『Status: Updated to Chapter 1348: Gold Mine at the Riverbed』
『Synopsis:
[Invincible] [Di Hua] + [Empress] Ye Kong transmigrates to an alternate world. Every day he spends fishing, he breaks through one level of cultivation. In ten years, he has already broken through to over three thousand levels of the Qi Condensation Stage. He thought his life would remain plain and simple—roasting a White Tiger or catching a phoenix in his spare time—but one day, an Empress is reborn and comes to take him as her Master. Ye Kong: "Sigh, disciple, can you stop giving me so much trouble?" Empress: "Impossible, absolutely impossible! My Master is only at the Qi Condensation Stage. He’s just faking it; there’s no way he could be a peerless master!"
』
Chapter 1: The Empress Becomes a Disciple!
Lianyun Continent, Stellar River Sect.
Ye Kong, dressed in white, sat quietly by the Bitter Sea, fishing.
The "Bitter Sea" was, of course, no sea at all; it was merely a small lake on Xiaoyao Peak, one of the Nine Peaks of the Stellar River Sect. After Ye Kong became the Peak Master of Xiaoyao Peak, he renamed the lake the Bitter Sea and spent his days fishing there.
"Junior Uncle Ye Kong," a Taoist in sword robes approached on a flying sword. "Junior Uncle, the Sect Master and the eight other Peak Masters are holding the Ascension Assembly. They invite you to come and select disciples."
The Ascension Assembly was the Stellar River Sect’s disciple selection event. Every year, countless mortals flocked there, hoping to find their path to immortality.
"I know." Ye Kong remained motionless, continuing to fish.
A trace of mockery flashed across the Taoist’s face. *What’s the point of you going?* he thought. *Do you really think anyone would choose to join your Xiaoyao Peak? If your father hadn't been the former Sect Master, would someone with your mere Qi Condensation Stage cultivation even be eligible to be a Peak Master?*
"Then this junior will take his leave first." The Taoist drifted away.
Ye Kong glanced at him indifferently before turning his gaze back to the water. He whispered to himself, "System, bring up the fishing panel."
"Ding! Detected that the Host has been fishing for nine years and two hundred sixty-five days."
*Almost ten years, and I still haven't broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm...* Ye Kong sighed internally.
He had originally been from Earth. He had spent his entire fortune to make his girlfriend famous, only for her to secretly get engaged to someone else, leaving him so furious that he coughed up blood and died.
Ten years had passed since he transmigrated. During this time, there were no arts or pastimes; the system forbade him from doing anything other than fishing in the Bitter Sea. He was content to be idle, gradually becoming a "salted fish" (someone lacking ambition).
By fishing for one day, he would automatically advance one level. Currently, he had already broken through to the 3,550th level of the Qi Condensation Stage! He didn't know how strong he was; he only felt that the total spiritual power of the entire Stellar River Sect didn't even amount to one-tenth of what was inside him.
"Sigh, it's been a long time since I've had meat. I wonder if that little phoenix in the Forbidden Land of the Ancient Wilderness has gotten fat yet."
...
Stellar River Sect, the Ascension Assembly.
A massive plaza was packed with outer disciples who had passed the initial assessment. Surrounding the plaza were nine towering pagodas, each representing the Nine Peaks of the Stellar River Sect.
"I never imagined that I, Lin Yaoyao, would have a day of rebirth," a red-dressed woman of peerless beauty stood before the Tianjian Tower and murmured to herself.
She had been a Quasi-Emperor, but while breaking through to the Emperor Realm, she was betrayed by a close friend and perished in the Burial Pit of Emperors. Now, she had been reborn as the daughter of a wealthy family on the outskirts of the Great Wilderness, just in time to seize the opportunity to join the Stellar River Sect.
"Though this Stellar River Sect is just a broken little sect, it can at least grant me the status of a cultivator. Once I cultivate in seclusion here for a few decades, I will be invincible upon my return!" Lin Yaoyao thought to herself.
"Silence!" A majestic voice boomed.
An old man with white hair, dressed in Stellar River robes, stood suspended in the air. A faint, natural pressure emanated from him.
"There are three thousand Great Daos. In the early stages of your cultivation, you must choose the technique that suits you best! Our sect's Nine Peaks represent different paths of cultivation. Once chosen, it cannot be changed!"
As soon as the old man finished speaking, a commotion erupted below.
"We want to join Tianjian Peak!"
"Tianjian Peak, please take us!"
Hearing the disciples’ cheers, a young man atop the Tianjian Tower smiled slightly. Their Tianjian Peak was the head of the Nine Peaks!
"Nephew Changqing, every year at the Ascension Assembly, Tianjian Peak is always the most popular," the Wanhua Peak Master said with a charming smile.
The young man calmly picked up a falling petal, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Since ancient times, power has been respected above all."
He glanced toward the Xiaoyao Tower. Seeing no one there, his lips curled into a sneer. *What is the point of keeping such a pathetic peak?*
Chen Changqing stood up and flicked the petal in his hand. Instantly, Sword Intent surged, piercing through the clouds.
"Wow! How amazing! Who is he?" a female disciple exclaimed.
"Haha, that is Chen Changqing, the strongest of the younger generation of the Stellar River Sect, known as the 'Little Sword God' of the sect!"
"I must get into Tianjian Peak to study the Sword Dao under Brother Chen Changqing!"
The crowd of disciples rushed toward Tianjian Peak, leaving the other Peak Masters envious. After all, the more talented disciples they recruited, the more resources their peak received—the strong only got stronger.
"There's no help for it. The previous generation of Tianjian Peak produced a Sword God, and now there's Chen Changqing, who suppresses the younger generation with a single sword. One has to admire it," the Dan Peak Master sighed to the Wanhua Peak Master.
Lin Yaoyao frowned. Seeing the massive crowd surging into Tianjian Peak, she sighed and turned to leave. There were too many people; it would interfere with her cultivation.
Less than half an incense stick of time later, the assembly concluded. The Great Elder stood in the air and announced the numbers for each peak.
"Tianjian Peak, 1,200 disciples."
*Hiss!*
The other Peak Masters gasped. With only two thousand disciples at this assembly, Tianjian Peak had taken more than half.
"Wanhua Peak, 113 disciples," the Great Elder continued. The Wanhua Peak Master’s face darkened slightly.
"Xiaoyao Peak, one disciple."
*One?*
Everyone present was shocked. Wasn't Xiaoyao Peak a "dead peak" long ago, possessing zero cultivation resources? Why would anyone choose to join it?
They looked toward the Xiaoyao Tower, and their eyes lit up.
*Beautiful!*
A young woman in a red dress stood quietly before the entrance to Xiaoyao Peak. Her appearance was peerless.
Chen Changqing’s attention was drawn there, too. At first glance, the girl in red was like a vibrant, blooming rose. Looking closer, however, there was a subtle majesty in her face—the nobility of an Empress combined with the elegance of a lotus. It was a captivating fusion of two distinct types of beauty.
Chen Changqing’s eyes burned with desire. He coughed and said calmly, "Young lady, the Peak Master of Xiaoyao Peak is only at the Qi Condensation Stage and cannot guide you. Why don't you come to my Tianjian Peak instead?"
*Wow!* The acting Peak Master of Tianjian Peak, the Little Sword God, was personally inviting a female disciple? The crowd looked on with excitement; was the woman so beautiful that even the Little Sword God was moved?
Lin Yaoyao was slightly taken aback. She only wanted to find an ordinary peak to cultivate in; she hadn't expected to attract such attention. *Why is this Xiaoyao Peak so pathetic?* Still, "pathetic" was good—no matter what she practiced, no one would bother her. In a place like Tianjian Peak, being pestered by flies all day—how could she practice her Empress-level arts?
"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother, but I have already made up my mind. I wish to practice the *Xuanhuang Formula* of Xiaoyao Peak."
Chen Changqing froze. He hadn't expected the girl to refuse him. Given his status, he didn't know how many people would offer to be his lapdogs if he just crooked a finger.
"Young lady, I still have one 'Sword Disciple' spot remaining. Won't you reconsider?" Chen Changqing persisted.
*A Sword Disciple?!*
Another uproar broke out. A Sword Disciple was one of the successors of the sword peak. Countless disciples worked themselves to the bone just to earn that title, as it guaranteed massive amounts of resources and a chance to soar.
"Oh, looks like my nephew has taken a liking to that girl, to actually part with a Sword Disciple spot," the Wanhua Peak Master teased.
Chen Changqing remained calm, looking down at Lin Yaoyao from above. He wanted to see her kneel before him.
"This junior sister is not interested in cultivation matters. I simply wish to travel, fish, and cook to my heart's content. My mind is set," Lin Yaoyao refused calmly, her face serene. She knew that if she went to the Sword Peak, she would face constant trouble. She would likely have to serve tea and water for Chen Changqing—the thought alone was disgusting. As for the so-called "Little Sword God," if she had a few months to cultivate, she could crush him with a wave of her hand.
"You dare to show me such disrespect?" Chen Changqing’s expression turned ugly. Since he began his cultivation, who had ever dared to defy him? Today, a mere newcomer dared to refuse him repeatedly in front of all the Peak Masters?
Just as Chen Changqing was about to explode, a lazy voice drifted from outside the plaza.
"Nephew Changqing, why are you snatching my disciple from Xiaoyao Peak?"
A young man in white appeared, looking pale and unsteady on his feet. He was holding a seven-colored "mountain chicken" and walking slowly toward them. *Sigh, I'm so tired. Killing that little phoenix nearly exhausted me.* Ye Kong threw the phoenix onto the ground and stretched.