Chapter 10: The Plot Begins to Unfold
Inside Li Zining’s room.
The other girls who had been awakened also gathered here, including Luo Xue and Su Yiyao.
Li Zining’s face was radiant, her expression filled with uncontainable excitement.
Although her appearance seemed unchanged, she inexplicably gave off a feeling of rebirth.
This was the final minor stage of the Post-Heaven Realm—Spiritual Insight. Li Zining’s spirit was gradually transforming, the first step towards transcending mortality.
Next, she only needed to wait for the transformation to complete and achieve introspection of her spirit to step into the Innate Realm and reshape her mortal body.
This step was incredibly difficult for mortals, as it was heavily influenced by talent.
Some entered the Innate Realm immediately upon reaching Spiritual Insight, while others toiled for decades with little hope.
For Li Zining, who possessed exceptional talent, stepping into the Innate Realm was likely just a matter of days, which was why she was so ecstatic.
Daoist Ziyang carefully examined Li Zining’s spirit, then gently breathed a sigh of relief, the anxiety between his brows finally easing.
“Indeed, she has entered Spiritual Insight. The Innate Realm is not far off.”
Daoist Ziyang confirmed the news with a gentle smile.
As his voice fell, Li Zining’s face couldn’t hide her smugness.
Especially seeing Yu Yiling and Huang Xinya gnashing their teeth, the smile on her lips deepened.
However, when Li Zining’s gaze fell on the late-arriving Luo Xue and Su Yiyao, a hint of disdain flashed through her eyes.
So what if they had Master’s favor? So what if they were pretty? Trash would always be trash!
Now, Li Zining no longer bothered mocking Luo Xue and Su Yiyao.
Because she knew that from this moment on, they were no longer on the same level.
“Master is still looking at me. That ugly freak will never receive Master’s favor again, and after I reach the Innate Realm… I will definitely be much prettier than that little bitch Su Yiyao!”
The self-satisfied Li Zining stood up, slightly bowed to everyone and Daoist Ziyang, and said with a hint of arrogance,
“Thank you, Master, for your teachings. If you want to catch up to me, Senior Sisters… you’ll have to put in a lot more effort.”
At this moment, Luo Xue wasn’t focused on the newly-breakthrough Li Zining like the others, but was observing Daoist Ziyang’s expression.
“Daoist Ziyang seems to have become increasingly impatient recently… only relaxing a bit after Li Zining broke through to Spiritual Insight and is about to enter the Innate Realm.
“It seems the timing he’s waiting for… is the Innate Realm.”
What could be done at the Innate Realm?
The Innate Realm was about seizing the essence of heaven and earth, reshaping oneself from the spirit, gradually stepping into a transcendent state.
After experiencing the four minor stages of Cultivating the Soul, Forging the Body, Strengthening the Mind, and Refining the Spirit, one would form a spiritual sea and enter the first stage of immortality, the Spirit Condensation Realm.
This was a realm that mortal martial artists could never reach.
A Spirit Condensation immortal could single-handedly withstand a hundred Martial Arts Grandmasters; their vast spiritual sea was something a martial artist’s internal energy could never match.
Li Zining was ecstatic about becoming an immortal, unaware that she was merely a fish on a chopping block.
They all were.
Luo Xue couldn’t help but cast a pitiful glance at Li Zining, but her eyes met Li Zining’s, and she quickly lowered her head.
Li Zining, who had been smugly looking down on everyone, saw not the expected envy or jealousy in Luo Xue’s eyes, but… pity?
This ugly freak… was pitying her?
How dare she pity her?!
What right did she have?!
A barely perceptible twist of anger flashed across Li Zining’s face, but she quickly suppressed it.
“Forget it, let her look however she wants. From now on… she’ll have no place in Master’s eyes!”
This time, Daoist Ziyang didn’t pay attention to Luo Xue. After all, important matters were at hand. In his eyes, Luo Xue was just a toy for his leisure.
A constitution that could withstand the Yin Breath Poison without being a Xuanyin Body certainly piqued his curiosity and interest, but if she couldn’t cultivate, that was all there was to it.
“Finally, a seed has sprouted… The quality of this batch is truly poor, but thankfully it hasn’t been delayed for too long.”
Daoist Ziyang looked at Li Zining with a smile. Feeling his gaze, Li Zining puffed out her chest, her arrogance and pride evident.
“Since Zining is about to enter the Innate Realm, she can also begin cultivating some of my inheritances.”
Daoist Ziyang waved his sleeve, and the maid standing beside Li Zining immediately lowered her head and retreated from the room.
“She will cultivate with me for the next few days until she breaks through to the Innate Realm. Remember, only by reaching the Innate Realm can one officially become a disciple of Mount Ziyang.”
Daoist Ziyang continued, his stern gaze sweeping over everyone present, taking in their reactions.
Daoist Ziyang had mentioned before that, besides them, there were many official disciples cultivating in other places with richer spiritual energy.
Currently, Luo Xue and the others were merely registered disciples of Mount Ziyang.
As for the prospects of becoming official disciples… Daoist Ziyang had painted a glorious picture, but Luo Xue hadn’t listened to a word of it.
Su Yiyao was the same. She trusted Luo Xue and had already decided in her heart that Daoist Ziyang was a liar.
Daoist Ziyang’s words made Yu Yiling and Huang Xinya’s blood boil, eager to immediately sit down and meditate. Li Zining, needless to say, practically had her nose in the air.
Daoist Ziyang was quite satisfied with everyone’s reactions. He didn’t care about Luo Xue and Su Yiyao; one couldn’t cultivate, and the other’s aptitude was abysmal.
After giving a few more perfunctory instructions, Daoist Ziyang hurriedly left with Li Zining.
However, previously, when Daoist Ziyang left the courtyard, he would use some sort of technique, disappearing instantly without a trace.
This time, for some reason, he and Li Zining were simply walking, not using any techniques.
Their figures, one tall and one short, gradually disappeared into the dusk-lit mountains. Luo Xue and the others watched them leave.
Yu Yiling and Huang Xinya gritted their teeth and ran back to their rooms, seemingly determined to cultivate even harder, striving to be taken away by Master like Li Zining as soon as possible.
Su Yiyao hung her head; she wasn’t interested in any of this. Staying by Ah Chou’s side was the only thing she wanted.
The unknown environment, the unknown plot… The constant fear and anxiety almost consumed Su Yiyao, and only when Ah Chou held her could she feel a sense of peace.
Luo Xue looked at the faint footprints on the ground, her expression darkening.
“Should I… secretly follow them?”
“But, doing so would be very dangerous…”
“No, that’s why I should!”
Luo Xue looked at the bright red “Survival Points: 0” in her vision, her eyes hardening.
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