The lake wind, carrying a slight chill and the scent of water, brushed past the red-haired girl’s high ponytail.
A few strands clung to her smooth forehead, adding a touch of softness to her otherwise heroic aura.
She looked at the junior disciple before her with interest—Ye Chen.
This was the second most mentioned name she’d heard recently.
He was quiet.
From beginning to end, his gaze remained calm and undisturbed.
“I’m Yan Hongxiu, Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment, Inner Court Disciple.”
She raised two slender fingers playfully in front of Ye Chen, her lips curling.
“You can call me Senior Sister Yan.”
This self-introduction had a friendly ease to it.
If it were any other new disciple, they’d probably be flustered by now.
Ye Chen smiled and nodded.
He continued,
“Senior Sister Yan, this Dao-Seeking Lake—what kind of trial is it, exactly?”
“Trial?”
She let out a light snort, clasped her hands behind her back, and leaned forward slightly, drawing closer.
A faint fragrance drifted to Ye Chen’s nose.
“This isn’t some gentle ‘trial’. It’s a Dragon Gate set up by the sect.”
She gestured toward the wide lake.
“The real secret lies at the Lake Core.”
She extended a long finger, pointing to the densest area of mist at the center of the lake.
“Step into that region, and you’ll be transported to a special Secret Realm. The spiritual energy there is chaotic and violent, accompanied by powerful soul pressure. How far you can walk inside proves how firm your foundation is—and how resolute your heart.”
She paused, a barely noticeable pride in her tone.
“This trial is prepared for Foundation Establishment and Golden Core disciples. As far as I know…”
She deliberately drew out the words, raising an index finger and waving it mysteriously before Ye Chen’s eyes, winking.
“Within the Golden Core realm, in nearly a thousand years, only our Zixiao Sword Sect’s Saintess has ever reached the deepest part of the Dao-Seeking Lake’s Secret Realm. She’s simply a role model for all cultivators!”
At this, her bright eyes seemed to shimmer with starlight, undisguised admiration and longing in her voice.
Saintess?
Ye Chen recalled hearing people discussing her in the Listening Wind Pavilion of Zixiao City.
Suppressing his thoughts, Ye Chen asked,“Are there any restrictions on entering the trial?”
Yan Hongxiu snapped out of her reverie about the Saintess.
She looked Ye Chen up and down, noting his Fourth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Restrictions? The sect elders said only disciples at the peak of Qi Refining can attempt to enter the lakeside area. Otherwise, the leaking spiritual pressure alone could damage your meridians.”
“Junior Brother, you’re only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, so don’t get any strange ideas.”
As if worried he wouldn’t believe her, she added,
“Don’t think about leaving your name on any Ranking List, only to lose your life. That’d be far too costly.”
“Ranking List?”
Ye Chen caught the term.
“Ah! That’s right, I almost forgot!”
Yan Hongxiu slapped her forehead, grabbed his sleeve, and led him toward a nearby pavilion.
“Come with me.”
Inside the pavilion stood a half-height stone tablet, smooth as a mirror.
Yan Hongxiu made a sword gesture with her fingers and tapped the stone lightly.
Buzz—
Ripples like water waves spread across the surface, and a light screen projected outward, floating before the two of them.
On the light screen, lines of ancient golden characters were arranged from top to bottom, exuding a faint sense of majesty.
After each name, cultivation and depth reached were recorded.
And at the top—two characters were written:
An Yao.
“See that?”
Yan Hongxiu pointed, her tone excited.
“That’s our Saintess— the Sect Master’s sole personal disciple. Look at the note: ‘Late-stage Golden Core, 9,900 zhang.’ Unprecedented!”
Ye Chen’s gaze paused on the top name.
Then he asked again,
“So, entering the lake directly means the trial begins?”
His calmness made the amusement in Yan Hongxiu’s eyes deepen.
She chuckled, folded her arms, and leaned against the pavilion pillar, watching him at ease.
“Junior Brother, want to try? Theoretically, yes—step into the invisible portal at the Lake Core, and the trial begins. But…”
She lengthened the last syllable, her eyes sly.
“Many people exhaust their spiritual power without even qualifying to reach the Lake Core.”
At her words, a fitting hint of fear appeared on Ye Chen’s face.
He cupped his hands and smiled.
“Haha, Senior Sister Yan is joking. I’m only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, so I wouldn’t dare. Thank you for explaining today, Senior Sister. When my cultivation improves, I’ll come back and try.”
His sensible retreat made Yan Hongxiu nod in satisfaction.
She pulled a simple white Transmitting Stone from her robe and handed it to Ye Chen.
“Take it.”
Before Ye Chen could react, she pressed a thread of crimson spiritual energy into the stone, leaving a unique mark.
“If there’s anything you don’t understand in the sect, or if someone bullies you, just activate this with your spiritual power.”
She withdrew her hand and winked playfully at Ye Chen.
“Senior Sister’s got your back.”
Before her words had fully faded, her figure turned into a faint red blur, vanishing down the forest path with a few light steps, leaving only a string of clear laughter lingering on the wind.
Ye Chen stood where he was, quietly holding the still-warm Transmitting Stone, until the laughter faded completely.
Silence returned.
Only the sound of the breeze across the lake remained.
He slowly raised his head, gazing again toward the depths of the Lake Core.
The humility and caution on his face moments ago vanished, scattered like dust on the wind.
The next instant.
His figure flickered, and like a shadow, he appeared soundlessly atop the lake.
His toe touched the water without causing the slightest ripple.
Not even a drop of moisture touched the hem of his plain robe.
Step by step, as if walking on solid ground, he moved toward the Lake Core.