I’m Worried About This Sect

The two supremes fought, and even the Great Dao itself was worn away.

Cao Xueyan only stopped when she had exhausted all the spiritual power in her body, reluctant and unwilling.

There was no helping it.

She no longer had enough power left to cast the Lingxi Finger.

Her fingers were sore and aching, even more exhausting than drawing talisman patterns continuously for three days and nights.

After all, her opponent was a Golden Core True Person.

Even if the other had deliberately taken care not to use any spiritual power, her physical body was still something Cao Xueyan could not compare with.

That was a body tempered by heavenly tribulation, sturdier than most magic tools.

Eh?

That means… wasn’t Xiao Menglan technically using a weapon to injure her?

Hey, referee, someone’s breaking the rules here!

Normally, after the frenzy, one would enter a “sage time.”

Xiao Menglan said nothing, quietly tidying her robes, not even needing to circulate her power to adjust her breathing.

By contrast, Cao Xueyan had clearly been the one on the offensive, yet now she was the one panting heavily, trying to recover her strength, looking as disheveled as could be.

At this moment, Xiao Menglan suddenly said, “Since you already have late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, why is your mastery of spells so low?

Before this, have you ever considered preparing a self-defense method?”

“I only know the Rainfall Technique, and the Lingxi Finger.

As for other spells, I’ve never learned them.” Cao Xueyan replied.

The implication was clear: when she had been outside, she only ever thought about cultivating as quickly as possible.

Unlike other disciples who often went out for training, she naturally lacked protective means.

“Lingxi Finger?” Xiao Menglan’s eyes lit with realization, her expression turning strange.

“You mean the one you just used…”

Cao Xueyan’s face flushed, and she turned her head away.

The Golden Core True Person’s tribulation-tempered body was far too strong.

Without using that spell, she would never have even gotten through the door.

That minor spell, learned by mere Qi Refining disciples, was grasped by Xiao Menglan at just a glance.

Circulating her power into her finger, that jade-carved fingertip instantly shone with dazzling golden light.

To anyone watching, it would seem like a top-grade magic weapon.

This carried no small amount of showing off.

Cao Xueyan dared not imagine—if Xiao Menglan had used that move last night, she probably still wouldn’t have woken up today.

“Once you become an inner disciple, you can go to the Scripture Repository to choose a spell at any time.

You’ve stayed on the peak these past few days—when you’re free, you may as well go down and take a look.

Before you reach Foundation Establishment, any spell will be useful.

Afterward, when you’ve become a second-rank talisman master, a single talisman you draw will surpass ordinary spells—varied, unpredictable, sufficient both for combat and for protection.”

Everything Xiao Menglan had just said came from her own experience.

She truly already regarded Cao Xueyan as her disciple.

Cao Xueyan also agreed.

Now that she could allocate cultivation points into talisman arts, there was no rush.

Learning a spell early as a protective method really would be useful before Foundation Establishment.

The only problem was, she had little talent in spellcraft.

The two spells she currently knew had taken her immense effort to learn.

Especially the Rainfall Technique—back then, just for a few meager spirit stones from the Outer Affairs Hall, she had practiced night and day, exhausting all her spiritual power daily.

Thinking back on it now, it hadn’t been easy.

“By the calendar, in a few months it should be about time for the Monster Hunt Tournament.

If you’re prepared by then, you can participate—gain some experience.

Whether against people or beasts, you won’t be left flustered and clueless.” Xiao Menglan instructed seriously.

Cao Xueyan thought for a moment, then voiced her worry: “Master’s words, disciple will keep in mind.

But the Scripture Repository holds too many spells.

I fear I won’t know which to choose.”

“I saw you carrying a sword when you arrived.

Do you know any sword techniques?” Xiao Menglan asked.

“I know a little.”

“A little… means how much?”

“Not at all.”

That sword, like her storage pouch, had been distributed by the sect upon entry.

They were cheap, mass-produced goods—things only itinerant cultivators living rough might treasure.

Cao Xueyan had once tried learning some beginner sword forms from the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, but after several months she’d gotten nowhere.

Her clumsy swings were so bad even dogs would shake their heads.

For a long while, she had simply used the sword as a kitchen knife for chopping wood and fish.

Hearing this, Xiao Menglan couldn’t help but press her hand to her forehead with a sigh.

She thought back to her own days as an ordinary disciple—her swordsmanship then, if not masterful, was still enough to fend off petty foes.

Only after joining the Talisman Peak had she switched paths.

In the Qi Refining stage, sword techniques had been her main means of defense.

The Azure Cloud Sword Sect was founded on the sword, after all, and the Scripture Repository’s collections were mostly sword arts.

With Cao Xueyan’s current state, her options were far more limited.

“Well, no matter.

The elder guarding the Repository only cares whether the manuals are intact, nothing more.

Since I have time anyway, I’ll go with you.” Xiao Menglan said.

Cao Xueyan was puzzled.

“But Master and I don’t yet have an official bond.

The Repository often has many disciples gathered there.

If we go together, I fear it might cause talk…”

Xiao Menglan replied, “I already said—so long as you agree, I can report to the sect master at once and hold a formal ceremony to accept you as my disciple.

Then no one will dare gossip.

You still have the chance to change your mind.

I’ll ask again—will you become my personal disciple?”

Name.

Without a name, there is no standing.

They had no official name of teacher and disciple, yet already had the reality of it.

They had no official name as Dao companions, yet earlier they had already… become as husband and wife.

This thing—no matter one’s cultivation—few could escape.

Truly harmful.

At this point, what was she still clinging to?

If she had the name of disciple, her status within the sect would rise.

Acting in the future would become far more convenient.

Thinking this, Cao Xueyan nodded.

A smile appeared on Xiao Menglan’s face.

She leaned close, drawing Cao Xueyan into her arms, pressing that dazed little face against her chest.

With soft jade before her, Cao Xueyan didn’t think of resisting.

Yet their posture looked less like master and disciple, and more like a bully seizing a village maiden.

“You look so much like her.

The sect master surely won’t object.

Today… no, tomorrow, I’ll speak to her.” Considering her senior sister the sect leader was likely still drunk, Xiao Menglan quickly corrected herself.

“To meet the sect master?” Cao Xueyan asked, a strange resentment welling in her heart as she thought of the countless simulation runs where the Azure Cloud Sword Sect was annihilated, never once ending well.

The sect’s easy destruction in the simulations was largely the sect master’s fault.

Up to now, she had never once achieved a good ending.

After “dying miserably” so many times, how could Cao Xueyan not feel bitter?

“You silly girl, the sect master isn’t someone you can just meet.

Even if I wanted to bring you to Sword Peak, you couldn’t enter.

Just approaching, the sword intent there would slice you to ribbons.” Xiao Menglan laughed, tapping Cao Xueyan’s nose, making her face flush red.

This woman… where had all those hundreds of years of cultivation gone?

How was she so skilled at teasing?

“Then… the sect master always stays on Sword Peak?” Cao Xueyan asked a question she had long been curious about.

Xiao Menglan’s face darkened.

“Why ask so much?

Even as my personal disciple, you cannot casually inquire about the sect master’s whereabouts.”

This was no small matter.

For Cao Xueyan to ask so bluntly was indeed improper.

Sensing the change in Xiao Menglan’s tone, Cao Xueyan grew flustered and dropped the matter.

Still… how was she ever supposed to avoid that extermination ending from the simulations?

Ah… so tiring.

I really am worrying myself sick over this sect!