Before the majestic western gate of Qingshui Sect.
At this moment, the sky was filled with clouds and mist, thick and unyielding, as if embracing all rivers into the sea. Faintly visible within were a thousand stone steps, shimmering like a mirage, a realm of immortals. Surrounding this mist, many inner sect disciples were already waiting.
Inner sect robes bore distinct marks: silver-threaded water patterns at the collar signified Ningyuan (Condensation of Essence), while gold-threaded patterns denoted Lianshen (Refinement of Spirit). Lin Shuang glanced down at herself, noting the green vine water-patterned waistband on her inner sect blue robe, currently adorned with three threads, marking her as Huqi Third Layer (Third Layer of Qi Transformation). Among those present, she was the only one at the Huqi stage.
Standing out, Lin Xiao Shuang.
Sigh.
She sighed inwardly. According to her original plan, she had no intention of participating in major sect events like elite selections, inner sect disciple rankings, or arena battles until she advanced to Ningyuan. Before becoming strong enough, there was no need to waste time on such matters. Once she was sufficiently powerful, a single move would suffice—swift and efficient.
But she couldn’t resist Senior Brother Xu Rui’s upright and stubborn personality. Fortunately, she had anticipated this forced “grind” and had a plan. If Senior Brother insisted she compete, she’d go all out and tackle three challenges at once to save herself future trouble.
“Looking for a teammate at the 7000th layer, skilled in sword or saber!”
“Seeking disciples between the 2000th and 3000th layers—any alchemists out there?”
“Last spot open, 1500th layer! Any senior or junior brothers skilled in large-scale attacks? Sound cultivators or talisman cultivators welcome!”
Shouts, amplifying talismans, and runes swirled through the air before the misty gate. Disciples moved back and forth, joining three-person teams.
Lin Shuang blinked, pulling out Senior Brother Xu Rui’s recorded lectures for outer sect disciples from her mustard seed bag, flipping through the key points.
“Once you enter the inner sect, you’ll see that disciple rankings are closely tied to benefits.”
“For example, the Zhenchuan Trial, held every ten years, consists of 9,999 stone steps. The first step accommodates the weakest inner sect disciples, with meager rewards. But climb above the 9000th step, and the resources you receive rival those of sect elders.”
“How hard you work today determines how high you’ll climb in the Zhenchuan Trial!”
Lin Shuang skimmed the text, then tucked the notes back into her mustard seed bag. Gazing at the sea of clouds, she could faintly make out the thousand stone steps of the towering mountain. Activating her Fire-Eye Golden Gaze technique, with the vision of a Ningyuan Great Perfection cultivator at the 917th layer, she could only see up to the 3000th step. Beyond that, dense spiritual energy cloaked the higher steps in mist.
“Disciples, prepare yourselves and enter Zhenchuan!”
“Teams of up to three!”
A majestic elder’s voice echoed from the depths of the clouds, resonant and enduring like a tolling bell. Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow; several dormant dantians in her body stirred faintly at the sound, showing signs of awakening. That single voice nearly triggered her dantian’s passive protection. This elder was at least in the late Lianshen stage, or even the next realm, Xushen (Entering the Void)—far surpassing the outer sect’s teaching masters.
“Enter quickly!” the voice urged again.
As the words fell, many disciples took to the air, stepping into the mirage-like clouds. Yet a few incomplete teams, missing one member, anxiously searched for partners.
“No more sword cultivators? Saber cultivators will do!”
“Anyone with pills, join us!”
Before the mirage of Zhenchuan, inner sect disciples shouted ceaselessly. Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow, recalling more of Senior Brother Xu Rui’s teachings.
“Sword, alchemy, artifact, formation, talisman… even at their peak, each has its flaws. In the inner sect, focus on one path, but also find fellow disciples whose cultivation complements yours.”
“In missions, secret realms, and trials, cooperate to cover each other’s weaknesses, embodying the strength of Qingshui Sect—drops of water forming a river, embracing all streams!”
Mutual benefit through cooperation. Lin Shuang nodded; she quite liked Qingshui Sect’s culture. Even disciples with auxiliary cultivation abilities could rise to high ranks if they collaborated well, without a hierarchy of disdain.
“Junior Brother Bai, we’re both at Ningyuan Fifth Layer, aiming for above the 5000th layer. Join us!” a shout pulled Lin Shuang’s attention.
She saw the frost-haired, refined Bai Yu about to approach Huangfu Yuan but intercepted by several enthusiastic disciples. “Senior Brother Huangfu has no fighting strength now. If you go above the 1000th layer with him, you’ll surely get hurt,” one said, eyeing Huangfu Yuan with disdain. “If his cultivation drops further, he’ll be sent to the outer sect.”
Bai Yu’s expression shifted. Huangfu Yuan, clad in a blue robe with a silver-rat fur cloak, remained composed, his pale lips curving into a gentle smile toward Bai Yu. “They’re right. Go.”
Bai Yu gritted his teeth but nodded, bypassing the disciples mocking Huangfu Yuan to join another pair of Ningyuan Fourth Layer disciples.
“Hey, aren’t we speaking the truth?”
“What’s so great about him? He’s not the only one with demon blood!”
Bai Yu quickened his pace, fuming. Soon after, a disheveled Meng Zhi, carrying a large saber, sauntered over. “Seniors, how about me?” he grinned, shifting his saber from right to left shoulder, nearly grazing the group’s faces.
The group barely dodged. “Meng Zhi, what are you doing?!”
“Oh, are you angry, Senior Brothers? Inner sect rules: no private fighting among disciples, or it’s a 500 spirit stone fine.” Meng Zhi smirked, resting his hand on his saber’s hilt. “If you hit me, just give me 250 spirit stones, and I won’t tell the elders.”
The group rolled their eyes. “Get lost!”
“Want to team up? I’m cheap—during group battles, I’ll serve tea and water for just 25 spirit stones each time!”
“Scram!”
Meng Zhi rubbed his nose, shouldering his saber and walking off. Passing Huangfu Yuan, the latter smiled warmly. “Thanks for standing up for me, Junior Brother.”
Meng Zhi waved it off. “No big deal. Shame they didn’t hit me; I could’ve scammed some pill money.”
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
Meng Zhi soon clasped his fists apologetically. “Senior Brother Huangfu, every 500 layers in Zhenchuan grants 1000 spirit stones. I’d love to help, but I can’t team with you.”
Huangfu Yuan’s long eyes twitched, but he smiled gently. “No worries.”
Meng Zhi nodded and strode off. Wherever he went, disciples scattered like frightened beasts.
“Here comes the money-grubber! Run!”
“Have you formed a trio? Hurry, Meng Zhi’s coming!”
“Get into Zhenchuan fast—teaming with him starts at a 200 spirit stone loss!”
Like wind sweeping clouds, no one remained within a hundred steps of him.
Meng Zhi: “…”
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
Lin Shuang, observing with her Fire-Eye Golden Gaze from a treetop, halted her impulse to approach these two “acquaintances.” They were too unpopular.
Lesson One of Socializing: Birds of a feather flock together. Choose friends wisely.
She’d promised her academy grandma to make more friends, not be a lone wolf. With that, Lin Shuang leapt from the snow-covered branch toward a pair of inner sect seniors who’d already formed a duo.
The senior, casting a spell with a glowing talisman, shouted, “Need one for defense!”
“Senior Brother, I’m here!” Lin Shuang beamed, stepping forward. “I have no weaknesses in cultivation and specialize in defense.”
The thick-browed senior brightened, but upon seeing her, he froze. “This Junior Sister is…?” He didn’t recognize her. “Which cave mansion are you from?”
Lin Shuang smiled, squinting. “I’m from the outer sect cave mansion.”
Thick-browed Senior: “???”
He gaped, scanning her from head to toe. Blue robe, green waistband—indeed an outer sect Huqi disciple! His smile stiffened, and he turned to leave.
Lin Shuang: “…”
Discrimination, blatant discrimination. What was wrong with being from the outer sect?
Amid drifting clouds, ten crane cries rang out. The elder’s bell-like voice boomed again.
“The Zhenchuan Trial opens in ten years—hurry, disciples!”
“Five breaths, four, three…”
Lin Shuang’s eyelids twitched. In the distance, Meng Zhi’s did too. He locked eyes with the lone Huangfu Senior Brother. “Senior Brother Huangfu, shall we team up?”
Huangfu, clutching a new silver-threaded hand warmer carved with a chicken-and-rabbit motif, smiled and stepped into the clouds. “Don’t mind me holding you back, Junior Brother Meng.”
Meng Zhi sighed, gritted his teeth, and followed. “Fine, just us two—”
Before he finished, a blue-robed figure flashed past, skirt fluttering, carrying a faint plum fragrance and hurried breaths, stepping into the mirage-like clouds alongside them.
“Senior Brothers, I have no cultivation weaknesses. May I join your team?”
Perfect!
A scapegoat—no, a junior sister who could advance and retreat with them! A trio earned more spirit stones than a duo!
Meng Zhi was thrilled. Instantly, space warped, and the teleportation array activated. The ground shook, and their vision blurred into chaos, filled with faint voices.
“Good thing we didn’t team with Meng Zhi, or he’d charge us for tea!”
In the darkness, Meng Zhi’s face flushed. “Junior Sister, don’t listen to their nonsense.”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind, Senior Brother,” came a clear, generous female voice.
What a great junior sister—gentle and understanding, like Xiao Bai. Meng Zhi relaxed, relieved their trio wouldn’t disband before entering Zhenchuan. After all, every 500 layers meant 1000 spirit stones.
“You think Meng Zhi’s bad? At least we didn’t team with Huangfu Yuan, that century-long invalid!”
Meng Zhi: “!”
Fuming, he glanced worriedly toward the plum-scented figure in blue. “It’s okay, Senior Brother. I don’t mind Senior Brother Huangfu either. No worries,” the gentle, reasonable voice reassured.
Meng Zhi sighed in relief again. Give me a stack of such junior sisters!
But for some reason, he sensed a slight stiffness from Huangfu Yuan beside him. Before he could ask if Huangfu was unwell, another voice chimed in.
“You think that’s bad? Meng Zhi’s at Ningyuan Third Layer, and Huangfu Yuan has pills—still useful. I got paired with someone even crazier!”
Meng Zhi exhaled, glad the gossip wasn’t about them. But then he noticed Huangfu Yuan and the understanding junior sister pause their breathing.
“Oh, how crazy?” another team asked.
Meng Zhi felt the blue-robed junior sister’s breathing quicken, while Huangfu subtly turned toward her.
“Haha, this junior sister claimed she has no cultivation weaknesses and wanted to join us!”
Meng Zhi listened with interest but froze mid-teleport. “??”
Wait, that sounded familiar.
“I turned around, and guess what? A Huqi Third Layer outer sect disciple in a blue robe with a three-threaded water-pattern waistband!”
Meng Zhi: “???”
“An outer sect Huqi Third Layer trying to join the Zhenchuan Trial, held once every decade for inner sect rankings—how ridiculous is that? Meng Zhi and Huangfu Yuan are nothing compared to this outer sect Huqi girl, haha!”
Laughter faded as the teleportation ended. The chaos cleared, revealing a towering mountain before them. Meng Zhi, neck stiff, slowly turned to the plum-scented figure beside him. A slender form, a faded Huqi waistband with three water threads, tied around a delicate blue skirt.
Meng Zhi: “…!”
He closed his eyes, unable to believe it. The scapegoat was me?!
Then, a voice that nearly choked him came from Huangfu Yuan. “Junior Sister Lin Shuang, it’s you.”
Meng Zhi froze, eyes widening as he looked up. Lin Shuang, fair as snow, with dark hair cascading to her waist, met their gazes with a calm, unembarrassed smile.
“Fate, Senior Brother Huangfu, Senior Brother from the patrol team—long time no see. I don’t mind you, so you won’t mind me, right?”
Meng Zhi: “?!?!”
Outer Sect Teaching Hall
“Masters, something big happened!”
Xu Rui rushed in, his Eight Trigrams Sword askew by half an inch.
“What’s the matter, always so impulsive?” Master Li Daowei frowned. “Cultivation is about refining the heart. Xu Rui, you’ve been in Ningyuan for thirteen years—don’t you understand?”
Xu Rui took a deep breath, too urgent to correct that it was thirteen years and six months. “Elders, Lin Shuang has entered the Zhenchuan Secret Realm outside the mountain gate!”
“Please inform the inner sect to bring her back immediately!”
Only those who advanced to Ningyuan qualified for the inner sect, let alone the Zhenchuan Trial, held every ten years for inner sect rankings.
Li Daowei paused, stunned. “What?”
“Nonsense!” He grimaced, teeth aching, but quickly sat cross-legged, waving a hand. “Zhenchuan? No problem. She can’t get in.”
Xu Rui blinked. “Elder, I checked the Zhenchuan Secret Realm records. A trio’s combined cultivation determines their starting floor. If she follows Ningyuan disciples, she could slip in!”
“This is a loophole in our Qingshui Sect’s rules. We must report it to the inner sect for correction—”
Before he finished, the four elders’ eyes twitched. A loophole? Which outer sect disciple would be crazy enough to enter Zhenchuan, a Huqi disciple competing with Ningyuan and Lianshen inner sect disciples for rankings? The sect’s founder a century ago never imagined this!
Li Daowei stroked his beard. “It’s my oversight. Zhenchuan opens every ten years; it’s normal for outer sect disciples to be curious.”
He pondered, then pulled a small jade token from his sleeve and tossed it to Xu Rui. “I still have some connections. While the outer sect selection hasn’t started, take the top three disciples, including Lin Shuang, to Zhenchuan to do chores. Let them observe and learn…”
Xu Rui inhaled deeply. “Master, Lin Shuang is already inside.”
“No worries, she’ll be back soon,” Master Chen said calmly, smiling. “Xu Rui, you said it yourself—Zhenchuan requires trios. What inner sect disciple would be foolish enough to team with an outer sect Huqi disciple for the trial?”
The elders exchanged smiles.
“Take Zhao Keran and the others and head out. You might even meet Lin Shuang at Zhenchuan’s entrance.”
Inside the Zhenchuan Secret Realm
Lin Shuang stepped in, gazing up at the 9,999-layer Zhenchuan Mountain. Unlike the mountain’s illusory shadow at the gate, all clouds had vanished. A turbulent river roared before her, with a towering peak at its center, its summit hidden from view.
Zhenchuan—the mountain suppressed the endless river. The dark, rugged mountain lacked greenery, brimming with hidden dangers. Yet, carved stone steps lined its body, each layer hosting several cloud-patterned black iron gates. The lower layers had more gates, dwindling as they ascended. The mountain resembled a treasure artifact carved by a mighty cultivator.
“Lin Shuang—are you a pig?!”
Meng Zhi, the great scapegoat, glared at her, fuming. “You outer sect fool! I’m reporting you!”
He grabbed his disciple token to send a message, but Huangfu Yuan coughed lightly, stopping him. “Junior Brother Meng, it’s done. Getting angry won’t change it.”
A stone tablet before Zhenchuan’s gate glowed with text:
[Zhenchuan Mountain Trial]
[Group 11111 Entered: Huangfu Yuan, Meng Zhi, Lin Shuang (sorted by entry time)]
Meng Zhi stumbled back. The moment they stepped into the teleportation array, Zhenchuan had bound them as a trio—no returns!
He looked mournfully at the dozen wooden plaques in his mustard seed bag:
—Zhao Keran, why do you still live with Lin Shuang?
—With your peerless talent, top three in the outer sect in three years, why make such a poor choice?
—Stay away from Lin Shuang!
Meng Zhi closed his eyes in pain. Xiao Bai, not only did I fail to stop others from following your path, but now I’ve…
“Since we’re here, let’s proceed harmoniously. Consider me hiring you to protect Junior Sister Lin and me,” Huangfu Yuan said.
Meng Zhi’s pained expression wavered. Lin Shuang looked at Huangfu Yuan, who, pale as paper, nodded courteously, signaling her to stay quiet.
“Though I’m gravely ill, as an alchemist, I’ll provide all first- to third-grade pills for free. Plus, for every hour we stay in Zhenchuan, I’ll give Junior Brother Meng 100 spirit stones. Tea and protection fees are separate.”
Meng Zhi’s back straightened. He glanced at Lin Shuang, snorted, then turned to the frail Huangfu Yuan, warming himself with the silver-threaded hand warmer.
“Senior Brother, you’re too kind. Protecting fellow disciples is my duty—why offer spirit stones and pills? But… I’ll accept!”
The last words tumbled out quickly. Huangfu Yuan paused, then chuckled. “Good, Junior Brother.”
Lin Shuang shook her head but froze as a familiar square wooden table was tossed before her with a grunt. The third-grade speed talisman on it, with its oddly shaped ink strokes, was only 60% as effective as a standard talisman. She’d sold it for 3000 spirit stones.
Her eyes twitched.
“Don’t die on me—I can’t afford an outer sect disciple’s casualty!” Meng Zhi huffed, then strode forward. “Leaving Zhenchuan, I’ll charge per use—200 spirit stones each!”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Huangfu Yuan chuckled softly, but soon another square wooden table was thrust before him.
“Senior Brother, this table gathers spiritual energy. Borrow it.”
Huangfu Yuan’s handsome face stiffened. Before he could speak, a beam of spiritual energy from the gate’s testing stone enveloped them.
[Group 11111 Entering Zhenchuan:]
[Meng Zhi: Ningyuan Third Layer Peak]
[Huangfu Yuan: Ningyuan Entry (Severely Injured)]
[Lin Shuang: Ning??? Huqi Third Layer (Unknown Reason for Low?)]
The fifth-grade testing stone’s text distorted briefly for Lin Shuang before settling. Meng Zhi clutched his forehead, Huangfu Yuan’s smile remained, and Lin Shuang ignored it.
[Group 11111 Average Cultivation: Huqi Seventh Layer]
[Teleporting to Zhenchuan Layer 349 (0 Deaths, 0 Injuries Trial)]
Meng Zhi gaped. He’d been to Zhenchuan a decade ago and never got such treatment! Was this the legendary “easy mode”?
[Success: Unlock 500 Layers Upward]
[Failure: Fall 300 Layers Down]
Lin Shuang was enveloped in spiritual light as an elder’s voice echoed in her ears:
[Layer 349: I sit alone in the mountain, my shadow forming three.]
A moss-covered stone cave appeared, its black iron gate faintly carved with three aquatic beast heads. Inside, three worn straw mats lay, untouched for centuries.
[Layer 349 Challenge: Huangfu Yuan, Meng Zhi, Lin Shuang]
[Watch Live Trial Footage? Cost: 50 Spirit Stones]
Bai Yu, outside a 2000-layer trial cave, saw the Zhenchuan tablet and joyfully paid. Found Master! And Senior Brother Meng? What a coincidence.
But seeing the third name, his white hair stood on end. Lin Shuang?!
He walked ahead, his two senior brothers following. “Junior Brother Bai, why look at a 300-layer trial? What’s interesting?”
They gaped. “This team… is serious?”
Xiao Bai: “…”
[Junior Brother Xu Rui, your outer sect disciple really entered Zhenchuan, at the 300th layer! Open the live projection!]
*[No need to worry—wait, you *should* worry! A Huqi Third Layer with a century-long invalid and a money-grubber? Doomed! Your outer sect didn’t manage this?]*
At the outer sect office, Xu Rui was addressing Zhao Keran and Zhou Xuanwu. “Pack lightly and follow me to Zhenchuan for chores.”
Glancing at his communication stone, he froze. “Didn’t the four masters say Senior Sister couldn’t get in?” Zhao Keran gasped.
Xu Rui opened the live projection. Lin Shuang’s trio appeared in a bare cave with three bamboo mats, bathed in three golden beams.
[Xu Rui, they’re in trouble—it’s an advancement trial!]
[They must advance to the next cultivation stage within the time limit to leave!]
[Bad luck—they got the time-consuming cultivation trial!]
[Especially your outer sect sister, Huqi Third Layer. She must cultivate slowly, right?]
Xu Rui’s face paled. An advancement trial? They were done for. Lin Shuang refused to break through, despite her true strength being Huqi Great Perfection. Her dantian remained stubbornly at Huqi Third Layer.
But then Zhao Keran exclaimed, “Senior Sister broke through!”
“?”
Xu Rui’s worried expression froze mid-formation. He looked up to see Lin Shuang seated on the second mat near the door, unusual for her not to take the closest spot. The golden trial light around her flickered.
[Huqi Third Layer → Fourth Layer]
The trial stone displayed the text. The golden barrier, sensing the breakthrough, opened instantly.
[Trial Passed!]
Xu Rui was stunned. She’s cooperating today?
His communication stone stalled.
[She cultivates slowly, right? …Slowly… … …Grass, how’s she so fast?!]
“As expected of Senior Sister,” Zhao Keran said, awestruck. “Faster than the communication stone.”
Xu Rui: “…”
Zhou Xuanwu: “…”
But the next second, the second golden barrier closed again.
[Huqi Fourth Layer → Third Layer]
[Trial Failed! Retry!]
Before they could speak, the barrier flickered repeatedly:
Third Layer → Fourth Layer
Fourth Layer → Third Layer
Passed, Failed, Passed, Failed…
Lin Shuang, in her blue robe with red-tied sleeves, sat with closed eyes, her dark lashes flickering under the shifting light, her skin alternating between snowy white and ghostly pale.
[Xu Rui, save her! Your outer sect broke the decade-long Zhenchuan Trial!]
Xu Rui: “…!”
Zhou Xuanwu: “…”
Zhao Keran: “…As expected of Senior Sister.”
Zhenchuan, Layer 349 Trial Cave
Lin Shuang, unusually, chose the second mat near the door. She glanced at Huangfu Yuan beside her, pale as paper, his phoenix eyes trembling slightly, clutching his silver-threaded hand warmer. His slender neck, wrapped in a vibrant red fox-fur collar, looked almost transparent. He looks like he’d collapse in a breeze.
Lin Shuang shook her head inwardly. She, Lin Shuang, aimed to be the fastest woman, living up to her academy grandma’s expectations. But speed had its principles. Outside, one must yield to the old, weak, sick, and pregnant. She couldn’t bring herself to compete for the best seat with this breathless beauty.
Praising herself with a smile, she sat cross-legged in the trial array. Each of the three trial barriers held a trial stone:
[Entered Cave: Huqi Third Layer]
[Advance One Layer to Leave]
Sitting on the mat triggered the trial stone’s challenge. Lucky. Her morning plan included cultivating for one incense stick’s time.
The barrier activated, and as Meng Zhi had said, the spiritual energy inside was six to seven times denser than in the outer sect. Zhenchuan was both a trial and a great opportunity for disciples to break through. Lin Shuang was delighted—she’d struck gold.
Sinking her mind, her 108 divine senses in her spiritual sea awakened, shooting out like thick spider threads, seizing the barrier’s spiritual energy and pulling it into her body with lightning speed. Her fourth dantian, on duty today, spun rapidly under the stimulus, hiccupping and spitting out a small Huqi spiritual mass.
Relentlessly, dozens of cycles later, Lin Shuang inwardly observed the growing spiritual mass. “Let’s call you Dantian Number 92.”
Fresh and vibrant, it pulsed strongly. The trial stone displayed:
[Huqi Third Layer → Fourth Layer!]
Lin Shuang smiled. Two Huqi Third Layer dantians equaled Huqi Fourth Layer. Data acquired.
The trial barrier opened. [Trial Passed!]
Lin Shuang beamed, ready to stand, but glanced left and right, her smile stiffening. Meng Zhi, saber across his knees, was still cultivating.
“Junior Sister Lin, this advancement trial has a time-stagnation array. One year inside is one day outside,” Huangfu Yuan had said before entering.
Lin Shuang relaxed slightly, turning to the door-side mat. Huangfu Yuan, eyes closed, was even paler, his lips strikingly vivid. As she peeked, he reached into his chest, pulled out a jade bottle, and swallowed three potent red pills.
Lin Shuang’s eyelids twitched. One was still cultivating, the other popping pills—neither had finished. She couldn’t leave alone.
Fine, I’ll cultivate more. My incense stick isn’t done anyway.
Closing her eyes, she put Dantian 92 to sleep, leaving only Number 4 active.
[Huqi Fourth Layer → Third Layer]
[Trial Failed!]
Her 108 divine senses surged again, plundering the barrier’s spiritual energy. Dantian 93 formed within the time array.
[Huqi Third Layer → Fourth Layer]
[Trial Passed!]
She opened her eyes. They still weren’t done. Closing them again:
[Huqi Fourth Layer → Third Layer]
[Huqi Third Layer → Fourth Layer]
[Trial Failed!]
[Trial Passed!]
…
[Trial Passed!]
…
Dantian 97 Formed!
Lin Shuang opened her eyes, exasperated. Help, are they still not done?
One year inside was one day outside—she’d spent 68 days in the array.
[Chen Sheng, Wu Xing, Zhao Zhikai, Layer 349 Trial Passed!]
[I sit alone in the mountain, my shadow forming three: Time Taken, 186 Days.]
[Top Rank for This Layer. Congratulations, Proceed to Rest Area for Rewards.]
A celebratory red banner floated past with the elder’s voice.
Huh? Same layer? 186 days?!
Lin Shuang caught the key detail. Half a year for this layer? That was too long! She had spring and autumn outings every six months, plus summer and winter breaks. She didn’t want to be stuck here for 180+ days.
“Senior Brother Huangfu, are you awake?”
“Uh, Senior Brother Meng, you awake?”
“Haven’t you broken through? How much longer?”
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
Meng Zhi: “…?”
She’s already broken through?!
Meng Zhi opened his eyes to find her standing before him. “I’ve broken through. I’ve read my booklet seven times, my storybook three times, and learned three new talismans…”
“…!”
“If you’ll take a while, want me to slip you some cultivation speed-up tricks?”
Lin Shuang couldn’t hold back.
“???”
Impossible! Meng Zhi needing her tips? Laughable! If Xiao Bai heard, he’d be heartbroken.
Finishing a minor cycle, Meng Zhi sneered, glaring at her. She’d pulled a booklet from her mustard seed bag, its title vaguely reading Fastest. Flipping through, she tore out a page and tossed it between him and Huangfu Yuan.
He was about to snap when he saw the neat handwriting:
[Fastest Cultivation: Early Bird Edition]
Who’s the early bird?!
Meng Zhi glared but froze at the next line:
[Any way to make your dantian burst with double or triple speed, boosting potential?]
[Yes, methods as follows:]
[1. After fat-burning exercise, when heart rate is high, spiritual energy flows faster with blood, accelerating cultivation.]
Meng Zhi blinked. Fat-burning? Heart rate?
The further he read, the more confused he became.
[2. If fat-burning isn’t possible, take a hot medicinal bath. High temperatures speed up spiritual energy flow.]
Meng Zhi: “!??!”
[3. Take pills.]
[4. If none of the above are available, use the Line 1 Metro Method.]
Meng Zhi: “???”
[Line 1 Metro Method: Split spiritual energy into multiple streams. First stream departs, second follows after 120 breaths, third after another 120 breaths…]
[This way, multiple ‘metro’ cycles run simultaneously in your body! Mind the gaps to avoid spiritual energy collisions!]
[This can multiply cultivation speed.]
[Junior Sister, got it? Odd-numbered days, random checks.]
Meng Zhi: “…!”
Who’s the Junior Sister?!
Huangfu Yuan studied the ink, lost in thought. The last line, “Junior Sister, got it?”, had faded ink and creased paper, as if crumpled.
—Is this why you, a woman turned man, fled the inner sect but never spoke of it? This ‘Junior Sister’ is you.
—Xiao Bai, you… didn’t learn it?
At Zhenchuan’s 2500th layer, Bai Yu held his communication stone, staring at the familiar blurry paper, his white hair trembling.
“Junior Sister Bai, got it? Tomorrow, Senior Sister will test your cultivation speed.”
“Junior Sister, how much of the Dantian Acceleration Chapter have you mastered?”
Dead memories attacked him. Bai Yu faltered. He could hide no longer—it was time to confess.
Yes, Master…
“Junior Brother Xiao Bai, what’s wrong? You look pale. After 2500 layers, shall we head to 2999?”
“I’m a failure…”
“What?”
Early Bird. The young master of the Demon Toad Clan fled to the inner sect, transforming into a man overnight, renaming himself Bai Yu.
“I can’t learn it. The Metro Cultivation Method—I just can’t get it. I don’t deserve to stay in the outer sect…”
“???”
Outer Sect Office, Before the Projection Stone
Zhao Keran gazed at the barely legible paper, its Early Bird title clear. Her round face shone with awe and gratitude, unable to be contained, as she looked at Lin Shuang, now lying down, smiling in her sleep in the trial cave.
“So that’s it.”
Zhao Keran’s eyes sparkled with gratitude and shock. “Senior Sister already taught me the answers to the inner sect trial questions.”
Xu Rui: “?”
Zhou Xuanwu: “?!”
“How to break through quickly—Fastest Learning, page 1234, Metro Cultivation Method!”
“???”
“!”
“Senior Brother, let’s head to Zhenchuan for chores now! I can’t fall too far behind Senior Sister.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage