“Disciple obeys.”
As long as a sect has one homosexual member, the entire sect gets labeled as homosexual.
This is reality, this is human nature.
Once such a rebellious matter spreads, the Tianxiang Sect’s thousand-year reputation—let alone being completely destroyed—losing even half of it is absolutely possible.
“Also, don’t have any strange thoughts about your senior sister, understand?”
“Disciple understands.”
“Hmph, you little girl, I know you too well. You promise today, and tomorrow you’ll forget everything.”
Shen Qingqing’s tone returned to what it had been before, and Chen Xiaoyan felt a wave of relief wash over her, starting to act cheeky again.
“Senior Sister Shen, disciple promises to keep it in mind.”
“I don’t care. If there’s any gossip outside, you’ll answer to me.”
“Alright then.”
Chen Xiaoyan was utterly disappointed.
Now the beautiful senior sister’s plan to hook her up had failed.
“What’s wrong? Disappointed?”
Shen Qingqing crossed her arms, eyes narrowed, coldly looking at her.
Chen Xiaoyan shook her head wildly.
“No, absolutely not.”
“Good, come here,” Shen Qingqing beckoned.
“What is it, Senior Sister Shen?”
Chen Xiaoyan obediently walked over.
Shen Qingqing opened her right hand, and suddenly a white jade hairpin appeared in her palm.
“This is something your sister had a craftsman forge back then—a defensive magical tool. The jade hairpin contains a complete defensive formation. It automatically absorbs spiritual energy under normal circumstances, can block one fatal attack, and also increases your speed. Remember, once its effect is lost, it needs a day to recharge with spiritual energy before it works again.”
Chen Xiaoyan’s eyes went wide as she stared excitedly at the white jade hairpin in her hand.
A life-saving artifact?
No way.
And this is really something she could have for free?
Seeing the girl’s incredibly hopeful expression, Shen Qingqing also felt troubled.
Because there was nowhere to put the white jade hairpin.
Chen Xiaoyan didn’t style her hair at all, much less put it up—just like most players, she let her hair fall freely over her shoulders.
Without an updo, there was no place to stick the hairpin.
“You little girl, at least you’re a girl—why don’t you take care of yourself a bit?”
Chen Xiaoyan lowered her head in embarrassment.
It wasn’t just her; most players were like this.
She glanced at Shen Qingqing’s hairstyle—it was the kind of fairy-like style too, with no place to put the hairpin.
No wonder it was given to her—there was nowhere to put it.
Shen Qingqing had tried.
The Tianxiang Sect’s wrapped-chest skirts looked terrible with an updo; basically, all disciples had fairy-like hairdos.
Paired with the exquisite wrapped-chest skirts, each looked like a fairy descending to earth.
This was the main reason outsiders called Tianxiang disciples “fairies.”
If you made them do an updo and go out to try?
Instantly tacky.
Helpless, Shen Qingqing took Chen Xiaoyan into the back courtyard’s inner room—the boudoir.
By the dressing table.
She helped her style a fairy-like hairdo.
The dressing table had only a bronze mirror and two jade combs—no rouge or anything.
Those were things for mortals to use.
Cultivators didn’t need such vulgar items; by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and transforming their bodies, impurities had long been expelled.
Their skin was as crystal-clear as jade, as pure as snow.
Still unable to wear the white jade hairpin, Shen Qingqing switched to a silk ribbon, tying it at the tip of her hair.
“The jade hairpin, sister will take back. This silk ribbon is a sealing magical tool. The usage is simple: in danger, tear off the ribbon, infuse it with spiritual energy, and throw it at the enemy.”
Chen Xiaoyan nodded repeatedly.
“All done. How’s sister’s handiwork?”
The bronze mirror’s reflection was poor, only giving a vague idea.
Even so, Chen Xiaoyan could still see her own appearance.
The bright radiance of before was gone.
With the new hairstyle, her image had changed completely.
Now she looked two parts alluring, eight parts ethereal, with rosy jade lips—a little demoness freshly ranked in the immortal class.
“Senior Sister Shen, your skills are amazing.”
Whether genuine or flattery, praise was always pleasing.
“Fufeng usually has me help her style her hair, so my skills aren’t bad.”
“Mm, Senior Sister Shen is really impressive.”
“You little girl,” Shen Qingqing tapped her head in dissatisfaction.
“Not a single sincere word.”
Chen Xiaoyan held her head, pouting with a face full of grievance.
“Senior Sister Shen, I’m telling the truth! I’m just naturally talented at this.”
“So, you mean sister misunderstood you?”
Shen Qingqing watched her like she was enjoying a show, smiling.
“Or… or it was,” Chen Xiaoyan’s voice trailed off until it was no longer audible.
“You even got all upset? Nothing to it, go back and cultivate.”
Saying that, Shen Qingqing sat down on the straw cushion on the bed, ready to meditate.
“Senior Sister Shen.”
Chen Xiaoyan got up and hurried over to her bedside.
“What is it?” Shen Qingqing didn’t open her eyes, continuing to meditate.
“Is the sect’s grand competition coming soon?”
Shen Qingqing nodded.
“Yes, in just a few days. Are you ready?”
“No.”
“Hm?” Shen Qingqing opened her eyes and glared at her angrily.
“Senior Sister Shen~ Disciple doesn’t even know what the grand competition tests. How am I supposed to prepare, right?”
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingqing’s expression softened a bit.
She closed her eyes again, lips parted slightly, and spoke.
“The grand competition of our sect is quite simple. At that time, the sect will send out the puppets from the Demon Suppressing Tower. Each new disciple will be matched with a puppet for one-on-one combat. Whoever’s puppet dies first loses.”
“New disciples? Don’t senior sisters participate?”
Shen Qingqing shook her head.
“As long as senior sisters don’t participate, the grand competition is a piece of cake for disciples,” Chen Xiaoyan said confidently.
“Is it something to be proud of, beating those new disciples with your special skills?”
“Uh…” Chen Xiaoyan deflated.
Indeed, with her recovery divine skill, competing with other players was just crushing them—it was bullying.
“Soon, it will be time for the ten-year once Endless Demon Realm Trial. The brightest stars from all sects must participate. You can team up with friends to face the trial together.”
Endless Demon Realm Trial?
Could it be a massive dungeon event?
That meant the rewards must be rich.
She was really looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, she still couldn’t participate.
Seeing Chen Xiaoyan showing no fear but excitement instead, Shen Qingqing shook her head helplessly.
“Xiaoyan, don’t think the Endless Demon Realm Trial is easy. Back when your sister, Fufeng sister, Qifang senior sister, and other juniors participated, only the three of us survived. The others all perished.”
Chen Xiaoyan looked surprised but didn’t show any worry.
She thought, at worst, she’d just drop a level and try again.
Nothing to fear.
NPCs couldn’t be revived after death, but players could.
That was the difference.
“The Endless Demon Realm is an existence the world cannot tolerate.”
At the mention of the Endless Demon Realm, Shen Qingqing’s eyes filled with fear.
Memories also surfaced.
Back then, she was a proud, self-righteous genius child.
Until she went to the Endless Demon Realm Trial and understood what death’s terror meant—both spiritual and physical torment.
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