Chapter 6.1 Entering the mundane world
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
In his last encounter, Elder Lao had chased and beaten Pei Jing relentlessly, making him run around all 108 peaks of Yunxiao. It left a lasting impact on him, almost becoming a psychological shadow. Now, with his mind troubled, he returned—rushing to deliver a lethal blow?
However, deep down, he remained a kind-hearted person. After all, Chen Xu had accompanied him, and he couldn’t just abandon him. So, after jumping out of the window of the Celestial Pavilion, Pei Jing didn’t wander far. He settled in the Consulate Hall situated before him. By subtly altering his appearance with magic, he took a seat in the corner and casually picked up a book to read.
The Consulate Hall served as a place for sect disciples to receive tasks and exchange them for spiritual stones.
Pei Jing had never visited before. From the moment he was born, he was taken in as a disciple by the Sect Master and spent most of his time on the Tianqian Peak, secluded in cultivation. Except for the period when he went to the Institute of Celestial Ascension, his regular companions were only his master and Chen Xu. It was an existence marked by scarcity.
Browsing through the tasks in Consulate Hall, Pei Jing found the requirements for Qi Gathering and Foundation Establishment cultivators quite straightforward: hunting demon beasts or gathering spiritual herbs. Completing a single task would earn ten spiritual stones. Investing some time in these tasks proved to be quite advantageous for new disciples who had just entered the immortal sect and were penniless.
Lost in thought, Pei Jing watched as several groups of newly recruited disciples entered. Although they were termed ‘newly recruited’, Pei Jing recognized some of them from yesterday’s selection.
The three of them dressed in Yunxiao robes, white with blue borders, and silver belts flowing. Their steps seemed to carry a certain momentum. Positioned at the end of the line, they awaited their assigned tasks while engaging in casual conversations and laughter.
The person at the front was a young man with round eyes, displaying a warm and amiable smile. He turned his head and whispered softly, “There’s a small piece of news I heard from someone. They say that yesterday’s selection wasn’t as easy as it seemed. Several senior brothers and sisters from the Inner Peaks were present, intending to select ten disciples from among us to directly join the Inner Peaks.”
“Really?”
The person at the front responded, “Absolutely true. Haven’t you noticed the missing faces? They went to the Inner Peaks. They’re incredibly fortunate. Based on Yunxiao’s previous system, entering the Inner Peaks was even more challenging than ascending the heavens.”
The third person playfully remarked, “It can’t be that exaggerated, right?”
Shaking his head, the young man at the front expressed a sense of regret, “It’s not an exaggeration. Let me do the math for you. Only Upper Pavilion disciples from the Outer Peaks have the chance to enter the Central Peak. To become an Upper Pavilion disciple of the Outer Peak, you need to rank within the top 100 in the Outer Peak’s grand competition held every five years. Even if you make it into the top 100, you still have to pass the assessment by the Inner Peak elders. They need to find you promising for you to enter. If they don’t, not even one out of the hundred can enter the Inner Peaks. Just like the last time, none of them made it.”
Upon hearing the round-eyed young man’s words, the other two individuals revealed expressions of astonishment, taking a sharp breath.
In a moment, someone sighed and said, “This is only Yunxiao Sect, and the competition is already so intense. In the vast continent of Canghua, when will we have a chance to shine?”
The round-eyed young man smiled casually and simply said, “To make a name for ourselves, there is a way.”
He pointed towards the southern sky through the Consulate Hall’s window. There stood a majestic mountain that reached the clouds. It wasn’t part of Yunxiao Sect, yet it surpassed every peak within Yunxiao in height and grandeur. It stood at the heart of Canghua, revered by countless cultivators, known as Wentian Peak.
“That is Wentian Peak, the number one peak in the world and where the Trial of Challenging the Heavens takes place every five hundred years. If you can leave your mark on the Wentian Rankings, not only will Yunxiao Sect recognize you, but your name will be known throughout the entire cultivation world.”
The remaining two individuals took a deep breath, their eyes filled with enthusiasm. They spoke in moderate tones, capturing the attention of those in the queue ahead and the newly recruited cultivators sitting nearby. Even some senior brothers and sisters who had joined earlier cast their glances over discreetly. They understood, but hearing it from someone else made a difference. They lowered their heads and smiled, mocking their lack of experience.
However, just as they were captivated, the round-eyed young man chuckled softly and said, “But making a name on the Wentian Rankings is more than ten thousand times harder than entering the Inner Peak. Do you know who occupies the Wentian Rankings?”
The two individuals shook their heads and asked, “Who are they?”
The round-eyed young man paused, his expression becoming serious. “Blooming Green Flowers in a Pool of Blood, Blue Butterflies Born from Ivory Bones, Relic Buddha’s Heart, Phoenix Eyes and One Sword Soaring through the Frost of Wuwang Peak. You might not have heard this phrases before, but as a Canghua local, I have known it since I was young. It contains hidden meanings and refers to the top five cultivators chosen from the previous Trial of Challenging the Heavens.”
The new disciples perked up their ears, listening intently.
The senior brothers and sisters shook their heads and chuckled.
The two individuals accompanying him said, “Please… tell us more.”
The round-eyed young man paused, his expression turning serious. “Blooming Green Flowers in a Pool of Blood refers to the fifth-ranked cultivator on the Wentian Rankings, Yu Qinglian, known as the Fushang Fairy from Penglai Island. She is the daughter of the island’s Lord and achieved rejuvination at the age of one hundred. She harbors a deep grudge against evil and once wiped out all the demonic cultivators of Penglai Island with a single whip, turning a spiritual channel into a blood pool, hence earning her name.
“Blue Butterflies born from Ivory Bones refers to the fourth-ranked cultivator on the Wentian Rankings, Ji Wuduan, the young master of Guixu Clan. He is a ghost cultivator who specializes in manipulating the energy of the deceased. It is said that with a single gesture, Ji Wuduan can instantly kill a living person and reduce a dead person to ashes. The ashes then scatter in the air, resembling blue butterflies, giving him this name.”
As he spoke, he made a butterfly-like gesture with his hand. The words of the round-eyed young man caught everyone’s attention, and the previously bustling Consulate Hall gradually grew quiet. The top five cultivators on the Wentian Rankings seemed distant and mysterious. At this moment, they were nothing more than specks of dust, mere ants, while that group of men and women had already reached the pinnacle of the cultivation world, becoming legends admired by countless cultivators.
“The third-ranked on the Wentian Rankings is Relic Buddha’s Heart, the foremost Buddhist cultivator in the world, Venerable Master Wusheng. Master Wusheng is known for his great compassion and innate wisdom. He is a born disciple of Buddha, with his heart as pure as a relic. With just a staff in hand, he has leveled the Valley of Cannibals and guided countless departed souls towards salvation. It was through this single battle that he rose to fame.”
“Phoenix Eyes, the second-ranked on the Wentian Rankings, belongs to the new emperor of the Yao race, Feng Jin. Feng Jin’s true form is an ancient divine beast, the phoenix. Currently in his hundredth reincarnation, his eyes shine with a radiant golden-red light, carrying the weight of three thousand tribulations. No one dares to meet his gaze. When he was born, all birds in the sky sang in harmony, and all creatures on the lands bowed in reverence. Without needing any grand achievements, he has already captured the attention of the world.”
The round-eyed boy scoffed, and said, “When Emperor Feng was born, the Yao race boldly proclaimed that he would undoubtedly claim the first position in the Trial of Challenging the Heavens five hundred years later. But no one expected that Senior Brother Pei would emerge halfway through.”
The newly initiated young disciples eagerly concentrated their attention, anxiously waiting for the first-ranked individual. Upon hearing the term “Senior Brother”, their minds went blank, and they were filled with excitement. They looked at each other in astonishment and exclaimed, “The first place in the Trial belongs to our Yunxiao disciple!”
It was undeniable that Yunxiao Sect was a sacred place for sword cultivation. However, the Trial served to test the mightiest heroes from all corners of the world. The cultivation realm stretches endlessly, from Penglai Island on the sea to the treacherous realms of ghosts and demons, even encompassing the realms of Buddhism and the Yao race. The Eight Wildernesses held no factions of insignificance. And yet, the first place belonged to their very own Yunxiao disciple! What an esteemed honor! What a profound sense of pride!
The senior brothers and sisters shook their heads, sighing as they turned a page in their books. As they looked at this group of young disciples, it felt as if they were gazing upon their own past selves.
After all, Pei Yuzhi of Yunxiao left an enduring impression that the world couldn’t erase.
The round-eyed young man’s eyes gleamed, his voice tinged with excitement, unable to conceal his deep respect and admiration as he said, “Yes! The first place in the Trial of Challenging the Heavens! One Sword Soaring through the Frost of Wuwang Peak! It refers to our esteemed Yunxiao Inner Peak, the senior disciple personally chosen by our sect leader—Pei Yuzhi! Senior Brother Pei!”
The crowd burst into astonishment and commotion.
This short ballad encapsulated the lifelong pursuit of cultivators throughout the world.
One of the two companions tilted their head and chuckled. “Doesn’t that mean I can proudly call myself the foremost and be respected by everyone when I go out? It’s quite an honorable title!”
However, the round-eyed young man poured cold water on their excitement. “You’ll have to meet Senior Brother Pei to understand—being disciples of the Outer Peaks, it’s not easy for us to even catch a glimpse of a senior disciple from the Inner Peaks, let alone someone like Senior Brother Pei, who is the Sect Master’s personal favorite!”
His comment instantly dampened their enthusiasm. They shook their heads in frustration, realizing that they were considered the pride of outsiders, but within Yunxiao, they were nothing more than low-ranking disciples of the Outer Peak. The prospect of Foundation Establishment seemed distant and unattainable. How could they even dare to hope for a meeting with those legendary figures?
Pei Jing had lost interest in reading.
He had heard countless accolades and such praise before, and he had become immune to them long ago.
What truly touched him was the radiant vitality exuding from these three young individuals.
In the vast world of cultivation, where the Great Dao transcends the heavens, such pure-hearted enthusiasm was present in everyone at the beginning. However, as they faced arduous challenges and daunting trials, only a few managed to hold onto their initial aspirations. Every time new blood flowed into Yunxiao, he would hear similar sentiments expressed: dreams, power, and the future. These youths were like blank sheets of paper, brimming with unwavering passion.
Therefore, upon seeing this, both sides experienced a similar sense of disappointment.
Pei Jing smiled and tapped the table with his finger, speaking up, “If you want to meet Pei Yuzhi, then you should join the Inner Peaks.”
The young man’s voice was as clear as water, warm like a gentle breeze.
The three of them simultaneously shifted their gaze.
They saw a cultivator dressed in pure white robes in the corner. His appearance was ordinary, but his smile conveyed a distinctly different feeling. Unconsciously, the three of them stood up straight, knowing that he must be a senior disciple from the Inner Peaks.
Pei Jing briefly scrutinized the three of them and said, “The three of you combined are not even sixty years old. What is there to fear?”
As he mentioned this, he thought of Chu Junyu, the talented and aloof youth on the suspension bridge in the midst of snow. When asked about his opinion on Pei Yuzhi, a simple “Not bad” rendered the questioner speechless. Pei Jing silently cursed the impudent youngster at that moment. Now, upon reflection, a smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his lips. He truly admired Chu Junyu.
Pei Jing addressed the three young men. “Put in your effort, and who knows, in the future, you might become individuals surpassing Pei Yuzhi.”
His encouragement came from the depths of his heart.
However, the three young men couldn’t accept this encouragement, each shaking their heads with genuine humility and fear. “Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother, but surpassing Senior Brother Pei is probably beyond our reach in this lifetime.”
Simultaneously, some older disciples of Yunxiao, who had remained silent, could no longer bear it. They coldly mocked, “Speaking of surpassing Senior Brother Pei so easily, why don’t you give it a try yourself?”
If you enjoy this novel, support the Translator ginevre on her ko-fi account :))
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
