I don't talk about love with my Martial Sister

Chapter 42

Shang Can is strong.

That was an undeniable fact. She hadn't even turned eighteen yet and hadn't officially ventured into the world of cultivators. But anyone who had seen her would regard her differently, with some even believing she had the potential to ascend to immortality, her future limitless.

However, the impression Shang Can left on others wasn't exactly that of a conventional Qingyu disciple. Many claimed she was reckless, relying on her exceptional talents to act without regard for rules. As a result, her reputation was always a mix of praise and criticism, especially at Tianwaitian, where things were even more delicate. After all—

"...Did you know? Yesterday, I overheard one of the Tianwaitian instructors using you as a negative example in a lecture to the disciples."

Walking between the pavilions of Tianwaitian, Chu Ming sighed. "'Shang Can of Qingyu lacks a firm Dao heart, which is why she failed the heart-reflection test'—something along those lines."

"Ugh, the same old story. They said the same thing last time I came for the study trip." Shang Can rolled her eyes in disdain. "Why does Tianwaitian always have to bring me up? They never change their tune."

Chu Ming gave her a sympathetic look. "Probably because they've never seen someone like you before—failing the heart-reflection yet still being so powerful."

"...Yeah. I've never seen it either."

Shang Can sighed deeply, still unsure herself.

In the world of cultivation, it was widely believed that the most important thing for a cultivator was to cultivate their heart. The firmer one's Dao heart, the greater their cultivation would be. The heart-reflection test was traditionally used to assess a disciple's Dao heart, and those with unwavering resolve were never supposed to fail it.

But after failing the heart-reflection test twice and still being so strong, Shang Can inevitably attracted some strange looks.

"In the end," Shang Can sighed, "I don't really understand this whole Dao heart thing."

"Huh? Isn't that the first lesson Qingyu teaches its disciples?"

Chu Ming was stunned and immediately launched into a crash course. "In simple terms—it's your reason for cultivating."

"While it varies from person to person, there's always a reason for embarking on the path of cultivation, right? For some, it's to become an immortal, for others, it's for longevity, or maybe to protect someone—"

He counted on his fingers before spreading his hands. "But the concept is indeed vague, and it changes gradually over time. Typically, as one progresses in cultivation, they come to understand their true heart more clearly. The more they comprehend it, the smoother their cultivation journey becomes."

Shang Can nodded, half-understanding, and asked, "So, what's your Dao heart?"

"At first, I wanted to learn sword-flying," Chu Ming reminisced. "When I was little, I went out to play and saw a cultivator swoosh through the sky on a sword. It struck me right in the heart, and I thought, 'Wow, that's so cool!' After that, I begged my family to let me come to Qingyu."

"...That's a pretty simple Dao heart."

Shang Can's reply was dry as she reflected on her own reason for cultivating, frowning silently.

There was no real reason. Back then, she had suddenly been transported into this world, her age regressed, and if Wangyue hadn't taken her back to Qingyu to cultivate, she would have had no choice but to die. Did she really have any other options?