The Sweet Life of Superstar and His Goddess Wife
Chapter 174: Hidden Immortal Sect

Chapter 174: 174: Hidden Immortal Sect

"Welcome back to the sect, Shishu Ancestor~"

"Welcome back to the sect, Shishu Ancestor~"

"Welcome back to the sect, Shishu Ancestor~"

...

The group enthusiastically welcomed in unison, with each wave louder than the last.

Mu Qiuniang, with the air of an Immortal, raised her hand, and everyone fell silent, looking up at her with admiration.

Those who had seen her before sighed inwardly: Over a decade has passed without a single change in Shishu Ancestor! Look, they’ve all aged, but Shishu Ancestor remains as youthful as ever. Truly deserving of the title!

Those who hadn’t seen her before were taken aback: Wow?! Shishu Ancestor is so young?! They thought it would be an elderly man or woman, but instead, she appears to be barely in her twenties! An epitome of eternal youth, to what extent has Shishu Ancestor cultivated?

As the most senior elder of the Hidden Immortal Sect, it was natural for the Sect Leader to personally welcome Mu Qiuniang.

Sect Leader Gong Xihe, now over eighty, appeared extremely young due to cultivation, looking just over forty. He donned a white Sect Leader’s robe, trimmed with black and gold, golden clouds swirling on the robe, holding a horsetail whisk, exuding an aura of grandeur and mystical elegance.

"Shishu Ancestor..." Upon seeing Mu Qiuniang, he was the first to bow respectfully.

The elders behind him followed suit, paying their respects.

"Rise." Mu Qiuniang offered a gentle lift, "I am passing by this time, so I specially returned to have a look."

"Rest assured, Shishu Ancestor, all is well with the sect." Gong Xihe gave up the chief seat, saying, "Shishu Ancestor, after such a long journey, shall we enter the hall to discuss further?"

"Mm!" Knowing her status as the highest-ranked, Mu Qiuniang naturally walked past Gong Xihe and proceeded inside.

Once in the hall, everyone sat down and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Although cultivators have excellent memories, Mu Qiuniang was still unfamiliar with the changes in personnel after many years away. Gong Xihe’s first duty was to introduce the new elders and masters holding important responsibilities, followed by the disciples’ cultivation status.

He had grown up under Mu Qiuniang’s watchful eye and understood her laid-back demeanor, so he did not forget to mention recent happenings in the cultivation world.

"Oh, the Cultivation Market is happening in a few days?" Mu Qiuniang, who hadn’t participated in such events for many years, was intrigued.

Seeing her interest, Gong Xihe quickly had the external master, who often traveled outside, provide an introduction.

This external master, newly promoted in recent years, was named Miao Zhaoguang, whom Mu Qiuniang had never met before. Dressed in sect attire with white as the base and golden edges, his left chest bore both a mountain emblem (symbolizing his master) and a symbol denoting his role as an external elder.

He seemed about the same age as the Sect Leader, but due to frequent travels, he had short, neat hair instead of the traditional long hair, and his slightly plump round face was smiling, appearing very amiable and easygoing.

Of course, beneath his facade of benevolence, he possessed a cunning merchant’s talent. Otherwise, Gong Xihe wouldn’t have entrusted him with handling external affairs.

"Shishu Ancestor, in recent years..." Miao Zhaotou’s eloquence was smooth as silk, not matching his appearance at all, and he explained the current state of the Cultivation Market in a few words.

These days, the cultivation world isn’t as prosperous as it once was. Apart from some markets at the foot of major sects’ mountains, most small sects remain hidden in the woods, unknown to the outside world.

For everyone’s convenience, every once in a while, a large Cultivation Market is held at the foot of some major sect’s mountain, and this year it’s the turn of the Hidden Immortal Sect.

From January to July, the Hidden Immortal Sect has already hosted six sessions, and this seventh one is just a few days away. Besides setting up the market and inviting various stall owners, they also have to ensure the safety of the event.

"What kind of items will be there?" Although Mu Qiuniang lacked nothing, she wouldn’t mind "acquiring" good items if they appeared.

"Shishu Ancestor, what good items can there be nowadays? Generally, high-quality items are held by major sects, and they won’t be easily traded. The items for trade now are mostly common herbs, animal skins, and artifacts... If someone wants to sell a valuable item, they wouldn’t put it on display but would entrust it to an auction house, ensuring both the price and security..." Miao Zhaoguang went on to discuss auction houses.

Of course, they don’t control the auction houses. Instead, the Lei Family, one of the "Three Houses and Five Sects," handles them. The Lei Family is the largest family in the cultivation world and has connections with all cultivation sects. Their auction houses are present in all major sects, and even the Cultivation Alliance grants them some respect.

Mu Qiuniang listened and nodded in agreement.

"Later, I’ll prepare a list of herbs. Collect the herbs according to the list, use Space Brocade to store them, and have disciples deliver them to me. I will refine some elixirs for you."

"That would be wonderful," Gong Xihe rejoiced, "Shishu Ancestor, although not originally trained in alchemy, learned a few techniques from the Pill Master Shishu Ancestor back in the day, and the elixirs would certainly be far superior to what we can make ourselves. But, Shishu Ancestor, won’t you stay a few more days?"

Mu Qiuniang shook her head: "I’m just passing through, and I have to leave tomorrow, so if there’s anything you need me to handle, let me know quickly; I only have tonight."

Initially hesitant, Gong Xihe and the elders wasted no time in asking for specific grades of elixirs and artifacts, items they themselves couldn’t create.

Even if they didn’t need them immediately, they asked in case this Shishu Ancestor goes off on a "closed-door cultivation" or "training" trip somewhere and doesn’t return for several years. Although most of the time, they could contact her, they didn’t feel it appropriate to bother her with such matters unless it was sect-related.

"Wait, I also have some useless items I’ve refined over time. Later I’ll sort them out for Xiao Gong, who will distribute them, and the rest can be entrusted to the elders of the Treasure Tower for safekeeping, as my token of goodwill towards the sect disciples."

The Hidden Immortal Sect always had a rule that well-performing disciples could enter the Treasure Tower to choose a "gift," with varying rewards and accessed floors based on their contribution value. Although the Hidden Immortal Sect is well-resourced, with many treasures in the Treasure Tower, it can’t withstand years of "outputs without inputs." Hence, Mu Qiuniang always prepared something each time she returned.

Being an elder, she naturally gave generously within her ability. After all, these items were of no particular use to her.

"Oh, I forgot to mention, I’ve taken on a disciple and need to light a ’lamp’ for him."

-

Hidden Immortal Sect Robe Levels:

Sect Leader: White base with black edges and gold threads, golden clouds

Elder: White base with black edges and silver threads, silver clouds

Master: White base with gold edges

Disciple: White base with silver edges