Chapter 6

After leaving the main peak, Ye Qiao lay on her bed, feeling utterly despondent and unable to comprehend how things had come to this point.

Inner sect, outer sect, and personal disciples.

Personal disciples had the heaviest responsibilities. In addition to participating in competitions, they had to attend classes and train together. According to Mu Zhongxi, an inner sect elder personally trained his reaction speed, meaning he got hit in class every day.

Back then, Ye Qiao had hypocritically sympathized with him for a few moments. Little did she expect that it would soon be her turn.

When it was announced that Ye Qiao would move to the main peak, no one was more shocked than the outer sect disciples she knew.

Ye Qiao became a personal disciple? Who did she bribe for that?

“She wasn’t even better than me in class,” someone grumbled, unconvinced.

“Yeah.”

“Her talent isn’t great, her test scores are poor, and even if they wanted to choose a personal disciple, they should pick from the inner sect.”

“Wouldn’t Senior Sister Ning be more suitable?”

Ning Qing was an inner sect disciple of Changming Sect with a superior fire spirit root. She had reached Foundation Establishment at sixteen, a notable talent even in large sects.

She had been certain the fifth personal disciple spot was hers, only to be usurped by an outer sect disciple.

If the other party had been more outstanding, she might have accepted it.

But when Ning Qing inquired, she found out that not only was Ye Qiao’s talent inferior, but her monthly test scores were also extremely mediocre.

How could someone like that become a personal disciple?

In the courtyard, Du Chun helped Ye Qiao pack. They had known each other for two months and got along well. Hearing she was leaving, he felt quite reluctant.

“You’re impressive,” he patted her shoulder. “Becoming a personal disciple just like that.”

It was a status many dreamed of.

Ye Qiao, however, looked as if she had lost her parents.

Du Chun was exasperated. “Smile, will you? Why the long face?”

Ye Qiao gave a miserable smile.

Du Chun: “…” Better not smile.

He helped her pack her meager belongings. Apart from a broken sword and some spirit stones, which she stored in her mustard seed bag, there were four talismans on the wall for unknown purposes.

Taking a deep breath and mustering some spirit, Ye Qiao tore down the talismans and called out to Du Chun.

“Wait a moment.” She figured she wouldn’t be coming down from the main peak anytime soon; just thinking about the nine hundred-plus stone steps made her legs weak.

Seeing Du Chun’s puzzled look, Ye Qiao rummaged through her mustard seed bag.

She had been so upset the previous night that she couldn’t sleep and had drawn dozens of talismans.

“These are Spirit Gathering Talismans,” Ye Qiao explained where to place them. “You can cultivate while lying down at night.”

Du Chun eyed the talismans skeptically. “Really?”

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Ye Qiao, but such an easy way to cultivate seemed too good to be true.

Ye Qiao said, “You can try. I’ve used them before.”

After packing her things, Ye Qiao was ready to leave.

But just as she stepped out of the courtyard, a flash of white sword light aimed at her. Unfazed, Ye Qiao looked up to meet a cold gaze from a young woman.

Sighing, Ye Qiao gently pushed the sword aside. “Senior Sister, let’s talk. Changming Sect forbids drawing swords.”

Ning Qing’s face darkened with anger at Ye Qiao’s calm attitude.

After finding out where Ye Qiao lived, she had stormed over early in the morning.

“What gives you the right to be a personal disciple?” Ning Qing glared at her. “Is it because of your good relationship with Senior Brother Mu?”

“Otherwise, how could someone with a mediocre spirit root like you live on the main peak and train with Senior Brother Mingxuan?”

Ye Qiao, feeling the weight of Ning Qing’s jealous gaze, slowly uttered, “You have no idea how much I envy you.”

Ning Qing: “?”

Seeing the genuine sadness on Ye Qiao’s face, Ning Qing was left baffled.

“What do you envy about me? Envy that I didn’t become a personal disciple?” If her expression of sadness hadn’t been so genuine, Ning Qing might have suspected Ye Qiao of mocking her.

Ye Qiao fell silent for a moment, then quietly replied, “I envy equally those who don’t have to strive.”

Ning Qing: “… Are you kidding?”

As the two stood facing each other, a young man approached the courtyard. “Let’s go.”

His tone was weary, his robe disheveled, giving no hint of the demeanor expected of a personal disciple.

Ye Qiao diverted her gaze from Ning Qing’s and picked up her small bundle, walking over to the young man’s side.

“Senior Brother?” she tentatively called out.

Ye Qiao had already met Xue Yu, Ming Xuan, and Mu Zhongxi, but Zhou Xingyun had yet to make an appearance. In the novel, this senior disciple was portrayed as a handsome man in mourning, teetering on the edge of despair daily until the kind and gentle popular female lead redeemed him.

Thus, Zhou Xingyun had diligently joined the harem after the female lead.

Zhou Xingyun responded lazily with a grunt.

He calmly assessed her for a moment, then reached out to pat down the stray tuft of hair sticking up on her head.

Ye Qiao tilted her head in confusion and touched the stubborn tuft of hair that sprang back up.

Zhou Xingyun furrowed his brow slightly, staring intently at Ye Qiao’s tuft of hair.

He reached out again and pressed it back down.

Ye Qiao pondered, “… Does this Senior Brother of mine have OCD?”

…

Upon reaching the main peak, Ye Qiao was instantly filled with abundant spiritual energy, flowing through every pore of her body. She sighed with relief, understanding why cultivators in the cultivation world were so eager to become personal disciples—it was just from the spiritual energy on the main peak alone that was so rich she couldn’t move her feet.

After leading her to the main peak, Zhou Xingyun had already assumed the role of a laissez-faire manager, treating her like a little chick as he lifted her down from the sword and handed her over to Xue Yu.

“Your little sister,” he said languidly.

Without a backward glance, Zhou Xingyun feared that if he didn’t leave soon, he would be tempted to chop off the tuft of hair standing on her head with a sword.

Zhou Xingyun was too quick, and Ye Qiao felt dizzy from the sword. She slowed down and was guided by Xue Yu, stumbling to a quiet bamboo forest.

Ye Qiao wasn’t clear about the process and followed Xue Yu closely, occasionally asking in confusion, “Senior Brother, does Changming Sect not have a disciple acceptance ceremony?”

Xue Yu paused briefly in his steps. “No.”

Feeling that his tone might seem too indifferent, he added, “None of us four had one before.”

Ye Qiao was puzzled. “Then why do other sects have them?”

She recalled from the original novel that when the female lead was accepted as a personal disciple of Yueqing Sect, it was a grand occasion with congratulations from all quarters. Why was it so rudimentary in Changming Sect?

At Xue Yu’s words, Ye Qiao gave a dry “oh.”

In other words, it was because they were poor.

In the cultivation world, the most lucrative careers were talisman crafting and pill refining.

Their sect had very few experts in either field, so they naturally couldn’t compare to other sects in terms of wealth.

Seeing her crestfallen expression, Xue Yu smiled gently and explained as they walked, “We only have two classes to attend.”

“They are the cultivation method class and the training class.”

“In both classes, there will be elders guiding us…” Xue Yu glanced at Ye Qiao, sensing she might struggle to keep up, and added kindly, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask the elders or come to me.”

It sounded just like school, and tears welled up in Ye Qiao’s eyes involuntarily.

What kind of karma was she facing?

Having barely graduated from high school and spent a few years out of prison, she had now crossed over into another prison.

As they entered the training ground one after the other, they could hear Mu Zhongxi’s cries of pain and Ming Xuan’s amused teasing from afar.

Ye Qiao, still holding the Spirit Stabilizing Pill, saw a shooting star streak across the sky and crash heavily to the ground the next moment.

Ye Qiao exclaimed in surprise, “Such a fast bird-person!”

Only then did she notice that it wasn’t a bird-person but Mu Zhongxi struggling to his feet.

Mu Chongxi grimaced as he crawled up from the ground, baring his teeth and shouting fiercely, “Ming Xuan, you want to fight?”

“Do I look afraid of you?” Ming Xuan’s smile vanished as he gripped several talismans in his hand.

The atmosphere grew tense and on edge.

Ye Qiao twitched her lips. “Is this how you guys always interact in private?”

They seemed ready to cut each other up.

Xue Yu’s voice remained calm, clearly accustomed to such occurrences. “Yes. They’ll finish soon enough. No need to worry.”

Ye Qiao loved joining in on such excitement. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Really?”

Fight, fight, fight!

She had never seen people fight before.

Xue Yu turned his head, sensing his junior sister’s unusual excitement.

Ye Qiao realized her expression was off and immediately adopted an expression of deep sorrow. “Really?”

Xue Yu: “…”

Don’t think I can’t tell you’re itching for a fight just because you’ve changed your expression.