The Day of Departure arrived swiftly.
The sky was barely bright, yet many young boys and girls, each harboring dreams of cultivation, had already set out.
Most of them were mortals whose Qi Sea had yet to awaken.
A small number, with more solid foundations, had already gathered spiritual energy for enlightenment and stepped into the first stage of Qi Refinement.
Talents like Xiao Xinran were exceedingly rare and received special attention from the Outer Sect Instructor, but a natural-born Spiritual Bone like Ji Shiyu was truly one of a kind.
For the journey to the Cloud Sea Boardwalk, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters from Shenhua Sect would guide the way, preventing ignorant newcomers from straying into strange lands and meeting with misfortune.
The Sea of Clouds Peaks Forest was vast and tangled with Spiritual Veins, home to many Demon Beasts, shrouded year-round in mist and mystery.
For beginners whose Divine Sense was still muddled, it was all too easy to lose their way and become disoriented.
Only during this time of year would Shenhua Academy withdraw the Five Mountain Grand Array, open the mountain gates wide, and recruit new students—giving the world a glimpse of the true face of the greatest Blessed Land in East Pole Province.
—
Early in the morning, Chang Su was already waiting by the city gate, yawning incessantly.
She’d drawn the luckiest lot—first shift on gate duty—so she didn’t have to stand on some nameless mountain peak with the other Senior Brothers, freezing in the wind.
Waiting alongside her was a lively, charming young girl in red.
The others had long since rushed off on the path to immortality, scrambling forward as if in a race, all charging toward the Cloud Sea Boardwalk.
But this girl tiptoed at the city wall, peering out, as if waiting for someone.
The Tour Guide Miss held up an arrow-shaped wooden sign, but before long, she’d dozed off.
—
By noon, Chang Su wiped the drool from her mouth and crawled up from the ground, not knowing when she’d fallen asleep.
As she repositioned the sign, she noticed that the girl was still there.
Xiao Xinran had waited the whole morning, never changing her spot, like a stone longing for her beloved, looking around anxiously.
The girl pouted, her gaze full of grievance, her head drooping in disappointment.
“How come he’s still not here? Don’t tell me he ran off with that wicked woman and left me behind…”
*If it were before, Yunliu would’ve already appeared outside the gate right on time, softly calling me to get up.*
*Xiao Yun would gently hold my hand, guiding my meridians with spiritual energy while brushing my hair and tying my ribbons—he’d do everything but dress and feed me!*
*Ever since the boy left, everything around me feels so out of place…*
—
Just then, a handsome youth passed by—golden hair, starry eyes, traveling light.
Ji Shiyu was a true, carefree spirit—no worries ever stayed with her for long, and her head could hold nothing for too long.
She’d slept until she woke up naturally, and only when the sun was high did Ao Tian prod her awake.
After “breakfast,” she strolled out of the city with a swagger, as if she didn’t know anyone.
*Once she realized that win or lose, it was all a “huge gain,” this golden-haired girl became unbeatable, sweeping away all her gloom!*
Xiao Xinran breathed a sigh of relief, but her face quickly darkened, feeling unlucky.
*The good news is Ji Shiyu got left behind too; the bad news is this golden-haired pest just won’t go away—she’s everywhere!*
—
“This little sister looks familiar. Waiting for someone? Don’t tell me it’s me?”
Ji Shiyu’s eyes sparkled when she saw Xiao Xinran, and she sidled over with a cheeky grin, showing no sense of rivalry at all.
“Who are you?”
Xiao Xinran turned away, her voice icy.
Ji Shiyu shrugged, looking pitiful. “Don’t be so cold! After all, I saved your life. Sparring is fine, but outside of that, aren’t we friends?”
“Who’s your friend? Go ahead and gloat while you can. Soon, you won’t have anything to be smug about!”
Ji Shiyu’s thick skin was as solid as a city wall, leaving Xiao Xinran in awe and wishing she could eat her alive!
*Shrimp wants pig’s heart—am I supposed to bless you two?*
The golden-haired girl looked around, seeing that her “victim” wasn’t present, and rubbed her hands together with a mischievous grin.
“Little sister, are you all alone? Where’s your good brother?”
“Pretending you don’t know? It’s all your fault!”
A black vein popped on Xiao Xinran’s forehead; now, the phrase “brother” was especially sensitive to her.
*Who wants to be Xiao Yun’s little sister? I want to be his wife!*
“Alright, alright, I can’t do anything about you. Since that’s the case, I’ll go with you. The road is long and dangerous; having another person is always safer, right?”
“Who wants your company? Get lost, you stinky golden-haired pest!”
“Really? Then I’m off. Time’s short—if you don’t reach the mountain gate before sunset, you’ll be disqualified.”
Ji Shiyu’s bright eyes spun, and she hugged her head, talking as she walked away.
“Well, you’re still inexperienced; it’s normal you can’t keep up with my pace. See you later—I’ll wait for you at the peak.”
—
Xiao Xinran’s slender form trembled, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
No matter what, she refused to fall behind this golden-haired girl!
“……”
Without another word, the girl in red turned and left, starting with small steps that quickly grew into long strides, running faster and faster.
Finally, her Qi Sea activated, and she used the Five Elements Spell that Xiao Yun had taught her.
Her graceful figure became as light as a feather, and in a few flashes, she disappeared down the mountain path.
—
“Heh, even her flustered look is adorable…”
Ji Shiyu smiled faintly, bowed politely to Senior Sister Chang, and then strolled off after her.
Watching the two girls’ figures disappear into the distance, Chang Su couldn’t help but sigh.
“Youth is truly wonderful.”
“It’s rare to see such promising seedlings, and two at once this year. Are all the new disciples monsters?”
*This rival of Xiao Xinran’s is no ordinary girl—her Qi Sea is as vast as a galaxy, probably even greater than my own. And she’s so young, yet willing to spend so many Spirit Stones for a Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.*
—
Deep in the Peaks Forest, a faint trail of spiritual energy wound upward, leading the mountain-seekers on.
The boys and girls with shallow Spiritual Roots couldn’t sense it clearly yet; they could only follow their instincts and the guides’ markers.
But in Ji Shiyu’s Divine Sense, the path was obvious.
The two girls darted through the woods, one after the other, their steps light.
In just over an hour, Xiao Xinran caught up with the main group, a streak of red like an arrow piercing the mist.
Others only felt a gust of wind rush past; before they could see the red and gold figures clearly, they had already been left behind.
Looking up, the Five Sword Peaks were still shrouded in clouds, unreachable.
—
It was true that East Pole Province was famous for Sword Cultivators, and the Sea of Clouds Five Peaks was the cradle of Swordmasters in the Nine Provinces.
The renowned Shenhua Sect stood amidst the Sea of Clouds Peaks Forest, its legacy long and deep.
When Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu reached the summit, a new world opened before their eyes.
Golden rays and rosy clouds painted the sky, the Sea of Clouds surged endlessly, and the magnificent scenery was breathtaking, like stepping into a fairyland.
But the problem was, there was no path forward.
Before them lay a bottomless abyss—one misstep would mean certain death.
—
“The Dao is in your heart; the road is beneath your feet.”
A Mature Woman in Grey Robe appeared behind them, eyes full of encouragement as she smiled at the adorable mountain-seekers, marveling at their surging Qi Sea.
Xiao Xinran closed her eyes, refusing to look down at the cliff.
She focused on the flow of spiritual energy around her, took a deep breath, and suddenly stepped forward.
Under Ji Shiyu’s astonished gaze, the girl in red did not fall, but landed steadily atop the clouds.