Zanxing

Chapter 60 - Disciple (2)

With just one sentence from Sect Master Shaoyang, Yanxing became Xuang Ling's personal disciple.

In the sect, there are many formalities. The initiation ceremony was to be held on an auspicious day chosen by Zhao Maiyi through divination and would be conducted in front of all the disciples of the Taiyan Sect. According to tradition, as Yanxing had secured first place in the inner sect competition, she was also entitled to the reward that came with it.

After Sect Master Shaoyang left, Xuang Ling walked over with a smile, holding a box. He handed it to Yanxing and said, "Yanxing, although you took the top spot in the inner sect competition, it wasn't without hardship. Fortunately, this reward is well worth it, so you haven't lost out." He patted Yanxing's shoulder with a look of pride. "Your cultivation is still shallow, not quite on par with the more gifted ones, but your master has faith in you. From now on, our Miaokong Hall will have a worthy successor."

Yanxing thanked Xuang Ling, bid farewell to the other elders, and left the hall. Ziluo accompanied her to collect her provisions as a personal disciple. Eyeing the box in Yanxing's hands, Ziluo asked curiously, "I wonder what the first-place reward is?"

Yanxing glanced at the box. It was just a plain black wooden box, with a greasy fingerprint on top—perhaps left by Xuang Ling, who hadn't washed his hands after eating some roasted chicken. After a brief thought, Yanxing opened the box. Inside, lined with yellow velvet, lay a glowing, bluish-green Lingzhi mushroom.

"It's an Immortal Jade Lingzhi!" Ziluo exclaimed in surprise. "Sixth Master was truly generous this time."

"Immortal Jade Lingzhi?" Yanxing asked.

"It's a naturally occurring spiritual herb. For ordinary people, it can temper the body, paving the way for cultivation. For cultivators, it enhances cultivation speed. Junior Sister Yanxing," Ziluo advised, "you must keep this well-protected. When you're nearing a breakthrough, consuming this Lingzhi will give you double the results with half the effort."

Yanxing was momentarily stunned. She remembered in the original story, Mu Chengxiao had made a spectacular performance during the inner sect competition, greatly humiliating Huayue. Partly because of Huayue's arrogance, and partly because Mu Chengxiao trained so hard, aiming to win the first-place prize—the Immortal Jade Lingzhi.

The Lingzhi could temper the body of an ordinary person, and more importantly, it could also strengthen one's health. Mu Chengxiao's childhood friend, Liu Yunxin, was weak and frail due to a congenital condition. Mu Chengxiao entered the Taiyan Sect primarily to acquire medicinal resources to help cure her.

Now, the Immortal Jade Lingzhi was in Yanxing's hands instead.

Ziluo noticed Yanxing's silence and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, Sister Yanxing? Don't you like the reward?"

Yanxing glanced at her and asked, "Sister, do you know what the second and third-place prizes were?"

"You mean Brother Mu and Brother Tian's rewards? I saw them receive their prizes earlier while you weren't there. Brother Mu was given the Heavenly Jizi Robe, which can resist some magical attacks. Brother Tian received the Fire Wolf Fang, useful for practicing fire-based techniques," Ziluo explained. "These are nice rewards, but Junior Sister Yanxing, the Immortal Jade Lingzhi you hold is far more precious."

Yanxing nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Sister. I get it."

Ziluo continued walking with Yanxing, adding as they went, "Sister, your performance in the inner sect competition was truly impressive. Although Sect Master Shaoyang didn't say much, I could tell he was very pleased with you. As long as you continue to cultivate diligently, you'll definitely make a name for yourself in the cultivation world."

Yanxing wasn't as optimistic as Ziluo. Changing the subject, she asked, "Sister, Sect Master Shaoyang appears quite young. Is it because he's actually young, or has he mastered some method to maintain his youthful appearance?"

At that, Ziluo chuckled. "Ah, new female disciples—eight out of ten ask that question after seeing the Sect Master. He's actually over a hundred years old, but he just looks young."

"Not just 'a little' young," Yanxing muttered. "If not for his white hair, I would've mistaken him for a senior brother."

Ziluo laughed. "Sect Master Shaoyang and Fairy Qinghua are senior and junior disciples from the same sect. During the great war between humans and demons, Fairy Qinghua slayed the Demon King but was severely wounded herself. It's said that Sect Master Shaoyang expended a great deal of his energy to heal her, which is why he turned white-haired overnight. Even now, he often goes into seclusion to recover."

Yanxing thought to herself, That might not be the full story. With such a handsome senior brother and a peerless, beautiful junior sister, both with extraordinary talents, but the junior sister fell for someone else. It's hard not to wonder whether his white hair came from heartbreak rather than injury.

The more she thought about it, the sadder it seemed.

Soon, they reached a small wooden building. Ziluo stopped and said, "Sister, I'll leave you here. You should pack up your things. Tomorrow, you, Brother Mu, and Brother Tian will all move into Miaokong Hall. Don't bring anything you won't need, and remember to keep the Immortal Jade Lingzhi safe."

Yanxing nodded. "Thank you, Sister."

After a few more reminders, Ziluo left. Yanxing returned to the small building, where Mimi the cat was lazily lying on the bed. When it saw her come in, it half-opened one eye, gave her a glance, and then went back to sleep.

Yanxing sat down on the mat by the table. The tea on the table had gone cold. She took a sip, the coldness making her teeth chatter and her thoughts clear.

She had lied to Sect Master Shaoyang.

In the Xumi Jiezi Scroll, after defeating the Tomb, she had turned around and encountered the black-clad demonic curse. The exit talisman was destroyed, so she couldn't leave voluntarily. Left with no choice, she drew her iron staff and charged forward. Xuang Ling had explicitly warned her not to engage the demon; if encountered, she should immediately leave, which showed how dangerous the demon was. Yanxing planned to just swing the staff a few times and then be quickly defeated.

But as she approached with her iron staff and the demon raised his blade, the Xiao Yuan Pearl in her chest suddenly trembled violently. The next thing she knew, the demon froze, as if paralyzed.

Yanxing's staff struck him without leaving a mark, yet the demon hesitated for a moment before slowly kneeling.

He knelt before her.

Yanxing was dumbfounded. Then, a sharp pain erupted from her palm, and she cried out before passing out. When she woke, she was already in Miaokong Hall with Tian Fangfang by her side.

The demon hadn't been defeated by her, or rather, he hadn't even attacked her. He had just knelt, seemingly intimidated by something.

Yanxing placed a hand over her chest. Was it the Xiao Yuan Pearl?

But in the original story, even with the Xiao Yuan Pearl, Mu Chengxiao's battles were flashy and dramatic, never this straightforward. Though the plot had already spiraled out of control, veering wildly off course, this strange development left Yanxing feeling uneasy.

She looked down at her palm, where the red mark had deepened and taken on a more distinct flower shape. It seemed that every time she altered the main storyline, the mark grew darker, as if it were a warning.

Last time, it only caused intense pain—what would happen next?

As she stared at her palm, her gaze fell on the black box containing the Immortal Jade Lingzhi on the table. After a moment of hesitation, she picked up the box and walked out of the small wooden house.