Chapter 2: How Can I Save You, My Sister?

In the original story, the female lead Ye Li's level of horror was comparable to Hannibal from the movies, Tang Si from the novels, or Yuno from the anime...

His sister, Luo Han, had been tortured until she was broken, her jade-like body exposed, three-point... cough, cough, that's too much, way too much...

"What are you talking about?" Luo Han looked at her brother helplessly. "The Xuantian Sect is one of the top sects in Nanling. If we are expelled, what other sect would take us in?"

She and Luo Xing had been orphaned since childhood, depending on each other until their bitterness finally turned to sweetness. They had been scouted by a passing sect deacon and brought into the Xuantian Sect.

She thought they could finally live a stable and peaceful life, but now...

Forget it...

Things had already come to this; what was the use of saying more?

She didn't have the heart to hit or scold this brother of hers...

Perhaps she was simply not destined for the path of cultivation...

As for his sister's worries, Luo Xing felt it wasn't a problem at all!

Because his sister was a "Fairy Spirit Root," a talent rarely seen in 1,000 years!

Thinking of this, Luo Xing couldn't help but complain...

If it weren't for his sister having the Fairy Spirit Root, she probably wouldn't have caught the eye of that bastard Ye Li. She wouldn't have lived so long or been tortured by Ye Li for so long...

In this Qingyu Continent, the grade of one's Spirit Root basically determined the height of their cultivation path.

Cultivators with Low or Middle Spirit Roots could generally only reach the Golden Core Stage before finding it difficult to advance further. Those with High Spirit Roots had a bit more hope.

The grades after that—Peak Spirit Root, Fairy Spirit Root, Earth Spirit Root, and Heavenly Spirit Root—were the geniuses among geniuses.

For example, the current Sect Master of the Xuantian Sect, Bai Li Qin Mo, had an Earth Spirit Root and was currently at the middle Mahayana Stage. Ye Li, on the other hand, had a Heavenly Spirit Root and was at the late Mahayana Stage...

Damn it!

Bai Li Qin Mo, you're the Senior Brother!

Your Spirit Root is inferior to Ye Li's!

Your strength is inferior to Ye Li's!

Why on earth are you the Sect Master!

'Is there some kind of shady deal going on behind the scenes?' he wondered, pointing fingers inwardly.

But these were only their current levels; they wouldn't stop there. Setting Bai Li Qin Mo aside, in the original work, Ye Li eventually reached the Tribulation Transcendence Realm...

"You... sigh..." Luo Han had grown accustomed to her brother's carefreeness. "Forget it, let's go back..."

They should pack their things early and prepare to be expelled from the sect...

***

On the other side, at Wanyi Peak.

The morning mist was like a veil, lightly shrouding the bamboo forest. Thousands of emerald bamboo stalks swayed in the mountain breeze, rustling softly. In the center of the courtyard, a cold pond reflected the sky. The water was still, mirroring two figures.

A man stood before Ye Li. He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with distinct features that should have looked heroic and dashing. However, he appeared cramped and uneasy due to nervousness. His moon-white robes made him look elegant and otherworldly, yet his rigid posture and a stray lock of hair falling over his forehead betrayed his panicked state of mind.

*Gulp...*

Bai Li Qin Mo looked at the cold fairy standing before him. His throat moved as he swallowed nervously. Fine beads of sweat broke out on his brow, and even his fingertips were trembling slightly. "Junior... Junior Sister... do you... have some business with me?"

As he spoke those words, he replayed everything he had done over the past 100 years in his head, but he couldn't find a single instance where he might have offended his Junior Sister.

Could it be...

No!

Impossible!

No one knew about that matter except for him!

Ye Li glanced at her Senior Brother and then sat down gracefully.

Bai Li Qin Mo immediately bowed and respectfully poured her a cup of Tianxi Tea.

To an outsider, this might seem strange: the man standing and pouring tea, Bai Li Qin Mo, was the Sect Master of the Xuantian Sect, while the seated woman, Ye Li, was a Supreme Elder...

Ye Li parted her red lips and took a sip of the fragrant tea. "The Selection Ceremony should be coming up in a few days, right?"

Bai Li Qin Mo nodded tremulously. "Yes... yes... do you have some... uh... instructions, Junior Sister?"

The Selection Ceremony was nothing more than testing Spirit Roots and then having the sect decide on promotions.

It was generally divided into stages, such as servants moving to the outer sect, and outer sect disciples moving to the inner sect.

Aside from that, those with outstanding Spirit Roots or those who caught the eye of an elder or even the Sect Master for other reasons could become personal disciples.

Bai Li Qin Mo didn't understand why his Junior Sister, who hadn't concerned herself with worldly affairs for nearly 1,000 years, would suddenly ask about the Selection Ceremony today...

"Mm." Ye Li finished the tea in her cup, set the jade cup down, and stood up. "On the day of the ceremony, remember to call me."

With that, she flew away as abruptly as she had appeared.

"The Selection Ceremony? Call her?" Bai Li Qin Mo scratched his head in confusion as he watched his Junior Sister's retreating back. "Why call her?"

It was common knowledge that the Supreme Elder of the Xuantian Sect, the Ice Glass Fairy Ye Li, never took disciples.

So what was she going to do at the Selection Ceremony?

Watch the show?

Bai Li Qin Mo didn't understand, but he didn't dare ask. He could only follow her instructions...

After watching Ye Li fly far away, Bai Li Qin Mo looked around to ensure no one was watching and set up several isolation barriers.

"On a certain day of a certain month in a certain year..." Bai Li Qin Mo stealthily took out a Jade Slip and used spiritual energy to write quickly upon it. "Junior Sister paid a sudden visit and gave me a fright. She has no respect for her Senior Brother whatsoever. Mark it down."

After writing, he carved the serial number "166,810" onto the Jade Slip...

***

A few days later, at the Xuantian Sect's Martial Arts Platform.

"Senior Brother Yun, you're here too!"

"Mm, Junior Brother Feng..."

"Brother Han, I hope we can enter the inner sect together."

"Don't worry, Junior Brother Li..."

By this time, the Martial Arts Platform was already a sea of people. Most were servant disciples and outer sect disciples, with inner sect disciples being the minority.

After all, this was the "college entrance exam" of the cultivation world—their chance to change their fate against the heavens.

"I didn't expect Elder Ye to be so lenient, despite looking so cold and heartless."

In the crowd, Luo Han pulled Luo Xing and whispered, "I thought we would be expelled from the sect after that day."

As she spoke, she looked at Luo Xing. "In the future, you can't say... eh? What kind of expression is that?"

What kind of expression?

A look of wanting to cry but having no tears! What other expression could there be?

Luo Xing had truly scratched his head raw, yet he still couldn't figure out how Ye Li had managed to endure him "talking behind her back" like that.

Was the power of the plot at work?

Or...

Did this bastard female lead actually take a direct liking to Luo Han herself?

Tsk!

This is difficult!

No!

I can't just sit and wait for death!

Setting aside whether Luo Han would be tortured in the future!

Just look at him!

His end in the original work wasn't much better than Luo Han's!

In the original novel, it was during this Selection Ceremony that Luo Han was noticed by Ye Li and taken in as a personal disciple.

It was quite normal in the beginning. Ye Li was a normal master, and Luo Han was a normal disciple. Then, in the middle of the story, the style suddenly changed...

Luo Xing couldn't explain the specific reasons, but in the original novel *Han Li Jie*, Ye Li started growing long fingernails halfway through...

And she even wore rings...

"Sister..." Luo Xing pulled on his sister's sleeve. "Listen to me. Later, when it's time to choose a master, don't choose Ye Li no matter who else you pick. Do you understand?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Luo Han looked puzzled. "We're only outer sect disciples. We don't even know if we can make it into the inner sect yet. What's this about choosing a master?"

Besides, even if she did make it into the inner sect, it wasn't her place to choose a master.

Luo Xing shook his head. "Just treat it as that dream I had. Anyway, just don't choose Ye Li."

Others might not be able to, but you, my sister, you are a Fairy Spirit Root rarely seen in 1,000 years!

You have the qualification to choose your own master!

In the original work, after Luo Han's Fairy Spirit Root was discovered, it shocked the entire Xuantian Sect. Then Sect Master Bai Li Qin Mo asked her which elder or rogue cultivator she wanted to choose as her master.

Luo Han had thought back then that since Ye Li was the Supreme Elder of the sect and had never taken a disciple, becoming her disciple would save a lot of trouble and give her time to look after her brother. So, with the intention of giving it a try, she chose Ye Li.

At the time, Ye Li had intended to refuse, but then she took one look at Luo Han...

Yes!

Just that one cliché look!

And she agreed!

'You damn author!'

'If you don't know how to write romance, then don't write it!'

'How could an icy (perverted) mountain who hasn't taken a disciple in 1,000 years take someone in just because of one look!'

And then she...

Forget it, I won't flame him, lest that bastard author can't take it and increases the difficulty for me again...

'Good grief...'

'I don't even have a System!'

'How can I save you!'

'My sister!'

***

Before long, the Sect Master, along with various sect elders and rogue cultivators, all arrived at the high platform.

"Hahaha, Elder Liu, I trust you've been well."

"Elder Ji, I heard you..."

"Brother Mei..."

While the elders were exchanging greetings and pleasantries, a graceful figure suddenly appeared on the high platform that had been empty for nearly 1,000 years.

Under the shocked gazes of the sect elders and rogue cultivators, Ye Li sat down expressionlessly. Her long, slender, beautiful legs were crossed, her right hand supported her chin, and her cold, glamorous face was slightly tilted. Her frost-like demeanor exuded a myriad of charms.

After Ye Li appeared, the entire venue instantly fell silent. Everyone looked shocked and then turned their heads in unison to look at Bai Li Qin Mo.

'Sect Master!'

'She... why is she here?!'

Facing the gazes of everyone, which were filled with surprise and terror, Bai Li Qin Mo offered no explanation. He looked at the sky, looked at the ground, looked at anything but them...

'Oh, this year's disciples...'

'They really look like people...'