In front of Yinxian Gate, Shui Lianyue stood quietly, drawing the gaze of countless people. Dressed entirely in white and barefoot, with bells tied around her ankles, she looked just like the legends described—like bright moonlight casting its reflection upon the earth.
The bells on her ankles were a gift from Ye Xiangli. Named the Yuehan Bells and given as a reward from the System, they were a top-tier spirit artifact.
Shui Lianyue knew very well how they had come to be, so she hadn't asked any extra questions. That foolish boy Ye Xiangli had actually believed his own clumsy excuse had convinced her.
"First Senior Sister, this is the list of invited factions within the sect. Later on, there might also be factions arriving without an invitation."
At that moment, a disciple approached. He was an inner sect disciple named Zhang Qingzhou, whose master was the Third Elder of the inner sect, and he held a certain level of prestige within Yinxian Gate.
As he handed the name list to Shui Lianyue, a burning heat was hidden deep within his eyes. The woman before him was the most perfect existence he had ever laid eyes on; just looking at her from this close made him feel as though his heart was about to leap out of his chest.
"Mmm."
Taking the list, Shui Lianyue looked over the factions inscribed upon it. They were all top-tier powers of the Four Continents, including sects, imperial dynasties, holy lands, and other immortal mountains.
Aside from wanting to observe the fresh blood of Yinxian Gate and see whether any talented disciples could pose a threat to their own sects, the major factions coming to witness the Ascension Convention were also eager to catch a glimpse of Shui Lianyue—the grace and demeanor of this Innately Sacred Being.
"There are still three days before the Ascension Convention begins. After the elders finish selecting their disciples during the convention three days from now, the disciples from these factions might challenge you, First Senior Sister..." Zhang Qingzhou said after casting a glance at Shui Lianyue.
This was inevitable. There were always rival factions hostile to Yinxian Gate that wanted to stir up trouble on occasions like this. If they could defeat Yinxian Gate in front of the numerous new disciples, it would not only disgust Yinxian Gate but also shatter the impression of the sect in the hearts of the newly recruited disciples. Those capable of such actions were basically at odds with Yinxian Gate in the first place.
Nor did they fear any accountability from Yinxian Gate, for when the time came, they would simply claim: "It was merely a competition between the younger generation. Besides, we came to challenge you out of admiration to gain experience, who would have known we'd win by accident?"
This was the standard rhetoric used by all those visiting factions looking for trouble. This time, quite a few sects were likely harboring such calculations as they came to Yinxian Gate to challenge Shui Lianyue.
Listening to Zhang Qingzhou's words, Shui Lianyue's expression did not change in the slightest, nor did she even deign to look at him, simply offering another faint "Mmm."
When dealing with others, Shui Lianyue was utterly cold; unless necessary, she wouldn't utter an extra word.
Furthermore, the burning intensity in his eyes made Shui Lianyue feel a sense of displeasure.
That gaze carried the determination to win her at all costs.
It was still Ye Xiangli, her own Junior Sister, who was much more lovable.
Seeing this, Zhang Qingzhou gave a bitter inner laugh. Just as the rumors said, she was completely impossible to approach. Yet the more it was like this, the more it fueled the desire to conquer within his heart.
Just as Zhang Qingzhou wanted to say something more, someone suddenly delivered a fierce kick to his waist, sending his entire body flying out like a cannonball.
"Zhang Qingzhou, stay away from First Senior Sister! Your eyes were glued right onto her, absolutely disgusting."
The sound of a landing followed, accompanied by a girl's spoiled and haughty voice.
Zhang Qingzhou was a Foundation Establishment cultivator after all, so taking a kick from the girl didn't do any real damage, but he looked rather disheveled as he picked himself up from the ground.
Climbing back up and catching sight of the girl, Zhang Qingzhou's face instantly filled with anger as he shouted, "Ling Miaoshi!"
"What? Raising your voice like that, do you fancy this young lady?"
Ling Miaoshi crossed her arms and looked at Zhang Qingzhou with disdain. This fellow actually dared to get so close to First Senior Sister, and his gaze was exceptionally detestable—he was simply asking for a beating.
"Can't you tone down your narcissism? You're just a little brat, who would ever like you? Tsk."
Shui Lianyue looked at the girl beside her, her eyes narrowing slightly. She had an impression of her—she was the sect master's daughter, a bona fide second-generation immortal who had frequently sought her out to play when she first arrived at Yinxian Gate.
It was said that her surname followed her mother's. Shui Lianyue had an excellent memory and remembered Ling Miaoshi babbling about it beside her back then.
"Zhang Qingzhou, are you looking for a beating?! You are not allowed to call this young lady a little brat, I'm already seventeen years old!"
Ling Miaoshi summoned her spirit sword and pointed it at Zhang Qingzhou, her pretty face flushed red with anger.
Even so, Ling Miaoshi truly looked like a child; she was actually even shorter than Ye Xiangli, with delicate and cute facial features, a petite figure, and dark, bright hair tied into twin ponytails hanging down her back.
Mm, she was a loli.
"A little brat is just a little brat. Exactly because you're a little brat, you care so much when other people call you a little brat."
Zhang Qingzhou's words infuriated Ling Miaoshi so much that she raised her sword and prepared to rush at him, but before her spiritual energy could even begin to circulate, a pair of hands landed on her head.
Lifting her gaze, she saw that it was Shui Lianyue standing beside her. Ling Miaoshi instantly put away her spirit sword and tiptoed slightly, rubbing against Shui Lianyue's hand like a cat yearning to be petted.
Seeing this, the corners of Zhang Qingzhou's mouth twitched, and even the surrounding onlookers wore strange expressions. To be honest, they were still somewhat unaccustomed to this little demoness suddenly acting so obedient.
Feeling the tickle against her palm, Shui Lianyue spoke in a soft, gentle voice, "Ling Miaoshi?"
"Mhm mhm, hehe! When I was little, I used to come find you to play all the time, First Senior Sister. I've been with my family all these years, so I haven't had the time to visit you. Every time I came back, First Senior Sister, you were always in seclusion, and I was so afraid you'd forget all about me."At this point, Ling Miaoshi’s mood dampened. According to her original plan, she had wanted to grow up alongside Shui Lianyue, but her family insisted she return to receive their legacy.
As a result, she didn't return to Yinxian Gate until she was fourteen, and by the time she went to find Shui Lianyue, she discovered that the latter had been in seclusion the entire time.
"I didn't forget. You’re just the same as before—you haven't grown any taller."
Just as Ling Miaoshi was rejoicing that Shui Lianyue hadn't forgotten her, she suddenly froze at these words. If anyone else had said it, it wouldn't have bothered her, but coming from Shui Lianyue, she felt as if her soul might fly right out of her body.
"That's not true! I have grown, I really have... Look, I'm this much taller than before!"
As she spoke, she tried to jump up to prove it, only to be effortlessly suppressed by Shui Lianyue’s hand.
Shui Lianyue lowered her eyes to look at the little girl beneath her palm, her tone flat. "Mhm. You've grown."
Shui Lianyue’s patience for adorable young beauties was far greater than the patience she showed Zhang Qingzhou. Although her tone was slightly perfunctory, Ling Miaoshi’s eyes still crinkled into happy crescents. Had she not been afraid of being swatted away by Shui Lianyue, she would have already thrown her arms around her.
Just then, a sneer from Zhang Qingzhou broke the moment. Hearing the laugh, the tender-hearted Ling Miaoshi immediately glared at him with fury.
"What are you laughing at?"
Facing her, Zhang Qingzhou clutched his side and offered a grin. "Nothing. My kidneys ache, so I felt like laughing."
He had been kicked by Ling Miaoshi dozens, if not a hundred times, in that exact spot; he had long since built up a physical resistance.
Watching Zhang Qingzhou’s insufferable expression, Ling Miaoshi looked at him with disdain. "Are you a complete idiot?"
Suddenly scolded, Zhang Qingzhou’s expression twisted. "Don't think that just because you're the Sect Master's daughter, I won't dare challenge you!"
Truth be told, being cursed at like that actually made Zhang Qingzhou feel like things were back to normal; it wasn't the first time they had clashed.
"Do you think I'm afraid of you? Come on then! One-on-one!" She said, making a universal rude gesture toward him.
No sooner had the words left her lips than her head was rapped by someone. The culprit was, naturally, Shui Lianyue. Faced with her, Ling Miaoshi held her head and crouched down, eyes welling with tears, looking both pitiful and adorable.
At least, that was how it looked to Shui Lianyue. To Zhang Qingzhou and the other disciples, it was a terrifying sight.
As for Zhang Qingzhou, just one glance from Shui Lianyue was enough to break him into a cold sweat.
"Haha, my ancestor is about to give birth, I’d better go assist with the delivery!"
Zhang Qingzhou laughed awkwardly, and in the next second, he bolted, even burning a teleportation talisman to escape.
Watching him vanish, everyone’s lips twitched. *Not cool, man.*
Among the crowd, someone used a recording crystal to capture what Zhang Qingzhou had just said. "Did you get that?"
"Yes, Senior Brother, I got it all."
"Excellent. Once the Ascension Convention concludes, we’ll send this to the Zhang family. We’re sure to make a fortune off it."
"Senior Brother, what if Senior Brother Zhang retaliates afterward?"
"It’s fine. When he beats you up for it, I’ll be off to the side recording it, and we can extort him again."
"............"
Shui Lianyue looked down at Ling Miaoshi, noting that her personality was completely different from Ye Xiangli’s. She remembered—what was Ling Miaoshi’s ending in the original story, again?
Just as Shui Lianyue was deep in thought, the void in the distance shattered. A giant ship, large enough to blot out the sky, appeared, its formations and spirit patterns covering the firmament.
On the ship was the emblem of the Xuanling Holy Land, one of the Four Continents' four great holy grounds.
"It’s the Xuanling Holy Land!"
"Damn, as expected of a holy ground. What an entrance."
"I heard their Holy Son is returning today. He’ll probably challenge our First Senior Sister. A Holy Son from a holy ground... I wonder if our First Senior Sister can win."
"Hey, you little brat, trying to lower our morale? I’m punishing you to come to my room tonight so we can 'discuss' what winning and losing really means."
"Ah? No, please don't!"
Shui Lianyue looked over as well. About a dozen cultivators descended from the giant ship, led by a male cultivator with a faint smile and a refined, handsome air.
He arrived before Shui Lianyue in a flash.
"Xuanling Holy Land, Xuanye."
"Yinxian Gate, Shui Lianyue."
Hearing the name Shui Lianyue, the disciples behind Xuanye looked at her in astonishment, their eyes filled with wonder.
Just then, an elderly man appeared—white-haired and stooped, with no discernable presence.
"Great Elder," Xuanye said respectfully.
"I am the Great Elder of the Xuanling Holy Land, Xuanming. Little girl, you are Shui Lianyue? Not bad, not bad at all. That old rascal Luochen taught you well. Where is that old man?"
Xuanming looked at Shui Lianyue and nodded with satisfaction.
"Senior Xuanming, my master is in seclusion."
"Hmph, he knows how to pick his moments. Very well, perhaps we shall meet another time."
With that, he vanished once more.
"The name of Fairy Shui has long been legendary, but seeing you today, it is clear that the rumors were, if anything, understated. To possess the aptitude of an Innately Sacred Being is no mere fable."
Shui Lianyue listened to Xuanye and nodded in sincere agreement. She felt the same way. "Thank you."
Xuanye’s smile stiffened for a moment. The personality of this Innately Sacred Being was truly unique; he had expected her to be modest and perhaps pay him a compliment in return.