Another two days had passed since he was harassed by his Senior Sister.
During this time, Luo Qianning had not appeared within the Sect at all.
It was now the fifth day.
Today was the fifth day since He Qiu, an Inner Gate disciple of the Longyin Sect, had started from scratch as a mortal to painstakingly practice a Seventh-tier Cultivation Method.
His progress bar was now approaching over 80%.
On the cultivation ground, the youth in white was still earnestly practicing his sword swings.
He closed his eyes to quietly sense the fluctuations of spiritual energy around him, savoring the constant chill radiating from the blade.
This was the result of his progress in Sword Intent and Sword Heart.
Sword Intent, Sword Heart, spirit markings…
These were all intangible things that only He Qiu himself could perceive.
Therefore, the other disciples passing by to watch could not understand why He Qiu was standing there in a daze with his eyes closed.
“What on earth is this little scholar doing?”
“Who knows? He’s been practicing here day and night for five days. Although his training method looks completely amateur…”
As he spoke, a disciple nodded and said with a hint of admiration, “But you have to admit, this little brother is quite hardworking and determined. I’ve never been this desperate in my own cultivation.”
“In my opinion, he’s just gone mad trying to prove himself to the Saintess.”
“That’s true. After all, the Saintess personally gave him that manual… Sigh, what a pity.”
The disciples chatted as they walked away.
No one wanted to bother this Junior Brother who was so focused on his training.
A piece of trash with no Spirit Vein and no talent was not worth much attention, no matter how much effort or perseverance he showed.
In the end, it was impossible for the Primordial Saintess to actually take an interest in him.
After all, he didn’t even understand the most basic cultivation methods.
Stubbornly training until his death only proved he was a total “newbie.”
***
In a pavilion on the second floor by the road, a woman in green with silver-white hair silently listened to the disciples’ discussion.
At the same time, she observed the youth in white practicing earnestly on the cultivation ground.
A faint light flickered in her beautiful eyes, and a hint of worry appeared on her cold face.
It was the fifth day.
Today was also the fifth day that An Lingran had been secretly observing her Junior Brother.
Today, she still saw no sign of any hidden talent in He Qiu.
His sword qi was incredibly weak, as soft and powerless as a frail scholar trying to box.
An Lingran shook her head helplessly, inwardly sighing that some things were simply meant to be.
This applied not only to her Junior Brother’s lack of talent but also to the red string of fate between them.
This Marriage Engagement was destined to be nothing more than a farce.
At that moment, a Celestial Spirit with soft golden hair and deer antlers pushed open the door.
She placed two plates of washed spirit fruits on the table, sat down, and rested her small face on her hand with a sigh.
“That child has been practicing day and night for five days without eating or sleeping…”
“I know,” An Lingran replied coldly, suppressing the emotions in her heart.
The Celestial Spirit’s eyes flickered for a moment before she shook her head and said in a regretful tone, “It’s just a pity. The boy has just entered the Sect, and his cultivation method is too amateurish. He doesn’t understand how to practice a sword manual at all…”
“Sigh… And there’s no one there to teach him or give him guidance.”
The Celestial Spirit intentionally emphasized the last sentence, her voice rising in pitch.
However, An Lingran remained cold.
“I know.”
“Look at how hard and desperately your Junior Brother is working just so he can marry his Saintess Senior Sister—”
“I… I know.”
Finally, a trace of hesitation appeared in An Lingran’s cold, beautiful eyes.
Seeing this, the Celestial Spirit girl’s lips curled up slightly, and her two pink bare feet swung leisurely under her seat.
She began to lament rhythmically, as if she were singing:
“Ah, the youth in white, full of passion, dedicating his youth, entering the Sect, seeking cultivation, praying for a chance…”
“Pity, oh pity, the world is unfair. The boy’s Senior Sister has ill intentions, misleading her student, handing down a sword manual without teaching the method…”
“Let all living beings judge this act. What exactly are her intentions?”
Toward the end, the Celestial Spirit peeked at An Lingran with one eye, then continued humming, “Ah, the vast heavens, the world is unfair, and the human heart is cruel—”
“…”
An Lingran clenched her white fists and remained silent.
Yun Qing opened her mouth, looking like she wanted to continue, but An Lingran interrupted her this time.
“Yun Qing, stop mocking me.”
An Lingran sighed.
Although her expression was full of guilt and self-reproach, she did not regret it.
“The decision has been made. I truly owe Junior Brother He Qiu for this, but I mean him no harm. I was only forced by my circumstances to…”
“In the future, I will find a way to compensate him.”
With those words, An Lingran turned and left.
***
Xueyin Peak, Primordial Saint Pavilion.
Early this morning, An Daosheng had arrived here.
He paced back and forth, his face filled with anxiety and a massive headache.
Within the Sect, the name of the Xueyin Grand Elder, An Daosheng, was known to everyone.
The old Daoist was highly respected for his cultivation.
Usually, few things in the Sect could trouble him, and his path of cultivating immortality wouldn’t be easily disturbed.
But today, he was incredibly frustrated.
This matter had to start with his troublesome daughter.
Last night, on his way back to the Sect, he had actually seen the little disciple he had recruited practicing his sword late into the night.
An Daosheng saw how seriously the boy was meditating and couldn’t bear to disturb him.
So, early this morning, An Daosheng found an Inner Gate disciple to ask about He Qiu’s situation—what good thing had happened to make his Junior Brother practice so hard?
If he hadn’t asked, he wouldn’t have known.
But once he did, he found out everything.
The Primordial Saintess, who was also the head disciple of the Xueyin Lineage, An Lingran, had personally given He Qiu a Seventh-tier sword manual a few days ago and told him to practice it!
This…
How could she…
Isn’t this just pure nonsense?
‘Good grief, Lingran, you rebellious child, you’re going to be the death of me!’
That boy named He Qiu was the illegitimate son of that great benefactor from the Immortal Realm.
He was originally just an ordinary mortal cultivator who had just joined the Sect, yet his Saintess Senior Sister gave him a Seventh-tier sword manual to practice as an introductory technique?
What were her intentions!
When the time comes and he fails to produce any results, he’ll get discouraged.
He’ll think he’s a useless piece of trash, lose all hope in cultivation, and pack his bags to leave the Sect…
If word of this got out, wouldn’t it mean the Longyin Sect was intentionally trying to spite the child of an Immortal Venerable?
If that Immortal Venerable were to get angry, wouldn’t 100 Longyin Sects be wiped out in an instant?
Even if he took a step back and told He Qiu as soon as possible that An Lingran was just joking—that it was actually a Seventh-tier manual and not an introductory one—it would still be a grave insult!
Wouldn’t he feel like he was being played for a fool?
If that Immortal Venerable found out about this, it would be over.
The entire Xueyin Lineage would likely be turned into a sea of blood!
That Immortal Venerable had once saved An Daosheng’s life; he was the benefactor of the entire Xueyin Lineage.
And now?
He, An Daosheng, was biting the hand that fed him!
He had lured the man’s illegitimate son into the Longyin Sect, and then intentionally let his daughter use a Marriage Engagement to humiliate him and a Seventh-tier manual to deceive and play with him!
‘Oh my heavens…’
How could he dare to return kindness with such treachery against an Immortal Venerable?
He had originally thought of quietly forging a marriage contract and then finding a way to have An Lingran marry the Immortal Venerable’s child as a formal wife or concubine.
That would be a way to repay the kindness.
In the future, they might even have a chance to build a relationship with that Immortal Venerable, and their entire lineage might achieve ascension!
And now?
Ascension?
Descending to the yellow springs was more like it.
If this foolish act of ingratitude reached the ears of that Immortal Venerable, An Daosheng wouldn’t be able to die in peace!
‘Oh, mother… I really am…’
“I’m so angry I could burst!!!”
With a loud crash, An Daosheng flipped the table.
The more he thought about it, the more his head throbbed.
The old man wanted to slam his forehead against the pavilion pillars.
His spiritual energy was in chaos.
Just thinking about his daughter’s cold, beautiful face made him nearly cough up a mouthful of blood.
“It’s my fault…”
“I was a fool!”
An Daosheng was filled with regret.
Originally, he knew An Lingran was stubborn, so he hadn’t told her that He Qiu was the illegitimate son of an Immortal Venerable.
He didn’t want his daughter to feel like she was being used as a concubine just to climb the ladder, fearing it would make her feel humiliated.
He had thought that since He Qiu and Lingran were both young, they would eventually develop feelings for each other if they spent enough time together.
It seemed he didn’t understand Lingran well enough.
He had overlooked his daughter’s “resourcefulness” and “decisiveness”!
Humiliating him with a cultivation manual…
That was quite a move.
An Lingran, you’re really something!
‘Rebellious child, you’re pushing your father toward the road to the underworld!’
*Thud! Thud! Thud!!*
He slammed his head against the pillar several times, letting out a series of pained cries.
An Daosheng felt that he was a complete idiot.
The Immortal Venerable had kindly saved his half-dead life years ago, and now he was repaying that kindness with treachery.
It was simply…
Simply…
“I deserve to die! I deserve ten thousand deaths! Lord Immortal Venerable!”
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