The Heavenly Dao Sect’s entrance competition primarily consisted of two segments.
One segment involved the six peaks of the Heaven Branch and the six peaks of the Dao Branch showcasing their strengths.
Disciples would be sent to demonstrate the main cultivation methods and fundamental techniques of their respective peaks.
Essentially, it was to inform the new disciples about the available disciplines and techniques each peak offered, providing them with reference points.
The other segment involved the new disciples demonstrating their own value to the twelve peaks.
Put simply, it was mutual selection.
After all, the Heavenly Dao Sect recruited disciples every two years.
Many people would arrive in nearby cities half a year or even a full year in advance, just waiting for the sect’s recruitment.
It was impossible to come and then not join—provided they could pass the relevant entrance assessments.
And the Heavenly Dao Sect’s entrance assessment was very simple.
If you could, alone, walk up from the very bottom of the mountain, from outside the main sect gate, you qualified.
Regardless of innate talent, as long as you made the climb alone, you passed.
Of course, the path outside the Heavenly Dao Sect’s gate was itself called the “Path to Heaven.”
It was actually part of the sect’s grand protective formation.
When fully activated, it could even suppress Transformation-stage cultivators.
The standard used for assessments was merely a ripple effect of this formation, not even a true expenditure of power.
It was just the unconscious, outward-radiating pressure emanating from the formation itself.
In short, the entrance competition commenced right at the Heavenly Dao Sect’s main gate.
Those gathered here were all individuals who had already passed the assessment and could formally join the sect.
The Heavenly Dao Sect would first showcase the cultivation methods and techniques of its twelve peaks, allowing the disciples to choose for themselves and register their preferences.
After this was clear, the disciples’ aptitudes would be further assessed through the competition, and each peak would independently decide whether a disciple who chose their peak would be an ‘inner sect disciple,’ ‘outer sect disciple,’ or ‘personal disciple.’
Of course, typically, it was outer sect status.
After all, if you were already at Foundation Establishment, you wouldn’t be put through the normal entrance channels anyway.
But it wasn’t unheard of for exceptionally talented individuals to be directly taken as personal disciples by a Peak Lord upon being noticed.
Like Li Wangyan back in the day.
He was spotted by True Master Dao Sword during the entrance competition, became a personal disciple, and only then broke through to Foundation Establishment—though that was now in the past.
In any case, by entrusting this matter to Li Wangyan, Qi Xiao wanted him to use this opportunity to insert some demonic sect personnel into Dao Sword Peak.
She harbored no malice towards her junior brother, but she couldn’t refrain from making corresponding preparations.
As she had discussed with her master, forcing Junior Brother to turn away from evil might not be a bad thing.
She assured herself that everything she did was for Junior Brother’s own good, and absolutely not because she feared the potential “mole” secretly plotting against her master.
Her master was her backing.
As long as she hadn’t reached the Nascent Soul stage, she couldn’t feel truly secure and needed to rely on her master’s support.
Once she entered Nascent Soul, even if her master died, she could single-handedly uphold Dao Sword Peak; the impact wouldn’t be too great.
After all, Nascent Soul cultivators had grasped the truth of the world.
Those below their realm were considered “false persons” in their eyes.
Or rather, in the eyes of a Nascent Soul cultivator, those below Nascent Soul perceived a false world.
Qi Xiao couldn’t imagine what that wonderful feeling was like, but it didn’t hinder her pursuit of such a realm.
Since she had come to this world, aside from cultivation, what else was worth pursuing?
Many transmigrators, arriving in an unfamiliar world, became obsessed with strange things—like romantic love, or grand ambitions and hegemony.
Romantic love, grand ambitions—couldn’t you pursue those in your original world?
Didn’t your original world have those things?
Probably, right?
But immortal cultivation… the original world truly didn’t have that.
Perhaps it existed, but Qi Xiao certainly hadn’t encountered it and couldn’t cultivate there.
But this world truly had it!
And she was genuinely cultivating!
She had already reached the Golden Core stage!
Why wouldn’t she continue down this path?
How marvelous was this world of immortal cultivation?
Cultivation methods, techniques, combat arts, alchemy, talismans, artifact forging, formations…
All these profound mysteries were utterly captivating.
She loved these things.
Take the miraculous transformation that had happened to her.
She wasn’t the least bit resentful; in fact, she was very interested and wanted to get the Mystic Maiden Mirror into her hands for thorough study.
Cultivation itself was the most precious treasure.
And the Mystic Maiden Mirror had genuinely increased her cultivation speed.
This made some of her plans possible.
Originally, breaking through to mid-Golden Core might have taken some time.
But now, it was likely…
“Senior Sister, you are entrusting the entire entrance competition matter to me, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then I ask Senior Sister to make an appearance to demonstrate our Dao Sword Peak’s cultivation methods and techniques for the new disciples.”
“Huh?”
Qi Xiao was taken aback.
“Junior Brother, this matter is typically handled by Foundation Establishment disciples.
It’s also a chance for them to show their faces.
What sense does it make for a Peak Lord to personally demonstrate?”
“I never said Peak Lord Qi Xiao should demonstrate.”
“What?”
Li Wangyan said with a smile, “Why doesn’t Senior Sister adopt a different identity?
Appearing in your current form wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
What’s good about that…
She was about to ask when she understood Li Wangyan’s intention.
“Junior Brother means, I should appear using this identity from now on, avoiding using Qi Xiao’s identity altogether—to evade potential investigation by that person within the sect.”
“Precisely.
As expected of Senior Sister, quick to understand.”
You know, there was some logic to it.
She had already sent the leaders of the three major factions to hide in a secret cave abode.
So why not prepare a new identity for herself?
If asked, she could say she was in seclusion or traveling.
Her main self could appear as this young woman.
If someone wanted to attempt an assassination, finding the target would be much harder.
This wasn’t a bad thing.
Moreover, the ‘Flower in the Mirror, Moon on the Water’ technique was quite effective at deceiving those of equal or lower cultivation.
If she encountered someone of a higher realm…
“But even with a different identity, Junior Brother, I don’t need to appear before a crowd of disciples.”
Li Wangyan smiled.
“Senior Sister need not worry.
Master will accompany you.”
“?”
Qi Xiao was stunned.
“Ah?”
“Master will also change her identity and conceal herself alongside you.
She will pose as a female disciple of the peak.
You need not worry.”
“No, what does Master have to do with this?”
“Because I have received intelligence that members of demonic sects will strike during the entrance competition.
They intend to cause losses to various peaks.”
Li Wangyan suddenly said.
“At that time, if Master and Senior Sister, while protecting fellow disciples, sustain ‘severe injuries,’ it can remove our Dao Sword Peak from certain suspicions.
Then, I can better utilize the people I insert to thoroughly investigate the events of that year.
What do you think, Senior Sister?”
Qi Xiao noticed a cold glint flashing in Li Wangyan’s eyes.
Clearly, although Li Wangyan resented his master and others, he didn’t intend to kill them.
But those who schemed against him back then—he absolutely intended to eliminate.
The icy killing intent in his eyes made that clear.
“I heard that back in the secret realm, you did collaborate with a member of a demonic sect.
What if—the demonic sect member you collaborated with was actually intentional, part of a scheme from the start…
and in cahoots with those who plotted against you?
What would you do then?”
The coldness in Li Wangyan’s gaze immediately receded.
He looked at Qi Xiao with interest.
“Has Senior Sister learned something?”
“I am, after all, the Peak Lord of Dao Sword Peak.”
Li Wangyan was silent for a moment, then finally said:
“The one I collaborated with back then was the Saintess of the Life-Severing Sect, Hong Lian.
And after joining the demonic sects, the place I stayed was also the Life-Severing Sect.”
Why is he telling me this?
Qi Xiao repeated her question.
“Junior Brother, my question is: if they were in cahoots, what would you do?
That Hong Lian must have a good relationship with you, right?”
“After I left, when I was at my most desperate, she took me in.
Though it was a demonic sect, there are still some righteous and loyal people there.
Her kindness to me is second only to Senior Sister’s.”
Qi Xiao fell silent.
She knew this was dangerous territory.
If she continued, this junior brother of hers might explode.
“Since I have already entrusted the entire entrance competition to you, I, as Peak Lord, should naturally be under your command.
I will do as you say.”
Li Wangyan finally revealed a smile.
“Very good, Senior Sister.
Since that’s settled, I shall take my leave.”
He turned to walk out of the cave abode, but halfway, he suddenly paused.
“Is there something else, Junior Brother?”
“I just remembered—if Senior Sister appears using a new identity, given Senior Sister’s and Master’s appearance—your peerless beauty, like celestial beings who have descended to the mortal realm—you will likely attract quite a few admirers.”
Qi Xiao imagined that scene.
She could only say that the cultivation world had its fair share of simps; that situation was indeed possible.
After all, many cultivators always styled themselves as gentlemen…
“That shouldn’t affect anything, right?”
“At that time, how about Senior Sister and Master both claim to be my cultivation partners?”
“…?”
Qi Xiao’s face was full of question marks.
Li Wangyan showed an inscrutable smile.
“After all, Senior Sister, think about it.
If you claim to have cultivation partners, the trouble naturally transfers.
Then, those annoying disciples won’t come bothering you and Master; instead, they’ll come to me.
I can use that to establish my prestige, and then have ‘Master’ accept me as a personal disciple, right?
It’s beneficial for all of us.”
This is clearly just an excuse!
This guy wants to take advantage of the situation!
This kind of plot—Qi Xiao, as a transmigrator, understood it far too well.
Basically, once she acknowledged this identity, in public situations Li Wangyan would start saying things like:
“Senior Sister, why don’t you hold my arm?”
“Senior Sister, cultivation partners are supposed to kiss.”
“Senior Sister, cultivation partners should do xxxxx…”
Then her boundaries would be pushed back step by step, until he finally got what he wanted.
Boiling a frog in warm water! Who doesn’t know that trick!
Various scenes flashed through her mind.
Then she spoke:
“That’s fine.
Do as you see fit.”
In the end, she still couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
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