Chapter 2: There's Always a Heavenly Tribulation Trying to Hurt Me

Using a jade slip required injecting a certain amount of spiritual Qi into it. Given Xiao Jinse's cultivation base, she couldn't maintain a lengthy conversation with Martial Sister Bai Lian. However, she felt embarrassed to ask for help, even though many would be willing to lend a hand. Her only option was to find an alternative solution.

Thanks to her victory in the newcomer competition, Xiao Jinse had obtained numerous elixirs that could enhance her cultivation. To increase her time conversing with Senior Sister Bai, she began cultivating fervently. Each day, her dantian vortex absorbed more spiritual Qi, allowing her to exchange more words with Senior Sister Bai.

Second younger Martial Sister: [Elder Martial Sister, is the scenery in the Sand Region beautiful?]

Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian: [It's like looking through yellow-tinted glasses. Even the little rabbit's color changes in my eyes!]

Second younger Martial Sister: [Are the people in the Sand Region very fierce?]

Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian: [No, no, the people here are simple and honest. No need to worry.]

Second Martial Sister: [Senior Sister, I've broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refinement.]

Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian: [I'll bring you some desert specialties when I come back.]

Chatting with Senior Sister Bai was the highlight of Xiao Jinse's day. These simple exchanges maintained their bond. This, Xiao Jinse believed, was the happiness that cultivation brought. If she grew stronger, perhaps she could be the one to fetch the Third Martial Sister. That would be wonderful. This motivated her even further to become stronger and fully digest the competition rewards before Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian's return.

...

Bai Lian stowed the jade slip close to her heart. She currently sat in a teahouse across from the Su family's residence.

"A private room, please!"

She arranged the copper coins on the counter.

"Alright!"

A waiter led Bai Lian to the second floor. Her purpose was to use her divine sense to assess the Su family's situation. Although she could observe from the street, it would draw too much attention.

Bai Lian didn't wish to embroil herself in local power struggles. Gray Wind Town, small as it was, contained complex interwoven forces within the Sand Region. Her sole aim was to safely bring the Third Martial Sister back to Qiongming Peak.

While the Sand Region may be small, the industrial chain for selling cultivators was complete, as revealed in "The Battle of the Gods." Gender was no restriction—if someone wanted, they could purchase and exploit anyone.

"It's an R18 gal game after all. The combat system might be a mere formality, but players could engage in all sorts of depravity."

At her table, the jade rabbit poured itself tea and sipped, mimicking Bai Lian.

"Haw!"

Soon, it stuck out its tongue in response to the bitterness.

Bai Lian touched its head and then began releasing her divine sense.

On the journey to Gray Wind City, Bai Lian had instructed the jade rabbit to scout ahead. In a desolate desert, after consuming the Tai Xuan True Yuan Pill, she'd weathered the Golden Core Stage's Thunder Tribulation through sheer effort, advancing to the early Golden Core Stage.

The jade rabbit had witnessed the event, but Bai Lian easily dismissed its confusion.

"Being a Natural Saint is exhausting. Heavenly Tribulation is always trying to harm me!"

This explanation satisfied the jade rabbit.

Breaking through to the Golden Core Stage hadn't significantly altered Bai Lian's foundational skills, as they already exceeded the standard. Only her Focus had risen by a substantial 20 points. Her strength, however, had markedly improved. Now, even battling a Saint, she might not necessarily lose.

The extra 20 Focus increased Bai Lian's control over her divine sense. After swiftly scanning the Su mansion, she spotted Su Youwei seated beneath a tree.

Her petite figure seemed to embody the word "delicate," likely burdened by the weight on her shoulders. Although she appeared young, she wasn't much different in age from Xiao Jinse.

With fair skin resembling grease, faint brows akin to smoke, and snow-like hair cascading over her shoulder, she seemed like a painting come to life. Her lips were slightly pursed, her expression somber.

Having overheard a conversation in another yard, Bai Lian understood the Third Martial Sister's concerns.

"This is an excellent opportunity for the Su family's rise, and the cost is merely marrying off two girls. Why would the fifth elder object? It's as if he doesn't care about us at all!"

"As Su family members, they should be willing to sacrifice for the family's prosperity."

"We can't allow them to evade this any longer!"

"The most troublesome is Su Youwei. Once we deal with her, everything will be easier."

Bai Lian got the picture.

The Su family was planning to wed Su Youwei and her aunt to the sect leader's son, whose sect resided near Gray Wind Town. In Su Youwei's previous life, this marked the start of her nightmare.

Although she'd managed to escape, both the fifth elder and her adoptive aunt had committed suicide. Thus, she embarked on the path of revenge, only to discover that her enemies had a far stronger backing. After killing one group, another emerged. She was forced into an unending cycle of slaughter. Despite obtaining relics from the "suicide" immortal, she fell in the face of overwhelming odds.

Then Su Youwei was reborn.

This scenario was quite typical for the beginning of web novels. If this were a novel, the first chapter would likely start with "Su Youwei opened her eyes."

Bai Lian reckoned that her Third Martial Sister was grappling with these hardships.

Returning to her youth but without bringing back her cultivation, escaping safely with her relatives wasn't a simple task.

An idea struck Bai Lian: this could be a prime opportunity. She might attempt to seduce the Third Martial Sister and bring her to Qiongming Peak.

Thus, task options materialized before Bai Lian:

[Task 1: Intimidate the Su family, demanding Su Youwei in the Duxian Sect's name (Reward: Spell - Thousands of Rivers and Mountains)]

[Task 2: Publicly declare acceptance of Su Youwei as a Qiongming Peak disciple in front of everyone (Reward: Spiritual Herb - Drunken Dream Flower)]

[Task 3: Meet Su Youwei alone (Reward: Quick Spirit Pill)]

Bai Lian blinked, puzzled.

The rewards for the first two tasks were understandably risky. However, why was even meeting Su Youwei alone considered dangerous? Could her Third Martial Sister's little fist really pose a threat to Bai Lian's chest?

Bai Lian found it unreasonable. After a long stare, she eventually chose Task 3.

It was best to proceed cautiously in this new environment.