When Yun Xiange saw Wen Jingshu successfully refine the pills, her heart was filled with intense jealousy.
Why was it that she was the one who had researched and developed this method, yet Wen Jingshu could succeed so effortlessly?
In the original novel, Wen Jingshu had never managed to refine pills even until the very end. Why did her arrival instead enable Wen Jingshu to succeed in alchemy?
Wen Jingshu had originally wanted to exchange some insights with Yun Xiange. However, when she looked up and saw the resentment in Yun Xiange's eyes, she swallowed her words and spoke.
“For Senior Sister to devise such a method proves you are indeed a genius. I would like to congratulate you in advance, Senior Sister, on making a great name for yourself!”
Wen Jingshu spoke with absolute sincerity. Although Yun Xiange's method could only refine low-grade pills, the vast majority of the cultivation world consisted of low-level cultivators. Once this method was popularized, it would surely earn her the gratitude of countless cultivators.
Yet, the more magnanimous Wen Jingshu acted, the more displeased Yun Xiange felt. She merely gave a cold response.
Unlike Yun Xiange's sour expression, Kong Zhengping looked at Wen Jingshu with a mixture of excitement and regret.
Why did she have to have a lightning spiritual root? If she had possessed literally any other spiritual root, she would have been able to practice alchemy!
With the talent Wen Jingshu had just displayed, if she could dedicate herself to alchemy, she would definitely become a Seventh-Grade Alchemist!
After exchanging some polite remarks with the two of them, Wen Jingshu left Pill Peak.
Looking at Wen Jingshu's departing figure, Kong Zhengping sighed with regret. “If she didn't have a lightning spiritual root, she would have made excellent material for an alchemy cultivator!”
Hearing this, Yun Xiange felt a sour taste in her mouth.
Why was everyone constantly praising Wen Jingshu?
Suppressing the jealousy in her heart, Yun Xiange muttered, “No one is perfect in this world.”
Agreeing with Yun Xiange's words, Kong Zhengping lamented a bit more before changing the subject.
Wen Jingshu had only been curious about Yun Xiange's alchemy technique. Out of respect for the original author's creation, she did not disclose the specific refining steps to Wen Shuyi, only briefly mentioning the matter to her.
Though Wen Shuyi was curious, it was merely curiosity. This method could only refine low-grade pills, so it held very little appeal for her.
After the sisters chatted about casual matters for a while, Wen Jingshu deactivated her transmission stone.
The Sect Tournament was scheduled to run for about another three months. Wen Jingshu did not enter secluded cultivation during this period. Instead, she practiced her swordplay in the mornings, visited Talisman Peak in the afternoons to study talismans, refined pills and drew talismans during the first half of the night, and practiced her lightning and wood-attribute cultivation techniques during the second half. She would only meditate and rest for a brief moment just before dawn.
The Hunyuan Bead remained fully focused on shedding its bones and transforming its immortal root. However, this was an incredibly massive undertaking, and its progress could only be described as painstakingly slow.
Seeing how hard her lady was pushing herself, Luo Yunting also began to work herself to the bone.
Originally, she had been quite depressed about her low spiritual root value, but now she was so caught up in the relentless grind that she had absolutely no time to think about anything else.
Yun Xiange had not been idle during this time either. While tinkering with her alchemy method, she also registered for the Sect Tournament.
She wanted to prove to everyone that Wen Jingshu was not the only proud prodigy of Hidden Star Peak!
Bai Han shared a similar ambition.
Looking at Wen Jingshu, who was commanding even more attention than in his past life, Bai Han could only swallow his bitterness in silence.
He only had his own loose tongue to blame for urging Wen Jingshu to take the Intelligence Awakening Pill back then.
Now, he could not catch up to Wen Jingshu's footsteps at all...
During the Sect Tournament, Wen Jingshu was busy beyond belief, though she occasionally heard interesting rumors from the competition.
For instance, in the personal disciple division, Bai Han had emerged as a dark horse, fighting to a standstill against Yun Xiange.
Among the chore disciples, Tang Shaorong had performed exceptionally well and had already caught the eye of a Nascent Soul True Lord in the sect, who wished to take him in as an inner sect disciple.
Turning a deaf ear to external matters, Wen Jingshu finally managed to achieve minor mastery in her wood-attribute cultivation technique right before the sect secret realm was set to open. The rest would have to be refined through actual practice.
Lin Yunan was already a Golden Core Stage cultivator, and Fu Sinian had not yet returned from his travels. Thus, only Wen Jingshu and Yun Xiange would be participating in this sect secret realm exploration.
Before the two of them entered the secret realm, Beili specifically summoned them to give a lecture.
“The secret realm is unlike the trial grounds. A single moment of carelessness can lead to severe injury. If you come across opportunities, it is best if you can obtain them, but do not force yourselves if you cannot. Nothing is more important than your own lives.”
As a former talisman cultivator, Wen Jingshu could deeply relate to this, but Yun Xiange was dismissive.
She had read so many cultivation novels. Which protagonist hadn't survived by the skin of their teeth? Which one hadn't obtained great opportunities after enduring life-and-death crises?
Besides, she had already taken Wen Jingshu's Sumeru Sword from the Sword Tomb. This was proof enough that Wen Jingshu's opportunities could be stolen!
If Wen Jingshu were to hear her thoughts, she would only find her incredibly naive.
The so-called protagonists were merely the survivors who ultimately succeeded in ascending to immortality.
In reality, the number of supporting characters who died was thousands or tens of thousands of times greater than the protagonists.
At the end of his lecture, Beili kept Yun Xiange behind. Looking at this disciple, who was also highly outstanding, he said with a slight headache.
“Xiange, I do not know why you are so hostile toward your junior sister. However, the secret realm is fraught with danger. You must stand together with her. Only when fellow disciples are of one mind can you obtain great opportunities.”
Hearing Beili's words, Yun Xiange instinctively wanted to argue.
Did he think she didn't know Wen Jingshu's identity?
The only reason he was saying this was to manipulate her into acting like a dutiful senior sister who would protect Wen Jingshu inside the secret realm.
Resentful in her heart, Yun Xiange put on a polite facade and said, “Master, I do not dislike Junior Sister. It is just that we have not had much contact with each other.”
Recalling that Wen Jingshu was indeed a solitary person, Beili could not help but sigh.
Forget it. The friction between the younger generation was best left for them to resolve on their own.
The secret realm opened, and the two of them entered together. Unlike Jiangyuan Valley, where towering trees blotted out the sky and tangled vines blocked the path, the sect secret realm was a picturesque landscape of beautiful mountains, clear waters, singing birds, and fragrant flowers.
Out of consideration for their sect relations, Wen Jingshu looked at Yun Xiange and asked, “What are your plans after entering the secret realm, Senior Sister?”
Yun Xiange replied coldly, “I don't have any particular plans. We should part ways here so we don't end up fighting over opportunities.”
In reality, Yun Xiange wanted to intercept the opportunities that belonged to Wen Jingshu in the novel.
The sect secret realm was a minor highlight for the female protagonist. Not only did she obtain numerous treasures, but she also gained immense prestige by saving her fellow disciples during a beast tide.
This time, she was going to snatch all of it for herself!
Wen Jingshu was not surprised by this. As for Yun Xiange's hostile attitude, she remained largely unbothered.
Her mental age was over a thousand years old. There was no need to lower herself to argue with a little girl who had transmigrated from another world and knew nothing of the harsh realities of the cultivation world.
“If that is the case, then I shall take my leave here.”
Seeing Wen Jingshu finally leave, Yun Xiange quickly pulled out her map to check the locations of Wen Jingshu's opportunities.
Only to find that the opportunity lay precisely in the direction Wen Jingshu had just headed.
Yun Xiange gritted her teeth.
This damn predetermined fate!
“Junior Sister!”
Not long after Wen Jingshu walked away, she heard Yun Xiange calling out to her.
Yun Xiange said, “Junior Sister, according to my map, the direction you are heading is dangerous and lacks any good treasures. Why don't you head east instead?”
Faced with Yun Xiange's sudden concern, Wen Jingshu frowned.
“Thank you for the warning, Senior Sister, but my intuition tells me that there might be treasures in this direction.”
The smile on Yun Xiange's face stiffened for a moment. She quickly added, “Junior Sister, intuition cannot be trusted. I have more experience, so you should listen to me.”
Yet, the more Yun Xiange tried to stop her, the more Wen Jingshu wanted to proceed in that direction. Still, showing no sign of her suspicion, she said with a smile.
“You are indeed thoughtful, Senior Sister. Since this direction is dangerous, why don't you head east with me?”
Observing Yun Xiange's increasingly unnatural expression, Wen Jingshu continued, “Senior Sister, you don't happen to know that there are treasures in this direction, and are trying to send me elsewhere out of fear that I might snatch them from you, do you?”
Or perhaps... she wanted to steal Wen Jingshu's opportunity?
Rate on N.U.
