Three days later, at dawn, during morning class.
Lin Wu yawned, joining cultivation for the first time in his Blue Lotus Dao robe, just like the other newcomers.
The Divine Maiden Peak’s dojo was packed, a dense mass of people, most of them ordinary cultivators hoping to defy fate.
After all, nothing suits weaving a scam better than the dream of immortality, tempting mortals to donate blood for free.
Back then, someone else had also been tricked.
With the Bing Shan Fairy as its figurehead, the Snow Lotus Sect drew in a steady stream of fresh talent every year.
The Spirit Root Test was just a formality; in truth, it was all about screening for the best blood donors.
On average, a thousand Blue Lotuses would yield one White Lotus direct disciple, out of a hundred White Lotuses came a Red Lotus Elder, and ten Red Lotus Elders would foster an Ice Lotus Sect Master.
Yet even the Ice Lotus Sect Master was nothing more than another puppet propped up by the Golden Lotus Patriarch.
The founder fairy behind Mu Bingxin was the true manipulator, well-versed in the art of exploitation.
Even the Kunlun Snow Lotus Sect, which Master dismissed as second-rate, was this ruthless—let alone the Immortal Fairies of the other Ling Tian Cave Abodes, whose means were surely even subtler.
Inside the dojo, the male-to-female ratio was 1:9, all because male cultivators didn’t taste as good.
Female cultivators’ blood was sweet and mellow, and the effects were far better.
So later, Lin Wu was extremely picky with his “ingredients,” using virgin essence to forge a Blood Enchantment Gold Core, deliberately setting traps for the Snow Lotus Sect’s fairies.
One sip, and they were hooked—until they became drunken blood slaves!
Thanks to his master’s One Tail Disguise Divine Power, the youth hid his true cultivation, blending in as a low-level Qi Refining disciple.
The old lady boasted that only a handful in the world could see through a fox’s deception.
Atop the peak, a Red Lotus Elder in crimson recited the sect rules sternly from the lotus dais, her alluring gaze restless and wandering.
Lin Wu let the empty precepts go in one ear and out the other.
It wasn’t as if he hadn’t stumbled in this damned place before.
He could already feel vague, covetous gazes—he’d caught the attention of a certain voluptuous Red Lotus Elder.
After Elder of Autumn Tea Hall finished her ominous warnings, she fluttered away with her red sleeves, leaving the task of teaching to the direct disciples.
Today’s instructor on duty was Yun Mengyao from the Hall of Pure Cold.
Senior Sister Yun came from a humble background, but her straightforward nature made her popular with the teachers and deeply admired by her peers.
The Snow Lotus Fairy had dressed up carefully today—her pink skirt looked innocent and charming, and her long, slender legs were wrapped in white ice-silk stockings, though her gait was a bit awkward.
Damn scoundrel!
“Bing Ji Technique… it’s all about cooperation… melting frost and snow, and the jade bones form naturally…”
Yun Mengyao, blushing under an intensely predatory stare, softly explained the opening lines of the Xue Yan Sutra, unable to maintain her usual aloofness.
To cultivate icy skin and jade bones, one must first refine their cold bloodline and nurture a Blue Lotus foundation.
That’s why the first lesson for new disciples was “rowing in the same boat”—cultivation through mutual exchange, spun with plenty of persuasive words.
But today, as soon as class ended, a newcomer stopped Yun Mengyao—it was the black-haired youth who’d shared a magical treasure with her that day.
“Senior Sister Yun, I didn’t quite understand some parts of the scripture just now. Could I trouble you to explain them to me in private?”
The other Blue Lotus disciples sucked in a breath, thinking, This guy’s got guts.
Didn’t he know how many have been snubbed by Senior Sister Yun already?
Yet, the always-proud White Lotus of the Hall of Pure Cold actually nodded shyly and agreed!
Yun Mengyao clutched her skirt, biting her lip, muttering, “Scoundrel, what tricks are you up to now? If you want to bully me at home, that’s one thing, but if you dare do it outside, your rations are going to double.”
This little Snow Lotus Fairy was getting sassier by the day, even daring to bargain.
Lin Wu chuckled, licking his lips.
“Don’t be scared, Senior Sister. I just want to know what it feels like to cling on shamelessly—slurp.”
Yun Mengyao shivered all over, goosebumps everywhere.
“Wha—what are you trying to do? A gentleman uses his hands, not his mouth!”
“I’m no gentleman.”
From then on, Lin Wu really did circle around Yun Mengyao every day, showering her with attention—neither studying sect techniques nor practicing any ice arts.
“Thirsty, Senior Sister? I have a bottle of Summon Spirit Water from Penglai Immortal Island.”
“Hungry, Senior Sister? Try the rice wine mung bean cakes I made for you myself.”
After days of this, Yun Mengyao was nearly driven mad.
“Can’t you act normal? You’re scaring me.”
She’d been courted by boys before, but never one this shameless.
He’d stolen her body the moment they met, tossed her around like a cold dish at night, and worshipped her like a goddess by day.
How could anyone treat people like this!
That night, the two arranged to meet secretly at the cave abode.
Junior Brother took on the job of feeding Senior Sister.
Other Blue Lotus disciples looked on with envy—many still hadn’t decided which hall to belong to.
In the Snow Lotus Sect, being chosen by Senior Sister Yun as blood nourishment was considered an honor.
But in reality, the little Snow Lotus Fairy was curled up, her ice-silk legs folded as she leaned on her master’s lap, massaging his back and legs in exchange for today’s rations.
These days, Divine Maiden Peak’s weather was fickle; wave after wave of cold snapped at the halls, forcing disciples to help each other often—it was as if the Sect Master’s mood was just as turbulent.
Lin Wu was thoroughly pleased; clearly, Mu Bingxin was no longer as calm as she’d been days before.
Ever since the hickey showed up on his neck, someone’s heart had gone astray.
Yun Mengyao didn’t quite understand, only vaguely sensing that Master seemed provoked by this scoundrel.
Just because a man who looked so much like that person had approached me in the same way and clung to me so relentlessly?
Yun Mengyao pondered for a while and came to an uncertain conclusion.
Could it be, Master used to chase after that man like a lovesick fool, wishing she could cling to his artery…
At moments like these, the Snow Meiniang dumpling, who loved painting Chun Gong Paintings, would pop out, proudly schooling the two with technical terms.
“White Moonlight feels so profound because it’s given a perfect halo, endlessly beautified in memory, deeply filtered—it’s the spiritual sustenance of a fairy.”
“…”
Lin Wu and Yun Mengyao stared blankly, as if listening to nonsense.
Sometimes he really thought his foxy master wasn’t of this world—the depth of her theories was unheard of.
Anyway, just learn it and move on.
“Now, with your current face back in the Kunlun Ruins, joining the Snow Lotus Sect in the same way, but this time chasing after Mengyao instead, all it does is reopen her wounds, making her remember how you once scorned her—guaranteed to unsettle some hearts and provoke wild thoughts.”
The fox’s tail curled with wicked amusement.
Sure enough, a few days later the lovesick fool was caught by a Red Lotus Elder and hauled into the Main Peak Hall atop Divine Maiden Peak.
“Do you admit your guilt!”
A cold decree swept down from the peak, a chilling pressure enveloped him—Mu Bingxin had finally lost patience.
Lin Wu dropped to one knee, trembling in fear.
“Disciple Lin Wu doesn’t know what sect rule he’s violated. Please, Sect Master, instruct me!”
The doors of the cold palace slammed shut, sealing out all light. Yet a bone-chilling cold continued to pour from the darkness.
“Since entering, you’ve neglected your duties and have grown too close with the White Lotus direct disciples. Who are you really? Why did you sneak into the Snow Lotus Sect? Speak the truth!”
Her trembling voice carried magic, probing his spirit and forcing the low-level cultivator to confess.
Lin Wu suppressed a smile, feeling a stream of warmth from the fox tail hidden in his clothes, dispelling the cold, and replied honestly, “Sect Master, every word I spoke that day was true. I entered Kunlun’s righteous path sincerely, hiding nothing.”
“Then you should cultivate well, clearing your mind of desire, putting aside personal feelings!”
The gentle female voice, now cold and bitter, was nothing like before.
“Why do you say this, Sect Master? Senior Sister Yun is both my elder and my benefactor. I am willing to refine my blood and form a core for her sake. This is the sect’s tradition of mutual support, is it not?”
“You must understand, it was I who saved your life, not Yun Mengyao!”
The ethereal voice in the dark paused, realizing she’d said too much.
To think—the mighty Snow Lotus Sect Master, quarreling with a disciple. How absurd!
Lin Wu bowed even lower, his face blank and innocent, continually baiting her.
“Of course, Sect Master, your kindness is as weighty as a mountain. It’s just that my cultivation is low—there’s nothing much I can do to help you, Sect Master?”
There is—surely, there must be something the fairy wants.
Just say it, don’t pretend.
This time, the master of the cold palace was silent for a long while.
“So you’re saying, there’s nothing personal between you two?”
Nothing—only desire.
Even though it was wrong to fool an idiot.
“Very well. From today, you are a White Lotus direct disciple, equal to Mengyao. You no longer need to curry favor with anyone—focus solely on the Dao.”
In less than half a month, a Blue Lotus disciple had been promoted to White Lotus—sure to shock disciples of all ten halls.
Lin Wu was overwhelmed by the honor and delight.
“Many thanks… Sect Master?”
“You are gifted—a promising seedling for cultivating icy skin and jade bones. There just so happens to be a great opportunity fit for you. Will you help me cultivate?”
Lin Wu tried hard not to grin as the inner palace suddenly filled with spiritual light. A graceful figure drifted out.
The palace fairy hovered barefoot in the air. Her icy skin and jade bones were peerlessly beautiful; her tall frame was wrapped only in a thin layer of ice-blue gauze, her legs gleaming like jade, her curves sculpted as if from crystal.
Lin Wu stared for a moment, dazed.
So the rumors were true. This wretched woman’s cultivation was now terrifying—she was nothing like the innocent little White Lotus from the past.
The tender girl from his memory gradually merged with the Bing Shan Fairy before him.
Mu Bingxin raised her chin, looking down at the kneeling ant at her feet. Though her face was expressionless, her clear, icy eyes held both mockery and loneliness.
Yes—what exactly are you afraid of?
That person was long dead, bled dry and fallen into the icy abyss, never to return.
And the youth before her didn’t know her at all.
A coincidence…?
Mu Bingxin’s feelings were too complicated to describe. Now that she’d confirmed Lin Wu was nothing special, she felt even more disappointed and somewhat contemptuous.
Cang Wu’s unyielding pride had led him to die rather than bow to her, striving to walk the Dao together.
Otherwise, how could it have ended so tragically?
Yet the disciple before her was just a glib brat, hoping to use Mengyao to climb up—no different from the rest of the mortal world.
The only thing they had in common was appearance and voice.
“Well? Your answer?”
“Disciple accepts—even unto death!”
Lin Wu bowed in ecstasy, but was immediately swept out of the hall by a cold wind.
“Hmm, you may leave. Winter Spirit Elder will arrange new quarters for you. The spiritual energy around Divine Maiden Peak’s main summit is even richer.”
The meaning was clear—he was no longer allowed close contact with Yun Mengyao.
I am not happy.