“Half step from true immortality…” Yu Jing sighed. “Sect Master Qiu is truly the number one cultivator in the world today. If not for the restrictions of fate, she should have been able to ascend to immortality.”
“Immortal Venerable Qiu is a genius. It is only natural for her to become the number one cultivator in the world.” Jiu Hui poured herself a cup of dew.
“Immortal Venerable Qiu has already reached such realm, and what about you two?” Yu Jing slammed the table. “The spring is in full bloom, and what are you two doing? You’re fishing in the lake! Don’t you have any thoughts after seeing Immortal Venerable Qiu a half step away from true immortality realm?”
“Yes.” Jiu Hui nodded. “I’m happy for her.”
“Get lost!” Yu Jing was so angry at Jiu Hui’s cheeky smile that she could barely speak. “You’re really promising”
“Whether it’s Bu Ting or Sect Master Qiu, their cultivation had not progressed an inch in nearly a hundred years. This time, Sect Master Qiu has broken through her realm. If she discusses the Dao with Bu Ting again next time, Bu Ting will no longer be her match.” Zhi You waited for Jiu Hui to finish her drink and poured her another cup. Not only was he very calm under Yu Jing’s angry gaze, but he also began to imagine the scene of Qiu Hua defeating Bu Ting.
“Zhi You,” Yu Jing said earnestly, “do you have some kind of prejudice against Sect Master Bu?”
“Master, you worry too much,” Zhi You replied. “I treat everyone equally.”
One is addressed by name, while the other respectfully called Sect Master. Where was the equality in that?
“Sect Master Qiu’s breakthrough is a joyous occasion, but Sect Master Qiu specifically sent a message to all sects, asking them not to visit Qinglan Sect to celebrate.” Yu Jing took a sip of tea. “Starting tomorrow, I will also go into seclusion to cultivate for a period of time. The sect’s affairs will be temporarily handed over to your Sect Uncle Mo. If other sects insist on going to Qinglan Sect to celebrate, then you and Zhi You will represent Wangshu Pavilion.”
“Master, I understand. Don’t worry about it.” Jiu Hui nodded in agreement.
“This Moonlit Mirror will be temporarily entrusted to you.” Yu Jing took off the Moonlit Mirror. “Our Wangshu Pavilion doesn’t have a sect’s head disciple, nor do we have the habit of choosing a leader among the disciples. Jiu Hui, you’re quick-witted and resourceful. This item in your hands might come in handy.”
There were only a few kittens among the younger generation. It didn’t matter if they were picky or not.
“Okay, Master.” Jiu Hui took the Moonlit Mirror and looked at herself in it, adjusting the slightly crooked hairpin by her temple.
“I have nothing else to tell you. If you have nothing else to do, go back to your courtyard and break through a realm.” Yu Jing waved her hand. “Try to bring me good news before I go into seclusion tomorrow.”
The tone was as if she was asking the two to pour a cup of water, but none of the three felt anything wrong with it.
“I knew this mirror was meant for me. It came back to me so quickly.” After leaving her master’s courtyard, Jiu Hui happily caressed the Moonlit Mirror. After a while, she put the mirror away and asked Zhi You, “Zhi You, what is your current cultivation level?”
Zhi You was silent for a moment, his tone somewhat uncertain: “Gol…den Core?”
“Oh.” Jiu Hui nodded thoughtfully. “I understand.”
-—–
On a moonlit spring night, Luo Yan was hiding in her room reading a storybook when she suddenly heard a loud rumbling sound outside. She was so frightened that she dropped the book in her hand and pushed open the window to ask, “Chang He, did you blow up the alchemy furnace again?”
“It’s not my fault. I haven’t even started yet.” Chang He walked into the courtyard with his messy hair. “The noise seems to be coming from little Junior Brother and Junior Sister’s side. Let’s go and check it out.”
Luo Yan grabbed a random outer garment and threw it on, then hastily jumped onto her flying sword. “Let’s go!”
When Chang He and Luo Yan arrived, the other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters were already there. Seeing the two of them approaching, Xi Yuan said, “Don’t go into the courtyard. The Junior Brother and Junior Sister are advancing.”
“Ah?” Chang He thought he had misheard. “Advancement, both of them advanced at the same time?”
Although he had known for a long time that his little junior sister and junior brother had already cultivated before entering the sect, he could not have imagined that they would be able to advance within a year of entering the sect.
He remembered his master saying that his junior apprentice brother’s aptitude was very mediocre… mediocre…
“What cultivation realm are our junior brother and junior sister at?” Luo Yan looked at the two adjacent courtyards with concern, fearing that the two of them would have problems advancing.
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
What cultivation realm were Jiu Hui and Zhi You in again?
“You never asked?“carpreads.pages.dev
“I didn’t ask, did you?”
“I thought about it, little Junior Sister and Junior Brother didn’t mention this to me either.”
The six of them looked at each other, only then realizing that despite spending so much time with Jiu Hui and Zhi You, none of them knew their cultivation realms.
“They can use flying swords, so they must be at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.” Chang He stroked his chin and pondered, “The talismans they drew are quite powerful, so they might even be at the Golden Core stage.”
“But Junior Sister is only eighteen this year. To have a Golden Core realm cultivation at eighteen, isn’t that an outstanding talent?” Luo Yan’s eyes lit up. “In that case, will we not have to go to the sect’s grand competition in the future?”
There was a loud rumble.
Three tribulation lightnings struck down in succession. For some unknown reason, they felt that these three bolts of lightning were somewhat perfunctory, like half-hearted actors who, unable to receive the audience’s reward, casually flicked their sleeves on stage and left in a hurry, not caring in the slightest about the audience’s life or death.
The courtyard door opened, and Zhi You walked out of the house. The brocade robe on his body was unwrinkled, as if it hadn’t been struck by the tribulation lightning. It was more like the tribulation lightning had kindly helped him iron his clothes.
“Advanced… successfully?” The six were a little stunned, frantically recalling their own embarrassed appearance when they successfully advanced.
“Hmm.” Zhi You was also a little stunned. He seemed to not understand why his Senior Brothers and Sisters were here. “Senior Brothers and Sisters, why are you all here?”
“Such a dangerous thing as advancing in cultivation, why didn’t you and your junior sister tell us in advance? If we were there to protect the Dharma for you two, it would have been more reassuring.” Seeing her junior brother looking so ignorant and innocent, Xi Yuan sighed deeply: “Next time you advance in cultivation, remember to tell us in advance.”
Zhi You nodded silently.
He had always thought that advancing in cultivation was a personal matter, and it had always been something he did on his own. Now, his Senior Brother and Senior Sister were telling him that it was safer to have someone protect him while he advanced.
“You two are really a handful.” Zhi You came out safely, but there was still one in the house. Xi Yuan took out her natal magic weapon, sat cross-legged, and said, “Form the formation!”
However, the tribulation lightning was faster than them. Before Luo Yan and the others could activate their natal magic treasures, the first tribulation lightning, which belonged to Jiu Hui, struck down.
This time, the tribulation lightning sounded much more powerful. It struck down quickly and fiercely. Soon, the three bolts of tribulation lightning had finished striking, and the clouds dispersed. Golden sunlight fell upon the lake’s surface, creating shimmering ripples.
Although they couldn’t say what was wrong, they just felt that something was a little strange.
A moment later, the door opened, and Jiu Hui emerged with slightly disheveled hair. She bowed to Xi Yuan and the others. “Thank you, Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers, for protecting me.”
“We wanted to protect you, but we were a little late.” Chang He put away his natal magic weapon and laughed out loud. “Congratulations, Junior Brother and Junior Sister, on your successful advancement. Your cultivation has reached a new level.”
“Congratulations.” The other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters also put away their magic weapons, each of them beaming with joy. Luo Yan walked up to Jiu Hui and rearranged her hair bun for her. “Your successful advancement is a great cause for celebration, but I don’t have anything to give you. How about I take you to my master to ask for a gift?”
Instead of spending her own money, she might as well let her master spend his.
“Great idea!” The other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters all felt that Luo Yan had made an excellent suggestion. “Let’s go, Junior Brother and Junior Sister. We’ll take you to find the elders to reward you.”
It hurt to spend your own money, but it didn’t matter if you spend your master’s money.
“Thank you, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.” Jiu Hui agreed with a bright smile. What was wrong with a junior asking for a reward from their seniors?
“Zhi You, let’s go!” Jiu Hui pulled Zhi You into the crowd. “We have to get back what’s ours.”
“Junior Sister, what cultivation realm are you at now?”
“After the Golden Core realm…” Jiu Hui thought for a moment. “Nascent Soul?”
“Nascent Soul?!” Chang He’s scream pierced through the entire Wangshu Pavilion, scaring Prime Minister Wu, who was resting in the water, to stick his head out. What were these little rascals in Wangshu Pavilion up to again?
“Zhi You, what about you?”
Under the scorching gazes of his six Senior Brothers and Sisters, Zhi You turned his head to look at Jiu Hui and slowly said, “The same as Jiu Hui.”
After saying this, he lowered his eyelids, not meeting the gazes of his Senior Brothers and Sisters.
“How old are you? How old are you…” Chang He patted Zhi You’s shoulder with heartache. “With your excellent aptitude, how could you be rejected by other major sects for having mediocre aptitude?”
Zhi You hesitated.
Back at the age of eleven, his cultivation had just reached the Nascent Soul stage. Was that very impressive?
He looked at Chang He with his hands and feet in a fluster, not knowing what to say.
“Tut, tut, tut, Senior Brother Chang He, quickly put away that jealous expression.” Jiu Hui squeezed in beside Zhi You and chuckled, “A man’s jealous expression is truly unsightly.”
“Junior Sister is right. Quickly put away that ugly expression of yours.” Luo Yan took over the conversation. “You can barely tolerate your own mediocrity, but your junior siblings’ success drives you mad, doesn’t it?”
Everyone teased Chang He mercilessly with Jiu Hui. Zhi You, who was standing beside Jiu Hui, gradually regained his composure.
After being teased, Chang He didn’t get angry. Instead, he said to Zhi You, “Let’s go, Senior Brother will take you to get your reward.”
Soft and beautiful flower petals fell all over the ground.
-—–
News of Jiu Hui and Zhi You advancing to the Nascent Soul realm quickly spread to the major sects. However, with the precedent of Immortal Venerable Qiu Hua a half step away from true immortality, it did not cause much discussion.
“Junior Sister Yu Luan, I saw you with Daoist Friend Jiu Hui from Wangshu Pavilion on New Year’s Eve. Are you old acquaintances?” A Wenxing School disciple asked Yu Luan, “How close are you with her?”
“Well, I met her before we joined the sect.” Yu Luan nodded. She wasn’t familiar with this Senior Brother who had come to talk to her. “Why do you ask about my friend, Senior Brother?”
“You still don’t know?” Senior Brother’s smile was a bit strange, and his tone was even more ambiguous. “You said you were old friends, but you don’t even know that she has advanced to the Nascent Soul realm?”
Sensing a hint of hostility in her senior brother’s tone, Yu Luan’s smile faded. “What do you mean, Senior Brother?”
“What do you mean?” The Senior Brother sneered. “She’s only eighteen and already has Nascent Soul cultivation. You’re a young lady from a prestigious family and you’ve joined a major sect like ours, but you can’t even compare to a disciple from a minor sect. How do you feel about that?”
“Senior Brother has been in the sect for nearly a hundred years. Although you haven’t reached the Nascent Soul realm, you still came to comfort and care for me. I’ve only been in the sect for less than a year, so naturally I have much to learn from Senior Brother.” Yu Luan smiled instead of getting angry. “I’ll learn from Senior Brother’s open-minded state of mind.”
The Senior Brother sneered, “It doesn’t matter. When your friend’s cultivation skyrockets while you’re still stuck in the same place, there will be plenty of times when you’ll need to be magnanimous.”
He flicked his sleeves and left. Yu Luan looked at his furious back, feeling somewhat puzzled. Jiu Hui was a disciple of Wangshu Pavilion. Why would her Senior Brother be so jealous?
“Don’t mind him. Just now, the Sect Master and Elder Luo mentioned that Fellow Daoist Jiu Hui had advanced to the Nascent Soul realm. They regretted not being able to recruit Fellow Daoist Jiu Hui into our sect back then. That’s why he’s showing that jealous face.” A fellow disciple whispered.
“He’s been in the sect for nearly a hundred years and was only accepted into the inner sect last year. He likes to show off in front of his junior brothers and sisters because he entered the sect earlier. Whenever he sees someone with better aptitude than him, he starts to act sarcastic. Just you wait, this kind of person won’t be able to stay in the sect for long.”
“But Jiu Hui isn’t from our sect, why is he so jealous?” Yu Luan couldn’t understand this person’s thoughts.
“Some people are just like that. They can’t stand to see others doing well.” The fellow disciple clicked his tongue in disdain. “He’s so crazy that even a dog would shake its head.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Luan became even more worried. Just a single Wenxing School had someone who envied Jiu Hui’s talent, so how many people like her Senior Brother were there in the entire cultivation world?
“However, it’s a pity about your friend. If it weren’t for the news that Immortal Venerable Qiu had become the number one person in the world, attracting everyone’s attention, your friend would have already made a name for himself in the world.” The fellow disciple sighed, “Perhaps, this is fate.”
Some people were destined to be famous, while others, even with talent, would be overshadowed by other events.
What good did it do to make a name for oneself in the world?
Generations of talented people had emerged, and geniuses had constantly appeared in the world, then had gradually disappeared into the mundane world. Even those who had amazed the world would be forgotten one day.
Which of the former sect masters of the ten major sects was not renowned in their youth? The world praised them as the number one sword cultivator, the number one pill cultivator, the number one healing cultivator…
Not long after their deaths, Immortal Venerable Qiu, Immortal Venerable Bu, Immortal Venerable Jin, and others became the new first-rate cultivators.
Generation after generation, this cycle continued. Who knew how many number ones in the world were buried in the long river of time, and how many number ones in the world were forgotten?
All the empty fame and glory were not as good as living a good life.
She lowered her head and rubbed the purse at her waist, her eyes forlorn, just like her mother, who was once a renowned immortal cultivator. Now, who still remembered her name?
-—–
“Jiu Hui, Zhi You, two more congratulatory gifts have arrived.” Xi Yuan placed two gift boxes in front of Jiu Hui and Zhi You. “They’re from the Jiutian Sect. Do you want to open them and take a look?”
Jiu Hui opened the gift box, which contained some elixirs and a high-grade magic weapon.
“Generous with the gifts, but still a bit lacking compared to Immortal Venerable Qiu of the Qinglan School.” Xi Yuan commented fairly and impartially. “But for a major sect like the Jiutian Sect to remember to send a congratulatory gift is already quite commendable.”
“The Jiutian Sect, huh…” Jiu Hui took out a bottle of pills from the gift box and played with it in her hand carelessly. “I wonder if that ten-thousand-year-old evil yao in the Zhenyao Prison is dead yet?”
She was such a kind person, she cared about others even from thousands of miles away.
Zhi You glanced at the sky. “If you’re curious, I’ll accompany you to take a look.”
“Would it be a bit inappropriate?” Jiu Hui was a little tempted.
“You came up with the idea, and we stopped the Qi of Extreme Evil.” Zhi You’s face was full of seriousness. “It’s very appropriate.”
“I also think it’s very suitable.” Elder Mo strode in and handed a letter to Jiu Hui. “Every year, our sect sends a letter to the Jiutian Sect. You and Zhi You are young and your cultivation is higher than your other senior brothers and sisters, so it’s most suitable for you to go.”
“What’s this letter?” Jiu Hui touched the letter, which was quite thick.
“Our sect is weak and powerless, and we don’t have much money, as you know.” Elder Mo rubbed his hands and said, “It costs a lot of spirit stones to open the sect protection formation and the city protection formation every year. As cultivators, it is our duty to protect the people. However, there is a common saying among the people that without money, it is difficult to take a single step. Our sect is poor ah…”
In short, they were going to the Jiutian Sect to ask for some spirit stones.
“How can you call it asking for spirit stones? We are asking the Jiutian Sect for help.” Elder Mo spoke righteously. “You are not going for yourselves this time, but for the entire Wangshu Pavilion, for the entire Taolin City.”
“Who from our sect usually goes in previous years?” Jiu Hui put away the letter.
“It used to be your master, but she’s in seclusion, so this important task can only be handed over to you.” Elder Mo glanced at Zhi You. “Oh, and Zhi You.”
Although this child didn’t like to talk, so he might not be of much use.
“I understand.” Jiu Hui nodded. Wasn’t this just demanding money, she was good at that.
Zhi You looked at Jiu Hui and Elder Mo in confusion. After a while, he said, “If the sect lacks spirit stones, I still have some here…”
“Shhh.”
“Shhh.”
“Shhh.”
Jiu Hui, Xi Yuan, and Elder Mo all put their fingers to their lips. “You don’t understand.”
“My spirit stones are my own.”
“It’s only sweet when you spend someone else’s spirit stones.”
“Why spend your own money when you can spend someone else’s?” Elder Mo patted Zhi You’s arm. “Zhi You, you’re still too young. You need to learn from Jiu Hui.”
Zhi You: “Oh.”
But he really did have a lot of spirit stones, so many that they were piled up like a mountain.
-—–
“The end of March is here.” The Jiutian Sect disciple guarding the gate said, “It’s time for Wangshu Pavilion to visit.”
“Why hasn’t Wangshu Pavilion come this year?” another gatekeeper asked. “The other small sects come every few days, but only Wangshu Pavilion comes every year. What’s wrong with them this year? The other small sects have all arrived, but they’re still nowhere to be seen.”
“I don’t know.” The gatekeeper disciple shook his head. “I heard that two of their young disciples advanced to the Nascent Soul realm. Could they be celebrating in their sect and have forgotten the time?”
As the two were talking, they saw a pair of handsome young man and woman flying towards them on swords.
Jiu Hui jumped off the flying sword and looked up at the gemstones embedded in the Jiutian Sect plaque, exclaiming, “The gemstones are so beautiful.”
The two disciples guarding the gate fell silent. They recalled the incident where the gemstones on their sect’s plaque had been stolen. Since the incident was so embarrassing, everyone had deliberately avoided talking about it. Now that it had been brought up, their emotions were complicated.
“Greetings, this fellow Daoist, but I do not know where you come from?”
“Greetings, fellow Daoist.” Jiu Hui returned the greeting. “I am Jiu Hui, a core disciple of Wangshu Pavilion. I have come to visit your esteemed sect on behalf of my elders.”
They were here, they were here, they were finally here.
The two disciples guarding the gate felt inexplicably fulfilled: “Please enter, fellow Daoist.”
A gatekeeper disciple led Jiu Hui and Zhi You towards the inner sect: “Knowing that you might come, the sect’s head disciple has already prepared a courtyard for you. Once the head disciple is done with his business, he will come to see you.”
“Thank you, fellow Daoist,” Jiu Hui thanked again.
“Fellow Daoist, no need to be so polite.” The Jiutian Sect opened the door to the guest house, but he stood outside and didn’t go in. “Please, after you.”
The people in the two neighboring courtyards heard the commotion and came out to take a look.
“Another one?”
“Are you also here to seek the assistance of the Jiutian Sect?”
“What good is it to send such a young disciple? Young people are thin-skinned. Can they bring themselves to ask for money?”
The Jiutian Sect disciple pretended not to hear these discussions. He smiled at Jiu Hui and Zhi You. “You two rest first. I’ll take my leave.”
That night, someone came to tell them that Nan Feng was waiting for them in the conference hall.
To get a handout, one must always take the initiative. Jiu Hui immediately took Zhi You to the meeting hall. When they arrived, several other small sects had already arrived and were crying to Nan Feng about their poverty and hardship.
“Immortal Nan Feng, you know our situation. The land is barren and the spiritual energy is exhausted. Let alone planting spiritual herbs and medicines, even a mouse would starve to death if it came here.”
“At least the rats are willing to hang around your place, which means life is still bearable there. Unlike my humble sect, where we barely have enough to eat. There are only five of us in the entire sect. The nearby villagers would rather beg in the city than join our sect. It’s so pitiful that it makes people cry when they hear about it and feel sad when they see it.”
“Sect Master Wang, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“My apologies… I’m too famished to speak.”
“Ahem.” Nan Feng couldn’t bear it any longer and said, “Elder Wang, you’ve stayed in my humble sect for a day. Could it be that my sect’s food doesn’t suit your taste, making you so hungry?”
That was over the top. It was too much.
The atmosphere became awkward.
“Excuse me, this junior apologizes for being a bit late.” Jiu Hui walked in with a smile. She was dressed in plain clothes, her raven-black hair simply tied up in a flying spiral bun, barely held in place by a wooden hairpin. She had no other accessories. She bowed to everyone. “Greetings to all the seniors, and to fellow Daoist Nan Feng.”
“Fellow Daoist Jiu Hui, Fellow Daoist Zhi You?” Nan Feng stood up and took two steps towards them. “Why have you come alone?”
“Fellow Daoist Nan Feng, you know the situation of our Wangshu Pavilion.” Jiu Hui raised her hand again in salute, allowing everyone to see the patched sleeves of her robe. “It’s difficult, truly difficult.”
The other three sect masters of the minor sects: “…”
Wangshu Pavilion was getting more and more shameless. In the past, Yu Jing would put on a pitiful face to pretend to be weak.
This year, Yu Jing didn’t come, but they sent two other young disciples with outstanding appearances.
In order to get money, she even put on a patched-up outfit, which was simply shameless.
“A few days ago, my junior brother tried his best to resist the demonic cultivator who was destroying the Zhenhe Cauldron. He suffered extremely serious internal injuries and had to return to the sect to recuperate for a long time before he recovered. In order to raise money to buy medicine these days, all the fish in our Wangshu Pavilion lake have been fished out, and the land has been dug up three or four times.” Jiu Hui took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of her eye.
“Just when we saw that our junior brother was getting better, who would have thought that we would encounter a five-thousand-year-old leech yao wreaking havoc? In order to subdue the evil yao, all eight of us senior and junior siblings suffered extremely serious injuries.”
“Oh, Fellow Daoist Nan Feng, you were present on both of those occasions, weren’t you?” Jiu Hui sighed softly. “We have shed blood for the world, we have toiled for the world. If we hadn’t truly reached our wit’s end, we wouldn’t have come to your esteemed sect to seek help without our master’s knowledge.”
Nan Feng: “…”
Logically, he should have said something, but at this moment, he only wanted to remain silent.
“That day, we were threatened with our lives by the leech yao, but we refused to compromise. Immortal Venerable Qiu said that we had integrity.” Jiu Hui clutched her chest. “In truth, it wasn’t integrity. As disciples of the righteous path, we simply refused to bow our backs to evil spirits.”
She looked at the three minor sect masters and asked, “These three seniors, do you agree with me?”
The three sect masters: “…”
Expert, this was a true expert.
“These three Sect Masters, why are you not speaking?” Jiu Hui’s willow-like eyebrows creased slightly, as if she had endless worries. “Do you all dislike talking?”