When Wen Shuangbai arrived at the entrance of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion's main hall, a senior disciple approached her.
"Junior Sister Wen, please follow me."
Wen Shuangbai studied his face for a moment and immediately understood that this senior had been instructed by an elder to escort her.
She smiled. "Thank you for guiding me, Senior Brother."
Earlier, she had wondered how Elder Huakai Fugui could be so certain she had reached the Mingqiao realm. Now, seeing this senior disciple, everything became clear.
Elder Huakai knew exactly who she was—and held a position of considerable authority within the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion.
She had just participated in the Taihua Mountain Secret Realm competition, and the Pavilion’s higher-ups must have recognized her Yao Ling Heart Technique.
When they reached the top floor, the senior disciple knocked on a door and announced respectfully, "Pavilion Master, Junior Sister has arrived."
Wen Shuangbai: "?"
Pavilion Master?
An elderly woman’s voice came from inside. "Ah, let her in."
Wen Shuangbai: "??"
Wait, why did that voice sound so familiar?
It was… the old woman who had given her golden melon seeds!
Elder Huakai Fugui, the seed-giving granny, and the Pavilion Master of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion—were all the same person?!
Wen Shuangbai stepped inside, her expression one of utter disbelief, as if she had just won the lottery after buying tickets for ten years. Her eyes met the warm, kindly gaze of the elderly woman inside.
The woman sat in a rocking chair, lazily fanning herself with a cattail-leaf fan, looking no different from any ordinary grandmother. She smiled and said, "You're here."
Wen Shuangbai quickly composed herself and bowed deeply. "Shuangbai greets the Pavilion Master."
The senior disciple closed the door behind her, leaving the two alone.
Wen Shuangbai studied the old woman before her.
Jiang Rui, the Pavilion Master of the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion, was barely mentioned in the original novel—merely a background character.
However, Wen Shuangbai had heard Lu Jiayao mention her before. He often shared gossip about the various pavilions of Qingling Mountain, especially concerning the Pavilion Masters and elders.
Jiang Rui had been the direct disciple of the previous Pavilion Master, her path smooth and untroubled—until the Great Mystic Heaven Tournament two generations ago, where she suffered severe injuries. Because of this, she couldn’t maintain a youthful appearance like other high-ranking cultivators and remained frozen in the appearance of a woman in her sixties or seventies.
The Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion, her Dao companion, chose to match her appearance, remaining an old man.
This pair of Pavilion Masters was considered one of Qingling Mountain’s most touching love stories.
"Do you know about the Great Mystic Heaven Tournament?" Jiang Rui asked.
Wen Shuangbai thought for a moment. "This disciple has only heard fragments."
The original novel had focused more on Yu Xiaoxiao’s romantic entanglements with the male lead and his rivals, with little detail about the tournament itself.
Jiang Rui leaned back in her rocking chair, her aged gaze drifting through the open window toward the distant mountains. Yet, it seemed she wasn’t truly looking at them—but rather at the memories of that sacred tower, where she had gained so much and lost even more.
She spoke slowly. "To speak of the Great Mystic Heaven Tournament, we must first speak of the origins of the Mystic Heaven Sacred Tower."
"The Mystic Heaven Continent was divided five hundred years ago. Before that, this land was in chaos—demons and malevolent spirits ran rampant, humans lived in constant peril, corpses littered the earth… until the Seven Saints emerged. They led human cultivators in a desperate resistance, built the Mystic Heaven Sacred Tower, and sealed the demons within, ending the calamity. That brought five hundred years of peace to the continent."
"With the Seven Saints came seven regions and seven great sects. But the Sacred Tower was singular—and so, the Great Mystic Heaven Tournament was born. The sect that claimed first place would lead the seven, guarding the tower and the Mystic Heaven itself."
Here, Jiang Rui chuckled, as if recalling something amusing. "The Sacred Tower rarely opens. In five hundred years, it has only opened five times. The first was five centuries ago, the second eighty years ago—the one I and the Sect Master participated in. Both times, the winner was the Purple Flame Realm of the Imperial Region."
Wen Shuangbai remembered that in the tournament the Sect Master and Pavilion Masters had joined, Qingling Mountain had placed third—not the best, but still their highest achievement.
Jiang Rui continued. "The third time was thirty-seven years ago, won by the Divine Abode Temple of the Star Region. The fourth, seventeen years ago, saw the Purple Flame Realm reclaim first place. As for these two—" The old woman grinned at Wen Shuangbai. "Our Qingling Mountain placed dead last both times."
Meeting her gaze, Wen Shuangbai declared, "This fifth time, this disciple will give it her all!"
"Just enjoy yourself," Jiang Rui said, unconcerned with rankings. "The Sacred Tower contains many legacies left by ancient experts. They can greatly aid your cultivation."
Then, she abruptly changed the subject. "The Yao Ling Heart Technique you’re practicing now—I obtained it from the Sacred Tower back then."
Wen Shuangbai was stunned. "Really?"
"Indeed." The old woman rose from her chair and walked over, still fanning herself. "Now, I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first, child?"
Wen Shuangbai: "…The bad news."
Jiang Rui waved her fan. "Ah, the Yao Ling Heart Technique I have is incomplete—only the first two stages."
Wen Shuangbai fell silent for a moment. Though it pained her a little, she hadn’t paid a single spirit stone to learn this technique. Free things were always worth trying.
She asked hopefully, "And the good news?"
Jiang Rui grinned. "The good news is, you have an affinity with the Yao Ling Heart Technique. You might just find the remaining volumes yourself inside the Sacred Tower."
Wen Shuangbai: "…"
That counted as good news?!
"The first stage of the Yao Ling Heart Technique has been in the library for eighty years. Few have even glanced at it." Jiang Rui patted Wen Shuangbai’s shoulder, her eyes filled with approval. "You’re not the first disciple I’ve scouted through the Mystic Heaven Mirror either. Most either didn’t dare try, gave up from the pain, or abandoned it when they saw no immediate results. You’re the only one who’s persisted through the first stage."
Wen Shuangbai smiled humbly. "The Pavilion Master flatters me. This disciple is honored to have the chance to learn such a profound technique."
Inwardly, she thought, I just couldn’t afford any other decent heart techniques… The good ones are all ridiculously expensive.
The old woman chuckled knowingly, then suddenly flicked her fan toward Wen Shuangbai.
In the next instant, the world spun. When Wen Shuangbai regained her bearings, she found herself in a void-like space, surrounded by dense arrays of glowing talisman scripts pulsing with multicolored light.
Jiang Rui’s voice echoed from all directions. "I’ll now impart the second stage to you. For the next three months, you’ll be in seclusion here with me."
---
The second stage of the Yao Ling Heart Technique focused on talisman scripts.
This technique could be cultivated in two ways—forward and reverse.
Previously, Wen Shuangbai had thought the forward method was purely for physical enhancement. After mastering it, she had indeed felt her constitution improve significantly—enough to hold her own against body cultivators and swordsmen in the Taihua Mountain Secret Realm.
But when the second stage's content flooded her mind, she finally understood—the previous training had all been preparation for this moment.
Jiang Rui demanded that she master the art of carving every single array inscription in this void space using the power of the Yao Ling Heart Method.
The inscriptions here numbered in the tens of thousands. Even ordinary disciples would take years to learn them all.
Yet with the Profound Heaven Grand Competition looming, Jiang Rui didn’t have the luxury of letting the girl take her time. She couldn’t help but worry—would this child crumble under the pressure?
But Wen Shuangbai felt nothing but joy.
She had been fretting over her weakness in array inscriptions, wondering how to improve. And now, a top-tier mentor had fallen into her lap—free of charge.
…Could such good fortune truly exist in this world?
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Wen Shuangbai agreed immediately. Then, remembering something, she hastily pulled out the Four Hundred Blocks and asked, "Pavilion Master, could you take a look at this brush for me? Is there anything wrong with it?"
"Nothing wrong," Jiang Rui glanced at it. "A newly born tool spirit, harmless. Keep it if you like. If not, just refine it away with the Heart Method whenever you please."
Relieved, Wen Shuangbai nodded. "Understood."
…
Time stretched endlessly in the void space. Unaware of day or night, Wen Shuangbai immersed herself in learning, carving each newly mastered inscription onto the stone walls with the Four Hundred Blocks, fueled by the Yao Ling Heart Method.
When exhaustion overtook her, she swallowed a Spirit Restoration Pill or a Fasting Pill left by the Pavilion Master.
Occasionally, when the strain grew unbearable, she paused to rest and scroll through the Mystic Heaven Mirror.
From the group chat, it was clear that after she had been summoned by Pavilion Master Jiang, Xie Ziyin and the others had also been dragged away by their respective pavilion masters and elders for special training.
The result was a flood of despair in the [Today’s Fortune: Get Rich] group chat.
[Shen Fengzi: AAAAAH I’M GOING INSANE AAAAAH MY HAIR AAAAAH!]
[Lu Jiayao: This is too hard! I’ve practiced singing till my throat bled, and the elder just told me to keep going—said I’d get used to the bleeding!!!]
[Shen Fengzi: I’ve lost half my hair learning divination curses, and I’m complaining??? AAAAAH!]
In the Sword Techniques Pavilion, Yin Xuan was equally miserable.
The pavilion master had ordered him to train here. He’d planned a schedule—three hours of practice, three hours of sleep.
But during those three hours of sleep, the Sword Pavilion Master invaded his dreams… so even in slumber, he was forced to practice sword forms.
Yin Xuan woke in agony. Rarely one to post in the group chat, he broke his silence.
[Yin Xuan: I want to die.]
[Shen Fengzi: I want to die.]
[Lu Jiayao: I want to die.]
Wen Shuangbai checked the Mystic Heaven Mirror every time she mastered five hundred inscriptions.
Each time, she found Xie Ziyin posting [I want to die.]
Such frequent appearances could only mean one thing—her senior brother truly wished for death.
Probably from sleep deprivation.
[Lu Jiayao: Why is it just the three of us who want to die?]
[Shen Fengzi: Maybe the other three are already dead!]
[Li Zhuohua: Not dead.]
[Wen Shuangbai: Not dead.]
[Yu Xiaoxiao: Not dead.]
The other three: "…"
…
While the six of them suffered, summer outside Qingling Mountain drew to a close.
One night, rain poured over the mountain. The next morning, Wen Xin opened her window to find the ginkgo leaves in the courtyard tinged with gold.
Autumn had arrived in the mountains. As she fed the fish in the pond, she wondered—why hadn’t her senior brother and sister returned yet?
Then, from nearby, Wen Shuangbai’s voice rang out: "Little Junior Sister! Come help!"
Wen Xin spun around to see her second senior sister staggering forward, supporting their unconscious senior brother with one hand while leaning heavily on her sword.
Wen Xin: "!"
She rushed to assist.
After settling their senior brother into bed, Wen Shuangbai turned to Wen Xin. "Senior Brother and the rest of us are leaving at dawn tomorrow for the Profound Heaven Grand Competition."
At this, the girl’s eyes dimmed.
They’d only just returned—and now they were leaving again?
"…I’ve already spoken with the Pavilion Master. You can come with us and stay with the elders. Would you like to?" Wen Shuangbai asked with a bright smile.
Wen Xin’s eyes lit up. "Yes!"
At the crack of dawn the next day, the two sisters hauled their still-dead-asleep senior brother to the main hall.
The sect’s flying vessel, the Azure Bird Ship, loomed before them—towering and daunting.
Having mastered levitation, Wen Shuangbai first carried her junior sister aboard, then returned for their senior brother.
His cultivation surpassed hers, making the task arduous.
A passing man in plain robes noticed and lent a hand.
Shen Hefeng, clutching the few remaining strands of his hair, came over and lifted one of the senior brother’s legs.
Lu Jiayao, voice hoarse from overuse, hoisted the other leg.
Together, the four of them lifted the senior brother into the air and delivered him onto the ship.
By the time the five of them boarded, Li Zhuohua had already been meditating for hours.
A woman holding a romance novel stepped up last, glanced around, and said, "Everyone’s here. Let’s go."
And so, as the first light of dawn painted the sky, the group soared toward the distant lands of the Purple Flame Realm in the Imperial Province aboard the Azure Bird Ship.
