The attributes of one’s spiritual root often hint at their personality. For instance, most cultivators with fire attributes tend to be more aggressive, while those with ice spiritual roots are often as silent as a block of ice. Lian Chaoxi has a water spiritual root, so while he appears gentle on the surface, when angered, he’s like a raging undercurrent. Wen Guyue, on the other hand, has a fire attribute, making him straightforward and hot-tempered, not one for overthinking.
Wood attributes are supposed to represent gentleness and tolerance, but when the spiritual root mutates towards poison, it adds a strange twist to that tolerance. However, in the cultivation world, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In a world where the strong prey on the weak, gentleness and tolerance are almost derogatory terms. Only by hiding a needle in the cotton can one earn fear and respect, securing more resources for themselves and their sect.
“I really like this attribute,” Wen Shunian laughed, patting Lou Shuangzui’s shoulder as both encouragement and reassurance. “Over the years, the disciples Chen Yue Sect has taken in… My disciple Zhibai has a pure wood spiritual root, but his personality is too soft. Junior Brother Lu’s disciple has a fire spiritual root, straightforward and hot-tempered.”
“Then there’s that rare yin attribute disciple from Divination Peak, and the thunder attribute one from Talisman Array Peak… Not to mention the Seventh Elder’s disciple. In short, this generation hasn’t produced a disciple suitable for management.”
Speaking of the Seventh Elder, even someone as composed and tolerant as Wen Shunian couldn’t help but take a deep breath. He frowned, seemingly recalling something that worried and displeased him. But being well-mannered, he suppressed the words on the tip of his tongue and refrained from speaking ill behind others’ backs.
“It’s still early. Senior Brother has over two thousand years left in his position, no need to rush finding a successor,” Lian Chaoxi smiled, not taking the words to heart. He subtly recalled the Seventh Elder, and his smile faded a bit.
The Seventh Elder, Wen Weili, was originally from Sword Peak, considered Lian Chaoxi’s junior brother. He crossed countless cloud steps to reach the sect and become a disciple. With decent talent and temperament, he was taken in by the previous Sword Peak Master, the Frost Ancestor Ye Qi, who had left Chen Yue Sect three thousand years ago to wander the world.
Truth be told, the Seventh Elder’s talent was exceptional. He formed his Golden Core at a thousand years old. At this rate, reaching the Nascent Soul stage before three thousand years and enjoying endless longevity wouldn’t be difficult. But unfortunately, his mindset wasn’t great, and he happened to have Lian Chaoxi as a peer—who reached the Nascent Soul stage at five hundred and perfected the Transformation Stage at a thousand, now on the verge of another breakthrough.
Driven by jealousy and negative emotions, Wen Weili did some regrettable things, like attempting to frame Lian Chaoxi for theft and even trying to isolate him with other outer disciples. But Lian Chaoxi wasn’t foolish, and his personality was likable, so while the outer disciples might have been jealous, most of the inner disciples got along well with him.
Wen Weili’s emotions spiraled further, nearly going berserk, and he even attempted to assassinate his senior brother. As a result, he was expelled from Sword Peak by Ye Qi. Feeling sorry for him, the previous Beast Taming Peak Master, Lin Shiyi, temporarily took him in, and after a change of leadership, he became the sect’s Seventh Elder.
During the sect’s leadership transition, Wen Weili even targeted Wen Shunian for the sect leader position. Lian Chaoxi wasn’t clear on the details, only knowing that afterward, Wen Weili moved out of Beast Taming Peak and established his own peak.
Wen Weili has only one inner disciple, born unexpectedly with an outer sect junior sister. Named Wen Yifeng, his talent isn’t great, having three spiritual roots, making even the Foundation Establishment difficult despite being fed many heavenly treasures. His attributes are metal, wood, and fire, and he’s only five years old now.
Sighing inwardly, recalling the past, Lian Chaoxi couldn’t help but lose interest. He pulled Lou Shuangzui along, intending to bid farewell to Wen Shunian, but the pink-haired sect leader gave him a light glare.
“Why the rush? I haven’t given my gift yet. Junior Brother Lu helped with a weapon, so as a senior brother, I can’t give nothing.”
With that, Wen Shunian examined Lou Shuangzui and quickly took out a hair crown from his storage bag. It was adorned with green jade in the center, with gold carved into a lotus shape, and silk threads woven with clouds connected to jade pendants hanging down.
“This is an immortal artifact I got from a secret realm recently. It can block a fatal attack below the Transformation Stage, and it matches your shark silk clothes. I’ll give it to you.”
Since both Wen Shunian and Lu Mi Que gave gifts, Wen Guyue felt he should too. He rummaged through his storage bag but couldn’t find anything suitable. Without disciples or sect responsibilities, he didn’t keep unnecessary items, often giving them to Wen Shunian, trusting his senior brother wouldn’t cheat him. After searching, he had nothing to offer, so he glanced at his senior brother for help.
Wen Shunian sighed, pinching Wen Guyue’s arm, but it was too muscular, like a body cultivator. “Second Junior Brother just returned from the demon battlefield with many jade stones. Let your nephew pick three.”
Noticing their little interaction, Lian Chaoxi chuckled, and Lou Shuangzui’s eyes curved with a smile. He took the hair crown from the table, bowing slightly. “Thank you, Master Uncle, Master Uncle.”
As a master, Lian Chaoxi didn’t just laugh. After Lou Shuangzui straightened up, he took the hair crown and helped him put it on, giving Wen Shunian face. “It suits you well. Senior Brother has good taste.”
Wen Shunian glanced at the Sword Master, wanting to say something, but ended up laughing himself.
Sword Peak was the closest mountain to the Sect Leader Peak, occupying the largest mountain top. This was because Sword Peak Masters were often the sect’s strongest combat force. Positioned centrally, they could quickly support if the sect was attacked. The large mountain wasn’t due to a large number of people but to prevent sword cultivators from accidentally injuring others during practice. Sword cultivators’ tribulations were often grand, and being struck by lightning was an unwarranted disaster.
The mountain path to Sword Peak was lined with many trees, their species unknown, but they appeared particularly old and weathered, with wood quality better than other peaks.
After passing through the lush greenery, the Sword Peak residences came into view. In the center were the Sword Peak Hall and the Peak Master’s Hall. The cliff housed the scripture library, and the back mountain had caves for seclusion. The practice area was a plaza, with only a few immortal servants reading and practicing, making it almost empty and quiet.
The disciples’ rooms were arranged around the main hall, almost identical in size, with similar sunlight, minimizing disputes over living conditions between inner and outer disciples.
“There are only three immortal servants on the mountain, one male and two females. Their rooms are those three,” Lian Chaoxi pointed them out to Lou Shuangzui. Perhaps feeling their status wasn’t high, the immortal servants chose rooms on the edges, despite having free choice.
“The rest are unoccupied. Which one does Little Shuangzui want?”
Lian Chaoxi’s smile was mischievous. Lou Shuangzui glanced at him, feeling a bit helpless, but since his master said so, he wouldn’t be polite. He observed the sunlight and terrain, finally choosing the room closest to the Peak Master’s Hall, with bright sunlight and a large window facing the Sect Leader’s Hall bedroom.
“This one, closer to Master,” his eyes were filled with golden brilliance, dazzling and beautiful, making it hard to look away when his smile and softness were reflected.
Lian Chaoxi was slightly stunned. He had been trying to coax different expressions from his eldest disciple, but when Lou Shuangzui genuinely smiled, he couldn’t help but feel his ears heat up, a bit uncomfortable.
The white-haired celestial couldn’t help but cough lightly, turning his head to hide his reddening earlobes with his hair. “Then, live here. I’ll introduce you to the three immortal servants.”
“Sword Peak has few people, and not many come and go. With your master’s formation, I didn’t require them to be on duty… But there are morning and evening patrols.”
—Immortal servants differ from outer disciples. They are mortals saved by immortals, with no outstanding talent, or friends and family they couldn’t leave behind, mainly responsible for cleaning and patrolling.
But the latter often represents tragedy, as immortals live long, and cultivation can last centuries, while human lifespans are short. Familiar faces age and pass away in the blink of an eye.
The immortal servants were at the training ground, two girls practicing swordsmanship by the wooden stakes, and the only boy writing diligently under the pavilion.
The wind swept up fallen leaves as Lian Chaoxi stopped in the center of the training ground, holding Lou Shuangzui’s hand, his smile gentle. “Yulan, Qian Mo, Hua Mao, come over here.”
The immortal servants looked up at the sound, pausing when they saw Lou Shuangzui. But they quickly realized something, put down their things, tidied their appearances, and walked over briskly.
Yulan wore a green outfit, looking delicate and graceful; Qian Mo was older, with her hair up, revealing more resolute features; Hua Mao was the only male immortal servant, but he had a round face, looking young and cute.
When they approached, Hua Mao curiously glanced at Lou Shuangzui, not speaking, just like his sisters, looking up at their peak master.
Lian Chaoxi pulled Lou Shuangzui closer, patting the young man’s shoulder, but his eyes were on the immortal servants. “This is my eldest disciple, the eldest disciple of Sword Peak, and your senior brother.”
After a moment of silence, Qian Mo was the first to react, lowering her head slightly, her voice soft. “Senior Brother.”
With one greeting, the other two quickly followed. “Senior Brother.”
Lou Shuangzui stood close to Lian Chaoxi. He grew fast, taller than his peers, but still shorter than adults. Lian Chaoxi was nearly a head taller, easily enveloping him.
“In the future, if I’m in seclusion, Sword Peak’s matters will be handled by Shuangzui. Qian Mo, you were in charge of the accounts before, so you’ll need to hand them over,” Lian Chaoxi continued, pointing in a direction. The training ground was elevated, offering a view of the Sect Leader’s Hall roof. He pointed to the house Lou Shuangzui chose.
“Your senior brother will live in the house near the cliff by the Sect Leader’s Hall. Hua Mao, help him tidy up, and make sure it’s ready early.”
Hua Mao blinked, nodding vigorously. Qian Mo didn’t speak, just glanced at Lou Shuangzui, then nodded quickly.
Author’s Note: