Every year at this time, as the foremost immortal cultivation academy in East Pole Province, the Shenhua Sect throws open its gates to recruit new disciples.
With the entrance examination approaching, Mist City grows livelier by the day.
This city is the gateway to the Cloud Sea Boardwalk, and young cultivators from all corners of the land gather here.
The Shenhua Sect is famed for its swordsmanship.
The Inner Sect’s Five Peaks are home to countless Sword Cultivators, and many youths dream of entering the mountains to seek the Dao and pursue immortality.
This year, Xiao Xinran finally meets the age requirement for recruitment.
In her daydreams, she passes the exam with ease and enters the Outer Sect.
With Xiao Yun’s guidance and her own talent, it won’t be long before she rises to become an Inner Disciple.
The two would cultivate side by side, like a pair of immortals—just like Xiao Yun’s parents once did—roaming the world with their swords, wandering the vast Nine Heavens.
Everything was supposed to be perfect.
All thanks to Ji Shiyu!
For days now, the Xiao Miss has had no appetite, unable to eat or sleep, nearly driven to madness.
Most infuriating of all, that Huangmao must have fed Xiao Yun some kind of bewitching potion. Ever since he woke up, he hasn’t come to see her even once.
No apology.
No explanation.
Not even a single word to ask her to stay.
Nothing at all!
What are they doing now?
Are the two of them laughing at her ridiculous escape while being all lovey-dovey together?
Unforgivable!
No way.
Xiao Yun would never be so cruel to her.
If anything, it must be Huangmao’s fault…
Xiao Xinran tossed and turned, clutching her head.
Pain upon pain, regret upon regret, what’s the point?
All her impotent rage stemmed from her own lack of ability.
If she had been the one to save Xiao Yun that day, as his fiancée, what business would Ji Shiyu even have?
Go stand aside and admire this Xiao Miss’s heroic bearing!
That’s why Xiao Xinran had to become stronger, strong enough to trample that green tea schemer underfoot!
And so, an astonishing scene played out in the Xiao Family Mansion: the young miss, without her fiancé by her side, actually rose early to practice swordsmanship.
The servants whispered among themselves.
“What’s wrong with the young miss?”
“Isn’t it obvious? They had a fight.”
“Even the gentle young master could quarrel with someone? I’ve never seen the miss so angry in all these years. She’s so upset she’s actually started cultivating!”
“Sigh, but the young master is already a…”
An Old Servant passing by shot them a glare, and the chattering servant girls immediately fell silent.
“Miss, Miss Ji is here to see you. She’s waiting in the parlor.”
The Old Butler had barely spoken when Xiao Xinran’s face darkened.
The one she wanted to see hadn’t come, and the one she didn’t want to see had arrived instead.
“I! Won’t! See her!”
The red-clad girl spat out each word through clenched teeth, striking the wooden dummy hard with her sword.
Ji Shiyu actually dared to come see her?
She must be here to show off!
The Old Butler looked awkward.
“The Master ordered me to bring you over. Please don’t make things difficult for these old bones.”
“Hmph!”
Xiao Xinran sheathed her sword.
Fine, then.
She would see just how shameless a person could be.
***
In the Xiao Family Mansion’s parlor, a blonde-haired girl sat uneasily, her heart pounding.
Yun Liu had shut herself away and refused to come out, so Ji Shiyu had no choice but to brave this alone.
After suffering from Softbone Incense and getting tricked by Jade God Oil, there was no way this ordinary Huangmao dared spend another night in the Dan Cultivator Mansion.
She was terrified of getting ambushed in her sleep, some kind of sleep-play, or a “Confused O Diary”…
Ji Shiyu’s imagination ran wild.
She was an old hand at this!
“Buying that kind of thing in secret, doesn’t that mean once wasn’t enough? Do you want to go until your eyes roll back and your tongue lolls out?”
This was just too much!
Ao Tian shook its head. It finally understood: you could beat Ji all you wanted, but she’d never admit a man could be uninterested in her.
The City Lord of Mist City was named Xiao Wang, a portly middle-aged man.
Hearing that Ji Shiyu had come to visit, the Newbie Village’s Village Chief made time from his busy schedule to personally welcome her.
He’d been wondering where the young lady had gone these past few days, thinking perhaps she was dissatisfied with something.
“I’ve long heard that the Star Isle Ji Clan’s Goddess of Stars descended to the world, Feng Ling at her side, with the Nine Heavens Phenomenon stretching for thousands of miles. The Star Maiden’s reputation is truly well-deserved.”
Xiao Father had seen much of the world, and Huangmao’s fame had long spread far and wide.
Since birth, she’d been the focus of all eyes, even in East Pole Province, her name was known.
Ji Shiyu replied politely, “Uncle flatters me. Xinran is in no way inferior to me.”
Xiao Wang beamed.
Thankfully, his own precious daughter was just as outstanding.
This young master from the heavens grew more pleasing to the eye with every glance, if only she weren’t a girl.
As they chatted, a flash of fiery red swept in.
Xiao Xinran strode to her seat, staring daggers at Ji Shiyu, her eyes blazing.
“Heh, Xinran, you’ll soon be fellow disciples. After you both enter the Shenhua Sect, you should learn from Shiyu and consult her on any cultivation difficulties.”
In the past, it was always Yun Liu who played this role in such conversations.
Now, Xiao Father didn’t mention her at all.
The new (Huangmao) is smiling, while the old (pitiful) one is nowhere to be seen.
“Not at all. Xinran and I are about equal in cultivation. We should be learning from each other.”
Ji Shiyu swallowed hard, her scalp tingling.
She didn’t dare meet the girl’s sharp gaze.
One at Refining Qi Third Stage, the other at Refining Qi Ninth Stage and about to reach Foundation Establishment—“about equal,” indeed.
To Xiao Xinran’s ears, these words sounded nothing but grating, utterly nauseating.
Still mocking her weakness, were they!
“It’s nothing special. I can do it too.”
The red-clad girl lifted her nose defiantly.
Just wait and see, she was full of fighting spirit.
Yun Uncle had said she was a once-in-a-millennium cultivation prodigy, her talent on par with a Heavenly Spiritual Root.
She was sure to place first in the entrance exam and become an Inner Disciple alongside Xiao Yun.
Xiao Father gave a wry smile.
“My daughter is unruly, please don’t take offense.”
“Unruly? If I hadn’t been clever, this shameless woman would have already…”
“Insolence! Shiyu is your savior, how can you be so rude?”
Xiao Father’s face darkened.
He couldn’t understand why Xiao Xinran had suddenly started spouting such wild nonsense.
Hadn’t the two been as close as sisters not long ago, nearly sharing a bed?
Xiao Wang had been delighted at the prospect of a good connection with such a prestigious clan.
Now, even her family was being taken in by this scheming green tea.
Xiao Xinran’s anger soared, her grievance reaching its limit.
“Rude? You’re all being fooled by her!”
“Still talking nonsense? Apologize at once!”
“I won’t!”
Ji Shiyu was sweating bullets.
She appreciated Uncle’s good intentions, but couldn’t he just stop talking?
“Xinran’s right, it’s all my fault. Please don’t be angry. How was I supposed to know he was bathing? Bathing without clothes on, even…”
“Shut up!”
Xiao Xinran’s gaze was icy.
Huangmao’s excuses sounded more like provocation, dripping with green tea.
“I don’t want to hear about you and him. What do you know about him? No one knows Xiao Yun better than I do, and I don’t need you to tell me what kind of person he is!”
“All right, but you have to believe me, we really are innocent!”
Xiao Xinran glared fiercely at Ji Shiyu.
Yeah, right!
Like I’d fall for your tricks again!
Xiao Father was left completely confused.
What did Yun Liu have to do with any of this?
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Girl is just seeking deeper, failing to properly talk.