Chapter 48: Disciple and Wife p1
The Hanshan Sect, the most prominent sect in the Radiant Realm, commanded a vast, sprawling territory.
Founded tens of thousands of years ago, it had produced numerous ascended cultivators, their blessings showering the lower realms, solidifying the sect’s esteemed and unassailable position.
Consequently, the mortals living within the sect’s sphere of influence enjoyed a more comfortable existence than those elsewhere.
Tao Ning had noticed this. Since approaching the Hanshan Sect’s territory five days ago, the number of bandits and opportunistic thugs had dwindled significantly. Few dared to challenge her.
Respecting the local biodiversity, she suppressed her aura, moving like a ghost through the landscape.
However, there was a downside. Within the cities, she frequently felt the probing spiritual senses of the resident cultivators.
Their surveillance was indiscriminate, leaving nothing hidden from their scrutiny. Tao Ning found this constant observation irritating.
Though now mortal, devoid of cultivation, she was still sensitive to spiritual senses, repeatedly suppressing the urge to retaliate.
Trading her donkey to an elderly woman for a few coarse grain cakes, she walked towards the outer gates of the Hanshan Sect.
The Hanshan Sect, with its vast reserves of spiritual energy accumulated over millennia, didn’t bother with paltry entrance fees. Passing through the protective formation at the gate was the only requirement. Of course, entry wasn’t so easy for those from the Demonic or Demonic Beast Realms.
This suited Tao Ning perfectly, saving her the trouble of earning money for entry.
The rarely closed gates stood wide open. Following the stream of people, she approached the outer gate, shielding her eyes as she looked up at the imposing structure.
Though merely the entrance to the Hanshan Sect, the outer territory was more impressive than any city she had seen, a series of layered barriers leading to the main street.
The spiritual energy within was noticeably different. A refreshing breeze greeted her, lifting the stray hairs from her forehead.
“So, this is the Hanshan Sect’s outer territory. I wonder what the inner territory is like.”
“A thousand times grander, I’m sure.”
“But neither of us is destined for the inner territory. I only hope my child has the fortune to join the Hanshan Sect…”
Unaware of the nature of spiritual energy, the mortals simply felt invigorated, their travel weariness washed away.
No wonder everyone sought cultivation. If only they had the aptitude, they too would pursue immortality.
Engrossed in their lively chatter, they didn’t notice the grey-clad young woman slipping away from the crowd, disappearing into a quiet side street.
Her back radiated irritation.
The outer territory was teeming with powerful cultivators, their probing spiritual senses a constant annoyance.
With the disciple acceptance ceremony approaching, security was tighter than usual, preventing infiltrators.
As the leading sect in the Radiant Realm, the Hanshan Sect didn’t need to actively recruit disciples like other sects. Every fifty years, they held a ceremony within their territory, and promising candidates flocked to them.
Tao Ning stood by, hands tucked into her sleeves, observing the Ascending Immortal Tower, where disciples’ spiritual roots were tested. Even though it was only used every fifty years, the building was impeccably maintained.
Her gaze drifted from the closed doors to the top floor, where a Nascent Soul cultivator sat watch.
The tower remained closed, awaiting the arrival of the Hanshan Sect’s elders, but a crowd of aspiring disciples had already gathered.
They ranged in age, none older than eighteen, all harboring dreams of immortality.
Some were young masters and mistresses arriving in carriages, others were lone travelers, their clothes threadbare, and some were children accompanied by their families. They kept to their own, careful not to offend anyone.
No one knew where the next prodigy might come from.
From the Hanshan Sect’s perspective, however, they were all the same. Families with resources would have already secured their children’s futures, not subjecting them to the intense competition of the disciple acceptance ceremony.
Tao Ning scanned the crowd, but didn’t see the male protagonist. His presence was always a catalyst for trouble.
For example, the arrogant young master sitting in the carriage. She remembered him. The only son of a wealthy family, he had come with his twin sister to seek immortal destiny. He had found the protagonist’s appearance distasteful and tried to drive him away, refusing to let him stand ahead in the queue.
Humiliated, the protagonist had left the line. Later, during the test, he would be revealed to have five spiritual roots and blocked meridians, making cultivation nearly impossible. He would be advised to live a peaceful life as a mortal.
The young master would mock him loudly, provoking a challenge. They would wager that the winner could become Cen Dianshuang’s disciple.
Cen Dianshuang, recognizing the boy she had saved earlier, would take him on as a nominal disciple, completing the first stage of the “face-slapping” plot.
The news of Immortal Dianshuang taking a disciple would shock many. The young master, furious, would be restrained by his sister.
Later, his sister would develop feelings for the “useless” protagonist, further infuriating the young master, who would rant about stray dogs trying to steal his sister.
Those who tried to obstruct the protagonist’s harem-building endeavors met one of two fates: either a change of heart, becoming the protagonist’s loyal follower, or death at his hands, their equipment and experience points absorbed.
The young master would meet the latter fate, his sister, unaware of the circumstances, finding solace in the protagonist’s arms after mourning her brother.
Tao Ning didn’t quite understand the connection between the wager and Cen Dianshuang’s acceptance, but since Cen Dianshuang had agreed, she felt confident in her own plan to gain the elder’s attention.
Failing to locate the protagonist, Tao Ning sighed inwardly. She would have to proceed with Plan B: becoming Cen Dianshuang’s disciple and waiting for an opportunity.
Unaware that Tao Ning had taken the three Heaven-grade artifacts, the protagonist had resorted to stealing his aunt’s savings to buy a horse. Less skilled and experienced than Tao Ning, his journey was considerably slower.
He cursed the thief who had stolen his treasures, forcing him to endure such hardship and his aunt’s constant berating.
Just wait. When he became the supreme ruler, he would make that old hag pay, along with the Xiao family, and that thieving bastard!
The thief would be torn limb from limb!
Leaning against a wall, Tao Ning muttered, “I can only hope Cen Dianshuang gives me a quick death when she cleanses her sect.”
Cen Dianshuang, walking up the steps with her zither, sneezed, rubbing her nose in confusion.
She didn’t notice the shocked expression on the blue-clad disciple trailing behind her.
What did I just hear?
The Disciplinary Hall Elder sneezed?
Heavens! Elder Cen sneezes! I must tell the others!
Cen Dianshuang, preferring privacy when speaking with her senior sister, dismissed the disciple and entered Red Stone Spring alone.
This was where the Hanshan Sect Leader cultivated in seclusion. Having just emerged, the vibrant Fire spiritual energy still lingered, interwoven with sharp sword intent.
A figure sat amidst the swirling mist, brewing tea. Cen Dianshuang landed gracefully beside her.
The woman, her long hair tied back with a red ribbon, wore a loose red robe. Without turning, she spoke as Cen Dianshuang landed. “You’re here.”
Cen Dianshuang stumbled, the words strangely familiar.
The red-clad woman turned, her vibrant, expressive face etched with surprise. “What’s wrong?”
Cen Dianshuang frowned, shaking her head. “Nothing.”
The Hanshan Sect Leader, known as Lizhu, was a cultivator at the peak of the Void Refining realm, a single step away from Body Integration.
But that single step had eluded her for eight hundred years. She had ascended from Senior Sister to Sect Leader, while her own master had perished in a tribulation three hundred years ago.
A Fire spiritual root cultivator, she had been called Senior Sister for millennia, finally tempering her fiery nature. She had once been a notorious hothead, listed on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, ready to incinerate anyone who crossed her.
The most widely circulated story within the Hanshan Sect was the time she accidentally singed her master’s beard. She even dared to challenge her own master. Either she was incredibly brave, or simply a chili pepper given human form.
Lizhu, giving Cen Dianshuang a curious look, decided not to pry, assuming it was a matter best left to the younger generation.
“I saw the jade slip from my disciple yesterday and emerged from seclusion. What’s so urgent that you needed to see me?”
Cen Dianshuang: “It’s nothing important, Senior Sister. You shouldn’t have disrupted your cultivation for me.”
Lizhu shrugged, her wide sleeves brushing against the teacups. “It’s fine. The timing wasn’t right anyway. Haste makes waste.”
Then, seemingly remembering something, she asked, “Wait, weren’t you collecting Frost Flower nectar? I didn’t see you deliver any to the Alchemy Hall… Don’t tell me you used it all for tea?”
Cen Dianshuang: “…”
Her expression faltered.
Preoccupied with the suspected spy, she had missed the Frost Flowers’ brief blooming period. By the time she arrived, the nectar had been consumed by the waiting spirit beasts.
It wasn’t a complete loss, though. She had, after all, consumed the spy’s rations for several days. It evened out.
Lizhu, seeing her discomfort, offered another guess. “Or did you make pastries with it?”
Cen Dianshuang: “…No.”
Lizhu’s expression turned serious. “It was stolen? Who would dare steal your nectar? Tell me.”
She stood up, ready to unleash her fiery wrath on whoever had wronged her junior sister.
Cen Dianshuang quickly stopped her, her usually serene face showing a hint of exasperation. “Senior Sister, I’m not a child anymore. It’s just some nectar.”
Lizhu, realizing that few could now best her junior sister in a fight, sat back down.
She was much older than Cen Dianshuang, having raised her from infancy. It was hard not to see her as a child.
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