The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 41

“A’Ling, what’s wrong?”
Gu Jingyang saw A’Ling with her eyelids half-lowered, her eyes seemingly unfocused, and felt a little puzzled. “Is the food not to your liking?”
All evening, she had noticed A’Ling seemed a bit down. She wasn’t usually like this when they ate together; A’Ling had an unusual attitude towards food, not just liking it, but appreciating it. Whenever she ate something special, her eyes and brows would naturally curve, looking utterly delighted. Today, however, was strange.
Just then, the maids brought another plate of candied lily petals. Gu Jingyang had it placed directly in front of A’Ling. “Try this. It’s a new dish the kitchen staff developed. I’ve been waiting for you to try it.”
A’Ling nodded, then casually picked up a piece with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. “It’s good, quite tasty.”
Gu Jingyang narrowed her eyes. “No, A’Ling, something’s definitely on your mind. You’ve been so distracted all evening. What are you thinking about?”
A’Ling slowly looked at Gu Jingyang, chewing the sweet candied lily petals. She had been lost in thought just now and hadn’t heard what Gu Jingyang said clearly.
Before she could ask, Gu Hongjue, who was sitting nearby, suddenly slapped the table, making the bowls and chopsticks clatter. A’Ling was jolted completely back from her scattered thoughts.
Everyone turned to look at Gu Hongjue.
Gu Hongjue smiled meaningfully at A’Ling. “I know what it is! A’Ling, you must be thinking of your beloved, aren’t you?”
He chuckled again, looking quite pleased, as if he had uncovered A’Ling’s secret. Seeing Gu Jingyang’s puzzled expression, he explained his reasoning.
“When your mother isn’t around, whenever I think of her, I get all lost in thought too! Hahahaha!”
Gu Jingyang raised an eyebrow, mentally recalling what her father looked like when he thought of her mother, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Gu Jiangxue suppressed a smile as she glanced at the father and daughter. She said to A’Ling, “Don’t mind him. He just spouts nonsense when he’s drunk.”
Her words sounded like she was scolding Gu Hongjue for losing his composure as an elder in front of a young girl, but her eyes were full of smiles, and her gaze towards Gu Hongjue was filled with deep affection.
A’Ling thought, Their relationship is truly wonderful.
Gu Jiangxue had also noticed A’Ling’s preoccupation earlier, but she had observed more closely. She saw A’Ling continuously stroking the magic artifact on her wrist, named Little Wandering. That day in the great demon’s sacrificial cave, A’Ling had used that magic artifact to save all of them. Gu Jiangxue had seen A’Ling’s whip.
“Did that demon core have any effect on the magic artifact on your hand?” Gu Jiangxue looked at A’Ling and asked softly.
A’Ling had just been thinking about this!
But she didn’t know how to explain it. If she were to explain, she’d have to talk about Shi Qingqian.
Before coming to the Gu family, she had had an argument with Shi Qingqian back home. She had gently and amicably told Shi Qingqian that they should cease hostilities from now on and not bother each other in the future. While not quite making peace, her intentions were truly sincere and heartfelt.
But that wretched person showed no appreciation whatsoever, and even threatened her.
‘What if I say no?’
Listen to that! How arrogant! As if A’Ling was afraid of her and begging her.
“So you’re taking my goodwill for granted, are you? Fine then, if you want trouble, come get it! As if I’d be scared of you!”
As A’Ling spoke, she summoned Little Wandering and whipped it towards Shi Qingqian.
The moment she attacked, A’Ling regretted it—not regretting whipping Shi Qingqian, but forgetting how useless Little Wandering used to be whenever it saw Shi Qingqian.
But this time, a miracle happened.
Her Little Wandering, upon seeing Shi Qingqian, didn’t act like a coward as it used to; instead, it aggressively attacked Shi Qingqian.
However, it still couldn’t hit Shi Qingqian.
A’Ling had to admit that Shi Qingqian’s current cultivation base was much higher than hers. That thunderous strike was caught by Shi Qingqian with her bare hands. She then pulled on the whip to drag A’Ling over and bind her…
A’Ling violently shook her head, dispelling the humiliating scene. She raised her wrist, pointing at Little Wandering for Gu Jiangxue to see. “My magic artifact seems to be much stronger than before.”
It was also more obedient to her and no longer afraid of Shi Qingqian. Even though it couldn’t win, it tried its best. When Shi Qingqian used it to bind A’Ling’s hands, it even emitted a menacing low hum. A’Ling felt that trembling hum was like it was scolding and threatening its opponent.
Her Little Wandering had actually shown such courage against Shi Qingqian this one time. A’Ling slowly stroked the purple bracelet on her wrist with her finger, and a warm current, like warm water, flowed from her fingertip all the way into A’Ling’s heart.
After A’Ling broke free from Shi Qingqian’s restraint, Little Wandering, sparkling with electric light, looked like it still dared to fight. If Aunt Sun hadn’t heard the commotion and come in to mediate, A’Ling would have genuinely wanted to have a proper fight with Shi Qingqian to see what level Little Wandering was at now.
Gu Jiangxue heard A’Ling say her magic artifact was stronger than before, so she figured there must have been a big change. She hadn’t known that demon cores could be useful for magic artifacts, and she had asked some high-level demon slayers, but no one had ever heard of it. Even after she mentioned it, some demon slayers who possessed demon cores tried this method, but it was useless.
However, since the demon cores they possessed were from demons with at most a hundred years of cultivation, Gu Jiangxue couldn’t be sure if it was due to the difference in demon core grades or if the demon core A’Ling obtained was inherently special.
“There are no such examples from before. No one who obtains a thousand-year demon core would think of destroying it, so there’s no reference point. Let me see your magic artifact.”
Although Gu Jiangxue didn’t know the principle behind it, she had encountered many demons, so she might discover something.
A’Ling summoned Little Wandering in its magic artifact form and handed the whip to Gu Jiangxue.
Gu Jiangxue carefully examined the Wandering Amethyst Gold Whip in her hand, confusion growing in her eyes. “Is this a magic artifact you refined?”
A’Ling nodded. “Yes, just recently.”
Gu Jiangxue looked up at her, seeing her serious attitude and sincere eyes, not like she was lying.
“Where did you get this meteoric crystal?”
A’Ling was puzzled. “What thing?”
A flicker of suspicion crossed Gu Jiangxue’s eyes. “This magic artifact contains a meteoric crystal, which is also the source of its violet-gold light.”
“Huh?” A’Ling was surprised. “I didn’t use any such stone.”
Gu Jingyang, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, suddenly spoke, interrupting and changing the topic. “Mother, is there something wrong with this whip?”
At her question, A’Ling’s heart immediately tightened. Is there something wrong with her Little Wandering?
Gu Jiangxue looked at Gu Jingyang, who blinked at her in confusion, then looked at the anxious A’Ling beside her, and shook her head. “No, it’s a top-grade Grandmaster-level magic artifact, truly rare.”
As she spoke, she formed a hand seal and softly chanted a spell. A golden light flashed in her palm, tracing along the whip from tip to end. The whip, illuminated by the golden light, gradually became transparent. A’Ling’s eyes widened, staring intently at the Little Wandering in Gu Jiangxue’s hand.
Inside the whip, from hilt to tip, a greenish liquid swayed, appearing like human blood.
“What’s going on?” A’Ling was surprised. How could there be liquid inside the whip, and green at that?
Gu Jiangxue gazed intently at the whip in her hand. The blood of a Spirit Mountain Tiger-Headed Spider is green.
“That demon core has completely fused into this whip. Your magic artifact has not only gained sentience, but also developed a spiritual body.”
A’Ling was speechless for a long moment, then finally took a deep breath and asked uneasily, “What will happen then?”
“I don’t know. It might become very powerful.” Gu Jiangxue’s expression was grim. She returned the magic artifact to A’Ling. “You still need to be careful.”
“This magic artifact might develop its own will and may not be content to simply be an artifact bound to a master.”

After A’Ling returned from the Gu family, she spent several days studying Little Wandering. It truly seemed to have developed its own thoughts. It wasn’t very willing to stay in the Purple Yang Artifact Refining Pouch that Gu Jingyang had given her earlier, but if A’Ling told it to go in, it would still obey, albeit reluctantly.
A’Ling also discovered that Little Wandering seemed to like her more than before. It would actively respond to her emotions, and when worn on her hand, she often felt waves of warmth radiating from it. A’Ling wasn’t worried that Little Wandering, having developed its own thoughts, would stop recognizing her as its master. Their bond had been tested; in her previous life, no matter how bad the situation was, Little Wandering had always stayed by her side, never abandoning her.
In this life, they had met earlier. What she was worried about wasn’t that it wouldn’t recognize her as its master, but how to enhance Little Wandering’s power. Shi Qingqian had clearly told her she wasn’t willing to let things go. Who knew, she might already be harboring ill intentions. Even with Little Wandering, A’Ling was no match for her at all. This was far too passive; she had no means of self-preservation whatsoever.
The day the Crane Gate would open was drawing nearer. A’Ling left early and returned late, seizing the last bit of time to solidify her foundation. Hongjian Academy was bustling and noisy, and people were restless. The cultivators who had already reached Core Formation and were qualified for the Crane Gate formed their own group, seeming relatively calm. The rest, whether those with no hope of reaching Core Formation or those who felt they were just a step away, were all like boiling water, very boisterous.
Not just the various academies, but the entire town had become lively. This grand event, occurring once every five years, attracted cultivators from all over to gather here. Many people from the mortal realm also traveled thousands of miles to get here, just to witness the miraculous revival of the Ice Crane Immortal. The Ice Crane Immortal, who guarded the Crane Gate, was typically in the form of an ice statue. It would only awaken once every five years, shedding its ice and frost to become a vibrant white crane. All the major inns and restaurants with a view of the Crane Gate were booked solid long in advance. Hongjian Academy’s stargazing platform also offered a view of this wondrous sight, and because it was close by, many commoners would come early to snatch a spot each year at this time. Elder Zeng, understanding people’s desire to see something new, lifted Hongjian Academy’s entry restrictions during this special period. This was why the academy had been exceptionally lively recently.
If A’Ling hadn’t wanted to solidify her foundation more in these last few days, she wouldn’t have wanted to come to the academy to cultivate. The wide road from her home to the academy had been forcefully narrowed by the numerous temporary stalls that sprang up along its sides, due to the influx of people from all walks of life into the town. With so many people coming and going, this road, which was originally wide enough for four carriages abreast, was now difficult for even one carriage to pass. It took A’Ling twice as long to reach the academy that morning. She even felt a bit envious of Shi Qingqian, who lived in the mountains behind Hongjian Academy and could reach the academy in just a few steps.
Speaking of which, ever since their argument that day, A’Ling had been constantly worried about Shi Qingqian’s retaliation, but in the days that followed, she hadn’t encountered Shi Qingqian again. She hadn’t even seen Shi Qingqian inside the academy. She’s probably in Apothecary Yang Xia’s pharmacy. Thinking of this, she felt a little annoyed again. The return gift she wanted to give Apothecary Yang Xia had been ready for a long time. Fearing she might run into Shi Qingqian at the pharmacy, A’Ling had delayed sending the gift.
Thinking that the Ice Crane Immortal would awaken in three days, and the Crane Gate of Mystic Crane Mountain would open with it, she also had to participate in the selection. After passing, she could enter the Crane Gate. Once inside the Crane Gate, she wouldn’t be able to come out until the Crane Gate closed again. A’Ling thought about it and decided to send the gift to Apothecary Yang Xia as soon as possible. She didn’t believe Shi Qingqian would attack her in the pharmacy, especially with Apothecary Yang Xia present. That being said, A’Ling wasn’t sure of Apothecary Yang Xia’s strength. As a medical cultivator, she probably wasn’t a match for Shi Qingqian. To be safe, A’Ling intended to leave as soon as she dropped off the gift.
However, Apothecary Yang Xia insisted that A’Ling stay and have a cup of tea with her. “Qingqian has entered seclusion. I’m all alone here, terribly bored.”
Apothecary Yang Xia was very happy to see A’Ling. During the days A’Ling had stayed in the pharmacy previously, she had talked with her and helped process herbs, and the two had gotten along very well. A’Ling felt a weight lift from her heart when she heard Shi Qingqian was in seclusion. No wonder that person hadn’t come to bother me; she’s in seclusion.
Wait, seclusion?
“Is she going to have another breakthrough?”
A’Ling’s eyes widened. Her heart, which had just relaxed a bit, tightened again. Shi Qingqian was already so strong; if she had another breakthrough, it would be easy to kill A’Ling.
Apothecary Yang Xia pursed her lips. “Her breakthrough was too sudden, and her demonic energy wasn’t properly balanced.” Who knows what was wrong with Qingqian’s head. She just decided to break through a few days ago, completely forgetting my instructions. I don’t know what kind of fit she was having. But these things shouldn’t be let known to A’Ling. Apothecary Yang Xia sighed and said, “She got injured, and is now in seclusion healing her injuries.” I also suffered internal injuries. This time, I expended half my true spiritual energy and exhausted all my life’s knowledge just to balance the two types of demonic energy within Qingqian. Thinking of this, a hint of inquiry entered Apothecary Yang Xia’s gaze as she looked at A’Ling. She couldn’t sense any demonic energy on A’Ling at all, so where had the demonic energy in A’Ling’s body come from before? If she had just fallen to the demonic path, she couldn’t have had such pure demonic energy.
A’Ling’s eyes were also full of doubt after hearing that Shi Qingqian was injured and in seclusion. Shi Qingqian had been perfectly fine that day when she argued with her. Besides, she was so strong, who could have injured her? A’Ling thought this, and asked it aloud.
“Who hit her?”
Apothecary Yang Xia withdrew her scrutinizing gaze from A’Ling, slowly took a sip of tea, and said, “She injured herself.” Who knows what provoked her, and because she hadn’t promptly refined the demonic energy from her inexplicable breakthrough earlier, her internal spiritual energy became unstable for a while, causing her to injure herself.
Upon hearing this, A’Ling raised an eyebrow, her eyes brightening, a small expression of schadenfreude on her face. If Apothecary Yang Xia hadn’t looked so heartbroken, A’Ling would have definitely made a few jokes. She forcefully suppressed the laughter almost bubbling from her lips, and very deliberately coughed twice.
“Is it serious?”
How could Apothecary Yang Xia not see her happiness? Thinking of Qingqian’s feelings, and then looking at A’Ling’s suppressed smile, she sighed inwardly for Qingqian. This wasn’t merely ‘fallen flowers yearn, but flowing water is unfeeling’ anymore. If she had to say it, it was practically ‘the mountain flowers want to bloom, but the flowing water wishes it could turn into a blade to chop them down, ensuring they can never bloom again.’
Apothecary Yang Xia sighed. “It’s serious. I’m afraid she won’t be able to attend the selection in three days.”
The Crane Gate opens once every five years. If she couldn’t go this year, she’d have to wait another five years. Although five years wasn’t a long time, it was still full of uncertainties. Perhaps within these five years, A’Ling might even become Dao companions with someone else. Then Qingqian’s feelings would be completely buried.
After A’Ling heard that Shi Qingqian wouldn’t be able to attend the Crane Gate selection in three days, her suppressed laughter couldn’t be held back anymore. She could only cover it with a cough. Coughing, she said, “Excuse me, cough, cough, I choked, cough, cough.”
A’Ling covered her mouth to hide her highly upturned lips. I really didn’t expect this! In my previous life, it was Shi Qingqian who entered the Crane Gate this year, and I only qualified ten years later. Now, fate is turning around! It’s actually me entering the Crane Gate, while Shi Qingqian can’t.
After returning home from Tranquil Shade Herb Hut, A’Ling laughed heartily. Five years! Who knows, I might just surpass Shi Qingqian significantly in cultivation! When we meet again, I’ll be in the heavens and Shi Qingqian on the ground! Thinking that I could look down upon a tiny Shi Qingqian from high up on the celestial ladder, my mood was like tumbling on clouds, so happy I wanted to scream.
Three days later, a crane’s cry echoed from the foot of Mystic Crane Mountain throughout Longyin Town. The ice and frost faded, and the immortal crane soared into the sky.
Gu Jingyang came to A’Ling’s place early that morning. After they ate breakfast together, Gu Jingyang flew on her sword, taking A’Ling with her towards the Crane Gate of Mystic Crane Mountain. A’Ling nervously hugged Gu Jingyang’s waist, watching the cultivators flying on their swords from all directions in the sky. Several times, she felt like the swords whistling past her were about to collide with her. Fortunately, Gu Jingyang’s sword was extremely stable, cutting through the wind as smoothly as if treading on solid ground.
“I didn’t realize your sword-flying ability was so strong!” A’Ling shouted into Gu Jingyang’s ear. The wind was too strong; her mouth was filled with wind the moment she opened it. Gu Jingyang replied with a smile, raising her voice as much as possible, “Not bad, right? I’ll teach you how to fly your sword in the future.”
“Okay!” A’Ling replied happily. Her own sword-flying skills had always been terrible, so it was wonderful to be able to enter the Crane Gate with Gu Jingyang.
Before long, A’Ling heard a clamor coming from ahead. Gu Jingyang smiled and reminded her, “A’Ling, hold on tight. We’re almost there.” As she spoke, Gu Jingyang’s sword plunged, whistling down with A’Ling towards the bustling crowd. A’Ling gazed at the towering cliffs of the secluded mountain not far away, and at the majestic Crane Gate with immortal cranes circling above its very center. The Crane Gate, formed from natural rock, was as majestic as a sky god descending from the heavens. Mist swirled around it, and as the crane’s cry sounded, all other birds fell silent.
After plunging past this majestic Crane Gate, the clamor behind them seemed to be blocked by an invisible wall, all left outside the gate. A’Ling and the others landed on the Flying Crane Clear Platform, where mist swirled and lotus fragrance wafted. The abundant spiritual energy in the air emanated waves of crisp, refreshing aura. The cultivators seemed to have settled upon a shimmering green pond. Where they walked, water rippled gently and clear waves sparkled, yet their shoes and socks didn’t get wet. Even the hems of their robes touching the ground remained completely dry. The cultivators who were there for the first time exclaimed in wonder. Although A’Ling had been here once before, she was still amazed once more by this beautiful and wondrous sight. The Flying Crane Clear Platform was the most beautiful place on all of Mystic Crane Mountain. It only emerged from its ice shell after the Ice Crane Immortal awakened, and even within Mystic Crane Mountain itself, just like the outside world, one had to wait five years to see it again. Gu Jingyang was also seeing such a breathtaking immortal scene for the first time. Flying her sword high above, traversing and descending through the sea of clouds, gave her the feeling of a flood dragon playing in the sky. She felt that heaven and earth were both vast and small, and her heart felt a few degrees wider.
The two followed the flow of people inwards. There were already many people at the assessment area ahead. A’Ling stood on her tiptoes to look ahead. Just as she had experienced before, the cultivator assessment area had nothing else but two spirit eagles, each balancing a head-sized transparent crystal ball. Behind the two spirit eagles stood three cultivators dressed in different robes. A’Ling knew that the ones in blue robes were Crane Gate sword cultivators, those in white and gold robes were spiritual arts cultivators, and the ones in plain gray robes with matching headwraps, looking the most modest and understated, were Crane Gate medical cultivators. In her previous life, after she mysteriously became a medical cultivator under the elder of the North Firmament Cave Abode of the Twelve Peaks, she had suggested to the elder more than once if they could change their robes. Of course, no one listened to her in the end. A’Ling glanced at the dusty gray medical cultivator robes. Beside the sword cultivators and spiritual arts cultivators, they were truly off-putting. She suspected that the popularity of sword cultivators and spiritual arts cultivators, and the cold reception medical cultivators faced when recruiting disciples, couldn’t be unrelated to these robes.
“A’Ling, it really is you!”
Suddenly, a clear, joyful male voice came from A’Ling’s left, filled with strong delight. A’Ling withdrew her gaze from the medical cultivator and looked towards the direction of the voice. At first glance, she saw a man in purple robes walking towards her, and was still a little puzzled as to who the person was. When the person came closer, A’Ling saw that familiar frivolous expression and finally remembered. Wasn’t this Xing Yanchu, who had been ordered by Hongjian Academy to suspend his studies and reflect at home after hitting Shi Qingqian?
A flicker of doubt crossed A’Ling’s eyes, and then she suddenly felt her wrist become hot. Before she could check what was wrong with her wrist, Xing Yanchu had already walked up to A’Ling and grabbed her shoulders. “I saw you from afar and thought it was you! Before I came out, I was just thinking if I’d run into you. We truly are fated!”
A’Ling reached out, pushing his hands away from the inside of his arms, then took a step back and looked displeased at the person in front of her. “Don’t you want your hands anymore?!”
Xing Yanchu looked at A’Ling, who was speaking harshly and keeping him at such a distance, and felt displeased. “No, A’Ling, it’s me, Xing Yanchu! Why are you acting like you don’t know me?” As he spoke, he tried to step forward, but a hand suddenly appeared in front of him.
Gu Jingyang showed no emotion on her face. She simply took a step forward, forcing Xing Yanchu to step back and creating distance between him and A’Ling.
“Gu Jingyang?”
Xing Yanchu knew Gu Jingyang. Although his Xing family and the Gu family didn’t have dealings, they always met at certain occasions. Why was Gu Jingyang blocking him?
“It’s me. You’ve reached Core Formation?” Gu Jingyang glanced at Xing Yanchu and noticed his aura was stable, indicating he had already reached Core Formation.
Xing Yanchu smiled. If I hadn’t reached Core Formation, why would I be here?
“After I was suspended last time, I went into seclusion at home and worked hard. Now I’ve successfully reached Core Formation, A’Ling! We can enter the Crane Gate together!” Ever since he was suspended after hitting Shi Qingqian last time, Xing Yanchu felt he had lost face. His father told him that to regain his standing, he had to become stronger than Shi Qingqian. He thought it made sense. With the help of cultivators his father invited, and having spent quite a lot of natural treasures and spiritual materials, he had just reached Core Formation half a month ago, perfectly in time for the Crane Gate’s opening.
“You two, if you wish to participate in the assessment, step forward.” The sword cultivator behind the spirit eagles spoke up to remind A’Ling and the others.
Xing Yanchu turned around and saw that the people ahead had already finished their tests. “A’Ling, I’ll go first then.” He quickly strode forward and placed his hand on the transparent crystal ball. The cultivation test crystal ball lit up with green light, indicating that his cultivation had passed. He then took a step to the side and placed his hand on the virtue test crystal ball, which also lit up with green light. After passing both tests, Xing Yanchu received an Crane Gate Silver Feather Enrollment Tablet engraved with his name. With this tablet, he could choose any day within this month of the Crane Gate’s opening to enter the Crane Gate.
Gu Jingyang immediately followed, passing both tests, and stood to the side with Xing Yanchu, waiting for A’Ling. A’Ling saw that Xing Yanchu had also passed the virtue test, she strongly felt this thing was unreliable. She guessed it was probably just a name, and what it actually measured was unknown. No wonder I met so many scoundrels in the Crane Gate in my previous life. This thing must just be a decoration.
After passing the cultivation test, A’Ling placed her hand on the virtue test crystal ball. As she waited for the green light to appear, the crystal ball suddenly trembled.