Chapter 86

Ever since the day she absorbed the phoenix fire from the mountain, Ruan Mingzhu had been confined to bed on Lingsu Peak for over half a month.

The mountain fire had been extinguished, leaving only a few scorched houses and patches of vegetation across the entire peak. Some low-grade magical treasures that hadn't been moved in time remained unharmed—a testament to how quickly the fire had been put out.

Elder Zhong was nearly furious enough to die from this disciple's antics. She wasn't old, but her recklessness had grown increasingly bold, daring to charge alone into a sea of flames.

Though the outcome was rather gratifying, once she woke up, she would inevitably have to spend a month copying scriptures to purify her mind.

Ruan Mingzhu's time unconscious wasn't peaceful. Her condition fluctuated between good and bad; her dantian seemed to have become a furnace, burning constantly.

For a Golden Core cultivator, trying to swallow an elephant in one gulp naturally wasn't cheap.

During this period, she kept hazily recalling Yun Shuchen's fire spirit root—that vermilion bird. It was just as scorching, and this wasn't even a vermilion bird but a true fire phoenix soaring through the nine heavens, even harder to suppress.

Bai Su heard a clatter of porcelain from inside the room and sensed something wrong. She pushed open the door and saw Ruan Mingzhu in such agony she was nearly banging her head against the wall. Bai Su hurried over to grab her, but in Ruan's struggles, she flung Bai Su back several steps.

This situation had persisted for a long time. In an endless, excruciating torment, Ruan struggled to gain the upper hand within her dantian, but each time she was driven back by even hotter temperatures. When pain neared the point of losing reason, one would rage and fight, growing more determined with each setback. Yet after such a prolonged period, all her sharp edges seemed worn smooth, ground down until she lost her temper entirely. Finally, she cried in her sleep and simply let it be.

And when her heart truly calmed down, perhaps... she might be able to see things she couldn't before.

As the final selection drew nearer, the tension within the inner sect of Taichu Sect became palpable.

Since Ruan-shimei couldn't get up for now, the remaining three gathered together to speculate on the format of this trial.

"The first two assessments were completely different," Bai Su said. "But I've heard the Immortal Ascension Assembly is a tournament, so perhaps this final one will follow that format."

"That's quite possible."

The scenes shown in the reflective water mirror that day had been recorded, and for some reason, several elders had spent a longer time watching them, almost capturing an entire fight.

Lin Xunzhen, being closest to the source, had borrowed the water mirror from the Sect Leader in recent days to review it several times. "The first selection was more like a sect mission, and the second gradually involved indirect competition with fellow disciples. Following that trend, it's reasonable for the third to be direct combat in a tournament." She added, "Tournaments have both advantages and disadvantages—in standard matches, the five elements are fairly balanced. At the start, it's less likely to be constrained by the surrounding environment against your spirit root."

"But that's only at the start," she added, falling into silence.

In the later stages of battle, both sides would certainly create environments favorable to themselves, and there was no guarantee what spirit root the opponent would have.

"As long as I'm fast enough, I can seize the initiative."

Qing Zhouxue sighed softly, recalling the opening move she'd devised—Flowing Cloud, Floating Snow. It had a vast area of effect but required enough time; otherwise, with a sword cultivator's magical aptitude, it would be hard to achieve full coverage.

Moreover, if she used that move, Ruan Mingzhu would have a rough time.

They exchanged views on this, and Lin Xunzhen mused, "Perhaps with my help, that move of yours isn't so difficult?"

Armchair strategizing was useless, so they quickly found an open space to test it.

Qing Zhouxue raised one hand as if gripping a sword, and biting cold gathered in her palm. In a moment, the cold coalesced into a sword shape. When she slashed at the air, Lin Xunzhen simultaneously gathered ambient water vapor.

Cold and water intermingled, and a cloud of white mist dispersed, freezing a large swath of ground. The Ice Spiritual Root was a mutated spiritual root, not one of the five elements, but it shared its origin with the "water" among them.

Qing Zhouxue still remembered her early years—she had first learned to barely control water, then ice. The principle was to gather water and then freeze it. Unless she was in a snowy environment, her casting time was longer than most.

But with the aid of a water spirit root, the process could be sped up severalfold.

"So that's how it is," Lin Xunzhen lowered her hand. "Perhaps this isn't a problem. But for the later question, I really haven't thought of a better solution. Before, you and Ruan-shimei could advance and retreat in turns, but now with higher cultivation, the range of your spirit roots grows wider, and the space isn't that big; you'll inevitably constrain each other."

"Let's try again together once she's absorbed that phoenix fire."

Bai Su thought of this and sighed. "Her condition now is up and down. My master said there shouldn't be major issues, but she's been worn down a whole circle thinner. Who knows when she'll wake up."

* * *

Every evening, Qing Zhouxue returned to the peak draped in sunset glow.

She stood on her sword, weaving through the clouds with ease. Heyi Peak's scenery was beautiful—a vista she'd seen for years yet never tired of.

Today, when she returned to the courtyard, she spotted two women. One she saw day and night; the other she'd never met.

Yun Shuchen held a black stone between her fingers, wrist suspended mid-air, seemingly deep in thought. The other woman wore light blue robes, with white gauze wrapping her sleeves like clouds and mist, ethereal as an immortal.

She sensed the movement and turned her head, meeting Qing Zhouxue's eyes as she walked in.

A flicker of admiration passed through her eyes. "Is this your disciple?"

"Mm," Yun Shuchen said, placing a stone down with a light clack against the board. After setting the piece, she said, "Qing'er, come here."

Qing Zhouxue obeyed and walked over, hearing her master say, "This is the Pavilion Master of Penglai Pavilion from the Eastern Sea, address her as Senior."

The Eastern Sea Penglai Pavilion was a renowned earthly paradise, its largest enterprise being the jewelry trade—dripping with wealth. They lived in seclusion overseas and rarely participated in competitions among immortal sects, making their true strength quite mysterious.

When her master mentioned the Pavilion Master of Penglai Pavilion, Qing Zhouxue recalled seeing her name in books years ago—Li Chaoyin, also one of the few great cultivators in the world today.

"Greetings, Senior."

"No need for such formality; your master and I are old acquaintances." Li Chaoyin studied her for a moment, then looked at Yun Shuchen with a faint smile. "Years ago, I heard you'd picked up a child. Now seeing her otherworldly bearing, you must have put in considerable effort. No wonder you've declined my invitations to come to Penglai for years."

Having long been a pavilion master, she spoke unhurriedly with a composed demeanor. Yun Shuchen also smiled. "Don't talk about 'inviting.'"

"Bribing, then?" Li Chaoyin casually placed a stone on the board. "That word fits well."

They chatted idly, and Qing Zhouxue found it improper to linger, so she excused herself to practice swordplay nearby. Li Chaoyin watched the upright figure walking away and sighed. "Looking at how steady your disciple is, I can't help but think of my own. And when I do, it gives me a headache... getting old, indeed—can't handle aggravation."

"Oh? You mean the Young Pavilion Master," Yun Shuchen teased. "Is the Young Pavilion Master still as lively as before?"

"Lively?" Li Chaoyin's tone turned cold at the mere mention, her words quickening in irritation. "Her character hasn't changed—she stirs up all sorts of trouble. When she was younger, she feared me a bit, and a scolding would keep her in check for two or three days. Now that her cultivation is high, she's grown bold and argues with me daily, only stopping after a beating."

Yun Shuchen curved her lips. "Young people seem to go through such a phase—refusing discipline and deliberately opposing their elders. Endure it a bit; perhaps it'll pass."

"She's been like this since childhood," Li Chaoyin frowned. "It's only gotten worse."

Just then, Qing Zhouxue brought over two cups of tea—one offered to the Pavilion Master, one placed before her master—and said earnestly, "Autumn is dry; you should drink more water."

Having done what needed doing, she left without extra words, drifting away as if, mid-sword practice, she'd suddenly remembered this matter and brought her master a cup of tea.

"Truly wonderful," Li Chaoyin sighed softly. "Can you share your methods? In the first half of my life, I was engrossed in managing Penglai Pavilion; when it comes to raising a disciple, I do find it vexing."

Yun Shuchen then realized why she'd suddenly come calling today. After a few more exchanges, it turned out she'd stormed out after being infuriated by her rebellious disciple.

No matter how long she'd known Li Chaoyin, it was hard to imagine just how this dignified, composed Pavilion Master had been driven to such a state.

"I can't help you there," Yun Shuchen said, holding the tea in her palm, raising it slowly and deliberately, eyes slightly curved, turning her wrist in a small, measured circle. "She's just this obedient—sensible from the very first meeting. I never taught her."

Li Chaoyin met her half-smiling eyes and the unhurried swirl of the tea, and instantly understood—this woman was showing off.

Li Chaoyin silently took a sip of tea and found the temperature perfectly warm, indeed the epitome of subtle, gentle care. Somewhat reluctantly, she asked, "Then tell me, how do you usually treat her?"

"How do I treat her?" Yun Shuchen picked up a black stone, crooked a finger at her, and leaned forward slightly. "Come closer."

Yun Shuchen stopped a few inches from Li Chaoyin's ear, shifted her gaze, and glanced at Qing Zhouxue practicing swordplay not far away. At that moment, her disciple, who should've been focused on training, seemed to sense something and turned back, meeting her eyes squarely.

Yun Shuchen cast her a glance, then shifted her eyes back without a change in expression, and said softly, "Perhaps... the same way one would court a young lady?"

At this, Li Chaoyin briefly froze, then sank into thought.

When Qing Zhouxue turned around, she happened to see Yun Shuchen and Li Chaoyin leaning extremely close, as if whispering something, like cheek-to-cheek intimacy.

The image left a shadow in her heart. She froze; the sword move in her hand, like water meeting a cold river, slowly congealed and stopped.

Her master said she liked women.

Did that mean she liked all women under heaven?