Normally, to enter the world of cultivation and find an immortal sect, one must first possess a predestined affinity for the path. Among these prerequisites, spiritual roots are one of the most essential. Thus, among those who manage to reach the Jade Flower Sect, very few lack spiritual roots. Let alone someone who arrives first in the trials—no one had ever suspected that she might actually have no spiritual roots at all.
The top-ranking candidate in the entrance examination having no spiritual roots? Such a thing had never occurred in the entire history of the cultivation world! In a way, she truly was one in a million.
Yuan Zhao felt as if the heavens were playing a trick on him. He looked at Shi Xia again, and the more he looked, the more pity he felt. Ah, what a fine girl—she had endured countless hardships to get here, her aptitude, temperament, and character all unmatched, yet she was defeated by fate itself. From the moment she was born, the path to cultivation had been sealed off for her. How tragic.
"Um… can someone tell me what’s going on?" The stares around her were growing increasingly strange, so she couldn’t help but speak up.
"Ah… young lady, this is simply the will of heaven." Yuan Zhao sighed deeply, hesitating for a moment before finding the right words. He patted her shoulder consolingly. "You lack spiritual roots… I’m afraid you cannot cultivate."
Shi Xia froze for a second before replying indifferently, "Oh."
"Aren’t you angry?" Yuan Zhao was somewhat surprised.
"Not really!" she answered honestly. It was just a failed entrance exam, after all—and besides, she hadn’t come here to cultivate in the first place!
"……" What a remarkable girl. Despite such a devastating blow, she harbored no resentment, her heart so open and accepting. Why, oh why, did she have to lack spiritual roots? He felt like crying even more now.
"By the way!" Shi Xia suddenly remembered her main objective. "Speaking of which, old sir, there’s something I’d like to ask you."
"Go ahead." Poor child, I’ll agree to anything you say.
"Is there a spell that can traverse time and space? Like, from one world to another completely different place?"
Yuan Zhao thought for a moment. "Are you referring to the art of shrinking the earth to inches or tearing through the void?"
"It really exists?" Shi Xia felt a flicker of excitement. She could go home!
"However…" He frowned. "I’ve only heard of such techniques in passing and have never witnessed them myself. I suspect only cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage or above would possess such divine abilities."
"Then who can use this spell?" Please introduce me!
"That… I do not know." Yuan Zhao shook his head.
"Oh…" Shi Xia immediately deflated, forcing a weak smile after a pause. "Thanks anyway! I’ll take my leave now. Sorry for the trouble—goodbye!"
She waved at everyone and turned toward the door without the slightest hesitation or reluctance.
Perhaps her wasted potential was too heartbreaking. The more Yuan Zhao looked at her, the more his heart ached, and he couldn’t help but want to offer her some comfort. "Wait, young lady. Though you cannot cultivate, that doesn’t mean you must leave the sect. You could remain in the outer sect—our Jade Flower Sect is rich in spiritual energy, which would benefit your lifespan."
Shi Xia, already at the door, paused and shook her head. "No need. I’d rather go home." Huh, the immortal sect was actually pretty friendly.
Yuan Zhao could only sigh again. "If that is your wish… then go. A disciple will escort you back."
"Got it, thanks!"
"Oh, young lady, what is your name?"
"I’m Shi Xia."
"Ah, so you’re…" His voice abruptly cut off, his eyes widening in shock. "What did you say your name was?"
"Shi Xia?"
"……"
The hall fell dead silent.
Dozens of eyes locked onto her once more. The previously somber atmosphere instantly plunged into an icy chill.
Shi Xia’s heart skipped a beat for no reason, a sudden sense of foreboding creeping in. Was it her imagination, or was the room now radiating murderous intent?
"She’s Shi Xia—seize her!" The previously kind-faced Yuan Zhao suddenly bellowed, as if triggering some hidden mechanism. The dozen or so people in the hall all stood up in unison, swiftly forming hand seals. A cacophony of clinking and clanging echoed as countless magical weapons materialized in the air above the hall, each gleaming with a cold, deadly light—red, white, green, yellow, every color imaginable.
Before Shi Xia could react, the words "overwhelming killing intent" slammed into her consciousness. Every weapon in sight was now aimed directly at her.
What the hell? What did I say wrong? Can someone explain?!
"Under no circumstances can we let her escape!" Yuan Zhao roared again, waving his hand in command. The sky full of weapons shot toward her in unison.
What kind of insane mood swing is this?! Do you flip faces this fast at home too?!
Unfortunately, she didn’t even have time to protest. All she could do was watch helplessly as the storm of lethal weapons hurtled toward her, ready to turn her into a human pincushion in the next second.
Holy crap, so much for a friendly visit to the immortal sect!
Just as the weapons were about to strike, an icy, bone-piercing chill swept in from behind. A beam of white light shot through the doorway, sweeping across the hall—and the weapons flying toward her froze mid-air, mere centimeters away.
She could practically feel the murderous aura radiating from the blades. Narrowly escaping death, Shi Xia stumbled back several steps, gasping for breath. Her legs were… a little weak.
"Grand Elder!" Yuan Zhao exclaimed in shock. "Why have you come?"
Only then did Shi Xia notice the figure standing in front of her—dressed in white, his back turned, his silhouette oddly familiar.
The white-robed man ignored Yuan Zhao, instead turning to look at the person behind him.
Shi Xia froze. Wasn’t this the pretentious Grand Elder who had saved Da Miao in the forest the other day? What was he doing here?
"Grand Elder," Yuan Zhao pressed urgently, stepping forward. "This person must be eliminated—"
The white-robed man still didn’t respond, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Shi Xia. Though his face was expressionless, Shi Xia felt the temperature around her plummet, as if the air itself was freezing over. A bone-deep chill seeped from him, and the longer she met his eyes, the more terrifying they seemed.
Is he also planning to kill me? Shi Xia’s heart quivered. Is it too late to run? Instinctively, she tried to step back—but the moment she lifted her foot, the man seemed to notice. In a flash, he grabbed Shi Xia by the collar.
"This one," he declared coldly, "is mine."
The next instant, they vanished—both him and Shi Xia.
Left behind in the hall were the clattering sounds of countless magical weapons dropping to the ground, their spells dispelled, and a room full of bewildered faces.
Shi Xia had been carried back—yes, carried, like how she carried her own stupid cat—by the so-called Grand Elder. He had hauled her back to his residence and unceremoniously tossed her onto the bed.
The bed was made of stone, and the impact left her backside throbbing in protest. But she didn’t dare rub it, not with the clearly displeased, ice-cold man standing right in front of her.
She really wanted to talk to him about life, to discuss the importance of human harmony and mutual goodwill for collective progress, and to guide him toward building a beautiful socialist future together. But she didn’t dare open her mouth—because the look in his eyes was downright terrifying.
She vaguely glimpsed knives flickering in those eyes, slashing toward her one after another. And behind him, an intangible aura seemed to be expanding… expanding… expanding…
Shi Xia couldn’t help shrinking back. Even though the man hadn’t said a word and his face showed no particular expression, the fact that he had been staring at her unblinkingly for half an hour was unbearable! She even started questioning whether she had actually committed some unforgivable crime to deserve such scrutiny.
They say a gaze can kill—she hadn’t believed it before, but now she did.
(╥﹏╥)
Just when she thought he was trying to murder her with his eyes, he finally moved—though it was just a tiny half-step forward.
But that was enough to make Shi Xia, already trembling with fear, surrender instantly.
So, she made a grand decision. With a swift motion, she knelt on the stone bed, then prostrated herself before him in the most dramatic manner possible, pouring all her acting skills into a heartfelt cry: "Hero, I was wrong!"
Whatever she had done, admitting fault was always the right move!
The man paused mid-step, seemingly taken aback.
He didn’t move again, only furrowing his brow as his expression darkened.
A chill ran down Shi Xia’s spine. Had her plea for mercy not been sincere enough to move this boss? Should she try again?
But he didn’t give her the chance. After staring at her a while longer, his figure flickered—and suddenly, he vanished on the spot.
Shi Xia: "…"
He just… left? What was going on? Had he dragged her here just to—practice his murderous aura?
This guy… must be insane.
For the next two days, Shi Xia didn’t see that strange Great Master again. But there was no doubt she was being held captive. As someone with the combat prowess of a wet noodle, she had zero interest in attempting a prison break. All she could do was wait for someone to come interrogate her and finally explain what was happening. She couldn’t for the life of her figure out what she had done to provoke such universal hatred—one moment, everyone had been warm and friendly, and the next, they all seemed eager to stab holes in her.
She firmly believed that an upright person need not fear a crooked shadow. There was no misunderstanding that couldn’t be cleared up, no grudge that couldn’t be resolved, no wall that couldn’t be toppled—wait, that last one didn’t sound right…
That Great Master might be scary, but he didn’t seem unreasonable. She just had to wait patiently for a chance to explain herself.
But plans never survive contact with reality. Two days later, she had no choice but to crawl out of that room.
Because she was starving. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined they would neglect to provide prison meals. Damn this feudal society, so devoid of human rights! And once she stepped outside, she realized the door hadn’t even been locked—it opened with a gentle push. This was an outright insult to her dignity as a prisoner!
Fuming, Shi Xia’s opinion of this so-called Immortal Cultivation Vocational Academy plummeted to rock bottom. Indignant, she decided to have a little chat with the jailer about life’s meaning—only to find that outside the hut stretched a vast grassland. After wandering around for ages without spotting a single soul, she grew even hungrier. Just when she thought she might starve to death, she spotted a lush vegetable garden ahead.
