Bai Shuying and Su Meilin sat in their house.
Su Meilin felt guilty; Bai Shuying saved her life twice, and now she implicated her.
"Shuying, I'm sorry!"
"Why apologize? I knew the risks, so I took action."
"But what will you do now?"
"I'll just move somewhere else."
Su Meilin knew that wasn't an easy thing for Bai Shuying to do; if she moved, she would have to worry about others finding out she was a fox demon and persecuting her.
Su Meilin didn't want to return gratitude with ingratitude. Su Meilin thought of what could be a good solution for Bai Shuying's situation.
She suddenly felt as if a light bulb went off in her mind.
"Shuying, do you want to become a cultivator and join a sect?"
"Can I even join a sect? I'm a half-fox, half-human!"
"If it's my sect, you should be fine!"
Su Meilin spoke with confidence.
"What's the name of your sect anyway?"
"It's a surprise!"
Bai Shuying knew Su Meilin wanted to play a prank, but after spending so much time with her, she knew she was a good person.
If her sect raised someone as good as Meilin, it should be fine.
"Sure, if your sect is okay with someone like me, then I'll join!"
Su Meilin beamed with happiness at bringing Bai Shuying with her.
…
After packing and getting ready, Bai Shuying looked at her home with reluctance.
Goodbye, my house, one day I'll come back to reclaim you!
Su Meilin took out her sword and enlarged it.
As a foundation establishment cultivator, Su Meilin could perform sword flight, the ability to fly on one's sword.
Su Meilin got on and urged Bai Shuying to get on.
Bai Shuying hesitated for a moment and stepped behind Su Meilin, but as the sword started to lift, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Su Meilin's waist.
Su Meilin laughed at Bai Shuying.
She's finally acting like a child, she was always so mature.
"Shuying, can you open your eyes slowly?"
Bai Shuying opened her eyes and was amazed by the view.
The dense clouds that surrounded them while beneath them were villages and forests, while on the horizon were large mountains.
"Shuying, how much do you know about the human realm and sects?"
"I don't know anything."
"Let me give you a small explanation…"
In the human realm exists one alliance and eight sects, four righteous and four demonic.
The four righteous sects are the Heavenly Sword Sect, with their sword lineage following the sword dao, the Lunar Frost Sect, with their ice spell lineage, following the dao of frost, the Purple Cauldron Sect, with their alchemy lineage, following the dao of alchemy, and finally the Martial Dragon Sect, with their martial lineage, following the dao of martial arts.
"I can understand the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Purple Cauldron Sect, but what's with the Lunar Frost Sect and the Martial Dragon Sect?"
"Well, the Lunar Frost Sect is an all-female sect; their founder practiced ice techniques so it became their lineage, while the Martial Dragon Sect is predominantly male with few females, their founder was obsessed with training the body and martial arts."
This Martial Dragon Sect doesn't sound too bad!
If Su Meilin knew what Bai Shuying thought, she would faint.
That sect is not for women, and the women who go there are not right in the head!
Su Meilin continued her explanation.
The four demonic sects are the Yin-Yang Sect, with their dual cultivation lineage, following the Dao of Yin-Yang, the Corpse Sect, with their puppet lineage, following the Dao of puppetry, the Divine Demon Sect, with their demonic lineage, following the Dao of demons, and finally the Five Poison Sect, with their poison lineage, following the dao of medicine.
"What's the demon dao and a poison sect following the dao of medicine?"
"The demon dao just includes all demonic practices."
"Do the righteous sects not have an issue with demonic practices?"
"Well, before the human alliance happened, they did, but after, they just accepted it, but there are always conflicts now and then."
"Why do they accept it?"
"My master told me pursuing the dao is like a circle, some go clock wise others go counterclockwise, righteous sects go with the flow of heaven, while demonic sects go against the flow of heaven."
Bai Shuying heard this it all made sense.
The authors never lied; all paths lead to the great dao!
"As for the poison sect, isn't medicine just poison used for good?"
Bai Shuying was stunned.
When did Meilin become so logical?!
If Su Meilin knew that Bai Shuying believed she was illogical, she would pin her down again.
Me?! Illogical?! I'll show you some logic!
"What about the human alliance?"
"It was formed after the conflict with the demon realm reached its peak."
When the human-demon war was reaching new heights, the splintered human realm had too much internal fighting, unlike the demons, who believed in survival of the fittest, the strong rule. The strongest being in the human realm created the human alliance leading to the current situation and a stalemate with the demon realm.
"So that's why it's one alliance and eight sects."
…
Su Meilin and Bai Shuying reached their destination, a large mountain with steps leading up, with fog covering the middle to the top of the mountain.
As they walked closer, Bai Shuying saw a board hanging on the arc, which seemed to be an entrance.
The fog cleared a little, and Bai Shuying read the sign.
"Yin…Yang..Sect?"
Bai Shuying thought she saw wrong and rubbed her eyes and read the sign again.
"Yin-Yang Sect."
Her face paled, and she turned to look at Su Meilin, who had a smile on her face.
"Is this what I think it is?"
"Yup!"
Su Meilin grabbed Bai Shuying's hand and dragged her up the steps while Bai Shuying protested.
"Wa-wait, Meilin, th-this…"
A gate with two guards on the left and right sides halted them. Su Meilin, with an expressionless face, showed her token. Seeing the token, the guards sweated a little and quickly opened the gate, allowing entry.
Bai Shuying did not notice this and only thought.
I fell cause she had a pretty face and a nice personality, I fell!
Su Meilin, seeing Bai Shuying's distress, giggled.
"Shuying, you may have the wrong impression of the sect."
"So, you aren't a sect that absorbs energy from people through intercourse, leaving them shriveled and mummified?"
"Cough, that was in the past times are different!"
So, you don't deny that you were like that!
"Ever since the current sect master took the helm, the sect has been completely changed."
In the past, the Yin-Yang Sect was lawless every man and woman were endanger of being sucked dry even the people from the outside ran away from them. The current sect master, seeing the sect decline into debauchery, knew things had to change. She created new systems and reformed the sect, now the Yin-Yang Sect has a better reputation.
While walking to Su Meilin's residence, the sect members all looked at them, and Bai Shuying looked back.
You say it's reformed, but why are the women wearing crop tops and booty shorts?! Why are some of the men shirtless?!
Bai Shuying, a modern person, knew this was nothing compared to what the people from her hometown wore, much riskier things, but after merging and living in this world, her values changed.
"I wonder who the person covered in rags is?"
"Why is she with senior sister Su?"
Bai Shuying didn't mind the gossip, but was curious about Su Meilin's identity.
The Yin-Yang Sect had an ancient Chinese architecture and vibe. Buildings here and there, open fields, trees, and mountains. What surprised Bai Shuying where the large mountains, each had a large and luxurious residence, as if they were palaces, and smaller residences below them.
As Su Meilin walked back to her abode, she introduced the basics of the sect.
New disciples recruited by the sect start as outer disciples. When they reach the foundation establishment realm they move to become inner disciples, and to become a core disciple one must meet two requirements, be a core formation cultivator and pass a sect exam.
"What happens if you don't reach foundation establishment?"
"You can leave the sect or stay as a labor disciple."
"So are you an inner disciple, Meilin?"
Su Meilin giggled at Bai Shuying's question.
"Nope~"
Bai Shuying tilted her head in confusion.
Then what are you?!
Su Meilin didn't keep her waiting.
"I'm a personal disciple!"
"What's that?"
The sect hierarchy is the sect leader, then the grand elder, below them are the inner elders, after them it is the outer elders. Sometimes, these elders take in disciples and give them personal guidance and tutelage hence the term personal disciple.
"Oh, so you must be an elder's disciple?"
Su Meilin didn't answer, but smiled.
"What are their cultivation levels?"
"The sect leader is at the soul transformation realm, the grand elder is a ninth stage nascent soul realm, inner elders are all in the nascent soul realm, but the earlier stages, and outer elders are all in the core formation realm."
"Then would I start as an outer disciple?"
"Nope, I want to introduce you to my master and hope she takes you as a personal disciple!"
Bai Shuying was touched by Su Meilin's considerations.
I see! This is what it feels like to go through the back door!
"Would that cause you any issues?"
"No, my master is a kind person!"
Bai Shuying was eager to meet Su Meilin's master, but in her excitement, she did not see the smile on Su Meilin's face.