Zanxing

Chapter One - Crossing Over (1)

Translator XiaoBai: There is another translated version out there online but I want to re-translate it. If you like my version, please follow and vote for this chapter. Thank you!

At the end of summer, the heat still lingered, and the sun shone fiercely over Dusu Mountain.

The mountain paths of Dusu were perilous, with jagged rocks towering steeply. Between two cliffs, a stream cascaded down, splashing against the green stones, creating tiny droplets of water.

A caravan had halted under the shade of a tree beside the stream, where people were fetching water and seeking respite from the heat. This was the carriage of the Wang family from Yuecheng, en route to the major sect of cultivation in Duzhou—the Taiyan Sect—to select disciples.

The Taiyan Sect was one of the prominent cultivation sects in Duzhou. During the selection competition held every ten years, the best talents from various cities in Duzhou gathered here to showcase their skills, all striving to make their mark and embark on the path of cultivation.

Seated in the carriage was the young lord of Yuecheng—Wang Shao. At seventeen years old, he had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from the third layer. With several dozen days until the selection at Gu Feng Mountain, he hoped that through daily use of spiritual herbs and elixirs, along with constant practice, he might reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment before the competition began.

Wang Shao was the hope of Yuecheng.

Yuecheng was a small border town, barely visible on the map of Duzhou. It had been many years since a cultivator from the town successfully entered the Golden Core stage. Wang Shao began cultivating at the age of ten, and it took him five years to advance from the first to the second layer of Foundation Establishment. If he could break through this time, he would be the first genius from Yuecheng to reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment before eighteen. Should he succeed in joining the Taiyan Sect, the entire populace of Yuecheng would share in his glory.

As a result, all the spirit stones, herbs, and elixirs from Yuecheng had been dedicated to this talented youth.

Next to Wang Shao sat a beautiful girl in green—his fiancée, Yang Zanxing, the eldest daughter of the Yang family from Yuecheng. She was accompanying Wang Shao to the Taiyan Sect's selection. Yang Zanxing had little interest in cultivation; though her age was similar to Wang Shao's, she remained at the early stage of Qi Refinement. For the women of Yuecheng, rather than arduous training, marrying a cultivated husband was preferable, as it would bring them honor and provide a worry-free life.

"Ah Shao, have some tea," Yang Zanxing said with a smile, holding a cup of tea to Wang Shao's lips.

However, Wang Shao's gaze wandered elsewhere. He stood up and said, "I'm going out for a bit."

As he left the carriage, Yang Zanxing looked in the direction he had gone, her delicate face suddenly revealing a hint of malice. She gritted her teeth and muttered, "That vixen!"

A worried maid named Hong Su approached and asked, "Miss, do you think the young lord is considering taking that woman in?"

"Dream on!"

Wang Shao had walked a short distance when he paused, noticing a girl in a yellow dress sitting by the tree. This girl was around sixteen or seventeen years old, exceptionally lovely, with somewhat pale skin that made her seem fragile and delicate. Wang Shao looked at her and suddenly smiled, asking, "Miss Liu, it's so hot outside. Would you like to sit in my carriage?"

Liu Yunxin felt a bit intimidated by him and timidly replied, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm fine here."

Liu Yunxin was accompanying her brother, Mu Chengxiao, to participate in the Taiyan Sect selection. Although they were not biological siblings, Liu Yunxin's parents had taken in the orphan Mu Chengxiao. After the Liu couple passed away, the two relied on each other to survive. Wang Shao had long taken a liking to Liu Yunxin's beauty, but her family was poor, unworthy of his status. It was impossible for her to be his wife, but as a concubine... that was still feasible.