Chapter 50: Disciple and Wife
A large mirror dominated the hall. Before it stood a woman in a green robe. Strangely, the mirror didn’t reflect her image, but a vast pear orchard.
Countless white blossoms weighed down the branches, their petals layered like a blanket of snow, creating a path of pure white.
Lying on this expanse of white was a sleeping girl.
She lay peacefully, a slight smile on her lips, covered in fallen petals, seemingly lost in a pleasant dream.
Cen Dianshuang frowned. She recalled that Tao Ning had been pulled into the Realm of Anger within the formation’s Three Poisons and Six Desires after deliberately kicking a pear tree. Why did she look so content?
With a wave of her sleeve, the image in the mirror shifted, showing another trial participant. This one, also trapped in the Realm of Anger, wore a frustrated and resentful expression, her fists clenched tightly in her skirt.
Compared to Tao Ning, she seemed to be experiencing the intended effects of the illusion.
Cen Dianshuang switched back. Tao Ning remained serene, her hands folded peacefully over her stomach.
She suddenly wanted to see what was happening inside Tao Ning’s illusion.
The image in the mirror began to shift, slowly resolving into a blurry, red mass.
Cen Dianshuang, accustomed to the mirror’s quirks, tapped the surface. The image remained unclear. She raised her hand, preparing to infuse the slow, old mirror with some spiritual energy.
“I’ve been looking for you. Turns out I was looking in the wrong place.” Lizhu’s voice echoed from the doorway. Cen Dianshuang lowered her hand, dismissing the image in the mirror with a wave of her sleeve.
Turning, she watched as Lizhu entered, followed by several core elders. Their greetings of “Senior Sister” filled the hall.
As the previous Sect Leader’s last disciple, she was the youngest, yet also the most combative.
The fact that she always won made the others feel slightly inadequate.
Lizhu smiled warmly. “Yes, about what you mentioned the other day…”
Cen Dianshuang coughed awkwardly.
Lizhu’s smile widened. “…about the Frost Flower nectar. I made some inquiries. Your Senior Brother Yaodan said one of his disciples found a patch of Frost Flowers about to bloom. He’ll bring you some nectar when it’s ready.”
Elder Yaodan, an alchemy specialist, was known for his gentle nature and the small bronze furnace that followed him everywhere. He also had the most disciples.
His reasoning was simple: disciples were meant to run errands. Who would gather rare ingredients for him otherwise? Even with his spiritual projections, it wasn’t enough.
A flicker of exasperation crossed Cen Dianshuang’s usually impassive face. Just as she suspected.
Before she could relax, Lizhu changed the subject. “What were you looking at just now?”
Cen Dianshuang stepped aside, revealing the mirror. “Observing the trials.”
It was the second day of the Thousand Illusions Pear Blossom Formation trial. Normally, disciples from Shuhan Peak monitored the participants, recording their behavior and expelling anyone who resorted to violence.
On the third day, the peak masters interested in taking on new disciples would come to observe, though most simply waited at the top of the Ascending Immortal Steps, selecting promising candidates based on first impressions and formally accepting them as nominal disciples during the ceremony in the Hanshan Hall.
The trials were considered a children’s game, hardly worth the attention of seasoned elders.
No one expected Cen Dianshuang, who had previously dismissed the trials as “child’s play,” to be the first to observe.
“Observing the trials?” Elder Yaodan glanced at the blurry white image in the mirror, then at Cen Dianshuang. “Thinking of taking on a disciple, Junior Sister?”
Another elder, dressed in red and carrying a large hammer, immediately protested. “No, Junior Sister shouldn’t take a disciple.”
Within the white expanse of the illusion, Tao Ning, lying beneath a pear tree, opened her eyes. A moment of confusion, then clarity.
Brushing off the petals, she stood and stretched, taking in her surroundings.
She had felt observed while sleeping. She disliked being watched. Time to escape this illusion.
It was expected to be monitored during the trials, but the intensity of the gaze had been unsettling, even within the illusion.
Now, awake, the feeling was gone.
Strange.
Dismissing the thought, she continued towards the exit.
Out of the one hundred and thirty-six trial participants, the most promising were a pair of twins, both with Heavenly spiritual roots. The sister also possessed a Pure Flame physique, ideal for sword cultivation.
The next most promising was a quiet girl with a single Metal spiritual root, a perfect embodiment of the phrase “silence is golden.”
These three emerged from the formation within the first hour of the third day.
Tao Ning, aiming for a middling rank, waited until a dozen or so others had exited before following suit. She doubted anyone would be bored enough to observe her counting.
In unfamiliar environments, she preferred to blend in, avoiding attention.
The remaining participants were still struggling within the formation. Those who emerged would, at best, be granted observer status. If they failed the subsequent assessments three months later, they wouldn’t join the Hanshan Sect.
Cen Dianshuang, observing her emerge fifteenth: …So slow?
She wondered if Tao Ning’s injuries were more severe than she had thought.
Cen Dianshuang, accustomed to excelling in everything, couldn’t comprehend Tao Ning’s deliberate mediocrity. She simply did what was required, nothing more. Now, considering the girl’s loss of cultivation, her slower progress seemed reasonable.
What was this Demonic Realm spy planning?
Despite her racing thoughts, Cen Dianshuang’s expression remained unchanged.
The pungent aroma of medicinal herbs preceded Elder Yaodan’s arrival. He glanced at the stream of people ascending the steps. “Who are you looking at?”
Cen Dianshuang’s gaze flickered downwards.
Elder Yaodan, drawing out his words, commented, “That one? Looks quite innocent.”
Innocent.
Cen Dianshuang gave him a look. “Senior Brother, perhaps I should find you a pair of ài
-ài
Elder Yaodan, arms crossed, replied without turning, “What do I need glasses for? My vision is perfect. Only the half-blind need those.”
Cen Dianshuang: “I think you might benefit from them.”
Elder Yaodan: ??? Are you insulting me?
He was about to defend his impeccable eyesight, a Soul Transformation cultivator’s senses being far superior to ordinary mortals.
But Cen Dianshuang, anticipating his response, flew away on her sword, leaving him fuming, vowing to add ten pounds of Coptis root to her next batch of pills.
He was then chased by Elder Qianlian, her red robes a blur as she swung her hammer.
“Even if you beat me to a pulp, I’ll make her suffer!”
“Then I’ll beat you to a pulp and save you the trouble.”
“Do you even care about your junior brother?!”
“Of course, Junior Brother. You’re all I see.” She accelerated, her hammer whistling through the air, sending Elder Yaodan fleeing with a yelp.
The four blue-clad disciples stationed at the gate: …Just another day at the Hanshan Sect.
Besides, Elder Yaodan always threatened to add Coptis root to the pills, but he never actually did.
One disciple asked, “What were the elders discussing earlier?”
Another, boredly practicing sword forms, replied, “Reviewing the roster, I think.”
The disciple holding the roster glanced at it. …They didn’t even look at it.
Who was the one Elder Yaodan called innocent?
Tao Ning, diligently climbing the Ascending Immortal Steps, sneezed, rubbing her nose. “520, I think I need to postpone the protagonist assassination plan.”
520 offered its usual platitudes. 【Those obsessed with speedruns are often tripped up by minor bugs. As humans say, ‘patience is a virtue.’】
She couldn’t even find him, let alone kill him.
She would have to get closer to the female protagonist, severing the fated connection at the source, cheering enthusiastically when the protagonist declared her eternal singlehood. “Master is right!”
This meant…
Tao Ning sighed, catching her breath. “This mission is going to take a while.”
520: 【Indeed.】 Enjoy the bitter taste of love, my friend.
Tao Ning paused, one hand on her knee, looking up at the imposing mountain gate. Seeing several figures at the top, she declared, “But I have no regrets.”
520 could only offer silent applause and virtual fireworks as encouragement.
The Ascending Immortal Steps leading to the Hanshan Sect’s gate took a day and a night to climb without using spiritual energy.
Halfway up, large stones lined the path, their surfaces covered in deep, long gashes, radiating a faint pressure, hinting at the immense power behind the strikes.
Tao Ning recognized them as the remnants of sword intent left by powerful Sword Cultivators. Comprehending even a fraction of their essence would be immensely beneficial.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t skilled in swordsmanship. Gaining insights wouldn’t be easy.
The long climb offered ample time for contemplation. Lost in thought, Tao Ning continued upwards, pausing occasionally to rest, unknowingly taking the lead.
Reaching the top, the reality of her accomplishment hadn’t quite sunk in yet. She turned to see a ragged figure sprawled on the steps behind her, gasping for air.
The rags looked familiar, like a tattered yellow robe.
Then, the gasping figure spoke. “How… so fast? I… couldn’t… keep up.”
Tao Ning: …Oh, Cen Dianshuang’s favorite.
She hadn’t noticed the twins who had been doggedly trying to keep pace with her for a day and a night. They were certainly persistent.
The boy’s sister, her hair disheveled, her pink dress torn, clung to his arm, utterly exhausted.
She waved a hand weakly. “I can’t… I can’t anymore… My heart…”
The fourth to arrive was the girl with the single Metal spiritual root, using a pear blossom branch as a walking stick, her hands and knees scraped and bleeding.
Another girl, trailing behind, had practically crawled up the last few steps, tears streaming down her face.
But only Tao Ning remained standing.
The four blue-clad disciples looked at her with surprise, asking her name.
One of them, checking the roster, noticed the absence of any information about her spiritual roots.
“What are your spiritual roots? It’s not listed here.”
Tao Ning turned, feigning embarrassment. “I don’t know. I haven’t been tested yet.”
The disciple’s eyes widened. “Not tested?”
The male disciple beside her echoed her surprise. “How is that possible? Then how did you get here?”
Tao Ning looked anxious, her voice tight. “Two immortal masters, Er Yu and Er Feng, told me Elder Cen sent for me.”
“Elder Cen?”
“She said so herself?”
“That’s… unusual.”
The disciples huddled together, whispering among themselves. One reached for a jade slip, intending to send a message to their elders.
Ultimately, they decided against it. If Elder Cen had brought her here, there must be a reason.
Tao Ning, examining their waist tokens, recognized them as disciples of Shuhan Peak, the Sect Leader’s peak. Their robe embroidery indicated they were direct disciples, not nominal disciples.
Sect Leader Lizhu had hundreds of disciples, over fifty direct disciples, and countless nominal disciples.
This was normal. Only the Disciplinary Hall Elder didn’t take disciples.
The allotted time was up. One of the disciples struck a nearby bell, its clear tone echoing down the mountain. Those still struggling on the steps looked up, bewildered.
The disciple, amplifying his voice with spiritual energy, announced, “Time’s up. Five have reached the top. The remaining ten will enter the Academy.”
Entering the Academy meant becoming outer sect disciples. Out of tens of thousands of applicants, one hundred and thirty-six had been selected. Of those, over a hundred remained trapped in the Pear Blossom Formation, twenty-nine were still on the steps, and only five had reached the Hanshan Sect’s gate.
The path of cultivation was narrow and arduous. Few achieved true immortality in the Radiant Realm.
The female disciple holding the roster addressed the five successful candidates. “Come with me. You can rest and freshen up. The elders will select their disciples tomorrow.”
After three days and nights in the formation and another day and night climbing the steps, even the most refined individuals looked like wildlings, covered in dirt and grime. They couldn’t present themselves to the elders in such a state.
Tao Ning, following them, asked, “May I ask your names, Senior Sisters?”
Addressing them as Senior Sisters was appropriate, as they were all potential disciples of various elders.
The disciple holding the roster tapped her head. “I knew I forgot something! I’m Ji Bai, and this is Ji Ling. We’re both from Shuhan Peak.”
The girl in the pink dress, who had been moments from collapse, perked up, her eyes shining. “Shuhan Peak? That’s the Sect Leader’s peak! You’re the Sect Leader’s disciples!”
Ji Bai and Ji Ling, clearly proud of their lineage, smiled modestly.
The girl, having come specifically to become the Sect Leader’s disciple, was overcome with excitement, chattering incessantly.
The young master in the yellow robe, trailing behind, stared at his hands, his expression troubled. “Even with Heavenly spiritual roots, mine is Earth. Becoming Elder Cen’s disciple will be difficult.”
Glancing at the grey skirt beside him, he suddenly declared, “If I can’t, neither can you!”
Tao Ning, distracted by memorizing the layout of the sect, barely registered his words.
Looking at his retreating back, she shrugged, dismissing him as childish.
His temperament didn’t seem to suit an Earth spiritual root. He seemed more like a Wind or Fire cultivator.
She quickly discarded the thought, shaking her head. “No, no stereotyping. Impulsive and easily provoked Earth cultivators might be rare, but they exist.”
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