Chapter 7

Heavenly Martial Sect’s Radiance Tower.

“Well, this is a rare guest.”

“You jest, Sect Leader.”

Xue Meiniang watched the blue-clad woman standing before him and couldn’t help but smile.

She wore a simple blue dress, her long hair simply tied back. She looked utterly plain, yet every gesture exuded elegance. They say clothes make the man, but there are always those who, even dressed in sackcloth, cannot hide their brilliance.

When she turned her head, a face that seemed a gift from the divine made it even harder to look away.

Facing Feng Xiwu, even the Sect Leader couldn’t resist a twinge of jealousy.

How could one not admire and envy someone so blessed by the heavens?

Thinking of his daughter’s request, Xue Meiniang couldn’t help but ask curiously, “You wouldn’t happen to have come about my daughter’s matter, Perfected One Feng?”

Feng Xiwu was a legend. Back when the Heavenly Martial Sect’s greatest trump card, Old Ancestor of Ten Thousand Waters, had yet to go into seclusion, she had brought Feng Xiwu back from her wanderings and taken her as a personal disciple. It must be understood, the Old Ancestor of Ten Thousand Waters only took three disciples in her lifetime. The first two had already reached the Soul Formation realm. Feng Xiwu was her final closed-door disciple.

The Old Ancestor of Ten Thousand Waters had sighed that Feng Xiwu’s talent far surpassed her own, likely making her the Heavenly Martial Sect’s most promising candidate for ascension in a thousand years.

And Feng Xiwu had not disappointed her expectations, surging past obstacles and repeatedly shattering the Heavenly Martial Sect’s records.

Over a decade ago, the Old Ancestor of Ten Thousand Waters deemed that she had nothing left to teach Feng Xiwu; the remaining path, she could walk herself. Thus, she went into seclusion.

Since Feng Xiwu was, after all, the Old Ancestor’s disciple, the sect still treated her with exceptional regard.

As the Sect Leader who had to oversee all affairs, Xue Meiniang knew Feng Xiwu’s situation better than most.

To be honest, everyone was in the Nascent Soul stage, yet Feng Xiwu was the most unoccupied. There were some in the sect who found that galling.

But without her talent, being bitter was useless.

Hearing Xue Meiniang ask about Liuli, Feng Xiwu quickly realized the girl had gone home to get her father to plead her case. A flicker of amusement passed through her eyes, gone so quickly no one noticed.

Feng Xiwu shook her head, and with a wave of her hand, unfurled a map. “I’ve come for a different matter.”

Xue Meiniang looked at it. It was a map of the Heavenly Martial Sect, extending slightly into the surrounding area. Seeing nothing wrong, Xue Meiniang leaned forward curiously to take it. Feng Xiwu instinctively pulled her hand back.

Xue Meiniang noticed and couldn’t help but laugh. “Perfected One Feng truly hasn’t changed in this regard since childhood.”

She disliked socializing, disliked talking, and even more so, disliked being touched.

Feng Xiwu showed no interest in discussing this point.

Xue Meiniang continued to study the map, but seeing nothing, asked, “What about it?”

“The Back Mountain Forbidden Area.” Feng Xiwu calmly stated a location.

Xue Meiniang focused intently. After a moment, his expression grew solemn. “Two years ago, the earth dragon turned over. I hadn’t imagined it would affect the terrain and the formation. Thank you for the warning, Perfected One Feng. I will handle it as soon as possible.”

“There is one more thing.” As Feng Xiwu thought of something, her usually impassive face was suddenly covered by a thin layer of coldness. This time, she did not speak aloud but used Secret Sound Transmission to inform Xue Meiniang of what she knew.

Xue Meiniang listened and nodded. “This is a matter of great importance. I still need to discuss it with a few other Elders.”

Feng Xiwu nodded. “Farewell.”

“Wait!” But Xue Meiniang would not let Feng Xiwu go so easily.

Feng Xiwu was a recluse. Even when she had just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage days ago, several peaks had planned to either visit her personally to offer congratulations or send disciples with gifts and well-wishes. She had declined them all. Those who went personally were met with an extremely awkward atmosphere. It was truly difficult to say a few words to her.

Thus, Xue Meiniang knew that for Liuli not only to have met Feng Xiwu but to have stayed a night and even received personal guidance… Xue Meiniang knew that while Liuli’s account was somewhat exaggerated, it wasn’t entirely false.

Xue Meiniang’s smile was genial. “Perfected One Feng, though you are still young in years, you have been at the Heavenly Martial Sect long enough to know the rules. A Nascent Soul Perfected One ought to take on disciples.”

Feng Xiwu replied impassively, “This matter will be discussed another day.”

“Actually,” Xue Meiniang said, “I don’t mean to force you. It’s just that the child Liuli has set her heart on you. Perfected One Feng, that child has caused you trouble.”

Feng Xiwu, for some unknown reason, let the words slip out: “No trouble at all.”

Xue Meiniang’s eyes lit up. Laughing heartily, he said, “Good, good. Actually, many Golden Core Perfected Ones in our sect have already begun taking disciples. I understand that Perfected One Feng has her own considerations, but on this matter, I hope you can understand this old father’s heart.”

“…” Feng Xiwu said, “I will consider the matter of taking a disciple.”

However, she made no guarantees about the result.

“I understand. Taking a disciple still depends on affinity. In three months, the sect competition will be held. Disciples will take turns competing on the stage. It’s actually a good time to choose a disciple.”

Feng Xiwu gave a cool grunt of acknowledgment.

Xue Meiniang knew not to push too far, so he said, “When the time comes, I will arrange with the other Elders for Perfected One Feng to have first pick.”

Feng Xiwu: “Acceptable.”

With the matter settled, Feng Xiwu turned and returned to Parasol Tree Mountain.

She wasn’t averse to taking a disciple. Having used the Heavenly Martial Sect’s resources for these years, she would eventually have to give back to the sect. But as for Liuli…

Thinking of Xue Liuli, Feng Xiwu pursed her lips, her eyes dark and unreadable.

She hoped, in this life, Xue Liuli would behave herself.

However, Feng Xiwu did not know the phrase “speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives”…

As Feng Xiwu passed the disciples’ courtyard, she suddenly heard a burst of laughter from within.

She wasn’t really familiar with the few Outer Sect disciples in the mountain. She would be in seclusion for long periods. On ordinary days, the disciples dared not disturb her while sweeping and cleaning. Now that she thought about it, it was only in these two days since Xue Liuli had come here that the frequency of the Outer Sect disciples speaking to her had increased.

Come to think of it, this was the first time she had heard the disciples in her mountain laugh so brightly.

On a whim, Feng Xiwu stopped at the entrance of the courtyard. The first thing she saw was Xue Liuli, her eyes crinkled into little crescent moons from laughing. At the same time, she caught a faint, sweet fragrance drifting in the air.

She wondered if it was too late to leave now.

It was clearly too late.

Liuli was overjoyed and had already skipped over to block her path, shouting: “Perfected One!”

Feng Xiwu closed her eyes for a moment before looking at her. “Why are you here?”

Liuli immediately bustled back into the courtyard and carried out a food box, holding it up before Feng Xiwu, her face full of smiles. “Perfected One has helped me so much. After returning, the disciple thought she must thank Perfected One. So I specially made some pastries and came to offer thanks.”

Feng Xiwu glanced at the food box in her hands, then toward the courtyard. “What were you doing just now?”

“Just now, we disciples were just chatting and having some soup.” Liuli waved to Junior Sister Little Feng. “Junior Sister, quickly bring a bowl of soup for Perfected One. Perfected One, try this! It’s Tremella, Red Date and Lotus Seed Soup I made!”

“No need. You all enjoy it.” Feng Xiwu slowly stepped back twice, gesturing to Junior Sister Little Feng not to bring the soup over.

Liuli, however, refused to let her go, chasing after her with the food box. “Perfected One, don’t leave!”

Feng Xiwu walked faster.

Liuli persisted relentlessly, carrying the food box in one hand and lifting the hem of her skirt with the other, chasing Feng Xiwu, her little mouth chattering non-stop: “Perfected One, Perfected One, wait for me!”

“…”

“Ah!”

In her haste, Liuli stepped on a loose pebble, slipped, and unexpectedly fell.

Her knee hit the ground, and her ankle twisted. However, the food box in her hands was held tightly in her embrace, perfectly protected.

Liuli sat on the ground, sucking in sharp breaths of cold air.

The injury wasn’t much. What was truly disappointing and upsetting to Liuli was letting Feng Xiwu get away.

Liuli put the food box aside, reached out a finger and poked it. The box wobbled. “What a pity. Such fine ingredients.”

“What’s a pity?”

A clear, cool female voice sounded from above her head.

Liuli abruptly looked up, as if witnessing a goddess descending before her eyes.

Feng Xiwu had at some point come to stand before her, slightly bending over to look at her.

Behind her was the lush, shaded forest of Parasol Trees. The heavy, dark green colors set off her simple, light blue attire, making her look fresh and ethereal. Her long hair cascaded down from her shoulders, swaying slightly in the breeze.

Liuli blinked, in disbelief. “Perfected One?”

The woman before her curved her lips slightly and answered: “It’s me.”

“It really is you!” Liuli immediately became animated again, her bitter face breaking back into a smile.

Feng Xiwu glanced at the injury on Liuli’s calf, as if wanting to ask something but not having the heart to voice it.

Liuli read her expression, put on a pitiful, soft voice, and played the weakling: “The disciple can’t walk anymore. What should I do?”

Feng Xiwu sighed all the sighs she’d held back for Liuli in this lifetime. “The True Qi circulation method I taught you yesterday, do you still remember it?”

“I remember.”

“This injury of yours, you can heal it yourself through cultivation.”

Liuli, however, gave an embarrassed smile. “Perfected One, actually, besides thanking you, there is another reason I came today.”

“What matter?”

“I wanted to ask Perfected One to guide my cultivation.” Before Feng Xiwu could refuse, Liuli continued, “I asked the Sect Leader for guidance, but this disciple truly didn’t understand his teachings. It’s still better the way Perfected One Feng taught yesterday. So the disciple thought to ask Perfected One for a little more guidance.”

“The disciple has only learned to control the circulation of True Qi, but doesn’t know where else to direct it besides round and round, or what other effects it has.” At this point, Liuli pouted. “You also know the disciple has forgotten everything. Those cultivation methods are written unclearly, and I can’t understand them. Perfected One, please, be merciful and teach this disciple a little!”

So Xue Liuli had truly forgotten to this extent.

Looking at her gaze full of expectation, Feng Xiwu, as if bewitched, actually agreed.

It was only a little guidance… nothing significant.

Liuli was so happy she could die. Immediately, she braced one hand on the ground, ready to scramble up and follow.

It didn’t occur to her that they were cultivators; there was no need for such toil and hardship.

Feng Xiwu simply waved her hand. A crisp green leaf transformed to the size of a small boat and landed on the ground. Liuli stored the food box in her storage ring and sat on it. Feng Xiwu stepped onto the leaf stem, and the leaf boat drifted lightly off the ground, carrying Liuli forward.

Feng Xiwu asked, as if casually, “You don’t know how to use magical treasures anymore either?”

Liuli grinned. “I know how to use storage rings!”

The implication being, she couldn’t use any others!

Feng Xiwu was exasperated.

The place where the leaf boat landed was an unremarkable courtyard.

Feng Xiwu led her into a room. Only then did Liuli realize there was a hidden world inside!

From the outside, it looked like just a small room, but upon entering, it was as large as a basketball court. There wasn’t much else in the room. The floor was covered with straw mats, and an incense burner was placed beside the bed.

Feng Xiwu said, “This is where I used to train.”

Liuli said excitedly, “Perfected One, what should I do now?”

Feng Xiwu raised her chin, gesturing for her to move toward the center. Once Liuli found a spot, she heard Feng Xiwu say, “Sit.”

Liuli thought for a moment, then pulled her injured leg over and sat cross-legged.

Seeing her leg was injured, Feng Xiwu said, “No need for that. Be comfortable however you like.”

That was easy to agree with.

Liuli’s brow smoothed, and she immediately stopped tormenting her leg. Stretching both legs out, she let out a long breath – and lay down.

Feng Xiwu: “…”