Hierarchical Order of the Immortal Realm of Wan Luo

Gu Xinger blinked her clear, big eyes as she looked at the eight people before her, including Xing Wuzhan. Then she raised her head to glance at Gu Changyuan and called out obediently:

“Hello.”

She truly had no idea how to address these eight people.

Her master was now their ancestor, but her understanding of salutations in the cultivation world was still stuck on the vague concept of “Old Ancestor.”

The title “Holy Ancestor” for Gu Changyuan wasn’t based on generation—it came from him being the founder of the Heavenly Human Holy Land.

Those in the Holy Land addressed him that way, following the sect’s name. If it had been another faction, say one related to grain, they would have called him “Grain Ancestor.” It all depended on the faction’s title and had nothing to do with seniority.

The moment Gu Xinger finished speaking, the eight people, including Xing Wuzhan, bowed in unison without the slightest delay and called out in a single voice:

“Grand-Master-Great-Uncle.”

They were all ancient monsters who had lived for tens of thousands of years and were well-versed in the seniority rules of the cultivation world.

Although Gu Xinger was young—appearing to be only eleven or twelve years old—she was the personally accepted disciple of the new Ancestor, Gu Changyuan.

By seniority, she fully deserved the title of “Grand-Master-Great-Uncle,” and there was no room for sloppiness.

“Gr-Grand-Master-Great-Uncle?”

Gu Xinger was stunned on the spot. Her big eyes went wide as saucers, her small face filled with disbelief. She instinctively grabbed Gu Changyuan’s sleeve, her whole body trembling with unease.

She was just a little girl who had recently become her master’s disciple—how had she suddenly become a “Grand-Master-Great-Uncle”?

The title was so absurd that she, an eleven-year-old child, simply couldn’t bear it.

Gu Changyuan looked down and felt the little girl’s tension and bewilderment. He gently patted her head with his fingertip, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

To be honest, he was also completely clueless about these complicated seniority titles—after all, he was experiencing the identity of “Ancestor” for the first time.

Previously, in the Ruins of Chaos and the Nine Heavens Realm, he had either traveled alone or simply taught disciples, never once dealing with such intricate generational rules.

After a moment of thought, Gu Changyuan silently called out in his mind:

“System, please hurry up and explain.”

Over the past three years, although the System hadn’t fully recovered, it was no longer as silent as at the beginning and could now properly respond to his simple questions.

[Reply to Host: According to the universal calculation of seniority in the Ten Thousand Immortal Realms, the ranking for most immortal factions is: Old Ancestor → Supreme Ancestor → Heavenly Ancestor → Primordial Ancestor, with Primordial Ancestor being the highest seniority.

As the Primordial Ancestor of the Star Clan, your personally accepted disciple should be addressed by all Star Clan members as “Grand-Master-Great-Uncle.”]

Gu Changyuan complained inwardly: Oh, good heavens—there’s even a “Heavenly Ancestor” in between. The cultivation world’s seniority system is truly tedious.

But there was no helping it. Cultivators could easily live for thousands or tens of thousands of years, with vast age gaps and clear levels of strength.

Over time, all these complicated titles had naturally evolved—they were both a custom and a way to show respect for the powerful and the elder.

His gaze fell again on Gu Xinger’s tense little face. Seeing the panic and resistance in her eyes, Gu Changyuan’s heart softened, and he said:

“From now on, don’t call her Grand-Master-Great-Uncle. Just address her as the Saintess.”

After a pause, he added:

“That title makes her sound too old. This little girl is still young and isn’t used to it.

Now that the Star Vault Clan has joined the Heavenly Human Holy Land, we’re all one family. Making her the Saintess of the Star Clan is perfectly reasonable—it follows the rules and doesn’t put her on the spot.”

Hearing her master’s words, Gu Xinger’s tense body instantly relaxed. Her eyes lit up, the corners of her eyes turned red, and her nose tingled as tears nearly fell.

A glistening droplet swirled at the edge of her eye, carrying both relief and overwhelming gratitude.

Her master understood her so well. He knew she was embarrassed, so he had specifically helped her out and even given her such a fitting title.

“Yes.”

The eight people, including Xing Wuzhan, replied in unison without any objection.

Gu Changyuan nodded, rubbed Gu Xinger’s little head, and returned to his usual calm tone:

“Alright, there’s no time to waste. Let’s set off for the Star Vault Secret Realm now.”

As his words fell, Gu Changyuan moved. Taking Gu Xinger with him, he was the first to soar into the air.

Xing Wuzhan followed closely behind, and the seven people of the Xing Yan lineage quickly caught up. A group of ten sped off toward the Eastern Domain of the Eastern Continent in the Nine Heavens Realm.

Xing Wuzhan’s earlier teleportation had been a one-way trip, used only in emergencies.

So this time, they still had to travel normally.

Fortunately, the Star Vault Secret Realm was located in the Eastern Domain of the Eastern Continent, which was much closer compared to other continents.

Heading east all the way.

The sea of clouds churned beneath their feet, and mountains and rivers flew past like scenes in a lantern show.

During the journey, Xing Wuzhan began to recount the history and current state of the Star Clan in detail.

The Star Clan’s Origin was the foundation of the Star Clan, forged long ago by the Seven Primordial Ancestors using their own stellar power combined with the primal essence of the heavens and earth.

Its core function was to nourish the clan’s cultivators, enhance their understanding of the Star Dao, stabilize the clan’s luck, and resist external enemies. It was the very root of the Star Clan’s survival for millions of years.

The Star Vault Clan’s Star Vault Origin was an important branch of the Star Clan’s Origin, serving much the same purpose.

It likewise nourished clan members, stabilized luck, and aided cultivation—only its purity and power were slightly inferior to the main Star Clan’s Origin.

Moreover, the Star Clan hadn’t originally been formed solely through family bloodlines and reproduction.

In the beginning, the Star Clan arose when seven cultivators possessing star power came together to establish the group.

Those seven were the Seven Primordial Ancestors of the Star Clan.

“So the Star Clan initially expanded by recruiting cultivators with star power. Later on, as many disciples within the clan formed couples, it gradually evolved into a family structure.”

Xing Wuzhan paused and continued:

“Even now, our Star Clan still recruits foreign cultivators with star power, but the tests have become much stricter.

We assess both the purity of their star power and their character, to prevent those with ill intentions from infiltrating the clan and damaging its foundations.”

Gu Changyuan nodded.

No wonder.

He had wondered how a family sustained by bloodline could casually allow outsiders to become an ancestor.

It turned out that the Star Clan was essentially an organization bound together by star power, only taking on a family form later on.

Xing Wuzhan went on:

“The main reason I dared to directly invite you, Senior, to become an Ancestor—besides having the token given by Ancestor Xing Zixu—was my understanding of you.

During the time the seven members of the Xing Yan lineage traveled to the Heavenly Human Holy Land, I constantly watched their movements. I know everything they saw and heard.

I am also well aware of how the Heavenly Human Holy Land is regarded in the Nine Heavens Realm today.

A top-tier power that rose in just a thousand years, with no rumors of brutality or tyranny, but instead earning the recognition and respect of countless cultivators across the Nine Heavens Realm.

To govern a force so well shows me your breadth of mind and ability, Senior. It also proves that you are fully capable of leading the Star Clan.”