Chapter 15: The Little Junior Sister Has Changed

She was sending him to his death? Even if the whole world perished, the protagonist Xiao Jihan would never die, would he? Yan Shu let out a sigh. “Third Senior Brother, you’re overthinking it. Though the Brahma Heaven Mystic Realm is a place where disciples must be responsible for their own lives, it’s intended as a trial ground for new initiates, with little true danger. Moreover, though Xiao Jihan is still at the Foundation Establishment stage, he is close to forming his Golden Core. This trip to the Brahma Heaven Mystic Realm may well be an opportunity for him.”

And she was, in fact, understating it. Xiao Jihan had already reached the late Golden Core stage by now.

Hearing this, Liu Zhiqing’s face showed some surprise. “He’s already at the late Foundation Establishment stage?”

From what he knew, the new disciples this year were of only average talent, so none of the senior disciples had taken on any as personal pupils. The best among them—one who was forced upon a disciple as a nominal head—was only just about to form his Golden Core, and yet this pseudo-spiritual root with four attributes was already about to achieve the same in just a few years?

Yan Shu understood the underlying meaning of his words. Thinking of the hatred Xiao Jihan bore toward the Xuantian Sect—not just because of the original host, but more due to the many humiliations he had suffered there—she immediately straightened her face and said, “Senior Brother, there are countless paths to cultivation. Spiritual roots are important, but they are not the only standard by which one can judge. You are clinging to appearances.”

In the Mystic Mirror, her skin was as flawless as jade, tinged with a faint blush. Her moon-like brows and starry eyes radiated a cool beauty, her face imbued with the ethereal grace of an immortal, and her naturally crimson lips pressed together with a seriousness that could not be put into words.

Although she was their junior by several centuries, at this moment Liu Zhiqing seemed to see in her the image of their departed master.

There are countless paths to cultivation; spiritual roots are not the only standard. Their master had once said these words to them as well. Yet in the thousands of years since, there had not been a single exception, and the lesson had faded into oblivion.

Looking at Yan Shu’s earnest expression, Liu Zhiqing felt somewhat ashamed. “You’re right, Junior Sister. I was too fixated. The road of cultivation is long, and temperament and fate are just as important. I’ll arrange it right away and have Xiao Jihan’s name added to the trial list.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Yan Shu nodded her thanks, then suddenly recalled another matter. “Senior Brother, I’ve noticed that Xiao Jihan has significant talent in alchemy and artifact forging. Please gather some basic materials for him and have them delivered as well.”

Liu Zhiqing was taken aback, giving her a few surprised looks, but he still nodded. “Very well.”

After ending the communication, Liu Zhiqing hesitated for a moment as he looked at the Mystic Mirror, then sent a message to Second Senior Brother, Bing Shien.

The line connected quickly, and Liu Zhiqing relayed Yan Shu’s request for a cauldron and materials, as well as the news that Xiao Jihan was close to forming his Golden Core.

After he finished, Liu Zhiqing lowered his voice. “Second Senior Brother, have you noticed that Junior Sister has changed?”

Bing Shien frowned. “What are you trying to say? Before Master passed away, he left a trace of his divine sense and a seal in Junior Sister. If she were possessed by a Heart Demon or taken over, Master would have warned us.”

“That’s not what I mean.” Liu Zhiqing wasn’t sure how to put it. “I just feel that after Junior Sister expelled her Heart Demon, while she remains as coolly detached as ever, she’s grown much closer to us senior brothers—especially to her direct disciple. She seems to care for him deeply. I heard that today, she even personally took Xiao Jihan to Wuxu Peak and punished an inner disciple who had bullied him.”

Bing Shien was unconcerned. “That’s her first disciple. It’s natural to be attentive. Weren’t we the same when we first took on pupils? Besides, Junior Sister was tormented by her Heart Demon before and treated Xiao Jihan poorly; surely she feels guilty and just wants to make amends.”

“And more than that, Xiao Jihan managed, by his own efforts, to reach the late Foundation Establishment stage in just a few years—superior even to the so-called ‘most talented’ disciple. And let’s not forget, he’s a four-attribute pseudo-spiritual root. If it were you, wouldn’t you value such a promising seedling?”

Liu Zhiqing fell silent for a moment. “That may be true, but I can’t shake the feeling that Junior Sister is treating her direct disciple a little too well.”

Bing Shien gave him a sly, searching look. “Third Junior Brother, are you jealous? Do you feel that now that Junior Sister is clear-minded, she treats her disciple better than she does you, her senior brother of a hundred years?”

Liu Zhiqing was briefly stunned, then, upon considering it, grew embarrassed.

He covered his mouth and coughed lightly, saying nothing.

At this, Bing Shien burst out laughing. “Junior Brother, that state of mind won’t do. It’s just a disciple. If Junior Sister ever takes a Dao companion, are you going to draw your sword against him?”

“Dao companion? Junior Sister’s still young!” Liu Zhiqing snorted. “Enough of that. Just send over your artifact-forging materials. I’ll deliver them to Junior Sister myself.”

Bing Shien rose to his feet. “Let’s go together. I’d like to see for myself what sort of person could win Junior Sister’s attention.”

After he ended the communication, Liu Zhiqing stood up as well, snorting softly. “Pot calling the kettle black, and he still has the nerve to tease me.”

Both Liu Zhiqing and Bing Shien had reached the Integration stage. With a display of their powers, they could traverse a thousand miles in the blink of an eye. After rising, they flicked their sleeves and appeared outside the grand hall of Supreme Peak in an instant.

Sensing their arrival, Yan Shu immediately rose to greet them, a little surprised. “Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, why have you come in person?”

Bing Shien said nothing, while Liu Zhiqing cleared his throat. “Junior Sister’s disciple is our disciple as well. Hearing that Xiao Jihan is talented in alchemy and artifact forging, and knowing your proficiency in these fields isn’t high, my Second Senior Brother and I thought we’d come ourselves to teach him a thing or two.”

Saying her skills “aren’t high” was already putting it diplomatically.

Yan Shu could tell they were worried she might hold her disciple back, so she simply nodded. “Very well, then I’ll trouble you both.”

She led them to Xiao Jihan’s residence. Bing Shien and Liu Zhiqing discreetly noted the distance between the cottage and the main hall, feeling quietly satisfied.

At this moment, Xiao Jihan emerged. Upon seeing Yan Shu and the others, he first greeted her respectfully as his master, then bowed. “Greetings, Second and Third Uncles.”

Both Bing Shien and Liu Zhiqing acknowledged him with a sound, sizing him up from head to toe, their brows quickly furrowing.

They had been present the day he was taken as a disciple and had thought then that his appearance was unusually attractive, but no matter how striking, it couldn’t change the fact that he was a four-attribute pseudo-spiritual root.

At the time, they had thought that, given Junior Sister’s uncertain future, at least having a good-looking disciple would be somewhat pleasing to the eye, and had paid the matter little mind.

But seeing him now, they couldn’t help but feel—

Wasn’t this disciple a bit too handsome?

Given Xiao Jihan’s upbringing and experiences, he was naturally sensitive to others’ emotions toward him—especially their approval or dislike.

Seeing Bing Shien and Liu Zhiqing frown, he immediately understood that these two harbored clear dislike for him.

Favorability: -71 (hostile)

Favorability: -72 (hostile)