After I Became A Divine Beast In An Immortal Sect [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 5

The astral winds at the summit of Xianmiao Peak had eased slightly. Amid the cold sky and evening snow, two figures—one dressed in black and the other in white—were fiercely dueling with swords.

A quarter of an hour later, the sword in the white-clad figure’s hand was knocked away. He staggered back several steps before steadying himself.

“I’m done! I’m not fighting anymore!” Yunsheng picked up his sword and rubbed his aching arm. “Senior Brother, you’re far too ruthless!”

Yunmo snorted coldly.

“You have been spoiled since childhood and have become hopelessly lazy! If you continue like this, I will truthfully report it to the Peak Master and have you sent to Qianfeng Cliff for harsh cultivation.”

Yunsheng immediately shuddered in fright.

Qianfeng Cliff was the most treacherous place on the entire Xianmiao Peak. Its summit pierced the highest heavens while its base overlooked a bottomless abyss, making anyone who gazed upon it tremble with fear.

Furthermore, because of the unusual nature of the cliff’s rocks, not a single flower, blade of grass, or tree grew anywhere on it. There was not even one bird or beast to be found. Describing it as “a place where even birds refused to shit” would not be an exaggeration.

Anyone who cultivated there would hear nothing but the sounds of wind and rain throughout the year. The only thing left beneath heaven and earth would be one’s own loneliness.

With Yunsheng’s lively temperament and hatred of silence, he could not endure staying there for even one day.

He was just about to beg his senior brother for mercy when a deep and resounding bell suddenly rang out from the distance.

Yunsheng’s ears twitched.

“The Qinghua Bell? Is the Sect Master summoning us?”

Yunmo nodded.

“Let’s go to the main peak.”

……

By the time the two arrived at the main peak, more than a thousand disciples had already gathered in Qianyang Square.

Yunsheng pulled Yunmo toward a position near the front. There, they saw Sect Master Qin Jian, Elder Jingming, Elder Lingxi, and a group of scripture instructors standing solemnly upon the elevated platform.

Yunsheng: “…”

This lineup was somewhat frightening.

Once almost everyone had arrived, Qin Jian stepped forward as Sect Master and spoke first.

“I have summoned everyone here today regarding the Peak Master selection. Eight people have currently registered to participate, but the available positions are limited, so we must select only the most outstanding candidates. After discussing the matter with the two elders, we have established a set of procedures. Elder Jingming, please announce the list of names.”

Elder Jingming nodded, stepped forward, and declared in a deep voice, “Tang Zhi, Meng Li’an, Song Yongchang, Wei Yixian, Fan Hongsheng, Gong Boyi, Xin Sichen, and Shi Hongcai. Will the eight of you please come onto the platform?”

Of the eight candidates, Xin Sichen was the only woman. The others were all men.

After they lined up in a row, Qin Jian smiled.

“You are all elite disciples of the sect. No matter whom we choose, it will be difficult to make a decision. After discussing the matter with the elders, we have decided that the first candidates to successfully pass through the Heart-Tempering Realm will be granted the positions of Peak Master.”

The Heart-Tempering Realm was one of the Qianyuan Sect’s three great sect treasures. Activating it even once required several thousand high-grade spirit stones.

Its effects, however, were equally extraordinary.

Any cultivator who underwent training within the Heart-Tempering Realm could improve their cultivation by at least one minor realm. Those with exceptional aptitude might even break through an entire major realm.

The eyes of all eight candidates lit up, while the disciples beneath the platform looked at them with unconcealed envy.

“Had I known, I would have registered too! That’s the Heart-Tempering Realm—a treasure that only exists in legends!”

“Oh, please. With your cultivation, you didn’t even qualify to register!”

“I was only saying it casually. Am I not even allowed to dream?”

“Silence!”

Cheng Suxi released her spiritual pressure, and the noisy square instantly became quiet.

She looked at the eight candidates.

“You will have five days to prepare. The Heart-Tempering Realm will open five days from now. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, none of you may be absent.”

“We respectfully obey your command!”

At that moment, Elder Jingming suddenly said, “Activating the Heart-Tempering Realm requires an enormous expenditure. In my opinion, we might as well select several exceptionally talented disciples and allow them to enter as well.”

The moment he said this, the many disciples below erupted with excitement.

They dared not dream of becoming Peak Masters, but being allowed to enter the Heart-Tempering Realm would still be an incredible opportunity falling straight from the heavens!

Qin Jian considered it and found Elder Jingming’s suggestion reasonable.

“Each peak may select ten disciples to enter the Heart-Tempering Realm. Zhiyuan Peak and Hanyun Peak currently have no Peak Masters, so their ten disciples will be selected according to last year’s sect assessment rankings.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Elder Jingming abruptly turned toward Cheng Suxi.

“Xianmiao Peak has very few disciples. I wonder whether Elder Lingxi might be willing to spare several of its places? After all, disciples whose cultivation is too low will not gain much from entering the Heart-Tempering Realm. Why waste the opportunity?”

His tone sounded sincere, as though he were thinking only of the sect, but every word mocked Xianmiao Peak for its small number of disciples.

The disciples of Xianmiao Peak below immediately exploded with anger.

Had Yunmo not restrained him, Yunsheng would nearly have jumped onto the platform and cursed Elder Jingming while pointing directly at his nose.

Did he truly think Xianmiao Peak could be bullied merely because it had fewer people?!

And he dared call their cultivation low?

Any one of them could beat a whole group of Suhui Peak disciples!

Qin Jian had not expected Elder Jingming to openly provoke them. He was about to refuse when Cheng Suxi stopped him with a glance.

Her gaze casually swept over Elder Jingming’s face as she said indifferently, “Since Elder Jingming doubts the cultivation of Xianmiao Peak’s disciples, why don’t our two peaks each select twenty disciples within the next three days and have them fight one-on-one? The victors may enter the Heart-Tempering Realm. What do you think?”

Qin Jian almost burst out laughing, but his face remained perfectly serious.

“I think that is an excellent idea.”

Whether Suhui Peak would steal Xianmiao Peak’s places or Xianmiao Peak would steal Suhui Peak’s places remained to be seen…

Elder Jingming’s expression immediately darkened.

Although Xianmiao Peak had very few disciples, every single one of them had been personally and meticulously selected by that old man Jingyang before his death. They were all excellent seedlings.

If the two peaks truly fought, Suhui Peak would not necessarily hold the advantage.

After weighing the matter for a moment, Elder Jingming once again assumed an amiable and kindly expression.

“Xianmiao Peak has fewer than a hundred people, while Suhui Peak has several thousand disciples. I only asked for several places because I could not bear to see them miss such a rare opportunity. I hope Elder Lingxi will not take offense.”

“I do not.”

After uttering those three words, Cheng Suxi said nothing more.

However, the chill surrounding her poured outward even more freely, forcing even Elder Jingming to retreat several steps from the cold.

Qin Jian suppressed his laughter internally while outwardly continuing to play the mediator.

“Everyone can understand Elder Jingming’s concern for his disciples. However, since the founding of the Qianyuan Sect, what we have valued most is unity. We must not turn against our own people over trivial gains. In my opinion, we should settle the matter with ten places for each peak. Do either of the elders have any objections?”

“Since there are none, today’s gathering will end here. Everyone may leave.”

Elder Jingming had failed to gain any advantage and had instead been thoroughly rebuffed. He flung his sleeves and was the first to leave.

Cheng Suxi was also about to summon Yinshuang when someone suddenly called out to her.

“Elder Lingxi, please wait!”

The person who stopped Cheng Suxi was a highly respected scripture instructor from Hanyun Peak. His surname was Liang, and the disciples all addressed him as Instructor Liang.

Cheng Suxi turned around in confusion.

“What is the matter, Instructor Liang?”

“There is something for which I would like to request Elder Lingxi’s assistance.”

Instructor Liang sighed before explaining, “There is a disciple on my peak named Luo Ying. A few days ago, he went out for practical training and was accidentally bitten by a fire spider. I tried using heavenly treasures such as Azure Cold Fruit and Thousand-Year Coldroot Grass to extract the fire poison from his body. Unfortunately, the fire spider’s venom was too powerful. Not only did those treatments fail to cure him, but he has now fallen unconscious.”

Cheng Suxi immediately understood why he had approached her.

“You want me to remove the poison for him?”

Instructor Liang suddenly bowed deeply.

“Luo Ying’s life is currently hanging by a thread. Other than Elder Lingxi, I cannot think of anyone else who might save him.”

Cheng Suxi considered the matter for a moment before replying, “I will accompany you to Hanyun Peak shortly and examine him.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Author’s Note

Another day without the little chubby bird.

Hatching alert!