Before being taken into the Great Void Sect by Spiritual Crane Zhenren, Xia Xiaochan had never seen an Immortal Cultivator.
Her understanding of cultivators was limited to legends from the mortal world:
There was a Crown Prince of the imperial dynasty who, in pursuit of the path to Immortality, gave up his right to the throne and set out on the cultivation path.
Many years later, when he returned to his homeland, he learned that the Emperor had long passed away, and under the invasion of the Enemy Nation, the once prosperous land was now nothing but vast scorched earth…
A Businessman’s Daughter fell deeply in love with a Poor Scholar without hesitation.
Defying her family’s opposition, she eloped with him.
After the scholar repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, he chose to join a Cultivation Sect to provide a better life for her.
Later, once he became a cultivator, the first thing he did was sever all romantic ties.
The girl took the family money and worked behind the scenes to support the scholar’s entry into the Immortal Sect, only to be repaid with a cold Letter of Divorce.
Stories like these were countless…
The seven emotions and six desires are called Human Nature, yet cutting off attachments and desires is the foundation of the Immortal Path.
So why do mortals become Immortals?
Longevity?
Power?
For these, they abandon Human Nature?
At this very moment… Xia Xiaochan seemed to understand the answer.
It was Preserving Original Heart.
To embrace an Immortal Fruit Lamp, and to guard a Mortal Heart.
Just like this zongzi—the glutinous rice can fill one’s hunger, but only when it retains the flavor of the filling can it prove you’re eating a zongzi.
Her senior brother must have wanted to tell her that no matter how high one’s cultivation realm rises, one must never lose the original Red Dust Heart!
This Mortal Heart, in fact, is the most precious thing for an Immortal Cultivator…
Immortals do not need to cultivate the heart!
With this realization, Xia Xiaochan’s understanding became complete.
And with her enlightenment, she suddenly felt as if she had entered a Profound Realm.
Everything around her was wrapped in a faint, shimmering glow—stones, fallen leaves, flowers, grass, trees… some moved without wind, others floated lightly in midair.
Her Qi Sea surged turbulently, and the spiritual energy within her bloomed like a flower, layer upon layer unfolding…
If any knowledgeable cultivator saw this scene, they would surely be shocked to realize that Xia Xiaochan had attained a rare and coveted Fortuitous Opportunity—
Sudden Enlightenment!
This was unrelated to any cultivator’s innate talent; only those whose Dao Heart is clear and bright, who seek to please the Heavenly Dao, can achieve Sudden Enlightenment.
In this state, cultivation speed can increase by ten or even a hundred times!
This is the Heavenly Dao’s favor!
Though Xia Xiaochan didn’t fully understand, she knew this was a rare chance and hurriedly began to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Heaven-Burning Technique.
Although no Celestial Phenomenon was triggered this time, the speed at which her spiritual energy circulated was a hundred times faster than on the day she first entered the path.
At the same time,
Perhaps due to some intervention of Causality Power, the “One” character on the stone table, the very cause of Xia Xiaochan’s enlightenment, also burst forth with dazzling brilliance.
A strand of Heavenly Dao power split off and drifted toward the far end of Wenxuan Peak.
At the entrance of Wenxuan Peak,
The atmosphere was bustling.
Dozens of Great Mystery Sect disciples gathered, presenting congratulatory gifts to celebrate Chief Disciple Lin’s successful breakthrough.
Behind them, even more disciples arrived continuously, Sword Riding swiftly toward the scene.
Originally, there weren’t so many…
But word had spread from somewhere that Chief Disciple Lin, who had caused a Celestial Phenomenon through cultivation, had now emerged from seclusion and was receiving fellow sect members at the Wenxuan Peak entrance.
Curiosity about this sect’s most mysterious, aloof, and reclusive Chief Disciple had always been high.
Once the news broke, many who had not planned to come to congratulate hurriedly prepared gifts and rushed over to witness Chief Disciple Lin’s prestige.
“Everyone, no need for gifts, please leave!”
Lin Ci stood tall before the crowd, his expression proud as he spoke.
He realized he was somewhat stuck…
For some reason, the number of disciples gathering only grew, and everyone was polite. He couldn’t just rudely drive them all away.
Moreover, he had to constantly play the role of a self-important genius, carefully controlling his expression and tone to avoid any flaws…
To be honest, it was quite tiring.
But thinking of the consequences if he revealed his true self, the fatigue was nothing.
Most importantly, he couldn’t leave.
Because he couldn’t Sword Ride…
With so many eyes on him, if he simply waved his hand, saying “I have matters to attend to, excuse me,” and then hurriedly ran up the mountain on foot… wouldn’t that completely shatter his image?
Just as Lin Ci was troubled,
A young female disciple parted the crowd and stepped forward.
She looked no older than fourteen or fifteen, about Xia Xiaochan’s age, dressed in black-and-white sword attire, with dark red hair and a pair of narrow phoenix eyes that gave her a spirited air.
Though pretty, her expression was unfriendly.
“You must be Lin Ci?”
The girl’s tone was cold and blunt.
Lin Ci raised an eyebrow. Not recognizing her, he was pondering how to respond when someone nearby identified her.
“She’s the Sect Leader’s daughter!”
“Li Xingyao? What’s she doing here…”
“Seems like there’s some conflict with Chief Disciple Lin.”
“This is bad. We shouldn’t stay long.”
“Better to avoid trouble.”
For a moment, most ordinary disciples sensed the tension and politely bowed to Lin Ci before quickly leaving.
Of course, a few higher-ranking disciples, unafraid of trouble, remained to watch the unfolding drama.
“It’s me.”
With most people gone, Lin Ci relaxed slightly and replied to the girl calmly.
As long as he could get rid of this girl, he could escape.
He was certain that neither he nor his past self had ever interacted with the Sect Leader’s daughter and had no idea why she came.
“My name is Li Xingyao, Foundation Establishment Stage!”
The girl spoke coldly and disrespectfully, “My father is the Sect Leader. I now order you to suppress your cultivation and spar with me in swordsmanship!”
What a brat…
“No interest. Goodbye.”
Lin Ci made a move to leave.
“Wait…!”
Li Xingyao paused, surprised. Hadn’t she said her father was the Sect Leader? Didn’t he hear her?
How dare he refuse my order?
“What else do you want?”
Lin Ci hesitated and said with some impatience.
“I— I said I want you to spar with me in swordsmanship!”
“I already said no.”
“You’re scared, aren’t you? Afraid to lose to me!”
Li Xingyao suddenly sneered. With one hand on her hip, she stood proudly despite being shorter than Lin Ci.
“Who would have thought the Chief Disciple is just a coward who hides away at home?”
“So you’re just a small fish!”
“My father used to praise you often, ha! But you don’t even dare accept a Challenge Letter?”
“A spineless weakling!”
This girl was really asking for a beating…
Lin Ci clenched his fists.
He couldn’t accept her challenge—not because he feared swordsmanship, but he still had his cultivation.
At the Golden Core Stage, one strike was enough to decide life or death. Li Xingyao might not see the next sunrise.
But suppressing his power to Foundation Establishment?
Then he wouldn’t stand a chance…
So Lin Ci was truly at a loss.
He could only pretend to be indifferent and treat her provocations as nothing.
Just then, suddenly,
An incredibly profound Causality Power slammed down fiercely from the ninth heavens!
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.