Yun."
Chen Jinfeng had roamed the jianghu for many years and knew well that the women beside Wu Tong of the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness were extraordinary. Among them, Liu Yun was none other than the daughter of Liu Xuan, Sect Master of the Heavenly Veneration Sect.
Upon hearing her name, Chen Jinfeng's tone immediately softened:
"So it is you. Since you are the daughter of the Heavenly Veneration Sect Master, you should know that mortals of flesh and bone may also cultivate and become immortals."
Liu Yun possessed deep family heritage. Hearing such words, her anger surged. Her expression hardened as she declared solemnly:
"Heaven shelters without partiality, Earth bears without partiality, the Sun shines without partiality, and Time moves without partiality! Your sect acts with such reckless arrogance—your sins are beyond forgiveness!"
In her heart she thought:
The sages govern the world with selflessness, yet this so-called Holy Mother treats these women as sacrificial dogs. Truly vile beyond compare!
And thus:
Though called a righteous sect—yet falsehood taints its creed;The Holy Mother boasts divinity—her claims are but deceit.The sun and moon shine without favor—Heaven's way is plain;All souls belong to the Dao—no mortal holds domain.
At that moment, the crowd stirred, their eyes brightening. A young woman approached—barely twenty, eyes clear as autumn waters, cheeks tinged with peach blossom, beauty like a jade maiden descending from Heaven.
She was Peony, personal attendant of the Western Holy Mother.
Peony spoke:
"Miss Liu, your martial skill is commendable. I am Peony. Why not display a few moves?"
Liu Yun replied calmly:
"Alone, you may be overestimating yourself."
Orchid—having earlier suffered a humiliating defeat—immediately shouted:
"Add me! Two against one—let us see what great ability you truly possess!"
Ling Xian'er could not help but laugh:
"Elder sisters of the Western Sacred Sect, my elder sister's skill far surpasses mine. She specializes in dealing with the likes of your Holy Mother. If you must fight, you may only choose me!"
Peony had witnessed Ling Xian'er's skill moments earlier—the intricacy of her palms was unmatched in her experience. Even she felt no confidence facing her.
She sighed inwardly:
The world indeed holds countless talents!
Then said:
"Orchid, let us join forces and first break her momentum!"
Orchid, formerly arrogant and dismissive of all, had learned her lesson from her earlier defeat. Only now did she realize that those stronger than herself were as numerous as clouds.
She said eagerly:
"Of course! Together we shall vent our sect's fury!"
In matters of martial skill, none could judge before crossing hands. Each in the jianghu possessed their own strengths; one must not attack with one's weakness against another's mastery.
As Guiguzi wrote:
"The wise do not employ their weakness,but use what fools excel in.One does not fight with what one lacks,but with what others neglect.Thus they are never trapped."
This was none other than the principle of using strengths and avoiding weaknesses, to seize advantage and evade harm. To pit one's weakness against another's strength was the greatest taboo of warfare.
Not long ago, Heavenly Saint King Su Song had suffered defeat at the hands of the twin sabers of Aimaidi in the great desert for precisely this reason—using bare hands against a foe whose mastery lay in the blade, naturally inviting humiliation.
Yet had Aimaidi faced Su Song unarmed, the outcome might well have been reversed.
But such was hindsight. Su Song knew this truth well, yet at that moment, the Western Sacred Sect was already on the brink of collapse, leaving no room for retreat.