Chapter Fifty-Five: You Must Prove Yourself

Yan Changqing pondered for a long time before saying, “It’s not impossible for him to come to Snow Cliff at this time. I deliberately let him be injured, and Master surely knows; he has never made a statement, clearly because he doesn’t want your nephew to risk his life among the demonic cultivators. In truth, over the years, Master has always cared deeply about you—otherwise, he wouldn’t have told me to take in this little girl. Why not let go of your worries and go see him?”

Yan Changqing could not withstand his junior sister’s gentle persuasion, and finally his attitude softened.

Hongjian, however, paid no attention to what the two planned next. The words “demonic cultivator” made her heart clench, and Master Yan Changqing’s unintentional revelation gripped her entire attention. Dai Mingchi and Elder Jin had chosen six disciples—were they really planning to send them to the demonic cultivators? How would they go? Hadn’t someone said even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn’t break the “Heaven Curtain” deep in the Endless Sea? Yet Master Yan Changqing clearly knew the inside story, which must have been told to him by Patriarch Sun Yougong. So, there must be a way to send people across. Those six hadn’t even formed their Foundation—could they possibly return?

Hongjian thought of Ji Youyun, who claimed to foresee future events, and shivered. Only then did she realize she could move her body again.

All around was quiet; Yan Changqing and the senior sister Ying were both gone. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying on the floor in Yan Changqing’s cave residence. No one was nearby, and the spirit tea she’d brought for Senior Sister Ying still sat where she’d left it. Who knew where the two had gone after their discussion, leaving her behind, unconscious and alone.

Perhaps Senior Sister Ying had finally listened to Master’s advice, and the two had gone together to see Sun Yougong.

Hongjian’s heart was flooded with mixed emotions. She’d planned to visit her second senior brother Qin Baoxian after leaving Master, but now had no energy for it. Treated this way, she suddenly realized: all those ghostly tricks could be dealt with as they came—she shouldn’t waste so much of her mind on them. Only by cultivating diligently and becoming strong—strong enough that even people like Senior Sister Ying would have to respect her—could she avoid ever again being at the mercy of others.

She had already broken through the barrier between the sixth and seventh levels of Qi Refining. Based on her past experience, if she worked hard, she would face no great obstacles at least until the final stages of Qi Refining and the attempt at Foundation Establishment. Hongjian suddenly felt the urge to enter seclusion.

But first, there was something she had to do. Shi Qingxiang had once said, “Anyone who’s ever benefited me, I will repay a hundredfold,” and Hongjian was much the same. Now that she happened to know the inside story about the recruitment of disciples by a Nascent Soul master, she had to find a way to inform Shi Qingxiang so he could prepare himself.

She returned to her quarters and sorted out her thoughts, the anger in her heart dissipating considerably.

It would be too conspicuous to go to Splendid Peak and seek out Shi Qingxiang directly. Hongjian realized she hadn’t seen her younger brother since returning from the sect’s secret realm, so she left Evening Tide Peak to find Fang Zheng.

After several days apart, Fang Zheng noticed his sister seemed to carry a sharper aura, something unfamiliar to him. Naively, he thought she had advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refining thanks to luck in the secret realm, and he threw himself into Hongjian’s arms, grinning, “Sister, you’re amazing! You’ve surpassed Senior Brother Zhang in such a short time!”

He played around for a while before noticing Hongjian rarely spoke, and paused to carefully study her expression. “Sis, are you unhappy?” he asked.

Hongjian raised her hand to touch her brother’s head. “Are Senior Brother Zhang and the others treating you well?”

“Mm!” Fang Zheng nodded vigorously.

Hongjian smiled, relieved. “I’ll be focusing on cultivation for a while, so I won’t be able to visit you as often. If you need anything, just come to Evening Tide Peak and find me. These days, practice the ‘Green Wood Technique’ diligently. If you have questions, ask Master Pan or Senior Brother Zhang. Once I’m done with my tasks, we’ll get you to the fourth level of Qi Refining.”

Fang Zheng obediently agreed.

Hongjian stayed with her brother for a while longer, until he looked lively again, and then, seeing the hour, left for Splendid Peak.

She had already planned her approach: to avoid drawing attention, she would first find a reason to see Qi Xiuning. Qi Xiuning and Shi Qingxiang were now properly senior and junior brothers and sisters; through Qi Xiuning, she could surely find a way to meet Shi Qingxiang. It was much better than rashly seeking out someone with whom she had no obvious connection.

But when Hongjian arrived at Splendid Peak, the news struck her like a cold shower: Qi Xiuning, Shi Qingxiang, and two others had left for Fu Tu Sect immediately upon returning from the secret realm. She felt as if she’d punched the air, disappointment washing over her. She sighed and had to return to Evening Tide Peak.

By now it was nearly dusk. The setting sun cast golden light across the mountains, and it was time for the daily tide to rise. Snow Cliff stood tall and unyielding against the crashing waves. Facing the faintly salty sea breeze, Hongjian exhaled a long, heavy breath and shouted, “Hongjian, you must not let yourself down!”

That night, Snow Cliff was suddenly swept by change, as wind and clouds churned. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth stirred by an abrupt surge, began to gather in vast quantities, as if about to condense into rain.

Hongjian was cultivating in her quarters when she sensed something amiss and went out to investigate. With such commotion at Snow Cliff, she already had an inkling of what was happening.

Sure enough, before she even arrived, she encountered her second senior brother Qin Baoxian, who had also come to investigate. Qin Baoxian’s face was full of joy and envy. Before Hongjian could ask, he exclaimed, “Little junior sister, eldest brother is forming his core tonight! It looks like he’s about to succeed.”

Because of Shi Qingxiang’s warning in the secret realm, Hongjian felt some suspicion when she saw Qin Baoxian’s smiling face, not as warmly as before. She returned his smile, looked up at the sky, and said, “So this is core formation…”

Just a few days earlier, Qin Baoxian had gone into seclusion, giving up his opportunity to enter the secret realm for her; then, after failing to advance, he emerged unaffected. Was he truly so strong-willed, or did he already know he couldn’t advance, and the seclusion was just a pretense? Hongjian said, “Today, as soon as I came out of the secret realm, Master summoned me for questioning. I haven't properly thanked senior brother yet.”

Qin Baoxian glanced at her and chuckled, “That’s nothing—just a few words to smooth things over. Why keep thanking me? Junior sister, you’ve broken through the barrier so smoothly; it seems you gained a lot in the secret realm.”

The two stood there, chatting idly as they waited for their eldest brother to finish forming his core. Hongjian didn’t mention Jian Hui; she had made up her mind: even if her second senior brother harbored ill intentions, she wouldn’t easily give him another chance. If she worked hard enough, this time before Foundation Establishment would pass quickly. One day, she would be like her eldest brother, who was forming his core tonight, and perhaps go even further—like Master, Patriarch, or Elder Jin—free to go wherever she wished in the vast world, never again forced to struggle merely to survive.