Female Lead, Something's Not Right (GL) - Chapter 15

Qin Qianqian knelt on the ground, her heart filled with panic. The goddess, compassionate to all beings, said nothing and disappeared into the curling white mist. Before long, the Judicial Hall guards arrived on their swords.

“Qin Qianqian! You are suspected of poisoning a fellow disciple. You can say what you need to at the Judicial Hall,” the guard said sternly. “Take her away!”

Gu Shiyan was curled up on a jade bed. She felt unbearable pain, as if she was being roasted in a volcano one moment and frozen in an ice cellar the next. An invisible hand was dragging her down into the darkness, and her body was getting heavier and colder.

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but a sound of Sanskrit broke through the darkness and turned into a golden lotus, lifting the girl who was floating in the dark. The refreshing scent of lotus flowers surrounded her. A gentle spiritual energy passed over her wounds, and Gu Shiyan’s pain was immediately reduced. The poison left by the whip was completely removed, and the torn skin healed at a visible rate.

Gu Shiyan’s eyes fluttered open. She only saw a blurry golden figure in a haze of light. The invisible auspicious aura of salvation that emanated from her made her feel at peace.

When the figure by the bed became clearer, she saw the golden lotus on her brow. Wasn’t this the respected goddess, Yu Kong!

“Disciple Gu Shiyan thanks the Goddess for saving my life.” Gu Shiyan got up and quickly bowed. It seemed her plan had succeeded. She had been saved by the goddess. Thinking of this, her heart was filled with even more respect.

Yu Kong’s voice was gentle and calm. “Follow me.”

Gu Shiyan didn’t understand but obediently followed Yu Kong out the door. As soon as she stepped outside, she felt as if she was in another world of ice and snow. Her cultivation couldn’t withstand the cold of the snow mountain. Yu Kong lightly touched her with her fingertip, creating a protective layer of spiritual energy around Gu Shiyan.

It was said that this place was related to the goddess’s birthplace. The goddess was born on Mount Yama, born from a golden lotus, and her duty in this world was to save all beings. She was a favorite of the heavens, just like Shen Shu and Xiao Ze. After the goddess came to the Tianxuan Sect, she missed her hometown and created a great formation to transform this place into a snowy landscape.

“There is a spiritual pool in the back mountain. Your dantian appears to be damaged, but for some reason, my golden lotus cannot detect it. It may be related to your past life.”

Gu Shiyan was shocked by these words. She wasn’t paying attention and ran right into Yu Kong’s back. She was so scared she quickly took a step back and apologized. “I’m sorry, Goddess. This disciple was reckless!”

Gu Shiyan had thought the other person had guessed her secret of being reborn, but Yu Kong’s next words made her let her guard down.

“You don’t need to be alarmed. All living beings in this world will enter the cycle of reincarnation at the end of their lifespan. Your injury was likely from your past life. The dantian is the foundation of cultivation. Your destroyed dantian from your past life has affected your cultivation in this life. If it is not healed, it will affect your breakthrough.” Yu Kong led her to a spiritual pool at the foot of the snow mountain. “I must go to the Hall of All Beings. You can soak in the spiritual pool and rest.”

Gu Shiyan was shocked. This was a spiritual pool. How could an outer sect disciple like her be qualified to enter? She quickly refused. “The Goddess has already saved my life and healed my wounds. I absolutely cannot use this spiritual pool.”

Yu Kong turned, her expression still calm and indifferent. “Our meeting is fate. You can stay here and rest for the next seven days. Once you are healed, you may leave. I have to go to the Hall of All Beings.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Kong’s figure dissipated, leaving only the un-faded lotus imprint on the ground. Gu Shiyan felt helpless. She awkwardly looked around, then slowly unbuttoned her clothes and stepped into the spiritual pool.

As soon as she entered the spiritual pool, she felt her whole body relax. Her dantian felt as if it was being embraced by a large hand, as peaceful as an infant in its mother’s womb.

In the Hall of All Beings in the Tianxuan Sect, the Sect Master sat on the high seat, and the remaining seven seats were for the leaders of the Seven Star Peaks.

Seated at the head was the courageous and majestic sword cultivator, Elder Mu Xia of the Star Leader Peak. Next to her was the body cultivator, Elder Wu Chong of the Twin Star Peak, who was as strong as Mount Tai, nine feet tall, with eyebrows that reached the sky. He looked at the empty seat of the meditation cultivator, Elder Yu Kong of the Three Star Peak.

“Why isn’t Yu Kong here for such an important matter? Has she not come out of seclusion yet?” Wu Chong’s voice was like rolling thunder.

Elder Ling Zhidao of the Four Star Peak’s Alchemy Division held a horsetail whisk. His demeanor was that of an immortal. “I just heard Yu Kong’s Sanskrit. She should have come out of seclusion.”

Elder Lu Ran of the Five Star Peak’s Talisman Division was fanning himself and winking at Shen Shu, who was standing beside him. Elder Xuan Mao of the Six Star Peak’s Beast Cultivator Division had transformed into a cat with different-colored eyes and was lying on the sixth seat, her tail occasionally flicking at Elder Zhuge Chan of the Seven Star Peak’s Artifact Cultivator Division, who looked like a ten-year-old boy and was engrossed in the mechanical arts in his hands.

The Sect Master frowned, looking at the seated peak leaders and the crowd standing in the hall. “What are your thoughts on the Suzaku Tower’s matter?”

Xuan Mao licked her paws. “The rampant demonic energy on the outside is just a cover. The turbid energy in the four directions of the Qianmeng Continent, thousands of miles apart, is surging at the same time. There must be some kind of trigger.”

The situation was grim. Mu Xia asked anxiously, “Shu’er, the seal of the Suzaku Tower has been broken. Only the Heaven-Mending Stone can repair the seal. Have you obtained it?”

Shen Shu nodded. “I have, Peak Leader.”

Mu Xia was slightly relieved. Lu Ran used a divination seal. “My recent divinations have all been extremely ominous, but when the moon is full, it begins to wane. When things are at their worst, they can only get better. There is a glimmer of hope in every matter.”

The Sect Master leaned back in his chair and looked at everyone seriously. “Everyone, winter is coming! As immortals, you bear the responsibility of protecting the people of the mortal world. The turbid energy is surging. Once the turbid energy in the four corners of the world breaks free from its cage, all six realms will be finished. We must now notify the other sects and work together to be vigilant and defend against the endless darkness that is about to arrive!”

“Yes!” A solemn response came from every person present, echoing throughout the great hall.

Ling Zhidao stroked his beard. “Sect Master, the competition cannot be delayed any longer. How about moving it up to three months from now? We should gather the most intelligent children of the heavens as soon as possible and train them, so they can help us in the coming tribulation.”

“I agree with the old Daoist’s suggestion!” Wu Chong squeezed his fists. “Let me see how many brats will enter my body cultivation sect this year.”

“You can handle this. This year, the reward for the competition will be doubled. The most important thing is for the disciples to break through their cultivation as soon as possible.”

Lu Ran looked at Shen Shu. “Sect Master, Shen Shu and I will return before the end of the competition. Besides the Heaven-Mending Stone, we also need the goddess’s Sanskrit to help repair the seal of the Suzaku Tower this time.”

“I will go with you.”

A hollow voice came from outside the door. Yu Kong walked into the great hall alone. Although her eyes were covered with a white veil, she could see everything around her with her divine sense. She walked straight to her seat as if she were a normal person.

“I just heard your prayer bell ring. Was there an accident?”

“Just a small matter of fate.”

In the crowd, Zhao Feixue’s communication stone lit up. She frowned and took a step forward. “Reporting to the Sect Master, the Judicial Hall has sent a message regarding something about Elder Zhuge’s inner sect disciple, Qin Qianqian. I ask for your judgment.”

“Speak.”

“Qin Qianqian of the Artifact Cultivator Sect deliberately used cruel methods to harm an outer sect disciple of the Alchemy Division. One disciple is seriously injured, and another disciple, Zhou Yun, has had her spiritual energy completely destroyed and is currently being treated. The culprit has been locked up in the heavenly prison,” Zhao Feixue said seriously.

When Shen Shu heard “Alchemy Division,” her brows twitched.

The Sect Master looked at Zhuge Chan on his seat with displeasure. “Elder Zhuge, is this true?”

Zhuge Chan put away the complex artifact in his hand with a displeased look. His childish voice came. “Qianqian is indeed my disciple. Although her heart is not righteous, her talent in artifact cultivation is quite good. If she has truly violated the sect’s rules, then Elder Zhao can deal with it according to the law.”

Xuan Mao flicked her tail, and a displeased young girl’s voice came. “I told you not to take that inner sect disciple of yours because she would cause trouble, but you didn’t listen!”

Ling Zhidao asked with concern, “How is the seriously injured disciple now? Do you know who it is?”

Yu Kong spoke up. “Elder Ling, calm down. The outer sect disciple is Gu Shiyan, and she is in my quarters.”

As soon as the three words “Gu Shiyan” were spoken, Shen Shu’s entire body instantly turned cold.