The Abused-Novel Female Lead Holds a Mad Brush - Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Beep Beep Beep Beep
On the other side.
Seeing that the Sect Master and several elders remained silent, the smile on Daoist Yiyao’s face grew even broader, so much so that the small mustache on his upper lip twitched upward.
“I know some among you are thinking about the relationship between the Xuan family and myself. However, one should recommend the worthy regardless of kinship. Look at this water mirror. Isn’t the person currently leading the front on the Hongmeng Scroll none other than Xuan Yeyang?”
Sect Master Xihe-jun still smiled cheerfully as he stroked his beard, saying, “Indeed, indeed.”
With Daoist Yiyao taking the lead and the Sect Master seemingly not opposing it, the minds of the younger disciples below naturally began to sway, and those with shallower thoughts could not help but chime in.
“Daoist Immortal Yiyao speaks the truth. Young Master Xuan drew Qi into his body at ten, reached Foundation Establishment at twelve, and now at eighteen, he is already a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment.”
“Isn’t that right? Young Master Xuan’s fame resounds throughout the mortal realm! Even my aunt’s daughter’s husband’s aunt’s cousin in the mortal realm has heard of him!”
“Yes, yes, as expected of the Xuan family where Daoist Immortal Yiyao hails from. Truly extraordinary!”
It was well known that Xihe Sect possessed the concept of the “Seven Peaks.”
These “Seven Peaks” referred to Yugong Peak where the Sect Master resided, Daoist Yiyao’s Poshang Peak, Daoist Master Yuanru’s Yuge Peak, Daoist Ninggui’s Guipo Peak, Xuan Yuanzi’s Chilun Peak, Daoist Wanren’s Chanjuan Peak, and Qing Yunzi’s Wangshu Peak.
Below these seven peaks were numerous other mountain peaks such as Yugung, Yutu, Qingtu, and Sue.
They each had their own affiliations and were ready at any moment to take a step further to squeeze into the “Seven Peaks.”
The flattering remarks from the disciples below instantly elevated Daoist Yiyao to great heights, even lifting Daoist Wanren along with him.
The expression on Daoist Ninggui’s face turned increasingly gentle as a vast field of osmanthus flowers bloomed behind her, sending out a rich fragrance.
Daoist Master Yuanru happened to catch a glance of it, and startled, the book scroll behind him began flipping through its pages with a rustling sound.
If Yu Jiaxue were here, she would surely exclaim in wonder, for even students pretending to study hard during the homeroom teacher’s evening self-study inspection were nothing more than this.
Seeing that the entrance trial was about to turn into a full-blown brawl, the corners of Sect Master Xihe-jun’s mouth twitched slightly. Just as he was about to speak, a faint laugh drifted over.
Clear and soft, without a hint of sarcasm, yet it broke the superficial harmony and lively atmosphere of the crowd, standing out exceptionally.
Daoist Yiyao was at the height of his satisfaction when he heard this laugh. He immediately raised his eyes and said in anger, “Why is the Peak Master of Yuge Peak laughing? Could it be that you find something inappropriate in what I just said?”
Hearing this, Daoist Master Yuanru twirled the glazed golden-jade brush in his hand, gave Yiyao a light glance, then looked at the disciple to his left, saying no more.
Mu Yihe, the second disciple beside Daoist Master Yuanru, understood in an instant.
Mu Yihe gracefully adjusted his robes, stepped forward gracefully, bowed to Daoist Yiyao gracefully, and opened his mouth gracefully, saying, “What is the peak master of Poshang Peak’s honorable age now? Have you read books, recognized characters, and understood human speech? What kind of medicine do you usually take? Does my disciple need to wake up Uncle Xuanyuan to treat you?”
This series of roundabout twists was exceptionally graceful, giving anyone who heard it a splitting headache.
It had been years since Daoist Yiyao heard such blatant mockery. After reacting for a few seconds, he slammed the table and stood up, saying, “How dare a youngster be so rude!”
Wait.
Daoist Yiyao realized belatedly.
According to this disciple’s meaning, that cold laugh just now wasn’t made by that dog Yuanru?
Then who was it?
Daoist Yiyao froze for a moment.
Like a lagging old movie, he slowly turned his head back.
Not just him, almost all the disciples subconsciously looked back—
They saw the newcomer clad in a snow-white robe layered with a soft light-green mantle. As he moved, his sleeves fluttered like mist and smoke, ethereal like a soul-stealing seductive ghost. Yet looking at his pure and exceptionally refined face, it made people feel that if immortal beings truly existed in this world, they would look no different than the person before their eyes.
At an unknown moment, he had already taken a stand behind the empty position of the Peak Master Qing Yunzi on the far left. At this time, his brows and eyes were curved, looking at everyone with a gentle smile.
A frame of boundless grace, a sight rare to behold in the mortal world.
For a moment, everyone was spellbound. Sect Master Xihe-jun was the first to react, stroking his beard with a smile as he said, “Xuezhu is here. Come sit over here.”
“Since your master Qing Yunzi is absent, this seat for the Peak Master of Wangshu Peak should be taken by you!”
The disciples who were the first to recover were startled once more.
This person was Shen Xuezhu?!
This person was actually Shen Xuezhu?!
The few disciples below who had been overly talkative exchanged terrified glances, not daring to utter another word.
In the entire Xihe Sect, there was no one who did not know the three words “Shen Xuezhu.”
In name, Shen Xuezhu was the chief disciple of Qing Yunzi, the Peak Master of Wangshu Peak. No one knew where he came from, nor did anyone know his background.
Qing Yunzi himself was an unreliable person. From the Nine Heavens Xuanqing above to commoners and beasts below, there was no one he couldn’t make friends with.
It was not to say this was bad, only that it lowered his standing too much.
Everyone in Xihe Sect thought so, subconsciously viewing Shen Xuezhu as the same kind of person. Thus, after Qing Yunzi disappeared without reason, someone secretly urged the crowd to step forward and test him—
Entering standing up, leaving scattered in pieces.
Those people didn’t even see clearly how the young man made his move.
They only saw those broad sleeves gently flutter in the air, and subsequently, they were trapped in a place devoid of sunlight, pitch-black and unfathomable.
At first, those few were terrified, but relying on their own cultivation, they attempted to break it, yet failed to shatter even a single bit of the array.
The vastness of heaven and earth is like ten thousand grand illusions, and also like a giant cage.
Yet Shen Xuezhu could wander among all living beings and the six realms, wielding a wooden brush as swords and blades to carve open the Yin and Yang of all things.
From then on, he was the only one qualified to be called the “Eldest Senior Brother” of Xihe Sect.
Finally seeing the legendary figure, the hearts of the disciples were filled with shock, while simultaneously feeling somewhat puzzled.
Wasn’t it said that Shen Xuezhu was frail and sickly, thus staying in secluded cultivation year-round, not even participating in the Six Realms Martial Assembly? Why did he suddenly appear at such a minor entrance trial?
Daoist Master Yuanru looked at Shen Xuezhu a few more times.
After pondering for a moment, he suddenly opened his lips slightly and asked the second disciple beside him out of nowhere, “Yihe, what do you think if I also get a set of green robes tomorrow?”
Mu Yihe said, “…As long as you are happy.”
Sect Master Xihe-jun and Daoist Ninggui nodded slightly toward Shen Xuezhu.
They both knew Shen Xuezhu’s true identity and naturally understood the formidable power of “Daoist Jiuyou,” who had once guarded the boundary of the Ghost Realm.
Xuanyuanzi let out another yawn.
Ah, how boring.
Having a rare moment of rest and leisure, why couldn’t they let him go back to his peak and lie down? Why did he have to come to this trial?
Only Daoist Wanren and Daoist Yiyao had their faces turn dark in an instant.
Daoist Wanren was fundamentally incompatible with Wangshu Peak, having long-standing grudges.
And Daoist Yiyao naturally could not stand anyone being so arrogant, much less anyone looking down on his Xuan family junior, saying in a cold voice, “Does Nephew Shen have something to say?”
The moment these words came out, Daoist Ninggui couldn’t help but look at him a few more times, shaking her head.
What a big fool.
Do you even know who you are calling ‘nephew’?
Standing behind Shen Xuezhu, Yu Yinglian’s eyes instantly lit up.
There was a good show to watch!
However, Shen Xuezhu did not react as everyone expected, showing neither nervousness nor anger.
He remained seated in the Peak Master’s seat of Qingyunzi, completely unaffected, the smile on his face as warm and gentle as before.
He smiled faintly, picked up the teacup beside his hand, and said slowly, “Is the ‘Xuan Yeyang’ spoken of by Elder Yiyao just now a male?”
Before Daoist Yiyao could speak this time, Daoist Wanren couldn’t hold back first, saying, “Of course!”
He let out a cold snort, saying, “This Hongmeng Scroll was a test created by me, and what it tests is one’s mind and character.”
“A cultivator should pluck the moon and move mountains, marching forward against adversity without fear of dangers, only then can they prove the Great Dao! Women are naturally frail and delicate. How could they possibly squeeze into the top ranks in this trial?”
While speaking, the treasure sword soul-mark behind Daoist Yiyao radiated a cold light, appearing righteous and awe-inspiring, unconsciously making people feel a sense of trust.
Quite a few young disciples couldn’t help but nod along.
Yet Shen Xuezhu was clearly different from ordinary people.
He was entirely unmoved.
“Is that so?”
Shen Xuezhu curved his eyes, put down the teacup, and his broad sleeves traced an arc in the air.
The green sleeves fluttered like mist, rain, clouds, and willows, every move carrying a distinct grace.
“This is precisely where my doubt lies,” Shen Xuezhu said.
“Among the current leading group of disciples on this water mirror, it seems not all are male, but there is a female.”
Although he referred to himself as a “disciple,” his demeanor was calm and unhurried, lacking any humility of lower status.
However, no one cared about these details now.
Huh?
A female?
Daoist Wanren, who had wanted to speak several times, exchanged a glance with Daoist Yiyao.
Both turned their heads back in disbelief.
Almost at the same time, the very instant they turned their heads, a series of extremely strange and bizarre laughter echoed from the water mirror.
“Khehehehehehe!”
The sound was not unpleasant to hear—the timbre could even be considered pleasant—yet the tune of this laughter differed from any previous sound.
While bizarre enough to send a chill down one’s spine, it vaguely sparked an urge to listen to it on repeat???
“Khehehehehe, I knew you couldn’t outclimb me, ahaha khehehehehe—”
Xuanyuanzi’s yawn got stuck in his throat.
For the first time recently, this Peak Master of Chilun Peak, who was always drowsy and exhausted, opened both of his eyes wide, asking the doubt in everyone’s hearts on their behalf, saying—
“What the hell is this thing??”
