Chapter 21
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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 21: I Heard That You Want to Challenge Me?
The efficiency of the construction team formed by cultivators was astounding.
They cut wood with bare hands and shaped stones with sword Qi. After sketching out the basic structure of the house, a simple incantation would set the materials into motion, assembling themselves as if by magic.
Pa pa…
The higher the foundation, the taller the construction rose.
Like children stacking building blocks, the new house took shape in less than half an hour. The process could have been even faster if not for the time spent ensuring the house’s durability.
When Bai Lian returned from her walk, she found the house on Qiongming Peak had more than doubled in size. Members of the construction team were just finishing up, stepping out of the newly built rooms.
The captain of the team spotted Bai Lian and greeted her with a broad smile. “Martial Sister Bai Lian, do you have any other changes you’d like to make?”
Bai Lian smiled lightly. “This is perfect.”
She retrieved a pouch of spirit stones from her pendant and handed it to the captain.
The captain’s grin widened as he accepted the payment. He turned to his team and called out, “Brothers, the job’s done!”
Su Youwei watched the construction team leave with wide eyes.
She had never witnessed such a scene before.
Bai Lian explained, “Cultivation isn’t easy. Besides talent, resources are the most crucial factor. However, the sect allocates a fixed amount of spirit stones each month. To earn more, many disciples look for ways to make extra income—building houses, delivering goods, sparring with others, writing novels… This is also encouraged by the sect. When everyone is busy, internal conflicts are significantly reduced.”
Xiao Jinse nodded thoughtfully.
Her own family, the Xiao clan, was a prime example of what happened when people were idle. The second and third generations spent their days in leisure, oblivious to the trouble they caused. The clan would inevitably face ruin if they continued down that path.
Su Youwei also sighed in agreement.
Cultivation is truly not easy.
The common belief was that stepping into the cultivation world meant leaving behind worldly struggles. But even immortals could not entirely escape life’s hardships.
She touched the Ten Thousand Poison Pearl hidden within her body.
It remained cold and dormant.
She wondered how much time and effort it would take to awaken the slumbering weapon spirit within it.
After helping Su Youwei decorate her room, Bai Lian headed to the back mountain to experiment with her newly acquired spell: Thunder Abyss.
The spell combined water spirit Qi and thunder spirit Qi, producing power far greater than the sum of its parts.
While Bai Lian trained, news of her clash with Chen Lu reached the ears of the sect leader, Jue Yunzi.
“Sect leader, this…”
Jue Yunzi sat cross-legged, his expression calm as he faced Chen Lu’s master, whose anger was evident.
It was clear to Jue Yunzi that Chen Lu was at fault.
He understood her frustrations. Chen Lu had once been a renowned genius before joining the Duxian Sect, hailed as the “Ferocious Tiger of the Imperial Dynasty” and “The Future of the Nation.”
Her dream had been to one day succeed Jue Yunzi as sect leader.
But her progress had stagnated, and an invisible wall blocked her cultivation path. Others, even within Yunluo Peak, had surpassed her. Now, she barely ranked among its top ten disciples.
The dream of becoming sect leader had become an unattainable mirage.
Her pride had eroded, leaving behind envy and bitterness.
Among those she envied most was Bai Lian.
Qiongming Peak’s first disciple in centuries.
Rumored to have received An Lan’s full mentorship.
A Nascent Soul cultivator within just three years.
And increasingly proposed as the next sect leader.
Any one of these would have been enough to ignite Chen Lu’s jealousy.
Her frustration had driven her to support her junior martial brother despite his obvious wrongdoing. What she hadn’t anticipated was Bai Lian’s fierce retaliation.
Neither had Jue Yunzi.
Perhaps it was a tradition of the Duxian Sect for its disciples to resolve conflicts so decisively.
As Chen Lu’s master continued to berate Bai Lian, even questioning her qualifications to become the next sect leader, Jue Yunzi began to consider summoning An Lan.
Martial Sister An Lan never loses arguments—or battles.
Sending a message to Qiongming Peak felt like the practical choice. However, as sect leader, wouldn’t it be improper to delegate the matter so blatantly?
Jue Yunzi’s eyelids drooped as he pondered.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from outside the hall.
He looked up. “Oh, Martial Sister Yan Yue, it’s you.”
Yan Yue entered, dressed in a flowing purple fairy skirt. She clasped her hands and bowed deeply. “Elder Martial Brother, I’m sorry!”
A sinking feeling crept over Jue Yunzi.
Yan Yue raised her right hand. “The tree comes!”
The hall shook violently. Beams and columns cracked, and with a deafening bang, a strange, blood-red tree burst through the ceiling, planting itself firmly in the center of the hall.
“Ouch!”
The Blood Tree Patriarch, uprooted by Yan Yue, trembled in the autumn breeze. Wasn’t this world too cruel? Everywhere it turned, there was oppression against trees!
Yan Yue calmly stepped inside and gave the Blood Tree Patriarch a reassuring pat. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get the most advanced nutrient solutions once we’re back.”
The Blood Tree Patriarch perked up instantly. “Say no more! Who’s the target today?”
Jue Yunzi looked up at the gaping hole in the hall’s ceiling, his face blank.
The weather really is lovely today.
“Yan Yue!”
Chen Lu’s master rose furiously from her seat, her complaint interrupted.
Yan Yue pulled a large axe out from under her robe, her eyes blazing. “Come on then! I heard you want to challenge me?”
Chen Lu’s master hesitated, her voice faltering. “Martial Sister Yan Yue, what… what are you trying to do?”
Yan Yue sneered. “You framed Bai Lian! Do you think Mount Zhuyan would stand for this?”
Chen Lu’s master blinked in confusion. “Isn’t Bai Lian a disciple of Qiongming Peak?”
“Not for long! Soon, she’ll be one of mine!”
“But An Lan—”
Yan Yue waved her axe angrily. “Why do you care about what happens between An Lan and me? Now, let’s settle this. Are we going to reason things out—or not?”
Chen Lu’s master clenched her fists. “Are you planning to bully me?”
Yan Yue shrugged nonchalantly. “Call it what you want. As long as I have no regrets, no one can stop me!”
She motioned toward the Blood Tree Patriarch. “This is my sworn sister. Feel free to call for your own backup!”
The Blood Tree Patriarch interjected silently, I’m a dioecious tree, you know!
Smoke practically poured from Chen Lu’s master’s ears as she stammered in frustration. “I… I refuse to argue with you!”
“Speechless already?” Yan Yue taunted. “I say, Bai Lian did Chen Lu a favor by beating her. Maybe now your useless disciple will resolve her internal demon issues.”
Chen Lu’s master was left glaring, her words failing her.
Jue Yunzi finally stepped in. “Enough. I’ll advise Bai Lian to exercise more restraint next time.”
Though maybe don’t beat someone to tears next time.
Chen Lu’s master stormed off, pacing in circles before leaving the hall in a huff.
Jue Yunzi exhaled deeply, relieved. Yan Yue’s approach was rough, but it worked. Chen Lu’s master, though annoyed, seemed unlikely to retaliate against Bai Lian.
Jue Yunzi glanced at the shattered roof, then at the imposing Blood Tree Patriarch. For the first time, he found Yan Yue’s actions both endearing and reasonable.
“Let’s see what Bai Lian is up to,” Jue Yunzi said, releasing his divine sense. Yan Yue joined in, curious.
At the back mountain of Qiongming Peak, the clear skies darkened abruptly. Jue Yunzi froze as a fierce web of lightning crackled around Bai Lian.
Electric currents danced wildly, turning the spirit fish in the cold pool into charred remains. The pool itself shimmered dark purple, resembling plasma more than water. The violent energy seemed capable of annihilating anything it touched.
“Huh?” Yan Yue frowned. “Isn’t Bai Lian supposed to have a water-type spiritual root?”
Jue Yunzi didn’t answer immediately.
If this wasn’t a spiritual root mutation, there was only one explanation.
“The Natural Saints can control Qi with the Tao,” Jue Yunzi murmured, recalling ancient texts.
For Natural Saints, spiritual root attributes were mere decorations. Even without a spiritual root, they could channel the essence of the great Tao, commanding heaven and earth’s spirit Qi. This boundless potential was the hallmark of Natural Saints.
Bai Lian’s recent awakening of the Tao halo was extraordinary enough. But to gain the ability to control Qi through the Tao in just two months? Even historical records of Natural Saints couldn’t match such rapid progress.
“Is she the woman of fate?” Jue Yunzi wondered, his mind flashing to the doomsday prophecy circulating in the East Divine Land.
If Bai Lian continued to grow, the Duxian Sect might just survive the coming catastrophe.
Turning to Yan Yue, Jue Yunzi warned her to keep this discovery secret. If questioned, she should claim Bai Lian had dual spiritual roots.
Yan Yue nodded solemnly. “Elder Martial Brother, let me help repair your hall.”
Jue Yunzi shook his head. “No need. I’ll handle it myself.”
“But I feel guilty—”
“Younger Martial Sister, don’t trouble yourself over such trivial matters.”
Please don’t help. You’ll only make things worse!
Jue Yunzi eventually ushered Yan Yue out, then summoned Bai Lian for a discussion on “Maintaining Harmony in the Duxian Sect.”
Afterward, he checked in on Chen Lu.
Chen Lu had fallen into despair after her defeat. “I’m worthless!” she cried, swinging from one extreme to another.
What truly unsettled Jue Yunzi, though, was the shift in her internal demon. It now read: [I Will Not Tolerate Cowardice!]
“Well, it’s better than [Jealousy Twists My Soul].”
Jue Yunzi left silently, choosing not to intervene.
That evening, Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei approached Bai Lian nervously.
“Elder Martial Sister, did the sect leader punish you?”
Bai Lian shook her head, smiling. “Not at all. We had a cordial and friendly conversation.”
The two younger martial sisters let out sighs of relief.
“Good,” Bai Lian said, stepping into the room and lighting a red candle. “Since you’re both free, let’s begin our first group lecture!”
