“She was called Bai Lian.”
Mei Hua closed her eyes briefly, as though recalling the face of that extraordinary disciple. “From the moment she stepped into our sect, she stood apart. At first, she was quiet and reserved—an orphan from a remote province, alone and unprepared for sect life.”
“But her innate talent in the Radiant Dao was… almost frightening. She could pick up new techniques with a single glance, replicate them perfectly, and then refine them to an even higher degree.
“It was as if the Radiant Dao had chosen her—some said that she was its living incarnation. Light-based arts that ordinary disciples spent decades to merely comprehend, she mastered in days. Intent realms that stumped even the elders, she attained in a few months. Her brilliance was so blinding it cast everyone else into shadow.”
Mei Hua’s smile held a hint of pride, but also a faint sorrow. “It was the time when our sect was going through our low times. After a few wars, we were heavily injured as well as weakened. We struggled for resources, overshadowed by stronger sects or clans. Yet Bai Lian changed all that. By the time she was in her teens, she’d dominated every internal competition, leaving peak core disciples in the dust.”
The Sect Leader paused, her voice softening with admiration. “When the Aurora Competition approached, she was only at the First Stage of Dao Core Forming Realm—not anywhere close to the other elite disciples of the various sects who were all at the Peak of Dao Core Forming Realm.”
“But Bai Lian volunteered to represent us. No one else dared step forward, thinking it was too suicidal. Yet… she insisted. She’d said, ‘My Dao Heart refuses to let me admit defeat without even trying.'” Read the latest on empire
A faint breeze stirred the lotus flowers floating in the lake, and Mei Hua let the silence hang for a moment before continuing.
“At the competition, she shocked the entire arena. She faced off against monstrous geniuses from multiple Divine-level sects—some with hundreds of thousands-year lineages, others with the blessings of ancient bloodlines, and even a few rumored to have direct heritage from the Central Desolate Region.”
“And yet, against all odds, Bai Lian won. She tore through them with her mastery of Intent, outshining elemental dominions, bloodline awakenings, and even dreaded forbidden arts.”
“Her culminating match was what truly etched her name into history. A final duel against a prodigy rumored to be the reincarnation of the Thunder Immortal Sovereign.”
“After a long battle, she used her ultimate move. A single Radiant slash—like a blade of pure dawn light—cleaved through the battlefield, scattering the thunderclouds and slashing her opponent in half. That day, not only did she make a name for herself, but she also made many enemies for our sect.”
Mei Hua chuckled and took a deep breath. “For the first and only time in ten thousand years, we became champions of the Aurora Competition. Our sect’s legend once again resurfaced, and Bai Lian’s legend spread like wildfire.”
Shen Yuan listened intently, his earlier casualness replaced by silence. It was a magnificent tale—one that resonated with him, given his own path of monstrous talent.
Mei Hua continued, her tone tinged with both pride and a hint of regret. “After the competition, Bai Lian traveled the world, seeking higher peaks of the Radiant Dao. She’d outgrown our sect’s resources.”
“She left behind many teachings—manuscripts of advanced radiant cultivation, unique sword arts woven with Light intent… Enough to guide countless generations of disciples. But she never returned for long. Now, centuries have passed, and her whereabouts remain a mystery to us all.”
Drawing herself back to the present, Mei Hua gave a small shrug. “That is how we won the Aurora Competition once, so many years ago. It took the emergence of an unrivaled genius—one who seemed born for the Radiant path.”
She let out a final sigh, meeting Shen Yuan’s eyes. “And that’s why every time the competition comes around, the sect can’t help but think of her. We wonder: will there ever be another Bai Lian? Another blazing star who can lead us to victory again?”
The courtyard fell silent, the ripple of water and rustling of leaves the only sounds. Shen Yuan contemplated the story for a moment. Even he, jaded as he sometimes felt, was moved by the tale of the disciple who shone so brightly that she stunned the entire cultivation world.
He glanced at Mei Hua, finally understanding why she spoke so much about the past. “That’s a truly magnificent legacy. She changed the fate of the sect, even if it was only for a moment.”
Mei Hua nodded her head. “Yes. And perhaps… that is why we place such hopes on monstrous geniuses like you, Shen Yuan. We don’t expect another Bai Lian. But if there’s even a slim chance someone might replicate a fraction of her glory… we’d be foolish not to support them with everything we have.”
Shen Yuan fell silent, thinking about how much hope the sect had placed upon him. “Hmm, how will you compare Ling’er with Senior Bai Lian?”
Mei Hua shook her head. “Ling’er can’t be compared with Bai Lian. Ling’er is a supreme genius in her own right, but Bai Lian… she was something else. Even you are leagues ahead of Wan Ling. Now the only thing remaining to see is whether you will be able to replicate what Bai Lian did.”
Shen Yuan chuckled. “You are placing too much hope on me. But what happened to the enemies you made back then?”
Mei Hua’s lips curled up into a cold smile. “We were just momentarily weakened. That doesn’t mean we lost all our fighting strength. Our ancestors were still in seclusion, and with Bai Lian roaming the outside world with her unknown potential, no one dared to make a move.”
“I see, that’s a good enough reason for them to hold back.” He nodded his head, glancing at the Sect Leader, who was looking at him with hopeful eyes. “Haa… I will see what I can do. But don’t have too much hope as I’m still in the Extreme Origin Core Realm.”
Mei Hua heaved a sigh and nodded. “Well, all I can do is wait.”
She swung her hand, and a portal manifested beside Shen Yuan. “This will lead you outside Ling’er’s chamber, but be careful as she might be in deep meditation.”
He nodded his head and turned around to enter the portal. “Let’s see how much she has improved.”
Mei Hua smiled and turned back to sit beneath her tree beside the lake.
…
Shen Yuan stepped through the shimmering portal and found himself standing in a wide, softly lit corridor. The walls were carved from pale jade, with faint runic inscriptions etched along their surface to regulate the concentration of spiritual energy.
At the far end, a pair of intricately carved doors stood closed. A gentle glow seeped out from beneath them, hinting that someone inside was cultivating within.
[We’re here,] Yue Lan’s voice echoed in his mind. [Are you going to just barge in or…?]
Shen Yuan gave a half-grin, lifting one hand. “Let’s see if she’s awake first.” He used Harem Connect to connect with Wan Ling.
[Ling’er, I’m outside your cultivation chamber. Mind if I come in?]