Chapter 2: 002

Yan Jizhi brought Yan Zhichuan back to the grand hall of Nine Abyss Peak and tossed her aside before studying the Bronze Ring that seemed to possess a spirit on her own.

Yan Zhichuan had been picked up by Yan Jizhi as an infant from her swaddling clothes, so she was more familiar with Nine Abyss Sect than anyone.

She naturally climbed onto the swing frame and pulled out a storybook from her Qiankun Pouch, reading it with great relish.

It wasn’t until someone arrived that Yan Zhichuan looked up.

It was Zhong Zhanxi, the Peak Lord of Pacify All Under Heaven Peak. Her expression didn’t suggest she’d come to complain after losing an argument with Blade Peak.

A person followed behind her—hair like cascading clouds, half-bound with red silk ribbons, a teardrop-shaped jade pendant on her forehead. She wore blue-and-white robes cinched with a red silk sash, its twin tails swaying gently with her steps alongside the wave-embroidered hem of her garments.

Yan Zhichuan knew her.

Zhan Yujie, the one the Bronze Ring kept harping on about who would fall to the demonic path.

If it was true, that was just too tragic.

Yan Zhichuan’s gaze gradually softened, as if she were looking at a pitiful little animal in the mountains.

While Yan Zhichuan sized up Zhan Yujie, Zhan Yujie also noticed that unabashed stare. Her steps faltered, and she turned back with a puzzled glance at Yan Zhichuan.

Who is that? I have no impression of her. And that look—

Is she… pitying me?

“She’s your Junior Sister Yan, the Sect Master’s personal disciple. She joined earlier than you, but she’s just younger,” Zhong Zhanxi noticed Zhan Yujie’s gaze and said casually.

Surprise flickered across Zhan Yujie’s face at the words.

The Sect Master’s personal disciple? And not a newbie? How had she never heard of her?

“Your Junior Sister Yan isn’t very noteworthy. It’s fine if you can’t remember her,” Zhong Zhanxi added.

Zhan Yujie nodded. “Mm.” She quickly withdrew her gaze from Yan Zhichuan. If her master said not to mind, it meant there’d be no future dealings.

A freeloader just scraping by in the sect—not my kind of person.

Yan Zhichuan: “…” She can hear you!

This grudge, I’ve noted it down!

Yan Zhichuan slept a nap in a huff, cheeks puffed up with anger.

When she woke, Yan Jizhi immediately called her into the hall. She looked around but saw no sign of Zhong Zhanxi or Zhan Yujie—only her master slumped in a chair, a faint air of “death” clinging to her entire body.

“What are you looking at?” Yan Jizhi asked offhandedly. She wasn’t particularly curious about Yan Zhichuan’s actions and tossed the Bronze Ring back into her hands before she could answer. “A demonic seal from several hundred years ago in Luofu Immortal City has loosened. The demon inside is around Golden Core cultivation. When the time is right, go down the mountain with Yujie and slay it.”

A demon? Yan Zhichuan’s eyes lit up at first—was it finally her time to shine? But then she froze at the words “Golden Core,” her face falling as she whined, “Master, can I not go? I’m only at Foundation Establishment First Layer! It’s so dangerous out there—I’d rather stay cozy in Nine Abyss Sect.”

Yan Jizhi shot her a sideways glance. “Yujie will handle the fighting.” As if she didn’t know Yan Zhichuan was at Foundation Establishment—and even then, her combat prowess at the First Layer was questionable. She could probably take on a sect goose, at best.

Yan Zhichuan nodded vigorously. “Exactly! Senior Sister Zhan will do the fighting—what am I supposed to do?”

Yan Jizhi spat out four words: “See the world.” Seeing Yan Zhichuan still hesitate, she propped herself up with effort and coaxed patiently, “Weren’t you always dreaming of having a spirit companion to go down the mountain and slay foes left and right? Here’s your chance.”

She had already examined it—the Bronze Ring was harmless, truly an incarnation of the Heavenly Dao’s will. Unfortunately, heavenly secrets couldn’t be divulged. She only knew the Heavenly Dao had descended to avert a demonic calamity, and having it by Little Chuan’s side was a good thing.

She’d previously thought Yan Zhichuan’s carefree ways weren’t so bad, but now with the Heavenly Dao watching the mortal world and a way to curb the calamity at hand, she figured she could give the girl a little push—lest she couldn’t even protect herself once she left Nine Abyss Sect.

Yan Zhichuan opened her mouth. She did want a storybook-style ring companion, but the one she’d picked up seemed kind of dumb!

Yan Jizhi had plenty of experience handling Yan Zhichuan. Before she could speak, she shooed her out of the hall.

She was exhausted. What she’d done and said today equaled half a month prior.

Yan Zhichuan: “…” Fine, her master was shutting the doors to sleep again.

Yan Zhichuan trudged back to her little courtyard dejectedly, in no mood to read or sleep.

The farthest she’d ever been her whole life was the town at the foot of the mountain.

“What if I get lost?” she muttered to herself.

Heavenly Dao System: “You’re not going alone—you’re just Zhan Yujie’s accessory.”

Yan Zhichuan jumped at the sudden voice. She glanced down at the dim Bronze Ring, then perked up and asked in her mind, “What’s your name? Are you the only one? Or do lots of people pick them up?”

Heavenly Dao System: “The Dao has no name. I am unique, I—”

Yan Zhichuan seemed not to hear, chirping happily, “I’ll call you Xiao Tian then.”

Heavenly Dao System: “……”

Unable to keep quiet, Yan Zhichuan chattered on at the Bronze Ring. “You’re the only one? Does that mean only Zhan Yujie could fall to the demonic path in the world? Why do you only care about her?”

Heavenly Dao System: “Because different people falling to the demonic path leads to different outcomes. Some would slash the heavens themselves. Others—” It paused midway, a wisp of cloud-smoke drifting from the Bronze Ring to form a plump, round chirp bird hovering before Yan Zhichuan. Its beady black eyes fixed on her meaningfully. “—get slashed by someone else quick, like you.”

Yan Zhichuan blinked, then couldn’t resist poking the chirp. Her finger didn’t pass through—instead, it met soft fluff. Delighted, she scooped it up and kneaded it gleefully. “Great! I knew I was one of the good guys.”

Heavenly Dao System: “??” Who asked if she was a good person!

It struggled free from Yan Zhichuan’s clutches, straightened its ruffled wing feathers, and huffed furiously. “Anyway, I wasn’t exaggerating earlier. Start the tasks soon, or you can’t save the world from disaster.”

Fearing more torment, the Heavenly Dao System hurriedly projected a crude transparent panel before her eyes. Its fluffy wings patted the left side first—”Silent Land”—and explained, “This is a training space with time flowing ten times slower than the outside world. How long you can stay depends on your will. With yours now… about the equivalent of…” Its voice caught, and after a long moment, it gritted out, “one incense stick outside.”

Yan Zhichuan was the textbook lazy, low-will slacker cultivator.

Afraid it’d die of frustration, the Heavenly Dao System flitted to the next panel. “This is Myriad Treasures Pavilion Plants—you can exchange for all sorts of rare spiritual plants. Essential for pill refining.”

Yan Zhichuan showed zero interest in either, her face screaming that’s it?

Heavenly Dao System: “You have an affinity for plants and can Listen to the Sounds of All Things. Cultivate the pill dao, and you’ll ascend to Cave Heaven someday.” At least she had talent amid the bad news.

After demoing the functions, it waited for her response.

But Yan Zhichuan’s expression shifted, and she finally blurted, “I don’t wanna study medicine!”

The Heavenly Dao System nearly laughed in exasperation at this hopeless kid. “You have no sword talent.”

Yan Zhichuan glared. “Isn’t the Heavenly Dao omnipotent and omniscient? Make me a sword prodigy.” That’s how it always went in the storybooks.

The Heavenly Dao System ignored her, urging instead, “Hurry and complete the tasks—rewards await.” As for punishment… whatever. “On the fated path, Zhan Yujie meets her betrothed in Luofu Immortal City, gets framed and betrayed, and embarks on a path of no return.”

“Then I’ll tell Master not to let her go to Luofu Immortal City,” Yan Zhichuan huffed.

Heavenly Dao System: “Can’t divulge heavenly secrets. All you can do is go with her to Luofu Immortal City and help her escape the trouble.”

Yan Zhichuan’s head throbbed—her little brain couldn’t handle such weight. Eyes glazing over, she flopped onto the couch in a half-dead slump. “Let the world end. Whatever.”

The Heavenly Dao System fumed and flew to her face, slapping her cheeks with its wings. “Can’t you just try?”

Yan Zhichuan cracked an eyelid weakly. “Can’t I win without trying? That’s how it goes in the books. They find rings or jade pendants and get gifts. Me?” The more she thought, the more listless she grew, sighing dramatically at the system.

The Heavenly Dao System was at a loss, reduced to indignant whimpering.

Yan Zhichuan side-eyed it. “You’re a bird, not a crybaby monster.”

Heavenly Dao System: “……” Unable to argue, it grudgingly flapped a wing and tossed out a “Newbie Gift Package.”

—Scripture Shennong Hundred Medicines Scripture, spiritual artifact Medicine God Cauldron, mount Cloudy.

These were meant as task rewards, but given Yan Zhichuan’s slacking, it was nine-tenths sure she’d never move. Better to dangle them early.

“Master the Hundred Medicines Scripture and refine your Dao—top-grade pills will be easy, even Dao Pills within reach,” the Heavenly Dao System said.

On Nine Summers Continent, pills divided into spirit pills for healing and martial pills for boosting potential in battle. Both had upper and lower qualities, but above top-grade lay the legendary “Dao Pills,” etched with Dao patterns to elevate life essence and Dao comprehension. Pill dao was incomplete—even Cave Heaven grandmasters couldn’t reliably forge one.

“This Medicine God Cauldron is a spiritual treasure that grows with you—could become a Dao treasure someday.” Artifacts ranged from treasures, to spiritual treasures with spirits and growth potential, to Dao treasures birthing true tool spirits.

“Cloudy goes wherever you will it.”

The Heavenly Dao System waxed eloquent on the package, but Yan Zhichuan stayed lazily disinterested—only glancing idly at Cloudy before declaring confidently, “I’ll learn to sword-fly anyway!”

Heavenly Dao System: “……”

With what? Daydreams?