Zanxing (Retranslated)

A trial had come to an end, and the fates of those involved varied.

Those who passed the trial would enter the renowned Taiyan Sect in the capital and officially embark on the path of cultivation. As for those who didn’t make it, some were undeterred and decided to return to diligent cultivation, waiting for another opportunity to come back stronger.

At the beginning, Hong Su only had hoped that Zanxing would make it through the selection, to temper her sharpness. Little did she expect that Zanxing would indeed pass the trial, leading to tears of joy. Old Niu, even though he was quite old, knelt down in gratitude to the heavens. Fellow cultivators passing by observed this scene with curiosity, making Zanxing feel somewhat embarrassed.

Just as she was unsure how to console them, she heard a surprised voice from behind, “Miss Yang?”

Zanxing turned around and saw a woman in a yellow dress standing in front of her. It was none other than Liu Yunxin, with whom she had a brief encounter before.

In the novel “At the Summit of the Nine Heavens,” male characters were responsible for battling monsters and leveling up, while female characters developed romantic storylines with the male protagonist, Mu Cengxiao. Mu Cengxiao had a total of eight wives, each of them incredibly beautiful and with distinct personalities. This Liu Yunxin was Mu Cengxiao’s childhood friend, known for her purity and gentleness, akin to a “white moonlight”. Despite her disdain for such character tropes, upon seeing Liu Yunxin in person, Zanxing couldn’t help but admire how beautiful the girl was.

Liu Yunxin

¹, true to her name, was as delicate as a willow in the wind, with a demeanor as light as a cloud and a breeze. Seeing Zanxing, she exclaimed in surprise, “You… are you still alive?”

Zanxing smiled and replied, “Yes, I was lucky enough to escape from the clutches of the monster.”

“I’m sorry,” Liu Yunxin said with a touch of unease, twisting her clothing and lowering her head. “Back then, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have…”

“No need to apologize,” Zanxing said, thinking that if she hadn’t saved Liu Yunxin at that time, she would be dead now.

“What about your face?” Liu Yunxin asked with concern, looking at her.

Zanxing touched her face and reassured her, “It’s alright. I’ll find some medicinal herbs to heal it.”

Just as she finished speaking, Mu Cengxiao saw Liu Yunxin talking to Zanxing and approached. He grabbed Liu Yunxin’s hand and shielded her behind him, scolding, “Yunxin, come over here, don’t get too close to her!”

She didn’t appear that scary, and Mu Cengxiao didn’t need to be so cautious.

Just as she was about to speak, Ziluo on the Immortal Viewing Platform spoke again, “Fellow disciples, prepare yourselves immediately to accompany me to Gufeng Mountain, the official entrance of the Taiyan Sect’s mountain gate.”

The crowd below erupted in cheers.

Suddenly, in Zanxing’s hand appeared a handful of Lianshan flowers. Ziluo on the platform smiled and said, “These Lianshan flower petals contain rich elemental energy. After the trial, the Lianshan flowers you pick will be rewarded to each of you. You can refine them to assist in your breakthroughs.”

Now Zanxing understood. Indeed, the elemental energy within those flower petals could be absorbed.

“Then, we shouldn’t delay,” Ziluo raised her hand, and the “Elemental Energy Gate” disappeared into her sleeve. The group from the Taiyan Sect once again rode their swords and soared towards Gufeng Mountain, where the sect’s gate was located.

Zanxing hastily handed all the flowers in her hand to Old Niu. She had absorbed half of the elemental energy from the flower petals, ensuring they wouldn’t transform into “ghost hands” again. She said, “Old Niu, outsiders are not allowed inside the sect. Take these flowers and exchange them for spirit stones at the Golden Tower in the town. Find a place to stay temporarily in the town. Once I settle in the sect, I’ll come down the mountain to see you.”

In the school, bringing family members as companions was not allowed, so this was the best they could do for now.

“Don’t worry, Miss,” Old Niu tucked away the Lianshan flowers and said while leading Hongsu, “I’ll have someone send a message back to Yue City soon. Once the city lord learns that the Miss has been chosen by the sect, he will surely reward the entire Yang family!”

“Miss, you must focus on your cultivation within the sect,” Hong Su said with a solemn tone, “Don’t forget that you promised me to find a better future husband for this servant.”

Zanxing: “…” Was this setting engraved in her bones and blood?

She replied, “I understand.”

….

The Taiyan Sect was an established sect within the cultivation world of Duzhou.

It was founded three hundred years ago by the first Sect Master, Sage Yushan, who successfully ascended to immortality a hundred years ago. Sage Yushan was the first cultivator in Duzhou’s cultivation world to achieve such a feat.

With such a prominent figure as the founding Sect Master, the Taiyan Sect couldn’t exactly keep a low profile.

“It’s been ten years since the Taiyan Sect recruited new disciples,” the man beside her chuckled. “I heard that the sect possesses numerous martial arts manuals, and even one randomly taken and auctioned at the trading post would fetch hundreds of spirit stones. What do you say, if we secretly grab one and sell it…” He grinned somewhat lecherously. “Could we make a fortune?”

Zanxing: “…” She felt concerned about the quality of this year’s recruits for the Taiyan Sect.

Everyone was seated on the transmission spirit boat bound for the Taiyan Sect’s mountain gate. This spirit boat could carry dozens of cultivators at a time, most of whom had not yet formed their Nascent Souls and therefore couldn’t fly on their own swords.

The man beside her was called Tian Datou, the same brother who couldn’t read when the results were announced earlier. At that time, no one paid attention to Tian Datou, but Zanxing, feeling sorry for him, had found his name for him. This brother regarded her as a kind-hearted person and automatically considered her a friend.

Tian Datou’s real name wasn’t Tian Datou, it was Tian Fangfang. He found his given name too girlish and decided to call himself “Tian Datou”. Tian Fangfang came from a prominent cultivation family, but he was a distant relative and didn’t have access to the family’s resources. He chose to strike out on his own at a young age. Over the years, he had his share of adventures, and today, in the Lianshan flower trial, he had collected thirty-nine Lianshan flowers, ranking second.

“Hehehe,” Tian Fangfang chuckled, “Once I absorb these flowers, I’ll be able to reach the third level of Foundation Building. Once I’m in the sect, I’ll be able to form my Nascent Soul. Junior Sister Zanxing,” he said, “When that happens, I’ll be the first to show you my Nascent Soul!”

Zanxing: “…Thanks, I guess.”

While they were talking, they saw in the distance, amidst the clouds and mist, a perilous peak. Its shape resembled a brush dipped in ink, as if a deity from the heavens had drawn it. The peak was shrouded in purple mist, and a giant yellow dragon coiled at the summit, its eyes like blazing torches, staring at the passing cultivators as if it could ascend to the sky at any moment. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the giant dragon was actually carved from stone, incredibly lifelike. Flames burned brightly in the dragon’s eyes, seemingly capable of consuming everything in their path.

When they reached the summit, the spirit boat came to a stop. As everyone disembarked and looked ahead, they saw a wide white jade staircase leading into the sea of clouds. Carvings of spirit turtles and toads adorned the sides of the jade staircase. Beyond, at the end of their line of sight, stood a grand crimson palace. Bathed in the sunlight, it radiated a serene and resplendent beauty.

On the golden plaque in front of the grand hall, three prominent characters were inscribed, which read: Taiyan Sect.

Dragons and phoenixes soared, and serpents and snakes danced.

Ziluo descended from the spirit boat and smiled, saying, “We’ve arrived.”

Zanxing gazed in the direction of the grand hall.

This was the place where the male protagonist, Mu Cengxiao, soared into the sky in the original work, the starting point of the storyline – the Taiyan Sect.

Footnotes

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   The characters in Liu Yunxin’s name (柳雲心) represents willow, cloud and mind/heart.