Chapter 62: The Sacred Lord of Qingqiu

Sanctuary, the Pure Land of Brahma’s Melody.

A world apart, untainted and immaculate, it seemed nothing short of a celestial paradise.

Within the Pure Land stood ten grand halls, each the residence of a Holy Mistress. There was also a towering mountain, its summit crowned with perpetual snow, exuding an aura of sacred majesty when viewed from afar.

At this very moment, eight figures stood atop the mountain—all women. Like plum blossoms defying the winter, they stood proudly, unafraid of the biting wind and snow.

"The Blood Phoenix is dead," the First Holy Mistress announced.

At the sound of her voice, a sense of regal authority swept over the mountain, as if she were a sovereign mother of nations. Were it not for the sanctity of this Pure Land, one might suspect her to be the queen of some great realm.

The other Mistresses revealed their shock. How many years had passed since such a tragedy befell the Pure Land—a Holy Mistress meeting an untimely end?

One Mistress, who had been close to the Blood Phoenix, exclaimed with indignation, "What happened? I will avenge my sister!"

The First Holy Mistress shook her head. "We received a distress signal from the Blood Phoenix. She named Lady Qingqiu as the one to save her."

At these words, the Mistress who was close to Blood Phoenix grew even grimmer.

The secret art of Lady Qingqiu could extend a dying person’s life by fifty years, and each could only receive it once in their lifetime. Furthermore, Lady Qingqiu herself could only perform this art a limited number of times.

For the Blood Phoenix to need this secret art, her situation must have been truly dire.

There were two types of secret arts in the Pure Land. One was the privilege arts: the ten Holy Mistresses could study all of them, and Princess Changle, by passing the Pure Land’s one hundred and eight Heavenly Gates, had earned half the privileges and could learn half of these arts. Ordinary disciples, depending on their cultivation and contributions, could acquire limited access to such arts as well.

The second type was the unique art of each living Holy Mistress, rarely passed down except in cases where the Mistress, about to die without hope of ascension, imparted it before death, turning it into a privilege art for others to learn.

The Blood Phoenix’s unexpected death meant not only the loss of a Holy Mistress but also the loss of her many secret arts, such as the Blood Fairy, now lost forever.

"Lady Qingqiu went to save her, so why did the Blood Phoenix still die? Did Lady Qingqiu ignore the Pure Land’s iron law and let her perish?" the Mistress close to Blood Phoenix demanded again.

Lady Qingqiu was known for her aloofness and nearly friendless existence in the Pure Land.

At this moment, no one present spoke in her defense.

At last, the First Holy Mistress explained, "It was not that Lady Qingqiu refused to help. In fact, just as I notified her to go, the Blood Phoenix’s soul tablet shattered, proving she was already dead."

The Mistresses grew even more astonished. A Holy Mistress of the Pure Land, unable even to hold on until rescue arrived?

The First Holy Mistress continued, "The Pure Land cannot afford such a loss. I have sent Lady Qingqiu to investigate the matter. Only then will we decide what must be done."

The Pure Land was, in essence, an alliance of female cultivators. If one of their own was killed outside, the cause would always be investigated. Unless her own fault was certain—her death well-deserved—the Pure Land would send its strongest to avenge any injustice.

Such unity, rivaling that of the great clans, made the Pure Land an entity that few in the world dared provoke.

With countless secret arts passed down from generations of Mistresses, the Pure Land’s foundation grew ever more profound and its power unparalleled, until it transcended the mundane and was revered as a Sacred Land.

"With Lady Qingqiu’s temperament, can she handle this well? Perhaps I should go instead," said the Mistress who had been close to Blood Phoenix.

The First Holy Mistress looked at her, understanding the bond between her and the deceased. She shook her head. "If you go, it will be seen as disrespecting Lady Qingqiu. The Pure Land is a sisterhood. There is no need to ostracize her."

Hearing this, the Mistress dared not argue further and nodded her assent.

Pleased with her response, the First Holy Mistress smiled. "Rest assured, sisters. The sanctity of our Pure Land must not be violated. I will see this matter through. But for now, there is another issue we must consider."

The others thought for a moment and understood her meaning.

With a vacancy among the Mistresses, a new one must be chosen.

Since the founding of the Pure Land, the first generation of Mistresses had decreed that there must always be ten Holy Mistresses, symbolizing that women need not depend on men, but could attain perfection themselves.

"Leave the matter of Blood Phoenix to Lady Qingqiu. Let us discuss who shall be the new Mistress."

...

"Disciple greets Master and wishes you eternal blessings," said Princess Changle, her bow graceful as a dance even as she knelt.

Lady Qingqiu’s expression remained impassive, as though the one kneeling before her was not her sole disciple but a stranger.

A bond like mother and daughter? Such was the iron law of the Pure Land, yet outwardly, Qingqiu and Changle seemed more like sisters.

Qingqiu’s beauty was tranquil and close to nature.

Changle’s beauty was noble, dignified, and beyond compare.

"Did you kill the Blood Phoenix?" Lady Qingqiu asked directly, without pretense.

Princess Changle maintained her sweet smile and replied almost without hesitation, "Yes, I personally sent her on her way."

"There is an iron law in the Pure Land—within this Sacred Land, mutual slaughter is strictly forbidden. Any who break it shall have their spirit scattered, their powers destroyed, and their soul cast into the deepest hell," Lady Qingqiu recited, her face unchanged, as if reading from a law book.

Then she asked, "Years ago, after passing the one hundred and eight Heavenly Gates and learning the secret arts you desired, you begged me to quietly expel you from my tutelage, severing your ties with the Pure Land—were you preparing for this day, to ensure I could not judge you by our rules?"

Princess Changle seemed prepared, replying instantly. "My heart belongs to the mortal court—I could not learn the Pure Land’s serenity. I left to escape some of its constraints, nothing more. As for my attack on the Blood Phoenix, it was forced by circumstance."

"Speak," Qingqiu commanded.

"The man I love, Duke Jin of the Great Chu, Fan Li, is locked in mortal enmity with the Blood Phoenix. For my beloved, I had no choice but to make her die."

"As for the origin of their feud—"

Qingqiu raised a hand, cutting her off.

"There is no need to say more. I will investigate the cause myself. If Blood Phoenix was at fault, I will let the matter rest. If Fan Li is to blame, I will destroy his entire clan in her name. That includes you," Lady Qingqiu declared, her tone calm yet implacable.

Changle was not dismayed—on the contrary, she breathed a silent sigh of relief.

This was the best outcome she could hope for. If it came to a direct confrontation, Fan Li would never survive Lady Qingqiu’s wrath. But an investigation gave him a chance at exoneration.

Thus, after killing the Blood Phoenix, she had come at once to Lady Qingqiu, seeking a clear stance.

"Fan Li, my love, what price will you pay for me?" Princess Changle thought to herself.

But when she rose and looked up, her master had already vanished.

"Master has gone to Pengcheng…"