Shen Qingci's steps paused slightly.
Back when she was a greedy game designer, she had designed a similar item in a female-oriented cultivation mobile game. It was priced at sixty-eight yuan a piece, and its first-week revenue broke a million.
At the time, she had even joked with a seconded colleague that girls were truly willing to empty their wallets just for their characters' faces.
Now, the real thing had dropped right into her lap.
The recipe for permanent youth-retaining pills had long been lost in the Southern Region. The youth-retaining pills circulating on the market could only maintain one's appearance for a hundred years at most, and their market prices had been driven up to astronomical heights.
If the Everlasting Youth-Retaining Pill were to be put up for auction, even Soul Transformation powerhouses would fight tooth and nail over it.
The magical robe completed her outfit, the high-grade spirit stones made her financially secure, and the Everlasting Youth-Retaining Pill was a rare treasure that money couldn't buy. Facing the five Peak Masters shortly, having provisions in hand brought peace of mind.
Shen Qingci withdrew her consciousness, her steps becoming a bit lighter.
Ahead, the mountain terrain gradually leveled out, and the trees receded to both sides. The entire grand hall sat perched on a mid-mountain terrace, backed by a sheer cliff and facing a sea of clouds. In front of the hall, thirty-six Flood Dragon Pillars lined both sides. Spiritual runes flowed across their surfaces, and the faint cry of flood dragons seemed to echo from deep within the stone.
Azure Cloud Sect, Wanjian Peak, Lanyun Hall.
Lin Yuan stopped in front of the hall. “Miss Shen, the five Peak Masters are already waiting inside. Enshrined Guardian Shen, please follow me to the side hall to rest for a moment.”
Shen Qingci turned back to look at Shen Hanzhou. Shen Hanzhou nodded slightly and followed Lin Yuan toward the side hall with an expressionless face.
The hall doors were half-open, the spiritual light within as clear and cold as water.
Shen Qingci stepped inside alone.
The interior of the hall was vast. Nine ever-burning lamps hung from the domed ceiling, their wicks made of fist-sized night-luminescent pearls. The four walls were carved with reliefs of successive generations of Wanjian Peak's patriarchs attaining the Dao. The lines were sharp and fierce, exuding an indescribable spiritual charm.
Straight ahead, five cloud-patterned stone chairs were arranged in an arc. The five Peak Masters sat upright upon them, their five divine senses sweeping over her simultaneously.
Shen Qingci walked to the center of the hall and performed a proper junior's salute. “Junior Shen Qingci greets the Peak Masters.”
Seated on the center stone chair was a female cultivator who looked to be in her early thirties. Her face was cold and stern, and her plain white sword robe was embroidered with silver sword patterns. A snow-white longsword hung from her waist, its blade entirely translucent and free of any impurities.
She was none other than the Peak Master of Wanjian Peak, Sword Venerable Jinglian, a cultivator at the mid stage of the Soul Transformation realm. Aside from a few Grand Supreme Elders who were in death seclusion, she was one of the few figures in the Azure Cloud Sect who dared to openly oppose the Sect Master.
In the original novel, she was Chi Yuan's master, and the only person in the entire book who dared to call the male protagonist an “idiot” to his face.
To Jinglian's left sat an elder with frost-dusted temples. He held a fly-whisk, his face kind and warm, though a sharp light was hidden deep within his eyes.
He was the Peak Master of Danxia Peak, He Qianshan, who was at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.
Seated on her right was a lean, middle-aged man with a three-pointed beard hanging down to his chest. He wore a green jade crown and exuded a refined and steady aura. He was the Peak Master of Tianshu Peak, Lu Yuanzhou, also at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.
Seated on the far left was a burly man with thick eyebrows and round eyes. His dark skin was wrapped in tight-fitting martial attire that accentuated his robust physique, and his forearms were as thick as the trunks of century-old trees. He was the Peak Master of Liedi Peak, Shi Pojun, at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm.
On the far right sat a female cultivator with a voluptuous figure. She wore a deep purple palace dress, her hair swept up into a high bun. Twirling a strand of black hair that fell over her shoulder around her finger, she leaned back in her stone chair and sized Shen Qingci up.
She was the Peak Master of Biluo Peak, Liu Ruyin, at the early stage of the Soul Transformation realm.
Jinglian was the first to speak, her voice cold and crisp. “The message Elder Zhou sent up says you are a direct descendant of the Northern Region's Shen family. That Enshrined Guardian of yours—I caught a glimpse of her from afar, and she indeed has the foundation of the Nascent Soul realm.”
Shen Qingci replied, “Yes.”
He Qianshan took over, his tone much gentler. “Little Friend Shen has come from afar. May I ask which province of the Northern Region your noble house resides in? When I was young, I traveled through the Northern Region and happened to make some acquaintances there.”
Shen Qingci bowed slightly. “My mother once instructed me that the Shen family has long detached itself from worldly affairs. My entry into the world to train this time is solely to learn some sect rules and make like-minded friends.”
“As for family matters, this junior dares not speak too much. I hope the Peak Masters can forgive me.”
He Qianshan stroked his beard and nodded.
The several people seated exchanged glances and did not press further into her family background. Such a calm and composed demeanor required no other evidence to support it.
Shi Pojun's voice was like a booming bell as he laughed heartily. “I told you so! That old fellow Zhou He has a very sharp eye for people!”
“Little girl, what is your spiritual root? I see that your magical robe is quite extraordinary. You didn't come to our Azure Cloud Sect just to gold-plate your reputation, did you?”
“Junior has a Lightning Spiritual Root, High-grade.”
Instantly, the hall became so quiet that a falling needle could be heard.
Five divine senses once again swept over her simultaneously.
Shi Pojun's eyes widened. “Good grief! A High-grade Lightning Spiritual Root would be cherished like a precious treasure in any sect. Your Shen family was actually willing to let you out to apprentice elsewhere?”
“My mother said that working behind closed doors makes it difficult to achieve great things.”
“Furthermore, I have admired Sword Venerable Jinglian's achievements in the Dao of the sword since childhood. If I could have the opportunity to receive guidance under the Sword Venerable, it would be my good fortune.”
Jinglian set down her teacup and raised her eyes to sweep over Shen Qingci's face.
“Have you studied the sword?”
“I have learned a bit of the basics. However, my foundation is still shallow, and I dare not show off my meager skills before the Sword Venerable.”
Jinglian did not press further, only saying, “At least you are honest.”
Liu Ruyin covered her mouth and laughed. “Senior Sister, this girl suits your temperament. She doesn't beat around the bush.”
She let go of the strand of hair and leaned forward. “Little Friend Shen, your spiritual root hasn't even been tested yet. How do you know it's a High-grade Lightning Spiritual Root?”
“My family has a spirit-testing array. It was tested when I was a child.”
Liu Ruyin let out an “oh,” a hint of something meaningful flashing in her peach-blossom eyes.
Lu Yuanzhou and He Qianshan exchanged looks for a brief moment.
He Qianshan was the first to speak. “Little Friend, my Danxia Peak oversees the sect's pill treasury. Spiritual-refining, realm-breaking, and mind-clearing pills of all kinds will be prioritized for you.”
“Cultivating with a Lightning Spiritual Root consumes an immense amount of resources and easily triggers inner demons. With the Dao of alchemy assisting you to stabilize your foundation, it can save you a lot of trouble on your cultivation path.”
“If you are willing to join my peak, you may draw Mystic-grade pills as needed.”
Shi Pojun became displeased. “Old He, don't try to snatch her from me! A Lightning Spiritual Root going to Danxia Peak? That's a total waste of a heavenly gift!”
Turning to pat his chest at Shen Qingci, he said, “Little girl, come to my Liedi Peak, and I will personally guide you. Liedi Peak's body-tempering techniques paired with lightning spiritual energy complement each other perfectly.”
Liu Ruyin interjected airily, “Junior Brother Shi, body tempering is too grueling. A delicate young lady like her would lose a layer of skin at your place.”
“Why not come to Biluo Peak? Pairing illusion arts with lightning techniques will give you a much broader path of cultivation.”
Shi Pojun glared. “What do you mean delicate? How could someone with a Lightning Spiritual Root be afraid of hardship?”
The four of them argued endlessly, while only Jinglian sat calmly on her stone chair, sipping her tea unhurriedly.
On the surface, Shen Qingci maintained an appropriate and decent humility, but in her heart, she was rapidly calculating.
Danxia Peak was not her style, Liedi Peak was too rugged and lacked refinement, and Liu Ruyin of Biluo Peak had frequently made things difficult for Chi Yuan in the original novel.
Tianshu Peak's Lu Yuanzhou wasn't bad either, but Wanjian Peak was the best choice.
Jinglian was strong enough and protective enough of her own.
In the original novel, she had even dared to disregard even the Sect Master's face for Chi Yuan's sake.
“Everyone.”
Jinglian, who had been silent all this time, finally set down her teacup, and the arguments in the hall instantly ceased.
She looked at Shen Qingci, her gaze as calm as a frozen lake. “You said just now that you admire my achievements in the Dao of the sword.”
“Yes.”
“Then come to Wanjian Peak.”
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