“If he finds out I didn’t come, he’ll be angry again!”
Jiang Xuezhi was someone who disliked being bound by rules.
During her years studying at the Imperial Military Academy, she had eagerly looked forward to graduation precisely because there were too many regulations.
Once she stepped onto the battlefield, the saying “a general in the field is not bound by orders from the emperor” applied. In the military, she was the one in charge, and the rules were set by her. As long as she could win battles, the higher-ups had little to say, and she lived quite comfortably.
After transmigrating into the book, she had considered many ways to resolve her predicament, but she never once thought of pledging allegiance to a sect.
Even a place like the Tianyong Immortal Manor held no appeal for her.
She still preferred freedom and unrestrained living.
The only advantage cultivators had over her world was their long lifespans. But longevity wasn’t always a virtue. Take, for example, pledging allegiance to a sect: once you joined a certain sect, you were bound for life, unlike her school days, where there was a set number of years to endure before graduation.
A place like the Tianyong Immortal Manor sounded like it had countless rules. Once you entered, unless they expelled you, there was no way to leave voluntarily. Wouldn’t that mean…?
Wait.
Tianyong could kick her out.
If Yun Cangming used Jiang Xuezhi’s previous promise to force her to join, she couldn’t very well break her word.
She had to go, but if they decided they didn’t want her after she arrived, that wouldn’t be her fault, right?
Jiang Xuezhi’s thoughts took a sudden turn, and she saw a glimmer of hope.
She reached out and grabbed the golden talisman, calmly saying, “I’ll go right away.”
Jiang Xuezhi had changed her mind. She agreed.
The process went relatively smoothly, without any major setbacks, but Yun Cangming didn’t feel happy about it.
Even through the golden talisman, without even seeing the other person’s face, he could sense her true emotions from her silence and sudden change of heart.
She was unwilling.
When she was unwilling, there was always room for unexpected developments.
What did it matter if she agreed to come?
She might come, but what she did after arriving was another matter entirely.
Yun Cangming sat upright on his cloud platform, a fluffy ball sound asleep on his lap. He set down his brush and ink, reading a book while unconsciously stroking the little creature’s fur with his fingers. The gentle motion was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
No matter what she planned to do, she was coming.
Once she truly arrived, whether she stayed or left would no longer be up to her.
Yun Cangming calmly turned a page of his book.
On the morning of the seventh day of the seventh month, Tianyong opened its gates on schedule.
The boundary gate of the Central Heaven Realm was temporarily opened to all cultivators, allowing them to send their relatives and friends into Tianyong.
Ling Zhao and Lin Wanwan were among them.
Ling Zhao was accompanied by his strategist and a large entourage. Although flying artifacts couldn’t be used, the young city lord didn’t need to travel on foot. He sat upright in a rattan chair, carried in shifts by his attendants, moving at an astonishing speed that surpassed most cultivators.
Nearly everyone noticed Ling Zhao’s grand display. Among them were members of major sects and prominent families, all traveling on foot. Only Ling Zhao stood out, inevitably drawing widespread resentment.
“Perhaps this journey to the mountain gate is also a test, to see if we abide by Tianyong’s rules and avoid taking shortcuts.”
Penglai Continent, one of the Three Upper Continents, served as the stronghold of the Murong family, renowned masters of artifact forging. This year, two members of the Murong family had obtained the Golden Token, a pair of twenty-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, both exceptionally handsome and arrogant, with an air of superiority.
The speaker was Murong Yan, the young lady of the Murong family. Walking side by side with her brother, she remarked disdainfully, “An upstart from the Lower Three Continents actually managed to get the Golden Token from Tian Yong. The thought of becoming a fellow disciple with someone like that in the future makes me uncomfortable.”
Her brother, Murong Xi, walking beside her, replied calmly, “There’s no need to trouble yourself over such matters. The Golden Token is merely a stepping stone to enter Tian Yong. Whether one can pass the entrance exam and actually step through its gates is an entirely different matter.”
Murong Yan laughed lightly. “You’re right, brother. That person can’t even be bothered to walk on their own. Someone so unwilling to endure hardship and follow the rules will likely be rejected by Tian Yong right at the gates!”
Murong Xi smiled faintly but did not respond further. Instead, he turned his gaze to survey the others around them, recognizing many familiar faces.
To those of comparable status, he offered polite nods in return. For those from significantly lower backgrounds, he merely cast a brief glance, neither engaging nor showing outright contempt, maintaining a reasonably respectful demeanor.
Although they might not end up as fellow disciples, anyone who had obtained the Golden Token surely possessed some capability and deserved a certain degree of respect.
Lin Wanwan met Murong Xi’s gaze and felt his assessing look, as if weighing her worth before giving a slight nod.
Feeling the presence of her master and Wu Shuang behind her, Lin Wanwan pressed her lips tightly together.
Lin Wanwan’s background was far from humble. She hailed from the Lin family of Lingxu Continent, a prominent clan of the current era.
What set her apart from other young nobles, however, was her awkward position within the family.
After her mother passed away, her father remarried and started a new family with his new wife and children, leaving little room for her in his life.
Her stepmother never mistreated her outright, the Lin family was wealthy enough to provide for her needs.
But as she was not the stepmother’s own child and had lost her mother, she often found herself on the outside looking in, watching her father’s new family enjoy their warmth and happiness, unable to join in, which left her feeling deeply lonely.
Later, she joined the Xuantian Sect, which was also located in Penglai. The journey between Penglai and Lingxu was long and arduous, so she rarely returned home.
The one time she did go back, she ended up in a fierce argument with her stepmother for repurposing the garden her birth mother had cherished.
After that incident, her father forbade her from returning.
Today, the Lin family had also sent someone to take the exam, her half-sister, Lin Nuannuan.
Her father had named her Wanwan, meaning “late,” as if her arrival had been long overdue for both her mother and him.
She never imagined that this notion of “lateness” would follow her throughout her life, clinging to her even now, impossible to shake off.
It seemed she was always a step behind in everything, perpetually trapped by this idea of being “late.”
Her sister, on the other hand, was named Nuannuan, evoking warmth and joy, a clear reflection of the hopes and affection their parents had for her.
From a distance, Lin Wanwan spotted the Lin family entourage and saw her father and stepmother standing beside Lin Nuannuan. Her heart tightened with bitterness.
Though she was not alone, she could never compare to her sister.
Behind her, Xie Wang and Wu Shuang watched her intently, making her uneasy and uncertain about whether she would successfully enter the sect today.
Xie Wang had remained silent since their meeting, leaving Wu Shuang to speak for him, explaining that they were there to escort her to the entrance, ensuring she wouldn’t appear unaccompanied and lose face.
The intention was good, but was that really all there was to it?
Would the master truly be willing to let go?
Would the jealousy in Wushuang’s eyes really lead to no action?
Lin Wanwan’s expression was heavy, and her footsteps felt equally weighted.
She guessed she was probably the last one to arrive at the mountain gate. By the time she got there, no one was behind her, and Ling Zhao, who had arrived earliest, was already asleep under the shade of a tree.
Lin Wanwan calculated the time, thankfully, she had made it just before the mountain gate closed, with only a minute to spare.
In truth, the place they had gathered was merely the outer gate of Tianyong Mountain. The real Tianyong Mountain could only be entered after one officially became a disciple of Tianyong.
Tianyong always maintained its aura of mystery, evoking endless curiosity and longing in people’s hearts.
Lin Wanwan glanced back. The others were also looking in her direction, waiting for the formation’s light to shut off.
Time was almost up. Everyone had arrived, and the formation’s light was about to close. Once it did, the official examination would begin.
After years of anticipation, this day had finally arrived. Her current competitors were all extraordinary in status, with the lowest cultivation level being Foundation Establishment, the minimum requirement to enter Tianyong. What kind of future they could carve for themselves from here on out depended entirely on their own efforts.
Those who had come to see them off began saying their goodbyes one after another. The head of the Lin family noticed Lin Wanwan but, preoccupied with giving his beloved daughter a few more words of advice, had no time to bid farewell to her.
In his eyes, only Lin Nuannuan was his daughter. He had long forgotten Lin Wanwan completely.
Xie Wang noticed the disappointment in Lin Wanwan’s eyes and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
He sighed quietly, his heart softening in the end.
“Focus on your exam,” he said softly. “The matter with the sect was my insistence. Now that you’ve safely entered Tianyong, I will handle the rest myself. You need not concern yourself with it anymore.”
Lin Wanwan looked at Xie Wang in astonishment. The surprise and excitement in her eyes stirred complex emotions within him.
“I’ve watched you grow up, after all. Naturally, I want what’s best for you, even if it means we must part ways as master and disciple.”
He took out a golden token from his sleeve, intending to give it to her.
They were out of time. The formation’s light was about to close, and outsiders like them had to leave immediately.
Wushuang stared at the golden token, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled.
Something she had dreamed of possessing was now effortlessly given to Lin Wanwan. Why? How could this be?
“Master, I don’t need it.”
Wushuang froze, unable to believe what she had just heard. She stared wide-eyed as Lin Wanwan pushed the golden token away.
“I have my own.”
Lin Wanwan produced her own golden token, which clearly bore her name. It had been issued to her individually, not to any sect.
Xie Wang was stunned, clearly learning of this for the first time. He didn’t know whether to be angry that his beloved disciple had kept such an important matter from him or to feel proud that she was exceptional enough to receive a golden token directly from Tianyong.
His expression shifted unpredictably, a tumult of emotions swirling inside him.
Before he could decide how to respond, the tolling bell from Tianyong urged him to leave without further delay.
“Master, don’t worry. If I succeed in entering Tianyong Immortal Manor, I will never forget the teachings of the Xuantian Sect and your guidance.”
To ensure her smooth entry, Lin Wanwan quickly promised, “As soon as I get the chance, I will return to see you.”
It was hard to say whether Xie Wang believed her words or not.
He stood there, unmoving, long after everyone else had left.
The urgent bell of Tianyong rang once more, compelling him to quicken his pace. His gaze toward Lin Wanwan was inscrutable, laden with unspoken thoughts.
Lin Wanwan remained silent, but Wu Shuang beside Xie Wang grew visibly agitated.
She knew her opportunity had arrived.
This was her final chance.
“Master, why not entrust the golden token to me? I will ensure I keep a close watch on our junior sister!” Wu Shuang whispered urgently into Xie Wang’s ear. “I won’t allow anyone to approach her, nor will I let her form any deep connections with others in Tian Yong. I won’t let her escape.”
Xie Wang turned his eyes to her. Wu Shuang was running out of time, almost desperate enough to snatch the golden token from his grasp.
Half of Xie Wang’s figure had already stepped beyond the array’s light, while Wu Shuang remained stuck within it. The array could not close, and the impatience of others grew palpable. Wu Shuang’s anxiety intensified.
Her hand seized the golden token, and she gritted her teeth, attempting to wrest it away. But Xie Wang abruptly released his grip.
Wu Shuang stumbled and fell to the ground, clutching the token as she looked up at Xie Wang, meeting the warning in his eyes.
He had no definite plans for Lin Wanwan, but for Wu Shuang, he did.
Like Jiang Xuezhi before her, Wu Shuang was under the control of his drugs.
He didn’t even need to speak; Wu Shuang knew what she had to promise.
“Master, rest assured,” Wu Shuang knelt on the ground. “This disciple will fulfill her mission without fail.”
Standing outside the array’s light, Xie Wang observed Wu Shuang’s humble posture, a mocking smile curling at the corner of his lips.
What did it matter if she obtained the golden token?
With her character and aptitude, could she truly be accepted into Tianyong?
For that to happen, Tianyong would have to be blind.
As the array’s light gradually faded, Xie Wang coldly retreated a few steps.
Everyone waited for the examination to begin, for the outer mountain gate to seal completely.
But just before the gate closed entirely, an unexpected turn of events unfolded.
“Who goes there?!”
A sinister wind swept through, rustling countless trees at the foot of the outer mountain gate.
Ling Zhao, dozing in a rattan chair beneath a tree, was jolted awake. Frowning, he looked toward the source of the wind and saw a dark figure darting through the array’s light in the final moments before it closed.
That was…
“Jiang Xuezhi?! How can it be her?!”
Jiang Xuezhi.
The mere mention of her name stirred Ling Zhao into excitement.
He leaped from his rattan chair and dashed toward the outer mountain gate. The wind lifted his gold-woven blue robes and high ponytail, his exhilaration and eagerness evident to all.
The twin siblings of the Murong family watched coldly as he rushed past, observing him flamboyantly asking everyone he met, “Jiang Xuezhi? Where is Jiang Xuezhi?”
Jiang Xuezhi. Everyone knew who she was. In recent times, her name had become notorious in the cultivation world, her “remarkable deeds” known far and wide.
How could Tianyong possibly issue a golden token to someone like her?
It was absurd.
Surely, someone had shouted her name as a prank.
No one believed Jiang Xuezhi had the qualifications to enter Tianyong. They refused to accept that such a person could stand among them as a candidate.
Yet, it had truly happened.
“Are you looking for me?”
Before Ling Zhao could get a response from anyone he questioned, a leisurely voice sounded behind him.
The voice was cheerful and unhurried, tinged with a unique huskiness, all too familiar.
Ling Zhao spun around and immediately spotted Jiang Xuezhi perched on a tree.
Dressed in red robes and a golden crown, her black hair flowing in the wind, she casually twirled a branch in her hand, sweeping it over the heads of the crowd.
The gesture was as if she had struck them with a sword, wishing them all dead right there.
The faces of the onlookers turned pale.
“How dare you trespass into the gates of Tianyong?!”
Wushuang snapped back from Xie Wang’s despairing gaze and immediately turned her aggression toward Jiang Xuezhi.
“Jiang Xuezhi, you traitor who murdered your fellow disciples, how dare you show up at Tianyong’s gates? Do you even know what this place is?” She let out a cold laugh, her expression one of someone anticipating a spectacle. “You audacious criminal, let’s see who can protect you today!”
“Today, alongside Tianyong, I will cleanse the Xuantian Sect of its disgrace.”
As the mountain gates closed and Tianyong disciples began to appear one after another, their unique uniforms a pleasing sight, Wushuang felt her confidence swell.
She was practically a Tianyong disciple herself now. No matter how much trouble Jiang Xuezhi stirred up, daring to trespass into Tianyong meant she was doomed today.
Everyone shared her sentiment.
Jiang Xuezhi was finished.
She might have acted lawlessly elsewhere, but to cause trouble in Tianyong Immortal Manor’s territory? She must have lost her mind.
They didn’t even need to lift a finger, the Tianyong disciples would soon execute her for the grave crimes of disrupting the immortal examination and trespassing.
The crowd waited with contemptuous arrogance for Jiang Xuezhi’s death, but Ling Zhao was the sole exception.
He rushed anxiously to the base of the tree, frowning up at her. “Come down quickly! You need to hide!”
He didn’t ask why Jiang Xuezhi was here or how she could be so bold. There was no time for that now, he could only think of a way to get her to safety.
He didn’t care that so many had already seen her; he couldn’t think of any other solution.
Actually, aside from him, there was one other person worried about her.
Lin Wanwan bit her lip lightly, clutching the golden token in her hand, equally puzzled as to why Jiang Xuezhi would willingly walk into such a predicament.
Even if she had the protection of a Tianyong elder, trespassing and disrupting the immortal examination were serious offenses. The people of Tianyong valued rules above all, they would never let her off.
Unless…
Unless…
“What’s there to panic about?”
Jiang Xuezhi’s gaze swept over the crowd before she leisurely jumped down from the tree.
Dusting off her travel-worn red robes, she said nonchalantly, “I can’t hide. If I do, and that person finds out I didn’t come, wouldn’t they get angry again?”
“…?” Ling Zhao was completely stunned by her words.
Everyone who heard her was equally dumbfounded.
What did that mean?
Who would know she hadn’t come? Who sent her here? Why did it sound like she was forced to come?
Who could possibly force her to come here? Who would dare?
No one believed her, thinking she was just bluffing and talking nonsense.
Even the Murong twins and Miss Lin Nuannuan couldn’t help but show expressions of disdain.
Just then, the Tianyong disciples made their official appearance. In charge of this immortal examination was Tantai Yue, the master of Tianyong’s Transmission Hall. As soon as she appeared, she shook a bell in her hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
No one dared disobey her. The crowd fell silent, both hoping for the immortal examination to begin and anticipating Jiang Xuezhi’s immediate punishment.
There was no escaping Hall Master Tantai.
No one doubted that.
Ling Zhao tried to use his own body to shield Jiang Xuezhi, but it was hardly effective.
She was almost taller than him.
Ling Zhao’s expression shifted as he caught Tantai Yue’s gaze directed their way. A sense of dread washed over him.
Just as he was about to grab Jiang Xuezhi and run, he suddenly realized something was off.
Instead of showing displeasure and ordering Jiang Xuezhi’s arrest upon spotting her, Tantai Yue actually looked… satisfied.
Wait…
Satisfied???