Following the direction the young man pointed, the female cultivator looked over at An Jin and paused in surprise.
The girl wore the light cyan disciple robes of the Jianyue Sect, embroidered with cloud patterns. Her skin was flawless, her figure slender and graceful, delicate yet perfectly proportioned. Her beauty was elegant and breathtaking. She was undeniably more beautiful than Jian Fei’er, whose reputation for beauty was known far and wide. If she were dressed in red, she would undoubtedly possess a charm all her own.
Who would have thought that this boy, who looked so ordinary himself, would have such good taste?
Still, she couldn’t help wondering why a disciple of the Jianyue Sect was standing together with them.
An Jin, however, felt no joy at being praised. Instead, she was simply relieved that Jian Fei’er hadn’t heard those comments. Given her senior sister’s temperament, it would surely cause another scene.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
As soon as the sect master’s speech ended, the crowd at the front slowly parted. Jian Fei’er appeared in a fiery red robe, dazzling as the blazing sun itself.
Jianfeng was covered in snow all year round, cold and desolate. Yet wherever Jian Fei’er stood, she shone brilliantly against the bleak landscape. Even the original owner of this body had once envied this senior sister.
A single fire spiritual root, the personal disciple of the Venerable Swordmaster, and known as the most beautiful woman of her generation. Although she was only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, not only were the disciples of the Jianyue Sect eager to flatter her, but even the talented young cultivators from the Huayang Formation Sect of Yan Province and the Danxin Medicine Sect of Yu Province treated her like a treasured jewel.
“Junior Sister Jian, I know of a fascinating market at the foot of the mountain. Would you like to take a stroll there together?”
“Junior Sister Jian, this is a new pill I’ve recently refined.”
The girl in red, surrounded by admirers, paid none of them any attention. Instead, she walked directly toward An Jin.
Apparently, she had heard something.
The people nearby quickly stepped back to make it clear they had nothing to do with the matter. At the same time, they cast sympathetic looks toward the reckless young man who had spoken so boldly.
Jian Fei’er had indeed overheard the conversation, and her expression was far from pleasant.
Her gaze settled on her junior sister’s beautiful face.
In the cultivation world, strength was everything. This junior sister of hers possessed mediocre talent, yet she was blessed with extraordinary beauty. In Jian Fei’er’s eyes, someone like her was destined to become a cultivation furnace for others.
“Junior Sister Jian, is she also from the Jianyue Sect? An outer disciple, perhaps?”
Qiu Kecheng, who had arrived alongside Jian Fei’er, revealed a trace of admiration when he saw An Jin. His eyes lingered on her slender waist, outlined by the jade token hanging from her belt.
Qiu Kecheng was the chief disciple of the Huayang Formation Sect in Yan Province. Born with dual pupils, he possessed the rare ability to see through all formations. Jian Fei’er had always intended to maintain a good relationship with him.
Seeing his interest in her junior sister, Jian Fei’er let out a mocking laugh.
“Her?”
“She’s the useless junior sister I’ve told you all about.”
Her smile was sweet, but her eyes were filled with ridicule.
Several people looked surprised.
“The Venerable Swordmaster’s disciple? The one who entered the sect’s blessed land and came out empty-handed?”
Jian Fei’er folded her arms and nodded proudly, the smile on her face widening.
She had never liked this junior sister.
Originally, she had been her master’s only disciple. Jianfeng had belonged solely to her and her master, making her one of the most special figures in the Nine Provinces.
Then her master accepted other disciples.
The uniqueness she treasured was diminished.
Fortunately, this junior sister was untalented, timid, and only possessed a pretty face. Their master didn’t care much for her, so Jian Fei’er remained the favored disciple.
Being mocked and humiliated like this should have made anyone feel ashamed and miserable.
Yet An Jin simply stood there.
Her expression never changed.
Like a green bamboo standing proudly amid snow, she remained calm and unyielding.
The strange boy in red suddenly stepped forward and said seriously,
“Why don’t you join another sect instead? The Venerable Swordmaster clearly hasn’t taught you properly.”
An Jin froze for a moment.
Was that… really something he could say out loud?
As expected, fury instantly filled Jian Fei’er’s eyes.
“Who are you? Which sect are you from?”
She had already heard him criticizing her earlier. Since he was only at the middle Foundation Establishment stage, she hadn’t bothered paying attention.
She never expected him to be so utterly fearless.
The boy lazily lifted his eyelids.
“Jia Huo. From the Goujiao Sect.”
The moment the sect’s name was mentioned, many people secretly laughed.
The ridiculous thing was that such a sect actually existed.
It had only been established recently and possessed little foundation. No one expected one of its disciples to be this arrogant.
After learning that the boy had no notable background, Jian Fei’er immediately felt more confident.
“Then why aren’t you wearing your sect’s disciple robes?”
Everyone knew she liked wearing red, and no one dared dress the same way.
Yet this boy, whose appearance and cultivation were both utterly average, seemed determined to step on every one of her sore spots.
The boy glanced at her sideways and answered casually,
“Who says I’m not wearing them? I’m the only disciple my sect sent. Naturally, whatever I wear becomes my sect’s uniform.”
He paused before adding,
“I’ve always been someone who follows the rules. Unlike certain people who insist on being different.”
Jian Fei’er was left speechless.
She stomped her foot in frustration.
Whether in the Jianyue Sect or among the geniuses of the Nine Provinces, people had always treated her with respect and admiration.
No one had ever spoken to her so bluntly.
He was only at the middle Foundation Establishment stage and came from a tiny sect.
Where exactly did his confidence come from?
The more Jian Fei’er thought about it, the angrier she became.
She even drew her sword.
“You…”
Qiu Kecheng immediately pressed a hand against her sword arm.
“Junior Sister Jian, private fighting is forbidden during the Dao Assembly.”
Jian Fei’er knew he was right.
She had only drawn her sword in a moment of rage.
Now, however, she found herself unable to back down gracefully.
In the end, she could only sneer,
“I hope you’re still this arrogant inside the secret realm.”
Afterward, she redirected her hostility toward her quiet and seemingly spineless junior sister.
“You always associate with trash like this. Don’t embarrass our master by failing to even place in the top hundred.”
An Jin felt exhausted for no reason.
Her senior sister really was skilled at bullying those she considered easy targets.
Since the opening ceremony had already ended, she had no desire to remain.
“Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister, but I never planned to participate.”
“You’re not participating?”
Jian Fei’er was momentarily surprised.
Then her expression turned even more contemptuous.
“You don’t even have the courage to compete. I truly don’t know why Master accepted you as a disciple.”
A faint ripple passed through An Jin’s eyes.
Anyone else had the right to say that.
Jian Fei’er, of all people, did not.
Whether she knew about the tribulation-blocking incident or not, she was still the one who had benefited from it.
An Jin replied sincerely,
“Perhaps you should ask Master that question.”
This time, Jian Fei’er looked genuinely surprised.
Her junior sister was usually gentle and obedient. To put it less kindly, she was soft as dough.
Who would have thought she could speak with hidden thorns?
An Jin had no intention of continuing the argument.
She turned and left.
The Jianyue Sect was usually silent and deserted.
The Hundred Sects Tournament had brought some rare liveliness to the sect, but none of that noise reached Jianfeng.
It remained as cold and quiet as ever.
Fine snow drifted across the summit.
As An Jin climbed the long stone staircase, she sighed helplessly.
“Are you planning to come back to Jianfeng with me?”
Ever since she returned from the Hall of Ten Directions, the boy had been following her.
He simply never spoke.
The boy twirled a blade of grass he had picked from somewhere and asked curiously,
“Why don’t you want to participate in the Hundred Sects Tournament?”
An Jin thought for a moment before answering.
“Probably because I’m not strong enough and don’t want to embarrass myself.”
An unusual light flashed in the boy’s peach blossom eyes.
“What if I told you I have a way to help you win first place? What if I could help you crush everyone who looks down on you today?”
“Would you participate then?”
An Jin smiled.
“No.”
The girl’s dark brows and rosy lips made her smile resemble peach blossoms blooming on a branch in early spring.
For a brief moment, Jia Huo lost himself in a daze.
He had already begun considering what cultivation technique he should teach her.
Perhaps dual cultivation would be best.
It would increase her cultivation speed considerably.
Then he realized he had just been rejected.
Instantly, embarrassment and anger flooded his face.
“Why?”
“You don’t believe me?”
An Jin spread her hands.
“If that’s what you want to think, I can’t stop you.”
All she wanted was to quietly wait for the plot where the Demon Lord would kidnap her.
Compared to some dramatic story about a worthless cultivator rising to fame and shaking the Nine Provinces, she would rather complete her mission as soon as possible and return to her family.
Jia Huo was furious.
She looked so gentle, obedient, and perfectly suited to his tastes.
He didn’t even mind raising her like a cherished pet and teaching her cultivation.
Yet somehow, those soft pink lips could produce words so infuriating.
The boy stared at her intensely.
A faint crimson glow began to emerge in his eyes.