NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7
With Shen Shi’s guidance, Han Xian’er managed to sense the spiritual energy within just an hour, officially stepping into the world of cultivation.
After opening her eyes, Han Xian’er’s eyes sparkled with surprise. The world seemed different to her after entering the realm of cultivation.
Han Xian’er quickly got up and knelt in front of the White Jade Warm Bed, knocking her head on the ground three times: “Thank you, Master, for making this possible, thank you, Master, thank you, Master.”
Shen Shi nodded with a smile: “That’s enough, get up. Now that you’ve entered the path of cultivation, you need to work even harder to break through to the Qi Training stage soon.”
“Yes, Master. Xian’er will definitely work harder and not let down your teachings,” she replied, her eyes showing her determination.
Seeing the firmness in Xian’er’s eyes, Shen Shi couldn’t help but feel proud, thinking what a wonderful child she was.
With her natural talent and perseverance, even if she didn’t become a Golden Core cultivator, she could still be a Foundation Building cultivator and a pillar of the sect.
“Alright, the rest of you listen up as well. You need to work doubly hard in cultivation and develop in all aspects, striving to be all-rounded new-age cultivators in terms of virtue, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics.”
“Yes! We will follow Master’s teachings!” Although the four of them didn’t quite understand what virtue, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics entailed.
Shen Shi casually spoke, shaking his head, and then waved his hand, “Today’s morning lesson ends here. Just be on time tomorrow.”
After dismissing his disciples, Shen Shi lay on the White Jade Warm Bed, sticking out his tongue and complaining without any image: “Oh my, why is enlightening someone so tiring? If it weren’t for my profound cultivation, I would have exposed myself.”
In the following days, life at Erbai Peak stabilized. Every day, they attended morning classes where Shen Shi answered their cultivation queries and led the disciples in practice.
The disciples slowly accepted Shen Shi’s change and were genuinely happy at heart.
All the disciples of Erbai Peak were pitiful children who had been rejected. Han Xian’er was discriminated against because of her status, Xuan Yu had inferior spiritual root attributes, Cang Yu Ling lacked a few strings in her brain, and Dongyue Li… seemed to have no significant problems.
They were all suffering children. When Shen Shi first took them in, they had all given up hope.
At least Shen Shi did not abandon them, unlike those elder peak masters who either ignored them or outright refused to take disciples. Only Shen Shi silently took their hands, one by one, and brought them back, appearing like a savior.
Although life at Erbai Peak wasn’t always wonderful, they never regretted it. Being able to walk the path of cultivation and having a master was more than enough.
Three days before the Xianmiao Conference, Shen Shi was summoned early for a meeting, apparently to prepare for the conference.
Although Shen Shi could have refused, he still went, curious about the cultivators’ meeting and what they would discuss.
Not long after Shen Shi left, a group of uniformly dressed disciples from another sect arrived at Erbai Peak.
Han Xian’er, returning from washing vegetables in the hot spring stream of Erbai Peak, saw this group and approached with a basket, frowning, “Who are you? Do you have a token to ascend Erbai Peak?”
After all, Erbai Peak was Shen Shi’s private dwelling, and anyone from the Dingxian Sect wishing to visit had to possess a corresponding token, or it was considered a blatant challenge.
The group of disciples stopped in their tracks upon seeing a tall girl suddenly emerge.
“Sister Xian’er, have you forgotten me so quickly?” One of them stepped forward and said with a smile upon seeing Han Xian’er.
Upon recognizing him, Han Xian’er set down her carrying pole and bowed: “So it’s Brother Zhao Huangming. What brings Brother Zhao here this time? I remember you just came to collect Snow Velvet Grass not long ago.”
“Oh, Sister Xian’er, this time, Brother isn’t here for Snow Velvet Grass,” Zhao Huangming replied with a smile.
“Then what for? Do you have the token, Brother?” Han Xian’er nodded.
“Well, Sister, recently our Hebai Peak lost seven Medicinal Cranes, and our master sent us to each peak to look for them. We’ve ended up at Erbai Peak,” Zhao Huangming explained with a smile.
Han Xian’er paused, suddenly recalling the seven cranes Shen Shi had knocked out while questioning the lack of guards in the herb garden. She worried that those cranes might belong to Hebai Peak, as they were said to be extremely precious, their blood and feathers highly valuable.
Of course, these weren’t the most important concerns
. The day before yesterday, Shen Shi had brought a crane for Han Xian’er to roast and eat.
She even ate a crane wing.
It was really delicious!
“Do you brothers have the token from the Hebai Peak Master? If you do, you can go up the mountain, and I’ll accompany you to look around,” Han Xian’er asked anxiously.
“What? Token? We left in a hurry and didn’t bring the token,” Zhao Huangming hadn’t expected Han Xian’er to actually ask for it.
While the rule of requiring a token existed, it wasn’t strictly enforced. Tokens were mostly needed for official matters, and personal visits usually just required communicating with the lower-ranked disciples.
“If you don’t have the token, then it’s best if you brothers go back and get it. My master has a bad temper, and I fear he’ll blame us if we let you go up rashly,” Han Xian’er said with a smile.
Han Xian’er was not as simple as she appeared, her mind full of twists and turns.
After hearing this, Zhao Huangming’s expression changed slightly, and his tone cooled: “Sister Xian’er, why be so unkind? We’re just going up the mountain to look around.”
“Sorry, Brother, without the token, I dare not let you go up,” Han Xian’er apologized with a bow.
“Xian’er, are you really taking yourself seriously just because Han Xian’er called you sister? A person who hasn’t even been bestowed with cultivation methods actually acting so high and mighty?”
Zhao Huangming’s tone turned icy. After all, he was a Qi Training Level 3 cultivator, and being blocked by someone who hadn’t even received cultivation methods was a disgrace.
“Brother, are you really saying this? Erbai Peak’s master is Real Person Shen Shi,” another disciple whispered to Zhao Huangming.
“Don’t worry, Real Person Shen Shi doesn’t care about his disciples. He often beats them half to death. This Han Xian’er hasn’t even received cultivation methods. Even if we kill her, our master will cover for us. Real Person Shen Shi won’t bother about the life or death of such trash,” Zhao Huangming sneered.
Han Xian’er’s expression changed: “Brother Zhao, what do you mean? Are you planning to force your way into Erbai Peak?”
“Han Xian’er, stop being foolish. Just get out of the way. Your master doesn’t care about you. Why block us and make things hard for yourself?” Zhao Huangming sneered disdainfully, having lost his earlier polite demeanor.
“I said, without the token, you can’t go up the mountain,” Han Xian’er stood in front of them, determined to prevent them from seeing the cranes trapped by Shen Shi’s formation and the crane bones, which would ruin her master’s reputation.
Zhao Huangming’s eyes flashed coldly: “You’re really asking for it!”
With that, he threw a punch towards Han Xian’er’s abdomen, bringing a whistling force with it. Qi Training cultivators, although not adept at externalizing spiritual energy, could enhance their strength and speed by channeling it internally.
If this punch landed, Han Xian’er would likely lose her ability to move. Zhao Huangming was confident he had controlled his strength so as not to seriously injure her.
However, what Zhao Huangming didn’t expect was for Han Xian’er to react instantly and counter his punch with her palm.
Their fist and palm collided, producing a dull thud. Han Xian’er stepped back to absorb the force, looking at Zhao Huangming: “Brother Zhao, are you really going to start a fight on Erbai Peak?”
Even though his punch was blocked by Han Xian’er, surprising Zhao Huangming, he realized there was no turning back. It was better to knock down Han Xian’er, search the mountain quickly, and then return to Hebai Peak.
He was sure the Medicinal Cranes were on Erbai Peak, and even if Shen Shi returned, he wouldn’t be able to complain.
Zhao Huangming sneered and continued his attack, this time without holding back.