The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 7

Stepping through the Self-Cultivation Gate of Hongjian Academy led to a spacious spiritual energy arena. The Chaotic Rock Bell hung suspended in mid-air, held aloft by spiritual energy, its heavy body making the atmosphere solemn and tense.

A’Ling looked at the people standing opposite her. There was no river between them, yet they were sharply divided.

On the other side stood Elder Zeng and the academy’s cultivation masters, gathered around Shi Qingqian, asking with concern what had happened to her. And then there was Zhao Diqing, on the side, so anxious she was almost in tears.

A’Ling glanced at her own side, though it wasn’t really a side, as she was the only one there.

After examining Shi Qingqian, the group opposite had faces filled with anger, and they all glared at A’Ling.

A’Ling’s heart turned to ice. Shi Qingqian hadn’t spoken a word since she’d slandered A’Ling just now, and A’Ling thought, She doesn’t need to say anything more. Her miserable appearance alone is enough for this group to demand an explanation and condemn me.

They already liked Shi Qingqian, and now that she looked like a victim, they naturally believed her words.

A’Ling coldly eyed Shi Qingqian, who was being protected by so many people. This despicable creature is worse than a dog. Dogs don’t have so many devious tricks.

A’Ling would never admit to something she hadn’t done. She declared with righteous indignation, “I’ll say this one last time: it wasn’t me. It was Xing Yanchu’s personal action. I was there to save someone.”

When Zhao Diqing heard A’Ling’s words, her already infuriated heart grew even more enraged. Before, in the dining hall, she had pleaded so humbly with A’Ling, yet A’Ling hadn’t gone to save Shi Qingqian.

So why had she suddenly gone now? She must have gone to help Xing Yanchu bully Shi Qingqian.

“A’Ling, you’re going too far! Xing Yanchu and Shi Qingqian don’t have any conflict. Only you constantly target Shi Qingqian in your daily life. If Xing Yanchu hadn’t listened to you, why would he have found someone to beat Shi Qingqian?”

When A’Ling heard this, she felt as disgusted as if she’d swallowed a hundred flies.

This scene made her recall her previous life.

That time, it was an inner sect trial. Shi Qingqian had led them to subdue an ancient fire dragon bird. Somehow, the fire dragon bird suddenly went berserk, unleashing its bestial nature. The crimson soul flames it burst forth almost shattered their spiritual cores.

In the end, Shi Qingqian single-handedly slew it.

Afterward, the Twelve Cave Abodes investigated the matter and discovered that A’Ling had brought a forbidden demonic spirit.

A’Ling had indeed brought that thing, but it was only to restrain Shi Qingqian, to prevent her from unleashing her power and hogging all the glory. How was she to know that the demonic spirit would drive the ancient fire dragon bird mad?

It was Zhao Diqing who stepped forward, crying as she accused her. What did she say again? A’Ling thought hard.

She had said, “I can no longer conceal for A’Ling. A’Ling said she hated Shi Qingqian and intended to deal with Shi Qingqian during this mission. I advised her, and she promised me she wouldn’t bring these things. I never expected her to stubbornly insist on her own path and refuse to see reason.”

Because of her accusation, the matter of A’Ling persecuting Shi Qingqian, which led to other fellow disciples falling into danger, being injured, and dying, was deemed proven with both human testimony and physical evidence.

She was expelled from Mystic Crane Mountain. At that time, she only knew that Zhao Diqing had betrayed her, betrayed their friendship, but she didn’t know why.

It wasn’t until just before her death — perhaps it was the candor that comes with impending death, or perhaps she simply felt she owed her an apology — that Zhao Diqing finally revealed the reason.

A’Ling felt it would have been better if she hadn’t said anything.

She truly hadn’t expected that her best friend had disliked her from the very beginning and had stayed by her side solely for Shi Qingqian.

That idiot even said that by staying by her side, she might also get Shi Qingqian to glance at her a few more times.

What kind of fool could do something that makes one want to pry open her skull and wash her brains?

If you like someone, go pursue them, snatch them, steal them, do whatever. Squatting in a corner, acting sinister, just hoping the other person will glance at you – if you’re that pathetic, why not just be a maggot?

A’Ling looked at Zhao Diqing, who, just like in her previous life, stood in the corner accusing her. She pursed her lips. This life’s betrayal came early.

She couldn’t be bothered to look at Zhao Diqing; it disgusted A’Ling. She looked towards Shi Qingqian, who was surrounded. “At Kaiyao Mountain, you heard everything Xing Yanchu and I said. Tell them, did I harm you?”

Shi Qingqian merely watched her silently, her gaze seeming to waver slightly, but she didn’t utter a word, leaving others wondering what she was thinking.

A’Ling stared at her for a moment before suddenly bursting into laughter. “Good. Very good.”

“I really don’t learn my lesson. An ungrateful wretch like you would be better fed to dogs. I wasted my effort saving you.”

“You deserved to be devoured alive by those demonic beasts. Cold-blooded little bastards like you are their favorite.”

Elder Zeng, who had been standing by the side, heard the words ‘little bastard.’ The wrinkles on his brow, already furrowed like a ravine, tightened slightly. He, who had remained silent until now, slowly opened his mouth.

“Young friend, mind your words.”

A’Ling had taken the blame for someone with such effort only to be bitten back, and she couldn’t defeat the people present. If she couldn’t vent her anger by cursing, she felt she’d choke herself to death from sheer frustration.

“What? She can do it, but I can’t curse? Someone this heartless, ungrateful, and utterly devoid of virtue— Mmmph! ” A’Ling was truly furious. Elder Zeng had actually cast a silence spell on her!

She cursed that rotten old man inwardly: Bah! What kind of highly virtuous, revered, and awe-inspiring righteous great expert? He’s just a rotten old man who can’t tell right from wrong!

She cursed him thoroughly in her mind, but since the other party couldn’t hear it, there was no satisfaction in it.

The most satisfying part of cursing someone was when they heard the insults, became enraged from shame, and their mental defenses crumbled.

Elder Zeng surveyed the current situation and began to handle the matter.

“Leshan, take this child, Qingqian, to Apothecary Yang Xia in the back mountain. Have her treat Qingqian’s injuries.”

A’Ling gave a cold snort. Look at the difference! He calls Shi Qingqian ‘this child, Qingqian,’ but calls me ‘young friend.’ Elder Zeng probably doesn’t even know my name.

Qi Leshan heard Elder Zeng speak and immediately accepted the task respectfully, taking Shi Qingqian away to treat her injuries.

As she passed A’Ling, Qi Leshan’s eyes were full of disgust. “So young yet so malicious in your thoughts. How can such a disposition qualify one for immortal cultivation?”

She finished speaking and walked away, but A’Ling was so enraged she exploded: To hell with that! I’m not worthy of cultivation? Then is that mongrel bitch Shi Qingqian worthy? No matter how bad I am, I don’t falsely accuse others! I, A’Ling, take responsibility for what I do!

A’Ling cursed loudly in her mind and wanted to pounce on Shi Qingqian. Since they were going to accuse her of beating Shi Qingqian, she might as well make it a reality!

Unfortunately, she was just a bit too slow.

Elder Zeng immobilized her, and her face was beet red with anger!

Another cultivation master of the academy, who had been standing beside Elder Zeng, asked how A’Ling should be punished.

Elder Zeng looked deeply at A’Ling and sighed, as if speaking on her behalf. “This young friend is still young. For now, she will be suspended from classes to reflect on her own mistakes.”

That person then asked how Xing Yanchu should be dealt with.

“Bring them back. Everyone involved in this matter, bring them all back.”

Elder Zeng was also going to deal with Xing Yanchu’s accomplices. As A’Ling was ‘invited’ onto the carriage, she thought, That demonic cultivator is probably going to have his soul scattered.

I’m likely in trouble too.

When A’Ling was dropped off at home by the academy’s carriage, she saw the fury practically spilling from Huo Zhen’s square face, and she knew her premonition had been accurate.

For a punishment like a suspension from classes, the academy would surely inform the parents of the full details.

Huo Zhen was also a Golden Core stage cultivator. He must have received a message from Huang He, as he knew everything before she even arrived home.

A’Ling’s emotions were complicated. Seeing someone who had died in her previous life appear before her left her feeling somewhat dazed.

Unlike with Zhao Diqing, A’Ling hadn’t seen Huo Zhen when he died.

In her previous life, after Huo Zhen found out she was the true daughter of the Huo family, he still looked down on her in every possible way, and his heart was only for Shi Qingqian.

Raising her was simply like raising an extra cat or dog, providing a place to stay and some food.

Later, Shi Qingqian passed the inner sect assessment and went to Mystic Crane Mountain. From then on, she lost all contact, like a kite with a broken string. It was only then that Huo Zhen remembered A’Ling.

He overwhelmed her with many heaven-and-earth treasures and forced her to cultivate daily until she finally formed her Golden Core and passed the inner sect assessment.

Huo Zhen then ordered her to find Shi Qingqian, to relay a message, to tell Shi Qingqian that everyone in the family missed her very much.

A’Ling didn’t relay a single word.

Later, when A’Ling entered the demonic path, she heard Huo Zhen announce that A’Ling no longer had any relation to his Huo family. His eagerness to distance himself was truly laughable.

Later still, in the Demon Realm, she heard that the Huo family had a “Glorious Pursuit Order” issued against them by another immortal cultivation family. The bounty for slaughtering the entire Huo family reached 100,000 spiritual stones. A’Ling felt they deserved it.

It was Huo family’s precious son who, out of personal vendetta, brutally murdered someone’s wife and children. For that person to slaughter his entire family was only natural and right.

A’Ling also heard that Huo Zhen, in an attempt to save his life, had invoked Shi Qingqian’s name, hoping to intimidate the other party.

It actually worked, because Shi Qingqian was already Venerable Beiming by then, with a renowned reputation.

However, Huo Zhen’s calculations didn’t bring him joy for more than two days, as Shi Qingqian publicly stated she wouldn’t interfere in the matter.

A’Ling laughed. She wondered if Huo Zhen regretted it before he died. It was a pity; she never got to ask him personally.

“Rebellious child, kneel!”

Huo Zhen saw A’Ling enter the house and stand there silently looking at him, not kneeling to admit her mistake. Her eyes held disdain, and the smile at the corner of her lips contained sarcasm.

This is utter defiance of heaven! Huo Zhen was consumed by rage. This rebellious child had only gotten into Hongjian Academy because of his prestige. It was bad enough that she still couldn’t even reach Foundation Establishment and disgraced him.

And now, she had even colluded with others to injure Qingqian!

A’Ling’s silence spell automatically lifted after she entered the house. She coldly watched Huo Zhen’s hostile expression, knowing that this severe beating was unavoidable today. She had no ability to escape now, so she simply stood still.

“It wasn’t me. Even if I told you, you probably wouldn’t believe it. After all, that ungrateful wretch is far more important to you than I am. The way you care about her, anyone who didn’t know would think she was your illegitimate child with some woman outside. Coincidentally, that ungrateful wretch doesn’t know who her father is either. It couldn’t be you, could it?”

As A’Ling spoke, even she herself started to believe it. After all, in her past life, until her death, she had never heard who Shi Qingqian’s biological father was.

And Huo Zhen cared so much. Don’t tell me, after all this, that little bastard really is Huo Zhen’s offspring.

“Rebellious child!”

Huo Zhen’s face turned ashen. He had thrived in the outer sect, and everyone respectfully called him ‘Master Huo.’ Now, he was being scorned by a mere young girl, his own daughter! He had to show A’Ling his true might.

He directly summoned his Natal magic artifact—the Crimson Lotus Hellfire Whip. Dark red flames coiled around the strong and flexible whip body, and a closer look revealed sharp thorns standing upright along its length.

Huo Zhen cracked the whip towards the ground. Deep fissures appeared in the green brick-paved floor, and the lingering power of the Crimson Lotus Hellfire Whip even shook loose tiles from the roof.

Tiles from the kitchen roof fell in front of the kitchen threshold. Sun Juhao, who was hiding in the kitchen, trembling and watching it all, was so scared she knelt directly on the ground, crying out to A’Ling, “A’Ling, don’t be stubborn! Quickly, apologize to Master, say you were wrong!”

Seeing A’Ling stand still, she strained her voice and anxiously shouted, “A’Ling, hurry and admit your mistake! That whip will whip you to death!”

She then kowtowed repeatedly to Huo Zhen. “Master, have mercy! A’Ling knows she was wrong. She’s still just a child! Please, spare her!”

Huo Zhen didn’t even look at her. He held the whip and spoke to A’Ling, “You’ve done wrong and still refuse to change your ways. Today, I will teach you a lesson!”

No sooner had he spoken, the Crimson Lotus Hellfire Whip, burning with dark flames like viscous blood, lashed straight towards A’Ling’s face without a shred of mercy.