6

After leaving the main peak, Wang Xiaoxiao lay flat on her bed, completely despondent, unable to figure out how things had spiraled into this mess.

There were three ranks of disciples in a sect: personal disciples, inner sect, and outer sect.

Personal disciples had it the worst—tons of responsibilities on top of daily training and lessons. According to Lin Ximo, he even had a dedicated elder from the inner sect who specialized in improving his reflexes. That training usually meant getting smacked around every day in class.

Wang Xiaoxiao had even offered him a few half-hearted words of sympathy at the time. She never imagined she'd be next.

When word got out that she was moving to the main peak, no one was more shocked than the group of outer sect disciples she hung out with.

Wang Xiaoxiao became a personal disciple?

Who pulled strings for her behind the scenes?

"She was always worse than me in class," someone muttered, clearly disgruntled.

"Exactly," another agreed.

"She has no talent and her assessment scores were terrible. If they had to choose someone for that last spot, shouldn't they have picked someone from the inner sect?"

"What about Senior Sister Ning? Isn't she far more qualified?"

Ning Qing was an inner sect disciple with a high-grade fire spirit root. She reached Foundation Establishment at just sixteen—considered a promising genius even in top-tier sects.

She had been confident the fifth personal disciple position was hers. But then, out of nowhere, some no-name outer sect girl swooped in and took it.

If Wang Xiaoxiao had been more talented, Ning Qing might've accepted it. But not only was her aptitude poor, her monthly assessments were completely average.

So why her?

In the courtyard, Du Chun was helping her pack. They'd known each other for two months and had grown fairly close. When he heard she was leaving, he actually looked a bit disappointed.

"Look at you, moving up in the world," he said, patting her on the shoulder. "Didn't say a word, and suddenly you're a personal disciple."

But Wang Xiaoxiao wore a face of doom, like someone who'd just lost their parents.

Du Chun clicked his tongue. "Hey, come on, smile a little. What's with the long face?"

She forced a pitiful grin.

"…On second thought," Du Chun grimaced, "better not."

Wang Xiaoxiao was broke. Other than tossing her worn-out sword and a few spirit stones into her storage pouch, she had four random talismans stuck on the wall.

She took a deep breath and got serious, peeling off the talismans and calling out to Du Chun.

"Wait."

She figured she probably wouldn't be coming back down from the main peak anytime soon. Just thinking about climbing nine hundred flights of stairs again made her legs ache.

She rummaged through her pouch and pulled out a few talismans.

"These are Qi Gathering Talismans," she explained, handing them over. "Stick them up at night and you can cultivate while lying down."

Du Chun looked skeptical. "Seriously?"

"Try it. I used them myself."

…

As soon as she stepped outside, a flash of sword light came slicing toward her. Wang Xiaoxiao looked up and met a cold, unwelcoming gaze from a girl.

She sighed and gently pushed the sword aside. "Senior Sister, can we talk this out? The sect forbids drawing weapons."

Ning Qing's expression only turned colder.

"And you? You get to be a personal disciple?" she snapped. "Just because you're close to Senior Brother Lin? You're a useless middle-grade spirit root trash! What right do you have to live on the main peak and train with Senior Brother Chong?"

Wang Xiaoxiao paused, then muttered with a strange sincerity, "You have no idea how jealous I am of you."

Ning Qing blinked. "What?"

"I envy all the people who don't have to work this hard."

"…You're insane."

At that moment, a figure entered the courtyard. Dressed in dull robes, slouched over like a dying man.

"Time to go," the man said casually.

"Senior Brother?" Wang Xiaoxiao asked cautiously.

Gu Yuchuan lazily hummed in acknowledgment. As he walked past her, he reached out and patted down her rebellious ahoge that had sprung up.

Wang Xiaoxiao blinked and touched the spot. The hair popped right back up.

Gu Yuchuan frowned and pressed it down again.

She began to wonder—does he have OCD or something?

…

Arriving at the main peak, Wang Xiaoxiao felt a surge of spiritual energy hit her in the face. It was more intense and nourishing than anything she'd ever experienced.

No wonder everyone in the cultivation world fights to become a personal disciple.

Just the ambient Qi here is addictive.

Gu Yuchuan grabbed her by the collar and flung her straight at another young man. "She's your new junior."

Then he turned and left, as if afraid that if he stayed a moment longer, he'd lose control and shave off her ahoge with his sword.

Wang Xiaoxiao was led by Xi Lan through a winding bamboo forest.

"Senior Brother," she asked, "does the sect not have any kind of disciple induction ceremony?"

Xi Lan paused. "No. None of us had one either."

"Why do other sects all have it, though?"

"…Probably because they can afford it."

In other words: we're broke.

Xi Lan offered a bitter smile as he explained her upcoming class schedule and assured her she could come ask questions anytime.

As they walked, Wang Xiaoxiao thought to herself:

I finally graduated from one prison, only to land right in another.

By the time they reached the inner bamboo grove, the spiritual energy was so dense it made her a little dizzy.

Xi Lan noticed and tossed her a small white jade bottle. "Take it. It's a Spirit-Stabilizing Pill."

Wang Xiaoxiao froze.

This was the same rare pill that, in the original novel, took Xi Lan three years to craft just three of—and he gave all of them to the heroine.

Now I get one too?

She held the bottle tightly and murmured, "You're really kind, Third Senior Brother."

Xi Lan blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "You're adorable."

…

When they arrived at the training grounds, they were greeted by the sound of Lin Ximo screaming and Chong Yue shouting in excitement.

A human figure dropped from the sky like a meteor.

Wang Xiaoxiao cried out, "What a fast bird-man!"

Looking closer—it was Lin Ximo crash-landing.

"You wanna fight?!" Lin Ximo roared.

"You think I'm scared?" Chong Yue sneered, pulling out several talismans.

Wang Xiaoxiao turned to Xi Lan, appalled. "Is this how they always interact?"

Xi Lan replied calmly, "Yes. Just wait for them to finish."

Wang Xiaoxiao's eyes sparkled. "Really?!"

Xi Lan: …why does she sound so excited?

She quickly caught herself and replaced her gleeful expression with a solemn one. "Really?"

Xi Lan: "…"

No matter how fast you change your face, I know you're dying to watch this.