Chapter 38: Tracer (Part 2)

Xu Qianyu left the academy and headed straight for a towering structure at the center of the training grounds, thirty or forty stories high.
This white tower stood proudly, like a sword pointing toward the heavens. Its intricate mechanisms rotated slowly on each level, with golden light glimmering faintly. The tower contained countless training grounds within a condensed “mustard-seed” space.

If a cultivator focused their mind, when the tower’s symbols rotated before them, they would slowly peel off and hover in midair, listing the courses available in each internal space.
Xu Qianyu looked up for a while, chose a course that interested her, and pointed her finger. A spinning dual-fish teleportation array appeared on the ground, and she jumped in. Before the system could fully process, they suddenly found themselves in a bustling training field.
Around them, fists were flying and shouts echoed. A booming voice barked, “Who are you? What’s your purpose?”
A burly, intimidating man with a long beard glared at her as he walked over.
Xu Qianyu looked around, seeing young cultivators practicing punches on wooden stakes everywhere. Many were shirtless, drenched in sweat, and among the chatter, she could hear people calling for “Master Xue to come give guidance.”
She turned and took a step toward the man, raising her voice as she looked him in the eye. “Master Xue, my name is Xu Qianyu. I admire you greatly, but I couldn’t get into your class, so I came today to observe.”
System: “? Wait, do you know him?”
Xu Qianyu: “No.”
The system was truly impressed by Xu Qianyu’s effortless social confidence.
As soon as she spoke, everyone stopped punching, turning around with a laugh to watch the scene.
Master Xue’s fierce expression softened as he gave her a complicated look. He pointed at himself, incredulously asking, “You… you’re here to admire me? This is a close-combat course. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

Obviously, most of the students in this class were male cultivators, each one muscular and solidly built.
Xu Qianyu was in too deep now, so she nodded, her expression proud and calm, making her pretense seem genuine.
Close combat? She was already here; she might as well learn something she couldn’t learn in the mortal world.
Treating her like a rare animal, several senior brothers led her to a wooden stake belonging to Master Xue himself, where she began punching under their amused guidance.
The system finally snapping out of its daze voiced its objections.
System: “Didn’t you promise that once you entered the outer sect, you’d listen to me for everything?!”
Xu Qianyu: “What did I do?”
System: “Didn’t you say you’d start wooing the book’s characters?”
Xu Qianyu had already struck the stake a hundred times, her breathing slightly labored as she replied, “I didn’t have time.”
System: “What do you mean, no time? You didn’t have to come and punch things.”
Damn it, it really had a host who was impossible to control once released.
Xu Qianyu pushed her sweat-dampened red ribbon behind her ear. Realizing the system wouldn’t let up, she responded, half-heartedly, “Fine, tomorrow.”
But “tomorrow after tomorrow” could stretch indefinitely.
The system probed cautiously, “You… you’re not serious about cultivating, are you?”
Xu Qianyu was already practicing kicks, each strike sounding against the wooden stake as she said, puzzled, “What else would I do? How else am I supposed to reach old Wangba’s level?”
The system had thought she’d been exaggerating when she’d said she wanted to reach “True Lord” level and spar with the Elder Taishang, but it turned out she meant it. Clearly, her two months of Qi refinement had given her a surge of confidence. The system protested urgently, “In terms of cultivation, good enough is enough.”

Xu Qianyu replied, “Not good enough. If I’m not strong, I’ll get killed.”
In her eyes, in her past life, she hadn’t beaten Xie Yuzhen and was stabbed to death; if not for her senior brother’s protection, she would have been caught by the Elder Taishang and had her spiritual root removed. So, in this place, insufficient cultivation meant death.
Her mindset was simple. In the mortal world, she’d wanted to inherit her family business and become a top female merchant.
Now that she was in a celestial sect, in equivalent terms, she wanted to be the top female cultivator.
The system tried to convince her further, but Xu Qianyu lost patience. “Enough. If you want to go, go by yourself.”

The system felt utterly wronged: “I… I can’t go on my own.”

Xu Qianyu glanced at a mosquito buzzing in front of her face. “There, go ahead.”
“You’ve possessed a glass, a pillow; surely you can possess a mosquito. Have it take you there.”
After saying this, she found it amusing, the corner of her mouth lifting in a mischievous, arrogant smile.
“You…” The system was at its wit’s end, glancing humiliated at the mosquito.
Xu Qianyu’s cleverness was undeniable; it was indeed a viable solution.
But it didn’t dare. Xu Qianyu could now break a wooden stake with a punch; she was terrifying. It feared that if it possessed the mosquito and got swatted, its fragile existence would end right there.
Xu Qianyu continued practicing until she reached the end of the session, her vital energy surging. When she struck the wooden stake, it splintered, and she winced, pulling her hand back. Her pale skin showed tiny spots of red, like blossoming plum flowers.

Master Xue approached, saying, “Painful, isn’t it? That’s how it is with fighting. Your hands will bear new injuries over old ones. When your skin toughens one day, the pain will fade, and you’ll master the force behind your punch. Well, are you going to keep going?”
Xu Qianyu looked at her hands, her face shadowed. She weighed her well-kept hands against the power she sought and, after a long moment, chose power.
She wrapped her hands with cloth and, without looking back, struck the stake with a fierce blow.
At dusk, she returned to Songtao Yuxue Courtyard, a larger and quieter residence than her previous courtyard, surrounded by rows of pine and flowering trees.

With a bit of cultivation, the disciples were unbothered by the elements, so the buildings were constructed from bamboo and wood with open-air designs. Instead of carved windows, sheer curtains hung from the beams. When the wind blew, the pine trees swayed outside, and the delicate curtains floated, creating a truly ethereal atmosphere.

Originally, each courtyard was shared by two people, but the other room was empty, so both were hers. In the courtyard, Xu Qianyu gathered a large bundle of flower petals, preparing them as a facial mask.
As night fell, a soft light glowed from within her room.
Xu Qianyu was simultaneously using two dream projection scrolls, one to meditate and review her inner energy and the other to leisurely listen to the history of the fairy world.
She didn’t like the old way, so she halfheartedly attended his lecture, letting him talk while she lowered her gaze and ground flower petals in a bowl, extracting the juice to carefully apply to her face. Since she began cultivating, her skin had become even better—smooth, delicate, almost glowing. She looked in the mirror and felt quite satisfied.
After finishing her inner energy practice, Xu Qianyu flipped through the book her senior brother had given her but found it exhausting to read. She had an idea: “Keyun, read it to me.”

System: ?
System: “I…”

It didn’t even realize it had an audiobook feature.
Xu Qianyu lay down on the bed. “Don’t you want me to pursue Xie Yuzhen, Ruan Zhuqing…”
The system immediately began reading the text in a flat, monotone voice.
The book on spiritual techniques was rather obscure, and there were many parts Xu Qianyu didn’t understand. But she didn’t want to sit up to make notes. Her hand was injured, and holding a pen hurt, making her feel even more delicate.
System: “Seriously? You want me to take notes for you too?”
Xu Qianyu lifted her chin haughtily, glancing at the pen sitting on the desk.

“I refuse.”
“Xie Yuzhen…”

Moments later, the pen rose on its own, suspended in the air, and began calmly writing the contents of the book. Whenever Xu Qianyu encountered something she didn’t understand, she called out to stop and directed, “Circle that.”
The system, controlling her body, made the pen tip tremble slightly as it drew a circle, then continued reading.
It kept reading until Xu Qianyu fell sound asleep, at which point the pen fell onto the table with a “clink,” and the system swiftly retreated into her mind, sighing.
Nothing left in reserve.

*

Swordsmanship class.
Xu Qianyu stepped into the training field with a wooden sword in hand, emerging from the teleportation array. This practice field was vast, with no trees around, resembling a white desert.
On the way, she saw six or seven-year-old children in Taoist robes, their swords also smaller. Many of them pointed at her and sneered with bared teeth.
This scene wasn’t unfamiliar.

Although these children had joined the celestial sect, they weren’t fully aware of social norms yet and would parrot insults, often maliciously. In her previous life, Xu Qianyu had been bullied by others due to her older entry age. They had called her all sorts of names behind her back.
One child pointed at her and laughed, “Haha, so old and still just at the Qi-refining stage, yet dressed like a butterfly!”
“…!” Xu Qianyu felt a surge of anger and drew her sword.
Seeing her draw, the child wasn’t intimidated and drew his own, his expression fierce as he stepped back and assumed a ready stance, then charged at her with surprising speed.
Xu Qianyu hadn’t learned even half a starting stance, so she watched him warily. When she saw the small sword about to pierce her, she raised her sword to block.
With a loud “clang,” their swords collided, and the child was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, his head landing with a thud on the sand. He winced, then burst into loud, snotty tears.
“?” Xu Qianyu looked at her sword, then at the crying child.
The corner of her mouth curled up as she swept past him, her skirt brushing the sand. “Is that it? I thought you were stronger.”
Her heart stirred. She decided to find another child to try her hand.
Soon, she spotted a chubby kid up ahead who made a mocking face at her.
Him.

Xu Qianyu gripped her sword tightly, smiling as she approached him.
Moments later, with another “thud,” a fresh round of wailing erupted.
After knocking over seven or eight children this way, Xu Qianyu was in high spirits when someone grabbed her collar from behind, pulling her back.
She turned around to find a tall sword cultivator, the instructor for the swordsmanship class.
His face was fierce, his tiger-like eyes flashing with an intimidating green glow. “What are you doing?”
He slowly unsheathed his sword, which gleamed with silver light, then expressionlessly indicated that she should strike.
Xu Qianyu knew only the single slash her senior brother had taught her, so she swung it. At the moment their swords touched, she was blasted backward by a powerful force, landing hard on her rear with a painful thud.
The instructor frowned. “Already established your sword foundation? You’re in the wrong place.”
With that, he grabbed her collar again, half-dragging her to the teleportation array. She adjusted her clothes, still feeling the pain, and asked bitterly, “What’s your name?”
The man seemed indifferent. “Sword cultivator, Gao Fengxing.”
Before she could respond, the scene shifted. She found herself in a new setting, encased in a cocoon of pure white mist. Beneath her lay an enormous formation shaped like two half-circles, resembling a yin-yang symbol, complex and faintly glowing silver.
Gao Fengxing tossed Xu Qianyu into the center of the formation, and she disappeared.
A moment later, a young male cultivator emerged from where she’d vanished.
The young man glanced at her, surprised, then offered a disciple’s salute and drew his sword, waiting patiently.

Xu Qianyu understood.
This man wanted to spar.
She scrambled up and drew her sword as well.

The young man struck, and she panicked. She’d only ever practiced alone and had no experience in actual combat. With the sword approaching her face, she clumsily lifted her own to block it.
Her parries were awkward, and before long, he slowed down his attacks noticeably. Despite that, she couldn’t last ten moves before his sword energy struck her leg, sending her to the ground. The formation beneath her lit up on her half, glowing like a warning.
The young man sheathed his sword, offering another salute.
Xu Qianyu understood again. She’d lost.
The young man gave her a quick look and said, “You might want to change into disciple robes. Don’t wear a skirt. And remove the sword tassel—it might catch on the blade.”
Although he was clearly trying to be helpful, Xu Qianyu, still stinging from the defeat, felt his words grating. Irritated, she snapped, “Mind your own business.”
The young man hesitated, then disappeared before she had a chance to regret her words or apologize.
Xu Qianyu slapped her sword down hard, feeling thoroughly frustrated.
After a moment, she calmed down, and seeing no one in the cocoon, she silently changed into the disciple’s robe kept within the small golden pearl.
Just as she finished changing, a familiar name flashed among the silk threads on the wall: “Chen Duo.”

Chen Duo?
She turned around, and indeed, the man standing in the array with his sword was the carefree male cultivator she knew. When he saw Xu Qianyu, he raised an eyebrow, smirking maliciously, “Oh, we meet again. What a coincidence.”
Though his words were light, his smile held a hint of malice, and his grip on the sword hilt creaked with tension.
Xu Qianyu looked at him coldly.
The ring was sealed and empty; he had indeed found a chance to seek revenge for the previous whipping.
Sure enough, Chen Duo slowly approached her, saying, “Heh, this time, there won’t be any so-called ‘inner sect seniors’ to protect you, right?”
As he finished, his sword was already unsheathed, swinging directly toward her!
Xu Qianyu retreated several steps.
Fast. Too fast.
The sword was swift and ruthless, aiming directly at her face and neck. The fierce wind cut like a blade, and sweat broke out on her back. Dodging left and right, their swords clanged as she was driven into a corner.
“You know nothing and dare come to the advanced swordsmanship ring? You’re just humiliating yourself.” With a wave of his hand, Chen Duo sent a blast of sword energy that knocked Xu Qianyu to the ground, where half of the array began to flicker.
Before the array could fully activate, Xu Qianyu tried to rise, but Chen Duo didn’t relent. He stabbed toward the ground, forcing her to roll aside. The sword’s wind tore a gash in the shoulder of her disciple’s robe.
Each time she tried to get up, the blade came down, keeping her pinned.
After six tears appeared in her robe, she realized this was intentional.
He was deliberately humiliating her, refusing to let her stand even though he had already won.
She glared at him.
Xie Wang’s fingers tightened against the mirror.

Xu Qianyu was rolling on the ground, her hair in disarray, her clothes slashed, pinned under his blade, and unable to get up.
Seeing this scene, his heart raced.
First, shock and anger.
What a filthy wretch, daring to press her down. And she, useless as she was, let him touch her so freely.
Then, a flicker of excitement.
Xu Qianyu was usually so high above everyone, and this disheveled look was a first. The bright anger in her eyes made his breath quicken.
But suddenly, Xu Qianyu hooked her leg up.
Chen Duo had been smirking and mocking her, assuming she was a novice with no skill, just a blank slate. Yet, after days of practicing kicks, she had gained some strength, and with a strong swing of her leg, she hooked him off balance, sending him heavily to the ground.
Xu Qianyu scrambled up, grabbed her sword with both hands, and stabbed at his face repeatedly. Shocked, Chen Duo backed away.
“What are you doing?! Disciples sparring mustn’t aim to injure!”
A moment later, the array buzzed to life. Cursing, Chen Duo snatched his sword and disappeared.
Xu Qianyu sat on the ground, panting heavily.
Recalling the scene, she seethed. She had never been so humiliated.
So, building a sword foundation here meant nothing!
At that moment, a double-fish teleportation array appeared, like a silent reminder.
Xu Qianyu tied the red silk ribbon tighter around her hair, picked up her sword, and stepped onto the array, which transported her to another training ground. This place was vast, with a stone-paved floor and rows of puppets, their blurred reflections casting shadows on the ground.
This was where she belonged—an intermediate-level swordsmanship class.
A tall figure was already waiting among the puppets for her to approach.
“Gao Fengxing,” Xu Qianyu scolded, “why do you torment disciples on purpose?”
Gao Fengxing turned, his panther-like green eyes fixated on her with an oppressive gaze. “First, you should address me as ‘Master’ here.”

“Second, I intended to teach you that one should never bully the weak.”
Xu Qianyu thought for a moment and protested, “Why can Chen Duo bully the weak, and I can’t? If he can, so can I.”
“Others can; you cannot. Because he is a petty person, and you are a Sword Lord,” Gao Fengxing said sharply. “This is the path of a Sword Lord.”
Xu Qianyu frowned, finding this tone familiar, and softened her voice. “Master, where did you learn this sword path?”
Gao Fengxing frowned as well, sounding impatient. “Why do you ask? Me? I was taught by Shen Suwei—is that sufficient for you?”