Dividing interests is akin to "carving flesh".

Demanding prodigies is akin to "digging people".

And this is the framework that the Taoist Court has established as guidelines for all factions of Qianxue.

The upcoming negotiations will be based on this benchmark. If Qianxue’s side wishes to avoid having more meat carved off, they must send these four rare bloodline prodigies to the Taoist Court.

To avoid losing people, they must have more flesh carved by the Taoist Court.

Such a condition, Qianxue naturally cannot agree to.

What follows is prolonged negotiation and struggle between the upper echelons.

However, Duanmu Qing hasn’t absorbed a word of it; her entire mind is captivated by that celestial, moon-flower-like exquisite figure.

She doesn’t care how the Taoist Court will deal with her, because she doesn’t have to care.

This matter, the ancestors of her parents’ bloodlines have already notified the Taoist Court, making this current "trial" merely a formality.

Yet, she cannot afford to disregard that ethereal, otherworldly figure, independent of the mundane world.

Desire gradually devours Duanmu Qing’s sanity.

She is willing to do anything for her, kneel to her, submit to her, open up her heart, offer her sincerity, even sacrifice her life.

And for such a woman, her heart must be hers, and hers alone.

As if envisioning the day she could hold her hand, kiss her cheek, even hear her softly whisper...

Duanmu Qing’s heart flame burns a bit more fiercely. Her originally cold face carries a faint sickly blush. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Practically in this state, with her Taoist Heart ablaze, infatuated and almost breathless, in extreme joy, extreme desire, and the excruciating agony of longing, Duanmu Qing clumsily concludes the "trial" at the Taoist Court.

That figure, too, under the escort of Bai family leaders, treads lightly step by step on lotuses, gracefully returning to the golden palanquin in the skies above.

With the departure of this captivating figure, the overwhelming presence also dissipates.

Everyone, not knowing why, releases a sigh of relief.

Duanmu Qing, however, feels as though her heart has been carved out, filled with pain and emptiness.

Elder Gu Hong also looks blankly at that disappearing silhouette, frowning deeply, feeling an inexplicable apprehension.

"This girl... is from the Bai family?"

"The bloodline in her, could it be...?"

"Is the Bai family planning on having her married to...?"

Elder Gu Hong’s heart is filled with hesitation, frowning in contemplation. Suddenly, she realizes something in her storage bag is trembling with a burning sensation.

Elder Gu Hong looks bewildered, gazing at her bag embroidered with mandarin ducks and lilies, reaches out and slowly takes out a piece of red string.

This piece of red string is broken, marked by scorch marks.

"Which red string is this...?"

After frowning in thought for some time, Gu Hong recalls that this is the red string she had initially tied for Mo Hua!

Back then, she thought Mo Hua was a good child and wondered whether she could match her for a marriage.

However, whenever she matched a red string for Mo Hua, it would break.

Until she was forced to break protocol, using the "Golden Jade Bond" red string made with golden thread and adorned with red jade to match Mo Hua.

Initially, there was some response; a slight connection when it was tied to a girl from the Gu family’s direct lineage.

Then, instantly, the bond backfired.

A flame of vibrant void rose, directly incinerating the red string...

Not only was the red string burned, but its golden threads also snapped, and the embedded red jade turned to dust.

At that time, Elder Gu Hong was shocked, guessing that Mo Hua’s marriage involved significant causality, likely to marry an extraordinary person.

Thus, she gave up on matchmaking for Mo Hua, but kept the half-burned red string.

Now, this half-string is inexplicably trembling again, growing hotter and hotter.

Elder Gu Hong initially didn’t think much of it, but after pondering for a while, suddenly realizes something, trembling all over.

She looks up at that now vanished figure inside the golden palanquin, her heart filled with disbelief.

"Mo Hua’s marriage... could it be... tied to her...?"

In that instant, Elder Gu Hong almost felt her heart stop.

How could this be possible?!

Although she thought Mo Hua was excellent, noble-hearted, talented, and ambitious, deserving of any girl in the world... but... not in this way...

This Bai family girl, with that bloodline...

Moreover, these two, one a Loose Cultivator disciple of Taixu Gate, and the other, a Sixth grade Bai family legitimate daughter, are unrelated, without the slightest connection. How could this be... how could they possibly be tied in marriage?

Elder Gu Hong is completely shocked, unable to believe it.

Yet the red string in her hand continues trembling, burning hot.

...

In the following days, the Taoist Court and Qianxue’s side continue to convene at the great hall on Mount of Tao, discussing the accountability for the blood sacrifice matter, and how to deal with the Qianxue Four Talents.

But that magnificent figure, like a blooming moonflower, no longer appears.

At the back mountain of Taixu Gate.

Within an ancient, tranquil, grand hall.

Ruling in name as the First Major School of Qian, the Taixu Sect Master is presently serving tea to a girl before him, dressed in a snowy luxurious dress, embroidered with faint gold phoenix patterns, wearing a wind and snow white jade glass veil.

After serving the tea, the Taixu Sect Master sighs softly and says: