Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 32 - Inner Disciples (2)

In the original plot of “At the Summit of the Nine Heavens,” the male protagonist, Mu Cengxiao, shined brightly during the sect’s assessment competition, attracting the jealousy of the former first-placer, Hua Yue. Soon after, Mu Cengxiao, along with other inner disciples who passed the assessment, heads to Gufeng Mountain to pick medicinal herbs.

During the herb-picking process, Mu Cengxiao and Hua Yue get into a dispute. Hua Yue chased after Mu Cengxiao, and their fight attracted a fierce spiritual beast, the Crimson Fire Dragon, from the deep pool on the mountain. Seeing the situation turn dire, Hua Yue fled with his sword, leaving Mu Cengxiao in a desperate situation. However, Mu Cengxiao managed to kill the ferocious spiritual beast, gaining a significant amount of experience. Moreover, he takes away the Crimson Fire Dragon’s offspring and raised it to become his companion in battles.

The Crimson Fire Dragon later played a crucial role in the original plot. However, when Zanxing first read this part, she couldn’t help but criticize it. It seemed like Mu Cengxiao was killing someone’s mother and then squeezing out the last drop of blood from her offspring. Did the Crimson Fire Dragon know that Mu Cengxiao was its mother’s killer? Could they still fight side by side and be considered companions?

However, at present, Mu Cengxiao did not shine in the sect assessment, and Hua Yue seemed to not even notice Mu Cengxiao’s presence. There was no discord between the two, so there would be no dispute after entering the mountain, nor would they alarm the Crimson Fire Dragon. Mu Cengxiao would not have an extra “battle companion.”

It seemed that the main storyline had changed here.

Zanxing looked at the palm of her hand. It wasn’t an illusion, the flower-shaped red mark on her palm was indeed darker than when she saw it at noon in the cafeteria.

Is it because the storyline has reached its first divergence point?

After pondering for a while, she withdrew her hand, finished the tea, and stood up.

Instead of changing the storyline, if she stuck to this damned original plotline, sooner or later, she would be back to being a cannon fodder. By striving a bit, maybe she could find a new way out.

If that’s the case, why not take a risk?

In a small wooden building nestled against the cliff edge, the terrace was covered with snow-white blankets, and the long table was filled with fine wine and fruits.

Although the lodging was the same small wooden building, each location had its unique charm. This particular wooden building was situated by the cliff edge, with moonlight streaming through the night and clouds billowing like steam. If adorned with glass lanterns, it would resemble the mystical Penglai Nine Palaces.

The allocation of wooden buildings was random, but if one had spirit stones, disciples could negotiate among themselves. This wooden building in this location was exchanged by Hua Yue with three hundred spirit stones from the original disciple.

At this moment, he sat on the soft couch of the terrace, holding a cup in one hand and embracing a beautiful woman with the other, his expression particularly content.

Today, he easily passed the sect assessment, naturally feeling pleased with himself. Seeing the worried expression on the woman in his arms, he couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her face, saying with a smile, “No need to frown. I heard that Xuan Lingzi will soon select a direct disciple. Once I become Xuan Lingzi’s direct disciple, my status in the Taiyan Sect will naturally be extraordinary. By then, I’ll put in a good word with the sect master, and you’ll definitely be able to enter the inner sect.”

Duan Xiangrao lifted her head, her eyes eager. “Is that true?”

Hua Yue brought her hand close to his lips and kissed it lightly. “Would I lie to you?”

Speaking of which, there were many female disciples in the Taiyan Sect, all of them beautiful and elegant, but most were aloof and indifferent in their speech. Compared to them, he preferred someone like Duan Xiangrao, who was charming and articulate. With her cultivation level, she should have easily passed the sect assessment, but unexpectedly, a displeasing dark horse like Yang Zanxing emerged at the critical moment, ruining her previous efforts.

“I’m truly unwilling to accept what happened today,” Duan Xiangrao said, her tone turning bitter. “One assessment, and she stole all the limelight!”

Hua Yue comforted her, saying, “That ugly woman, even if she stole the limelight, it only reveals her ugliness to others. Why should you care?”

Duan Xiangrao nestled in his arms, her eyes darkening, and whispered softly, “I don’t care about being overshadowed. What I care about is you. I’m just a woman, being overshadowed is nothing. But Hua Gongzi, if you were overshadowed, then what?”

“Me?” Hua Yue seemed to find it amusing. “By her? You’re underestimating me too much.”

Duan Xiangrao sat up straight, staring at Hua Yue. “I’ll be honest with you. I met Yang Zanxing before the Lianshan Flower Selection Competition. At that time, she accompanied her fiancé to participate. I heard from Yang Zanxing’s fiancé that before they reached Pingyang Town, her cultivation had just reached the Qi Refining stage.”

“Qi Refining?” Hua Yue frowned. “But now she’s at the Foundation Establishment First Stage.”

“That’s right. Normally, each breakthrough in cultivation takes months or even years, and some breakthroughs are difficult to achieve even after decades or centuries. Yang Zanxing has average aptitude and no outstanding mentor to guide her. How could she progress so rapidly? Calling her a genius wouldn’t be an exaggeration,” Duan Xiangrao explained patiently.

“Are you suggesting…” Hua Yue’s expression became serious.

“There must be some secret hidden within her. It’s possible she possesses some treasure that aids her rapid advancement,” Duan Xiangrao said, looking at Hua Yue with concern. “She’s at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage now, just like you. But with the help of a secret treasure, she might surpass you in the future. Just as she replaced me as an inner disciple today, who’s to say she won’t replace you as a direct disciple someday?”

Hua Yue’s expression changed drastically at these words. He slammed the table and stood up abruptly. “Absurd!”

“Hua Gongzi, calm down,” Duan Xiangrao stood up at the right moment, rubbing his shoulders soothingly. “I’m just speculating randomly, it may not be true.”

“No, what you said makes sense,” Hua Yue raised his hand. “To advance three levels in such a short time is indeed suspicious.”

Duan Xiangrao’s lips curled slightly as she asked calmly, “So, Hua Gongzi, what do you plan to do?”

“Simple. Three days from now, all new inner disciples will go to Mount Gufeng to gather medicinal herbs,” Hua Yue’s eyes flashed with a hint of cunning. “There are many fierce beasts and demonic flowers in the mountains. It’s only natural that the new disciples encounter danger.”

“Even if she possesses a secret treasure, it depends on whether or not she can withstand it,” he said with a cold smirk.

Zanxing was unaware that she had inexplicably gained a new enemy. After the sect assessment, the Taiyan Sect seemed to have suspended public classes, perhaps to allow the new disciples some rest. However, each person received a copy of the “Illustrated Compendium of a Thousand Items from Mount Gufeng,” encouraging the new disciples to familiarize themselves with its contents. Zanxing flipped through the pages and found various illustrations of the flora and fauna of Gufeng Mountain, likely prepared to prevent the new disciples from stumbling into danger.

Though it was called a compendium of thousand items, it probably contained more than a thousand. Zanxing seized the time to memorize it for three days straight, gaining a vague impression. However, she couldn’t guarantee how long she would remember it. Relying on last-minute cramming for exams was never a reliable strategy.

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and the day for entering the mountain had arrived.