Chapter 52 – Looked Down on by Body Cultivators?

(Part 1/2)

Si Qian sent a team invitation to Ye Qingning and also formally introduced herself.

Only then did Ye Qingning learn that Si Qian’s older sister, Si Nan, was a dual-path cultivator—both artifact and sword cultivation—lively and talkative, while the younger sister, Si Qian, was a blade cultivator.

Both Ye Qingning and Bai Wei had assumed that someone as spirited and outgoing as Si Qian would be a talisman or pill cultivator. They hadn’t expected her to be a blade cultivator.

Ye Qingning had always had a favorable impression of blade cultivators, especially female ones.

Regardless of whether blade cultivators had impulsive tempers or spoke without thinking, just the fact that they were deeply devoted to one person—fiercely loyal in both life and love—made Ye Qingning find the female blade cultivator before her quite endearing.

As for Si Qian’s reason for forming a team—it was because aside from the ten newcomers like them, she didn’t really know any of the other inner sect disciples.

Si Qian thought Ye Qingning was especially impressive for taking first place in the entry exam. It was completely different from what others had said about Ye Qingning being too frail to cultivate normally.

So, she came to invite Ye Qingning to join her team, hoping they could look out for one another in the secret realm.

Ye Qingning had a good impression of Si Qian and agreed.

Si Qian instantly jumped up in joy. “Great! I just knew Junior Sister Ye wouldn’t reject me! I’m going to tell my sister the good news!”

She happily dashed off, while Ye Qingning noticed that Bai Wei was frowning deeply, clearly worried about something.

“Senior Sister, the list of disciples going to Yunshan Secret Realm won’t be announced until three days later. Since you seem so worried, how about I ask Elder Wan when she comes to find me?”

Come to think of it, after settling her accommodations yesterday, Wan Zhao had suddenly mentioned she needed a favor from Ye Qingning.

She hadn’t gone into details, only saying she would come find her in the next day or two.

When the time came, Ye Qingning could conveniently ask about the name list.

Bai Wei was stunned, becoming even more nervous. Her fingers clenched tightly. “Is that okay? Even if Elder Wan is willing to tell you, would she really know who’s on the list?”

“Senior Sister forgot, we’re now inner sect disciples. In Penglai Sect, before inner sect disciples enter a secret realm, the Logistics Hall will prepare and distribute essential pills for them.”

“This is a benefit only available to inner sect disciples, and only Penglai’s inner sect offers this kind of privilege. Since the Logistics Hall has to prepare pills for the secret realm entrants, the Hall Master definitely reviews the disciple list personally. That means Elder Wan already has the list.”

Only then did Bai Wei realize the logic.

No wonder Penglai Sect was the number one sect—so many noble families fought to get their children admitted.

Other sects didn’t bother preparing standard supplies for their disciples before sending them into secret realms.

So it was certain Elder Wan had the list already.

It wasn’t like Bai Wei had any grand ambitions. She just didn’t want to be left off the list. If she wasn’t chosen, she’d rather know now and get the heartbreak over with than keep fretting and losing sleep these next few days.

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The Next Day

Ye Qingning got up early and went to class.

She attended two lectures in the morning: one on advanced talismans, the other on formations. It wasn’t until noon that she learned the inner sect had a cafeteria where all inner sect disciples could dine.

Not only that, but the meals weren’t made from ordinary ingredients—they were all spiritual food rich in essence. Even the rice was steamed from spirit grain.

This meant that inner sect disciples didn’t need to rely on fasting pills for cultivation. Eating spiritual meals wouldn’t cause impurities—in fact, it could help improve one’s cultivation.

Ye Qingning couldn’t help but sigh. This was the foundation of a great sect. In her past life at Luoyun Sect, she could only rely on fasting. In this life, starting from this moment, she could embrace her inner foodie again.

The cafeteria was massive, split into two areas. Ordinary inner sect disciples ate in the outer hall, while personal disciples and core disciples dined in the inner hall.

If elders or sect leaders came to eat, they usually dined in private rooms on the second floor.

As Ye Qingning and Bai Wei entered, a rich aroma wafted through the air.

Dozens of long tables were set up inside, lined with disciples on both sides. The dishes were a perfect mix of meat and vegetables.

Some disciples were silently eating, while a familiar face, Li Taiyi, excitedly exclaimed, “The inner sect is amazing! This dish is demonic beast meat! Second-tier beast thigh meat, no less!”

“I have body cultivation class this afternoon. This meal alone is worth three days of bitter training!”

Ever since joining Penglai Sect, Ye Qingning hadn’t had a proper meal at the outer sect. Today, she had a big appetite. Not only did she eat plenty of meat, but she also had two bowls of rice.

She could hear nearby female disciples gossiping about her, criticizing her for eating so much.

But it wasn’t like she was eating their food. Besides, she had body cultivation class in the afternoon too. Today’s lesson involved real combat. If she didn’t eat her fill, how was she supposed to spar with those burly male body cultivators?

Her heart meridians had only recently healed. Last time when she beat up that scumbag, she clearly felt that her physical strength post-repair had skyrocketed. She absolutely couldn’t skip body cultivation.

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(Part 2/2)

She had wanted to temper herself with heavenly lightning, but ever since arriving at Penglai Sect, it had been nothing but sunny skies. She kept hoping for rain and thunder, but it seemed even the heavens wanted to mess with her.

---

Body Cultivation Class

Ye Qingning’s arrival shocked the entire group of rough-and-tumble body cultivators. Ling Taihang looked at her like he’d seen a ghost.

Other people might not recognize Ye Qingning, but he definitely did.

Incomplete heart meridians? Too frail to cultivate? Forcibly broke through to Foundation Establishment? Who the hell spread that nonsense? How unreliable could it be?!

A female body cultivator? Never seen one before! Truly one-of-a-kind in Penglai Sect!

Naturally, no one had high expectations for her. They assumed she was just messing around—how could a delicate girl endure this kind of suffering?

“Today’s class is combat sparring. With her dainty look, how am I supposed to fight her?”

“Yeah, we’re all brutes. We don’t pull our punches. What if someone gets seriously hurt—missing a limb or something—how do we explain that to Elder Feng?”

Everyone was murmuring among themselves. Today, Elder Feng was personally teaching. If someone got injured, things would get messy.

Ye Qingning smiled faintly and said to everyone, “If I get hurt, it just means I wasn’t skilled enough. It has nothing to do with any of you, Senior Brothers.”

The body cultivators all looked at each other, momentarily speechless.

When Elder Feng arrived, everyone quickly shut up.

“Same routine—warm up first!” Elder Feng barked. Immediately, all the male body cultivators began sprinting around the massive training field.

This wasn’t your average jog. Each step kicked up a gust of wind, and some were running so fast they practically left afterimages.

Some even looked like their bodies were ahead, but their souls were chasing behind.

While running, someone snarked, “Forget sparring, just running a hundred laps without using spiritual power—she won’t even make it past ten before quitting!”

That set off a round of laughter.

Yeah, which female cultivator could run a hundred laps without using spiritual power? Even ten would be enough to collapse.

The system snorted with laughter:
[Ningning, run! Run hard and slap them all in the face! Show them what happens when they look down on you! A hundred laps? You could do it on one leg if you wanted!]

Ye Qingning: Why don’t you come do it, then…

She rolled up her sleeves, ready to start running, when suddenly the identity token at her waist lit up.

Disciples’ tokens could receive messages.

When a manager or elder summoned someone, the token would glow and ring.

The message showed that Wan Zhao was summoning her to the Inner Sect Dojo—urgently.

At that moment, the system screeched:
[Ningning, look! Look at the sky!]

Ye Qingning looked up and saw the once-clear sky rapidly darkening with inky clouds, churning together at a terrifying speed.

The heavy clouds hung low, almost within reach, exuding an oppressive weight.

Within the gloom, massive bolts of lightning crackled like silver dragons dancing wildly among the clouds.

Each flash was followed by thunderous roars that shook the heavens.

Ye Qingning knew—this wasn’t a normal storm. This was the sign of an impending Heavenly Tribulation.

She immediately realized why Wan Zhao had summoned her—to help someone resist the heavenly lightning during their tribulation in the dojo.

This, this, this… was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

—

Mini Theater:

Ye Qingning: Come on, come on! Strike me!

Heavenly Lightning: ??? Who do you think you’re mocking?!