Zhang Mei

The cultivation world, since ancient times, has been divided into two factions: righteous sects and devilish sects. Each side sought to annihilate the other across the barricades, leading to a prolonged and ongoing war.

However, the world is ever-changing. In the past millennium, over twenty devilish sects were eradicated. All thanks to extraordinary individuals acclaimed as the greatest geniuses in a hundred thousand years.

There were four cultivator geniuses, and all of them belonged to the righteous sects. It seemed as if the great deities, holding the fate of the Mortal Realm in their hands, saw the plight of the righteous cultivators and extended a helping hand.

Thus, these four cultivators forced the devilish sects to dwindle to just two, leading a concealed existence that made them hard to find. Currently, the activity of devilish cultivators has significantly diminished.

At present, there exist six major sects, including the devilish ones:

- Sect of Heavenly Sword

- Sect of Nine Pills

- Sect of Resting Eagle

- Sect of Starry Stream

- Sect of Shadowed Blades

- Sect of Bone Circle

The last two were devilish sects. The positions of these sects have remained unchanged for a thousand years. And now...

On the western continent, there was a sect located near the capital of the human dynasty – the Huanglun Dynasty. The sect was massive, almost the size of two megacities merged into one. It was surrounded by high mountain peaks, giving the impression that it was protected on the left, right, and rear by a mountain range shaped like a crescent moon, adding to its mysterious aura.

This was the Sect of Starry Stream. Due to being one of the four great sects, gaining entry into this sect was extremely challenging. They had a total of 200,000 sect disciples, with 160,000 in the outer court, 25,000 in the inner court, and 10,000 in the main court.

The sect focused on cultivating Qi and using it as the primary method of battle. Combat arts were not taught; instead, it was a sect of scholars. The sect leader was Zhang Mei, one of the four cultivators who managed to defeat the devilish sects and push them off the victor's throne. And so...

"No means no, Xu Mei. Even if we've known each other for over a hundred years, I refuse to pass on this cultivation technique to you. It could bring harm not only to the outside world but also to your disciple," suddenly echoed a cold female voice.

"Enough of this nonsense. Just give it to me; you don't need it anyway!" retorted an irritated female voice in response, sounding very familiar. It was Xu Mei.

The scene unfolded in a small room, decorated quite modestly with only a bed and a small table stacked with books. Standing before Xu Mei was a woman with a mature appearance. She had long gray hair tied in a high ponytail, violet eyes that emitted a cold light, and a sharp face with long lashes, presenting a beautiful countenance.

"I don't care about your reasons and such. I received this cultivation technique from my predecessors and swore not to give it to anyone but the fateful person who would become the greatest genius!" sharply stated the gray-haired woman, shaking her head.

"It's just a whimsical prophecy. Come on, we were comrades, haven't you forgotten?" said Xu Mei, covering her ears with her fingers, unwilling to listen to her interlocutor.

"No, and no again!"

"Stubborn fool! That's why you don't have a man!" taunted Xu Mei, irritated, and snorted.

At Xu Mei's words, veins bulged on Zhang Mei's forehead. She frowned, clearly angered.

"Pff, you don't have a man either, so what's the point of that remark? Besides, I've already started gradually delegating my responsibilities to the elders to focus on my own life. I have more suitors than you, you crazy witch!" retorted Zhang Mei in response, coldly smirking.

"Ah, you..." 

Very quickly, it turned into a battle. The elders observing through a small hole in the door lost their ability to speak and quickly retreated from the scene to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

***

Meanwhile, while his master was outside the sect, Xie Qing had an exclusive chance to roam freely. Although he couldn't venture outside the sect due to the presence of dangerous monsters, he could still stroll within the sect.

The Sect of Heavenly Sword was influential, and despite a slight decline in ranking over the last ten years, dropping to third place, it still stood as one of the greatest sects opposing devilish cultivators, earning a good reputation.

Every year, various talents gathered here in hopes of joining the sect, but only a few could make it, and a handful managed to break into the inner court.

Well, Xie Qing had been in the sect for four years, so he had a reputation... as a pretty ornament. It was clear that many female disciples liked him, but that didn't mean he had any influence. He was more of a talisman.

His distinctive feature was the white attire that adorned his handsome face. He looked like an immortal descended from the heavens. Because of this, he was given the nickname "Disciple White," which Xie Qing didn't particularly like.

"Why the hell do they call me that? I have a name!" he complained inwardly but could only resign himself to this silly nickname.

Though the basis for his nickname might have been the meaning of his name, which signified "pure" or "clear," he was still dissatisfied.

Either way, he strolled through the sect for a few minutes and already caused a stir. He attracted an incredible number of glances, mostly from fellow male disciples who looked at him as if Xie Qing had insulted their entire families.

"Guys, if you're ugly from birth, it's not my fault. Fate just chooses the best," Xie Qing arrogantly thought and then sighed, putting away his cynical behavior. "Well, their talent is better than mine... at least, that was the case until today."

Although his charming face could captivate young female disciples from the outer court and some elders, there were few disciples in the inner court and none among the main court who paid him any attention.

"If I want to achieve my dream harem, I must be strong," thought Xie Qing, then remembered a girl who was the girl of his dreams: "Lu Yin from the Sect of Nine Pills..."

She was the heiress of the Sect of Nine Pills, who once came to the Se family for a rare medicine that only they possessed. That's how Xie Qing managed to see her once.

At that time, Lu Yin was just beginning to gain popularity, showcasing her charm. The head of the Se family, Xie Qing's father, offered her a lucrative deal – the Xie family would support her with all resources in exchange for her marrying the eldest son of the Xie family, Xie Qing's older brother.

In the end...

This woman beat both Xie Qing's father and his older brother, who looked at her with lust!

"I liked her immediately, and when she beat that arrogant duo, I decided she's my ideal!" thought Xie Qing, nodding in satisfaction.

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*Deities – beings referred to as cultivators who, in exchange for less freedom and power, can control the laws of nature. They are often worshipped by cultivators.