Light and shadow overlapped, the sky was clear and the moon bright.
The Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect was peaceful throughout. Fu Lingyi sat properly before her Master, pouring tea and listening carefully as she inquired about her cultivation progress.
“Lingyi, how far have you progressed in the Heart Calming Art?” Venerable Yi Qing asked, with her expression cold, she placed a medicinal pill into her teacup, which dissolved instantly.
She answered formally, “Replying, Master, the seventh verse, ‘Purity addresses the root,’ directly connects to ‘Planning the Self.'”
“Good, you are indeed learning quickly. But you must not be too hasty. I, your Master, must caution you: the previous line, ‘Purity addresses the root,’ emphasizes inner purity, abandoning distracting thoughts and selfish desires…”
“Something’s wrong! Senior Sister! Something’s wrong, something’s terribly wrong!”
The little disciple Yun Lingyue burst in from outside the door with a crash, knocking over several vases. She charged directly between Yi Qing and Fu Lingyi, stumbling twice.
“How unseemly,” Venerable Yi Qing sighed.
Fu Lingyi gently helped her up and said, “Don’t rush, Lingyue. Have some tea first. What happened?”
Yun Lingyue hugged the teacup and gulped down several cups, panting. She said, “Master, please forgive me! Senior Sister, this is bad! That… that fiend has come again, asking for you by name!”
Hearing this, Venerable Yi Qing put down her teacup, flicked her sleeve, stood up, and went out the door.
“If you cannot handle personal affairs well, I fear your cultivation will not progress further, Lingyi.”
She was most annoyed by mundane worldly affairs interrupting her, so she paused her examination of Fu Lingyi’s cultivation progress and returned to her bamboo house.
This time, she would certainly go into closed-door cultivation for another ten days to half a month.
Fu Lingyi lowered her head, silent for a moment, lamenting this hard-won opportunity in her heart. But her smile remained unchanged. She comforted Yun Lingyue, coaxed her to leave, and said she would go handle it immediately.
When no one was left in the room, she kicked over the tea table, not even caring that the tea splashed onto her. She just fiercely bit her lower lip.
“Little disciple! I’m not looking for you! Tell your Senior Sister to come out!”
Fu Lingyi changed her clothes, taking off the soiled robes wet with tea. Just as she reached the sect entrance, she heard the Demon Lord’s loud, clear voice, accompanied by arrogant laughter.
Demon Lord Yue Jin wore a fiery bright red dress. Her skin below the thighs was partially visible, appearing extremely revealing before the many conservatively dressed Sword Sect disciples. She laughed, bright-eyed and beautiful, astonishingly stunning. Many were so scared they covered their eyes, crying out that it was scandalous.
In contrast, Fu Lingyi wore only plain green robes, with a simple hairpin, as plain as water.
The contrast was stark.
Seeing the person she wanted to see, Yue Jin tilted her head slightly and said, “Oh, there you are.”
Fu Lingyi didn’t waste words with her and immediately drew her sword.
The sword’s edge caused falling leaves to swirl. Spiritual energy surged through the tip, summoning myriad sword shadows that rushed directly towards the person before her.
Yue Jin only retreated half a step, her hands behind her back. She hadn’t even taken out a weapon and seemed to be handling it effortlessly. The sword shadows brushed past her sides and vanished into the mountain forest. The single real sword was blocked by her with one finger, unable to move.
Fu Lingyi hastily leaped back, her dark hair scattering and leaving a captivating fragrance in the air.
Yue Jin smirked, made a gesture towards her, and lightly uttered, “Continue.”
Fu Lingyi burned with rage.
After several exchanges, she was no match for her opponent and propped herself on the ground in defeat.
Yue Jin was completely unharmed. She laughed heartily, utterly arrogant. “The Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect’s so-called next Sect Leader successor is a defeated foe in my hands! Hmph, the renowned righteous path is nothing much! I’m leaving.”
“Don’t you leave!” Yun Lingyue stepped forward, holding her sword which trembled slightly. “You’re not allowed to insult Senior Sister and the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect! If you’re so capable, come fight me!”
“Lingyue, come back.” Fu Lingyi used her sword for support as she stood up, calling out to her with a stern tone.
Yue Jin walked forward and grabbed Yun Lingyue’s jaw. “Insult? I certainly didn’t. You yourselves lost. Don’t people of the righteous path always say that mere demonic cultivators are nothing to fear? Then how could you lose to someone from the demonic path?”
Yun Lingyue couldn’t move. The sword in her hand fell to the ground. She turned, seeking help, and looked towards Fu Lingyi.
A cold light flashed. Yue Jin released her hand. Fu Lingyi stood in front of Yun Lingyue, pointing her sword at the Demon Lord’s throat.
“Scram.”
That gaze was filled with killing intent.
Yue Jin’s face darkened, but the smirk on her lips didn’t falter. She advanced towards the sword, looking deep into Fu Lingyi’s eyes, and spoke in a voice so soft only the two of them could hear.
“I’ll come again,” she whispered. “I’m going to make sure you can never get rid of me.”
With that, the red-robed figure vanished into the forest.
Fu Lingyi bit her lower lip until it bled.
The Sect Leader of Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect yearned for the great path of immortal cultivation and revered pure cultivation methods. They were basically always in closed-door cultivation, and the elders didn’t manage affairs much. Thus, the true manager of the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect was Senior Sister Fu Lingyi.
She was an object of admiration among disciples of various sects and was even voted the number one woman people most wished to be in the cultivation tabloids.
Fu Lingyi was gentle and approachable. Not only did she handle affairs in an orderly manner, but she also treated people with politeness. Even just passing by her side felt like basking in the gentle warmth of a spring breeze.
Many were willing to join the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect as outer disciples, doing the lowest level sweeping work, just for a chance to see her.
The Demon Lord, however, was the complete opposite.
Some said she was a beautiful woman, while others claimed she was a human form conjured by a green-faced evil spirit, skilled at capturing hearts and then, when people were unprepared, devouring human flesh raw.
When the Demon Lord was mentioned, everyone felt threatened.
But who knew these two, incompatible as fire and water, would intersect?
It is unknown who heard what rumor, or perhaps the cultivation tabloids were eventually delivered into the hands of the demonic path by someone unafraid of death. In any case, from a certain day onwards, the demonic path spread rumors that they would be sworn enemies with the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect, the leader of the righteous sects.
In reality, the only one locked in endless conflict with her was Senior Sister Fu Lingyi alone.
The Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect, from top to bottom, was ascetic and had few desires, preferring to cultivate the Emotionless Path. Venerable Yi Qing, especially, adhered to it most prominently.
She disregarded worldly affairs and, just like the Sect Leader, loved cultivation. All sect affairs, big and small, were thrown onto Fu Lingyi alone.
Thus, regarding the Demon Lord’s boastful declarations, she naturally wouldn’t intervene.
After today’s sparring ended, Fu Lingyi returned to the sect covered in injuries. She knelt before her Master’s door, prostrating herself and kowtowing. “Your disciple has lost.”
Yi Qing did not respond, nor did she speak.
The bamboo door remained shut, making it impossible to discern any clear right or wrong.
Just like this, Fu Lingyi knelt until deep into the night. Her legs were swollen and sore, unable to stand upright. Yun Lingyue helped her back to her room to treat her injuries.
“Senior Sister, Master is too heartless. That fiend is so hateful, and neither the Sect Leader nor Master step in to help, moreover…” Yun Lingyue fed her spiritual medicine while quietly sobbing.
“Don’t say that, Lingyue,” Fu Lingyi smiled faintly, signaling her to stop. “Don’t speak ill of others behind their backs, much less Master and the Sect Leader. I lost, I can only blame my own lack of skill.”
Her smile was full, the same as usual, not a single flaw.
Yun Lingyue agreed. After treating her injuries for a while longer, she finally tucked her into bed, told her to rest well, and left with a red face.
The warmth of Senior Sister’s hand still lingered on her head, and those gentle words echoed in her heart. Tonight, perhaps she could have a good dream.
But hidden beneath the covers where no one could see, Fu Lingyi clenched her fists until they bled.
She hated the Sect Leader, hated her Master, hated their inaction and indulgence. And she hated Yue Jin, who provoked and humiliated her again and again.
But she could not reveal it, could not let her emotions show. Even less could she show a hint of impatience to anyone.
As the Senior Sister of the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect, this was the responsibility she had to bear.
As a cultivator of the Emotionless Path, this was the disguise she had to maintain.
But…
Blood flowed down, staining her sleeve. Fu Lingyi slowly released her grip, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Her hatred was hard to dispel.
Yue Jin returned to Qingyuan Palace, flicking her sleeve. She reclined on a chaise lounge in the center, covered in soft silk, playing with a jade token in her hand.
The demonic cultivators nearby rubbed their hands and lavishly flattered her. “As expected of the Venerable One! The leader of the renowned righteous path ultimately cannot compare to even one of your fingers; they are not worth mentioning!”
The other cultivators all chimed in, appearing highly enthusiastic.
The jade token had been rubbed smooth and translucent by her touch. Yue Jin had no expression as she lightly waved her hand, motioning for everyone to withdraw.
The cultivators nodded in agreement, but before leaving, they left behind a message:
“Elder Wu Bei is waiting for the Venerable One.”
Past Elder Wu Beis were all emotionless, without joy or sorrow, feeling nothing. She sat properly in the cultivation hall and barely shifted her body when she heard Yue Jin’s footsteps approaching.
“What is it?” Yue Jin sat down on a chair by the door. Her dress draped down, and the bell on her snow-white ankle lightly chimed, making a clear sound.
“You went to the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect again.” Elder Wu Bei did not look up, cultivating quietly.
“Yes. Why, are you going to lecture me?”
She secretly sighed. Thin papers in the room moved without wind, the candle snuffed out instantly. Only the twilight outside the window let in a bit of faint light.
“I’ve warned you before. The Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect, which cultivates the Emotionless Path, might seem like a soft persimmon that can be easily squeezed, but after all, they are a major sect that has consistently held the top position. If you anger them, you won’t end up well.”
Yue Jin sneered. “Wu Bei, you’re afraid.”
“I’m afraid you’re not afraid,” Elder Wu Bei watched this child grow up, but she was becoming increasingly difficult to manage, fully displaying the style of the demonic path. “When the righteous sects unite, Yue Jin, it will likely be your death day.”
“If they want to kill or carve me up, let them come as they please,” Yue Jin didn’t care. “Life and death are but a single thought apart. Moreover, my cultivation is growing stronger than ever. In a few days, I will go into closed-door cultivation, allowing the cultivation technique to circulate through my body. This time, I will surely break through to the Ninth Heaven. At that time, among all under the heavens, no one will be my opponent.”
The Ninth Heaven is the supreme cultivation technique of Qingyuan Palace. Only successive Sect Leaders can inherit and cultivate it, integrating all major techniques under the heavens. It seeks not the righteous path, only the peak of perfection.
They didn’t see eye to eye. Only silence remained between them. Elder Wu Bei stood up to leave. “If there’s nothing else important, you should rest. I won’t disturb you further.”
“The Xuanzhuo Sect incident, was it done by you?”
Xuanzhuo Sect?
Her face showed confusion. “What is that?” she asked.
Wu Bei shook her head. “It really wasn’t you?”
“When have I ever done something and not admitted it?”
“Forget it, forget it,” Wu Bei on the cultivation platform clearly implied she wanted her to leave. “You go. Cultivate peacefully these days, and stop running down the mountain.”
“Nagging,” Yue Jin muttered a few times, turned and left without lingering.
She didn’t see the person behind her. Her brows were tightly furrowed, and in the center, there was thick fog of sorrow that couldn’t disperse.
A major event was about to happen in the world.
Thanks for the chapter