The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 42

The towering, lush mountains stood silently. Amidst the verdant scenery of the Flying Crane Clear Platform, an eye-piercing crimson suddenly appeared.
Two spiritual vultures, standing like sculptures, gradually sharpened their gazes under the trembling of the crystal ball above their heads. They spread their wings and let out a series of roars.
Besides this sound and movement, a profound silence enveloped the clear pond. Everyone seemed frozen by a spell, their eyes wide and mouths agape, staring in astonishment at the scene before them.
A’Ling’s mind suddenly went blank. Her whole body felt as if struck by lightning, scalding hot like lava, as if it would explode from her palm.
In her trembling gaze, green and red flashed alternately, faster and faster, so fast that the two colors seemed to merge into one.
Everyone collectively held their breath.
The three inner sect cultivators behind the spiritual vultures also watched this scene in surprise, unable to determine for a long time whether A’Ling’s benevolence test had passed or not.
Originally, when the red light had just lit up, the leading sword cultivator was about to announce A’Ling’s failure. However, in just an instant, the crystal ball turned green again.
Although she didn’t understand why the crystal ball suddenly started trembling and changing the color it had already displayed, seeing the green light, she still intended to announce A’Ling’s passing.
However, things took another turn. The crystal ball’s light turned red again, and later, it flashed with alternating red and green.
The crystal ball on the spiritual vultures’ heads trembled more and more violently, and the spiritual vultures also let out cries that pierced the silence and shook one’s soul.
Gu Jingyang’s face was filled with astonishment. The spiritual vultures’ increasingly deep roars made her scalp tingle. She looked worriedly at A’Ling, who was frozen in place, and softly called out ‘A’Ling’, but didn’t know what to say.
What is happening? Why does the crystal ball keep flickering erratically?
Xing Yanchu watched the scene before him, his usually frivolous face now holding some gravity. He was very confused as to why A’Ling would have difficulties with a test that even he could pass.
He frowned, his dark brows furrowed, and looked towards A’Ling. The A’Ling he knew, though not exceptionally good, surely couldn’t be a great villain, right?
Is there something wrong with this crystal ball?
He took two steps forward, wanting to get a closer look.
Just as he got a little closer to A’Ling, the crystal ball beneath A’Ling’s palm trembled and rotated. The red lights flashed out, one after another, as if they were going to split the crystal ball apart.
Xing Yanchu was so startled he stopped in his tracks. The sharp red light flashed across his face, and he actually felt a slight pain there.
As the crystal ball under A’Ling’s hand flashed with more and more red light, as if it could immediately suppress the increasingly dim green light, suddenly, a clear crane cry came from amidst the ink-like mountains.
The Ice Crane Immortal, who should have been guarding above the Crane Gate’s towering cliffs, was actually circling above the Flying Crane Clear Platform, casting a huge shadow wherever it went.
A’Ling’s mind was now completely like exploding lava. Beads of sweat oozing from her temples dropped down her cheeks into her collar, merging into the dampness there.
The clothes on her back had long been soaked through two or three layers by the cold sweat caused by her shock.
Why is this happening?
A’Ling’s lips parted, wanting to say something, but seeing the increasingly crimson light, she didn’t know what to say.
Moreover, her hand seemed to be firmly sucked onto the crystal ball; she couldn’t even pull it back.
The beads of sweat on her temples became more and more numerous and dense. Her whole body was so scalding hot as if she would explode in the next instant.
The world was now entirely crimson. Clear waters, green mountains, flowing clouds — A’Ling could see nothing. Nor could she clearly hear what the increasing number of people gathering around were noisily saying.
She could only hear her own heart pounding like a drum, and her seemingly difficult, ragged breaths.
Just as she felt her entire body burning hot and her consciousness somewhat hazy, a bone-chilling coolness suddenly spread from the back of her hand.
This coolness traveled from her palm along her arm to her shoulder and neck, fiercely like a waterfall descending from the nine heavens, thoroughly extinguishing the inexplicable heart-fire that had ignited within her.
A’Ling’s hazy mind instantly regained clarity.
Her eyes crimson, she lowered her gaze to where the coolness came from. Her hand was entirely enveloped by a slender, delicate palm.
A’Ling stared blankly at the owner of the slender, pale hand. A face even whiter and more bloodless than a crane’s feather abruptly appeared before A’Ling.
How could this be? Isn’t Shi Qingqian recuperating?
How did she get here?
A’Ling moved her lips, but her throat felt as if it were blocked by a mass of thorns, not only making her unable to speak but also causing a stinging pain that made swallowing impossible.
A dark shadow swept overhead. A white crane circled in the low sky, letting out low cries. A’Ling’s ears, which had felt as if stuffed with cotton, were instantly cleared of their obstruction.
The buzzing, distant clamor suddenly exploded like firecrackers, roaring in her ears.
A’Ling felt a terrible headache and painfully furrowed her brows.
Shi Qingqian’s lowered feathered eyelashes trembled slightly. Seeing the pained expression on the person in front of her, a flicker of displeasure crossed her pale face. She looked up and gazed around, and her previously restrained spiritual pressure was now fully released.
In an instant, above the clear pond, everyone whose spines were almost crushed collectively fell silent.
After a long while, only then did Shi Qingqian retract that oppressive spiritual pressure. Only then did the heavy breaths, like those of survivors after a calamity, resume around them.
Xing Yanchu had been caught off guard and startled by Shi Qingqian’s spiritual power just now. After recovering, feeling he had lost face, and seeing Shi Qingqian appear inexplicably and even gripping A’Ling’s hand, he thought she was about to do something. He loudly scolded as he approached Shi Qingqian, demanding her to take her hand away.
Gu Jingyang thought, This is bad, and was about to intervene, but was a step too late.
Or rather, Shi Qingqian’s movements were too fast; she couldn’t stop her even if she wanted to.
Xing Yanchu had only just taken one step closer to Shi Qingqian when Shi Qingqian, with a single wave of her hand, directly struck him out of the Flying Crane Clear Platform area; his figure vanished from sight.
Strong, truly too strong, Gu Jingyang marveled in her heart.
The inner sect cultivators at the top also recovered. Seeing Shi Qingqian use her bare hands and inner power to send someone flying so far, they knew the person before them was powerful. Her future prospects in the inner sect were uncertain; such a person must not be offended.
But the three of them were responsible for maintaining order this time, and some words had to be said.
“No brawling or harming others here. Violators will be disqualified.”
Hearing this, Gu Jingyang stepped forward and explained, “Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, we are from the same academy. We usually just roughhouse like this.”
After saying this, Gu Jingyang didn’t forget to ask on A’Ling’s behalf, “What was wrong with this crystal ball just now? Was it faulty?”
The three examining cultivators exchanged glances. They also didn’t know what had happened just now, struggling with whether to pass or fail her, as it was also their first time seeing the red and green lights flashing alternately.
They even suspected if there was something wrong with the crystal ball.
But this crystal ball test had never had problems for thousands of years. They didn’t know how to handle it if there was a problem, and as they pondered whether to seek help from the sect, the crystal ball lit up with green light.
Shi Qingqian, under everyone’s gaze, placed her hand on the crystal ball that had just malfunctioned. As soon as she placed her hand, the crystal ball lit up green, looking completely normal.
After Shi Qingqian finished testing, she didn’t care about the various reactions of those around her. She looked down at A’Ling, who was still somewhat stunned by the previous shock.
“It’s fine, try again.” Her expression was as indifferent as ever when she spoke, but even A’Ling could discern the comforting tone in her voice.
A’Ling didn’t know how Shi Qingqian had suddenly appeared or why her test had no problems. She looked at the crystal ball before her with great hesitation. This was a benevolence test; how could she have problems with it here?
Was she some kind of cold-blooded demon? Or was she unaware that her heart was actually very dark?
As A’Ling hesitated, she suddenly felt her palm being gently squeezed. She looked down and saw that Shi Qingqian’s hand, which had just gripped hers, still hadn’t let go.
Her palm felt cool, but a scorching heat radiated in waves from her wrist.
“Are you testing or not? If not, move aside! Don’t waste everyone’s time. Look, there are still so many people behind!”
The cultivator behind A’Ling suddenly shouted, “There’s already someone cutting in line, don’t dilly-dally and waste time anymore!”
As soon as his voice fell, someone else behind him shouted, “Keep your voice down! Didn’t you see that the girl in white robes has extremely high cultivation? And that the girl in green robes hasn’t gotten a green light yet, she might have a dark heart. They’re probably in cahoots, don’t provoke them, or you might lose your life.”
He was telling others to keep their voices down, but his own voice was so loud it was as if he was afraid others wouldn’t hear him.
The person being advised, hearing this, immediately became indignant. “Ridiculous! Am I supposed to be afraid of two young girls? Besides, this is the inner sect, who would dare to harm anyone here?”
Gu Jingyang thought, His latter half of the sentence already betrayed his fear.
That person saw Gu Jingyang also looking at him, and with a stiff neck, urged, “Hurry up!”
When Shi Qingqian also turned her gaze towards him, he immediately shut up, only muttering to himself as if talking to himself, “I’m also in a hurry, you know.”
A’Ling remained stiff, still feeling some lingering fear. Hearing the urging from behind, she took a deep breath and tried to pull her left hand from Shi Qingqian’s grip.
But it didn’t succeed.
Shi Qingqian held A’Ling’s hand with one hand, while her other hand reached behind A’Ling, took her other hand, and placed it on the crystal ball before A’Ling could refuse.
Green light lit up.
This time, the crystal ball reacted very quickly, without any abnormality.
Shi Qingqian also released A’Ling’s hand, which she had been holding, at this moment.
The three examining cultivators exchanged glances, immediately announced A’Ling’s passing, and gave her a Silver Feather Registry Plate.
Shi Qingqian also successfully passed her cultivation test, obtained a Silver Feather Registry Plate, said nothing more, and didn’t spare A’Ling another glance. After nodding to Gu Jingyang, she directly departed by flying on her sword.
A dark shadow flashed across the sky. The Ice Crane Immortal, who had been circling, let out a long cry, then flapped its wings and left.
A’Ling watched the white figure that disappeared quickly after being briefly obscured by the white crane. Her palm still felt the coolness from when it had just been gripped. Why was Shi Qingqian’s hand so cold?
No, hadn’t she said she couldn’t make it to this inner sect assessment?
After Gu Jingyang watched Shi Qingqian leave, she turned to look at A’Ling, her eyes revealing worry.
“A’Ling, what happened just now?”
Originally, she also guessed that there was something wrong with the crystal ball, but later, when Qingqian tried it, there was no problem. And just now, when the crystal ball was flashing between red and green, she saw that A’Ling’s expression seemed to be one of extreme pain.
Originally, she was also going to step forward and pull A’Ling away, but she was a step too slow. She then looked up at Qingqian, who had long since vanished without a trace in the sky, and wondered if Qingqian had arrived too fast, or if she had just been too focused on A’Ling to notice anything else.
She didn’t even know when Qingqian had arrived.
A’Ling’s mind was still dazed at this moment. “I don’t know what happened.”
She looked down at her two hands, not understanding why she had experienced such a situation during the first test.
“Shi Qingqian, you just wait and see! Don’t you dare fall into my hands again, otherwise, I’ll show you!”
Xing Yanchu clutched his chest and cursed loudly at the sky. He had just been struck out of the Crane Gate by Shi Qingqian with one move and felt that Shi Qingqian had ambushed him, and he was only in such a sorry state because he wasn’t prepared. He struggled to get up, wanting to fight Shi Qingqian again.
Just now, he had seen Shi Qingqian leaving by flying on her sword from afar. He wanted to stop her, but it was too late. A huge fire was brewing in his heart. Seeing A’Ling and Gu Jingyang walk out, his expression was still very displeased.
But ultimately, he suppressed that annoyance and asked A’Ling if she had passed the test.
Hearing that A’Ling had finally obtained the Silver Feather Registry Plate, Xing Yanchu’s mood improved slightly.
“In the future, you must be careful of Shi Qingqian. She’s a very vengeful person. She must have remembered what happened last time, and she will definitely seek revenge on us given the chance. Just now, you saw, she dared to act even with so many people around. You must be careful in the future.”
Xing Yanchu wanted to say a few more words. He had heard at home that Shi Qingqian had caused A’Ling to be hit by her father, and he had already been suspended from the academy for so long to reflect. This matter should have been settled, yet today, as soon as they met, Shi Qingqian made a move.
A’Ling clearly wasn’t Shi Qingqian’s match. He was very worried, and he secretly planned that he couldn’t let A’Ling be alone in the future.
If A’Ling were to encounter Shi Qingqian alone, the consequences would surely be unimaginable.
A’Ling, however, wasn’t in the mood to listen to his nonsense, and also gave up her intention to watch the commotion. She departed by flying on her sword with Gu Jingyang.
A’Ling refused Gu Jingyang’s invitation to dine at the Gu family residence and returned home alone.
Before she even arrived home, everything that happened today on the Flying Crane Clear Platform had already spread throughout the Three Peaks and Twelve Caves.
A’Ling was completely unaware of this. Aunt Sun saw her return home looking pale. At first, she thought A’Ling hadn’t passed the assessment, but when she saw A’Ling’s Silver Feather Registry Plate, she was overjoyed. Regardless of A’Ling’s silent demeanor, she excitedly began to arrange a celebration for A’Ling.
A’Ling watched her bustle about, and her mood gradually improved. After all, the final result was good.
Although she still didn’t understand what was wrong with her benevolence value, and whether her later passing the test had anything to do with Shi Qingqian. Why did she pass the test as soon as Shi Qingqian arrived?
No, A’Ling wanted to know the reason. She had to find someone to ask for clarification.
A’Ling arrived outside the Tranquil Shade Herb Hut, saw the transparent, blue-glowing barrier, and knew she had come at an inconvenient time. She glanced at the seven-tiered food box in her hand and felt a surge of awkwardness.
Aunt Sun, hearing she was coming to the Tranquil Shade Herb Hut to find Shi Qingqian, insisted she bring this. Inside were dishes for three people; Aunt Sun had even prepared a portion for Apothecary Yang Xia.
She probably thought I was coming to celebrate with Shi Qingqian and them.
A’Ling glanced again at the faintly blue-glowing barrier. It was indeed an inconvenient time for her to come. Just as A’Ling put down the food box and was about to leave, the barrier before her suddenly opened a gap, as if tearing paper.
“A’Ling’s here, come in.”
Apothecary Yang Xia’s voice came from within the barrier, as if speaking right next to A’Ling’s ear.
A’Ling looked around in confusion but didn’t see Apothecary Yang Xia’s figure. Seeing that the opening in the barrier before her was now as wide as a door, A’Ling hesitated for a moment but still walked in.
Upon entering the medicine pavilion, Apothecary Yang Xia was nowhere to be seen. As A’Ling was about to check the backyard, a door suddenly appeared out of thin air before her.
These successive appearances of unusual doors made A’Ling’s heart pound uneasily. What was Apothecary Yang Xia doing, being so mysterious?
She walked through the automatically opened door, descending the chilling staircase, and arrived in a secret chamber.
The secret chamber was dim and empty, with only a luminous pearl hanging from the ceiling, emitting light.
Hearing the sound, Apothecary Yang Xia turned to look at her. “You’re here.”
As she turned sideways, A’Ling also stepped down the last step and saw clearly the situation in the center of the secret chamber.
There was only a white jade bed there, emitting faint mist, making one feel waves of coolness just by looking at it.
On the bed that looked cold just by itself, someone was actually lying there.
A’Ling walked closer for a look. It was Shi Qingqian.
They had just met a short while ago, only one or two hours had passed, yet she seemed even paler, so pale she was faintly translucent.
She lay quietly on the white jade bed, her eyes tightly closed, her breaths so shallow she didn’t seem like a living person. If not for her occasionally trembling long eyelashes, A’Ling truly couldn’t find any proof that she was still alive.
“What happened to her?”
A’Ling’s voice involuntarily lowered, as if worried that a slightly larger movement would cause this fragile person to lose her last faint breath.
Apothecary Yang Xia, however, seemed no different from usual, and even said somewhat angrily, “Her injuries weren’t healed, yet she went out strolling. Now she’s almost dead.”
“Ah?” A’Ling exclaimed, her pupils instantly widening. She stared at Apothecary Yang Xia in shock, as if trying to ascertain if she was joking.
Seeing her stern face, only looking down at Shi Qingqian on the white jade bed, and not noticing A’Ling’s shock and doubt.
She hastily pressed, “Shi Qingqian is dying? How could this be? Wasn’t she fine earlier?”
This was Shi Qingqian, the Venerable Beiming from the previous life. How could she, how could she just die like this?
This is too absurd. A’Ling’s heart abruptly seized up. She couldn’t describe her current feelings; she didn’t know if she was happy or sad. She just couldn’t believe that Shi Qingqian would die like this.
Apothecary Yang Xia saw A’Ling’s furrowed brows and the concern in her tone, and she let out a sigh of relief.
Luckily, A’Ling didn’t burst out laughing upon hearing that Qingqian was dying, otherwise Qingqian would truly be out of luck.
This person was originally lying quietly in the secret chamber, then suddenly opened her eyes and said she wanted to go to the inner sect assessment. Apothecary Yang Xia hadn’t known what was going on, but now, seeing the suddenly appearing A’Ling, what else was there to not understand?
This matter must be related to A’Ling.
“You’ve seen her before? When was that? Did anything happen?”
A’Ling was worried that the morning’s events would affect Shi Qingqian’s life and death, so she recounted everything that happened during the test and everything that happened after Shi Qingqian suddenly arrived, recalling everything she could and telling Apothecary Yang Xia in full detail.
Apothecary Yang Xia listened, thinking, Indeed, it was as I suspected. She went to the Flying Crane Clear Platform for A’Ling.
After A’Ling finished speaking, Apothecary Yang Xia had a thoughtful expression and waited for a long time without her saying anything.
She couldn’t help but ask again, “Is there something wrong? Is Shi Qingqian truly beyond saving?” How could she be dying? I still have so many questions to ask her.
“Please don’t die yet.”
A’Ling lowered her head, anxiously looking at the unconscious person on the white jade bed. “Is there any way to save her? Where is she injured?”
Apothecary Yang Xia finally reacted upon hearing these words. She turned her head to look at A’Ling, her expression very serious. “If A’Ling is willing to help, I will do my best to try.”
A’Ling widened her eyes in surprise. “Me? What can I help with?”
Apothecary Yang Xia took Shi Qingqian’s hand from beside her and placed it into A’Ling’s hand. “Hold her hand and transfer some spiritual energy to her.”
A’Ling’s hand was suddenly chilled, so cold that she almost instinctively threw away the ice-like hand.
She forced herself to endure the awkwardness, and, under Apothecary Yang Xia’s pleading gaze, gripped Shi Qingqian’s hand, which was as cold as a corpse.
This hand was not only cold like a corpse but also had no flesh on it, just skin over bone. The bluish-white at the joints made A’Ling’s heart clench.
Before she could start transferring spiritual energy to Shi Qingqian, Apothecary Yang Xia had already begun her actions.
A’Ling saw the golden needles she took out were longer than her arm. She nervously gripped Shi Qingqian’s palm and immediately began transferring spiritual energy to Shi Qingqian.
After the golden needles entered Shi Qingqian’s body, they were like melting ice pillars, vanishing without a trace.
Seven golden needles, one after another, completely sank into Shi Qingqian’s body, sealing her energy meridians. Apothecary Yang Xia raised her hand, about to wipe the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, when a handkerchief appeared right before her eyes.
A’Ling, with a solemn expression, respectfully offered the handkerchief. Apothecary Yang Xia’s medical skills were truly awe-inspiring. These were no ordinary golden needles, but Four Symbols Golden Needles that could not be easily activated without a Soul Transformation realm cultivation.
Apothecary Yang Xia clearly saw the admiration in A’Ling’s eyes and couldn’t help but feel a little proud. She had devoted her life to medical arts, and setting aside other matters, she believed her medical skills were among the best in this world.
If Qingqian hadn’t met her, she would likely have truly lost her life this time.
After wiping away the sweat, Apothecary Yang Xia continued along Shi Qingqian’s meridians, forcibly driving the scattered demonic energy upwards against the meridians, all gathering towards Shi Qingqian’s face.
In a single breath, A’Ling saw dark red blood patterns creeping over half of Shi Qingqian’s face. She couldn’t help but hold her breath forcefully, staring at this scene with a shocked expression.
Apothecary Yang Xia took out a longan-sized medicinal pill and placed it into Shi Qingqian’s mouth. A moment later, the blood patterns on Shi Qingqian’s face seemed to come alive, rushing to gather towards the red mole at the corner of Shi Qingqian’s eye.
A’Ling watched this scene with wide eyes, seeing that the ordinary red mole seemed to gain some strange color; the red was not true red, but rather a dark, blood-like hue.
What exactly is this thing? Is that really a mole?
Apothecary Yang Xia was unaware of the turbulent waves in A’Ling’s heart at this moment. She took out three Luo River Nymph Shattering Nails from her medicine box and hammered them one by one into the red mole at the corner of Shi Qingqian’s eye.
The outermost Luo River Nymph Shattering Nail, its exposed half-length was stained a shocking dark red.
Apothecary Yang Xia’s heart also jolted. This demonic energy almost reached her heart meridian. She dared not delay and recited a sealing incantation towards the red mole, which resembled a blood scab.
The blood patterns on Shi Qingqian’s face gradually began to squirm, like wild blood leeches attracted by fresh blood, all drilling towards the Luo River Nymph Shattering Nails.
Beads of sweat as large as beans instantly appeared on Apothecary Yang Xia’s forehead, but she didn’t bother to wipe them away.
After persisting for a quarter of an hour, the blood patterns on Shi Qingqian’s face finally receded completely.
Apothecary Yang Xia, with a stern face and holding her breath, looked at the nearly translucent Shi Qingqian and, suppressing her anger, cursed, “If there’s a next time, I’ll just watch you die.”
Healers do not save those who court death.
After Apothecary Yang Xia gritted her teeth and finished her harsh words, she activated a spell to extract the Luo River Nymph Shattering Nails that had been driven into the red mole at the corner of Shi Qingqian’s eye.
Shi Qingqian’s translucent skin gradually regained some color, and her body was no longer as cold as ice as it had been.
A’Ling also felt this change immediately. Holding Shi Qingqian’s hand, which seemed to be slowly warming up, she asked Apothecary Yang Xia, “How is she?”
Apothecary Yang Xia wiped away the sweat from her forehead and let out a breath. “She won’t die for now.”
Hearing her say this, A’Ling finally fully exhaled the half-breath she had been holding. As long as she’s not dead, that’s good.
A’Ling stopped transferring spiritual energy. Looking at Shi Qingqian’s hand, which she had gripped so tightly that a red mark appeared, she felt a surge of embarrassment and immediately loosened her grip, intending to put it back.
Suddenly, her palm tightened.
A’Ling’s hand, which had just slightly loosened, was abruptly gripped back. The person on the white jade bed also opened her eyes at this moment.
In the dim secret chamber, a cool breeze seeped in from somewhere unknown, causing both their eyelashes to tremble slightly.
As their eyes met, both, holding their breaths, saw overwhelming shock in each other’s eyes.