Chapter 6: A Sudden Mishap
“How is this possible!”
Lin Qingyue was completely bewildered. According to the books she had read, a Yellow-grade spiritual root required the stimulation of spirit stones just to sense spiritual energy and take the first step onto the immortal path.
But she had been able to sense spiritual energy since she was ten. By now, the spiritual energy in her body had already formed a small pool. This was the source of her confidence that she could join any sect, and yet now…
“There’s nothing impossible about it. Your spiritual root aptitude is low. You are not suitable to enter the sect.”
The female cultivator spoke coldly. She had been polite to her earlier because she saw her extraordinary temperament and thought she might become an inner disciple if she joined the sect.
But now that the results were out, she was just someone with a trash spiritual root. There was no need to be polite anymore.
A woman in the crowd below said with veiled sarcasm, “I thought she was a piece of fine jade, but it turns out she’s just trash!”
Another woman chimed in, “Heh, so what if she’s beautiful? She’s still just a mortal.”
“I think you should just hurry up and get down. How could the immortal ladies of the Green Cloud Sect make a mistake? If you don’t have the aptitude, you don’t have it. What are you still doing on the stage?”
“A person’s most valuable trait is self-awareness. Is immortal destiny something you’re worthy of pursuing? Heh, just go home and farm!”
The mocking words rained down on her. A look of pain appeared in Lin Qingyue’s eyes. How she wished the test had been a mistake, but the merciless truth crushed her final hope.
The test couldn’t be wrong. No one had any reason to target her.
So, all this time, it had just been her own wishful thinking. She had talked about joining a prestigious sect, but now, even an ordinary sect wouldn’t accept her.
Lin Qingyue walked down from the platform, mocking herself inwardly.
The talent she had displayed in her youth had made her yearn for the ethereal immortal path.
Although she wasn’t one to show off, deep down, she had harbored the desire to amaze the world with a single feat. But the cold, hard reality had shattered her hopes.
“Why did this happen?”
If she had no talent, she wouldn’t have come here, wouldn’t have yearned for all those things that didn’t belong to her.
Now the dream was over, and it was time to face reality.
What Lin Qingyue wanted most right now was to leave this place, find somewhere deserted, and have a good, long cry.
As she was thinking this, she bumped headfirst into something soft. Lin Qingyue looked up and saw a woman in a black dress.
The woman in black caressed her ample chest, which had swayed from the impact, and smiled faintly. “Little girl, are you feeling down because you can’t cultivate? Big Sister can help you, you know…”
Lin Qingyue’s eyes flickered, but she said nothing, because she knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Sure enough, the woman in black circled around her, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.
“Actually, it’s not impossible for someone with a trash spiritual root to cultivate. It just requires far too many resources, and the returns don’t justify the cost. They aren’t willing to train you, but Big Sister is…”
Lin Qingyue’s body trembled. Even knowing she would have to pay a price, she began to feel tempted.
“Immortal lady, you…”
The woman in black said, “As long as you join the Joyful Union Sect and sign a contract with me, I will guide you onto the immortal path.”
Joyful Union Sect? A contract?
A look of confusion appeared on Lin Qingyue’s face.
The woman in black took out a scroll. Lin Qingyue reached out and took it, her expression growing worse the more she read.
It wasn’t just women who coveted men; men also coveted women. As long as one was beautiful enough, nothing was impossible.
The woman in black had taken a fancy to Lin Qingyue’s cold and proud temperament. A woman this beautiful was enough to make any man’s heart race.
Just think, in this world where women were strong and men were weak, how thrilling would it be to trample on the dignity of a cold, aloof beauty?
There would surely be many rich men willing to spend money on her. If they could make her their pet…
Seduce men? Amass wealth for the sect? Isn’t that the same as a courtesan in a brothel?
Lin Qingyue’s face flushed red. She wanted to cultivate to change her destiny; how could she possibly do something like that?
“Shameless!”
Lin Qingyue knew she was beautiful, enough to attract even reserved men to pursue her. But to trade her body for the path of immortality—she disdained such a thing.
Hearing Lin Qingyue’s response, the smile on the black-clad woman’s face vanished. She said coldly, “Do you think you can refuse?”
Lin Qingyue was startled, her face instantly turning pale. “This is inside the city! You dare to make a move on me?”
The woman in black sneered, “That rule only applies to mortals. You think I care!”
The righteous sects cared about their reputation, but they were the Joyful Union Sect!
The woman in black reached out, intending to take her away by force.
Panic flashed in Lin Qingyue’s eyes. Rather than be forced to do such a thing, she would rather die!
Just as she was about to fight back with her life on the line, Su Yan arrived at the square. Thanks to the young girl’s outstanding temperament, he quickly found his target.
“You blind fool, how dare you have designs on my junior sister!?”
Seeing the girl’s pale face, Su Yan understood everything in an instant. Just as he was about to step in and help, three options suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Option 1: Go up and beat the Joyful Union Sect cultivator, rescuing your future little junior sister. (Reward for completion: Immortal Binding Rope – Counterfeit Version)]
[Option 2: Walk over and say to the Joyful Union Sect cultivator, “What’s the big deal about bullying a woman? If you’ve got the guts, come at me head-on!” (Reward for completion: High-grade spiritual weapon, the Blazing Fire Sword)]
[Option 3: Do nothing and be a melon-eating bystander. (Reward for completion: Spiritual Power +3)]
“Ah, this…?”
Seeing the options the system gave him, Su Yan was a little dumbfounded.
Following the rule that the harder the mission, the richer the reward, there had to be a big problem with Option 1.
After all, the Immortal Binding Rope was a famous immortal treasure in myths and legends. Its power varied depending on the user’s ability, and it had a long list of incredible achievements.
Although the system had marked this one as a counterfeit, it was still beyond compare to ordinary magic treasures.
Su Yan could figure it out with his feet. If he went up and beat the woman, it wouldn’t be long before all her relatives, near and far, showed up.
Beat the young one, and the old one comes. He’d be in over his head.
Thinking about his own beauty and his physique, if his Master’s divine sense couldn’t hold them off, wouldn’t he be finished?
Su Yan’s gaze shifted to the second option. A high-grade spiritual weapon, the Blazing Fire Sword?
It seemed to be a fire-elemental magic treasure, which didn’t match his own attributes. But spiritual weapons were extremely precious, something only Golden Core cultivators could possess. He really, really wanted it!
Just by saying one provocative line in public, he could get a spiritual weapon. It had to be said, Su Yan was a little tempted.
But…
“No!”
After careful consideration, he forcefully suppressed the thought. The risk was too great.
What if the female cultivator was overcome with lust, and he refused, and the two of them started fighting?
Su Yan chose to be a melon-eating bystander. This wasn’t standing by and doing nothing; it was observing the situation.
A direct confrontation was not advisable. He wanted to see how things developed first. If the situation deteriorated to the worst-case scenario, he would have no choice but to reluctantly step in.
