Second Senior Sister Has A Highly Dangerous Profession - Chapter 56
Chapter 56
No matter how thick the snow, it will eventually melt.
Even if the cliffs are barren and lonely forests stretch for miles, the Kunwu Mountain Sect always welcomes new buds unfurling.
The mountains gradually turn green, frozen waterfalls transform into flowing springs.
On Ziyuan Peak, the treetops, level as though cleaved by a sword from the peak to the base, begin to flourish again.
The disciples of Ziyuan busily repair the canopy, just as the Kunwu Mountain Sect’s Sword Selection Conference commences.
“Ten years sharpening a blade, unveiled in one moment of glory.”
If one does not showcase their sword at the Sword Selection Conference, who will ever notice it?
Thus, nearly everyone in the sect signs up.
The direct disciples, needless to say, aim for the top and compete for the chance to enter the secret realm.
Inner disciples, even those with less natural talent but exceptional diligence, hope to stand out, earn recognition, and gain more resources during training.
As for the outer disciples, anyone who has succeeded in channeling spiritual energy into their body sees this as an opportunity to catch the eye of the elders, perhaps earning promotion into the inner sect.
Even those who haven’t found the Dao to immortality yet have specific challenges tailored for them.
In past years, some participants have achieved sudden breakthroughs during such matches, so everyone harbors a glimmer of hope.
After all, having spent years surrounded by the immortal peaks, even if one cannot cultivate immortality, returning to the mundane world as a martial artist is more than enough.
It takes Ziyuan Peak seven whole days just to sort through registrations for solo matches, duo matches, trio matches, and sword formation battles.
When they finally finalize the tournament rules, distribute them across the peaks, and hold meetings to ensure all disciples understand the regulations, the first spring blossoms have already bloomed.
Sword lights and sword intent swirl around the peaks.
Shimmering talismans zip through the air, pill furnaces hum, and medicinal pills roll out in batches.
Ziyuan Peak, being especially eclectic, also resonates with the sounds of zithers and the pitter-patter of small beasts.
Crafting a sword requires precision, and no one dares slack off.
Some even find their pressure driving breakthroughs, with a few disciples advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage just before the tournament begins.
Seeing this, other disciples burn with jealousy, chew lemons through the night, and pick up their swords anew.
On Qianya Peak, sword lights also gleam.
These lights come from both the Sword Tomb and the three figures: Yi Zui, Huang Li, and Cheng Luocen.
Solo matches? A must.
Duo matches? Nope..Can’t skip that either.
These three somehow form pairs in various combinations to register three teams, then join together for the trio matches.
They claim participation is their priority, but the spark in their eyes screams, “We shamelessly registered four teams—no way we’re walking away without placing!”
The Kunwu Sword Formation requires seven participants.
Though their trio works well together, something feels lacking, and they wonder if they can create their own formation.
So, their junior master uncle casually snaps a branch and sketches a few lines.
Suddenly enlightened, Yi Zui and Cheng Luocen experience a breakthrough.
A sword formation, at its core, is simply about synergy.
Seven members make the spectacle grander, provide backups for weaker links, and increase tolerance for error, hence its low requirements for individual cultivation—a fundamental formation.
But if one is strong enough, a trio can also form a formation.
Of course, a three-person sword formation needs its own name.
They decide on “Qianya Sword Formation.”
Their junior master uncle falls silent for a moment, seemingly finding it inappropriate to name such a thing after Qianya, but after watching the trio practice at the peak for days, he ultimately refrains from commenting.
Yi Zui reviews the formation with the trio, sheathes his sword, and exhales.
“Old Cheng, when are you planning to hit Foundation Establishment?”
Cheng Luocen twirls his sword and replies with a grin, “No rush. Even great completion stage can be refined further. When the time comes, I’ll break through.”
Yi Zui raises an eyebrow, thinking Huang Li is still more grounded—straightforward and diligent.
Cheng Luocen, on the other hand, is cryptic and elusive, his words always carrying an air of superiority.
It often makes Yi Zui feel outdone when trying to act cool.
Take that last comment, for instance.
Although Yi Zui knows Cheng Luocen meant no offense, it sounds like a jab about how he rushed his own breakthrough.
And what’s with “when the time comes, I’ll break through”?
Is breaking through as casual as stepping over your doorstep?
Yi Zui recalls his own breakthrough—Cheng Luocen was probably still playing in the dirt back then!
But before Yi Zui can savor this thought, reality dawns on him.
Cheng Luocen was playing in the dirt while he achieved Foundation Establishment.
Now Cheng Luocen is nearing the same stage, while Yi Zui remains at the Foundation Establishment stage, albeit at its peak.
What’s there to gloat about?
And that seemingly harmless Huang Li?
He started as an outer disciple with little spiritual potential.
Yet in less than a year on Qianya Peak, not only did he channel spiritual energy, but he also soared to late-stage Qi Refinement.
At this rate, Yi Zui is the one falling behind!
“Five days? Seven days?” Huang Li counts on his fingers, struggling to recall.
“Last time, she rushed out, ate a bowl of noodles, lay on the ground for less than two incense sticks’ time, and went straight back to sword practice.”
“Do you think she can beat First Senior Brother now?” Cheng Luocen finally asks what they’re all curious about.
“Does anyone know her current cultivation stage?”
The three exchange looks and shake their heads.
Her sword already cuts through wind and snow, yet they’ve never witnessed her trigger a breakthrough phenomenon.
Still, it’s hard to believe she remains at early-stage Qi Refinement.
But is it possible to break through without such a phenomenon?
“Wait, has anyone told Second Senior Sister that her first solo match is tomorrow?” Yi Zui suddenly recalls.
Huang Li: …
Cheng Luocen: …
Yi Zui smacks his forehead.
“We’re doomed.”
—
Meanwhile, their Second Senior Sister lies sprawled in an icy cave like a real dead dog.
Even while “dead,” Yu Xizhi exudes tranquility, though sword intent courses through her limbs as she rests.
The steady sound of pages turning echoes.
Xie Junzhi, with his usual aloof demeanor, comments, “You wanted to learn Taiqing Gazing Moon. This sword technique has seven forms. You’re only at the sixth. Are you giving up already?”
Yu Xizhi grits her teeth and rises.
“Who’s giving up? A sword cultivator never says ‘can’t’!”
She adjusts her blade, blocking a burst of sword intent, but stumbles back several steps before collapsing again, coughing uncontrollably.
Coincidentally, Xie Junzhi also raises a hand to stifle a light cough.
Yu Xizhi glances at him and suddenly asks, “Junior Master Uncle, your cough… could it be caused by all this sword intent on the mountain?”
Xie Junzhi neither confirms nor denies, his gaze inscrutable.
“What do you think?”
Yu Xizhi assumes so, naturally.
Despite her exhaustion, she evades the next surge of sword intent with agility.
As she lifts her blade, dozens of sword lights erupt from its tip, shattering the incoming wave.
If Xia Yiyao were present, she would undoubtedly scream in astonishment.
After all, Yu Xizhi’s lazy, casual strike is none other than the fourth form of Taiqing Gazing Moon, which Xia Yiyao can only execute after nurturing her sword for ages!
But Yu Xizhi doesn’t take pride in her feat.
She coughs twice more, then suddenly chuckles.
“So, does this mean we share the same sickness?”
Her laugh is lazy, her smile radiant.
Yet she barely laughs for long before coughing again.
She fumbles for her pills, only for a sudden burst of sword intent to shatter the last one.
Yu Xizhi: …
No more smiles.
That was her last pill!
Just as she resigns herself to licking powdered dregs, a hand extends toward her.
Yuxi Zhi instinctively placed her hand in Xie Junzhi’s, leveraging his strength to pull herself up from the ground.
Just as she was puzzled by his intentions, he didn’t release her hand.
“Since you think we share the same ‘illness,’ do you want to experience the sword intent of the entire mountain?”
Xie Junzhi tilted his head to look at her, his lips curving slightly.
The arc of his smile held arrogance, disdain, and even a trace of self-mockery—but none of these emotions were directed at her.
They were aimed at the sword intent surrounding them.
The sword intent of Qianya Peak came from the immense sword tomb and its countless swords.
Xie Junzhi had once mentioned that this cave alone contained sixty-six different sword techniques and intents, of which Yu Xizhi had learned only half so far.
The other half, she could only handle with his guidance and suppression.
But in the sword tomb, countless swords carried countless techniques and emotions—and all of them converged upon him.
Now, he was asking her if she wanted to feel the sword intent of the entire mountain.
Yu Xizhi turned her gaze to the pale and handsome young man beside her.
His lashes were dark as raven feathers, and in his listless eyes was her reflection.
When she smiled, the figure in his eyes smiled too.
When she blinked, her reflection in his eyes also blinked.
Her heart began to race, though she wasn’t sure if it was due to curiosity about this overwhelming sword intent or something else.
She thought for a moment and asked, “Will I die?”
“Not while I’m here.”
Yuxi Zhi hesitated, then added, “I’ve been meaning to ask—why does it have to be you?”
—If she had read the original book more carefully, she might already know the answer to this question.
But since she’d skimmed through it after her character “exited” the story, she only knew that this Kunwu Sect’s Junior Master Uncle eventually became one of the primary antagonists.
She didn’t even know his real name.
He shouldn’t have had anything to do with her.
But since they were connected now, she wanted to ask.
Her question was vague, but Xie Junzhi understood.
“Win the Sword Selection Conference. Claim the top spot.”
Yu Xizhi froze, her mind swiftly cycling through all the disciples in the sect.
Yet it also felt as though it was completely blank.
Finally, with a complicated expression, she nodded. “Alright.”
But that wasn’t all.
He added, “At the Five Sects and Three Paths Sword Tournament, you must also claim first place.”
This time, countless faces flashed through her mind—some familiar, many not.
But the real issue was that, according to the original story, the Five Sects and Three Paths Sword Tournament was where she was destined to fall to Xia Yiyao, who would pierce her through.
Her dedication to sword training had always been driven by a desire to resist such a fate.
She never cared about rankings or victory, only survival, which she already deemed difficult enough.
Yet as she met Xie Junzhi’s gaze, she said nothing.
She simply pressed her lips into a smile and answered, “Alright.”
Only then did Xie Junzhi seem satisfied.
“When the time comes, I will tell you why it has to be me.”
The cave was bitterly cold, and his hand was equally so.
Having been in this place for so long, Yu Xizhi’s body held no warmth either.
Strangely, she barely registered how cold his touch was.
Yet just as Xie Junzhi finished speaking, the hand holding hers suddenly grew warm.
He tightened his grip, and before Yu Xizhi could fully process this strange sensation, an overwhelming torrent of sword energy, sword intent, and sword light came crashing down upon her!
She had thought the sword intent she faced in the cave was like a mighty river.
Only now did she realize it was but a trickle compared to this—a boundless sea, stretching endlessly across the sky, poised to engulf her entirely.
She couldn’t breathe, yet she forced herself to.
Her very soul felt as though it was being torn apart, but she gritted her teeth, determined to endure just a moment longer.
What allowed her to hold on was not her own strength, but the warmth of Xie Junzhi’s hand and the sight of him, guiding her, raising a broken branch, and slashing a single sword strike at the mountain and its sword tomb.
A brilliant white arc tore through the night, piercing through heaven and earth.
Sword energy like a white rainbow—it was divine.
