Chapter 2, It is impossible to cross-dress.

Xue Bingxuan nodded, put away her belongings, bid farewell to the elder, and turned to leave the storage area, soaring away on the wind and clouds

Xue Bingxuan took off a bracelet from her delicate wrist and personally put it on Qin Muling's wrist: "The entire year's quota is contained within this. Of course, if it is not enough, feel free to ask me for more."

Behind the spacious desk, the elder on duty today was busy checking the accounts, with dozens of thick ledgers piled up like a small mountain. Upon seeing Xue Bingxuan hurriedly enter, he quickly stood up to greet her

"No, this magical artifact possesses the ability to conceal its presence. Unless one's cultivation surpasses that of my senior sister, no one can see through it," Xue Bingxuan said gently.

On the stone table in front of him lay a pile of scrolls and jade slips, all brought over by Xue Bingxuan. The contents encompassed a wide range of topics, including celestial phenomena, geography, local customs, and various historical anecdotes. This allowed him to gain a comprehensive understanding and familiarity with this vast and unfamiliar temporal and spatial world

In the grand main hall, many disciples stood, while behind a several-foot-long ebony table sat a few managers, each engrossed in their tasks with their heads bowed

Among the disciples of the new generation, the senior sister's cultivation is undoubtedly the best, surpassing even most of the elders from the previous generation. In this branch of the dojo, it is indeed not easy to find anyone whose strength can consistently surpass hers, so there is naturally no need for concern

Oh? That's incorrect

Qin Muling, reclining in a chair, gazed at the floating clouds on the horizon, silently pondering. At this moment, he had already taken residence in the dojo of his senior sister, resting in a serene and elegant courtyard.

Well, Junior Sister Qi Yalan from Yingyue Peak usually enjoys wearing men's clothing when she goes out to travel. She must have spare clothes there, so why not borrow a few sets from her in case of emergency

The most crucial aspect is to ensure that any secrets of the master remain confidential, so as to avoid the distressing situation of having a traitor among us

The elder in charge nodded in satisfaction after confirming that the token was correct, releasing his spiritual consciousness to begin examining the contents of the jade tablet at https://m.hetushu.com. He said, "There are quite a few items, so you will need to wait a moment. I will have them take care of it right away."

... is a good place, much better than that village down the mountain, but unfortunately it lacks tranquility; the consequences of the future will likely be unavoidable.

The treatment of the core disciples of the Yunmeng Heavenly Palace is naturally quite generous, including clothing, magical artifacts, weapons, talismans, elixirs, and ingredients, as well as carriages and ceremonial paraphernalia. The various miscellaneous items add up to a considerable amount, to the extent that even the maids and servants attending them are arranged meticulously, with a status that surpasses that of emperors and generals in secular dynasties by a significant margin

The veil carries a subtle and elusive fragrance, enchanting those who encounter it

He handed over the jade token that represented his identity, along with the talisman bestowed by the sect leader Mu Yinghua, and a jade slip that recorded the list of resources

Qin Muling frowned slightly and lifted her booted foot: "Senior sister, your ... feels so tight"

The elder deacon adjusted his expression, took the exquisite jade tablet, and skillfully cast several spiritual incantations. The jade tablet emitted a faint tremor, radiating layers of soft and gentle brilliance

Xue Bingxuan frowned and pushed the box containing the clothes back, explaining: "This time, do not take women's clothing; go and exchange it for two sets of men's clothing."

... ...

This senior sister took out a set of dark black elegant attire from her storage bracelet and placed it on the stone table, saying: "There are currently no male disciples' magical tools or clothing available in the storeroom, but I have previously crafted a few pieces of men's clothing for my occasional travels. You can wear mine this time."

Xue Bingxuan smiled and said: "It is better to be tighter; if it is too loose, it will feel uncomfortable, won't it?"

"Of course, I have my own means. As for the specific circumstances, I cannot clarify them at the moment; you will know in due time." Qin Muling did not wish to elaborate further

Four white-clad maidens stood quietly to the side, their eyes sparkling with life. They were not living beings, but rather puppets crafted by the elders through secret methods, possessing intelligence comparable to that of ordinary people, and they were exceptionally useful in attending to their master's daily needs.

"The work can indeed be done, but it will take some time to complete," said the elder steward

The sect's storage area is located at Floating Cloud Peak, encompassing a palace complex covering several hundred acres. It is usually under strict guard, and unauthorized personnel are prohibited from approaching.

Xue Bingxuan stood up, gently waved her feather duster, and with a flick of her wrist, summoned a shimmering treasure silk handkerchief, which transformed into a cloud that appeared beneath her feet, pulling Qin Muling up to stand on it.

Xue Bingxuan meticulously verified each of these resources, and only after confirming their accuracy did she store them all in the spatial bracelet on her wrist

Xue Bingxuan had indeed suggested that Qin Muling temporarily wear women's clothing for a few days to cope with the situation. After all, with his looks and temperament, he would undoubtedly become a stunning beauty in women's attire, not at all inferior to those female disciples in the sect known for their beauty. The result, as one might expect, was a resolute refusal from him.

Moments later, a beautiful young man with red lips and white teeth, possessing an elegant demeanor, reappeared before Xue Bingxuan. His long black robe was embroidered with exquisite golden cloud patterns, enveloped in a faint spiritual light, with auspicious clouds rising. Even she was momentarily taken aback, before subtly shifting her gaze away.

Qin Muling stood up to greet her, and Xue Bingxuan smiled and nodded, gently touching his face before pulling him back to sit down at the stone table

Several exquisitely crafted boxes made of golden silk ebony are placed on the table, their lids opened. Inside, there lies a long sword with a black scabbard, two pairs of jade pendants, two sets of resplendent deep purple gowns shimmering with spiritual light, as well as items such as talisman incense pouches and jewelry, each meticulously crafted by the elders of the Artifact Refining Hall.

However ... ...

In addition, nearly one hundred large camphor wood boxes and more than twenty half-human-height porcelain jars were successively carried out by the servant disciples. The mouths of the jars were sealed with thick clay and affixed with sealing talismans, which emitted a faint spiritual light, and they were arranged in a large area within the hall

Moments later, a bright light descended from the heavens, revealing an unparalleled beauty, holding a white jade whisk, dressed in garments as white as snow. Her hair was elegantly styled high, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her exquisite and radiant face, along with her graceful and undulating curves, resembled a goddess from a painting

This set of traditional Chinese attire is crafted with great care, with preparations made for both inner and outer garments, including a purple jade crown for hair binding, a gold-embroidered belt inlaid with jade, thick-soled ice spider silk boots, and jade pendants that possess various effects such as calming the mind, soothing the spirit, and dispelling dust, all of which are present.

With a solemn expression, Xue Bingxuan moved forward gracefully, her steps light as she strode directly into the square in front of the main entrance. The square was paved with black square tiles, each measuring three feet, hard and thick, smooth and even. Ascending the steps, the vermilion gate, about ten feet wide, was currently in an open position, flanked on both sides by vividly lifelike bronze qilin statues.

Well, it's nothing much

Standing atop the clouds, Xue Bingxuan pondered for a moment, and her beautiful eyes suddenly brightened as she thought of a suitable solution

The elder deacon looked astonished: "Senior Sister, our Yunmeng Heavenly Palace has never had male disciples, so the spare magical tools and clothing in the storeroom are naturally only suitable for female disciples. What does the Supreme Master want with men's clothing?"

Due to confidentiality considerations, the existence of Qin Muling cannot be disclosed to others for the time being. Therefore, Xue Bingxuan is withdrawing resources in the name of her master, and the elder steward is unaware that a new core disciple has emerged within the sect

Xue Bingxuan slightly nodded her head, and the two servant disciples standing beside her quickly brought over chairs for the senior sister to sit down, and also presented spiritual tea and snacks.

It looks quite good

Master Sister, how come you came over today

Xue Bingxuan said with a smile, "This outfit indeed suits you better; you should wear it like this from now on."

Qin Muling released her spiritual consciousness, briefly scanning the library and nodding lightly: "The quantity is considerable; I can handle the insufficient part myself"

The distinction in cross-dressing lies solely between zero times and countless times, thus it is impossible for one to truly engage in cross-dressing; it will never be possible in this lifetime

Not to mention male disciples, there are hardly any male mounts or pets raised within the sect. Naturally, there are no men's clothing or items prepared on a regular basis. It is truly impossible to expect her to take out a few sets of suitable men's clothing right now.

Although their height and body shape may be similar, women's skeletal joints are generally not as robust as men's. Therefore, the size that the other party finds comfortable may not be suitable for Qin Muling.

In addition, there are the Xuan Yuan Blood-Generating Pill, the Spirit Transformation Nourishing Spirit Pill, and the True Essence Solidifying Spirit Pill... Most of these are valuable items that only core disciples are qualified to enjoy

Senior sister, you have returned

For the monks, the items allocated by the sect are all limited in quantity and are simply insufficient. If one desires more resources, one must find a way to obtain them independently. Whether it is contributing to the sect in exchange for resources, seeking opportunities outside, engaging in commerce, or even resorting to deceit, robbery, or murder, it all depends on one's own abilities

This is the cultivation resource prepared for you

A faint fragrance lingered, seemingly from some unknown exquisite incense, though it was somewhat different from the aura of the senior sister. However, this detail was selectively overlooked by Qin Muling. She was unwilling to speak the truth, and there was no need for her to delve into the matter.

Will this not be seen by others

Xue Bingxuan smiled. This newly initiated junior brother has many secrets, and the master has not mentioned much about him. However, since there will be a long time to interact in the future, I will eventually find out the truth.

Alright, now the senior sister will take you around to familiarize yourself with the environment of the sect

On the steps stood two rows of pitch-black warrior puppets, each wielding a long halberd. They were all about ten feet tall, standing tall like pines, and a chilling aura of murderous intent surged forth.

Xue Bingxuan waved her hand and said, "There is nothing else. I have come here on the orders of Master He and the Library to collect some items."

Qin Muling responded with a sound, picked up the clothes, and turned to walk into the inner room

After some thought, Xue Bingxuan took out a misty veil and placed it on him, explaining: "This is what I used to wear when I traveled in the past. From now on, it will be for you to use, as it will be safer this way. Your appearance cannot be seen by outsiders at this moment."

The rules of the sect are strict, and even the direct disciples of the Supreme Leader must adhere to the regulations when it comes to allocating and utilizing resources

After a short while, a group of disciples dressed in sky-blue robes entered in formation. Each disciple held a large, exquisite jade plate, on which were neatly arranged various jade vials, totaling more than 200 in number, each containing pills with different effects.

Qin Muling nodded. At this time, having something to wear is already quite good; who still has the privilege to be choosy?

Very well, I will find a way to handle this matter.

Xue Bingxuan looked at him in surprise: "The Master has already instructed that you cannot leave the mountain until your cultivation is sufficient for self-protection. Want to go out and travel? Let's talk about it once you can defeat your senior sister in the future!"

Xue Bingxuan gracefully rose, casually picked up a jade bottle from the tray, and opened it. A faint medicinal fragrance wafted out, revealing twenty pale blue Essence-Replenishing Pills inside, characterized by their pure aura and high quality, which are commonly used cultivation resources among mid-level cultivators

Xue Bingxuan realized: "This is also the case, but can we have the elders of the Artifact Refining Hall make a few sets?"

This ... ...

At this stage, the fewer people who are aware of Qin Muling's existence, the better, to avoid any unforeseen incidents. This is Xue Bingxuan's plan

The presiding elder immediately instructed the servant disciples to open the various storerooms and retrieve the required types of resources one by one

Inside the box are various high-grade ingredients and elixirs, while the jar contains spirit wine and nectar. These items must be carefully sealed with spells to prevent the leakage of spiritual energy, so as not to affect their efficacy