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The Clear Balance Sect held an entrance ceremony every three years to replenish the ranks of each peak with fresh blood. Every six months, there was a registration and record-checking session to add the names of previously unregistered outer sect disciples and remove those who had given up on cultivation and left the mountain. At the same time, disciples’ seniority was calculated based on this timeline, with the necessary resources distributed accordingly.
Ning Youli had arrived just in time. Had she arrived any later, she would have missed out on a full six months’ worth of seniority.
At this moment, she sat atop Peak Master Xie’s crane mount, slowly descending. Wispy clouds parted before her, and the blurred scenery grew clearer as the distance grew closer.
“…If you still remember what happened two years ago, you should have some impression of this place.” The person in front turned his head slightly, his voice carried by the wind.
Amidst the clouds and mist, Xie Lingyun’s immortal demeanor seemed even more ethereal and aloof.
“The outer sect disciple registration ceremony is about to begin. Once registered, you will be able to start learning how to manage the duties of Spirit Cloud Pool.”
Ning Youli looked down and realized the platform for the registration ceremony was the same place where the original host had her spiritual roots tested years ago. However, unlike the grand scene in her memory that had been crowded with people, there were only about twenty individuals now, making it quite desolate.
It seemed that no matter how many people regretted their decision and came up the mountain, only a handful of them would gain the approval of a peak master.
Ning Youli couldn’t help but reflect that perhaps all her luck in this lifetime had been used up today.
“I remember.” She weighed her words carefully. “That day, all ten peak masters and the sect leader were present, and there were many people coming to test their spiritual roots. But those selected as personal disciples… seemed to be fewer than ten?”
“Mm,” Xie Lingyun responded. “In recent years, there haven’t been many with talent.”
The corner of Ning Youli’s mouth twitched. To say that right in front of her face… wasn’t that a bit lacking in emotional intelligence?
She looked at the man with a cool, detached demeanor standing before her and thought to herself that this was probably the fundamental reason why he ultimately failed to win the beauty’s heart in the end.
In the female lead’s battlefield of love, wasn’t every man outstanding in their respective fields? Whether it was the male lead, whose cultivation soared to the Nascent Soul stage in just a few years, earning him the title of Sword Venerable, or the Demon Lord with formidable assets who could fight the male lead to a draw, or even Xie Lingyun, the master of Spirit Cloud Peak before her—who formed his Golden Core at a young age, possessed a handsome and refined appearance, a cool and immortal-like temperament, and was a rare, high-level alchemist who made reviving the dead and regenerating flesh no longer just a myth.
In the book, Xie Lingyun even refined his own life-bound weapon into a pill to revive the female lead from death, gifting her three hundred years of cultivation. And yet, he still wasn’t one of the most important figures by her side.
Although both were alchemists, his disciple, Pei Jue, being of the same generation as the female lead, was even closer to her than him.
—Not only did their skills overlap, but his incompetence in sweet-talking was also a critical hit.
“There’s no need for anything too formal today,” the man continued. “I will test your spiritual roots once more. After that, you can begin learning about the duties of outer sect disciples.”
Those dark, ink-black eyes of his lowered slightly. “Do what you’re supposed to do, and at the same time, don’t neglect your cultivation.”
Ning Youli naturally agreed. In the Clear Balance Sect, even disciples tasked with sweeping the mountain gates had to cultivate to the late Foundation Establishment stage at the very least, that way, they would at least have the strength to escape if they ever encountered any trouble.
The crane descended slowly, landing on the testing platform.
Ning Youli was the first to scan her surroundings. Among the twenty or so people present, only about a dozen, like her, wore pale blue silk pouches at their waists. The rest were guides sent by the various peaks. Judging by the proficiency of their salutes, they had likely been on the mountain for some time already.
“Peak Master Xie,” these people greeted respectfully.
Xie Lingyun gave a slight nod and, without further ado, walked directly to the area designated for testing spiritual power. “Line up, one at a time.”
The naturally transparent stone pillar would react with the corresponding spiritual root once one infused their spiritual power into it.
Ning Youli craned her neck slightly from the back to watch. The brother in front of her had just infused his spiritual power when purple lightning appeared on the transparent jade, followed by a small green sprout emerging from the withered vines coiled around the stone pillar.
“Dual thunder and wood spiritual roots,” Xie Lingyun verified against the register. “Correct.”
The disciple thanked him and left with the waiting guide.
“Next.”
When it was her turn, Ning Youli placed her hand on the stone pillar but received no response for a long time.
Xie Lingyun: “…”
He looked at the motionless girl and raised an eyebrow. “Why aren’t you infusing your spiritual power?”
Because I thought this was automatic.
Ning Youli grumbled inwardly, then turned to the system for help: [How do I infuse spiritual power?]
As a transmigrator, she hadn’t fully grasped how to use her abilities in the cultivation world.
System: [Hold your breath, focus your mind, and concentrate.]
Ning Youli: [I don’t get it.]
System: […What level does the host want?]
Ning Youli: [Is it not fixed?]
System: [Of course not.]
When a person does not continually cultivate, their spiritual power typically tends to weaken as they age.
Moreover, two years had already passed.
Under normal circumstances, Ning Youli’s spiritual root aptitude would likely have deteriorated from average to very low, with the best-case scenario being no change at all.
The system believed that all humans have a desire to grow stronger, and this host would surely choose to exert the most exceptional aptitude.
Yet Ning Youli replied, “Just keep it as before.”
Survival meant staying low-key—otherwise, how could one survive? If she were to become exceptionally talented, she would only be the nail that stuck out and eventually got hammered down.
The system remained noncommittal.
Why was this host so lacking in ambition? What a miscalculation.
But it still decided to make her slightly less ordinary—for the sake of leveling up.
Thus, when Ning Youli placed her hand on the stone pillar again, the transparent jade condensed into deep blue frost flowers.
At the same time, the Peak Master of Spirit Cloud Peak lifted his gaze, just in time for his eyes to reflect that shimmering blue light.
Compared to the “weak aptitude” recorded in the booklet, the jade now gave the answer—”average.”
Different inclinations, yet they were worlds apart.
If “weak” meant she might never even reach Foundation Establishment in this lifetime, then “average” meant she could at least strive to reach Core Formation.
Was there an error in the previous records?
The man’s brow furrowed. After a pause, he still crossed out the previous record and replaced it with “average.”
Ning Youli, unaware that her spiritual root had been upgraded a tier, waited peacefully to the side for someone to come and fetch her.
Sure enough, the one who came was still Pei Jue.
The young man summoned an immortal crane and was about to take her away when Xie Lingyun said, “Go wait for me at the Heart Reflecting Hall.”
What was the Heart Reflecting Hall? Ning Youli didn’t know, but Pei Jue did. It was a place of utter tranquility, where disciples reflected on their Dao Heart1 in silence, and also where important matters were usually discussed.
Why would their master ask them to go there…?
Though puzzled, Pei Jue still nodded.
The Heart Reflecting Hall was very close to Spirit Cloud Pool. Opening the window, one could see the mist-shrouded celestial pools a hundred feet above, with a waterfall cascading down the rock wall beside it, splashing white spray that drenched the nearby rocks in a thick layer of moss.
“Let’s wait here for Master first,” Pei Jue said, pouring two cups of water. “In the meantime, I’ll tell you about the usual tasks required for you to do at Spirit Cloud Pool.”
Ning Youli nodded. “I’ll make sure to listen carefully to Senior Brother’s guidance.”
“No need to be formal,” Pei Jue paused. “Because Spirit Cloud Pool is located at the highest point in the sect, the fish raised here are of higher quality than those in any other pool or stream. There are also many rare species not usually seen, and their medicinal effects in soups or decoctions are even better.”
Ning Youli blinked. “Is it really okay for me to manage a place like this?”
She had only intended to casually take management of a fishpond, never expecting the one assigned to her to seem this impressive.
The lease contract given by the Peak Master was certainly genuine.
Pei Jue smiled. “Originally, there should have been two or three others working alongside you… but Reflected Radiance Pool on the main peak has been especially busy lately, so everyone was transferred there to help. For now, you’ll have to manage here on your own.”
[Spirit Cloud Pool is the most stable celestial pool in the entire Clear Balance Sect. Usually, one or two people are enough to take care of it, and constant attention isn’t necessary. The creatures in other celestial pools require cultivators with the necessary cultivation to suppress them, but Spirit Cloud Pool doesn’t need that.] The system explained in a timely manner.
So it was a job so leisurely I could even drink tea during work hours. Turns out they’re really looking out for me.
Thinking this, Ning Youli revealed a smile with even more genuine sincerity. “It’s fine if I’m alone. I’ll definitely work hard to complete all the tasks assigned by the Peak Master.”
“Even so…”
The more Pei Jue looked at this obedient junior sister, the more he felt she couldn’t handle such rough work. He couldn’t help but say, “The lease contract is flexible. As long as Master agrees, we can assign you to other duties at any time.”
“What kind of other duties?” Ning Youli asked curiously. Could there be a job with better benefits than this?
“Grinding herbs, sorting materials, smelting… and the like.” Pei Jue repeated his earlier suggestion.
“…” Ning Youli chose to remain silent.
Talking too much was also one of the reasons this guy couldn’t win over the female lead in the end.
pls do not share this anywhere or u will always stub ur toe when u walk past a door frame !! this translation has been stolen from mioscorner.com, pls only read there i’m begging u :kneels:
Not long after, Xie Lingyun also arrived at the Heart Reflecting Hall.
The man lowered his gaze, searching through the records in his hand for Ning Youli’s entry from years past. There were notes from the original recorder, clearly stating: Ning Youli, age twelve, ice spiritual root, weak aptitude, unfavorable for cultivation.
Now, the age had been changed from twelve to fourteen, and her aptitude had also changed, with the fresh ink marks still visible.
Ning Youli couldn’t see the words hidden by the man’s sleeve, but the system projected them for her to see.
[Something feels off…]
Ning Youli keenly sensed something amiss and quickly directed her suspicion toward the system. [What’s going on?]
Her tone was calm and unhurried, as if she were merely asking a simple question.
Even though it had been caught privately altering her aptitude, the system replied very formally: [Improving the host’s aptitude helps with system upgrades and also benefits the host in cultivating for self-defense. This is a reasonable and spontaneous action by this system.]
[I think your real motive is more about the former…] Ning Youli curved her lips into a smile.
The system’s reminder made her realize that gaining some self-defense ability was indeed necessary. If in the future, giant rocks were to fall and she was still unlucky enough not to escape, she would definitely need to have some strength to break through.
For example… smashing through the giant rock with her bare hands?
“Have you encountered any major events in the past two years?” Xie Lingyun’s voice suddenly broke the silence, immediately bringing Ning Youli’s attention back.
“Major events?” Ning Youli hesitated slightly. Did transmigrating into a book count?
Xie Lingyun glanced at her. “Yes or no?”
“No.” Ning Youli shook her head gently. “Being able to ascend the immortal mountain two years ago was already the most unforgettable event of my life.”
“…” Xie Lingyun pondered for a moment, then turned and asked, “Do you have any thoughts on cultivating the Dao?”
Cultivating the Dao?
“Of course I do.” Ning Youli curved her eyes into a smile, not yet realizing the seriousness of the situation, and boasted, “The Clear Balance Sect is the number one major sect in the cultivation world. Being able to cultivate here is something many people can only dream of.”
“Very good.”
Xie Lingyun said something that surprised Ning Youli, “If you share the same thought, then that’s good.”
The next moment, a flash of white appeared at the doorway, followed by a cool, clear female voice, “Peak Master Xie.”
A woman with a calm and serene expression nodded to Xie Lingyun. She wore a white dress, with a pale blue shawl draped over her arm. Standing there, she resembled Guanyin carved upon an ice lotus throne, completely devoid of desire and emotion.
Ning Youli searched her memory for the woman’s identity: Yin Chongliang, Peak Master of Profound Chill Peak.
Yin Chongliang is a spell cultivator with an ice spiritual root. The ice lotuses she conjured were pervasive, capable of killing without a trace. She is also the most powerful woman in the entire Clear Balance Sect.
Though formidable, she appeared only once in the entire book—when her personal disciple, for the sake of the female lead, chose to sever their master-disciple relationship. Enraged, the woman broke eighteen of her disciple’s ribs and threw him off a cliff.
And that disciple of hers was the one with the ice spiritual root, whose talent surpassed the original host’s two years ago and whom she had personally selected.
Ning Youli inexplicably sensed that the woman’s arrival was related to her.
Because she, too, was… an ice spiritual root.
Watching this woman that was as cold as ice approach her, the chill emanating from her was enough to make one shiver. The woman glanced at her sideways, her gaze sweeping over her, neither gentle nor sharp.
“You, would you be willing to become my disciple?”
Ning Youli finally understood: So, Xie Lingyun’s earlier words to her had a reason behind them?
Now, a spell cultivator at the Grand Ascension realm was extending an olive branch to her.
Two paths lay before her—or rather, if it were anyone else in her place, there would be only one path:
Seize this opportunity, transform from an outer sect disciple directly into an inner sect personal disciple, embark on the proper path of immortality, and strive to rise above others!
The system felt it had inadvertently complicated things. If the host agreed just like that, when would they ever begin farming?
[Host…]
“Your kindness is deeply appreciated, but this disciple’s aspirations lie elsewhere. I hope you will forgive me.”
Before the system could even persuade her, Ning Youli gave her answer, so quickly that the other three people in the room didn’t even have time to react.
After a long pause, Pei Jue hesitantly spoke up, “This is Peak Master Yin of Profound Chill Peak.” His intention was to remind Ning Youli of the significant status of the person before her.
But Ning Youli acted as though she hadn’t heard, speaking with sincere conviction, “This disciple’s aptitude is mediocre, and I have no great ambitions in this path. Since childhood, I’ve only wished for my own fishpond, to labor diligently and find joy in a pastoral life… In this world, nothing matters more than peace, tranquility, stability, and contentment.”
The gazes of those present turned toward the young woman, filled with disbelief.
Did she realize who she had refused?
This was a cultivator at the late Grand Ascension realm, the Peak Master of Profound Chill Peak, just one step away from undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation!
Not interested in this path… Your ambition… Could it truly be just raising fish?
made the decision to translate sect names/peaks literally! peaks are also typically named after the peak master, i.e. spirit cloud peak (lingyun peak) -> xie lingyun, profound chill peak (chongliang peak) -> yin chongliang.
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- In xianxia/xuanhuan cultivation fiction, Dao Heart (道心) refers to a cultivator’s inner conviction, spiritual resolve, and alignment with their chosen path (Dao). ↩︎
