This senior disciple of the Jiuhua Sect was undoubtedly a remarkable figure.
His name was "Qi Yexin," derived from the poetic line "The vast sea and azure sky, a heart yearning night after night"—coincidentally sharing a character with Master Qiu.
The name sounded melancholic, and so did the man himself.
Master Qiu, sensing fate at play and recognizing the boy's exceptional talent and character, took him in as his first disciple.
Orphaned at a young age, Qi Yexin grew up under Master Qiu's wing, deeply grateful for the kindness shown to him by both the master and the Jiuhua Sect. He was devoted to them, willing to go through fire and water without hesitation. If Master Qiu asked him to climb a mountain of blades, he'd slice himself up and sprinkle cumin on the way. If ordered into a boiling cauldron, he'd not only heat the water himself but also remember to bring the seasoning.
When tasked with mentoring new disciples, he poured his heart and soul into the role—acting as both a strict father and a nurturing mother, meticulously planning every lesson, even personally drafting teaching materials.
Like a dedicated homeroom teacher, he toiled tirelessly, guiding his juniors toward success with blood, sweat, and tears.
Yet, few appreciated his efforts.
The disciples feared him, resented him, scoffed at his strictness, and constantly schemed to outwit him. Though "time reveals a horse's strength, and days unveil a man's heart," rebellious youths with sky-high egos were an inevitable part of student life.
Especially those who got scolded the moment they met him.
So, Qi Yexin never expected—nor did anyone present except Jiang Xuesheng and Liu Ruyi—Shu Fu's reaction.
To Qi Yexin, Shu Fu was a frail, delicate girl, her face no larger than a palm, her stature shorter than a wooden stake. Her plain white robes were as pristine as snow, with only the jade hairpin adding a touch of color. Her features were delicate, hinting at future beauty, but it was a subdued, unassuming kind—like a fragile white flower that might snap at the slightest touch.
Yet, right before his eyes, this "delicate flower" lifted her lotus-like face and, in the sweet voice of a teenage girl, declared crisply:
"I understand what you mean, Senior Brother. Since everyone else had to take an entrance exam, my exemption would naturally raise doubts without proof."
The girl tilted her chin slightly, her expression calm as still water, her tone as straightforward as her gaze.
"I accept your challenge and will prove my worth."
"You—"
Qi Yexin had never encountered such a reasonable child before. For a moment, he nearly forgot his lines. "Good. As long as you understand."
With that, he lowered his gaze slightly, truly examining this girl for the first time.
For some reason, her eyes struck him as odd.
When she looked up at him, her dark, luminous eyes held no resentment, no timidity, nor the admiration and infatuation some female cultivators directed his way. Instead, they carried a peculiar sense of...
Affectionate pity.
Shu Fu, my child, you've suffered too much.jpg
"..."
That look made her seem less like a new junior sister and more like his long-deceased grandmother.
Master Qiu, watching the usually stern disciple's face shift through a whirlwind of expressions, couldn't suppress a smile. He patted Qi Yexin's shoulder lightly, deftly steering the conversation elsewhere. "Yexin, let’s go inside. The other peak masters are waiting."
Then, turning to Shu Fu, he added warmly, "As Tanhua’s personal disciple, you may join us to greet the elders. As for the other girl—Fangfei, was it? You’ll be heading to Dongming Peak’s outer sect. Wait here for the peak master to escort you. No need to be nervous; Dongming is relaxed, with many mortal disciples who’ve found refuge there. None of the inner sect’s strict rules apply."
Shu Fu and Fangfei, reassured by his kindness, nodded obediently.
"Yes."
Qi Yexin turned and bowed deeply to Jiang Xuesheng. "Master Tanhua, after you."
"This is quite the gathering," Jiang Xuesheng remarked casually as they walked, chatting with Master Qiu. "It seems every peak—especially Tianji and Tianquan—is sharpening their blades for the next Ziwei Immortal Assembly."
"Exactly," Master Qiu sighed, his youthful face aging decades in an instant. "The Ziwei Assembly is a competition for the younger generation, but the rewards benefit their masters too. With the Ziwei Immortal appearing once every three hundred years, everyone’s scrambling for fame, fortune, or ascension. Even our Jiuhua Sect isn’t immune—those two are the worst."
"Oh?" Jiang Xuesheng's brows lifted, a frosty smile touching his eyes. "So they’re recruiting disciples left and right, turning them into stepping stones for their own ambitions. How very noble of our esteemed elders."
"Spare me the sarcasm," Master Qiu groaned. Life is hard.
The conversation wasn’t cryptic, and Shu Fu quickly pieced it together: Ah, the Ziwei Assembly is like the imperial exams. Every peak is scrambling for top talent to boost their rankings.
Now this was her area of expertise.
Standardized tests? Bring it on.
Shu Fu’s eager eyes.jpg
Qi Yexin: "..."
This junior sister is... unique.
And so, brimming with anticipation for her new life, Shu Fu strode confidently into the Jiuhua Sect’s main hall, her posture radiating the swagger of someone who’d disowned all six relatives.
The entire time, Qi Yexin watched her with the wary fascination one might reserve for a newly discovered magical beast.
His reaction was understandable.
Most newcomers trembled in awe before "immortals," not daring to lift their heads. Even the boldest wouldn’t mimic Shu Fu—her eyes darting everywhere, her mind a nonstop barrage of subtitles:
"Holy crap, these sets are amazing!"
"21st-century xianxia dramas need this—no more cheap green screens!"
"That spirit deer looks plump... perfect for braised meat."
Qi Yexin: This can’t be a real junior sister.
Oblivious to his internal crisis, Shu Fu soaked in the sights until they reached a meeting hall, where she finally reined in her curiosity.
The hall was sparsely furnished: an ornate carved chair at the head, flanked by eight smaller seats arranged in two rows—reminiscent of a bandit stronghold’s "loyalty hall."
Four seats were already occupied, representing the "Tianxuan," "Tianji," "Tianquan," and "Dongming" peaks.
Tianxuan and Dongming sat to the left—allies. Tianji and Tianquan (or as Shu Fu mentally dubbed them, Sky Chicken and Sky Dog) were on the right—opponents.
A clear divide, like the river between rival kingdoms.
As for "Yuheng" Peak’s seat—Master Bailian’s—it held only a wooden plaque inscribed with a single, flamboyant character:
"Sure."
"That’s Master Bailian’s habit," Liu Ruyi whispered. "Whenever there’s a sect meeting, if he can’t be bothered to attend, he sends a plaque that says, ‘Sure, whatever, do as you please—just leave me out of it.’"
Jiang Xuesheng added, "For most things, he can’t be bothered."
Shu Fu: "..."
As expected of Brother Yunlong, so cool.
The representative from Tianxuan Peak was absent, replaced by a young female cultivator whose demeanor bore some resemblance to Zhong Lan—her features delicate as a painting, her posture straight and unyielding like pine and cypress. She wore a tall headpiece, her pristine white robes untouched by dust, and a string of jade ornaments adorning her forehead shimmered with fine, scattered light.
In all the days since Shu Fu had crossed over into this world, this was the first female cultivator who truly matched her image of a "Daoist nun."
Liu Ruyi quietly introduced her, "That is Yun Ying, the first disciple of Master Mingxiao. You may address her as Senior Sister Yun. With Master Mingxiao absent, she leads Tianxuan Peak."
Shu Fu thought, A beautiful older sister—I like her.
Of course, she didn’t let this show on her face. Instead, she politely nodded in greeting.
Yun Ying appeared aloof, but she wasn’t actually cold. She returned the nod with a faint acknowledgment. "Master Tanhua’s judgment has always been sound. Junior Sister, greetings."
Wow, she’s actually giving me face?
Shu Fu was flattered and about to exchange a few polite words when she suddenly heard a derisive snort from beside her—a laugh dripping with undisguised scorn.
"Yun Ying, you are mistaken. Just because Master Tanhua favors her, does that make it so?"
"Oh?"
Yun Ying’s gaze sharpened, though her expression remained unchanged. She replied with neither humility nor arrogance, "This disciple is slow-witted. I do not grasp the meaning behind Grandmaster’s words. I would appreciate further clarification."
Following her line of sight, Shu Fu saw the so-called "Grandmaster"—a dignified middle-aged scholar with a fair complexion, a thin beard, and an imposing presence, somewhat resembling Jiang Ruoshui’s cheap excuse for a father.
And the seat he occupied was the one representing "Tianquan Peak."
Tianquan Peak—Master Huaigu.
Shu Fu thought, Oh ho, isn’t this the Roast Pork Master?
And the rich kind, too.
Since he was being so rude, it was only polite to return the favor—by relieving him of some money.
Shu Fu was a woman of action. She immediately memorized the "Grandmaster’s" appearance, planning to swindle him out of his wealth at the first opportunity. If she couldn’t get money, at least she could mooch a meal or two.
At this moment, Master Huaigu had no idea that, thanks to his "wealthy" persona, Shu Fu had already labeled him as a walking ATM.
Faced with a future ATM, Shu Fu was more than happy to put on a polite front. She obediently lowered her head, ready to endure his lecture.
Master Huaigu, seeing the disciples bowing respectfully before him, felt his superiority as an elder immensely gratified. He nodded approvingly. "At least you understand some decorum. However, while outer disciples may be overlooked, an inner disciple entering the Jiuhua Sect without passing through Xianyun Terrace—this cannot be dismissed so lightly. Sect Leader, you have been far too lenient with Tanhua."
Shu Fu understood. You look down on me for skipping the entrance exam.
Master Huaigu’s dissatisfaction with her "special admission" was, at its core, the same as Qi Yexin’s. But while the senior brother had acted out of principle, this old man’s motives were as transparent as glass—everyone knows what the Grandmaster is thinking.
Simply put, he just couldn’t stand Yaoguang Peak enjoying privileges.
Of course, calling it a "privilege" was a stretch. The Jiuhua Sect had an unwritten rule: "If you find a genius, you can fast-track them." It’s just that no one had ever done it before—or if they did, they at least went through the motions, like Qi Yexin. Only Jiang Xuesheng had the audacity to act on it immediately, and with such efficiency that, over time, it became seen as Yaoguang Peak’s exclusive privilege.
Meanwhile, the privileged one himself—Jiang Xuesheng—sauntered over to the seat representing "Yaoguang" with an infuriating air of detachment.
He lounged lazily against the backrest, tilting his head to one side and propping it up with a hand, his posture the picture of indolence.
"Grandmaster Huaigu implies that my judgment is flawed—that the disciple I’ve chosen is unworthy? How amusing."
Master Huaigu frowned. "Amusing?"
Jiang Xuesheng smoothed a stray lock of hair, unperturbed. "In the past century, Tianquan Peak has declined, its talent withering, its future uncertain—this is common knowledge within the sect. Grandmaster Huaigu, you can’t even manage your own affairs, yet you concern yourself with others? How very... charitable of you."
"You—what kind of attitude is this?!"
Master Huaigu’s face darkened. "You and the Sect Leader are peers, yet he addresses me as ‘Grandmaster.’ I am your elder! Is this how all disciples of the Xuan Jade Palace speak to their seniors?"
"Grandmaster Huaigu jests. I am but a guest elder at the Xuan Jade Palace, no different from my status here. I dare not presume. The Sect Leader has graciously allowed me to oversee Yaoguang Peak, but—"
Jiang Xuesheng plucked a teacup from thin air, leisurely blowing on the floating tea leaves, "—strictly speaking, I am not of the Jiuhua Sect. I am merely here as a favor, holding an honorary position. I receive no stipend from the sect, nor have I ever benefited from you. The rules of Tianquan Peak do not apply to me."
"You—!"
"Enough, enough."
The Sect Leader, seated at the head of the hall, hastily intervened. "Grandmaster, Tanhua, both of you, hold your tongues. Today’s gathering is to discuss the opening of Xianyun Terrace. Other matters can wait."
Master Huaigu snorted, his thin mustache quivering. "Very well. Since the Sect Leader speaks, we shall set this aside for now. However, I have one condition—this girl must participate in the Xianyun Terrace trials."
"..."
At these words, Shu Fu felt as if someone had injected pure adrenaline into her veins. She perked up instantly.
Here it comes, here it comes—the classic trope of cultivation novels, walking right into my life!
Entrance exam!
Labyrinth dungeon!
Adventure and puzzles!
So much fun!
Though an old cliché, it was endlessly entertaining. Shu Fu had always enjoyed reading about such trials and was thrilled to experience them firsthand.
Jiang Xuesheng had initially intended to refuse, but seeing her eager expression, he changed his mind mid-sentence. "Little Fu’er, what do you think?"
Shu Fu: "..."
Speak properly. Don’t use nicknames.
When they first met, she had introduced herself as "Shu Fu." Later, she revealed her identity as "Jiang Ruoshui," clearing the air with him. But bearing someone else’s name felt uncomfortable, so she casually fabricated an excuse: "My given name is Ruoshui, but my courtesy name is Shu Fu." It might not fool Jiang Xuesheng, but it would suffice for others.
Given Jiang Xuesheng’s abilities, he likely knew she wasn’t the original owner and that "Shu Fu" was her real name. Since he didn’t press the issue, she played along, feigning ignorance.
But she never expected that while he remained silent, he’d already coined a nickname for her in his mind—
And such a cringeworthy one at that!
Jiang Xuesheng: "Little Fu’er?"
Shu Fu: Help, stop talking!
Outwardly, however, she remained calm. "Master, since it is Grandmaster Huaigu’s wish, this junior is willing to participate—to silence the skeptics."
Just stop calling me that ridiculous nickname. You’re giving me secondhand embarrassment.
"Excellent."
Before anyone else could respond, Master Huaigu stroked his beard in satisfaction and declared, "You, at least, understand propriety—unlike Tanhua. Very well, I shall grant you this opportunity to prove yourself in the trials."
Shu Fu bowed obediently. "Many thanks, Grandmaster."
Yeah, right. You old schemer. You’re smiling now, but I bet you’re thinking, ‘Let’s see her fail.’
"..."
Jiang Xuesheng and Liu Ruyi understood the underlying implications but remained silent, allowing her to act freely. On the other hand, Qi Yexin and Yun Ying, the senior brother and sister pair, observed the new junior sister’s meek and obedient demeanor—how she endured Master Huaigu’s harsh treatment without complaint—and silently made up their minds.
They naturally wouldn’t interfere with the fairness of the examination, but offering her some discreet protection to prevent her from being wronged was well within their means.
Apart from them, two other peak representatives were present in the grand hall: "Tianji" and "Dongming."
The Dongming Peak specialized in medical arts, and its master was a female cultivator dressed in loose, plain white robes, her demeanor gentle and serene. She remained silent throughout, a faint smile on her lips, as if the words "detached from worldly strife" were written plainly on her face.
As for Tianji Peak—
"Master Qiu."
A voice as cold as drifting ice in a mountain stream cut through the air.
Under the gaze of all present, Master Jinghai of Tianji Peak—Jiang Ruoshui’s former master—spoke his first words of the day in a grave tone.
"The Tianji Peak is a sacred ground of the Jiuhua Sect. Allowing a demonic creature to enter so freely is highly inappropriate. Before we proceed with discussions, I request that the bird demon surnamed Liu withdraw."
Shu Fu—
Liu Ruyi, suddenly singled out—
Liu Ruyi showed no anger, maintaining her graceful and dignified composure, though her voice dropped sharply. "Master Jinghai, what do you mean by this? All personal disciples are permitted to attend discussions. If Qi Yexin and Yun Ying can enter, why not me?"
Master Jinghai stood with his hands behind his back, refusing to even glance at her, his gaze fixed solely on Master Qiu. "Master Qiu, please remove the demon."
"..."
"..."
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred.
As one of these "enemies," Shu Fu remained silent, staring intently at Master Jinghai again and again, yet failing to leave any lasting impression.
The man was undeniably handsome, but every detail about him was so generic, as if he had been torn straight from the cover of a xianxia novel.
Cold and aloof masters, icy Taoist priests, solitary immortals—Shu Fu had adored this archetype in her youth, having devoured countless novels of the genre. She had seen no fewer than a thousand variations. Looking at Master Jinghai now was like watching a writing template come to life.
And yet, he fell short of the template in one way.
Shu Fu: "Master, you misused the phrase 'enter the hall and step into the inner chamber.' Confucius said, 'You have ascended to the hall, but have not yet entered the inner chamber,' referring to the progression of skill from shallow to deep—not to barging into the main hall uninvited."
Master Jinghai: "..."
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