Chapter 5: Core Disciple

The morning rays of the next day shone on the underside of Lyshisha's face, who after an uneasy rest, stirred awake.

The events of the previous day lingered in her mind, but what could she do about it?

First of all, what proof did she have that the folks killed were unwilling in the first place?

After all, they weren't physically restrained … maybe they were there of their own volition, their cries of anguish the simple, but unexpected result of their painful sacrifice?

But the most important thing is … is it her business to butt in the first place?

No, she didn't come to pry into their practices whose roots she may or may not understand, even if she was a foreign royal.

Hopefully, that elder didn't see her leaving, and for the sect attitude towards her actions … she'll just have to wait and see.

She came here to find a cure for her sister and a solution to her broken core if possible. She had to focus on these goals instead of some weird ritual sh*t.

Shuffling out of her crimson blanket, her naked silhouette walked from her simple beige room, ambling across the grey hallway as her fellow disciples gave her a worried glance each time she greeted them.

Despite her tall frame, and alluring face, she didn't think that they'll fear her wanting to eat them away. Was it due to her fight with Zhònghuà's Crown Princess?

Stepping beyond a greenish zone pitted with holes, her arrival in the grand bathroom elicited a few gasps from the crowd. Rows of steaming disciples soaked under the showerheads turned towards her.

Even those mating couples stopped, they eyes wide like a deer fleeing a flesh-eating vine.

"Sh*t … that's the foreign royal who took down Princess Meihui…" one disciple muttered to another who was shaving over one of the many sinks in the corners of the room.

"Isn't she courting death by remaining in the empire after her stunt? How could the Imperial Family let that go? They lost all face yesterday…"

"Despite her cultivation, she's really strong, but if we associate ourselves with her, wouldn't we incur the Imperial's wrath? I can't afford to offend them…"

"Maybe they can't retaliate because she comes from a pretty advanced empire, after all, she's a royal and they rather want to lose face instead of waging an open war over this fight…"

She guessed right.

They were scared of what political ramifications would arise by befriending her.

Though a tad cowardly, their reasoning was understandable, but for her, they were making a big issue out of nothing.

But whatever she'll say would not even help but possibly even worsen the situation, so they'll have to wait and see how everything would shape out … into no act of retaliation from either party.

With a light step she chose an empty showerhead and allowed the tepid water to cascade her body, and a few minutes later she flicked her finger over a button, allowing a bunch of flying gloves to scrub her flesh with a vanilla scent.

Her ablutions finished, she left the bathroom sopping wet under the disciples stares. A gust of artificial wind from the verdant pockmarked floor fully dried her skin as she reached her locker.

Inside, she retrieved the same uniform every female disciple wore, except she had a yellow cloak made from toghu, her empire fabric.

They even left a couple of similar uniforms just in case one might be ripped apart.

How thoughtful of them!

They even sewn her imperial arms—a roaring brown lioness—on its back!

She quickly dressed herself, wearing the red socks and the black low-heeled short boots the sect supplied, then made the other uniforms disappear within her bracelet before she went to the cafeteria…

*

Her hunger satiated 45 minutes later, she decided to head over to the outer court library, located on the first floors of the Jiu Tian Pagoda.

Stepping beyond the slide doors left her amazed. A bouquet of disciples sat cross-legged around many towering pillars thicker than any millennia-old tree stretching all the way to the ceiling. Bark-like motifs appeared and evanesced over the ivory hue the columns exuded.

A majestic scent wafted her nostrils, a redolence exhorting her to inhale and appreciate its history.

Evidently, the light-brown wooden floor was made from the famed but rare Greeting Pine only found in the Huangshan Mountains (Yellow Mountain).

Already Lyshisha's thoughts were a tiny bit clearer than before, sharper even.

Was it due to its rumored ability to help any cultivator inhaling it for a period of time to easily clear their minds of any stray thoughts and useless stimuli?

That'll be incredible!

However, she didn't know where to start, but fortunately, there was a counter able to guide newbie disciples like her, so she walked by to inquire.

But when she arrived, she couldn't help but stifle a gasp.

Dark shoulder-length relaxed hair over an enthralling heart-shaped face.

Neatly trimmed beard circling his chin all the way to his lower jaws.

Eyebrows as thin as his mustache.

Light brown eyes the hue of a willow tree.

A perfectly thewy body hugged by a forget-me-not tang suit embroidered with bird motifs.

Unblemished skin lustrously as dark and creamy as she was.

How could such a guy be perfect as he was?

And a core disciple, no less!

His relative youth.

A calm and collected silhouette sitting on a comfy chair, embodied by a winsome smile and an assured voice despite the power he exuded.

Who was he? She had to know everything, roots and stem alike!

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[Cultivation level: 98] ~Personal Information~ [Next level: 87%]

[First Name: Azuka] VITALITY :{100%} [Species : Human] [Middle Name(s): Beluolisa] MANA : {100%} [Surname: Jidemma] [Sex: Male] STAMINA :{100%} [Cultivation status: Ravager (8) Star] [Height: 6.4 ft] [Body Weight: 255 lbs] [Skeletal Age: 29 (Born: March 20th 2173)] [Blood Type: O+] [Bone Frame: 9th Grade] [Epithet/Title: The Raven Scarlet Blade] ~Status~

Normal [Jiu Tian Sect Core Disciple—Ranked 4th]

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A lòbà ehhh…

Not even thirty and already a high-level Ravager?

Ranked fourth across all core disciples?

And a ninth grade bone frame, just like hers?

Such a pity do those stats never mention how many meridians he unlocked.

Well, all she'll have to do is ask … and much more.

This phantasmagorical flower, she had to smell, lick, taste, and eat it whole!