Chapter 9: Enrolling at Knowledge-Seeking Peak Part 1

After realizing that no matter how hard she tried to blend into the background, she couldn’t avoid the female lead’s hostility, Bai Xiaoxiao’s state of mind had already settled into calm. Perhaps it was the force of the plot—she and the female lead simply couldn’t coexist peacefully.

Thinking of the even greater conflicts waiting for her ahead, Bai Xiaoxiao felt mentally drained. She’d just take things one day at a time for now.

By the time she made the long circuit up the mountain path from the base and finally reached the peak, Bai Xiaoxiao’s breathing was so ragged it was beyond control. Every breath she took was biting cold air, and the chill invading her lungs made her instinctively regulate her breathing. It was only after a long moment that she finally calmed down.

Only about twenty days had passed since she’d started training, and there was progress—but not much.

Moon-Gazing Peak was too tall. She’d gritted her teeth and persisted this far, but she could only manage a single round trip, and she still needed breaks along the way. If this were modern society, she definitely wouldn’t be able to do it. But perhaps because her current body wasn’t human after all, she could endure much more.

Yet for a spirit beast, her physical toughness was truly far too poor. She had no idea why.

After resting for quite a while, Bai Xiaoxiao straightened up again and made her unsteady way back to the small building.

Shen Zhiyue was meditating and only opened her eyes when she heard the sound.

“You took longer today than yesterday. Did you slack off?”

Bai Xiaoxiao hastily shook her head. “No, no. It’s just that I ran into Fellow Daoist Ming on the way up. She mistook me for someone suspicious, so we briefly exchanged a few words. After she left, I immediately continued on.”

“Jingqiu?”

Bai Xiaoxiao nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

Shen Zhiyue studied her carefully, as if trying to determine whether she was lying.

Bai Xiaoxiao nervously allowed herself to be inspected, feeling a bit guilty inside.

In truth, she had indeed secretly slacked off today. She just hadn’t expected Shen Zhiyue to be so perceptive.

Fortunately, Shen Zhiyue didn’t press the matter in the end. She only nodded to indicate she understood.

“Your training results so far… are passable. After you finish today’s medicine, you can resume cultivation starting tomorrow.”

Hearing the hesitance in Shen Zhiyue’s tone, Bai Xiaoxiao laughed sheepishly. But when she heard the second half of the sentence, she froze slightly, as if she wanted to say something but held back.

But she… didn’t know how to cultivate. Not even the simplest thing.

The two worlds ran on completely different systems. Although she possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation at the moment, she truly was a blank slate.

Bai Xiaoxiao was still hesitating about whether to ask.

But Shen Zhiyue seemed to see through her uncertainty and spoke again. “Your foundation is far too weak. Knowledge-Seeking Peak has established a study hall for disciples. Tomorrow, go to Knowledge-Seeking Peak and learn.”

Bai Xiaoxiao was stunned. “Me? I’m going to Knowledge-Seeking Peak?” She hesitated for a moment. “But I’m not a Sword Sect disciple. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to go to Knowledge-Seeking Peak?”

She was a spirit beast. Even in human form, she was fundamentally different from those disciples. Could she really go?

Shen Zhiyue quietly looked at her without speaking.

Bai Xiaoxiao suddenly understood. What did it matter if she wasn’t a Sword Sect disciple? Everything was simply one word from Shen Zhiyue.

The words “special treatment” flashed through her mind in big letters. Bai Xiaoxiao felt a bit dazed, but she still obediently nodded. “Okay, I understand.”

Although she was only going to Knowledge-Seeking Peak to study, at least she could get out. She just wondered what model the study hall followed. Would they separate students by age like in modern society?

If they really did separate by age, then she…

Bai Xiaoxiao’s face showed hesitation.

Hmm… exactly how old was this little snake of hers anyway?

Before she could figure out her age, Shen Zhiyue’s voice suddenly rang out.

“Knowledge-Seeking Peak establishes different study halls based on disciples’ cultivation levels. Most newly accepted Sword Sect disciples haven’t yet entered the Dao, so they’re gathered in the Qi Condensation Study Hall. Although you’ve already reached Foundation Establishment, spirit beasts and humans have different cultivation systems. You’ve only just entered the Dao yourself. The Foundation Establishment Study Hall would be premature for you.”

Bai Xiaoxiao was taken aback. “Then I…”

Shen Zhiyue’s expression didn’t change, but a hint of amusement seemed to flash through her eyes.

“Naturally, the Qi Condensation Study Hall. Lay a solid foundation.”

Bai Xiaoxiao: “…”

That made sense.

But if she remembered correctly, the Sword Sect’s disciple recruitment had an age limit of ten or below for those in Qi Condensation or talented individuals who hadn’t yet entered the Dao…

In other words, if she enrolled, she’d be studying alongside a group of little kids.

Bai Xiaoxiao hesitated for two seconds, then her brow abruptly relaxed.

Actually, having class with the little kids wasn’t so bad.

Seeing that she readily accepted, Shen Zhiyue’s brow arched slightly. “Knowledge-Seeking Peak is quite far. Jingqiu has returned, so she can take you to school.”

Bai Xiaoxiao was only briefly startled before agreeing. “Yes. Thank you, Your Eminence.”

She didn’t know how to fly on a sword. If she relied on her own two legs, she wouldn’t get there even by nightfall. And Rong Qingqing didn’t get along with her. It seemed Ming Jingqiu really was the only option.

Shen Zhiyue watched the exceptionally docile woman and lowered her gaze, concealing the deep thought beneath her eyes.

Regarding Bai Xiaoxiao’s origins, she had examined a great deal of material over the past month and finally had a lead.

Based on the information obtained so far, this little snake closely matched the records in a fragmentary ancient text she’d stumbled upon. The other party was most likely an ancient spirit beast—the Mirage Serpent.

The Mirage Serpent race was favored by the Heavenly Dao. Born with the ability to shapeshift, their hearts were like colored glass, capable of shielding cultivators from inner demons. Beyond that, whether used for cultivation or refining magic artifacts, they were priceless materials.

It was precisely because of this that a wave of hunting had arisen against the Mirage Serpent race in ancient times.

The slaughter lasted over a century, reducing the race to less than one in ten, nearly driving them to extinction. Later, it was said that a great incident occurred—many cultivators inexplicably fell into the Devil Path, plunging the world into chaos.

By the time everything had settled, the Mirage Serpent race had disappeared without a trace. No one knew whether they’d been wiped out or gone into hiding.

To this day, only scattered records of the Mirage Serpent race remained.

If Bai Xiaoxiao truly belonged to the ancient Mirage Serpent race, then why had she emerged into the world now?

A scene suddenly flashed through her mind, and Shen Zhiyue’s gaze sharpened.

At first, she’d thought Bai Xiaoxiao had been possessed. But a month was more than enough time to investigate thoroughly. Bai Xiaoxiao hadn’t been suppressed by the Heavenly Dao. The spiritual power in her body remained intact, sometimes even mobilizing unconsciously—she just didn’t know how to use it.

Compared to before, the original little snake had been like a shell without consciousness. Now, her mind had returned.

No—to be precise, her mind had returned before she appeared at the central barrier of Void Ruins Valley.

If that was the case, Bai Xiaoxiao’s goal wasn’t hard to guess. She must have come for the Yin-Yang Life-Renewing Lamp.

It seemed the Mirage Serpent race had encountered difficulties. Shen Zhiyue glanced at the little snake, who was lost in her own little world, and slowly closed her eyes.

The legends truly did not lie. The Mirage Serpent race really was on the verge of extinction. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent a fool to steal an Immortal Artifact.

Night brought their usual intimate entanglement. Bai Xiaoxiao was completely oblivious to the thoughts the woman in her arms harbored about her. Early the next morning, a beam of spiritual light descended upon the peak of Moon-Gazing Peak—it was Ming Jingqiu, arriving to pick her up.

Bai Xiaoxiao, dressed in a thick cloak, had a face full of melancholy. Looking closely, one could also detect a deep resistance to school lurking in the depths of her eyes.

Even after transmigrating into a book, even arriving in the Cultivation World, she still couldn’t escape the fate of going to school.

Bai Xiaoxiao let out a faint sigh.

The System spoke up in confusion. “Host, but you went to school for much longer in modern times. You should be used to it by now.”

Bai Xiaoxiao’s eyes were vacant. “Used to it? My entire life has only been twenty-two years, and school occupied thirteen of them. I barely managed to finish and graduate. Then I transmigrated, and now I have to start school all over again from kindergarten.”

The System said softly, “My condolences.”

Bai Xiaoxiao sighed quietly.

Forget it. Since she couldn’t refuse, she’d just take it one step at a time.

“Fellow Daoist Ming, I’m truly troubling you.”

Looking at Ming Jingqiu, who stood as straight and tall as a little white poplar after landing, Bai Xiaoxiao smiled and greeted her.

Ming Jingqiu gave a slight nod, her gaze falling directly upon the woman before her.

She hadn’t expected their single encounter yesterday to lead to such a connection. As for it being a trouble—not at all. It was merely a matter of convenience.

But regarding Bai Xiaoxiao enrolling at Knowledge-Seeking Peak, and specifically in the Qi Condensation Study Hall, Ming Jingqiu was still at a loss for how to react.

Bai Xiaoxiao noticed her expression but thoughtfully said nothing. She was filled with novelty at the prospect of being flown by Ming Jingqiu on a sword.

Just yesterday she’d been envying those who could fly on swords, and today she’d get to experience it.

But at the moment she was about to step onto the blade, Bai Xiaoxiao hesitated anyway.

The long sword hovering at low altitude was paper-thin. Ming Jingqiu stood on it very steadily, but Bai Xiaoxiao couldn’t figure out where to put her feet. Even though the sword had been enlarged somewhat, it was still very narrow. Would she really not fall off if she stood on it?

Perhaps sensing her hesitation, Ming Jingqiu softened her voice and said, “Fellow Daoist Bai need not fear. I won’t let you fall.”

With that assurance, even though her heart was still a little uneasy, Bai Xiaoxiao knew she couldn’t delay any longer. She took a deep breath and, trembling, stepped onto the sword.

Ming Jingqiu patiently waited for her to adjust. After a moment, Bai Xiaoxiao’s tense body gradually relaxed, and she let out a soft breath.

Then Ming Jingqiu made a hand seal, and the long sword rose steadily into the air, shooting forward with a whoosh.

Bai Xiaoxiao’s face went pale. She hurriedly grabbed onto Ming Jingqiu’s clothes, keeping her eyes shut the entire way, afraid to look down.