Shu Xin had begun playing the part of an arrogant, unreasonable young lady at Busi Manor.
She complained that the food was terrible, that the clothes were even worse, or that the people serving her could not even sing a decent tune.
Whenever she went out to handle matters, she would beat one person and then another. For a time, countless people sought ways to report her to Xi Fu.
At the same time, the city lords of several cities affiliated with Busi Manor had recently sent letters claiming that their cities were suffering from a shortage of apprentices, while ordinary mortals were mysteriously disappearing from time to time.
All of these were minor matters, and Xi Fu simply pushed them aside.
On the one hand, Xi Fu had a headache over Shu Xin. On the other, he felt that she was truly deep-minded.
If he had not personally dealt with her, he might really have believed that she was nothing more than a simple and innocent female cultivator.
“Keep watching her. Find out who she’s communicating with—and who is supporting her from behind the scenes,” Xi Fu instructed one of his trusted aides.
“Yes.”
However, Xi Fu soon had little time left to spare for Shu Xin.
The disciples of the aristocratic clans and prestigious orthodox sects who had received invitations were all preparing to come.
At first, not that many people had planned to attend.
But soon, word spread that Situ Jian, the newest Grotto-Heaven-realm cultivator of the Longevity Dao Sect and one of its most closely watched young cultivators, as well as Qu Yougu, the Dao Child of the Myriad Dao Sect who had recently been in the limelight, would both be coming to Busi Manor to offer their congratulations.
Upon hearing this, cultivators from the other sects and aristocratic families followed suit.
It would be good to meet these two outstanding young talents, build connections, and exchange information.
As for the invitation sent to the God-Seeking Sect, the manor’s steward had casually tossed it aside.
Compared with those Dao Sects, the fallen God-Seeking Sect was indeed hardly worth mentioning.
Xi Fu had no choice but to send another transmission to his master. So many prodigies from the Dao Sects and aristocratic families were coming to his wedding. This was highly unusual. Had those Dao Sects discovered something?
But the wedding still had to proceed as planned.
For a moment, Xi Fu could not make up his mind. He had no idea how he should handle the situation.
What if these geniuses from the Dao Sects and aristocratic families discovered something after arriving? He could not possibly kill them all, could he? If he did, he would truly be setting himself against the entire cultivation world.
Even his master might not be able to protect him then.
“Adoptive Father, you seem to have been troubled lately. Could it be that you’re worried about the arrival of all these honored guests?” Shu Xin approached him with perfect timing.
Whenever Xi Fu saw Shu Xin, he felt an even greater headache coming on.
Why did everything seem to be going wrong lately?
“You could make things easier for me by causing a little less trouble,” Xi Fu said offhandedly.
“Adoptive Father, there’s no need to put it that way. I’m only acting like this so everyone will believe that I’m nothing more than an insignificant young lady,” Shu Xin replied, refusing to take the bait. “As for the matter troubling you, I think it would be very easy to resolve.”
“Oh?” Xi Fu did not really expect Shu Xin to offer any useful advice, but he was willing to hear what this little fox had to say.
“Your concern is nothing more than how to accommodate the cultivators from these prestigious sects and aristocratic families, is it not? If you treat them all equally, there will inevitably be some who are dissatisfied. But if you treat them differently, Busi Manor will appear to be currying favor with the powerful.
“Besides, their safety concerns the future development of the entire Busi Manor. You have to prepare for the wedding while dealing with all these matters as well. It truly is too much for you to handle alone.”
Shu Xin wore an expression that seemed to say, “I’m only thinking of you.”
“Then tell me. What should I do?”
“This wedding isn’t solely our manor’s affair. Could the Profound Spirit Dao Sect really sit back and do nothing?” Shu Xin said with a smile. “Why don’t you send a memorial to the sect master of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect? Tell him that all these cultivators from the prestigious sects and aristocratic families have come because of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect’s reputation. Our manor is too small and short-handed to entertain so many distinguished guests. Ask the Profound Spirit Dao Sect to send elders and personnel to help take over the arrangements related to the wedding.”
When faced with a difficult decision, simply toss the mess to your superior.
Otherwise, how could you demonstrate your superior’s abilities?
When doing a job, whether you did it well was not the most important thing. What mattered was whether you could highlight your superior’s leadership.
If you did not make your presence felt more often, how would your leader know which subordinate you were among so many?
“Daughter, although my manor is an affiliated sect, that doesn’t mean we’re servants of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect.” Xi Fu looked at Shu Xin with a half-smile. “Once we let the Profound Spirit Dao Sect take over the wedding, it may be easy to invite them in but difficult to send them away. What will we do if they refuse to leave afterward?”
“I believe in your abilities, Adoptive Father. Surely you understand the brilliance of my stratagem to use one tiger to swallow another,” Shu Xin replied without the slightest hesitation. “Bringing the Profound Spirit Dao Sect into the matter is the best solution. I believe you were planning to do so as well.”
As she spoke, Shu Xin’s gaze lingered for a moment on one of the jade slips on Xi Fu’s desk.
The jade slip unmistakably bore the seal of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect.
Xi Fu stared at Shu Xin for several moments before saying meaningfully, “If you really were my daughter, I wouldn’t have to worry about Busi Manor lacking a successor.”
“You’re flattering me, Adoptive Father.” Shu Xin smiled sweetly. “If you truly were willing to let me inherit the manor, I’d be happy to develop it and make it flourish.”
[XI Fu seems to have been planning to let the Profound Spirit Dao Sect interfere in the wedding as well.] The Sword Spirit asked, [But isn’t he a member of the Blood Demon Sect? Isn’t he afraid the Profound Spirit Dao Sect will discover the truth?]
“Precisely because he’s a disciple of the Blood Demon Sect, he has to let the Profound Spirit Dao Sect in,” Shu Xin replied, giving a short whistle. “The Blood Demon Sect’s excellent tradition is for masters and disciples to slaughter one another. Do you think Xi Fu isn’t worried that once the Blood Spirit Pearl is finished, his good master, Cui Yuhua, will refine him along with it?
“A disciple can be treated like a servant when useful. Once he’s no longer of use, he becomes excellent material for cultivation.”
All right. You humans certainly have your own way of thinking.
The Profound Spirit Dao Sect.
News from Busi Manor soon reached the sect master of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect.
The sect master simply summoned his own disciple—Pei Qiyun, the female disciple bound to Xi Fu by marriage—to discuss the matter.
Pei Qiyun was now only one step away from breaking through to the Grotto-Heaven realm. Like Situ Jian of the Longevity Dao Sect, Qu Yougu of the Myriad Dao Sect, Chai Lingxin of the Carefree Dao Sect, Xie Xianzhi of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect, and Xiang Peiyao of the Truth-Seeking Dao Sect, she was poised to become one of the leaders of the younger generation.
At present, those five were recognized throughout the nine great Dao Sects as geniuses. Nearly all of them had broken through to the Grotto-Heaven realm within two hundred years, and, more importantly, had spent very little time stuck at the Dao Embryo stage.
This meant that the Three Winds and Four Fires would pose no difficulty for them. Their future prospects were unquestionably limitless.
Oh, there was also a disciple from a minor sect—the eldest disciple of Xu Guan—who had broken through to the Grotto-Heaven realm in a very short time.
However, minor sects often lacked staying power, so Pei Qiyun had not taken that female cultivator seriously.
As for the demonic sects, she had heard that they too possessed several young cultivators who had broken through to the Grotto-Heaven realm.
Being born in the same era as all these geniuses was truly difficult.
A hundred years ago, anyone who could break through to the Dao Infant Realm within two hundred years would already have been hailed as a peerless prodigy.
Pei Qiyun was also the most outstanding disciple of her generation in the Xuanling Dao Sect.
Unfortunately, she had been born into an age of great contention, when geniuses were springing up like bamboo shoots after the rain.
Below the Immaculate Realm, the Grotto-Heaven Realm stood supreme.
Any cultivator who reached the Immaculate Realm would be qualified to become the sect master of a Dao sect. As for those in the Grotto-Heaven Realm, even in an ordinary second- or third-rate sect, they would be qualified to become a sect master or an elder.
Take Busi Manor, for example. As an affiliated sect of the Xuanling Dao Sect, its strongest cultivator, the manor lord, had only reached the peak of the Dao Infant Realm. Even so, he was already praised by everyone as a young prodigy and was considered a suitable match for her, a core disciple of the Dao sect.
Those cultivators who had broken through to the Grotto-Heaven Realm in such a short time were simply monsters!
More than anyone else, Pei Qiyun wanted to prove that she was no worse than anyone.
Unfortunately, breaking through to the Grotto-Heaven Realm was simply too difficult.
The Three Winds and Four Fires were like a tribulation standing across her path. Overcoming them successfully was an ordeal of unimaginable difficulty.
Even with a secret treasure for surviving tribulations, her Dao heart always struggled to hold firm until the end before the Fire of Fame and Fortune and the Fire of Longevity.
Her master, the sect master, was always comforting her, telling her that failing to break through was the normal outcome.
After all, in the enormous Nine Great Dao Sects, weren’t there only one or two people who had managed to break through in such a short time?
Ninety-nine percent of Dao Infant cultivators needed to undergo continual trials, question their own hearts, and temper their Dao hearts before they could successfully pass through the trials of the Three Winds and Four Fires.
However, as the reputations of the others grew, not only Pei Qiyun herself but also the other members of the sect began hoping that she would break through as soon as possible, so that the Xuanling Dao Sect would not fall behind.
Furthermore, her physique happened to be compatible with Xi Fu’s. If the two of them cultivated together, they might be able to use that opportunity to break through.
That was why this marriage had been arranged.
If both she and Xi Fu broke through, Xi Fu would also be able to enter the Xuanling Dao Sect directly and become a core disciple.
In that way, the Xuanling Dao Sect would not fall behind the others.
Although Xi Fu was somewhat older, he was still an indisputably talented prodigy.
“According to Xi Fu, Situ Jian, Qu Yougu, and Xie Xianzhi have all sent replies saying they will attend your Dao-companion ceremony.” The sect master looked at Pei Qiyun with eyes full of approval. “It seems they think highly of you as well. Once you break through to the Grotto-Heaven Realm, you’ll be able to stand on equal footing with them.”
“I haven’t broken through to the Grotto-Heaven Realm yet. They shouldn’t feel threatened by me.” Pei Qiyun felt that something was off. She never bothered to remember the names of disciples in the sect whose cultivation was below hers. Could those true heavenly prodigies really remember her?
“If they aren’t here for you, could they be here for Xi Fu?” The sect master gave Pei Qiyun an encouraging look. “My disciple, you are no worse than any of them. The glory of our Xuanling Dao Sect for the next thousand years will depend on you. Rest assured—your Dao-companion ceremony will be arranged to perfection by the sect.”
At the same time.
Longevity Dao Sect.
Situ Jian’s name had officially been entered into the register of core disciples.
As the disciple of Gong Changshou, one of the Longevity Sect’s Nine Sons, Situ Jian’s greatest advantage was that he possessed a natural sense of “legitimacy” within the Longevity Dao Sect.
The Longevity Dao Sect had rules established by an Earth Immortal: only the sect master’s direct descendants and their disciples were qualified to compete for the position of the next sect master.
If Gong Changshou became sect master in the future, Situ Jian would be eligible to compete for the position after that.
If Gong Changshou failed, Situ Jian could only become an elder with real authority and would no longer be eligible to contend for the position of sect master.
At present, however, Gong Changshou remained a popular candidate for sect master. As a result, Situ Jian’s status had risen along with his.
The only ones who were unhappy were probably Gong Changshou’s other disciples.
How could they possibly be pleased to suddenly gain a junior brother who was not even two hundred years old—barely over a hundred—and had already reached the Grotto-Heaven Realm?
Some of them were five or six hundred years old and were still only in the Grotto-Heaven Realm, with the Immaculate Realm remaining a distant dream. A few others were currently only in the Dao Infant Realm. In name, they were Situ Jian’s senior brothers, but in reality, their cultivation was even lower than his.
These senior brothers and sisters had a poor impression of Situ Jian, but they could not withstand the special regard their master showed him. Thus, they could only put on a polite façade. In truth, they wished Situ Jian would hurry up and die somewhere outside, so he would no longer compete with them.
“I hear that Junior Brother personally requested to attend the dual-cultivation ceremony at Busi Manor this time?”
“The Xuanling Dao Sect is nothing special, and I’ve never even heard of Busi Manor. Since Junior Brother has already joined Master’s tutelage, you should sever ties with such insignificant friends as soon as possible.”
“That’s right, Junior Brother. We’re only saying this for your own good. You already come from a poor background. If you keep associating with people like them, they’ll only hinder your Dao heart.”
After hearing that Situ Jian had received a mission from Gong Changshou and would be traveling outside the sect, several of his senior brothers and sisters came over one after another, each taking the opportunity to mock him under the guise of concern.
To be fair, it was no wonder Gong Changshou viewed Situ Jian—who had recommended himself as a disciple—with such special regard. His other disciples truly weren’t very bright.
Those people had originally been accepted by Gong Changshou to win over the great clans within the sect. They had decent talent, but despite cultivating with abundant resources from childhood, they were still only in the Grotto-Heaven Realm after five or six hundred years. In Gong Changshou’s eyes, they had long since lost most of their value.
He would not even need to act personally. As long as he arranged a few more “trial missions” for them in the future, they would meet their deaths along the way. That would not interfere with his plans to accept other disciples later.
They had perhaps sensed that Gong Changshou no longer cared much for them. That was why they harbored such intense hostility toward Situ Jian.
Situ Jian had no elders to support him. Gong Changshou had personally brought him back and had even introduced him to the various martial uncles and martial aunts of the sect.
Now, among the younger generation of the Longevity Dao Sect, Situ Jian was unrivaled in fame. He was practically a living legend.
He had been born into obscurity, without the slightest foundation.
Then the Lin family had forced him to break off his engagement with his fiancée, who had turned to another sect, while he had taken the Lin family ancestor as his master.
Yet in the short span of a few years, the Lin family ancestor had fallen, and Situ Jian had instead broken through to the Grotto-Heaven Realm in one fell swoop, after which Gong Changshou had accepted him as a disciple.
It could be said that he had leaped three ranks in succession.
With every leap, he had climbed to heights that ordinary disciples would not even dare dream of.
How could anyone not admire such a life full of twists and turns?
Situ Jian merely looked at his senior brothers and sisters calmly. He did not hurry to refute them. Instead, he silently watched them.
His expression was so composed, as though he did not take them seriously at all.
The more Situ Jian looked at them that way, the more fiercely their jealousy burned.
Those who were more deep-minded could still barely suppress the flames of envy in their hearts. Those who were more shallow were already finding it almost impossible to restrain themselves.
“Why isn’t Junior Brother saying anything? Do you think we, your senior brothers and sisters, aren’t worthy of lecturing you?”
“Did Junior Brother visit the Divine Inquiry Sect a few days ago? Not to put too fine a point on it, but your former fiancée is no longer a disciple of our sect. You should keep your distance from her.”
“Senior Brother, you’re mistaken. She’s his former fiancée, and she’s a cultivator at the Grotto-Heaven Realm now. Speaking of which, she’s actually quite a good match for Junior Brother.”
“Since Junior Brother has become Master’s disciple, the woman he marries should be a daughter of an aristocratic family. Otherwise, how will he establish himself?”
……
Situ Jian looked at them, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Who were they to judge her?
“Senior Brothers and Sisters are right to lecture me. I’m unworthy, and I’ve encountered a few obstacles on my path of cultivation lately. I’d appreciate some guidance from all of you.” Situ Jian cupped his hands slightly. “I’m sure none of you would be stingy with your advice. If you feel that isn’t enough, you may all come at me together.”
“How arrogant!”
“Situ Jian, do you really think there’s no one in the entire sect who can deal with you?”
The corners of Situ Jian’s lips lifted slightly. “I certainly hope all of you will teach me a good lesson.”
……
Situ Jian left the Longevity Dao Sect feeling refreshed.
A spy from Busi Manor had sent back some news.
The manor master, Xi Fu, had recently taken in an adopted daughter named Xi Shuangshuang. She was said to be extremely arrogant, and there was a strong possibility that she was a disciple of the Joyful Union Sect. However, her identity had not yet been confirmed.
Situ Jian temporarily set the news aside.
A female cultivator appearing at this particular time was very likely Shu Xin.
She seemed to enjoy chasing after such thrills.
Whether it was really her or not would be clear once he saw her with his own eyes.
Quite a few sects knew about what was happening at the Profound Spirit Dao Sect, and they had quietly placed it on the table for discussion.
After Situ Jian and Qu Yougu decided to go, news came that Xie Xianzhi of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect would also be attending. Although there was still no word from Chai Lingxin of the Carefree Dao Sect, she probably wouldn’t be absent either.
For the several Dao Sects, this was an excellent stage on which to pit the younger disciples of their respective sects against one another and see who was superior.
The state of the world sounded like a grave and grand subject, but in reality, it was nothing particularly complicated.
The distribution of power throughout the cultivation world was no different from that of a sect—or even a small village.
Naturally, Shu Xin had also heard that the geniuses of the various Dao Sects would be coming to attend the ceremony.
“The livelier, the better. The livelier, the better!” Shu Xin laughed aloud. “Now there really will be a good show. Lately, even the guards at Busi Manor have started quietly changing shifts.”
Cui Yuhua of the Blood Demon Sect wanted to condense Blood Spirit Pearls. The better the materials, the better the Blood Spirit Pearls would turn out.
As materials for Blood Spirit Pearls, cultivators with better aptitude, younger ages, and higher cultivation levels greatly increased the chances of success.
Blood Spirit Pearls refined from a group of ordinary mortals and those refined from a group of genius cultivators were like fish eyes and pearls. At first glance, they might look like the same thing, but their actual value was worlds apart.
If Cui Yuhua truly had the ability to turn so many Dao Sect geniuses into Blood Spirit Pearls, then forget about merely returning to the Wugou Realm—she might leap straight to the peak of the Wugou Realm. Even the Blood Demon Ancestor would personally come to protect such a promising junior, one capable of severely weakening the Dao Sects’ forces!
[Haven’t you noticed that as your cultivation grows higher, the level of the matters you get involved in rises as well?] the Sword Spirit reminded her. [I can suppress your fortune, but the effect isn’t permanent. As the chosen daughter of fate who carries the destiny of two worlds, you will inevitably attract cultivators with great fortune and tremendous perseverance. They will be drawn to you by forces beyond their comprehension and become involved in matters connected to you. So I suggest you spar with more people and improve your combat ability.]
“You’re the one in the wrong here, Sword Spirit.” Shu Xin’s expression turned solemn. “Of course I need to pursue improvement myself. But as the spirit of an immortal sword, instead of pushing your master to work harder, why can’t you work harder on your own?”
[Me? I’m already the spirit of an immortal sword. How am I supposed to work harder?] The Sword Spirit was baffled. Wasn’t it already doing its best to cleanse the impurities from its blade and waiting to return to its former peak?
“You need to push yourself harder and strive to fight using your own spiritual power instead of sucking it out of your master.” Shu Xin put forward a hypothesis. “In any case, you need to absorb spiritual power. Why absorb mine? Why not absorb the enemy’s? That way, you could grow stronger and more formidable as you fought, and eventually turn around and protect me.”
The Sword Spirit was momentarily at a loss for words.
Shu Xin had actually managed to say something so shameless. How was that reasonable?
It was entirely reasonable.
There was nothing she wouldn’t do.
“Pushing others is no better than pushing yourself.” Shu Xin stretched out her legs and flopped down. “No matter how hard I work, I can’t go from the Wugou Realm today to the Mahayana Realm tomorrow. But you’re different. Didn’t you used to cut down Earthly Immortals as easily as chopping vegetables? So work hard. Strive to unleash one hundred percent of your power while using only a tiny bit of my spiritual energy.”
[…]
“I’m only a sword. If you, my master, don’t provide me with spiritual energy, what can I do?” The Sword Spirit was truly at its wit’s end.
“Don’t say things like that. Try to overcome the difficulties yourself. I’m here to discuss the problem with you, not to listen to you explain why it can’t be solved.” Shu Xin spoke seriously. “You figure out the process yourself. I only want to see the results.”
The Sword Spirit fell silent for a while, then finally couldn’t take it anymore.
It flew out from Shu Xin’s hair, once again transformed into the shape of two swords, and began smacking Shu Xin repeatedly.
Have some shame! Have some shame!
“Hey, hey, stop hitting me! I was only joking.” Shu Xin couldn’t help laughing. “That’s what my former boss used to say to me. I was just parroting him.”
[Your boss was a bastard, and you’re no better.]
“Now I understand. He said that because he couldn’t solve the problem either.” Shu Xin shrugged and looked at the Sword Spirit. “I can’t solve the problem you mentioned, either, so I can only say the same thing to you.”
[I’m urging you because it’s for your own good.] The Sword Spirit drooped dejectedly.
“I know. It’s just that I can’t do it.” Shu Xin first struck it with a stick, then offered it a sweet date. “Don’t worry. I’ve already made arrangements. The geniuses of the Dao Sects will be standing on my side.”
[Hmm?]
……
In one of the cities under Busi Manor.
Following the address Shu Xin had given him in advance, Situ Jian arrived at a gathering of cultivators.
“The Nine Heavens Dao Sect is impressive, huh? Even the sect master of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect can’t smash our things and then just run off.”
“And you harassed my dao partner, too. I haven’t even settled that account with you.”
“Murder! Murder! A cultivator from the Nine Heavens Dao Sect is bullying rogue cultivators! The strong are bullying the weak!”
“This isn’t your sect’s territory. You’ll follow our rules here!”
……
Situ Jian saw a handsome, fine-featured cultivator standing helplessly in the middle of a group of rogue cultivators. He seemed to want to fight back, but didn’t dare, looking as helpless as a child.
A colleague once said that leaders didn’t fail to understand reason—they simply refused to act reasonably.
I wholeheartedly agree.
