Chapter 16 - Peace Restored, Selection Begins

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Situ Qingqing felt the cold edge of the sword against her neck and tried to push it aside, but Yuan Kouxuan's grip held firm, leaving her immobilized. Desperately, she pleaded, "Elder Sister, please give me the book back, and I'll return this evidence to you. Let's pretend none of this happened, alright?"

But Yuan Kouxuan kept a firm hold on her and, flipping open the first page, was immediately greeted by an image that made her cheeks burn.

She tore her gaze away, suppressing her embarrassment, and tapped Situ Qingqing's head with the book. "So, this is the 'cultivation method' you wanted to practice with Master?"

Situ Qingqing, caught red-handed, opted for the ostrich strategy, staying silent as Yuan Kouxuan scolded her.

"And you had the nerve to accuse me of improper thoughts about Master? If anyone here is crossing boundaries, it's you!"

Situ Qingqing bit her lip, finding no words to refute. After all, Yuan Kouxuan wasn't wrong—her actions did technically count as disobedience.

"Elder Sister, what will it take for you to return the book?" Situ Qingqing asked meekly, lowering her gaze.

"First, hand over what you took from me."

Situ Qingqing, feeling a bit resentful, retrieved the "evidence" from her sash and returned it.

Yuan Kouxuan swiftly hid it under the bed and let out a sigh of relief. Glancing back at Situ Qingqing, she stated firmly, "I'll be confiscating the book. You should be focusing on cultivation instead of reading these nonsensical things. It's no wonder Master punished you today!"

She added, "Once you reach the Nascent Soul realm, I'll return the book to you."

"Yes, Elder Sister…" Situ Qingqing replied dejectedly, her spirits deflated. "But… about tonight?"

Yuan Kouxuan's voice softened. "Let's pretend none of this ever happened. Neither of us came here, understood?"

"Yes, Elder Sister." Situ Qingqing's eyes lit up with relief.

"Now let's go, so we don't disturb Master's rest."

With that, Yuan Kouxuan grabbed Situ Qingqing by the collar and led her out. To ensure her mischievous junior sister didn't double back, she personally escorted her back to her quarters.

Xu Yang opened his eyes. "So, the fish took the bait… but another fish ruined the plan."

He felt a twinge of regret. He had been looking forward to waking up in the midst of a "distressed master" act, catching his disciples in the act to chide them a little, maybe even stir up their emotions with a few carefully chosen words. But, alas, Qingqing's untimely arrival disrupted everything.

Sigh. If only one had come in the first half of the night and the other in the latter half.

"What am I thinking?" he chuckled to himself. "Better to focus on cultivation."

Steeling himself, Xu Yang sat down on the meditation mat, and an aura of profound, esoteric energy enveloped him.

Three days later…

Heavenly Origin City

The city was bustling, the streets teeming with people as though the whole city had gathered in one place. Nobles and cultivators alike flocked to the massive Ascension Platform, staring up at a stunning figure standing on its edge.

"Wow! So that's Xue Jinli, the personal disciple of Purple Cloud Peak?"

"She's every bit as breathtaking as they say!"

"Her eyes are like autumn water, her skin as pale as jade, her beauty unmatched!"

"An exquisite poem!"

"I only came to watch, but now… I think I have to join Purple Cloud Peak!"

"Lady Xue, please take me in as your disciple—I'll even kneel and beg if I must!"

A throng of awestruck youths whispered their admiration for her.

In their midst stood an unassuming young man, his presence so inconspicuous he was almost invisible, as if cloaked by some mysterious aura.

This was none other than Xiao Ye, who had spent the last three days cultivating the Blazing Sun Technique. His natural talent and comprehension had allowed him to master the basics, propelling his cultivation to the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. His reservoir of liquid spiritual power in his dantian now exceeded 3,000 drops—ten times more than when he first broke through, making him a formidable presence in his realm.

He fixed his gaze on Xue Jinli with a fiery intensity, like a predator eyeing its prey.

"Well, what do you think, my disciple? Was I wrong about her?" came the playful voice of Elder Li from the jade pendant.

Elder Li knew his disciple well enough to predict that Xiao Ye, despite his otherwise ordinary appearance, would be powerless before the allure of a beauty like Xue Jinli.

"Lady Xue might be captivating, but I sense a sadness in her gaze. Life on Purple Cloud Peak must be hard for her," Xiao Ye murmured, his eyes lingering on her. "I'm determined to join Purple Cloud Peak and free her from the clutches of that wicked Xu demon!"

Elder Li could only sigh. This was just like when Xiao Ye once convinced himself that the wife of a powerful family head was miserable, only to be mistaken. And Xiao Ye's belief that they'd shared a secret moment? All from the two of them drunkenly sharing a bed—fully clothed—and getting caught by her husband.

Meanwhile…

On the Ascension Platform

Xue Jinli met the eyes of the city lord, Shangguan Shu, who stood nearby, giving him a small nod. Taking the cue, Shangguan Shu stepped forward, addressing the crowd in a powerful voice.

"Today, the Purple Cloud Peak of Qingming Sect has come to Heavenly Origin City to select worthy disciples. The selection criteria are as follows:

Bone age above 18 years—disqualified.

Cultivation below the Foundation Establishment realm—disqualified."

What?!

The announcement hit like a boulder dropped in a pond, sending ripples of shock and protest through the crowd.

"I only turned 18 yesterday! I'm my family's last hope—now it's all over!"

"I'm underage, but I'm only at the eighth level of Qi Refinement. What do I do?"

"These conditions are way too strict! A Foundation Establishment cultivator under 18 is incredibly rare!"

"They may be rare in Qingming Sect, but Purple Cloud Peak alone has seven disciples who fit that description! And none of them were over 16 when they achieved Foundation Establishment!"

"Outrageous! As a Core Formation cultivator, I'm officially lodging a complaint!"

"Right! We've come all this way just to find that we're not even allowed to participate. This is a mockery of our time and effort!"

The crowd erupted in chaos, voices overlapping as the crowd turned into a sea of complaints and protests, filling the air around the Ascension Platform with noise and discontent.

To read 219 chapters of the book I wrote, patreon.com/Guts02