I'm Not An Immortal (The Adventure of Jian Chou) - Chapter 31
Chapter 31
“Uncle master, Uncle master… you, pinch me!”
This was the voice of the sect leader, Zheng Yao, filled with disbelief.
Fudao Shanren trembled as he held a greasy chicken leg that kept slipping through his fingers like it had a life of its own.
Damn it, why is this chicken leg so disobedient today?
He had to grip it tightly with both hands just to keep it from falling.
Hearing Zheng Yao hollering nearby, he didn’t even look over before shouting back, “I’d like someone to pinch me! What the hell are you screaming for?!”
Oh Grandma, that’s a Heavenly Disk!
Someone, please come over and slap them all in the face! Maybe then they’ll know whether this is a dream!
That brat Jianchou, she’s too wicked, too wicked!
At the beginning, she hadn’t even responded when asked.
Then, when the duel began, she didn’t show her disk.
Even after the fighting started, her disk was hidden within that purple glow.
Only when she finished the fight and kicked that endlessly chattering Zhou Baozhu out did they finally see it!
Fudao was so shocked he dropped his chicken leg!
When the purple light dissipated, standing atop the Sword-Drawing Platform, beneath Jianchou’s feet was a fully lit battle disk!
Each and every kun line gleamed like polished jade!
A fully lit Battle Disk. A fully lit Battle Disk!
What did that mean?
A Perfect Disk—a Heavenly Disk!
The words “Heavenly Disk” echoed in the minds of those two unreliable men.
They were so overwhelmed they could no longer speak.
On the cliff wall, following Qu Zhengfeng, the others finally heard the words “Heavenly Disk” too and were plunged into overwhelming shock.
On the platform, Jianchou remained standing where she was.
This time, she had held back her power.
Her spiritual energy hadn’t fully recovered either, and the strength of this strike was only just about equal to the one in the Scripture pavillion.
Even so, Zhou Baozhu, who moments ago was still showing off, now lay gravely injured and spitting blood in another female disciple’s arms, unable to utter a single word.
Jianchou quietly gazed down at her and was met with a glare full of shock and unwillingness.
Without a word, Jianchou took two steps forward holding the Mirror of In and Out.
Among the three female disciples from the Jianzhu Sect she had seen earlier in the hall, the more ordinary one was now holding Zhou Baozhu, her face filled with fear as she looked up at Jianchou.
But the one who had previously been timid and trembling now suddenly drew her sword.
“You’ve already won. Must you press us to death?”
That did catch Jianchou slightly off guard.
She looked down at her own footsteps, then at the frightened expression on the girl’s face, and suddenly laughed.
Really now…press them to death?
Do I look that terrifying?
She couldn’t help but speak: “All this was simply her own doing. The story always bends this way. Back then, your Jianzhu Sect bullied others under the weight of its power. Today, my Yashan does the same. If judged by the same standard, what’s the harm?”
The girl fell silent.
She bit her lip and hesitated for a long while before finally sheathing her sword.
With hands clasped, she bowed deeply.
“This time, it was our sect overestimating ourselves. Many of our actions were indeed out of line. Senior Jianchou is magnanimous and I beg you to show mercy and spare Senior Sister Zhou.”
“Jiang Ling! What are you saying!”
A hoarse, angry shout, mixed with blood burst from the gravely injured Zhou Baozhu’s mouth.
She glared at the girl in front of her, eyes burning as if she could devour her alive.
Jiang Ling’s body trembled violently but bowed her head even lower.
Still facing Jianchou, she said:
“This junior knows that on that day, Senior Sister Jianchou did not turn a blind eye to Senior Sister Nie. You are clearly a person who walks the righteous path. Now that Senior Sister Zhou has paid the price for her arrogance, she was not, after all, the one who started all this. If you would spare us, when we return to the Jianzhu Sect, I will explain everything to our master and sect leader and convey Yashan’s position. I believe they will change their stance. This way, both sides can have a way out.”
“Nonsense! You… cough cough…”
Zhou Baozhu nearly coughed out more blood in fury.
The disciple holding her was nearly driven to tears from anxiety.
“Senior Sister Zhou, please, don’t move… just stay still…”
“What are you standing around for?! Hurry, stop her! Stop her!”
What a disgrace to the Jianzhu Sect, bowing to Yashan in public!
Wait until they returned to the sect, and once she recovered, she’d make her pay dearly!
That female disciple looked at Zhou Baozhu, then at Jiang Ling, who stood protectively in front of them.
Then she glanced up at Jianchou, who remained on the Sword-Drawing Platform, silently observing.
Finally, she lowered her head and didn’t obey Zhou Baozhu’s command.
This time, no matter how loudly Zhou Baozhu screamed or cursed, she acted as though she didn’t hear a thing.
This scene was… interesting.
Jianchou looked at Jiang Ling with a new spark of appreciation in her eyes.
But just letting them go…wasn’t that a little too easy?
She clasped her hands behind her back, stowing the Mirror of In and Out, and smiled as she asked, “You say I should let you go so you can return and explain things to your sect elders. Just words, how could I believe you? Who’s to say you won’t go back and smear Yashan instead? Besides, you look like just a nobody in the Jianzhu Sect. How could you possibly convince your elders to change their minds?”
Straight to the point.
Every word Jianchou said was right.
Anyone could see what kind of position Jiang Ling held in her sect.
From her initial trembling silence to her standing up now, all to protect Zhou Baozhu and the others, yet she was still cursed and threatened by Zhou Baozhu.
With no weight to her words, Jianchou not believing her was only natural.
Clearly, Jiang Ling knew this too.
Her lips were red, her teeth white, and she bit down hard, as if the more she clenched her teeth, the calmer she could force herself to be.
After a long pause, she finally seemed to have made a decision and said:
“This junior does not dare guarantee that I can convince the elders but if Senior sister Jianchou does not let us go, then there will be no chance at all.”
Jianchou couldn’t help but nod and praise, “Makes sense.”
Hearing that bit of affirmation, Jiang Ling’s pale face flushed crimson, as though encouraged.
She continued:
“If you are willing to show mercy, then first, Yashan’s name will spread across the Central Region. Our sect elders have long respected your sect and won’t dare ignore your stance. Second, you have stood up for Senior Sister Nie of Wuwang pavillion. Your talent is extraordinary, none could stand against you. I believe our elders would not wish to make another enemy of such strength. Moreover, today’s incident was caused by Senior Sister Zhou’s insolence. Right and wrong; our elders will see it clearly.”
In truth, the Jianzhu Sect might send someone to apologize only because they had assumed Yashan would stay out of this, and that Jianchou would as well.
No one had expected both Yashan and Jianchou to step right into the fray.
That unexpected reversal caught everyone off guard.
If the elders learned this, even if they were reluctant, they’d most likely bow to Yashan, at least for now and handle the matter cleanly.
Though Jiang Ling’s words were wrapped in diplomacy, the underlying message was clear: the Jianzhu Sect knew how to read the times.
It wasn’t exactly praise, if anything, it was a bit cold and utilitarian.
But that was the reality of the Jianzhu Sect.
Jianchou had to admit: Jiang Ling was clever.
It was just a shame…
She had joined the Jianzhu Sect.
Seeing that Jianchou hadn’t spoken for a long time, Jiang Ling grew more anxious.
“I wonder… what is Senior sister Jianchou’s decision?”
“…”
Jianchou stared down at the girl, her gaze complicated.
For a moment, she thought of Nie Xiaowan.
Then she glanced toward Fudao Shanren, Zheng Yao, and the other junior brothers watching her from afar.
Finally, she turned back and said:
“There’s something you said that I liked that I am not like your Senior Zhou, twisting reason and killing indiscriminately. I have already won; I never intended to press things too far. I was just toying with you. As for whether I’ll let you go…”
She smiled, “I think you should ask our sect leader.”
Jiang Ling’s eyes widened in disbelief, hardly able to trust what she had just heard.
Standing high atop the Sword-Drawing Platform, Jianchou’s figure was cast in radiant silver light by the slanting sun above.
From below, one could barely make out her features in the glare.
And yet, Jiang Ling could feel that Senior Jianchou was smiling very happily.
It took her a long moment to realize:
She was safe.
She looked up at Jianchou, eyes filled with heartfelt gratitude.
From an extreme state of tension to sudden relaxation, she nearly collapsed to the ground.
From afar, Zheng Yao and Fudao, who had been watching the show, saw that the timing was perfect and practically couldn’t wait any longer, they rushed over and landed on the Sword-Drawing Platform as well.
Jiang Ling had just opened her mouth to ask something, but Zheng Yao cheerfully waved his hand: “This has nothing to do with you all anymore. Hurry up and leave!”
Hurry up and go, hurry up and go!
What’s a Jianzhu sect disciple worth, really?
They didn’t care in the slightest!
Right now, there were only two words on their minds—Heavenly Disc!
Heavenly Disc, Heavenly Disc, Heavenly Disc…
Zheng Yao’s heart was burning with excitement.
After brushing off the Jianzhu sect and the others with a single sentence, he eagerly squeezed up next to Jianchou.
His eyes were practically glowing.
“Senior Sister! Senior Sister!”
“Little Jianchou, you’re too wicked! How can you bully this old man like that?!”
Fudao Shanren couldn’t even come up with a second line of accusation.
Jianchou stood on the Sword-Drawing Platform, resisting the urge to hold her forehead.
She glanced at the speechless Yashan disciples below and suddenly had the urge to smash her head into the ground.
There were still so many people here, and these two were supposed to be Yashan’s pillars of dignity!
“Um… Sect Leader, Master, could you two maybe… pay a little attention to your image? There are still a lot of people watching…”
She kept her voice extremely low, afraid anyone might overhear.
Fudao and the Sect Leader rolled their eyes at her without hesitation, both thinking the exact same thing:
Image? Screw image!
What’s that worth?
Is it more important than the Heavenly Disc?
Is it more important than the Heavenly Disc?!
Is it more important than the Heavenly Disc?!!!
Fudao was nearly grabbing Jianchou by the throat as he asked, “Just say it, was it the Heavenly Disc?!”
Zheng Yao nodded repeatedly, “Yes yes yes, hurry up and say it!”
Hadn’t they both seen it earlier?
Jianchou herself wasn’t quite sure how to describe it.
She only said, “Disciple only knows that all the Kun lines on the battle disc lit up, but I don’t know if that means it’s the Heavenly Disc.”
“Idiot!”
Without hesitation, Fudao bestowed her with a new nickname.
“All the Kun lines lighting up, of course that means it’s the Heavenly Disc! You really are my disciple and only you could still be this dumb at a time like this!”
His voice was loud enough that the other five disciples standing on the cliff wall all suddenly felt their knees hurt.
As for the other Yashan disciples standing below the Sword-Drawing Platform, they were all confused.
Why could they no longer understand what their grand-master-uncle and sect master were saying?
Heavenly Disc?
Who has the Heavenly Disc?
Wait, could there really be such a thing as a Heavenly Disc?
Wasn’t that supposed to be a legendary existence, something no one had achieved for over a thousand years!!!
Then they looked again at the person who was the center of all this excitement—Eldest Martial Aunt Jianchou!
The same Jianchou who had just reached Foundation Establishment and already kicked a mid-stage Foundation opponent flying with one strike! The most powerful leg in the history of Yashan!
A legend who pulled her leg before she pulled her sword, this title was probably going to stick to her from now on.
And now, she was supposedly forming a Heavenly Disc?
Wasn’t this a bit too exaggerated?
Someone had already been struck so hard by this blow to the spirit that they wanted to lie flat on the ground and give up on life.
As for Jianchou…
From the moment she was surrounded by Fudao and Zheng Yao, she felt an intense urge to kneel down and call them Grandpa.
She tried weakly to explain: “Master, no… I can’t quite describe the feeling. It’s just that… cultivation felt way too easy. So smooth it scared me. And then somehow I ended up forming this Heavenly Disc thing, but it’s not how I imagined it.”
Jianchou didn’t think she was some kind of loser, but she also didn’t believe she was some heaven-defying genius from a fantasy novel.
If she were really that amazing, then why was she the one who got killed, and why was it Xie Buchen who got chosen as someone’s disciple?
So, regarding her cultivation progress, she always held this kind of strange attitude like:
“Eh? How did I suddenly succeed?”
Unfortunately, in the eyes of Fudao Shanren…
After listening to her explanation, he silently shoved a chicken drumstick into his mouth and laughed:
“For the rest of my life, I never want to take another disciple again.”
How did he end up receiving such a freak?
A Heaven disc? And he even dares to complain about cultivating too fast?
Comparing items makes you want to throw things away, comparing people makes you want to die!
Wuwuwu, He never want to talk to that girl Jianchou again! She’s such a blow to the ego!
Only Sect Leader Zheng Yao still had stars in his eyes at this point.
Rubbing his hands together, he said excitedly, “Hey, hey, let’s go somewhere else and keep chatting! I’ve grown this old and cultivated this long, but I’ve never seen what a real Heavenly disc looks like! Senior Sister, Senior Sister! Come on, let me indulge myself a little!”
Thirteen days to Foundation Establishment and it’s a Heavenly disc?
Fudao Shanren waved his hand.
“Go, go, go. Let’s change locations. We need to do a proper study of this, and I’ve also got a few questions to ask you.”
Jianchou guessed it was probably about that kick of hers.
She didn’t refuse, and followed Fudao shanren and Zheng Yao back to the Lanyue Hall.
On the way, she ran into a few junior brothers near a cliff wall.
Every single one of them looked at her with a weird and complex expression in their eyes.
Jianchou suddenly remembered something.
She stopped and walked toward them.
Shen Jiu looked at Jianchou’s legs with lingering fear, gulped, and wished he could put as much distance between them as possible.
He was scared that those legs might fly out again at any moment.
Even though he was already at the Nascent Soul stage, a kick like that could still mess him up badly.
The worst part was…
That kick just now had been so beautiful, it made your scalp go numb!
Even if Jianchou was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, she was still terrifying.
Thank goodness Jianchou wasn’t coming for him.
She walked over and stopped in front of Qu Zhengfeng.
“Junior Brother Qu, you’re the highest in cultivation here. I’ve got something to ask…”
Qu Zhengfeng was still immersed in the sensation of seeing a Heavenly disc just now.
Now, looking at Jianchou, he felt like she radiated an incredibly mysterious aura.
A Heavenly disc…
How many people in the world actually have one?
They’re either Heaven’s Favored or Heaven’s Cursed.
Which one was Jianchou?
He had many thoughts, but none of them stopped him from answering her.
“Senior Sister Jianchou, are you worried about the one who just left?”
Jianchou looked at him in surprise.
Qu Zhengfeng’s mind was more meticulous than she’d ever imagined.
She hadn’t even breathed a single word, and he already guessed it? Either he could read minds, or he had the same worries himself.
Jianchou figured… maybe both.
Since Qu Zhengfeng had called it out, she didn’t bother being polite.
“As you said, Junior Brother Qu, I am indeed worried about that Jianzhu Sect disciple who just left—Jiang Linglian, who’s cultivating the immortality. She said those things under the Sword-Drawing Platform to defend Zhou Baozhu, but once they leave Yashan, Zhou Baozhu might turn on her and pretend they’re strangers. If anything unexpected happens in between, it wouldn’t be something we want to see.”
If things really went as Jiang Linglian said, that would be great.
Qu Zhengfeng naturally understood.
He cupped his hands.
“In that case, Senior Sister Jianchou, rest assured. Leave this matter to me.”
After all, the reason she sought out Qu Zhengfeng was: he had the highest cultivation.
Truth be told, Jianchou didn’t really know why she came to him.
Maybe because he was once the eldest senior brother and seemed more reliable than the rest?
She didn’t overthink it.
After thanking Qu Zhengfeng, she bid the others farewell and went inside.
As soon as Jianchou left, Shen Jiu started whining, “Come on! I could’ve done it too, why didn’t she ask me? Junior Brother Kou is also a great option! His combat power is top-notch, and he’s a pure-hearted male cultivator! What a missed chance to start some romance; how could you not give it to me?”
Chen Weishan grinned honestly beside him.
“If I were Senior Sister Jianchou, I wouldn’t pick you either. You just don’t look like a good guy.”
“…”
Shen Jiu nearly choked on that, eyes going wide, and didn’t speak for a long while.
Little fatty Jiang He, meanwhile, was biting his finger and mumbling, “I really wanna know what the Sect Leader and Master are gonna talk about…”
Inside the Lanyue Hall.
Jianchou was curious too.
She was already back, standing properly in front of Fudao Shanren and Zheng Yao.
She looked very proper, even a bit ordinary and completely different from the spirited presence she had on the Sword-Drawing Platform.
No matter how you looked at her, she didn’t seem like someone who could just kick down a mid-Foundation stage cultivator.
Fudao Shanren was tugging at his beard, staring at Jianchou like she was some rare beast.
After a long while, Master Fudao finally spoke.
“Let me see your Battle disc again.”
Jianchou obeyed.
With a single thought, the Battle disc lit up again beneath her feet.
A circular yard-wide Battle disc, now encompassing both Fudao Shanren and Zheng Yao.
Standing inside someone else’s Battle disc had a very… strange and indescribable feeling.
Zheng Yao whispered, “So this… this is standing inside a real Heavenly disc…”
This time, they could see everything clearly.
Each individual kun line wove together to form a complete Battle disc.
Fudao Shanren inspected every corner meticulously.
He had a bitter taste in his mouth and a strange feeling in his chest.
“It really is a Heavenly disc… it really is a Heavenly disc…”
Really is?
Jianchou had always been unsure, but now that Fudao Shanren had confirmed it, her heart finally settled.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Master, I reached Foundation Establishment in thirteen days. That old monster Hengxu’s disciple did it in ten. But I have a Heavenly disc—does he?”
“Pfft!”
Zheng Yao once again choked on his own spit!
After glancing at Jianchou, he immediately turned to Fudao Shanren.
“Uncle master,what on earth did you feed Eldest Senior Sister to mess with her mind like this? Meanwhile, I’m just a poor 22-year-old guy trying to survive my crazy girlfriend!”
“What’s wrong with calling him an old monster? Does he not deserve it?”
Fudao Shanren rolled his eyes so hard he almost saw his brain.
He didn’t even bother reasoning with Zheng Yao and just shoved him aside. “Get outta the way!”
Zheng Yao looked so aggrieved.
But all Fudao Shanren gave him was the back of his head.
He turned to face Jianchou directly, munching on a chicken leg.
“I don’t know if he has a Heavenly disc. But I, this old man, have seen enough to know that you’re a real gem. How about this? Keep cultivating at this speed for a few more days, I’ll arrange a meeting with that old freak Hengxu, and you can fight his disciple. I’ve done the math on your combat power and maybe just a couple of kicks and you’ll beat the crap out of that unlucky brat Xie Buchen!”
“…”
Jianchou stared at Fudao shanren for a long time before finally managing to hold back her excitement.
She nodded furiously like a bobblehead. “Master, you are truly wise and mighty, the backbone of our Yashan!”
Behind her, Zheng Yao was ready to scream at the heavens in despair.
“How do you even know that guy doesn’t have a Heaven disc?”
“He does?”
Jianchou spun around.
Zheng Yao shrugged.
“I’m just saying, given Kunwu’s style, they always like to hide their true power. Pulling off a ten-day Foundation Establishment is already jaw-dropping. If I were Hengxu Zhenren, I wouldn’t reveal it even if he did have a Heavenly disc.”
“That’s true…”
As for Hengxu Zhenren’s ways, Fudao Shanren knew them well.
He thought it over, then simply waved his hand.
“Whether he has a Heavenly disc or not; what does it matter? Jianchou girl’s combat power is absolutely one of a kind for her level! Yes…combat power…”
Suddenly remembering something, the Daoist of Fudao Mountain turned his head to look at her.
“Come to think of it, I forgot to ask you. what’s the deal with that leg of yours?”
That leg…
Naturally, he meant the Dao seal.
Jianchou hesitated for a moment before saying, “Outside the secret realm of Qingfeng temple, a large symbol once appeared. I happened to be outside at the time and memorized the symbol. A few days ago, while cultivating in the Scripture Pavilion, I felt it looked quite like a Dao seal. So I casually tried reverse-deriving it… I didn’t expect that when I tried to use it, it actually worked. That’s why the Scripture Pavilion was destroyed.”
As she spoke, she took out a paper she had long since hidden up her sleeve and on it was the drawn Dao seal, and handed it over.
The secret realm of Qingfeng temple?
Could it be that symbol?
Fudao Shanren was suddenly startled and took the paper, examining it together with Zheng Yao.
The symbol appeared quite ordinary.
One had to know precisely which meridians and acupoints to circulate spiritual energy through before they could determine the true strength of a Dao seal.
Recalling Jianchou’s words, Fudao shanren felt his mind go blank.
“If I didn’t mishear just now, you said… you casually reverse-derived it, used it once, and it worked… So you mean, it worked on the first try?”
“Yes,” Jianchou nodded honestly.
“Maybe I just got lucky.”
Lucky…
Could someone in this world really have that kind of luck?
Fudao Shanren furrowed his brow tightly.
He remembered Jianchou saying that her cultivation progress had been abnormally smooth, so fast it was hard to believe and now she was a Heavenly Disc holder who had even successfully tested a Dao seal on her first attempt.
Never mind the intricacies hidden within the Dao seal itself, just the act of reverse-derivation was considered an extremely exhausting task by cultivators.
One Dao seal had to be tested from among countless possibilities, and with a single misstep, one’s meridians could rupture, even leading to qi deviation or death.
Even if a few promising outcomes were derived from ten thousand possibilities, success was not guaranteed and by that time, the practitioner might already be dead.
If the risks weren’t so high, wouldn’t everyone under the heavens have Dao seals in abundance by now?
Fudao shanren only felt a tangled mess spinning in his head.
Something’s not right.
Something’s definitely not right…
There had to be a reason.
He forcefully tapped his temple with his fingers, trying to figure out what he had missed.
Jianchou had no idea what he was thinking.
She could only move her head in sync with Zheng Yao, following Fudao shanren’s pacing.
After quite a long while, a spark of realization flashed in Fudao shanren’s mind.
“I remember back on the path to Yashan, you once crossed a dangerous section. At the time, a battle disc lit up on the back of your hand?!”
“…That did happen.”
Jianchou also recalled it and nodded.
“But… is there something strange about that?”
Is there something strange about that?
Fudao shanren wanted to fall to his knees for this little ancestor.
He extended a trembling finger toward Jianchou, his voice quaking with it: “It’s… it’s my oversight… Can you…can you make the battle disc appear on the back of your hand again?”
“Like this?”
Jianchou didn’t know what Fudao shanren wanted, but seeing how he looked as if he couldn’t breathe, she dared not refuse and immediately raised her hand.
The battle disc beneath her feet instantly disappeared, and when it reappeared, it was floating directly atop the back of her hand!
In that instant, Fudao shanren and Zheng Yao both turned into statues—completely frozen on the spot.
Jianchou didn’t find anything unusual about it.
“Isn’t it just wherever the spiritual power flows, one thought, and the battle disc lights up there? Like this…”
With a thought, she curled her outstretched fingers and left only her index finger pointing.
The battle disc instantly shifted to her index finger.
For fun, she even twirled her finger slightly.
As her finger spun, so too did the battle disc, casting ripples of brilliant light, dazzling and beautiful.
“Or, like this.”
As if to prove that what she said was entirely normal, Jianchou withdrew her fingers again, and the battle disc vanished once more.
Then she looked up slightly, her porcelain-white cheeks tilted upward.
At that moment, all her spiritual energy surged toward her zuqiao acupoint.
And so, the battle disc reappeared, spinning above Jianchou’s head.
It looked rather comical, like a tiny person wearing an enormous hat.
But Fudao shanren couldn’t laugh.
He was just shy of crying in front of Jianchou.
Comparing oneself to others really will kill you!
