Chapter 1: Murdered by the Scumbag Husband

Xie Jiuniang had diligently cultivated for two centuries and successfully formed her Golden Core.^[1]Golden Core: The third stage of cultivation, indicating a strong foundation and the ability to manipulate spiritual energy. However, before she could even announce her achievement, she died the very night she came out of seclusion!^[2]Also called Closed Door Meditation or Closed Door Cultivation. Training done in seclusion, usually to focus on breaking through a bottleneck or to avoid becoming distracted at a crucial moment and … Continue reading

She met her demise while dual cultivating^[3]Dual Cultivating: A practice where two cultivators combine their energies to enhance cultivation speed and power. with her dao companion,^[4]Dao Companion: A cultivation partner with a strong spiritual connection, often a romantic partner. Lin Wangchen, who used her as a cauldron to absorb all her cultivation and sever her vitality.

Lin Wangchen claimed to others that she didn’t survive the heart demon tribulation^[5]Heart Demon Tribulation: A mental and spiritual challenge faced by cultivators, often during breakthroughs to higher realms. during her breakthrough and closed himself off in seclusion out of grief. In reality, he went to cultivate using her stolen cultivation.

Lin Wangchen had always maintained a good reputation, and despite having many admirers, he appeared devoted solely to his dao companion. No one, not even the Xie family, investigated the true cause of Xie Jiuniang’s death.

However, Xie Jiuniang was reborn!

When she woke up again, her daoist robe was torn, and she lay alone in a small mountain cave.

Her half-open eyes were very calm, devoid of the towering hatred one would expect from being betrayed by her lover. Instead, they held a sense of resignation as if she had expected it.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and no one is unconditionally good for no reason.

Lin Wangchen had saved her life several times and provided her with a large amount of cultivation resources over the past century. She used to be puzzled by this, but now she finally knew the truth.

To put it bluntly, she was like a pig raised by him—once fattened up, it was time for slaughter.

This is the fate of a domestic pig, isn’t it?

Yes, she shouldn’t hate him…

Xie Jiuniang moved her fingers and slowly sat up. She took out a water bag from her storage bag^[6]Storage Bag: A magical item that employs the clever use of interdimensional space; used by cultivators to store various objects, such as weapons, treasures, or supplies. It is more common and less … Continue reading and took a big sip of spiritual spring water, finally soothing her parched throat.

She looked around the cave; there was nothing.

Nearly two centuries had passed, but she vaguely remembered what happened on this day.

When she was eleven years old, she entered Yunmu Mountain^[7]Cloud Dusk Mountain for the first time and picked a stalk of the nearly extinct Spirit Cleansing Herb. If refined into a pill, it could remove one of her spiritual roots.^[8]Spiritual Roots: Innate qualities that determine a person’s aptitude for cultivation.

The so-called spiritual roots are the foundation of human cultivation. There are eight common types: metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, ice, and thunder.

The fewer spiritual roots one has, the better their aptitude.

Those with more than four spiritual roots have inferior aptitude; three spiritual roots are considered average; two spiritual roots are good, and single spiritual roots are superior.

A single spiritual root, also known as a Heavenly Spiritual Root, is highly sought after. Major sects cultivate them as top-tier geniuses.

Xie Jiuniang had three roots—fire, wood, and metal—indicating average aptitude. Without great fortune, reaching Foundation Establishment^[9]Foundation Establishment: The second stage of cultivation, where a cultivator forms a solid foundation for future growth. in this life would be her limit.

But with the Spirit Cleansing Herb, if she could become a dual spiritual root cultivator and then join a sect, her future would be bright!

What she never expected was that the opportunity she desperately obtained ultimately benefited her cousin, Xie Ying.

Xie Ying became a renowned Fire Heavenly Spiritual Root because of this. She was accepted as a disciple by a powerful elder ahead of time, and her fame was unmatched. The Xie Clan rose to prominence alongside her.

The only one not pleased was the person whose fortune had been stolen—her weak, pitiful, and helpless self.

“Little friend, are you feeling better?”

A man walked into the mountain cave, wearing the robe of a sect’s personal disciple adorned with auspicious clouds and cranes, his figure made even taller and straighter. His handsome features and gentle temperament were like a refreshing spring breeze.

Lin Wangchen?!

Oh, it’s his younger self…

Seeing the little girl’s dazed expression, Lin Wangchen thought she was frightened and comforted, “Don’t be afraid, little friend. The lion-tiger is already dead. Where do you live? I’ll escort you back first.”

Xie Jiuniang lowered her eyes and remained silent.

The current situation is…? She dug up the Spirit Cleansing Herb and was chased by a lion-tiger. Lin Wangchen, who was passing by, saved her for the first time and put her unconscious self in the mountain cave…

Today was also their first meeting.

Xie Jiuniang shook her head, rejecting his offer to escort her, stood up, and walked out.

Lin Wangchen looked at the little girl’s retreating back, deep in thought.

Xie Jiuniang couldn’t care less if Lin Wangchen was suspicious. At this moment, she just wanted to get as far away from him as possible, fearing she couldn’t resist drawing her sword against him.

Lin Wangchen had already reached Foundation Establishment, and a mere Qi Refining^[10]Qi Refining: The first stage of cultivation, focused on gathering and refining spiritual energy (qi). cultivator like her couldn’t kill him. If she dared to reveal a hint of killing intent, she would be the one lying dead the next moment.

Lin Wangchen was never a good man.

She had just walked out of the outskirts of Yunmu Mountain when…

“Ninth Sister!”

“Ninth Young Miss has been found!”

A round-faced girl ran over anxiously, followed by several Xie family guards.

The round-faced girl grabbed Xie Jiuniang, checking her injuries left and right, saying with lingering fear, “Ninth Sister, you almost scared me to death. We thought you…”

“It’s my fault for making you worry,” Xie Jiuniang said.

Xie Jiuniang had some affection for her Fourth Sister. It’s just that their tastes were equally bad—they both fell for a scumbag man.

When Xie Jiuniang went missing in the Yunmu Mountain, the clan immediately arranged for people to search. They searched for most of the day without finding her and had almost given up hope when Xie Jiuniang walked out on her own.

She was escorted back to the Xie Clan by everyone.

Xie Jiuniang asked her Fourth Sister to take her to the clan doctor for a check-up first. After confirming that her injuries were not serious, they returned to her residence.

Fourth Sister silently activated the isolation formation^[11]Formation: An array of symbols, objects, or spiritual energy arranged in a specific pattern to create magical effects, such as barriers, traps, or illusions. In the context, this formation can … Continue reading in the room to prevent outsiders from probing with their spiritual sense^[12]Spiritual/Divine Sense: It’s a heightened extrasensory perception that allows cultivators to detect, sense, and interact with spiritual energies, entities, and phenomena that are typically … Continue reading before asking, “Ninth Sister, tell me the truth, why did you go to the Yunmu Mountain?”

“I…” She paused to think.

Xie Jiuniang carefully recalled what happened in her previous life at this time…

Fourth Sister poked her little forehead with her index finger and said, “Trying to be evasive, huh? Don’t even think about it. Why did you almost get into trouble while I was in seclusion for just a few days?”

“It seems to be because…”

Xie Jiuniang rubbed her slightly aching forehead and had no choice but to say, “My Qi Nurturing Pills^[13]Qi Nurturing Pills: Medicinal pills that aid in the cultivation process by nourishing and strengthening the body’s qi. were deducted again, so I wanted to try my luck on the outskirts of Yunmu Mountain to see if I could pick some low-grade spiritual plants to sell.”

Fourth Sister frowned, “Why didn’t you tell me when they were deducted?”

Xie Jiuniang replied, “You were in seclusion.”

“Oh, right. But how many spirit stones^[14]Spirit Stone: The primary currency in the cultivation world, used for various purposes such as purchasing resources, trading, and even directly absorbing spiritual energy to aid in cultivation. can low-grade spiritual plants be worth? It takes a thousand spirit beads to exchange for one spirit stone. Even if you pick a basket full, it won’t be enough for one spirit stone.”

Fourth Sister grew more indignant as she spoke and said, “The Main Branch is just bullying honest people. This won’t do! I’ll accompany you to confront our Eldest Uncle for an explanation. The clan’s resources are distributed by him, so who else should we confront if not him?”

“Forget it, it’s useless.”

“Are you that foolish? You suffer a loss and don’t even make a peep?”

“There’s no other way. My parents aren’t home, and I’m a child who can’t win an argument.” Xie Jiuniang had tried to argue before, but no one took her seriously. “Eldest Aunt said they’ll borrow it for Eldest Sister^[15]Basically, her first degree older cousin. They follow a clan-family system. Where girls and boys in the family are ranked based on their age in the same generation. first, and when she makes something of herself in the future, they’ll pay me back with a Foundation Establishment Pill.”^[16]Foundation Establishment Pill: A rare and valuable medicinal pill that can help a cultivator break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Fourth Sister was shocked. “You believed that?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Xie Jiuniang narrowed her eyes.

What did her Eldest Aunt say at the time? Something about how in another year, the major sects would be recruiting new disciples again, so resources should be focused on her Eldest Sister for now.

As long as Eldest Sister became successful and got a good master, it would be a great boon for the clan. At that time, let alone some minor Qi Nurturing Pills, they could even get her a Foundation Establishment Pill.

That was a pie in the sky!^[17]Pie in the sky: Idiom; meaning something good that someone says will happen but that seems impossible or unlikely.

Her Eldest Aunt herself was still stuck at the peak of the Qi Refining stage.

Xie Jiuniang was young, but not stupid. Grandfather wasn’t around, so she went to argue with her Eldest Uncle without fear. However, he was shameless and even told her not to throw a childish tantrum.

She may be powerless to change the allocation of her resources, but she refused to be a doormat for their unfair treatment.

In a fit of anger, she ran off to Yunmu Mountain…

Recalling her young and impetuous self, Xie Jiuniang felt complex emotions. Naive, impulsive, and lacking in schemes.

She was no match for her Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt who were sly as foxes, nor could she compete with her Eldest Sister who had truly inherited her parents’ ways.

Now that the reborn Xie Jiuniang was back, she felt that all things considered, it was quite good—the Main Branch owed her a Foundation Establishment Pill.

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Author’s Notes:

The cultivation ranks in this novel are: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation.

This is an era where cultivators are as common as dogs.

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Translator’s Notes:

Attention all cultivation enthusiasts and revenge tale aficionados!

I’m diving headfirst into a new translation project, and I’m bursting with excitement to share it with you. This hilarious xianxia novel features a strong female protagonist named Jiuniang, a master schemer on a path to reclaim her stolen destiny.

There are actually two novel titles for this, currently “Immortal Prodigy” (and the previously “Stolen Destiny: From Rubbish to Pinnacle in the Cultivation World” which I liked better but I had to type the title every time I post so… I decided to choose the more convenient one. 😆), hints at Jiuniang’s journey from an underestimated underdog to a powerhouse cultivator.

I devoured this tale a year ago, and its impact still lingers, compelling me to ask: why not unleash its brilliance upon the world through translation? Get ready for an uproarious rollercoaster ride brimming with schemes, revenge, action, adventure, wish fulfillment, and heart-warming moments—with a dash of ninjas cutting onions, of course!

Xianxia fans, rejoice! This narrative embraces all the beloved tropes: the iconic “weak to strong” protagonist arc, intricate power struggles that will leave you breathless, and intensely satisfying comeuppances for Jiuniang’s enemies. Prepare to be enthralled!

(Don’t click this if you don’t want spoilers) If you look at the genre, there’s no romance…

So there’s no male lead here. This is Jiuniang’s tale to supremacy, not her romance saga in the cultivation world. Although there will be tidbits of budding romance and you’ll get second male lead syndrome, in this narrative, the ultimate male lead is none other than the art of cultivation itself.

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For those new to the Xianxia realm, fear not! I’ve meticulously included footnotes in the references to guide you through the terminology. Seasoned cultivators, feel free to immerse yourselves fully, unfettered by such mortal constraints!

Brace yourselves, dear friends, for an odyssey like no other awaits. Let the journey begin!

Let’s deconstruct Xie Jiuniang’s name:

Xie (谢) is her family surname; Juniang (九娘) is her given name, with:
– 九 (Jiǔ) meaning “nine”
– 娘 (Niáng) an affectionate suffix meaning “young lady/girl”

So Xie Jiuniang means “Ninth Young Lady of the Xie family”. Such a name indicate that she is the ninth daughter among the current generation of daughters in the Xie clan.

As for Fourth Sister or Xie Siniang (谢四娘) / Xie Zhi (谢芷)
– 四娘 (Sìniáng) means “Fourth Young Lady”, likely meaning she is the fourth daughter.
– 芷 (Zhǐ) is her given name.

So her full name is Xie Zhi, but she is also called Xie Siniang as a way to identify her by her birth order in the family.

In summary, the “niáng” in their names is an affectionate honorific for a young lady, while the numerical prefix helps distinguish their birth order among daughters in the Xie family clan.

In comparison, Xie Ying (谢莹):
– 莹 (Yíng) means brilliant clear jade. It could mean “Luminous Jade of the Xie Family” and the meaning “jade” is a common elegant name given to daughters of aristocratic/elite families, reflecting the high hopes and esteem the parents held for them.

Compared to the numeric “Jiuniang” for the ninth daughter, the name “Ying” without any numeric meaning suggests Xie Ying may be an only daughter or at least a daughter of very high standing within the Xie clan/family.