Chapter 7: The Invincible Dragon’s Triumph (6)

The internal assessment of the Infinite Sect takes place once every ten years. Even exceptional talents like Qin Yang, who possesses the rare mutated Heavenly Thunder spiritual root, must obediently follow the sect's regulations.

Though Qin Yang is officially an outer disciple of the Infinite Sect, the monthly stipend he receives and the special training secretly provided by the inner elders have long matched the intensity reserved for the sect's elite inner disciples.

In terms of both strength and talent, Qin Yang’s entry into the inner sect was a foregone conclusion.

However, this year, aside from Qin Yang, the five most popular candidates vying for the coveted inner sect apprenticeship spots included Su Bai—who recently obtained the Saint Sovereign Sword Dao inheritance alongside Qin Yang—Liu Zongyu, the eighteenth-generation heir of the Liu family’s Shadowless Blade, and Jiang Yu, daughter of the peak master of the Chenhua Peak and the top outer sect magic cultivator.

As the rising sun peeked through the thin mist, and frost and snow dripped quietly overnight, thousands of outer sect disciples of the Infinite Sect had already gathered at the foot of Jiuxuan Peak.

From above, they stood head to head, foot to foot, a dense crowd stretching far and wide.

Before long, the Grand Elder arrived riding a sword, his voice deep and solemn: “The inner sect assessment consists of two stages. The first is passing through the Mysterious Array to test the Dao heart.”

“The second stage is the arena contest. Disciples who pass the array will draw lots at the peak of Jiuxuan, pairing with those holding matching numbers for one-on-one battles. Winners earn one point and continue drawing lots to compete; losers may spend one point to draw again. The top fifty by points enter the inner sect, and the top five may choose an elder as their master.”

With that, the Grand Elder swept his broad sleeves, revealing the array gate hidden within the fog.

“The Mysterious Array has nine hundred ninety-nine steps. It tests the cultivator’s Dao heart. Those with pure Dao hearts ascend easily, while those who do not endure excruciating pain with each step, like being pricked repeatedly.”

“Disciples of the Infinite Sect, begin!”

At the peak of Jiuxuan, Yun Zhu and Yue Nianxin stood side by side.

“Yun Zhu, want to guess who will be the first to pass the Mysterious Array?”

Yue Nianxin waved her hand, and a Myriad Phenomena Mirror appeared before her, clearly showing the scene at the foot of Jiuxuan Peak. With another wave, the view traced upward along the nine hundred ninety-nine steps.

Yun Zhu crossed her arms and scoffed, “No need to guess. It’s obviously Junior Brother Qin.”

“The purer one’s Dao heart, the faster the cultivation. Qin Junior Brother has advanced two minor realms in two years. Doesn’t that say it all?”

She paused and added, “What, do you still think it’s that young miss who just entered the Infinite Sect at mid-foundation stage and is barely at the initial Heart Movement phase?”

Yue Nianxin, while watching the disciples, sighed softly and gently advised, “Yun Zhu, you should temper your temper. When I met that girl, she was nothing like your description of being spoiled and willful.”

“Look at her eyes; I don’t think she has any intention toward Qin Junior Brother. It’s you who’s a bit aggressive.”

Yun Zhu frowned. “You’re too nice. That girl is sharp! She even turned down the top-grade Enlightenment Pill I personally concocted. Isn’t that just a show of force against me?”

Originally, Yun Zhu had made two Enlightenment Pills for Qin Yang. Though effective, they were not to be overused. Moreover, pills made by a pill master of the Golden Core stage only work for cultivators below that realm. Qin Yang took one, and Yun Zhu kept one.

Yun Zhu’s dislike of Su Bai was true, but she was not unreasonable. Since Qin Yang was betrothed to Su Bai and it was Qin Yang’s fault, she instructed him to give the pill to Su Bai as a gesture of goodwill.

Unexpectedly, the girl refused it outright!

Yue Nianxin chuckled softly, “The saying goes, ‘No merit, no reward.’ The fact she refused your pill means her heart truly holds the Dao.”

“From another perspective, many would flatter you for your pills. This girl resists temptation and remains true to her nature.”

Yun Zhu snorted quietly.

Though Yue Nianxin’s reasoning was sound, Yun Zhu was well-known, and many sought her pill-making skills. This was the first time someone had rejected her pills!

Seeing her like this, Yue Nianxin could only shake her head helplessly and return her attention to the disciples in the Myriad Phenomena Mirror.

Though Yun Zhu was her childhood friend, gifted and capable, and as charming as they come, Yue Nianxin knew better than anyone that, due to the scarcity of men in the Rejuvenation Valley and having read too many romance stories, Yun Zhu was hopelessly naïve in love.

Such naïveté, if unchecked, would lead to serious trouble.

Yue Nianxin’s hand froze.

Along the misty mountain path, the slender and upright figure of the girl cut through the clouds like a drawn sword.

It was the same girl who had received the Saint Sovereign inheritance in the Qimen Thousand Arrays Hall.

Yue Nianxin smiled quietly, “The first to pass the Mysterious Array may not necessarily be Junior Brother Qin.”

As the array opened, the surrounding disciples surged forward like a stampede.

Su Bai dusted off her clothes. After most had entered, she slowly stood, arms crossed, and walked toward the mountain gate leading to the peak.

Having been a top figure in the Ruthless Sword Dao in her past life, she still held a bit of that idol aura. She could not bring herself to mingle and push through the crowd with these juniors.

Just as she stepped through the gate, she saw Qin Yang waiting nearby.

“Talk?” he asked.

Su Bai neither nodded nor shook her head, merely proceeding toward the peak.

Seeing her ignore him, Qin Yang silently followed, keeping a steady distance behind. Though they both fell behind the crowd struggling at the foot, they calmly walked step by step, reaching a part of the mountainside where almost no other disciples had yet arrived.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: “Do you know about my relationship with Yun Zhu?”

Su Bai didn’t look at him, only murmuring in acknowledgment.

Qin Yang thought, as expected. He sighed and said, “I wasn’t trying to hide it. I just thought we were like siblings. I didn’t know how to explain it to you... and worried it might cause tension between you and Yun Zhu.”

“Was it hard to say?”

Su Bai turned, her gaze cold. “Junior Brother Qin, are you so sure I wouldn’t be angry?”

Qin Yang froze.

Su Bai had no real feelings for this so-called script. Whether it was the role she played or the entanglement between Qin Yang and Yun Zhu, she was merely an observer. Her reason for choosing this script was simply to challenge the strong.

She did not want to hear any explanations from Qin Yang, nor did she care about Yun Zhu’s provocations.

All these characters were inconsequential NPCs. She had no reason to get angry at an NPC or waste time on illogical plots.

Becoming stronger was her sole pursuit.

Perhaps it was this pure obsession with strength that allowed her to become the only cultivator in a thousand years to enter the Dao through the Ruthless Way.

Yet, within less than a month, Qin Yang hurriedly tried several times to explain their relationship; Yun Zhu, with no grudge, repeatedly provoked her; and as the city lord’s daughter, she overheard whispers behind her back—

“Junior Brother Qin has advanced two minor realms in the Heart Movement phase in just two years. This is unheard of in the cultivation world. No wonder Sister Yun from Rejuvenation Valley follows him.”

“Though Junior Sister Su is betrothed to Qin, her gentle nature may not be a match for Sister Yun.”

“Nonsense. Junior Sister Su is talented, but how can a girl practice sword cultivation? She should stick to being a magic cultivator.”

“But the Su City Lord has good taste. With Qin Yang as her son-in-law, the development of Luowa City is assured.”

Su Bai found it strange.

Qin Yang thought she was upset because of Yun Zhu.

Yun Zhu thought she was upset because Qin Yang was giving her attitude.

The Infinite Sect disciples believed the two were jealous over Qin Yang, and some even speculated that Senior Brother Shen was deliberately sent by Su Bai to provoke Qin Yang.

In this world, she was trapped in a dilemma.

It seemed no matter what she did, her motives had to revolve around Qin Yang.

She dueled with Senior Brother Shen because Qin Yang spent every day with Yun Zhu.

She practiced tirelessly because she envied Yun Zhu’s strength near Qin Yang.

She acted indifferent toward Qin Yang to attract his attention.

This made Su Bai feel as if she were merely an appendage of Qin Yang.

And the world’s script indeed cast her as nothing but Qin Yang’s subordinate.

Though her Heavenly Water spiritual root was no match for Qin Yang’s mutated Thunder root, through cultivation she discovered her body’s strong affinity for the world’s spiritual energy. Whether in battle or training, she could replenish her spiritual energy at three times the speed of normal cultivators.

With countless restrictions set by this world, Qin Yang needed to obtain the Divine Fire of the Vermilion Bird through soul communion. To defeat the Candle Dragon, she had to help Qin Yang grow stronger. If an ordinary woman entered this script, with all resources tipping the scales toward one side, she would have no choice but to be forced into courting Qin Yang.

Before entering this world, Su Bai had spent three days and nights reading novels. The more she read, the more confused she became.

The female protagonist had a thousand reasons not to fall in love, yet the world found a thousand ways to force her into romance.

Romance seemed the heroine’s destiny, while becoming stronger was the hero’s mandate.

Like a princess, whether rescued by a hero or a dragon, she would inevitably be saved by love. If she loved the wrong man, her next life would surely involve a reliable one.

But why, when crafting male characters’ spouses, were the heroines typically gifted early on, supplying the hero with rapid growth resources, yet always slightly weaker to avoid outshining him?

Like Qin Yang.

Like her own role.

Born with a rare Heavenly Water spiritual root, yet not a mutated Ice root; hailing from a powerful city like Luowa, yet disinterested in power, devoted wholly to the hero.

This allowed her background and cultivation resources to naturally benefit Qin Yang, while ensuring she would never threaten his status.

This was her predetermined fate, written long ago in the book.

The irony was that this novel world, originally discovered by a female-perspective saintly white-flower system, was now admired by a male-perspective domineering system.

If not for being Su Bai, she would be just another soul competing for the same fate, eventually suppressed by reality, forced to grovel for Qin Yang’s favor, help him grow, and save the world with her own loss of freedom.

But she was accustomed to controlling her own destiny.

And unaccustomed to anyone wielding power over her.

Fate was the excuse of the weak; fortune, the humility of the strong.