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Chapter 2: Silver Sword Peak
At the Silver Sword Peak on Mount Shu...
Chu Liang's eyes snapped open, gleaming with a piercing intensity.
As he glanced at the time outside, he noticed that it was still very early. The fiery red sun had only just begun to ascend over the mountains, casting the sky in hues of red.
He had been in this world for more than half a year and he had gotten used to waking up early.
Indeed. He was not of this world but a recent high school graduate who had just completed his college entrance examination. Just a day earlier, he had received news of achieving the third-highest score in the entire province. However, the very next day, as he stepped out of his house, he was sent hurtling into the air by a drunk driver.
When he woke up again, he found himself in a bizarre and wondrous world.
This world could be described as bizarre due to the rampant presence of demonic entities, the flying dragons and serpents, and the overarching power of gods and spirits that transcended the heavens. Human lives were as fragile as grass and chaff. Peace in the human world was achieved by the immortal sects, led by those within the Divine Nine and the Terrestrial Ten, who worked together to subdue evil forces.
In this world, human cultivators were similarly powerful. Martial artists could split mountains with their bare hands, and scholars displayed a demeanor rivaling that of an army of thousands. Daoist grandmasters could command the winds and rain, while high Buddhist monks were said to have subdued dragons with a mere touch of a finger...
The previous host of this body was an orphan. His entire family had been slain by demons and monsters, leaving him as the sole survivor. He was rescued by someone, who has since become his teacher. His teacher had recognized his innate talent for cultivation and brought him back to the mountain.
As a result, the previous host harbored an intense hatred for evil entities and a burning desire to master the divine arts and techniques, with the goal of leaving the mountain and eradicating demonic entities. However, his excessive eagerness and impatience disrupted his Daoist state of mind. During an attempt to achieve a breakthrough, he lost control, resulting in the dispersion of his soul.
One could only sigh and say that life is truly unpredictable.
When Chu Liang's soul first descended into this world, he felt a sense of panic. He was a young man who had grown up in an era of peace, so finding himself in a world overrun by demons and monsters left him deeply unsettled.
Especially within the inherited memories, he witnessed heart-wrenching scenes of the previous host's parents and loved ones killed by monsters. The toll on his psyche was indeed substantial.
But he soon realized that the fear stemmed from insufficient strength.
Weak individuals inevitably dwelled in a perpetual state of fear. To break free from this anxiety, the only path was to become stronger. Given this body's innate talent for cultivation and its affiliation with Mount Shu Sect, a top-ranked immortal sect, the beginning of his journey was considered favorable.
Even more remarkable was the fact that, after his transmigration, he discovered a subtle change in his spirit.
It was the appearance of that pagoda.
Whenever he would meditate, a massive white pagoda would materialize in his mind. Each time he successfully slayed a monster, the pagoda would bestow upon him a reward. This phenomenon had not existed in the previous host's memories; It was as if the pagoda had accompanied him into this realm. Could this pagoda be the legendary golden finger[1]?
Initially, Chu Liang didn't dare to hunt greater demons. Instead, he searched places like unmarked graves and burial grounds in villages and towns around Mount Shu, where he then slayed some lantern monsters.
Lantern monsters were evil entities born from the lingering grudges of the deceased, manifesting as ghostly flames that clung to lanterns. During the night, they would float around and bump into living humans. When this occurred, the lantern monster would disperse into thin air. The person who had been bumped might, at worst, fall ill briefly. Lantern monsters were utterly powerless before cultivators.
In fact, they were so weak that they were rather endearing.
The reward for purifying a lantern monster was a Qi-Gathering Pill that bolstered cultivation. While this pill was not considered rare, amassing an ample amount of them would significantly enhance his cultivation speed.
Once, he stumbled upon a bulky stone statue demon with formidable defenses that was in the act of killing people. After a protracted and grueling fight, Chu Liang successfully wore it down and killed it.
That was the first time the White Pagoda rewarded him with an enchanted artifact—the golden brick that compelled the spider demon to reveal its true form.
[Demon-Revealing Brick: When this brick strikes a person's head, it compels any concealed demonic entity to instantly reveal its true form. If the individual is not a disguised demonic entity, they will experience pain and to some extent, dizziness. This artifact ensures a definitive differentiation between truth and deceit.]
Regarding this artifact, Chu Liang considered it highly practical.
In the world of cultivation, pills, enchanted artifacts, and divine arts were considered extremely valuable... Even disciples of the Mount Shu Sect had to complete missions on behalf of the sect before they could exchange for resources and valuable items.
However, Chu Liang could obtain these valuable items simply by slaying demonic entities. As he killed progressively more powerful demonic entities, the rank of the valuable items he received improved, further enhancing his combat prowess.
Thus, in this very moment, Chu Liang found himself entangled in the paradoxical logic of slaying monsters out of fear for them. From a certain perspective, he had, in fact, fulfilled some of the former host's wishes.
...
Chu Liang took his time dressing up and tying his hair before fetching water to wash up. Only then could it be considered that he had officially gotten out of bed.
He pushed open the door, stepped out of his small wooden cabin, and cast his gaze on the vast sky and serene clouds. It was late spring in April, and a mild breeze carried the fragrance of grass and trees. He followed a path adorned with bird songs and fragrant blossoms, winding around half of a hillside, until he reached a pavilion perched at the peak.
He was here to see his teacher.
The main doors of the pavilion stood wide open, and as he walked beyond the doorway, he saw an alluring figure lying in front of the altar in a relaxed and carefree pose.
It was a woman with long, flowing hair. Strands of hair cascaded down her face, partially covering it, yet revealing the other half in all its delicate radiance. Her facial features resembled finely drawn ink paintings, graced with a subtle rosy hue, while her neck exhibited finely sculpted contours akin to porcelain.
She was draped in a black robe with overlapping panels, and even in her reclined posture, the fullness of her bosom was easily perceived, resembling a full moon. Her chest rose and fell in rhythm with her breathing and an eye-catching jade pendant with a crimson glow nestled amidst her bosom. Her waist was elegantly cinched with a satin ribbon, while below, her hips widened, revealing two long, fair thighs that extended outward, exuding a creamy and delicate softness.
Beside her hand, a large wine gourd hung suspended. As Chu Liang stepped past the door, he even heard a faint snore. These were indications of her lack of decorum. Despite being deeply asleep, the moment Chu Liang's footsteps resounded, the woman snapped awake, her eyes springing open in an instant.
"Esteemed Teacher," Chu Liang called out at the door.
Indeed, this woman was Chu Liang's teacher, Di Nufeng[2], the peak master of Silver Sword Peak, one of Mount Shu's thirty-six peaks.
"Oh, it's morning already?" Di Nufeng exclaimed as she rolled over and sat up. Her clothing, in disarray, revealed part of her shoulders. This scene appeared as if a crime had taken place.
Rather than tidying her disheveled attire, she scratched her head and fixed a hazy gaze on Chu Liang as she asked, "Why are you here?"
She was clearly still in a daze.
"Hmm..." Chu Liang raised his gaze and answered, "Esteemed Teacher, you sent me a paper crane message, requesting my presence upon my return."
"Did that happen?" the woman asked, clearly still sobering up from a night of drinking. She scratched her head before suddenly exclaiming, "Oh! I remember now!"
With a couple of tugs, she adjusted her clothes before standing up, revealing her tall figure and incredible curves, which hadn't been particularly impressive when she was lying down.
"The sect leader held a meeting of the peak masters yesterday to discuss preparations for the Mount Shu Summit that occurs once every ten years. You've heard of it, right? It's the event where disciples from all peaks compete for the title of Head Disciple."
"I know about it."
"I ended up in a heated argument with that old fella Wang Xuanling at the meeting. I couldn't stand his arrogant demeanor as he boasted about how the title of Head Disciple would undoubtedly go to Jade Sword Peak. As if!" Di Nufeng's anger flared up again as she recounted the incident. "Obviously, I argued with him, exchanged a few heated words, and then made a bet.
"If a disciple from Jade Sword Peak secures the head disciple position, I will gift him the Phoenix Spirit Blood Jade. On the other hand, if a disciple from my Silver Sword Peak manages to win the title of Head Disciple, Wang Xuanling will step down as grand peak master and pass the position to me."
With this, Di Nufeng turned her gaze toward Chu Liang. "I called for you here to ask who from our Silver Sword Peak would you recommend participating in the Mount Shu Summit?"
"..." Chu Liang felt speechless for a moment before he spoke softly, "Esteemed Teacher, am I not the only disciple in our Silver Sword Peak..."
"Excellent!" Di Nufeng clapped and exclaimed, "I am delighted that you are willing to recommend yourself!"
1. Golden finger is a term in Chinese popular culture that means an unexpected advantage or cheat-like ability that helps someone progress or succeed. ☜
2. Her name in Chinese is 帝女凤, which means Empress Phoenix. ☜