I alone am the Honoured One!

A long silence enveloped the hall...

Ji Shuang leaned back on the sofa, her purple hair cascading around her shoulder as her gaze narrowed "Fallen Mandate... and a Mother Stone."

"That woman found out about the Mother Stone only after you broke through that hole right, Zhao Tian?"

Looking into her calm purple eyes, Zhao Tian gave a nod "Yes, Sect Master."

Yao Jing tilted her head "The Mother Stone was actually found by the disciples of our sect, so it does belong to us.. right, Sister Shuang?"

Ji Shuang turned her eyes to her "Not necessarily. The Great Tianhe Forest is not part of anyone's jurisdiction. It is considered public property, governed by the unspoken rule of shared access. As such, we have no legal claim over the Astral Mine."

"By the rules of the world, the strongest one will have that Mine."

Yao Jing's eyes squinted "In the Jade Eclipse Star, the strongest ones are the Jade Emperor of the Jade Dynasty and the Sect Master of the Jade Eclipse Sect, Ji Shuang."

Ji Shuang smiled faintly and gave a nod "True, but there's another contender this time... Fallen Mandate, the most powerful organization in the cluster of High Stars..."

"Their influence extends beyond the High Stars. Their main base is in the Astral Realm, giving them a legitimate stake in any discovery involving Astral resources

Ji Shuang tapped her fingers thoughtfully on the armrest of the sofa. "That said, even for Fallen Mandate, directly opposing an apex High Star like ours is a significant risk."

"A war with us would mean risking their foothold in the High Stars."

Her tone shifted, betraying a hint of skepticism. "I doubt they would consider such a gamble worthwhile over a single Mother Stone. For now, we can leave them out of the equation."

"The only powerful forces remaining are me and the Royal family."

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she continued "But don't forget the smaller forces lurking in the shadows... lesser sects, rogue cultivators, and opportunistic dynasties. They'll all want a piece of the Astral Mine if word gets out."

Yao Jing gave a faint nod and replied "Then let's keep our discovery a secret and mine stones from there."

Upon hearing this, Ji Shuang shook her head "No. If the Jade Emperor finds out later that we concealed the existence of the mine, it won't just be a political dispute."

"He'll brand us as traitors. And once that happens, he'll rally every sect and dynasty on the Jade Eclipse Star against us. It would mean the destruction of the Jade Eclipse Sect."

Eh? Yao Jing was surprised "I thought our Sect and the Jade Dynasty had a good relationship?"

With a soft chuckle, Ji Shuang shook her head "No, that guy is a sly bastard... we show smiles on the surface, but there can be only one Lion in the jungle, right?"

"We are the only force on this star that rivals his power. Do you think someone like him would tolerate an equal?"

"He has been waiting for a chance to undermine us, and this mine would give him the perfect excuse to strike."

Yao Jing's lips pressed into a thin line as she absorbed Ji Shuang's explanation. "So, what do we do?"

Ji Shuang let out a long sigh, leaning back on the sofa as she crossed her legs gracefully. "For now, we tread carefully. We need to assess the mine's true value and determine how much of it we can secure without provoking a larger conflict."

"At the same time, we'll need to prepare for the inevitable... diplomatic maneuvering with the Jade Dynasty and possibly a confrontation with Fallen Mandate."

Her gaze narrowed in thought "Or is it good to negotiate with the Jade Emperor to get equal shares over the mine?"

The discussions continued as they planned for the future.

...

Stepping out of the house, Zhao Tian raised his gaze looking at the stars in the sky.

The cool night breeze brushed against his face, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming nocturnal flowers and a soft sigh escaped his lips, his breath visible in the crisp air 'Let's go back to my room.'

As he left, Yao Jing closed the door and stepped back inside the hall "Sister Shuang."

Ji Shuang smiled softly and patted the space beside her "Come here..."

With a big smile on her face, Yao Jing quickly went to her and sat beside her.

Ji Shuang chuckled softly, her elegant fingers brushing against Yao Jing's hair as she patted her head affectionately. "Now, tell me. How was your time with your disciple?"

"Hahaha, Yes Sister Shuang..."

She happily began to narrate the things that happened.

Yao Jing considers Ji Shuang as her big sister, as she was the one who saved her from her star while she was wandering around as nothing but pure horror.

Ji Shuang took her in and helped her overcome her past trauma, giving her a new name.

Recognizing her talent in alchemy, Ji Shuang offered her an Elder position within the Sect overseeing the Alchemy Chamber.

As she was speaking, a deep sigh escaped Yao Jing's lips "But.. Sister Shuang, I promised you that I wouldn't kill anyone.. but I killed that woman."

Ji Shuang reached out, her hand warm and comforting on Yao Jing's shoulder. "Jing'er, you did what you had to. You didn't kill out of malice or hatred. You acted to save your disciple. That's not a crime; it's your responsibility."

A dry smile appeared on her lips 'If he is dead.. I am also dead. Well, Her Grace did say not to meddle with his things and I don't have to watch him 24x7.'

Yao Jing looked down, her fingers clenching the hem of her robes. "I know that, but it still feels wrong. Like I've broken the promise I made to you."

Ji Shuang's smile softened further. "Jing'er, do you know why I made you promise that in the first place?"

Yao Jing shook her head.

Ji Shuang replied with a smile. "It was to guide you. You've endured so much darkness in your life. That promise was meant to remind you to choose the light whenever possible."

"But the world isn't always so kind as to allow us that choice. In moments like those, it's not about keeping a promise but protecting what's truly important."

The words seemed to lift a burden from Yao Jing's shoulders and she rested her head on Ji Shuang's shoulder, a deep sigh escaping her lips. "Thank you," she whispered.

For a moment, the two women sat in silence, the quiet crackle of the brazier filling the room.

Finally, Ji Shuang spoke again, her tone lighter. "Now, tell me more about this disciple of yours. Zhao Tian, was it?"

Yao Jing's face brightened. "Oh, Sister Shuang, he's… remarkable. He's fearless but respectful. Stubborn but caring. And his potential... it's boundless."

"He's already grasping concepts that take others decades to learn. I see so much of myself in him, yet he's so much more…"

"Oh, you seem so proud..."

"Hahahaha, of course."

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