Chapter 88: The Early-Death White Moonlight in a Cultivation Novel (Part 19)

Now that she had successfully protected her senior brother, Zhou Yanxi had no intention of sticking around and becoming a public spectacle.

Earlier, all those veiled glances from the crowd seemed like they were trying to see right through her. If she hadn't had important things to take care of today, she would've turned around and run.

As for who ended up being promoted to the inner sect—she didn't care at all. That was no longer her concern.

Later, Zhou Yanxi overheard the servant disciples of Zhenyuan Peak talking about it and learned that two people had successfully made it in. One of them was the ruthless swordsman she had previously taken note of.

As for Li Haochen—he was just too weak. He only managed to fight two rounds before being eliminated, not even making it to the finals.

Once she left, Zhou Yanxi was back to her usual grind—mainly, she needed to continue cultivating. After over a year of special training, she had earned only half a day of rest.

Even though it was technically a break, Zhou Yanxi still had to train in the afternoon. And lately, Daoist Daoyun's training intensity had only increased. Just as she was finally adapting, her master kept raising the bar again and again.

Judging from the sect's recent massive internal purge, where over a hundred traitors were caught—including many mid-level disciples—it was clear: a storm was brewing.

If there were also demonic spies within the top ranks of Haomiao Sect, then… Zhou Yanxi didn't dare to even imagine the consequences.

And she was right. The cultivation world was on the brink of a prolonged war between the righteous and demonic sects.

Originally, Daoist Daoyun's disciple acceptance ceremony should have happened already. But ever since her senior brother's injury—revealed to be the work of a demonic cultivator—the sect didn't dare hold such a grand event at such a sensitive time.

After all, Daoist Daoyun was one of only three Nascent Soul cultivators in Haomiao Sect. His disciple ceremony would have involved inviting major sects, powerful families, and notable rogue cultivators across the cultivation world.

That made it a perfect opportunity for demonic cultivators to sneak in and cause chaos.

So, after discussions with the sect leader and the elders, it was decided: the ceremony would be postponed.

Zhou Yanxi originally hadn't cared much for those formalities, but once she learned that a proper ceremony could bring in loads of rare spiritual treasures, she was shamefully tempted.

She thought: My apprenticeship ceremony must be held, and the grander the better—as long as I can collect gifts until my hands go numb!

So when she later found out the ceremony was canceled because of demonic interference, she was furious. Her hatred for these demonic cultivators—who ruined her big moment—shot through the roof.

And just as Zhou Yanxi was throwing herself bitterly back into cultivation, an explosive piece of news shook the cultivation world:The Demon King had decided to unilaterally tear up the peace agreement and had already attacked the mortal realm in the Northern Wastes.

The mortal realm must not fall into demonic hands. If mortals were captured, it would throw the entire world into chaos—especially since many mortals were still the loved ones of cultivators.

So, the major sects began mobilizing. Most disciples at mid-to-late Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stage were being dispatched to the front lines.

What shocked Zhou Yanxi most—was that the first wave of Haomiao Sect's forces was being led by… her father.

Wait, wasn't her father supposed to join the war three years later, after she entered a secret realm?What's going on? The plot has already gone completely off the rails!

And now even Zhou Yanxi herself had to join the war. In her past life, she had only just reached early Foundation Establishment and hadn't been qualified.Now—she had no choice.

As a result, the sect was in high alert—no one was allowed to leave, only to enter.

The elders feared any remaining traitors might try to leak information to the enemy.

Zhou Yanxi panicked when she learned the news. After all, in the original host's memories, the first wave of troops had a survival rate of less than 10%, and this battle was only the beginning.

According to the original timeline, only three years later, when the Langhuan Secret Realm opened, did the two sides finally reach a temporary truce.

For now, all Zhou Yanxi could do was prepare as much as possible—craft more poison pills and healing elixirs, and stock up for herself, her father, and her senior brother.

This time, it really was a "family deployment."According to the sect's official notice, all three of them—Zhou Yanxi, her senior brother, and her father—were being sent to the front lines together.One big happy family, none left behind.

Thankfully, she had not wasted the past two years of cultivation, and had been trained personally by her master. Otherwise, she would've had no choice but to just lie flat and await death.

When Daoist Daoyun heard about the situation, he didn't say much—he simply threw her a storage ring.

Zhou Yanxi was dumbfounded.

Storage rings were extremely rare and valuable. Even her father only had one.

In the cultivation world, a storage ring was not only a symbol of wealth—it was a mark of power.

Typically, only Nascent Soul cultivators and above possessed such treasures. Yet her master was being this generous?

So of course, Zhou Yanxi happily accepted it with a grin.Well, when a senior gives you a gift, you don't say no!(Definitely not because she's greedy, nope.)

System: Could you maybe wipe that ridiculous grin off your face? Yeah, sure, I totally believe you're not greedy. Riiight.

Later, Zhou Yanxi learned from her father that her master's first disciple had died during a battle with the demons.

His name was Cangwu, and he had ventured alone into a demonic stronghold, relying on his formidable skills.

But a lone late-stage Golden Core cultivator stood no chance against those demonic overlords—they crushed him like an ant.

Daoist Daoyun had rushed there after hearing the news, but all he found was silence—not even a final word was left behind.

Ever since then, Daoist Daoyun had lived with deep regret, blaming himself for not providing more life-saving treasures—and feeling responsible for his disciple's death.

Even though he eventually killed every demon involved, his disciple could never return.

So this time, with Zhou Yanxi also heading to the battlefield, he broke from his usual stinginess and showered her with treasures.

Hearing this story, Zhou Yanxi could only sigh: her master really had a tragic past. That disciple's death had left a permanent scar on his heart.

As for the storage ring—Zhou Yanxi didn't wear it openly.She turned it into a sturdy necklace and wore it close to her chest.

After all, the space inside was a full 50,000 square meters—far bigger than her few-hundred-square-meter storage pouch.Now she could stash away as many spirit-rich treasures as she wanted.

And the best part?Along with spirit stones, talismans, and other essentials, her master had also found the second half of the [Forging the Divine] technique!

He even left her his three strongest attack techniques, each stored in its own special jade talisman.

Truly, her master was incredibly thoughtful.Knowing she lacked the second half of the technique—he searched for it.Knowing she was still weak—he prepared life-saving trump cards.

And now, Zhou Yanxi's vanguard unit had been officially notified:They would depart in one day.