Chapter 18

◎ Favoritism  ◎  

Though she had imagined countless times what it would feel like to possess immortal power, the moment Zhuo Ying truly felt this energy surging through her body, she realized that all her fantasies combined could not compare to this moment.  

The chronic pain that had clung to her like a festering wound for years gradually eased as purifying qi circulated within her.  

Her limbs, once so heavy she could barely move them freely, grew lighter, and when she clenched her fists, she could now summon enough strength.  

She could even distinctly sense the extraordinary meridians in her body being unlocked one by one by that purifying qi.  

First the Qiao Meridian, then the Wei Meridian.  

“—The match is already over, why are you still coming at me?!”  

Xie Cexuan, standing below the Martial Arts Stage, had barely begun to process the matter of her immortal power when he saw the girl on the stage charging straight toward him.  

The hem of her snow-white dress fluttered like unfurling petals, her flowing black hair swaying like willow branches in spring—yet the sharp, murderous intent in her palm strike showed no mercy whatsoever.  

Xie Cexuan’s scalp prickled.  

Planting his right foot firmly behind him, he braced himself to counter—  

“Young God of War, don’t!” Yan Jun, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, hastily intervened. “Don’t be fooled by her momentum! She’s just gained immortal power, but her body hasn’t fully recovered yet—she won’t survive a single strike from you!”  

The surrounding students watching the scene suddenly understood.  

“You can’t fight back!”  

“Xie Cexuan, if you retaliate now, you’re taking advantage of her weakness! I’ll lose all respect for you if you do!”  

Xie Cexuan’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he immediately snapped back:  

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?! It’s not you who’ll be taking the beating if I don’t fight back, is it?!”  

From the crowd, Ye Shi Yun was the first to jump up and cheer for Zhuo Ying.  

“Princess, don’t hold back! Aim for his face! Hit him hard! Hit him even harder!”  

With his arrogant face and unrestrained, reckless demeanor, Xie Cexuan had long been disliked by many in the Academy. Now, seeing him being chased around by Zhuo Ying, the crowd erupted in cheers.  

But of course, Xie Cexuan wouldn’t actually let Zhuo Ying land a hit.  

Zhuo Ying knew this too, yet her gaze remained fixed on Xie Cexuan’s movements. With each breath, two more meridians—Chong and Dai—were unlocked within her.  

“Chi Shui Zhuo Ying—do you think I won’t lose my temper just because I’ve been tolerating you?”  

Unable to fight back, Xie Cexuan was chased by her all the way from the Martial Arts Stage to the highest golden peak of Fusang Academy.  

He had no idea how she, who could barely even manage Wind Riding, had managed to climb this high.  

Zhuo Ying didn’t speak.  

Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, her chest heaved, and her breathing was already ragged.  

Yet her eyes grew even darker and brighter, as if something within her soul was struggling to break free, separate from her frail body.  

Xie Cexuan froze.  

Before he could say anything, she stepped onto the golden rooftop ridge and charged at him again.  

“Hey—”  

A golden crow streaked across the sky, and in that instant, the morning sun gilded the edges of the girl’s jet-black hair.  

Behind her, the sea of clouds churned, and the immortal mountains stood majestic. She stood in the howling wind like a white crane ready to take flight.  

Plop.  

The force of her palm stirred the strands of hair at his temple, yet Xie Cexuan remained motionless, staring blankly at the single tear that fell from her eye.  

Those were eyes that had always been cold and distant.  

All her emotions were like fleeting light skimming over winter snow—beneath lay ice frozen for millennia, unbreakable by anyone.  

But at this moment…

Xie Cexuan saw that single tear, yet it was as if through a crack in the ice, he glimpsed the roiling magma and scorching flames beneath.

“…Your Extraordinary Meridians are now unblocked. You don’t need me anymore.”

He averted his gaze as if he hadn’t seen anything.

Turning around, he waved casually behind him:

“Remember, you owe me another favor. Don’t even think about skipping out on this one.”

His fiery red robes disappeared swiftly and decisively beyond her line of sight.

Zhuoying gazed at the rising crimson sun behind her.

During her struggles in the Heart-Demon Realm of the Barren Sea, Zhuoying would occasionally look up at the sunrise over the ocean’s surface.

But she had never imagined that one day she would stand atop the golden peak of the Academy, watching the red sun slowly rise to illuminate the world beneath her feet.

She had never dreamed that this world could be so vast—so vast that it left no room for hesitation.

The last two meridians had already been unblocked during her earlier exchange with Xie Cexuan.

Zhuoying pressed her palm against her chest.

The steady, powerful heartbeat beneath her palm no longer filled her with dread of when it might stop, nor did it send stabbing pains through her at random moments.

A thousand complex emotions from past and present lives tangled together. Tears welled up, dampening her cheeks, but they weren’t tears of self-pity or sorrow—

They were tears of unprecedented exhilaration.

Ten years of forging, one sword honed.

Let this world test the frost upon her blade.

–

In stark contrast to Zhuoying, the atmosphere throughout Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm had never been more tense.

Back when Ying Chu descended to the mortal realm for her trials, they had left a Reflection Mirror in Prince Duan’s Mansion as an extra precaution to ensure her safety. Today, it proved unexpectedly useful.

Chongming God’s face was dark as he watched the scenes reflected in the mirror.

The images showed the events of Prince Duan’s birthday celebration.

That day, it wasn’t just Zhong Yingying who performed—Zhong Xianqing had also presented a dance during the family banquet. Not an ethereal butterfly-summoning dance, but a sword dance.

An ordinary twelve-year-old girl could barely lift a sword, let alone perform with one.

Yet Zhong Xianqing had executed an entire sword routine flawlessly, leaving her two brothers seething with envy, nearly crushing their cups in their hands.

Prince Duan’s expression was inscrutable.

Neither pleased nor angry, the man’s deep-set eyes regarded Zhong Xianqing as if she were an exceptionally well-crafted weapon.

The Reflection Mirror also revealed how Zhuoying had rescued Zhong Xianqing from the lotus pond and written her a letter of recommendation.

After Zhuoying left, Zhong Xianqing followed her instructions and knocked on her father’s study door late that night.

“The sword dance today wasn’t the true gift I wished to give you, Father. This letter of recommendation to study under the Utmost Subtlety Sage is the present I meant to offer.”

Prince Duan’s expression shifted at the mention of the Utmost Subtlety Sage.

“How did you obtain this letter?”

Zhong Xianqing answered honestly in her childish voice:

“Before you brought me back to the mansion, I met a disciple of the Utmost Subtlety Sage at Mount Yanjue. She pitied my misfortune and said I could follow her to Kunlun Mountain anytime I wished.”

“But back then, I wanted to see you and Mother more than I wanted to go to Kunlun, so I refused.”

Prince Duan took the letter of recommendation from her hand. At the end of the letter was a small seal he had seen before in the Utmost Subtlety Sage’s correspondences—the unique emblem of Kunlun Mountain.

Truly, women and children know nothing.

Becoming a disciple of the Utmost Subtlety Sage would elevate one’s status beyond measure.

Take, for example, Princess Zhuo Ying of the Great Yong Dynasty.

As a child, she was merely an ignored little girl in the cold palace. At the age of ten, she stumbled upon great fortune when the Utmost Subtlety Sage took notice of her, making her one of the Sage’s disciples. Even if the emperor and empress disliked her, they dared not treat her too harshly thereafter.

Prince Duan examined the letter for a moment before raising his eyes to ask:

“Then why did you bring out this letter today and present it as a congratulatory gift to me?”

“Because I don’t want to see Father troubled,” Zhong Xianqing replied, mimicking Zhong Yingying’s sweet smile. “If either Eldest Brother or Second Brother could go to Kunlun Mountain, they would surely become Father’s capable aides upon their return. Then Father wouldn’t have to worry about their studies anymore.”

Prince Duan lowered his gaze, scrutinizing her adoring expression.

All his children looked at him this way—except this daughter. Only when she first arrived at the manor had she briefly shown such devotion, which had gradually faded over time.

Perhaps tonight’s near-drowning had awakened something in her.

“Qing’er truly doesn’t wish to go to Kunlun Mountain?” Prince Duan probed gently.

Zhong Xianqing shook her head. “No, I only want Father to be happy. If Father is happy, I am happy.”

After a pause, she added:

“Though I’ve heard Kunlun Mountain has an entrance examination. If my brothers wish to go, they must prepare thoroughly.”

This reminder gave Prince Duan pause.

A letter of recommendation was no guarantee. He knew his own sons well—neither of them could pass the entrance examination.

Seeing Prince Duan lost in thought, Zhong Xianqing smiled again and delivered what seemed like a well-rehearsed line:

“If only I were a boy, then I could share Father’s burdens.”

These words struck Prince Duan like a revelation. He looked at this daughter, her eyes brimming with longing for familial affection since childhood.

“Qing’er as you are can still share Father’s burdens. Qing’er, if Father wished for you to enroll in Kunlun Mountain under your brother’s identity, would you be willing to make the journey for Father?”

Zhong Xianqing blinked.

“Would that truly ease Father’s worries?”

Prince Duan smiled and patted her head—the first time in all these years he had shown her such tenderness.

“Of course.”

“Starting today, I will send your eldest brother back to our ancestral home. You will be the sole heir of Prince Duan’s household—and soon, a disciple of the Utmost Subtlety Sage.”

…

Watching this, the Chongming God and the other celestial officials in the hall felt a chill down their spines.

Every word and action of this young girl had been meticulously taught to her beforehand by Princess Zhuo Ying in her chambers before her departure.

Chi Shui Zhuo Ying had anticipated nearly every one of Prince Duan’s responses.

Moreover, from the mere fact that Prince Duan had gifted Zhong Xianqing a precious sword for her birthday, she had deduced that he had long harbored the idea of passing her off as his son.

“As a noble young lady, with a father who has never placed high expectations upon you, have you ever wondered why he tacitly allowed you to practice martial arts? And even gifted you an expensive sword?”

In the Reflection Mirror, the young woman who appeared no older than eighteen spoke unhurriedly:

“Since he intends to use you, naturally you can also use him. Once you return as the accomplished heir of Prince Duan, all those court officials from Kunlun Mountain will be your fellow disciples. Even if your father is the current prince of a different surname, he’ll have to think twice before crossing you.”

“As for Zhong Yingying?”

“When your power grows great enough to make your father wary, do you think he’d willingly reveal Zhong Yingying’s true origins to curry favor with you?”

The woman standing there bore a face strikingly similar—seven or eight parts alike—to Princess Zhaocui of the Barren Sea, yet their temperaments were worlds apart.

One was like a delicate flower nurtured in a greenhouse, unable to withstand the slightest wind or rain.

The other was a venomous blossom, beautiful yet steeped in poison amidst thorns.

Outwardly elegant and transcendent, yet deadly with a single touch.

The Immortals of Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm were accustomed to acting with reckless abandon. Ordinarily, flaunting their noble lineage and wielding just enough Immortal Power to surpass the mediocre was enough to avoid humiliation.

The only force capable of humbling them—the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace—had minds even simpler than theirs.

Those Upper Purity Heaven Immortals thought of nothing but cultivating Immortal Techniques and vanquishing demons.

But now, things were different.

This Chi Shui Zhuo Ying, a mere lowly hostage, dared to defy fate and claw her way up, even using their Phoenix Goddess of Mount Sumeru as her stepping stone!

The gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth—how dare she contend with the heavens themselves!

The Chongming God could no longer remain seated.

Seeing him rise, Ting Yun quickly called out, “Where is the God heading?”

His steps didn’t falter. “Naturally, first to the mortal realm to kill that Zhong Xianqing, then to the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace to drag Chi Shui Zhuo Ying back to Mount Sumeru.”

He knew it.

Though Ting Yun was one of the younger Immortal Lords in Mount Sumeru, even he understood the Chongming God absolutely must not do this.

Even as one of the Four Lords of Mount Sumeru, this would lead to utter chaos.

“—And where might the Chongming God be off to?”

A languid, drawn-out voice drifted in from outside, accompanied by the sight of pine-green robes.

Hearing this voice, Ting Yun seemed to grasp at salvation. “Qingming, you’ve finally arrived! Hurry and help me persuade the God.”

The newcomer appeared in the form of a youth—handsome, with unbound hair and loose pine-green robes pooling at his feet, the very image of a young, indolent ruler who neglected his duties.

Yet this seemingly unreliable Immortal was none other than Qingming Zhenwang, one of the Four Lords of Mount Sumeru.

He smiled. “God, are you not afraid of the backlash from the Heavenly Dao’s Karmic Force?”

“Killing one mortal—what kind of backlash could that bring? Today, none of you can stop me—”

“Before coming here, I cast a divination for the Chongming God at the Nine Luminaries Star Palace.”

Qingming Zhenwang spoke leisurely:

“The God’s Celestial Tribulation should arrive within the next century, no?”

The Chongming God’s steps halted.

“Ordinarily, enduring some backlash is manageable. But with the Celestial Tribulation imminent, if a backlash caused by a mere mortal were to prevent the God from surviving the tribulation, leading to Celestial Demise beneath heavenly thunder—wouldn’t that be too tragic a fate? Don’t you agree?”

These words struck a chord. The Chongming God, who had been about to cross the threshold, turned back. “Then are we to simply watch Ying Chu be bullied by mortals? If we let Chi Shui Zhuo Ying succeed this time, she’ll only grow bolder, truly believing our Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm is easy prey!”

“Of course not.”

A faint smile lingered in Qingming Zhenwang’s eyes.

“Let’s go to the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace together. Our people from Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm have been wronged—we can’t just let this slide.”

—

When True Lord Qingming led his entourage up to the Ninth Heaven, Zhuoying was having a meal in the Academy’s dining hall.

Though she was eating, her focus clearly wasn’t on the food in her plate.

Xie Cexuan: “Too slow, not enough strength, rotate your wrist faster—ah, dropped again. Has His Highness the Crown Prince been counting? How many is that now?”

Fu Yao, standing nearby, rolled his eyes.

“Thirty-nine.”

Zhuoying pressed her lips together, undeterred, as she drew another chopstick and said:

“Again.”

While Xie Cexuan leisurely picked at dishes with a pair of chopsticks in his left hand, his right hand could spare enough attention to engage Zhuoying’s chopstick in swordplay.

Every time an Academy disciple passed through the dining hall, they couldn’t help but glance their way.

Then they’d shoot Xie Cexuan a look of disdain.

As the Young God of War and top swordsman of Fusang Academy, to spar with a girl who’d only just begun cultivation using chopsticks—without holding back in the slightest, showing no mercy whatsoever—

No wonder this guy had no luck with women!

Within two breaths, Xie Cexuan had pinned Zhuoying’s hand to the table with his chopstick again.

Though the force wasn’t strong, Zhuoying knew that if they’d been using real swords, Xie Cexuan would have already run her through.

“Forty.”

The slender wooden stick twirled deftly between his long fingers as Xie Cexuan arched a brow at Zhuoying’s impassive expression, never missing a chance to provoke her.

“One spirit stone per round—your own words.”

“Xie Cexuan, you’re truly shameless.”

Fu Yao couldn’t take it anymore and tossed him a money pouch.

“Two hundred spirit stones here. Zhuoying, go another hundred sixty rounds with him.”

Xie Cexuan weighed the pouch in his hand, accepting it without the slightest courtesy.

With a mocking smile, he asked:

“When did His Highness start calling her by name so casually?”

Fu Yao crossed his arms, chin slightly raised, exuding the arrogance of heaven’s favored son.

“She’s my mother’s adopted daughter, making her my adopted sister. I’ll call her whatever I please—none of your business.”

Zhuoying merely stared at the scattered chopsticks, lost in thought.

“Enough of this. Let’s try something else.”

Thinking she was discouraged, Fu Yao frowned in consolation:

“You’ve just started learning. Losing to Xie Cexuan is normal. Don’t let his attitude fool you—before his ascension, he was already an accomplished young general with exceptional swordsmanship…”

“It’s not that,” Zhuoying explained. “Divine Lord Feng Li also said that while effort matters in cultivation, so does choice. With so many magical artifacts, one must try several to discover their true affinity.”

Axes and halberds, swords and spears, sabers and staves.

Divine Lord Feng Li had arranged them all in order for her to test each one before choosing her preferred path for deeper study.

Fu Yao: “…”

You really don’t know exhaustion.

As the meal neared its end, news spread through the Academy.

True Lord Qingming, Chongming God, and the Son of the Great Emperor of Longevity had come to Fusang Academy to demand answers from the Celestial Teachers!

“…Is Chongming God joking?”

Wen Chang Xing Jun maintained a kindly demeanor, his smile radiating benevolence from every wrinkle.

“Princess Zhuo Ying descended to the mortal realm in response to the prayers of human devotees reaching the heavens. She fulfilled their wishes without using a trace of Immortal Power, strictly adhering to the Heavenly Regulations in completing her duties as an Immortal. Where is the crime in that?”

“Her offense against our Mount Meru Goddess is the crime!” The Chongming God roared in fury.

The Immortals of the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace exchanged knowing smiles but remained silent.

Lord Qing Yuan spoke coldly: “If someone violates the Heavenly Regulations, I will punish them without fail. But matters not covered by the Heavenly Regulations need not be brought up.”

The implication was clear—

“The Mount Meru Goddess isn’t above the Heavenly Regulations. If she was offended, so be it. The youngsters of our Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace can be careless—please be understanding, God.”

Divine Lord Feng Li bluntly laid out the stance of the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace.

Zhuoying and a group of curious students had sneaked to the back hall to eavesdrop, just in time to hear Lord Qing Yuan’s remark.

Zhuoying blinked in mild surprise.

Ye Shi Yun, crouching beside her to listen, gave a thumbs up.

Truly worthy of Divine Lord Feng Li—never mincing words when rebuking others.

Zhuoying pursed her lips: “Isn’t Divine Lord Feng Li being too aggressive?”

If they provoked the other side and caused conflict between the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace and Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm—

Ye Shi Yun patted her hand reassuringly:

“Even if all four Lords of Sumeru had come today instead of just two, our Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace wouldn’t back down from a fight. Don’t worry, and definitely don’t blame yourself.”

It wasn’t self-blame that concerned her.

She was worried that if war broke out, there’d be no one left to teach her classes.

But Ye Shi Yun’s words made things clear.

The reason the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace stood as the leader of the Immortal Realm probably lay in—

Not being the smartest.

But being exceptionally good at fighting.

Author’s Note:

There should be another update before midnight~