Although Jing Xiao's temperament was aloof and she spoke little, she was quite pure-hearted.
After a conversation with Gu Changge, she began to feel a sense of familiarity and closeness toward him, as if he were a true eldest senior brother. His demeanor was as gentle as a spring breeze, and his speech and conduct were refined and amiable, as if there was nothing in the world he did not know.
Even when discussing some casual points about cultivation, he could effortlessly point them out and elaborate on various aspects related to them. The breadth of his knowledge left Jing Xiao in awe and admiration.
The eldest senior brother of the Xianyun Dao field was so erudite that even Jing Xiao, who had been well-read and knowledgeable since childhood, felt she was far inferior. She realized that the saying "there is always someone better, and there is always a higher sky" was not just an empty phrase.
Jing Xiao also noticed that although she often felt ignorant or even foolish during her conversations with this eldest senior brother of the Xianyun Dao field, she never felt uncomfortable or out of place. On the contrary, she felt at ease and relaxed, as if she were being taken care of.
This reminded Jing Xiao of something she had heard from her elders when she was young: if you always feel comfortable, relaxed, and cared for during a conversation with someone, it means that person's talent and intelligence far surpass your own.
At this moment, this was exactly how Jing Xiao felt about the eldest senior brother of the Xianyun Dao field, whom she had just met. She couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration and closeness toward him.
It wasn't until she had followed her master, Elder Jiulin, into the Imperial Immortal Palace and entered the council hall that Jing Xiao suddenly realized she needed to stop talking. She noticed Elder Jiulin coughing lightly, signaling her to compose herself.
At the same time, the elders and disciples from other Dao fields turned their gazes toward her, seemingly surprised. Jing Xiao then realized that she had unknowingly been smiling softly, which seemed somewhat inappropriate in the solemn and dignified hall.
She quickly lowered her head, her ears burning and her porcelain-like cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Jing Xiao had never imagined that one day she would be so engrossed in a conversation with a young man, losing herself in it and taking so long to snap out of it.
She kept her head down and stole a glance at Gu Changge, only to find that he remained as composed as ever, no different from how he had been outside the hall, as if he felt no pressure at all.
It was important to note that this place was filled with the best of the Imperial Immortal Palace's current generation, as well as elders whose strength was no less than Elder Jiulin's, and the current Palace Master. An ordinary disciple would never dare to be so calm and relaxed.
Jing Xiao couldn't help but feel another wave of admiration for Gu Changge.
In the grand and vast hall, with the arrival of Elder Jiulin, Elder Xianyun, and others, the elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace had almost all gathered.
"It seems everyone has arrived. Now, I can begin discussing the main matter," Ling Qiuhan, the current Palace Master of the Imperial Immortal Palace, said with a light cough.
At the same time, his slightly surprised gaze lingered on Jing Xiao, who had just entered the hall. He hadn't expected that the daughter of his old friend would show a faint smile on her face, and in the moment she lowered her head, there was even a hint of shyness, like that of a young girl.
She had even secretly glanced at the young man in white beside her?
This made Ling Qiuhan feel both pleased and intrigued.
He had originally thought that his friend's daughter, with her cold and aloof temperament, was solely devoted to the Dao and would have no room for romantic thoughts.
It seemed she just hadn't met the right person yet.
This young disciple appeared to be talented and handsome, with an immortal-like aura, and he remained calm and composed in such a setting, showing a hint of Daoist intent. He was undoubtedly a promising talent.
However, Ling Qiuhan had never seen him before. Could he be a disciple that some elder had been keeping hidden?
But this was also good. It meant he could give his friend a proper explanation later.
At the same time, it might prevent further conflicts between Jing Xiao and Ling Yuxian.
Ling Qiuhan didn't know why the two, who should have been old acquaintances, had clashed recently. Jing Xiao, disregarding the劝阻 of her family, had joined the Imperial Immortal Palace with the goal of defeating Ling Yuxian and avenging her past humiliation.
Ling Qiuhan found this situation deeply troubling. On one side was the true little ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace, and on the other was the daughter of his old friend. He couldn't favor either side.
Moreover, if one were to carefully consider the relationship, shouldn't the connection between Ling Yuxian and Jing Xiao be even more complicated?
After all, the Jing family behind Jing Xiao was descended from the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace.
"Palace Master, may I ask what matter has prompted you to summon us here?"
In the hall, the elders had been waiting for Ling Qiuhan to speak, and now they all voiced their questions.
Elder Jiulin and the others also composed themselves and looked at Ling Qiuhan.
Ling Qiuhan glanced at Ling Yuxian behind him and, after seeing her nod slightly, said, "The reason I have summoned all the elders here is that in the near future, our Imperial Immortal Palace may face a major event. Therefore, I hope all elders will lead the elite disciples of their respective Dao fields to assist. This matter concerns the imminent return of the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace, and there must be no negligence."
This was why Ling Qiuhan had used his authority as Palace Master to summon all the elders to the council hall and inform them of this matter.
Hearing this, all the elders and disciples in the hall were completely stunned.
Originally, they had speculated that Ling Qiuhan might have received news of an impending calamity in the Prime-Origin Civilization and had gathered all the elders and disciples to prepare a response.
But who would have thought it would be about the return of the founder who had mysteriously disappeared long ago?
For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded, unable to believe it.
Elder Jiulin and the others took a long time to recover. This news was simply too shocking.
How many epochs had passed since the founder established the Imperial Immortal Palace? No one could count. During this time, there had even been temporal rifts and the passage of many eras.
To put it bluntly, among the oldest and most ancient forces in the Prime-Origin Civilization, the Imperial Immortal Palace undoubtedly held a prominent place.
And now, the founder who had disappeared for countless epochs was about to return?
This sounded like a fairy tale. If it hadn't been for Palace Master Ling Qiuhan summoning all the elders and disciples so solemnly, who would have believed it?
But if the founder were to return, wouldn't that mean the status of the Imperial Immortal Palace would undergo a earth-shaking change?
The entire landscape of the Prime-Origin Civilization would be reshuffled.
The hall fell into silence. No one spoke. Whether it was the elders or the disciples, their hearts were unsettled.
Many people, upon realizing the implications, couldn't hide their excitement and enthusiasm.
Ling Qiuhan was not surprised by everyone's reaction. After all, he had felt the same way when he first received this news.
If it hadn't been for Ling Yuxian informing him, he probably wouldn't have believed it either.