Chapter 55: Spare No Effort for Fengya!

Just like this, another hour passed. Gu Aotian had climbed over seven hundred levels, while Su Mei rested past six hundred levels.

But just such achievements had already made the elders and school masters very satisfied.

Their aptitude was considered to be middle to upper level. If nurtured slightly, they might become true disciples. However, it seemed that Gu Aotian was not satisfied, despite already sweating profusely, he still moved forward like his life depended on it.

At this moment, a white figure appeared, and before Ye Wenxin could see the figure clearly, she felt a wave of floral fragrance rushing over her. Immediately, a woman in white appeared on the 999th step.

“Fairy Fengya!”

Someone exclaimed, as if they recognized the identity of the person standing at the top of the Heavenly Stairs.

Ye Wenxin’s heart also tightened. She tried her best to look up, but the 999th level was covered by thick fog, and she could not see Fairy Fengya’s face clearly.

Gu Aotian, who had been in a sorry state earlier, seemed to also sense the power, continuing to climb up as if he had found new conviction.

Ye Wenxin showed a wry smile; as expected of the chosen one, even his entrance exam results were better than her luck. If her guess was right, once Gu Aotian reached the 999th level, his relationship with Fairy Fengya would then reach a new level.

“I really want to see what Fairy Fengya looks like.” Beside her, Gu Xiangsi was also curious, and upon seeing Ye Wenxin’s slightly ugly expression, she hurriedly explained, “Big Sis, I don’t mean it like that, I’m just genuinely curious about what Fairy Fengya looks like.”

Ye Wenxin could understand that, as everyone present had gone crazy after hearing this name, even the school masters and elders revealed peculiar expressions.

To be number one on the Unparalleled Beauties List, Fairy Fengya naturally had something special about her. However, when thinking of how she had waited for more than half a year, this Gu Aotian not only got the opportunity right as he entered the scene, but he even wanted to snatch the first glance at Fairy Fengya, which was simply unacceptable to Ye Wenxin.

She loathed fate’s teasing, and even this proud son of heaven¹ type like Gu Aotian made Ye Wenxin feel annoyed.

“The top candidate of today’s recruitment assembly, might become this school master’s true disciple.” Just as Ye Wenxin still debated on whether to cause sabotage, a female voice was transmitted.

That crisp voice was so sweet and wonderful, as if it had some kind of charming effect, leaving people disoriented for a while.

But this voice only invaded everyone’s ears through Qi, so it was purely due to how wonderful it sounded that brought about such an effect on them. Ye Wenxin felt goosebumps all over her body as she listened. She had never imagined that a human voice could reach such a mesmerizing degree.

Ye Wenxin must admit, before seeing Fairy Fengya’s appearance, she had already unconsciously given Fairy Fengya a high evaluation.

And this sentence set the whole place abuzz, while the expressions of the school masters and elders were rather grim, not quite understanding why Fairy Fengya showed up at the recruitment assembly, and why she suddenly announced the news that this top candidate would become her first true disciple.

“I shall spare no effort, I must become the first!”

“Even if it costs me my life, I’ll stand at first place!”

The people who were originally downcast began to challenge their limits, but at this moment, Gu Aotian was already standing past eight hundred levels, straightening his body, looking utterly confident.

“Looks like my brother is going to become Fairy Fengya’s true disciple.” Gu Xiangsi did not have any excitement at all, as if she was talking about something more ordinary than eating. It was unclear whether she regarded it as a matter of course, or because she was not focused on Gu Aotian.

Ye Wenxin, still very unhappy, stood up and sincerely apologized, “I’m sorry, Xiangsi, I think I want to keep trying.”

Gu Xiangsi looked at Ye Wenxin with a complicated expression, “You’re all like this. Is being strong really that important?”

“Only when you are strong, can you protect the people important to you.” Ye Wenxin replied without hesitation. She had lost so much, and finally discovered that only by being strong could she gain everything and change everything.

Gu Xiangsi stopped asking and stood up.

“Then I want to be strong too, together with Big Sis.”

“Good.”

Ye Wenxin wanted to pull Gu Xiangsi along by the hand and resume, but this time Gu Xiangsi refused.

“I hope to be strong enough to protect Big Sis, so can you let me strive for it myself?” Gu Xiangsi expressed her thoughts seriously, and she did not want to put a double burden on Ye Wenxin.

Ye Wenxin retracted her hand, “Alright, I’ll leave first then.”

As she said that, she continued forth, and within a moment had already put several dozen steps between Gu Xiangsi and herself. Gu Xiangsi pursed her lips, gritted her teeth, and continued to move upward, simply for the sake of getting stronger.

“Look, that girl is so amazing…”

After a while, Ye Wenxin reached past eight hundred levels and stood next to Gu Aotian.

“Sorry, Brother Aotian, I’ll be going on ahead.” Ye Wenxin looked at Gu Aotian who was already crawling on the ground, yet aside from being a little sweaty, she did not feel much tiredness.

Gu Aotian was astonished, as if he had no idea how formidable Ye Wenxin’s aptitude was for her to have reached the eight hundredth level so easily.

But in reality, even the original Ye Wenxin could not be so relaxed after more than eight hundred levels. However, after having all her bones broken by the beautiful mute, she had bathed in spirit stone decoction to recover, and as a result, her physical strength had increased by a hundred times.

Even if she suppressed her cultivation, this body could completely withstand such pressure.

“I won’t give up this position to you.” Gu Aotian was also unwilling to accept it, even though he had a favorable impression of Ye Wenxin, this was Fairy Fengya, and becoming Fairy Fengya’s true disciple was a blessing earned over several lifetimes. Gu Aotian did not want to give up his blessing, but as he spoke, Ye Wenxin climbed a dozen more steps.

Her speed also began to slow down, but she still put a lot of distance between herself and Gu Aotian.

People got fired up watching her, having no idea that Ye Wenxin could be so outstanding.

“I really can’t believe Miss Wenxin is not only a junior alchemist, but also has such talent.” The elders and the school masters were envious, itching to kidnap Ye Wenxin and bring her back with them right away.

If given a little education, there could be a second Fairy Fengya appearing in the Azure Wings Sect, one that might even be more exceptional than the Fairy Fengya back then.

“Young Master Ling won’t snatch people from our Azure Wings Sect, will you?” The Azure Wings Sect’s Sect Master was extremely envious as well, as he turned to Ling Jue and asked Ling Jue’s thoughts on Ye Wenxin.

“Of course not, I respect Wenxin’s choice.” Ling Jue opened her folding fan and incited slightly, but seeing how Ye Wenxin took out a bottle of second-grade pills earlier, Ling Jue knew that Ye Wenxin was very likely to become an intermediate alchemist, and simply had not had the chance to inform her yet.

Ling Jue was half glad and half anxious. Such innate potential, such natural talent, would undoubtedly be coveted to no end by both the immortal and demon factions. According to that group of people’s personalities, if the talents could not be amassed for their own use, they would definitely be killed.

Ye Wenxin would have a difficult road ahead, and although Ling Jue could protect Ye Wenxin for a period of time, she could not protect Ye Wenxin forever. The more Ling Jue pondered it, the more irritated she got, strongly wishing she could kidnap Ye Wenxin and bring her back to Medicine King Valley to safeguard her.

However, the cruel reality was that she had made an agreement with Fairy Fengya, and therefore still needed to stay in the Azure Wings Sect for half a year before she could return to Medicine King Valley. Not to mention with Ye Wenxin’s excessive fondness for Fairy Fengya, whether she would be willing to follow her back still needed to be concluded.

“She’s passed the nine hundredth level!” Someone shouted, and Ling Jue’s eyes were drawn again.

Ye Wenxin was already struggling to walk. It was partly acting, and partly because it had actually become hard for her.

Starting from the nine hundredth, Ye Wenxin felt like a huge mountain was pressing down on her, making it difficult for her to breathe. Sweat poured down her back, rendering even a beauty into a rather sorry state.

Her whole clothes were soaked through, but fortunately Ye Wenxin was wearing black so it was not obvious. Her eyes were resolute, merely for the sake of reaching the 999^th level to finally have a glance of what Fairy Fengya’s face looked like.

If possible, Ye Wenxin hoped to give Fairy Fengya a slap and vent all the grievances she had suffered over the past six or so months just to see her.

The more Ye Wenxin thought about it, the more spirited she became, and she hastened her steps. The elders and school masters who were watching the show took a sharp intake of breath, as if recalling the trauma left by the Heavenly Stairs back in their years.

Yet a thirteen-year-old girl was better than any of them, and one could not help but lament at how the waves of the Yangtze River drove on those before².

Closer…and closer…

Ye Wenxin began to pant, her hands and feet no longer at her command. She was too tired, and her powerful body was no longer convenient, but cumbersome. Regardless, Ye Wenxin did not want to lie on the ground, not because she was proud, she had even knelt down for a mouthful of food in the past, however, now she needed to regain her dignity.

She was Ye Wenxin, and she only wanted to live with a clear conscience.

“It’s already the 997th level, hold on!” It was unclear which elder started to cheer for Ye Wenxin, seeming to be fascinated by Ye Wenxin’s stubbornness, and thus could not help but speak out.

A voice resonated, which seemed to encourage other spectating elders to also cheer along.

It had been a long time since they had seen someone so dedicated and unbending, and even those who were numb to glory and power felt fully inspired. Ye Wenxin no longer had the strength to look back. She took another step forward, her whole body trembling, and each inch was an ordeal.

A great amount of sweat seemed to be pouring out, making it appear as if rain had fallen on her. Ye Wenxin began to pant, and then moved her other foot. She looked ahead, but found that she could not see the figure on the 999th level clearly at all.

Even though there was evidently only one final step left, she and Fairy Fengya seemed to be standing two worlds apart.

Ye Wenxin had been living under the shadow of the name “Fairy Fengya”, and now, she wanted to break free from this terror.

She took a deep breath and immediately stepped onto the 999th level.

The whole place was in an uproar, and even the Heavenly Stairs produced resounding chirps to celebrate the birth of the third genius.

Ye Wenxin did not care. She was so exhausted she could faint at any moment, but she held onto her rationality tightly. She wanted to see what Fairy Fengya, the damn Fairy Fengya who had dominated her life, looked like!

Ye Wenxin struggled to lift her head, and as the fog began to dissipate, Fairy Fengya’s true face started to gradually reveal itself.

---

1. – This phrase is often used to describe someone who is exceptionally talented, outstanding, or exceptional in their abilities, implying that they are favored or blessed by heaven. ↩︎
2. – fig. the new is constantly replacing the old; each new generation excels the previous; (of things) to be constantly evolving ↩︎