Chapter 27

Yi Zui had been squatting nearby. After his initial shock at seeing his uncle, the teenager, who had excellent psychological qualities, quickly began to continue eating melon seeds. When the red-robed elder recommended himself, Yi Zui not only showed no intention of assisting but also muttered excitedly, “Fight, fight.”

However, there was no fight, leaving Yi Zui somewhat disappointed. Then, he heard what Yu Xizhi said.

Yi Zui, startled, bit down on a melon seed shell: “Wow, seriously, wow! I thought I was an unparalleled genius with my dual cultivation of talisman and sword. But my second senior sister just said she wants to do alchemy, talisman, and swordsmanship all together?”

Always confident to the point of arrogance, Yizui felt his outlook on life was shaken.

This shock made him oblivious to the strange silence and stillness around him. Out of habit, he picked up another melon seed and popped it into his mouth.

“Crunch—”

The sound of him cracking the seed broke the silence. Everyone turned to look at the squatting teenager.

Yi Zui, startled by the attention, instinctively said, “Why are you all looking at me? If I can cultivate both talisman and sword, why can’t my second senior sister manage three disciplines?”

Everyone thought, Are we looking at you to hear this?

Wasn’t it because your melon seed cracking was too loud?

Even Master Huaiwei couldn’t help but glare at Yi Zui, thinking to herself that while this child is usually a bit outrageous, how could he be so oblivious now? Doesn’t Kunwu care about its face? How could anyone argue against or disagree with such a statement?

Yi Zui, usually indifferent to malicious gazes but highly sensitive, looked up, was bewildered, and met Master Huaiwei’s resentful eyes. He was stunned and even wondered if he had misinterpreted her look.

Why would his master’s wife look at him like that?

While Yi Zui was still in shock, the red-robed elder seemed to be reminded of something by Yi Zui’s earlier words and clapped his hands, saying, “That’s right, if this brat Yi Zui can cultivate two disciplines, why can’t Zhizhi?”

—He actually learned it by himself and started calling her “Zhizhi” affectionately.

Yi Zui, thinking what do you mean ‘if he can,’ was about to glare in anger when Master Tan sighed, “Alright then, why not come back to Xiya Tower with me first, and when you’re bored and feel like drawing talismans, you can visit Baiyu Pavillion”

The red-robed elder was stunned by his opponent’s reasoning: “Old Tan, I usually thought you were a sincere person, but I didn’t expect you to say such shameless things with the most sincere tone! I think it’s better if she comes to Baiyu Pavillion directly. Making pills can be a casual activity after meals!”

“Drawing talismans are just pastimes.”

“Do you expect Zhizhi, a young girl, to guard your broken stove every day? Are you trying to smoke her face to blacken it? Zhizhi, believe me, following this old man to make pills will make you ugly.”

“…You’re the old man here, and you dare talk about me? Have you shaved?”

…

At first, Yu Xizhi was nervously clenching her fists, fearing she might be scolded for being ungrateful. But in no time, she saw the two of them arguing incessantly, almost coming to blows over where she should go first. Seeing this, she finally felt relieved.

Although she had long been accustomed to widespread contempt and being ignored wherever she went and had little sense of presence in her sect, hearing so many malicious words and doubts along the way still left her in a foul mood.

If the two sword strikes she just executed contained some of her pent-up frustration, the scene before her now finally made the young girl involuntarily laugh out loud.

Xie Junzhi had been silently watching the two people bickering and vying with each other. Upon hearing Yu Xizhi’s laugh, he finally turned his head to look at her: “You still want to learn swordsmanship, don’t you?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but as soon as he spoke, the red-robed elder and Master Tan, who had been arguing with flushed faces, naturally stopped and turned their attention toward him.

Yu Xizhi nodded, her eyes bright as she looked at him: “I do.”

Xie Junzhi looked at the girl with her head tilted up. She had a charming smile, her dimples shallow, and her hair slightly disheveled from the recent sparring. This inexplicably made his hands itch to brush away the strands of hair covering her eyes.

As he thought this, his hand did move, but midway, he decided it wasn’t appropriate, so he awkwardly redirected it to push the small twig on her head instead.

For some reason, the bickering between the red-robed elder and Master Tan was irritating him.

Yu Xizhi still needed his blood to detoxify herself, and he was the one who taught her swordsmanship. He was the only person in the world who could see through her cultivation. So why should she go with them?

Thinking about this, Xie Junzhi’s gaze darkened. After pushing the small twig, he suddenly asked, “Would you be willing to come to Qianya Peak?”

Yu Xizhi was taken aback.

She had experienced too many shocks in a short time. Hearing the words Qianya Peak, she slowly processed the keywords from her chaotic thoughts.

Xie Junzhi was asking her if she wanted to go to Qianya Peak.

Xie Junzhi was the Little Uncle Master.

… Xie Junzhi was the Little Uncle Master of Qianya Peak from Kunwu!

Yu Xizhi stared blankly at Xie Junzhi’s gentle yet dark eyes, finding her own stunned reflection in them.

Little Uncle Master, wasn’t he the terrifying, world-destroying, ruthless main villain of the entire book?

And now… she had a twig stuck in her hair, given by the very villain standing before her, asking if she wanted to go to his mountain.

—Silly child, run away!

Run away? She was the silly one here.

While Yu Xizhi was still in a daze, Master Huaiyun was also slightly stunned, looking at Xie Junzhi.

Kunwu’s Little Uncle Master had been guarding a peak alone for so long that everyone thought it was just the way things were, forgetting that he was actually the head of Qianya Peak and had the right to recruit disciples.

As for Yu Xizhi being Master Huaiyun’s direct disciple…

It had already been conveniently overlooked by everyone ever since they saw Yu Xizhi’s situation.

Now, with the red-robed elder and Master Tan vying for her, both claiming to be the best in the world, why couldn’t Xie Junzhi ask too?

“This… this might be against the rules, right?” Teacher Xu asked dumbfoundedly, “After all, she is under the sect master’s direct tutelage…”

“Senior Brother, is it okay?” Xie Junzhi didn’t even glance at him but turned directly to Master Huaiyun.

When he said “Senior Brother,” his tone was slightly questioning, but it sounded more like a statement of “It should be okay,” as if he was merely asking out of respect for the sect master’s title.

Whether to open the mountain or not was ultimately his decision.

Who stipulated that only one person could live on Qianya Peak?

Moreover, the key issue is that Qianya Peak is too close to the Sword Tomb, with sword energy crisscrossing and abundant.

Who can live in such an environment? Even if someone could stay there temporarily, how long could they endure it?

The red-robed elder and Master Tan naturally thought about this.

But at the same time, the benefits of tempering oneself at the Sword Tomb are unimaginable.

Xuan Ping and Xuan Fan merely experienced a stab of sword intent and immediately broke through their cultivation levels. If Xie Junzhi hadn’t spent all these years on Qianya Peak, how could he possess such exceptional sword intent at such a young age?

Both Baiyu Pavillion and Xiya Tower have a thousand years of heritage, yet they must admit that in terms of cultivation, nowhere in this world compares to Qianya Peak.

Since they wanted to take on a personal disciple, they naturally considered everything for Yu Xizhi’s sake, hoping for her well-being but also fearing for her safety.

But does Yu Xizhi understand these intricacies? Even if she does, can she endure it?

Both wanted to persuade her but didn’t know how to start.

Master Huaiyun moved his lips, feeling a bit bitter. In his view, how could a direct disciple go to a second or even a third master? Yet, the red-robed elder and Master Tan never played by the rules. The red-robed elder was always outrageous, but even Master Tan was…

While he was still pondering how to speak, Yu Xizhi had already figured it out.

In the original story, she was the malicious supporting character, and he was the blackened villain. They were well-matched in their evilness. If anything, she was overreaching. She was just a stepping stone, while Little Uncle Master was the real power player.

Although it was strange that both Master Tan and the red-robed elder inexplicably favored her, deviating from the original plot, she must remember that the female lead’s sword could pierce her chest at any moment, ending her life.

She still needed to train more.

No place was more suitable for her than being around the female lead control group.

Clearly, Xia Yiyao was following the original storyline, not liking her, and being favored by the sect. They were natural adversaries with no chance of reconciliation. Since that’s the case, siding with the main villain was entirely reasonable.

So, she looked back at Xie Junzhi, took a deep breath, and said seriously, “I am willing.”

The red-robed elder and Master Tan exchanged a glance. At this point, neither of them had won, but they felt a sense of shared fate. However, Yu Xizhi’s willingness to go left them with no objections.

Can Taiqing Peak and Qianya Peak be compared?

Staying at Taiqing Peak would be wasting time, but going to Qianya Peak would open up a whole new world!

The red-robed elder cleared his throat and took out a purple sandalwood box from his sleeve: “This immaculate immortal box is connected to my mind and can transmit messages and items. Inside, there are brushes and papers; you can take them. Since you’ve decided to go to Qianya Peak, using the Water Mirror for lessons is fine. Just come down to Baiyu Pavillion once a month.”

Master Tan then presented a small palm-sized cauldron: “This Silken Coil cauldron was crafted from a rare material I found years ago during my travels, forged in the Abyss of Extremity using the abyssal fire. It was meant for my personal disciple when the time came. Now, I can finally present it. Additionally, here are three Tianshu Tri-Element Replenishing Pills as a token of acceptance.”

Everyone watched with envy, knowing that what these two had brought out were nothing but ordinary items. Huaiwei recognized at a glance that the red-robed elder was holding his own natal talisman box, which contained a personal space. As for Master Tan, regardless of the quality of the cauldron, the Tianshu Tri-element Replenishing Pills were already astonishing!

After they finished speaking, they both looked at Yu Xizhi.

Xie Junzhi gently brushed the small twig in her hair again, his voice filled with amusement, clearly pleased by Yu Xizhi’s previous response: “What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to bow to your new masters?”

Only then did Yu Xizhi snap out of her daze. She raised her hand to fix her hair, carefully tidied her attire, then took a step forward, knelt down solemnly, and touched her forehead to the ground, loudly proclaiming, “Honored masters, please accept your disciple, Yu Xizhi, with this bow!”

The disciples of Xiya Tower watched the girl bow, their eyes filled with evident joy. Xuan Ping and Xuan Fan jostled each other to step forward, greeting Yu Xizhi formally and introducing her, “Coincidentally, even at Xiya Tower, you will be the second senior sister. Our senior sister, Tan Mingtang, is our master’s daughter. Though she isn’t formally under our master, she holds the title of senior sister.”

Seeing the lively atmosphere at Xiya Tower, the red-robed elder regretted coming alone and lacking presence, so he signaled to Yi Zui.

Yi Zui had no choice but to step up reluctantly: “Ah, well, second senior sister, at Baiyu Pavillion, you’re also the second senior sister. We have a senior brother named Xuanyuan, who is my mother’s disciple. The hierarchy is a bit messy, so please bear with it.”

Amidst the warm and lively atmosphere, the disciples of the Kunwu sect felt a sense of loss and strange feelings. It was clear that the second senior sister was still Kunwu’s second senior sister, but something felt off.

It was as if they had just realized that the second senior sister they had always looked down upon was so extraordinary. Before they could apologize for their past slights and express goodwill, she had already ascended to an unattainable height for everyone else!

Is there anyone else in the world who could attract the attention of three of the top masters simultaneously like her?

She might have never cared about these things before or perhaps cried in solitude at night, but the past is now like smoke. Who would dare say a bad word about her in the future?

Yu Si bowed deeply to Xie Junzhi: “I entrust my younger sister to you, Little Uncle Master. However, I will likely visit Qianya Peak often, so I ask for your forgiveness in advance.”

Yi Zui also came over. Although he didn’t say it openly, every sword cultivator’s dream was to become as powerful as Little Uncle Master. Before, there was no chance, but now, seeing Xie Junzhi open the mountain in his lifetime, he shamelessly said, “Uh, Little Uncle Master, what do you think about me? It’s not convenient for just you and the second senior sister to be at Qianya Peak. You might need someone to help out, right? How about taking me along as well?”

“I-I can run errands too!” A nervous voice sounded. Huang Li’s face was flushed: “I’m willing too!”

Another voice joined in: “I am Cheng Luocen, and I came with Second Senior Sister from Lingbei Town. I also wish to join Qianya Peak!”

These two had previously had little presence, and their sudden outburst startled many people. They thought to themselves, Aren’t you overestimating yourselves? It might be understandable for Yi Zui, but is Qianya Peak a place just anyone can enter?

Teacher Xu had been holding back for too long. Now that Yu Xizhi’s status was so high, and Yi Zui was also someone he couldn’t afford to provoke, could he not say something to these two nobodies? He frowned and looked over, “Who do you think you are? Do you think you can just go to Qianya Peak as you please?”

The youngest disciple, Xia Yiyao, looked pale as she watched the group, feeling uneasy. She couldn’t help but ask, “Master, can I… can I also…”

“Ridiculous! Have you forgotten how the Sword Tomb’s energy harmed you?” Huaiwei reprimanded in a low voice.

Huang Li and Cheng Luocen’s faces changed slightly, but before they could respond, Xie Junzhi spoke first: “You are indeed very noisy.”

Teacher Xu, shocked that he was being reprimanded for scolding two outsiders, looked at Xie Junzhi in disbelief.

For some reason, a sense of foreboding gripped him.

“If you hadn’t spoken, I might have forgotten about you,” Xie Junzhi said, as if recalling something, turning his attention to Huaiyun.

“Senior Brother, if you don’t deal with this person, I can.”

Teacher Xu turned pale.

“What… what do you mean?”

“Nothing much, just that I don’t want to see you anymore. Who’s in charge of the Disciplinary Hall now?” Xie Junzhi sighed, “The Xu family was once known for their integrity, but to see it fall to such a state in this generation is disheartening.”

At the mention of the “Disciplinary Hall,” Teacher Xu’s pupils dilated in shock. He saw a stern and imposing Kunwu steward step forward from the crowd, clasping his fists, “Little Uncle Master’s orders, Teacher Xu, excuse us!”

With that, the steward truly moved to apprehend him.

Teacher Xu finally panicked.

“What are you doing?! I have served Kunwu as teacher for fifteen years. Even if I have no merits, I have worked hard. How can you treat me like this! My ancestor is still in the back mountain of Taiqing Peak. Aren’t you afraid of his wrath?!”

The enforcers from the Disciplinary Hall ignored his protests and directly moved to subdue him.

Huaiyun sighed, “Teacher Xu, your tormenting of my direct disciple is indeed beyond acceptable. Reflect on your actions in the Disciplinary Hall.”

Teacher Xu refused to comply, struggling fiercely. In desperation, he crushed a distress talisman linked to the Xu family patriarch, screaming, “Ancestor, save me—!!”

A gust of wind suddenly arose.

Birds were startled into flight from Taiqing Peak, and the sky darkened slightly. A hoarse voice, accompanied by a brilliant sword aura, broke through the heavens.

“Who dares harm a child of the Xu family? Do you think the Xu family is without power?!”

Terrified, the disciples retreated in haste. The swift steward quickly activated a barrier, but not in time to shield all the disciples.

The sudden surge of sword energy reached Ziyuan Peak’s Sword Trial Platform in an instant. The sword light seemed forged over a decade, brimming with fury upon its release!

The Xu family patriarch, raging and brandishing his sword, descended from the back of Taiqing Peak!

Some couldn’t bear to watch, fearing the Disciplinary Hall enforcers would be decapitated in an instant.

Yet others widened their eyes in shock.

A blindingly brilliant sword descended from the heavens, neither avoiding nor retreating, directly meeting the patriarch’s fierce sword energy and figure!

The two sword energies met, yet there was no clash.

The patriarch’s sword energy seemed to encounter something terrifying. The mere edge of the latter sword’s blade had already completely shattered and obliterated it!

Xie Junzhi didn’t even draw his sword. Holding an inconspicuous twig, he casually waved it, creating such a grand spectacle!

“After 18 years of seclusion in the back mountain, you only managed to reach the Soul Accumulation stage. Indeed, the Xu family has no one worthy,” Xie Junzhi said, looking towards Taiqing Peak with a blank expression.

“Or maybe it’s just that I haven’t drawn my sword for too long, so even someone like you dares to draw a sword in my presence?”

There was complete silence.

The Xu family patriarch was forced to retreat with a single sword stroke, not even setting foot on Ziyuan Peak before turning back to Taiqing Peak.

Everyone stared in awe at the small twig in Xie Junzhi’s hand, thinking, is this… the so-called world’s number one sword?

The twig looked somewhat familiar.

Upon closer inspection, they noticed that Second Senior Sister now had only a chopstick left, with no twig in her hair.

After delivering the sword stroke, Xie Junzhi’s face turned pale. He covered his mouth with his hand and started coughing again.

Usually, when he coughed like this, people worried about his frail health.

But now, even his cough exuded power and sword energy.

The red-robed elder clapped in admiration.

“It’s been years since we last met, and Little Uncle Master Xie’s sword intent has become even purer.”

Xie Junzhi nodded slightly in acknowledgment and then looked towards Huang Li and Cheng Luocen.

“If you want to come, then come.”

He reached out and placed the twig back into Yu Xizhi’s hair, then walked forward with his hands behind his back.

“Let’s go.”

Yu Xizhi paused for a moment, holding the Immaculate Immortal Box in one hand and the Silken Coil Cauldron in the other. She turned and bowed gracefully to the red-robed elder and Master Tan before following Xie Junzhi towards Qianya Peak.

Yu Si had no objections to Yu Xizhi’s decision but was still concerned and naturally wanted to accompany them to see.

Yi Zui blinked and glanced at the red-robed elder, who quickly signaled for him to follow. So, Yi Zui hurriedly followed.

Huang Li and Cheng Luocen exchanged a look, seeing immense joy in each other’s eyes, and quickly stepped forward.

Qianya Peak opened, and the and the Kunwu sword emerged.

The wind carried faint remnants of sword energy, slightly stinging everyone’s faces.

The path to Qianya Peak was neither too far nor too close. They had to cross several mountains and a few forests. The sword’s energy grew stronger, but the road became smoother.

Light pierced through the clouds, falling on the group. They were still wearing the same Kunwu robes; she was still the same Second Senior Sister.

But now, Second Senior Sister held the Kunwu sword.

—End of Volume One: I Have the Kunwu Sword—