Chapter 7: Xue Huairui
Page 1/3
Exciting!
Though Song Zhiyuan’s words were murmured under his breath, the disciples closest to him heard them clearly.
It turned out that after his attempt to juggle two relationships failed, there was more to come: two men competing for one woman, and Senior Brother Song lost to the newcomer junior disciple.
“Of course, it’s also possible that Junior Sister Yun is just having a quarrel with Senior Brother Song. That person doesn’t even resemble him by seven-tenths—probably just a stand-in.”
“You have a point. An imitation can never compare to the original.”
The gossiping disciples spoke with sympathy for Qi Yan, having preconceived notions that Qi Yan was merely a pawn in the play between Song Zhiyuan and Yun Zhao.
“Junior Sister Yun is the granddaughter of the former sect leader. It’s one thing for her to favor Senior Brother Song, but Qi Yan is a newcomer—why should she pay attention to him…”
Listening to their chatter, Song Zhiyuan showed no expression on his face but felt a secret satisfaction in his heart.
He had indeed shown concern for the new junior sister during recruitment, but he had no intention of letting go of Yun Zhao.
As the sole blood heir of the former sect leader, Yun Zhao possessed countless cultivation resources, not to mention that after becoming her partner, one could also gain the support of Cold Moon Peak.
Song Zhiyuan tightened his grip on the jade talisman in his hand.
It seemed Qi Yan had the same plan as him: for the cultivation resources and support Yun Zhao held, he was even willing to give up his mother’s relic.
Recalling Yun Zhao’s attitude toward Qi Yan just now, Song Zhiyuan reluctantly regarded Qi Yan as a rival.
While pondering how to win Yun Zhao back, Song Zhiyuan’s communication talisman rang: “Senior Brother, are you at the main peak? I have some cultivation questions to ask you…”
Song Zhiyuan gave an affirmative reply and returned to his quarters.
Meanwhile, Yun Zhao led Qi Yan down to the foot of Azure Cloud Peak. She summoned the spirit sword, but Qi Yan remained motionless.
“Yan, didn’t I give you the spirit sword yesterday?”
Yun Zhao’s residence was at the peak’s summit. Flying on a sword was much faster than walking. Qi Yan had been confined in the dungeon without any storage bags or equipment. She had prepared everything he needed yesterday.
Qi Yan hesitated, “My cultivation has been sealed.”
“What?”
Yun Zhao was shocked. She extended her divine sense to examine Qi Yan’s cultivation—there was no spiritual energy at all.
“When did this happen? Who did it?”
Yun Zhao hadn’t noticed anything amiss with Qi Yan’s cultivation before; she thought Qi Yan was just hiding it with a technique, but now...
Seeing her ready to clench her fists and seek revenge for him, Qi Yan coolly said, “You did it.”
Yun Zhao froze, “Ah?”
“Just kidding,” Qi Yan lowered his head and smiled faintly, “I don’t know who did it either. My cultivation was still intact yesterday, but just now it got sealed.”
The implication was obvious. Yun Zhao instinctively said, “Song Zhiyuan did it?”
Page 2/3
Qi Yan neither confirmed nor denied. “Maybe. Not sure.”
“It must be him,” Yun Zhao said angrily. “Didn’t you feel anything when your cultivation was sealed?”
“Would you just let him seal your cultivation? What if he harms you? I’m right here, and you don’t even call for me!”
“Come, let’s go confront him!”
She angrily grabbed Qi Yan, wanting to settle the score with Song Zhiyuan.
Without cultivation, Qi Yan was weak and could easily be crushed. Although she followed him closely, there were times she might not notice.
What if something happened to him? What about her mission?
Qi Yan broke free from her grasp. “It might not be him. Also, I don’t want to clash with him.”
Yun Zhao was puzzled. “Why?”
“The jade talisman he holds is my mother’s relic.”
Qi Yan sighed softly, “He used the talisman to force me to swear never to cultivate.”
“Did you agree?”
Qi Yan shook his head. “No, but…”
“But your cultivation was still sealed,” Yun Zhao clenched her fists, “It must be Song Zhiyuan. No one else would do this!”
Qi Yan lowered his gaze. “So what? Should I confront him? What if he denies it? If we push him too hard, what if he destroys my mother’s relic?”
Indeed.
The relic was in Song Zhiyuan’s hands. If provoked, he might destroy the talisman.
“Forget it,” Yun Zhao sighed, “Let me think…”
Seeing Yun Zhao believed him, Qi Yan curled the corner of his mouth.
His cultivation wasn’t sealed by Song Zhiyuan but was accidentally sealed when Yun Zhao disrupted his demonic state yesterday.
As for why he was vague and misleading Yun Zhao...
Qi Yan’s eyes darkened as he silently watched Yun Zhao’s troubled face.
It was intentional.
Last time, he trusted Yun Zhao easily but was humiliated and whipped. This time, let Yun Zhao experience being fooled!
Also, he didn’t believe Yun Zhao liked him. This might just be another act.
Did Yun Zhao want him to fall in love with her only to be cruelly abandoned?
No way—he wouldn’t be deceived again!
Page 3/3
“By the way! If he can seal your cultivation, there must be a way to break it. I’ll find a way to unlock it for you.”
The more Yun Zhao thought about it, the more feasible her idea seemed. “The library has many ancient texts. There must be a way to unlock your cultivation.”
“Step closer, I’ll take you back flying on the sword.”
Standing with Yun Zhao on the spirit sword, Qi Yan leisurely enjoyed the scenery.
She believed him.
He was curious to see her expression when she found out she had been fooled. It would surely be entertaining!
As for the jade talisman...
It was a fake relic. With his demonic bloodline, he could easily detect his mother’s aura.
At the same time, a secret hope stirred in Qi Yan’s heart.
He had tried many methods but couldn’t unlock his cultivation. What if Yun Zhao could find a solution?
At the small library on Azure Cloud Peak, Yun Zhao dragged Qi Yan inside to search through books as soon as they arrived.
“Let’s look here first. If we can’t find anything, we’ll go to the sect’s main library. Most books here contain strange and rare cultivation techniques.”
“Yeah,” Yun Zhao scratched her head, “They’re so weird, I don’t even know how to categorize them. We can only read them one by one.”
Qi Yan gazed at the endless bookshelves and fell into thought.
How long would this take?
“Senior Brother, may I come in?”
Shortly after Song Zhiyuan returned to his quarters, Xue Huairui arrived.
Song Zhiyuan said gently, “Come in, Junior Sister. What do you need help with?”
Xue Huairui asked several questions that beginners often encounter during cultivation, and Song Zhiyuan answered them one by one.
But the last question left Song Zhiyuan somewhat embarrassed.
“Junior Sister, you and I have different spiritual roots. This question is better asked to a cultivator with the Ice Spiritual Root like yours.”
“But,” Xue Huairui said with a troubled expression, “I don’t know any senior brothers or sisters with the Ice Spiritual Root. In the sect, you’re the only one I know.”
Song Zhiyuan chuckled lightly, “You just joined a few days ago, so of course you don’t know others yet. In a few days, I’ll introduce you to some senior brothers and sisters with the Ice Spiritual Root. You can ask them then.”
He added, “Ice Spiritual Root disciples should train at Cold Moon Peak under Master Han Yue. Although the master has accepted you as a disciple, for future cultivation, you’ll need to study at Cold Moon Peak.”
Xue Huairui’s eyes flickered, “Senior Brother, can I not go to Cold Moon Peak?”