Chapter 695: Unbelievable
Of course, Piao Yun couldn't make such a huge decision right away. No matter how eccentric or pompous she was, she had to discuss this with her leader, who was also her senior, Xuan Yue Zhenren.
That was the main reason why she returned.
Xuan Yue Zhenren was surprised to hear Piao Yun's plan.
She did not anticipate that her junior would make such a shocking decision after just one day.
Had it been any other day, Xuan Yue Zhenren would never have agreed to it. After all, Lin Jin was a mortal who was inferior in immortal cultivation. Compared to him, Piao Yun was her junior and the second-in-command of the Immortal Cloud Sect.
However, this circumstance was unprecedented.
Lin Jin had entered the Storm Beast Cave, an indication that he and the cave were on great terms. Xuan Yue had previously wondered how she should get Lin Jin over to their side, and now that she heard Piao Yun's intention, an idea came to mind.
She would agree to it.
She would allow Piao Yun to seek an apprenticeship under Lin Jin to study beast appraising.
This was a great excuse.
"Piao Yun, have you thought it through?" Despite the glee in Xuan Yue Zhenren's heart, she maintained a solemn expression.
She knew how hard-headed her junior could be. Her question was merely a matter of formality.
"I've thought about it, Senior. Back then, our master taught us not to be complacent just because we have higher cultivation. He reminded us that we must never belittle craftsmen or artisans. There are experts in every field and anyone can be our teacher. I'm only going to seek an apprenticeship in the field of beast appraising. I do not see a problem with that, and I don't think I'll ever regret this decision."
Piao Yun looked determined.
Xuan Yue could tell that her junior's decision was firm.
"Alright then. I have nothing more to say. Whether Mr. Lin accepts you or not, I shall refrain from intervening. What happens next is entirely up to you," said Xuan Yue Zhenren.
That being said, she would still speak up if the situation required it. After all, she was still hoping to rope Lin Jin into their Immortal Cloud Sect. It would be great if they could just offer him a position as an elder.
If possible, Xuan Yue Zhenren might even teach Lin Jin the extensive cultivation methods unique to their sect. However, on second thought, Lin Jin's master, the unfettered immortal, might not even care for the Immortal Cloud Sect's cultivation methods.
Regardless, they had to be on good terms with Lin Jin. Xuan Yue Zhenren had cultivated divination before. While this study was commonly regarded as a mysterious art since ancient times, it was also difficult to master since the possibilities were endless. Catching even a glimpse of the future was incredibly challenging.
Xuan Yue Zhenren wasn't highly skilled in divination but she knew a little of it. Instead of wasting one day waiting, she was secretly performing divination.
The object of her calculation was the future of the Immortal Cloud Sect.
In her past divinations, the Immortal Cloud Sect's future had been a worrying one. Xuan Yue Zhenren knew that well because the future of immortal cultivation was just as bleak.
Their immortal era ended with the great immortal tragedy. They were only prolonging their inevitable decay by staying here in the extraterritorial land.
At Xuan Yue Zhenren's rank, she could see many things.
Some immortals and sects were still dreaming of the return of the path of immortality, that they could one day leave this dangerous and scary place, return to the mainland, or even the nine heavens.
The reality was cruel.
Xuan Yue Zhenren knew that it was impossible. Even maintaining the status quo was insanely difficult, as the miasma in the extraterritorial land had decreased by forty percent over the past two thousand years.
Like the boiling frog, many immortals had yet to realize this change.
As a profound immortal, Xuan Yue Zhenren detected the change long ago. Together with her divination, she realized the possibility that in the future, they risked losing their final place of refuge.
When that time comes, the immortal devouring beast, who had been responsible for destroying the path of immortality, would descend unto this land.
Where would they run then?
Perhaps the destruction of all immortals would soon come.
Whenever looking into the future, Xuan Yue Zhenren would redo it just to be sure. Over the past few centuries, nothing changed in her divination. However, after Lin Jin entered the thick clouds, something in Xuan Yue Zhenren's prophecy changed.
Glimpses of the future would always be presented mysteriously. Although the result was vague and difficult to comprehend, Xuan Yue Zhenren sensed hope.
This divination was elusive, like the moon's reflection on the surface of a pond. However, Xuan Yue Zhenren was sure that their survival rested in Lin Jin's hands.
For this reason, they had to be on good terms with him.
As this involved fortune-telling, Xuan Yue Zhenren couldn't tell anyone about it. That was the greatest taboo in the art of divination.
With this in mind, Xuan Yue Zhenren looked at Piao Yun, who looked back at her eagerly.
"Piao Yun, you want to seek apprenticeship under Mr. Lin but carry with you no gifts. Is that appropriate to you?"
Upon hearing this, Piao Yun came to a realization.
"You're right. How could I have forgotten about that? Thank you for reminding me."
Piao Yun immediately flew away. Shortly after, she came back with three beautiful Universe Pouches. These pouches contained remarkable items Piao Yun had come across in her lifetime.
This happened right before the other disciples' eyes.
Qin Yunshang was dumbstruck. Piao Yun was her martial aunt, someone with a higher seniority and cultivation level. If something terrible were to happen to Xuan Yue Zhenren, Immortal Piao Yun was expected to take her senior's place and lead the Immortal Cloud Sect.
On second thought, it wasn't strange for Piao Yun to do something so out of line. Qin Yunshang knew that her martial aunt was obsessed with researching various types of beasts. Given how talented Piao Yun was, she should have become a profound immortal long ago. Unfortunately, due to Piao Yun's preoccupation with her hobbies, she never made that leap. Even now, she was merely a half immortal.
This wasn't Qin Yunshang's personal opinion. The entire Immortal Cloud Sect, and even Xuan Yue Zhenren and their previous leader thought the same thing.
Forget Piao Yun's tomfoolery, why was Xuan Yue Zhenren joining in her antics? Not only did she not stop Piao Yun, but she even took part in the planning.
This was unbelievable.
Qin Yunshang didn't find this appropriate. No matter how skillful Mr. Lin was, even if he was the disciple of an unfettered immortal, he was still just a mortal. A man to boot.
The Immortal Cloud Sect rarely took in male members. Aside from the few male immortals taken in by her martial uncle, Xuan Hang, there were no other male immortals. These individuals were so scarce they could be counted with one hand.
If Piao Yun sought an apprenticeship under Lin Jin, his status within the sect would be elevated. He might even stand higher than Xuan Yue Zhenren by virtue of being Piao Yun's teacher,
Wasn't this nonsense?
Nevertheless, Qin Yunshang dared not comment on this. If Piao Yun was indeed fooling around, Xuan Yue Zhenren would stop her. Since both of them had agreed, nothing she said could stop them.
Qin Yunshang had a feeling something tricky was going on. However, she remained unsure about the specifics.