Chapter 13

Just as sects experienced cycles of rise and fall, so too did families.

In the past, the southwestern region of the Cultivation World had fallen entirely under the Xiao Family’s jurisdiction.

At that time, the Xiao Family specialized in beast taming. Their direct bloodline possessed exceptional spiritual affinity, excelling in communication and resonance with spirit beasts.

The clan’s cultivators were already prodigiously talented on their own, bolstered further by high-grade spirit beasts. For a time, the Xiao Family truly held the title of “World’s First Family.”

But times changed. Now, spiritual energy dwindled across the Cultivation World, making it hard even for cultivators to advance their cultivation, let alone spirit beasts. Thus, the Xiao Family’s advantages faded away.

Worse still, the Xiao Family’s direct bloodline spiritual affinity was a one-of-a-kind gift in the Cultivation World. Long before others noticed the Demon Sect’s emergence, the Xiao Family bore the brunt of their assault.

By the time the Cultivation World united against the Demon Sect, the Xiao Family was left with only a few fragmented bloodlines. Their spiritual affinity had vanished without a trace, and their former glory was gone forever.

Xiao Yuxie’s mother, though the most talented of recent generations—reaching Golden Core by age two hundred—passed away just a few years after Xiao Yuxie entered the Taiqing Sect, her congenital deficiencies proving too much.

At that time, Xiao Yuxie was still young. The Xiao Family cited her tender age and refused to let her inherit the position of family head, leaving her as the young lord instead.

Lu Mingyi sat on the bed, watching Xiao Yuxie bustle about her room. The senior sister’s serene expression, bathed in a soft glow, lent her an extra layer of ethereal radiance.

“You just came down from Contemplation Cliff with a heavy chill clinging to you. I borrowed two sticks of Candle Dragon Wax from someone and lit them for you.”

“I warmed the cotton padding on your couch—it should be nice and toasty now. I went to Contemplation Cliff looking for you but couldn’t find you, and you didn’t reply to my message, so I came straight here to tidy up your place.”

“Here, tuck this Warmth Pearl away. Your hands are always so cold.”

“Senior Sister, I’m not that fragile,” Lu Mingyi said with a sweet smile as she took the Warmth Pearl from Xiao Yuxie. “Did you just get back from handling things?”

“Mm.” Xiao Yuxie nodded, then lightly tapped Lu Mingyi’s forehead with her finger. “And don’t dodge the topic—I know you too well. If I don’t keep an eye on you, you’ll just slack off and not take proper care of yourself.”

Lu Mingyi tilted her head and laughed. “When have I ever been that undisciplined!”

Xiao Yuxie watched her like this and chuckled along for a moment before saying, “Feeling better now, Little Yi? Can you tell me why you were… banging your head against the wall outside your residence earlier?”

She clearly held back a laugh when she said “banging your head against the wall.”

Lu Mingyi felt a bit embarrassed, but facing her senior sister with whom she shared daily life, she opened up. “I was just feeling worn out, and then I remembered I still had to go to Lingxiao Pavilion to bring congratulatory gifts for Master and the new junior sister…”

“You’ve already heard about Junior Sister Qi?” Xiao Yuxie’s brows lifted slightly.

So the new junior sister’s surname was Qi, and everyone knew—except her.

Lu Mingyi thought to herself, then shook her head. “I only knew Master had taken a new disciple. I don’t know anything else.”

“Have you heard, then…” Xiao Yuxie’s eyes flickered with that familiar reluctance, trailing off as if weighing her words.

But Lu Mingyi caught on—she was referring to the prophecy. “If Senior Sister means the Sect Leader’s divination, I’ve already heard about it.”

Xiao Yuxie looked even more surprised, but seeing Lu Mingyi’s calm expression, she quickly composed herself. “Little Yi, you don’t need to worry. No matter what the prophecy says, Senior Sister believes in who you are. I won’t let anyone bully you.”

“Thank you, Senior Sister. Don’t worry—if anyone dares try something, I won’t swallow my anger.” Lu Mingyi blinked in response.

Xiao Yuxie was always so thoughtful in caring for others. Lu Mingyi’s fatigue had long since vanished, and in this moment of relaxation, she wanted to chat more with her senior sister and ask about the new junior sister. But suddenly, she heard:

【Besides your looks, you truly share not a single trait with Xiao Ji. If it were Xiao Ji, she’d have flung herself into my arms and whined coquettishly by now.】

Xiao Ji?

Lu Mingyi lowered her gaze, hiding the flicker of doubt and gravity in her eyes from Xiao Yuxie.

This wasn’t the first time she’d heard that name, but sifting through her memories of nearly a century on Sword Peak, she’d never heard it from Xiao Yuxie before.

Yet Xiao Yuxie’s face showed nothing amiss. She elegantly sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked Lu Mingyi’s brows and eyes, smiling. “I’ve always believed in you. Besides, I’m still waiting for you to recover so we can keep practicing the fourth layer of the Taiqing Sword Art together.”

Aside from Lu Mingyi, who had learned the Long Rainbow Sword Art from Jiang Liuzhao, the rest of Sword Peak’s disciples cultivated the Taiqing Sword Art—including Xiao Yuxie.

Lu Mingyi was a true prodigy, once hailed as even more talented than Jiang Liuzhao herself. Sparring sword techniques with her yielded great gains.

And perhaps due to their long time together as senior sister and junior, their sword practice sessions were remarkably in sync, advancing both their techniques and cultivation faster than solo practice.

But those sessions had mostly been three years ago.

Lu Mingyi no longer believed her current cultivation level qualified her as Xiao Yuxie’s sparring partner.

So she didn’t agree and changed the subject instead. “Senior Sister, Master mentioned you left suddenly for family matters. Is everything handled? Do you need any help?”

In the past, Xiao Yuxie had brought Lu Mingyi to the Xiao Family a few times. Having grown up in the Shen Family, Lu Mingyi had picked up plenty on family affairs and could lend a hand without touching core secrets.

But since her cultivation decline, Xiao Yuxie rarely mentioned family matters around her.

Lu Mingyi didn’t expect much this time either, but to her surprise, Xiao Yuxie replied, “Mm… some rather troublesome matters.”

“Would Senior Sister tell me about it? Maybe I can help in some way.” Xiao Yuxie’s initiative made Lu Mingyi’s eyes light up, pushing “Xiao Ji” to the back of her mind.

“Sigh, just some old issues.” Xiao Yuxie lowered her gaze to her, speaking softly. “Mother wants me to return home soon and truly take up the position of Xiao Family head. After all, my direct bloodline talent isn’t manifesting, and the other collateral branches are eyeing the seat covetously.”

Devastated by the Demon Sect’s slaughter, few direct bloodline members remained in the Xiao Family. By Xiao Yuxie’s generation, she lacked the beast-taming spiritual affinity—instead excelling at sword control and resonance with sword spirits, which was why Jiang Liuzhao had taken her as a personal disciple on Sword Peak.

But within the family, lacking the clan’s signature ability made her vulnerable to schemes.

Especially since she was young. Despite her cultivation talent, facing elder aunts and cousins, she was at a disadvantage in terms of propriety and seniority, with little say in family matters.

Yet the previous family head had been gone for nearly two centuries. From what Lu Mingyi had seen, Xiao Yuxie spent at least half her year on family affairs, prioritizing them over cultivation.

Most families sent young members to sects to build independence, social skills, and connections, recalling them later once they had a foundation to handle family duties.

Xiao Yuxie had reversed that order, which was why—even with her exceptional talent—she was only at Golden Core Late Stage now.

At first, Lu Mingyi had openly vented frustration for her senior sister.

But as she learned more about sects, families, and Xiao Yuxie herself, she came to understand how vital the family was to her.

Thus, she offered a concise compromise. “Senior Sister, everyone in your family must see all you’ve done for them these years. With the Demon Sect stirring again, it’s time for the clan to rally around you as the core and unite. Explain it to them—they should understand that much.”

In short: Your relatives can squabble on ordinary days, but not at a critical juncture like this.

Xiao Yuxie naturally grasped the tactful implication and returned a faint smile. “I know. But let’s not dwell on these dull topics. The new batch of Osmanthus Cakes is ready at home this year—when do you want to come back with me to try them, Little Yi?”

Lu Mingyi wasn’t all that fond of Osmanthus Cakes, but Xiao Yuxie adored them. Before her cultivation setback, her senior sister often dragged her to the Xiao Family to eat them.

She opened her mouth to agree, but suddenly remembered the prophecy that had spread far and wide.

Since even the Shen Family had heard it, the divination must be circulating widely in the Cultivation World—likely reaching the southwestern Xiao Family too.

With Xiao Yuxie already facing frequent challenges in the clan, would a “Child of Prophecy” linked to the Demon Sect like her bring even more trouble if she went along?

After a quick mental debate, Lu Mingyi decided. “Thank you, Senior Sister, but the Cultivation World isn’t peaceful right now. With my weak cultivation, I’d just be a burden. Better to wait until things settle, then taste the Osmanthus Cakes together.”

Xiao Yuxie’s smile didn’t falter, her expression as warm and gentle as ever. “You’re right, Little Yi. Next time, then.”

Seeing this, Lu Mingyi pulled “Xiao Ji” back from the recesses of her mind. “Speaking of which, I’ve gone to your home with you a few times before. How are your peers doing?”

“They’re all fine.” Xiao Yuxie’s reply was curt, as if unwilling to elaborate.

Lu Mingyi picked up on it and dropped the line of questioning.

But then she received another voice:

【That’s right—if Xiao Ji were still here, how could I be so beleaguered and alone? Xiao Ji was such an outstanding talent. If she were still around, why would I need to plaster on smiles and fawn over others every day?】

Now all those suppressed doubts surged back up.

The voice’s content clearly wasn’t fabricated at random, and she’d only heard “Xiao Ji” in connection with Xiao Yuxie.

If she could uncover information on this “Xiao Ji,” it might be a major breakthrough in understanding the voice.

Seizing the clue, Lu Mingyi’s mind raced.

The person most familiar with Xiao Yuxie’s situation whom she could access was probably Jiang Liuzhao.

And thinking of her master made Lu Mingyi want to bang her head against the wall again.

She still had to face the task she’d deliberately forgotten: going to Lingxiao Pavilion with congratulatory gifts for her master and the new junior sister.

“Little Yi, rest for a bit. There’s no rush with Master for now.” Xiao Yuxie rose gracefully. “I’ll head back to Youlan Pavilion now. Message me if you need anything later.”

“Alright. Let me see you out, Senior Sister.” Lu Mingyi tumbled off the bed in a hurry.

Xiao Yuxie hadn’t even changed her clothes—she’d come straight from the Xiao Family to Jin Ji Pavilion.

Even while fretting over Lingxiao Pavilion, Lu Mingyi couldn’t possibly ask her for help with that.

Xiao Yuxie merely gave her a light glance, not stopping her.

But as they stepped out of Jin Ji Pavilion’s doors, Lu Mingyi discovered a crowd gathered outside her residence. Their sect uniforms bore collars of varying colors and patterns—disciples from every peak.

In the past, Jin Ji Pavilion had always been like this, with people lingering outside in hopes of chatting with her.

Lu Mingyi never put on airs as a personal disciple and could talk about any topic that piqued her interest.

But since her cultivation plummeted, Jin Ji Pavilion had quieted down.

Seeing so many people now, Lu Mingyi didn’t think it was her “good popularity” returning.

She spotted the blatant probing and hostility in their eyes at a glance.

But the next second, as Xiao Yuxie emerged from her residence, all those gazes retracted.

Lu Mingyi: “…”

Truth be told, Xiao Yuxie was the one with true good popularity in the Taiqing Sect—across Sword Peak, the other four peaks, even some Main Peak elders gave her face.

The Taiqing Sect had once held an anonymous poll for “most ideal Dao companion.” Xiao Yuxie crushed Shen Mingzheng—who outshone everyone in looks, background, and poise—with a landslide victory, souring Shen Mingzheng’s already lukewarm attitude toward her even further.

Teen prodigy Lu Mingyi back then, though blessed with stunning looks, had a lively, carefree personality. Anonymous comments dubbed her “top pick as a friend, not a Dao companion,” landing her third place.

Xiao Yuxie seemed oblivious to the sudden crowd and said casually to Lu Mingyi, “Alright, Little Yi—no need to see me further. Head back and rest soon.”

Lu Mingyi nodded in farewell to her. She watched as Xiao Yuxie summoned her own sword and flew away on it. Then, right by her ear, came a very faint snicker:

【Hmph… Soon you’ll know just how difficult it is to receive kind treatment from others.】

It was that voice, speaking in Xiao Yuxie’s tone.

Lu Mingyi rubbed her head. She felt like the voice had been cropping up more frequently ever since she’d left the Contemplation Cliff.

As she tried to connect this phrase to the few sentences she’d heard before, a tall, upright figure strode quickly toward her and called out loudly:

“Lu Mingyi, if you know what’s good for you, stay the hell away from Yuxie!”