Chapter 468 Protagonist, Growth
The demonic cultivator storm has subsided, and the disciples of Taibai Sect are now busy organizing the damaged pavilions and spirit fields caused by the demonic cultivators. They will repair what they can and completely tear down and rebuild what cannot be repaired. The elders of Taibai Sect are also discussing how to re-arrange the sect’s grand formation.
After the elders soul-searched a few surviving demonic cultivators, they discovered that although the demonic cultivators of the Eastern Domain appeared to be inactive, their influence had actually spread throughout the Southern Domain.
Before this surprise attack, the demonic cultivators had spent nearly a thousand years secretly investigating the location of the formation core of Taibai Sect’s grand formation. This was why those Core Formation and a few Nascent Soul cultivators were able to ascend to the peaks of the Twelve Peaks so quickly.
Many Qi Refining Stage disciples within the sect suffered casualties, but no elders above the Nascent Soul Stage perished.
Although Zu Yuan had also returned to being a mortal, the sect masters of Hehuan Sect and Gu Poison Sect were both dead. These two sects would not be able to create any significant disturbances for at least the next thousand years, unless another late-stage Deity Transformation cultivator from these sects reached the Void Realm, which was highly unlikely.
… …
Taibai Sect Main Peak, Liuchun Pavilion.
Tap, tap… tap!
The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed through the courtyard.
In a small pavilion beside the lotus pond, Xiao Yunluo, dressed in a light purple immortal robe, sat before a stone table laden with pastries and tea. She watched Yun Tianchong and Pei Lianxue spar in the courtyard, breaking out in cold sweat.
From a distance of thirty feet, she, as well as the bushes by the pavilion, could clearly feel the sword wind generated by every swing of their swords.
What surprised her even more was that Pei Lianxue had been sparring with Yun Tianchong for nearly fifteen minutes without being defeated.
Although Yun Tianchong had deliberately suppressed his cultivation and gone easy on her, putting his personality aside, he was a cultivator who had received direct transmission from the Sword Ancestor in his youth, understood the Sword Intent divine ability, and had already reached the late Deity Transformation stage.
Pei Lianxue had touched fewer swords than he had touched girls…
Lian Xue is terrifying…
Xiao Yunluo shivered and immediately felt that changing from sword cultivation to magic cultivation was the right choice. On the same path as Lian Xue, she estimated she would never catch up to her.
“Xiao Fang San!! Xiao Fang San!!”
?
“Mm?”
A’Ying, who was pecking at pastry crumbs on the table, inexplicably flicked its tongue.
Xiao Yunluo was slightly taken aback. She knitted her brows, grabbed A’Ying, shook it, and brought it in front of her:
“Who said that? I’m still second branch after all. And my cultivation is higher than Li Longling and Yun Yiyi…”
A’Ying stared at her with utter disdain, saying nothing.
Seeing its gaze, Xiao Yunluo suddenly felt like an idiot. Why was she arguing with a parrot?
She immediately picked up a pastry and stuffed it into A’Ying’s mouth:
“Eat your fill!”
But then, she sensed something was amiss.
If A’Ying was at Taibai Sect, where was her mother?
Before, it was said she’d died with Zu Yuan while killing the sect masters of Gu Poison Sect and Hehuan Sect. But why hadn’t she come to see her?
Thinking about it, Xiao Yunluo felt a little disappointed. After returning from Donghuang, her mother had suddenly severed ties with her, stating they were only master and disciple from then on. Aunt Qiu had also told her that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing…
She didn’t feel particularly sad.
Since she could remember, apart from that time in the Central Domain, she could count the times she’d met Si Xuanji on one hand. In her childhood, it was also mostly Aunt Qiu and the Xuan Xing Sect elders like Qi Baishi who took care of her.
Compared to her mother, Si Xuanji was indeed more like her master than her mother.
But!
If there was no difference, why wouldn’t her master acknowledge her as her daughter?
The sword wind blew from thirty feet away, causing her light purple hair to sway.
Xiao Yunluo propped her chin, looking up at the white clouds drifting in the sky. She puffed out her cheeks and blew at her bangs.
Unable to figure it out, she finally gave up thinking and looked up at the rolling white clouds in the sky.
I wonder where Ye Anping went…
Yesterday afternoon, she even went to Tian Ge to ask Zu Yuan.
When Zu Yuan heard she was asking about “Ye Anping,” he chuckled inexplicably. But the next moment, as if he remembered something, his expression suddenly became very serious. He scrutinized her for a long time, then said somewhat awkwardly:
“Young Master Ye went to find a place to form his Nascent Soul.”
Zu Yuan said he didn’t know the specific location.
He also said he didn’t know which direction he went.
Xiao Yunluo could only cupped her hands in farewell, helpless. But just as she turned to leave Tian Ge’s cave dwelling, she heard Zu Yuan exclaim “Hoo yo~~” and then burst into laughter.
Her heart trembled at his laughter.
Xiao Yunluo pouted slightly. She calculated that it had been since their time in Nanke Immortal City. She was a little worried if Ye Anping would suddenly have a surge of yang energy or something…
“Really, leaving without a word.”
“Stealing fragrant jade!! Stealing fragrant jade!!”
?
Xiao Yunluo was startled again and frowned at A’Ying, quickly covering its mouth:
“What are you saying? Anping wouldn’t go out looking for girls. Do you think Anping is…”
Xiao Yunluo’s gaze fell on Yun Tianchong, who was intently trading blows with Pei Lianxue. However, after hesitating for a moment, she quickly shook her head, thinking it impossible, and poked A’Ying’s belly:
“If you slander Anping again, and Lian Xue hears it, she’ll stew you and feed you to Second.”
“I’m talking about her! I’m talking about her!”
Xiao Yunluo didn’t understand and tilted her head. “Mm?”
“Being stolen fragrant jade!! Being stolen fragrant jade!!”
“?” Xiao Yunluo knitted her brows and retorted, “Anping is a boy, how can he be fragrant jade…”
But the next moment, she thought for a moment, pursed her lips, and lowered her head with a blush:
“…Although he does smell very nice…”
The question mark shifted to A’Ying’s head. It seemed to think Xiao Yunluo was hopeless, shaking its head like an old man and sighing before closing its mouth and continuing to peck at its osmanthus cake.
A moment later, a spiritual light streaked across the courtyard.
Zu Lingzhi, wearing a black and white young master’s daoist robe, landed in front of the pavilion with a box. Seeing Pei Lianxue sparring with Yun Tianchong, she stood stunned for a while, then walked into the pavilion and presented the box in her hand to Xiao Yunluo.
Zu Yuan had lived for twenty thousand years, and he had quite a few descendants in his clan. Including collateral branches and distant relatives outside the four elements, there were over a thousand people in total. However, none of them had extraordinary talent, most were just Double Spirit Root or Three Spirit Root.
After deliberating with the elders in the sect, the position of Young Master was temporarily transferred to Zu Lingzhi.
Although Zu Lingzhi was young, she was the only Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator among the descendants of the Zu clan.
As long as she could successfully reach Deity Transformation, she could ascend to the position of Sect Master.
For now, Elder Cao, Elder Liu the Great, and other confidantes who had followed Zu Yuan for a thousand years were jointly managing the sect’s affairs.
Zu Lingzhi walked up to Xiao Yunluo and placed the box on the table:
“Young Master Xiao… I’ve brought you some pastries and fragrant tea.”
“Senior Sister Zu, didn’t you just visit Second… Feng Yu Die this morning? Why are you here again before noon?”
“Ah… Fairy Feng is my savior after all.” Zu Lingzhi shyly rubbed her fingers and asked in a small voice, like a young girl in love, “Is she awake yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Then I’ll go see her…”
“Mm.”
Xiao Yunluo nodded, indicating she could do as she pleased. However, Zu Lingzhi showed no signs of leaving, standing in front of Xiao Yunluo and opening and closing her mouth several times.
Xiao Yunluo was startled and said she didn’t mind, asking:
“…Speak.”
“Mm, could Young Master Xiao tell me what Fairy Feng’s preferences are?”
“Roasted chicken… I guess.”
“Anything else?”
“And also…”
Tap, tap—!
The sound of wooden swords hitting each other came from afar. Xiao Yunluo couldn’t help but look over. After hesitating for a moment, she felt it wasn’t something that couldn’t be said, so she pointed at Pei Lianxue with her chin and said:
“And Lian Xue.”
Zu Lingzhi turned to look and asked doubtfully:
“She likes Fairy Pei?”
“Mm, probably because of her master, she’s always liked girls.”
“Ah?!” Zu Lingzhi was completely stunned. After a long pause, she asked, “But… she and Ye Anping…”
“She has nothing to do with Ye Anping! She’s always been set on marrying Lian Xue.”
“Is that so…”
And just as Zu Lingzhi walked out of the moon-shaped door not far away.
Tap—!
With a crisp sound, the spirit sword in Pei Lianxue’s hand instantly broke into two halves. The front part flew past Xiao Yunluo’s cheek like an arrow, scaring her into holding her breath.
“Hiss—”
Yun Tianchong let out a long sigh, flicked the chipped wooden sword in his hand to his side, and looked at Pei Lianxue, who had been pushed back several steps. Although his posture was relaxed and at ease, his forehead was already covered in cold sweat.
If he wasn’t afraid of Pei Lianxue’s “father” who was stored in her storage bag coming out to scold him for being useless, he would have shouted, “Mother! This girl is too heaven-defying…”
“Heh, Girl Pei, you’re still too green!”
Pei Lianxue puffed out her cheeks, patted her skirt, drew out another intact wooden sword from her storage bag, and cupped her hands:
“Sect Master Yun, please give me your guidance!”
Then, she charged forward again, causing Yun Tianchong to gasp: Hiss— Still coming? She’s already broken forty wooden swords!! My heavens~~!!
“Hiss—”
Tap, tap, tap…
The sound of wooden swords clashing subsided for only three breaths before it started again.
… …
————
The flower window was half-open, and the sunlight shone on the window lattice, casting the shadows of the pear blossom tree’s flowers and leaves onto the couch by the window. A silver-haired beauty with tightly closed eyes clutched a light purple robe in her hand.
On the round table inside the room, Xiao Tian was energetic, her eyes shining. She was holding a branch she had picked up from outside the window and was brandishing it with great vigor.
She didn’t know where Xue E got that wooden sword, but since Xue E had started practicing swordplay, how could she not?
When Ye Anping finishes forming his Nascent Soul, she’ll make Ye Anping get her a handy weapon too!
The next time she sees Xue E, she’ll definitely make Xue E kowtow and call her “Grandpa Tian! Stop hitting! I was wrong!!”
『Hmph!!』
It’s all because she was too weak.
If she hadn’t lost to Xue E, how could Gu Mingxin have kissed her Anping?
If Gu Mingxin hadn’t kissed her Anping, Feng Yu Die wouldn’t have slept for so long due to inner demons.
The root of all evil was her weakness!
『I want to become stronger!! Hyaa—!』
The branch violently struck the teapot on the table. With a “clatter,” the teapot slid off the table and shattered.
Feng Yu Die, lying quietly on the bed, seemed to have heard the noise and vaguely opened her eyes. However, she was dazzled by the sunlight filtering through the window crack and raised her left hand to shield her eyes.
『Mm… Yu Die?』
Feng Yu Die was stunned for a moment, then suddenly sat up from the bed, her face filled with anxiety. She looked around and shouted:
“Young Master Ye!!”
When she didn’t see Ye Anping, she moved to get off the bed. However, perhaps due to sleeping for too long, she lacked strength, and it took considerable effort just to move her legs off the bed.
Xiao Tian saw Feng Yu Die’s anxious and pale face. It felt both relieved and heartbroken. It quickly flew over and comforted her:
『Anping is fine. He went to find a place to form his Nascent Soul.』
“But…”
『He has that old man Zu Yuan’s spiritual root, so he’s now a Pseudo-Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator. Moreover, the most dangerous first Heavenly Tribulation has already passed. The remaining thirty-five Heavenly Tribulations won’t threaten him unless he deliberately wants to be struck by lightning.』
“… …”
Feng Yu Die listened and was lost in thought for a long time. Suddenly, she realized her right hand was tightly gripping a light purple robe. After a moment of hesitation, she looked up at Xiao Tian with a puzzled expression and asked about the origin of the robe.
『Hehe… When you fainted, Anping carried you back to the main peak, and you wouldn’t let go. So Anping simply took off this robe.』
Xiao Tian said with an aunt’s smile, sat on Feng Yu Die’s shoulder, and poked her cheek:
『A few days ago, Xiao Girl came several times and wanted to take this robe away, but you just wouldn’t let go. So you were left holding it.』
“Oh…”
Feng Yu Die nodded weakly, looked at Ye Anping’s robe in her hand, and after a long pause, slowly raised it to her nose and sniffed.
“Sniff, sniff…”
Even though several days had passed and it was filled with the smell of the bedding and her own scent, just smelling it made her heart feel warm, as if Ye Anping was by her side.
The paleness on her face from being startled gradually turned a faint blush.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Tian, with its arms crossed like a matchmaker, said in a worldly-wise tone:
『Hee hee… You’ve become dependent on Anping, haven’t you? You feel flustered when you can’t see him, right? Yu Die… this is love,哼哼~』
Feng Yu Die gently bit her lip, and did not refute. She remembered what she had blurted out in front of Gu Mingxin in the chaos at that time.
“… …”
『Yu Die, don’t be shy~ Come on! Say it! I’ll help you tell Anping then! Come~~ Ah… Repeat after me. I. Like. Young. Master. Ye.』
Feng Yu Die pouted slightly, glanced at it coldly, frowned, and said:
“You useless thing, you’re so annoying, shut up! Let me think!!”
『Mm~ Alright… Hee hee— Tell me when you’re ready to say it, I’ll be right here.』
“… …”
Watching Xiao Tian return to practicing swordplay at the table, Feng Yu Die sat on the bed, looking down at her bare feet on the wooden floor, turned slightly inward. Then, she raised her hand, tucked her ear hair, and as if she had thought of something, felt around her, took out her storage bag, and summoned the portrait she had bought in Nanke Immortal City.
Whoosh—
The scroll unfurled, and the image of a boy with a sharp and stern demeanor entered Jin Ling’s eyes, causing her pupils to tremble slightly.
Unknowingly, she had become engrossed.
Xiao Tian, who was practicing swordplay beside her, had already reached the hundredth swing, but Feng Yu Die remained sitting by the bed, holding the scroll, her eyes fixed on the person in the painting, only blinking occasionally.
“Hehehe…”
It was at this moment that two knocks sounded at the door.
Bang, bang—
Feng Yu Die was startled and quickly closed the scroll in her hand, hiding it under her buttocks. When she looked up, she saw the maid from Taibai Sect, whom she had rescued from Gu Mingxin, push open the door and poke her head in.
—Call her Zu… Zu what was it?
Zu Lingzhi saw Feng Yu Die sitting by the bed and was slightly surprised. She quickly walked over, took out some pills from her storage bag, and handed them to her. She then sat down beside her:
“Fairy Feng, these are some high-grade Spirit Gathering Pills. Eat them to nourish your body. You’ve slept for so long. If it weren’t for you earlier, I would have probably died at the hands of that demonic cultivator disguised as a Taibai Sect disciple.”
Feng Yu Die nodded blankly, directly accepted them, unscrewed the cap, and poured two into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed, then stuck out her tongue, finding it bitter:
“Slightly… Mm, you’re welcome.”
However, when she looked at Zu Lingzhi, she noticed that Zu Lingzhi seemed to be psyching herself up, blushing and taking a few deep breaths:
“Fairy Feng, that… I heard from Young Master Xiao that you like girls… right?”
?
Feng Yu Die was immediately stunned and didn’t respond, not understanding why she was asking this question: “…”
Seeing that Feng Yu Die hadn’t denied it, Zu Lingzhi smiled shyly and said:
“I don’t mind same-sex relationships either… Fairy Feng saved my life, and I want to repay you. If possible! Maybe Fairy Feng could consider it? I know Fairy Feng likes Fairy Pei… but it doesn’t mean a cultivation partner can only be one person.”
Hearing this, Xiao Tian, standing on the table, immediately bared its teeth and gasped:
『Hiss—』
Her Yu Die had finally been straightened out by Anping, and now another Zu Lingzhi had appeared, trying to turn her Yu Die back!
Her eyes narrowed, Xiao Tian immediately wanted to fly up and kick Zu Lingzhi in the face.
However, just as it leaped up, Feng Yu Die frowned and retorted:
“The two of us can’t even make a Que Que, how can we be cultivation partners?”
Xiao Tian:『?』
Xiao Tian was stunned. It felt like it had heard these words from Yun Jiujiu…
Zu Lingzhi was also stunned. She had done some mental preparation outside before entering the room, as in her original worldview, Yin and Yang complementing each other was common sense.
However, she could accept dual Yin.
But upon hearing Feng Yu Die’s retort, she was completely dumbfounded.
“Ah… But Fairy Feng… you like girls, don’t you?”
“But girls and girls can’t have children. You don’t even know this, Lady Zu?” Feng Yu Die frowned and retorted.
“I know… No… I don’t know… No… I…”
“Cranes won’t deliver babies.”
“… …”
Zu Lingzhi watched Feng Yu Die earnestly explain these things to her. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. After opening and closing her lips several times, she simply closed them.
The room became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
After a long while, Xiao Tian, like a mother who had seen her child become normal after being foolish for over twenty years, burst into tears and pounced on Feng Yu Die’s head, clinging to her:
『Waaahhhhhhh!! Yu Die!!! My Yu Die!!! You’ve grown up! My Yu Die!!!』
Zu Lingzhi had finally sorted out the messy situation. She let out a sigh of relief and asked, “Then, I still need to repay Fairy Feng. Is there anything you’re lacking, Fairy Feng? Spirit stones, pills, heavenly treasures, pavilions, cave dwellings, or even if Fairy Feng wants to be an elder of Taibai Sect, I’ll get it for you.”
Feng Yu Die pushed Xiao Tian off her head and thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up. She narrowed her eyes and said, “Spirit stones, the more the better.”
At least it was better than “give what you think is right.” Being straightforward was good… Zu Lingzhi nodded, thought for a moment, and asked:
“Then, may I make a small request?”
“Mm?”
“That is, if Fairy Feng has time, could you come to Taibai Sect? I’ll take you shopping in the marketplace.” Zu Lingzhi tidied her ear hair and said with lowered eyes, “Don’t look at me being the grand-nephew of Heavenly Rhyme Dao Immortal, but in truth… I don’t have many friends.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, right, I’m the Young Master of Taibai Sect from now on! My great-grandfather has lost his cultivation. If you ever need anything in the future, send me a letter. As long as it’s not excessive, I’ll agree!”
“Okay.”
“Then… I won’t disturb your rest. I still have to help the sect disciples plan the repair of the spirit fields. I’ll take my leave. Oh, right, call me Lingzhi from now on.”
“Okay, Lingzhi.”
Zu Lingzhi smiled sweetly, tiptoed out of the room, and slowly closed the door. Then, as if letting out a heavy breath, she pursed her lips and leaned against the door. For a moment, she was secretly delighted to have made her first friend, and then she rode her sword towards the mountainside.
… …
