Yun Miao was so delighted by the praise that the corners of her mouth nearly reached her ears, yet she still put on an air of composure.
“No, no, that won’t do. You already call me Master Yun, so if I treat you as an equal, wouldn’t I be at a loss?”
“How about this… If you really want to follow me, then I’ll be the boss, and you’ll be the little brother.”
Tan Xiaobai quickly cupped his fists in salute. “Alright, Boss!”
Yun Miao nodded calmly. “Mm, little brother.”
Tan Xiaobai: “Boss!”
Yun Miao: “Little brother.”
Tan Xiaobai: “Boss!”
Yun Miao: “Little brother.”
Huaxin and the others:
Tan Xiaobai then looked at Huaxin, Guan Dahai, and Gao Zhu, his eyes full of anticipation.
“The weather is great today, why don’t you all bow to the Boss along with me? In the future, when the Boss ascends to immortality, we can all live the good life and rise with her. What do you think?”
Shing!
Huaxin’s thumb pressed against the hilt at her waist, revealing a chilling sliver of the blade from its sheath.
The black-clad girl sneered, “I didn’t quite catch what you said just now. How about you repeat it?”
Tan Xiaobai immediately shrank back into his seat, curling into a ball. “I didn’t say anything.”
Gao Zhu, who had just been about to agree, silently sat back down as well.
Guan Dahai let out a laugh, but then became anxious again.
“I wonder what the Dengtianti and Wenxin Formation of Xuantian Sect are really like. I’ve read in storybooks that cultivation requires a Linggen. What if we don’t have one?”
Huaxin:
“That won’t happen. Do you remember that suspension bridge to Black Jiao Ridge? Granny Hua told me before that it’s actually a test. People without a Linggen wouldn’t be able to see that bridge for their whole lives, no matter how hard they tried.”
“If we could cross the bridge, it means we have Linggen. As for which type, we’ll have to wait and test with the Ling Stone.”
“It’s said the Dengtianti is an ancient supreme treasure left behind by Xuantian Sect. Its true purpose is unknown, but I only know it can test the Linggen aptitude of those who climb it.”
“The worse your aptitude, the more steps you have to climb.”
“Climbing itself isn’t hard. The real trouble is the Wenxin Formation set up on the Dengtianti. As you walk on it, illusions and mirages will constantly challenge your heart.”
“If you give up the trial under their temptation, then it’s all over.”
Tan Xiaobai: “Thinking about all this now is just adding to your worries and will only make the Wenxin Formation harder.”
“Better to give yourself some confidence and think about which Immortal Peak you want to join after entering Xuantian Sect.”
Yun Miao was puzzled: “What does it mean to join a Peak?”
As soon as the Boss spoke, Tan Xiaobai began to explain enthusiastically.
It’s said the Xuantian Sect is hidden deep within the endless Xuantian Mountain Range. Though it occupies a vast area with mountains stretching for miles, the main area consists of only the Nine Peaks.
***
At the very core is the Main Peak, where the Taishang Elder and the Sect Master reside.
The other eight Immortal Peaks are: Fu Peak, as the name suggests, those who join Fu Peak mainly practice the art of Talismans.
Qi Peak: focuses on artifact refinement.
Fa Peak: focuses on Spell Arts.
Ti Peak: focuses on body cultivation.
Shou Peak: focuses on beast taming.
Jian Peak: focuses on Sword Dao.
Dan Peak: focuses on alchemy.
Guan Dahai and Gao Zhu couldn’t help but show longing expressions as they listened.
Yun Miao instantly understood—these must be the “class” options available to players in the game.
She asked Tan Xiaobai, “So, have you decided which Immortal Peak you want to join?”
Tan Xiaobai sighed at her words. “My uncle and aunt hope I’ll join Jian Peak. But I’m actually more interested in Talismans.”
Yun Miao: “Is Jian Peak that great?”
Tan Xiaobai slumped onto the table.
“Sword cultivators are always among the top in combat strength in the cultivation world. The current Jian Peak master is none other than Che Ruojin, known as the Zizhu Sword Sovereign.”
“My uncle and aunt say I have a Variant Lightning Spiritual Root, which makes me very suitable for Sword Dao.”
“If I could become a disciple of the Zizhu Sword Sovereign, I’d definitely achieve something in Sword Dao.”
“But sword cultivators love fighting above their level, always chasing near-death breakthroughs. I really don’t like that.”
“I’d rather stand somewhere safe and throw a stack of talisman papers. I’ve tried it myself at home… I think I have some talent for Talismans.”
Yun Miao: “Why bother struggling? Just do what you like.”
Huaxin glanced at Tan Xiaobai.
“There are eight kinds of Linggen. Besides the Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—there are also three variant types: Ice, Lightning, and Wind.”
“If a person has only one Linggen, it’s called a Heavenly Spiritual Root; two are called Dual Spiritual Root, and three or more are called Mixed Spiritual Root.”
“Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivates fast and is highly sought after. Someone with a Metal Heavenly Spiritual Root alone would be called a genius and be heavily nurtured by an ordinary sect.”
“You, having the extremely rare Variant Lightning Spiritual Root and a Heavenly Spiritual Root, are truly gifted.”
“Your uncle and aunt are right—if you learn Sword Dao with such talent, your progress would be unmatched.”
Tan Xiaobai’s voice was muffled. “It’s not just that. I lost my parents when I was young, and my uncle and aunt raised me. They care so much about me… how could I go against their good intentions?”
Guan Dahai: “That’s true. Your uncle and aunt really do have your best interests at heart.”
Gao Zhu: “That does make things difficult.”
Yun Miao had also thought that this kind of disagreement about choosing a path was the hardest to resolve, but then she realized—wait, she was playing a game!
And not just any game—a cultivation game!
With a sudden epiphany, she slapped the table, her expression serious.
“Although the experience and advice of elders are valuable, cultivation doesn’t work that way. Tan Xiaobai, do you remember why you came here?”
Tan Xiaobai was puzzled: “Of course, to seek the Dao and cultivate.”
Yun Miao raised her voice: “Exactly. Remember, you’re here to cultivate. They say cultivation is about seizing the fortune of heaven and earth.”
“If you don’t have the courage to challenge fate and change the world, how can you dare to cultivate at all?!”
Tan Xiaobai was stunned. All this time… or rather, ever since he was born, everyone had told him to understand his uncle and aunt, to listen to his elders, to be filial and sensible.
Filial piety was one of the main themes of this world. In fact, it wasn’t just him; Huaxin and the others had grown up under this influence too, which was why they answered as they did earlier.
This was the first time someone had stepped out of this cycle and told them that some things simply couldn’t be calculated that way—at least, not when it came to cultivation.
They felt as if something deep inside them had been touched, and before they could think more about it, the green-robed girl continued.
“For cultivators, the Dao is something extremely important—something you must spend your whole life seeking and defend with your life.”
“If you can’t even follow your heart, if the path you walk isn’t chosen by yourself but is set by your elders, then what Dao are you cultivating? Sword Dao? No, no, no, that’s clearly Puppet Dao.”
“In that case, even if your talent is perfect for the sword, if your heart isn’t true, you’ll never achieve greatness in Sword Dao.”
“At best, you’ll be a master of sword techniques. Others might become the Zizhu Sword Sovereign, but you’ll just be the Puppet Sword Sovereign.”
The word “puppet” was harsh, but it made Tan Xiaobai tremble all over, as if something he could never understand before suddenly became clear.
He felt as if he’d entered a mysterious realm. All the noise faded away, leaving only the voice of the green-robed girl echoing in his mind.
Yun Miao: “Tan Xiaobai, although your uncle and aunt have walked ahead of you on the cultivation path, in the end, they haven’t achieved Immortal Ascension.”
“Without attaining the Dao, in some ways you’re still at the same starting line. How do you know they’re right? How can they be sure they’re right?”
“As the saying goes, it’s better to have no books than to believe everything in them; it’s better to forget all your elders’ words than to… cough, cough, than to just throw all your elders’ advice out the window.”
“Heaven and earth are vast, the Great Dao is elusive, and everyone’s Dao is unique. You can only follow your own heart and carve out your own path with your own two feet. There’s absolutely no shortcut.”
“If your elders truly want the best for you, then when they understand, they won’t blame you.”
Yun Miao, treating this as a game, said whatever she wanted from her heart.
As soon as she finished, before she could ask her new little brother how he felt, she saw Tan Xiaobai suddenly take a deep breath, close his eyes, and sit cross-legged on the cushion, his palms facing the sky.
In an instant, the air in the room began to swirl around him, gradually forming a howling vortex! As the vortex grew larger, arcs of electricity began to flicker and crackle around him!
Everyone was forced out of the room by the vortex, standing at the doorway, craning their necks to look inside.
Yun Miao was full of guilt. “What’s wrong with him? Did my words drive him into a qi deviation? Am I going to get kicked off the boat? What pose should I use to jump off so I die looking good?”
Huaxin: “Don’t talk nonsense. Tan Xiaobai looks like he’s having an epiphany. This should be a good thing.”
“That’s right, this is a huge blessing! Haha, wonderful, wonderful! In all the thousands of years since Xuantian Sect was founded, this is the first time someone has had an epiphany on the Xianzhou.”
“What a rare and excellent seedling!”
A loud, elderly laugh suddenly sounded in everyone’s ears.
Turning around, they saw that the limping old lady who had led them onto the boat was somehow standing right beside Yun Miao, her face full of joy as she patted Yun Miao’s shoulder.
“But the most wonderful thing is you. Just a few words, and you could inspire someone to an epiphany. Such heart, such wisdom—truly rare in this world!”
“And what a coincidence, this year I happen to be the one steering the Xianzhou, and you happened to board my boat. Our meeting here must be fate…”
The more Yun Miao listened, the more familiar it sounded. Suddenly, she was startled. “Granny, do you want to become sworn siblings with me too? Let’s be clear, I’m only taking the boss’s seat.”
Ge Yan, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, immediately understood Yun Miao’s meaning.
“…What I wanted to say is that after joining Xuantian Sect, you can not only join one of the Nine Peaks, but also take an Elder from the Disciplinary Hall or Steward Hall as your master.”
“As it happens, I am an Elder of the Steward Hall.”
“The Steward Hall manages all affairs of Xuantian Sect, overseeing all stores of Ling Shi, magical artifacts, and heavenly treasures. So we’re quite well-off.”
Ge Yan turned sideways to avoid Huaxin and the others’ gaze, quickly rubbing her fingers at Yun Miao as a hint that the Steward Hall was loaded, then immediately straightened her back and stood with her hands behind her.
“Ahem, and I haven’t taken a disciple yet—my knees are empty. After you pass the Dengtianti and Wenxin Formation, if you want a master, you can consider me.”
Huaxin and the others were stunned. Huh? You can do that?
Yun Miao pondered, “Then Elder, what can you teach me?”
Ge Yan: “I’m from Fa Peak and am skilled in Five Elements Spell Arts and Palm Technique. But the current Sect Master and all the other Peak Masters are my senior brothers and sisters.”
“If you’re not interested in Five Elements Spell Arts or Palm Technique, after you become my disciple, I can steal their secret techniques for you.”
Huaxin and the others were shocked. Huh? You can do that?!