Four Sages Academy
The summer sun blazed mercilessly.
Inside a pavilion on the first floor, a young man dressed in white lay leisurely on a self-made rocking chair, gently swaying back and forth.
Around him, an Ice Attribute Spirit Talisman subtly cooled the air, while he casually waved a Palm Fan to dispel the heat.
One person, one chair—plus a Palm Fan—truly the height of comfort.
“Senior Brother, something serious has happened!”
A girl, like a little rabbit, took three steps at a time, hurriedly crossing the threshold and arriving breathlessly before Dongfang Xiaotian.
She was so out of breath she could hardly speak clearly.
“Hm? Little Junior Sister? What’s the rush?”
Dongfang Xiaotian slowly opened his eyes and pulled out an Ice Lolly from his self-made ice chest. “Didn’t I teach you to stay calm under pressure? Want an ice lolly?”
Despite being only nineteen, Dongfang Xiaotian looked more like a grandfather teasing a child.
“Senior Brother, there’s no time for ice lollies. The Beichen Family has come looking for you to break off the Marriage Contract!”
The girl’s face grew serious as she spoke in a low voice. “Right now, they’re calling you out!”
“Break off the Marriage Contract?”
Dongfang Xiaotian furrowed his brows, murmuring, “Is that even a thing?”
“Exactly!” Little Junior Sister’s eyes burned with anger when she saw the displeasure on Dongfang Xiaotian’s face.
As a cultivator, how could one tolerate being jilted!
“Remember back then, Senior Brother? You fought desperately against numerous Evil Cultivators alone to protect their family’s roots, saving the Beichen Family from massacre.”
“That debt was repaid only with a Marriage Contract. And now, as your strength wanes, they cling to higher powers and betray you without hesitation!”
Such character is truly despicable!
Her young chest heaved with emotion as she spoke earnestly, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother, I’ll go with you to demand justice. Even if the Marriage Contract must be broken, it should be by you dismissing her!”
She then drew a Spirit Sword from her Space Ring, ready to fight for Dongfang Xiaotian’s honor.
“Stop right there!”
Dongfang Xiaotian immediately used his spiritual power to pull Little Junior Sister back, causing her to stumble and fall—her delicate face almost kissing the floor.
“Ouch! Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”
She rubbed her reddened nose, eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Dongfang Xiaotian. “Do you still have feelings for that ruthless, heartless woman?”
Dongfang Xiaotian gazed at her pitiful expression and felt a twinge of guilt. He quietly summoned spiritual power to lift her gently, then handed her the Ice Lolly.
“If the Beichen Family wants to break the Marriage Contract, let them. First, eat this ice lolly and calm down.”
Dongfang Xiaotian tried to recall: a few years ago, when he passed by the Beichen Family’s estate, he had slaughtered dozens of Evil Cultivators.
But a Marriage Contract? Hm, was there such a thing? Back then, the old man only gave him a box.
Could the marriage documents be inside?
Never mind, regardless, someone had officially come to cancel it.
Yet, in all these break-off stories, the protagonist is usually either innately blessed with a dragon-like power or miraculously rises after hardship.
Dongfang Xiaotian knew well he was no chosen one, nor was he eager to endure the painful struggles of the latter.
He’d rather lie back peacefully, let them send an apology, and exchange a loveless “fiancée” for a hefty sum.
Thinking of how the money might afford him two beautiful wives, a slight smile crept to Dongfang Xiaotian’s lips.
He lay back down calmly and waved a hand. “After you finish your ice lolly, tell them I agree.”
Little Junior Sister licked the Ice Lolly Dongfang Xiaotian handed her, the sweetness soothing her a bit. “But, Senior Brother, aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you if this gets out?”
“Laugh?”
Dongfang Xiaotian shrugged indifferently. “What else can they do but laugh? Try to snatch my Senior Brother spot?”
At worst, they’d gossip behind his back—no big deal.
“The best way to fight back is to live well.”
With that, Dongfang Xiaotian lay down again, yawning. “I’ve been staying up late these days making spirit talismans. Let me rest a bit; I’m tired.”
“All right then.”
Seeing Little Junior Sister finally give up pestering him, Dongfang Xiaotian relaxed and popped the Ice Lolly into his mouth.
The coldness was a rare relief in the blazing summer, evoking memories of childhood Ice Lollies sold for fifty cents—a simple, pure joy crossing time and space.
Dongfang Xiaotian wasn’t originally from this world. He was a high school student with pure Hua Xia Bloodline.
Those were days of struggle—half a year preparing for the Gaokao, endlessly immersed in simulation test papers, pushing until the very last moment. But fate played a cruel joke.
On the night when everyone was gathering for their graduation dinner, he was hit by a sudden mud truck on the way to the restaurant.
When he woke up, he found himself in the Saint Hua Dynasty.
Life was always full of surprises—after enduring the Gaokao’s torment, he was thrown into this world. Still, that timing was a bit too much.
Why not just arrive six months earlier, before he finished all those five-year Gaokao, three-year simulation test papers?
At the age when dreams soar, Dongfang Xiaotian quickly accepted the transmigration.
Every man has dreamed of wielding a sword to pluck the moon and stars, at least waving a wooden stick around.
So at twelve, he resolutely set out on the path of one person, one sword, roaming the world.
He fantasized about being a protagonist who could retire in glory, enjoying an easy, peaceful life with a harem.
Five years passed in a flash. Dongfang Xiaotian experienced embarrassment, regret, as well as harvest and joy.
But flowers bloom again; youth never returns.
Maturity can come in a blink.
Sometimes, it takes facing death itself to achieve enlightenment.
By a fortunate chance, Dongfang Xiaotian understood…
He recalled these five years—every day was either fighting this boss or grinding that monster, shouting “Never underestimate the poor youth,” living a life of intense cultivation and battling enemies.
How was this different from shouting slogans at the Hundred-Day Oath Assembly in high school, memorizing facts and writing test papers?
Before transmigrating, his life goal was simple: lots of money, easy work, close to home, high rank but light responsibility!
Only fools go to fight and kill.
Thus, Dongfang Xiaotian realized this was all a supporting character’s fate.
Look at Legendary Investor Hai Lao and Ring Grandpa—both clung to protagonists and rose to the top.
Why should he, struggling like a protagonist, suffer so much?
Better to raise a protagonist and wait for future rewards.
With this enlightenment, Dongfang Xiaotian abandoned the Sword Path and joined the Four Sages Academy as an Outer Sect Disciple, quickly rising to Outer Sect Senior Brother.
He even found a little junior brother to mentor.
Though he had no “ten-thousand-fold cultivation return system” or such, his path was unquestionably correct.
As for breaking off the Marriage Contract? The farther away, the better.
Seeing Dongfang Xiaotian’s calm, Little Junior Sister decided to drop it.
After all, with his strength, others’ ridicule was mere noise, and the Beichen Family? Just blind fools.
Moreover, who was her Senior Brother?
Anyone else would be shouting and cursing after being jilted, their resolve broken.
But for him, this break-off was nothing but smoke.
—Is this the mindset of a Sword Immortal?
Little Junior Sister’s admiration deepened.
“Hmph, breaking off the Marriage Contract?”
Our Senior Brother doesn’t even bother with you~
But as she calmed down, her big, black grape-like eyes suddenly opened wide again!
There was another urgent matter for the sect!
She immediately began tugging at the reclining Dongfang Xiaotian.
“Ah! Big Senior Brother, something else!”
Dongfang Xiaotian sighed and opened his eyes to look at her, asking, “What now, Little Junior Sister? Why so panicked?”
Her temperament was truly unpredictable.
“Because of the Beichen Family’s breaking off the Marriage Contract, I almost forgot the Third Elder’s order!”
Little Junior Sister’s face grew anxious as she grabbed Dongfang Xiaotian’s hand, eager to leave.
“The Third Elder sent a secret message that the Second Senior Sister got lost in the Ancient Ruins outside Ling Tian City. She ordered half the Outer Sect Disciples to enter the ruins to find her!”
But no matter how hard she pulled, Dongfang Xiaotian didn’t budge. Her legs stiffened, and even leaning back didn’t move him an inch.
The weight difference was too great.
“Ice Immortal is lost inside the ruins?”
Dongfang Xiaotian’s expression changed, but he easily slipped his sleeve free of her grasp and lay back down.
“Yes! Senior Brother, you’ve traveled through the ruins for years. Among all Outer Sect Disciples, you know the Ancient Ruins best. With you, we can avoid dangers and find Senior Sister quickly!”
Little Junior Sister’s eyes were anxious, as if determined to pull Dongfang Xiaotian out of the rocking chair to prevent any misfortune befalling Second Senior Sister.
Dongfang Xiaotian sighed. It seemed she and the fox demon Second Senior Sister had a good relationship.
Seeing Little Junior Sister’s insistence, he sighed again.
Then shifted slightly.
“I’m not going.”
Dongfang Xiaotian’s answer was decisive as he pulled out another Ice Lolly from his ice chest and popped it in his mouth.
“Little Junior Sister, you need to understand the principle of ‘Dao follows nature.’ Life and death are ordained by heaven. As cultivators, we should follow fate, not defy it.
We must learn to respect others’ destinies!”
Whatever Senior Sister’s trouble or breaking off the Marriage Contract, the rest was just trouble.
Anyone who wants to go, go ahead.
After my nap, I still have to teach my little junior brother the Sword Path this afternoon.
He’s my designated protagonist! My future lifeline!
Dongfang Xiaotian still remembered Legendary Investor Hai Lao.
Who wouldn’t offer a smoke to someone who says, “Xiao Huohuo is my brother”?
Junior Sister? Not important.
Little Junior Sister’s grip on Dongfang Xiaotian’s robe loosened slightly, but the worry in her eyes remained.
“According to other senior disciples, the Ancient Ruins are extremely dangerous. Outside are fiend beasts guarding it, and inside are powerful arrays set by ancient beings. Senior Sister went missing in a miasma-filled forest. Ordinary cultivators venturing in might never return…”
“Don’t listen to their nonsense.”
Dongfang Xiaotian patted Little Junior Sister’s hair, cutting off her long-winded speech.
“I’m at Nascent Soul stage and can enter easily. Second Senior Sister is at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement—how could anything happen to her?”
Hearing this, Little Junior Sister finally relaxed her hold.
Seeing she still wouldn’t just give up, Dongfang Xiaotian spoke earnestly, “So, Little Junior Sister, Second Senior Sister is just out for a stroll. She’ll come out once she’s done playing. That’s just how my tabby cat is.”
“Mm, I understand.”
Little Junior Sister nodded obediently, though doubt lingered in her heart. But since Senior Brother said so, there must be reason.
“By the way, where’s Little Junior Brother Jiang Li?”
Dongfang Xiaotian looked around. “It’s already midday… Didn’t I tell him to come over yesterday to teach him swordsmanship?”
The little junior brother naturally was the younger junior disciple, the chosen protagonist—his future lifeline!
“Hm?”
Little Junior Sister looked up and answered matter-of-factly, “Little Junior Brother? Of course, he’s gone to rescue Second Senior Sister. He left a day ago. He’s an Outer Sect Disciple too.”
Before her sentence finished, the Senior Brother already summoned an Immortal Boat, transforming into a streak of blue light and breaking through the roof.
“Damn! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”