Villainous Master (2)
“We’ve arrived at the mountain gate, wake up!”
Song Xuyi still hadn’t recovered from the shock of being unable to contact the system when the voice of the cold and beautiful female cultivator rang in her ears.
Although the two female cultivators were still at the bow of the ship, the voice sounded clear in Song Xuyi’s ears.
Is this another mysterious technique of this world’s cultivators?
The personal power of cultivators in this world is truly too strong. Song Xuyi speculated that the system’s disconnection was probably related to the unique nature of this world.
But all of this was just Song Xuyi’s guess.
After attempting to contact the system and failing, Song Xuyi accepted the fact that she had lost connection with the system, lowered her head, and followed the crowd off the ship.
The wooden ship had stopped in a valley.
Looking up from the bottom of the valley, one could see a moon as large as a silver basin, with countless towering peaks where cultivators soared on their swords like flowing light. Even though it was winter outside, within the valley there were countless vibrant flowers competing in brilliance and blooming profusely.
“Let’s first pay respects to the sect leader, and then based on your spiritual roots, you can choose a peak to seek discipleship.”
In front of them was a white marble staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly. The two female cultivators adjusted their appearances and, leading a group of people, began to ascend the long staircase.
“Each peak represents a different cultivation method. I have the fire and metal spiritual roots, and after consulting with the immortals, it seems that the most suitable peak for me is the Chilian Peak. I hope that the Peak Master of Chilian will take notice of me…”
“You’re so impressive! You have dual spiritual roots. I have the three-element mixed spiritual roots. I don’t expect a specific peak, I just hope that a Peak Master will consider me…”
The newly recruited disciples were all young and energetic. When they first arrived, they were all shocked by the scene at Xuanshu Sect and dared not make a sound. Now, they were gradually getting used to the surroundings, and the disciples started whispering and discussing among themselves…
Song Xuyi stood by, smiling as she listened to their conversations, choosing not to participate in their discussions.
In the original memories of the body, there was a classification of levels in this world: The cultivation in this world is based on spiritual roots. The majority of ordinary people in the world do not possess spiritual roots, and only a small group of people do. Among this small group, the level of talent is defined by the abundance of spiritual roots: Five spiritual roots are the worst, while having a single spiritual root is the best.
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Since the body inhabited by Song Xuyi possessed the rare single spiritual root, and to prevent other sects from competing for disciples, Xuanshu Sect, upon discovering Song Xuyi, brought her and the disciples back to the mountain gate.
However, Xunshu Sect was the number one major sect, and even though single spiritual roots were rare, among the disciples recruited, the ones with the poorest aptitude had three spiritual roots.
Following behind the two female cultivators, the group began to ascend. Initially, it was not too difficult for about half an hour. However, as they progressed, Song Xuyi couldn’t tell if it was her own perception, but the higher they went, the harder it became to walk. It seemed like a suppressive force enveloped everyone, causing trembling in their legs, sweating on their foreheads, and an overwhelming urge to descend.
Song Xuyi gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and continued to ascend step by step.
Within the group, there was no longer any chatter, only the increasingly heavy breathing of the disciples.
“Can’t walk any further, huh!”
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two female cultivators leading the way stopped in their tracks.
Most of the new disciples around them were panting heavily, drenched in sweat, while these two women appeared perfectly normal, not even a hair out of place.
The more delicate-looking one, named Liu Bi, smiled as she looked back at the disheveled new disciples and explained, “This is the Mind-testing Staircase. There is no end to this staircase, and it is infused with the pressure of cultivators. It is specifically designed to test everyone’s temperament, to see if they possess resilience and determination. The higher you climb, the more resilient you are considered to be—”
“A hundred years ago, in order to enter the sect, one had to climb the Mind-testing Staircase. It was a strict requirement to stay on the staircase for at least a full day, and even if one didn’t die, they would leave a layer of skin behind. But now, we have simplified the process. The Mind-testing Staircase serves as a warning, hoping that everyone will understand from the very beginning that there are always people better than oneself, and there will always be endless challenges on the path of cultivation…”
Immediately after speaking, the cold and striking female cultivator named Zeng Li took out a mirror.
The mirror gradually enlarged, transforming into a shimmering door that glistened like flowing water. Liu Bi was the first to walk out of the door, followed by the rest of the disciples, filing into the door one by one—
Before entering, Song Xuyi glanced back at the Mind-testing Staircase:
It was already dawn, with a hint of white on the horizon. From Song Xuyi’s perspective, she could see the entire Xuanshu Sect bathed in the soft morning light, revealing its beautiful appearance.
Many paths are like this Mind-testing Staircase, where even though the road is difficult to traverse, those who walk upon it can see incredibly beautiful scenery.
Unfortunately, Xuanshu Sect has abandoned this path that allows people to understand themselves and temper their will. Apart from Song Xuyi, everyone else is eager to enter the sect, no one casting a glance at this beautiful sight.
The plot summary mentions that the reason the immortal realm is no match for the demon race is largely due to the people of the immortal realm taking the lazy and greedy path, no longer using ancient cultivation methods to refine their bodies and spirits, only seeking to raise their cultivation through pills. Naturally, they cannot compete with the demon race who live on the frigid fringes, fighting fiercely for a trace of spiritual energy.
This phenomenon is evident from Xuanshu Sect abandoning the function of the Mind-testing Staircase.
But if Song Xuyi wants to safeguard the Song family, she will need extremely powerful strength.
Song Xuyi pursed her lips, confirming the direction of her cultivation in that instant, and pushed open the water door with a downward gaze—
Although she had only taken one step into the door, the scenery behind it underwent a tremendous change:
Song Xuyi found herself in a grand and solemnly decorated hall, spacious enough to accommodate several thousand people. The main seats of the hall were filled with various peak masters all dressed in Daoist robes, and the woman in the green dress whom Song Xuyi had encountered during the day was sitting prominently in the central position of the sect leader’s seat.
The girls who had entered before stood respectfully in line in front of these individuals, and not long after, Zeng Li also walked in.
The shimmering water door vanished from before the crowd, and Zeng Li and Liu Bi stepped forward to summarize the recruitment situation of the disciples this time. When it was mentioned that a disciple with a single spiritual root had been recruited, all the peak masters, who had previously appeared indifferent, suddenly sat up straight.
“Water spiritual root?”
Upon hearing Song Xuyi’s spiritual root attribute, everyone’s gaze involuntarily turned towards the vacant seat beside the sect leader, where a position for a peak master was left empty.
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“She has always been arrogant, claiming to only teach disciples with single spiritual roots. Who would have expected that she actually recruited a disciple with a single spiritual root…”
“I wonder if she will still refuse this time…”
With the discussions among the peak masters, the selection of disciples began as well:
The disciples advanced one by one, touching the white beads placed in the center. Unlike Song Xuyi’s pure ice-blue color, when the other disciples touched the white spheres, the colors would be either colorful or intertwined with two colors… None of them had the same pure color as Song Xuyi when touching the sphere.
The peak masters seated like interviewers choosing their staff, some disciples with dual spiritual roots would be snatched up by the peak masters who matched their attributes, while those with triple spiritual roots would be carefully considered, asked about cultivation-related questions…
Because Song Xuyi entered later, by the time it was her turn, nearly two hours had passed, and there were only a few people left.
As Song Xuyi stepped forward, Liu Bi smiled, about to announce Song Xuyi’s single spiritual root identity, suddenly a faint sound came from the door, followed by the door swinging open, allowing the sunlight outside to pour in, painfully glaring in the eyes.
Even more dazzling than the sunlight was the beautiful woman who walked in bathed in the sunlight.
The woman was dressed in white like snow, without any makeup, yet her face alone was enough to overshadow all the treasures in the world.
In the cultivation world, there were no ugly people, even the servants cleaning the outer sect that Song Xuyi saw when she disembarked were all good-looking. But this woman was the most beautiful person Song Xuyi had ever seen in this world: her features were clearly refined and exquisite, with a touch of ultimate beauty brought out by a red mole at the corner of her eye. She appeared beautiful yet not flashy, clear yet not cold.
If there were truly immortals in this world, Song Xuyi felt that this woman’s appearance was what they should look like.
“I was meditating earlier, and the paper crane you sent to deliver the message circled around my peak a few times before coming in…”
The woman lazily yawned, covering her mouth with her hand, and then sat directly in the seat next to the sect leader where there was an empty space, turning to speak to the sect leader.
Even though she said that, those with discerning eyes could see that the woman was just casually making an excuse. The new disciples may not have realized it, but the peak masters sitting above all understood: the woman’s excuse was flimsy at best. After all, cultivators could sense external things even while meditating, and this woman was known within the Xuanshu Sect for her love of sleep.
“It’s good that Senior Sister here.”
However, the sect leader was extremely polite to this woman, and there was even a hint of respect on her face as she conversed with her.
Seeing the gazes of the new disciples falling on the woman, the sect master introduced, “This is Ning Jingyu, the peak master of Luoyun Peak.”
A collective gasp filled the scene.
There was no need for the sect leader to say more; the name Ning Jingyu spoke for itself.
Ning Jingyu’s name was one that even a three-year-old in this world would recognize.
A hundred years ago, when the Demon Lord fell into madness and caused chaos in the Three Realms, the young Ning Jingyu battled the Demon Lord at the mountain peak. The battle lasted for days and nights, shrouding the sky in darkness, with no light from the sun or moon. In the end, Ning Jingyu single-handedly slew the Demon Lord with her sword.
Since then, the demon race began to decline, and the immortal realm became even more prosperous. Ning Jingyu’s fame soared, making her the top sword cultivator in the world.
Everyone knew that Ning Jingyu was the first swordsman to slay the Demon Lord, but they had never imagined that she would be so young and beautiful.
After that battle, Ning Jingyu was severely injured and began to retreat for long-term recovery.
Song Xuyi looked at the summary of the plot and learned more: in the plot summary, twenty years later, the newly appointed Demon Lord led the demon race in a fierce attack on the immortal realm. Ning Jingyu, entrusted by many, was the most crucial barrier against the Demon Lord. However, no one expected that Ning Jingyu would be defeated by the Demon Lord in battle, ending up in a tragic fate. After her defeat, there was no one left in the immortal realm who could stand against the demon race, making it even weaker…
Song Xuyi remembered the sect leader mentioning “Senior Ning” the day before. Could it be… referring to Ning Jingyu?
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Song Xuyi’s heart raced faster as she looked expectantly at Ning Jingyu, determined to learn as much as possible from her over the years and try to change the original plot summary—
But Ning Jingyu, sitting on the high platform, looked indifferent, leaning on her elbow and showing no interest in the selection of the disciples below.
In a daze, Song Xuyi found a spirit-testing sphere thrust into her hand by Liu Bi.
The icy blue hue gradually spread throughout the sphere, causing whispers to fill the hall. Ignoring everyone around her, Song Xuyi gathered her courage and lifted her head to gaze at Ning Jingyu seated on the high platform, only to unexpectedly meet Ning Jingyu’s gaze—
Ning Jingyu’s eyes were as dark as night, seeming to be looking at Song Xuyi yet also seeing through her to something else.
After locking eyes with Song Xuyi, Ning Jingyu narrowed her eyes and in the next instant appeared beside Song Xuyi.
“Child,” up close, Ning Jingyu’s face was nearly flawless in its beauty. Her voice sounded melodious, like the babbling of a brook in the valley.
The two were standing very close, and Song Xuyi could smell the faint, cold plum scent coming from Ning Jingyu…
For some reason, she began to feel nervous, hugging the sphere tightly to her chest.
This small gesture pleased Ning Jingyu.
Ning Jingyu blinked and suddenly smiled, as if a thousand flowers were blooming before her eyes, indescribably beautiful.
She was truly too beautiful!
Facing such a smile, Song Xuyi felt like a young deer was leaping in her chest, her heart racing rapidly, and her face blushing instantly, unable to help but lower her head.
“Still a shy little child,” Ning Jingyu commented.
She leaned slightly forward, as if with curiosity, and poked the sphere in Song Xuyi’s hand. Watching Song Xuyi’s stiff posture and the merging of the two icy blue hues within the sphere, Ning Jingyu’s smile deepened.
“Child, would you like to become my disciple?”
The author has something to say:
It’s really uncomfortable to have a cold with a drop in temperature, so I didn’t update yesterday. Little angels, please take care of your health as well.
LP: Re-translated on May 07, 2024
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