Chapter 5: The Struggles of a Determined Disciple

Bai Ling stared at the block of wood in front of her, determination burning in her eyes.

Her fingers still stung from the cut she received earlier, but she refused to give up. If she wanted to impress the hidden master, she had to succeed!

Her maid, Xiao Lan, looked pale with worry. "Princess—uh, Miss Bai, are you sure about this? You've never done manual labor before."

Bai Ling scoffed. "Hmph! How hard can it be?"

She grabbed the carving knife with an elegant flourish, took a deep breath… and immediately chipped off a massive chunk of wood.

She blinked. "…Oops."

Xiao Lan winced. "M-Maybe you should go slower?"

Bai Ling nodded, adjusting her grip. Patience was the key.

She carefully pressed the knife against the wood, trying to carve a simple shape. Just a small curve.

Her hand slipped.

The knife dug in too deep, splitting the wood down the middle.

"…"

Bai Ling pursed her lips. "Maybe this wood was… defective."

Xiao Lan looked at the pile of ruined wood next to her. "Princess, you've broken five pieces already."

Elder Zhao, who had been observing from the side, chuckled. "Miss Bai, craftsmanship is not something one masters in a day. A true artisan devotes decades to their craft."

Bai Ling gritted her teeth. "Decades?! But Senior Shen Mu makes it look so easy!"

Elder Zhao stroked his beard. "Indeed… Which is why he is beyond our comprehension."

Bai Ling sighed. "Fine. I'll just keep practicing until I get it right."

Shen Mu, who had been watching from his window, sighed inwardly.

'She's really taking this seriously, huh? I thought she'd give up after an hour.'

Seeing her struggle, he actually started to feel a little guilty.

Maybe he should… give her a little hint?

No. No, that would just deepen the misunderstanding.

'Whatever. She'll figure it out eventually… I hope.'

With that, he turned back to his tea.

Meanwhile, Bai Ling continued her battle with the unforgiving wood.

---

Meanwhile, Elsewhere…

Far above the mortal realm, deep within the floating palaces of the Celestial Jade Pavilion, a stunningly beautiful woman sat upon a lotus throne, her celestial robes flowing like mist.

This was Empress Yue, one of the strongest Sky Immortals in existence.

In front of her knelt a dozen cultivators, all waiting for her decree.

She slowly lifted her delicate hand and unfurled a golden scroll.

"I have received a vision," she said softly. "A treasure of immeasurable value has appeared in the mortal world."

The cultivators stirred.

A treasure? In the mortal world?

That was unheard of.

Empress Yue's voice remained calm. "We must locate its creator. The one who forged this artifact is no ordinary mortal."

One of the cultivators, an elder with graying hair, frowned. "Forgive me, Empress, but… what exactly is this treasure?"

A pause.

Then, slowly, Empress Yue turned the scroll around, revealing the image burned into it by divination.

The cultivators leaned forward eagerly—

And froze.

"…A chair?"

Dead silence filled the hall.

A legendary divine artifact… was a chair?

The elder gulped. "…Empress, are you sure this is correct?"

Empress Yue's gaze was as calm as still water. "Would you like to question the will of fate?"

The elder immediately slammed his forehead to the ground. "This lowly one would never dare!"

The other cultivators all nodded frantically.

A treasure was a treasure—even if it was a… chair.

The Empress closed the scroll. "Find the one who created this artifact. Do not be reckless. If they are truly a Grandmaster of such caliber, then they are not someone we can afford to offend."

The cultivators bowed. "Yes, Empress!"

And thus, one of the greatest sects in the heavens unknowingly began a search for a humble carpenter.

---

Back at Shen Mu's Workshop…

By the time Shen Mu walked outside again, Bai Ling was slumped over in exhaustion, her face covered in sawdust.

Her maid Xiao Lan looked like she had aged five years.

Elder Zhao was calmly sipping tea, completely unbothered.

"…How's it going?" Shen Mu asked.

Bai Ling slowly lifted her head, eyes bloodshot. "I… I think I understand now."

Shen Mu raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Bai Ling clenched her fist. "Carpentry is not just a skill… it is a battle against the self. One must have patience. One must have discipline. One must—"

"Did you actually finish carving anything?" Shen Mu interrupted.

Bai Ling froze.

Then, slowly, she lifted a small wooden block.

It looked like… a potato.

Shen Mu stared at it. "…What is it?"

Bai Ling turned red. "It's… it was supposed to be a phoenix."

Shen Mu coughed, trying not to laugh. "I… see."

Bai Ling clenched her fists. "I'll get better! Just watch! One day, I'll create something that even you will acknowledge!"

Shen Mu sighed. 'This girl is way too persistent…'

At that moment, another knock sounded at the gate.

Shen Mu frowned. 'More visitors?'

He walked over and opened the gate.

Standing outside was a group of sword-wielding cultivators, all dressed in white robes embroidered with golden flames.

Their leader, a stern-looking man with silver hair, stepped forward and clasped his hands. "Are you the one known as Shen Mu?"

Shen Mu blinked. "Uh… yes?"

The silver-haired man's gaze sharpened. "Then I, Feng Tian of the Heavenly Fire Sect, humbly request your guidance!"

Shen Mu: "…"

Bai Ling: "…"

Xiao Lan: "…"

Elder Zhao sipped his tea and nodded knowingly.

"It begins."

---

End of Chapter 5