The subsequent ceremony proceeded smoothly. Feng Xi very sensibly played the wallflower; since she had managed with great difficulty to get Baili Muchen to relent, there was no need to invite further trouble.
After the ceremony concluded, Sect Leader Lu of the Beast Taming Sect and Sect Leader Hu of the Wanjian Sect waved their hands to summon their flying ships and left with their disciples.
Feng Xi watched with eager anticipation for Sect Leader Xiao to summon a flying ship as well, but instead, their amiable and venerable Sect Leader directly summoned a flying sword, grabbed Feng Xi by the collar, and *whoosh*, soared straight up into the air.
Feng Xi: "..."
Only then did she belatedly realize that Xiao Baidao had come entirely alone, without a single attendant.
She wanted to speak, but the moment she opened her mouth, the wind blew her lips into a funnel shape.
Sect Leader, really now, when you're flying on a sword, do you not even cast a Wind Shield Spell?!
Do you not find this wind freezing?
Her Dantian was damaged, and her constitution was weaker than ordinary people's; blasted by the cold wind, her pale face turned even whiter.
Only then did Xiao Baidao belatedly cast a Wind Shield Spell.
After catching her breath for a moment, Feng Xi said very sincerely, "Sect Leader, thank you so much for saving me from the jaws of death. This kindness and virtue, I will never forget! Rest assured, I will cultivate diligently and soon become the pride of our Xuantian Sect!"
Xiao Baidao: "..."
You certainly have the nerve to say that!
It would be a miracle if you, a little good-for-nothing with a damaged Dantian, could just manage to survive, let alone become the pride of the Xuantian Sect?
You'd be doing well not to become the disgrace of the Xuantian Sect!
Though he thought this inwardly, he still offered Feng Xi a few words of encouragement.
Feng Xi looked deeply moved. "Sect Leader, no wonder everyone says you're much better than Sect Leader Baili. Putting everything else aside, in terms of character, he falls far short of you! So open-minded and compassionate, you truly are the supreme leader of the Northern Territory cultivation world..."
Even though Xiao Baidao knew Feng Xi was just showering him with flattery, he had to admit it felt quite nice.
People, after all, love to hear praise.
"Oh right, Sect Leader, I noticed the Beast Taming Sect and the Wanjian Sect both brought quite a few people. How come you were the only one who came from our Xuantian Sect?"
Xiao Baidao gave a cough. "They're all busy. Besides, traveling back and forth, feeding people and horses, is far too wasteful. Remember this, the first rule of our Xuantian Sect's code of conduct is to reject extravagance and waste. Save where we can, simplify where we can, and not a single Spirit Stone should be misspent..."
Feng Xi: "..."
She realized she might have just jumped out of one fire pit and straight into another!It was not that her reaction was a beat slow, but rather that when she had read that Xianxia web novel, she found the author's plot too ridiculously melodramatic, so she had skipped parts of it and eventually dropped the book altogether.
Everything she had calculated in her heart beforehand was about how to break away from the Hunyuan Sect; she had completely failed to remember that the Xuantian Sect was also a massive pit of fire.
According to the descriptions in the book, the Xuantian Sect was a dirt-poor sect. Just how poor were they, you ask?
Let's put it this way: they practically wished they could split a single Inanition Pill into eight pieces to eat.
Poverty aside, every single member of the sect was a desperate bootlicker. Even their guardian divine beast, the Golden Suanni, was a bootlicker to the female protagonist's spiritual pet.
Bootlickers, bootlickers, licking until they ultimately ended up with absolutely nothing.
By the time she dropped the novel, the core disciples of the Xuantian Sect had already died off completely, and their causes of death were all connected to the female protagonist.
This sect master Xiao suffered blow after blow, and coupled with heavy injuries sustained in a life-or-death battle with a elder of the Demon race, he kicked the bucket not long after.
The moment he died, the Xuantian Sect was left without a leader and was directly swallowed up by the Hunyuan Sect.
What an utter tragedy!
If it were anyone else, being thrust into Hell mode right after a transdimensional crossing would undoubtedly cause a complete mental breakdown.
However, after a brief moment of sorrow, Feng Xi bounced right back to her lively self.
So what if they were a bit poor? She would just think of a way to make money!
In her dictionary, as long as a problem could be solved with money, it wasn't a problem at all!
Besides, at this point in time, those core disciples of the Xuantian Sect had not yet met the female protagonist, and their bootlicking tendencies had not yet been triggered. She had ample time to nip their budding inclination to become the female protagonist's bootlickers in the bud!
Just as she was silently giving herself a mental pep talk, Sect Master Xiao sighed.
"Little girl, the damage to your Dantian is far too severe. I'm afraid there is no possibility of a full recovery.
How about this? I'll ask Elder Qi of the outer sect to look after you, and you won't have to perform any sect chores."
Xiao Baidao was feeling quite gloomy inside. Coming out on this trip, not only had he given the Hunyuan Sect a congratulatory gift, but he had also picked up a freeloading mouth to take back to the sect. What a massive loss!
The psychological defense line Feng Xi had just constructed collapsed all over again!
That's right, my Dantian is shattered!
I can't cultivate at all!
Seeing her looking utterly devastated, Xiao Baidao offered words of comfort.
"Not being able to cultivate is no big deal either. Just eating and waiting to die is pretty nice.
From top to bottom in our Xuantian Sect, you're the only freeloader. How lucky you are!"
Feng Xi: "..." I feel like you're not comforting me at all; you're mocking me!Feng Xi asked listlessly:
"Master, is my Dantian really beyond repair?"
Seeing her look as though life had lost all meaning, Xiao Baidao told a well-intentioned lie:
"Though the possibility is slim, it is not entirely hopeless. Our Xuantian Sect has many ancient scrolls; perhaps among them lies a method to mend a Dantian. When I have time, I'll help you look for it."
The Xuantian Sect indeed had many ancient scrolls, but... they were all fragmentary, and the vast majority of the ancient characters had been lost, making them completely unreadable.
Xiao Baidao was merely giving Feng Xi a glimmer of hope.
Of course Feng Xi knew his words had some water in them, but after all, there was hope now, wasn't there?!
And so, she was back to bouncing around energetically.
"Master, how many more hours until we reach the Xuantian Sect?"
"Almost there, three days at most. Although a flying boat could get us there in a single day, one misses the scenery along the way, so this seat prefers flying on a sword."
Feng Xi: "..."
If you're broke, just say you're broke!
What's with the pretentious act?!
Still, a longer flight wasn't a bad thing; it was the perfect opportunity to cozy up to a powerhouse.
And so, this wretch said with a clear conscience:
"Master, you are so right! Some people are just too impatient for quick success and instant benefits, ignoring the scenery along the road. It's the same principle as cultivation; some people only care about raising their rank without fully comprehending the process of cultivation. Even if their cultivation level goes up, their state of mind falls short."
As soon as Feng Xi finished speaking, she saw Xiao Baidao looking at her with eager anticipation.
If you know how to talk, say more!
Feng Xi: "..."
Fine, I get it!
Feng Xi rambled on for a bit longer, finally topping it off with a grand sublimation of the theme:
"Master, I feel that cultivation is a struggle against the heavens; hardships and trials are an indispensable part of cultivation. Instead of complaining about this and that, it is better to appreciate the joy within it. This is what we call finding joy in suffering..."
She was purely spouting nonsense off the cuff, but Xiao Baidao fell into deep thought, and the cultivation barrier that had remained stagnant for many years actually showed signs of loosening.
Don't let Xiao Baidao's seemingly carefree appearance fool you; the poverty of the Xuantian Sect over the years had driven him to distraction, and his state of mind had suffered as a result.
The little girl was right: any hardship and trial was an indispensable part of cultivation, and this should not become a source of distress for him...
Xiao Baidao hurriedly brought his flying sword down onto a flat piece of ground, and with a pang of heartache, took out a defensive array disc and activated the protective barrier.
"I am going to cultivate for a moment. Guard the Dharma for me!"
With that, he closed his eyes and began meditating.
Feng Xi: ... You really have nerves of steel!
Have you forgotten that I'm a little good-for-nothing who can't cultivate?!
An hour later, Xiao Baidao opened his eyes and laughed up to the sky.
Feng Xi: ... We're doomed!
The old man has gone mad!
After laughing heartily for a long time, Xiao Baidao looked at Feng Xi with admiration and said:
"Your comprehension is quite good. This seat has been stuck at Divinity Transformation Level 2 for many years; I never expected your words to successfully help me advance to Divinity Transformation Level 3."
At first, Feng Xi offered her congratulations with an excited expression, which was immediately followed by a look of melancholy:
"Good comprehension is useless if my Dantian cannot be repaired; I'm afraid I won't live much longer. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have fought Shen Zhilan for that Lingkong Grass. I don't have the fate of an inner sect disciple, let alone a core disciple."
Xiao Baidao was in a fantastic mood right then. Hearing Feng Xi's words, he casually said:
"What fate or no fate? Isn't it just an inner sect disciple? This seat grants it to you!"
Anyway, she was just another mouth to feed; there was no real difference between an inner sect disciple and an outer sect disciple.
Overjoyed, Feng Xi hurriedly churned out a string of flattery.
Xiao Baidao's mood improved even further.
Refreshed and spirited, he summoned his flying sword and carried Feng Xi onward on their journey.
After this incident, the relationship between the two grew much closer.
Feng Xi casually and seemingly unintentionally brought up Xiao Baidao's core disciples, at which Xiao Baidao wore a look of utter disgust:
"Take those few, one and all—not a single one gives me any peace of mind! Ah, girls are so much more sensible; I should have taken a female disciple back then."
The moment the words left his mouth, Feng Xi blinked her eyes:
"Master, what do you think of me? Although I can't cultivate for the time being, I can pour tea, fetch water, and amuse you to make you happy!"
Xiao Baidao: "..."
You really have the nerve to think of that!
Take you as a core disciple? Are you kidding me?!
A core disciple is the future of a sect and must be the absolute cream of the crop.
Never mind that your Dantian is damaged; even if it weren't, you still wouldn't cut it!
Twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, head lowered and eyes cast down, Feng Xi said:"I know, this request of mine is presumptuous, perhaps even shameless. But I want so badly to repay you, even if it’s just by serving tea or pouring water. And—if I may be so bold—who knows? Maybe one day I’ll have another stroke of insight that could actually be of help to you. Forget it, just pretend I never said anything. I’m a pathetic little thing with no future, likely to kick the bucket any day now, and I shouldn’t occupy a spot as your core disciple for no reason. If there is a next life, I will surely find you early and become your student..."
By the end, Feng Xi’s voice was laced with sobs, and tears were streaming down her face in pairs.
Xiao Baidao, having just achieved a breakthrough, was still in an unstable state of mind, and on an impulse, his compassion was stirred once more. Very well, as the little girl said, she might not have many years left; he might as well grant her wish. Besides, there was no fixed limit on the number of core disciples; one more or one less made no difference.
Xiao Baidao sighed, "Enough, stop crying. I’ll take you as my core disciple, then!"
Feng Xi: (???)
She truly hadn't held out much hope; after all, a core disciple position was too important to any sect. She had only been taking a gamble—if it worked, great; if not, no matter. After all, she was... thick-skinned.
She called out "Master" with a trembling voice, her face covered in tears.
"Master, I know you took me in out of pity, but to me, you are a beam of light shining into my dark life. You are like a second parent to me! I, Feng Xi, vow here that I will cultivate diligently. One day, I will make you proud to call me your student!"
Although there was a touch of exaggeration in her performance, she was genuinely grateful to Xiao Baidao. If not for him, it would have been difficult for her to leave the Hunyuan Sect, let alone have him break the rules to accept her as a core disciple.
Though Xiao Baidao thought it would be good if Feng Xi could simply live a few more years, he was still quite moved. Female disciples were indeed better—so well-behaved and sensible, and most importantly, they knew how to say the right things.
"Alright, I accept your sentiments. A young girl shouldn't keep making such harsh vows."
Feng Xi nodded obediently: "Mm."
*Ahem*, if I break this vow, I'm willing to eat a mixed diet of meat and vegetables—that hardly counts as a harsh vow, right?
Xiao Baidao, oblivious to his little disciple's true character, said with a chuckle, "I have taken five disciples before you; you will be the sixth. From now on, I’ll call you Old Six!"
Feng Xi: "..."
*Chapter 5: The Sect's Guardian Beast is Angered into a Swoon by Feng Xi*
Feng Xi said with a cheeky grin: "Master, there are too many people called 'Old Six,' it doesn't show our style as master and disciple. Just call me 'Disciple' or 'Xiao Xi'!"
Xiao Baidao didn't care; it was just a name, and he agreed.
For the rest of the journey, Feng Xi fully displayed her sycophantic nature, showering him with one wave of flattery after another. Even after Xiao Baidao’s mood stabilized, he didn't feel that taking her in was a bad idea. So what if she couldn't cultivate? As long as he, her master, could! As a powerful figure in his own right, he was more than capable of protecting one little disciple.
The two watched the stars and the moon together, discussing everything from poetry and prose to life's ideals...
That day, the master and disciple arrived at the Xuantian Sect.
Although the Xuantian Sect was struggling to make ends meet, the mountain gate was a relic from the founding ancestor and remained magnificent and imposing. Xiao Baidao pointed at the plaque and said to Feng Xi:
"Disciple, those three characters were written by our founder himself. It is said they contain a great opportunity. Alas, we are dull-witted; in tens of thousands of years, no one has been able to comprehend the mystery within..."
*Thump!*
Feng Xi performed a full prostration!
Xiao Baidao looked deeply gratified: "Disciple, the sect has a dedicated ancestral shrine; you needn't kneel here."
Feng Xi: "..."
The truth was, she had been sitting on the flying sword for so long that she felt a bit dizzy upon landing, and her legs had simply given way. Of course, she wouldn't be foolish enough to explain it was a misunderstanding. She said with a look of sincerity:
"Master, the founder established the Xuantian Sect, which provides me with a place to live today. I revere our founder from the bottom of my heart. Forget kneeling; even kowtowing eighty-one times would be the least I could do."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Baidao felt even more that his new disciple was a pure-hearted soul, and his affection for her grew. He said with a chuckle: "It is rare to find such a sincere heart. Get up!"
Feng Xi scrambled up and focused on the three large characters on the plaque.
Awkward. She didn't recognize them. Because they were written in ancient script, they were quite different from the characters used today. However, she could guess they surely read "Xuantian Sect." They were archaic and powerful, and she could even faintly sense a trace of primordial aura.
She took a hurried look and then happily trotted after Xiao Baidao into the sect.
No one noticed that the three characters on the plaque flickered slightly before returning to stillness.
After entering the mountain gate, Xiao Baidao summoned his flying sword again to carry Feng Xi toward the main peak. Before they even reached it, Feng Xi heard the sound of angry beast roars.
Xiao Baidao frowned: "It must be the Golden Suanni acting up again!"
He felt exhausted. Other sects' guardian beasts were a source of stability, but their Xuantian Sect's guardian beast? Its cultivation was constantly regressing, and all it did was gorge itself and throw tantrums!
Just as he was feeling annoyed, he heard his beloved little disciple say:
"Master, is it... in heat?"
Xiao Baidao nearly fell off his flying sword!
What kind of wild talk was that! Was this something a young girl should be saying?!
"Cease this nonsense! The Golden Suanni is naturally mischievous; it’s surely trying to take advantage of the situation to make demands. We’ll go see."
As the Xuantian Sect's guardian beast, the Golden Suanni held a transcendent status, and its lair was located behind the main peak's assembly hall. A crowd of people stood outside, all looking anxious. The Golden Suanni was roaring and pulling at the ten-thousand-year cold iron chain fixed to its neck, indifferent to the fact that its neck was already bleeding.
Seeing Xiao Baidao approach, it began to howl even more ferociously!
Everyone hurriedly saluted, and Xiao Baidao waved them off: "What is going on?"
Elder Mu, who was in charge of the Golden Suanni, said hastily:
"Sect Master, the guardian beast is unsatisfied with the three Ziqiao Exquisite Fruits we left for it. It wants us to give it all the fruits that ripened this year. But as you know, we depend on these fruits to fill our budget deficit. How could we possibly give them all away?! It saw we wouldn't agree, and it’s been like this for days."
The Xuantian Sect possessed a Ziqiao Exquisite tree, the only one in the Northern Territory. It bloomed every thirty years, bore fruit every thirty years, and ripened every thirty years. In other words, it took ninety years to produce a single batch. Thus, the fruit was rare and fetched a high price. For a poor sect like the Xuantian Sect, it was a timely relief. Being able to leave three for the Golden Suanni was already quite generous.
But it wanted the lot.
Xiao Baidao patiently reasoned with the Golden Suanni, but the beast treated his words as wind, throwing an even bigger tantrum.
Feng Xi blinked and leaned toward Xiao Baidao: "Master, since it wants them, why don't we just give them to it?"
Xiao Baidao frowned: "Disciple, you don't understand. The Ziqiao Exquisite Fruits are needed to trade for Spirit Stones..." He explained briefly. If it weren't for the fact that Feng Xi was his favorite now, he would have scolded her.
Feng Xi curled her lips into a faint smile: "Master, at the end of the day, we just want to trade the fruits for Spirit Stones. If the guardian beast wants to eat the fruits, it should find a way to earn us those stones. It looks tough and thick-skinned; it probably won't even feel the pain if it bleeds a little. Why don't we draw some of its blood to sell? I believe the blood of the Golden Suanni must be worth more than the fruits! The best part is, this stuff can be squeezed out anytime—no need to wait ninety years. It’s an inexhaustible, endless supply!"
Golden Suanni: "..."
*You aren't even human!* I've seen cruel people, but never someone as cruel as you! What do you mean "squeezed out anytime"? Do you think I'm a dairy cow?! And "inexhaustible"? Is that even human talk?!
At this moment, Feng Xi added: "Master, besides the blood, I think its golden fur looks pretty good, too. We can shave some off now and then to make hats or little vests—they’d surely fetch a good price! Or, if that fails, we can add a few more chains and sell tickets to allow the other three sects to come and visit. If they pay enough, they can touch it—head or tail, they can touch it all they want..."
The Golden Suanni was trembling with rage! *I am the guardian beast! I am the face of the Xuantian Sect! How dare you make me... sell myself? You wretched girl, you're asking for death!*
*Chapter 6: We Are Poor, We Are Proud*
The Golden Suanni was truly incensed, opening its bloody maw and roaring furiously at Feng Xi.