Chapter 10

Fine, foundation establishment it is.

At the very least, it resolved the historical issue of my waste spiritual roots and eliminated the risk of my divine soul energy exploding within me at any moment. Not a wasted trip.

However, since we are both villains, if Yan Hanzhou could undergo such a massive transformation, does that mean I might also have a grand destiny awaiting me?

Ning Yin’s fingers itched. She placed a stone cup beneath the dripping Heavenly Spirit Spring water, collected a full cup, and tilted her head back to drain it, quietly expecting that she might awaken Heavenly Spirit Roots on the spot.

Nothing happened.

"This Heavenly Spirit Spring water must only work on waste spiritual roots; ordinary spiritual roots cannot be nourished into Heavenly Spirit Roots."

"I know. Can't I just be thirsty?" Looking at Yan Hanzhou, whose cultivation had surged and who had officially stepped onto the path of immortality, Ning Yin’s gaze was resentful and her mood complex.

It wasn't the kind of jealousy that comes from "fearing your brother is doing poorly but fearing him driving a Land Rover even more." It was simply that the chain reaction triggered since her transmigration had deviated significantly from the original plot. It had changed not only the life trajectory of the heroine, Shi Yunzhao, but even Yan Hanzhou had leaped from a waste-rooted nobody to the rare possessor of Heavenly Spirit Roots.

Is Yan Hanzhou the actual protagonist of this world? How does he end up with all the good things?

Ning Yin muttered to herself.

"What?"

"Nothing. I said, now you should fully believe what I told you, right?"

"I believe half of it."

"Half? Which half don't you believe? Which part did I get wrong?"

Yan Hanzhou gazed at her deeply and corrected her: "Immortal Venerable Lingxiao has no fiancée!"

"…Fine, fine, fine. He has no fiancée. You clearly know better than he does, so be it. After everything that has happened—every single event—it has all been verified, yet you still insist on being stubborn. Forget it, I won't argue with you. If you say he doesn't have one, then he doesn't."

Ning Yin didn't want to waste her breath on such trifles; the urgent priority was the sect’s upcoming minor competition next month.

After leaving the mid-level of the Cliff of Repentance and returning to Muyun Peak, the voice of Immortal Yuwei reached her through a thousand-mile sound transmission, stating he wished to see her.

As her master, although he had taken her in at the request of an old friend, Immortal Yuwei had failed to fulfill his duty in guiding 'Ning Yin.' However, later, when Ning Yin’s misdeeds were exposed, he provided her with significant protection, even going so far as to offer his own cultivation to shield her in the end. One could say he brought it upon himself.

Walking into the grand hall of Muyun Peak, Ning Yin bowed and saluted. "Master, you summoned me."

Immortal Yuwei’s gaze landed on the Cangming Ring on Ning Yin’s right index finger for a fleeting moment before shifting away. He said in a deep voice, "In a few days, the sect’s minor competition will be held. Each peak sends one to three disciples to participate. Since you are the only disciple on Muyun Peak, I have submitted your name. This is the roster for the competition."

A scroll landed in Ning Yin’s hand.

Indeed, it was about this.

"But... Master, my cultivation is mediocre. After all these years since joining the sect, I have only just managed to reach the foundation establishment stage. I worry that participating in the sect competition will bring shame upon you."

Immortal Yuwei replied calmly, "It does not matter. Just do your best."

Ning Yin hesitated, wanting to say more.

In the novel, Immortal Yuwei was a master who buried himself in seclusion and cultivation, acting like a hands-off manager. He rarely offered guidance on 'Ning Yin’s' cultivation, partly because he believed 'Ning Yin' was arrogant and needed her spirit tempered through hardship, understanding humility and suffering before he would personally guide her. Otherwise, if her heart was impure, no matter how high her cultivation became, she would eventually bring disaster to the world.

It wasn't until 'Ning Yin's' heart became twisted and she turned to darkness, committing one mistake after another, that Immortal Yuwei realized how much ostracization and mockery 'Ning Yin' had suffered at the Lingyun Sect due to his neglect.

Seeming to notice that Ning Yin had more to say, Immortal Yuwei remarked, "You may speak your mind."

"Master, I know you think I am arrogant, overbearing, and unteachable, but have you considered that this is not the State of Cheng? This is the Lingyun Sect, where strength is the standard. With my mediocre cultivation, I will be mocked and looked down upon by others."

If 'Ning Yin' had even a shred of talent for cultivation, she wouldn't have spent her days being jealous of this person and resentful of that one, obsessing over Shi Yunzhao’s Heavenly Spirit Roots until her death.

Immortal Yuwei stared at her in silence. "Are you blaming me?"

No kidding! What else?

No mental cultivation techniques provided, no weapons given.

How is she supposed to fight on the day of the sect competition? Isn't this just forcing her to lose face?

Losing face is a small matter. Given the number of enemies she had made, what if she ran into someone who held a grudge and decided to beat her up? Wouldn't that be both painful and humiliating?

***

Ning Yin felt stifled. She took a deep breath and continued, "Disciple dares not! It is just that having been in the sect for so many years, I know my nature is overbearing and I am not well-liked. With mediocre talent and low cultivation, I am not the ideal candidate for a disciple in your eyes. You have been focused on your own cultivation all these years, and I have not dared to disturb you for guidance. It is just that... a few days ago, the Grand Preceptor of the State of Cheng sent a letter asking about my current cultivation, how I am getting along with my peers, whether I am being bullied, and how I am eating and sleeping. I know that my cultivation has made no progress in all these years, and I do not wish to disappoint the Grand Preceptor, so I dared not tell him the truth."

If you were willing to break your rule and take me as a disciple just because the Grand Preceptor of the State of Cheng sent a letter, then if you continue to act as a hands-off master, I will definitely report you!

Sure enough, upon hearing Ning Yin’s words, Immortal Yuwei’s eyes darkened slightly. "Your attitude today is humble, but your mouth is as sharp as ever."

Ning Yin lowered her head, not daring to speak.

"Tell me, what do you want?"

"Could Master bestow upon me a suitable weapon so that I won't be so... embarrassed on the day of the sect competition?"

"For this competition, you only need to try your best. If you lose, I will not blame you. Since you have been in the sect for so many years without a suitable weapon, go to the Sword Pavilion today and pick a life-bound sword."

"But Master, I have been to the Sword Pavilion many times, and every time..."

Immortal Yuwei seemed to have something specific in mind. "Go again today."

"Yes, thank you, Master! I will certainly do my best in the competition. However, with only a life-bound sword, I fear..."

Immortal Yuwei saw through her thoughts at a glance. "What else do you want?"

"Disciple has been cultivating diligently lately, but I cannot seem to make any progress. Perhaps I have hit a bottleneck. If there were pills to assist in cultivation..."

A box of pills appeared before her. Ning Yin suppressed the joy in her heart and accepted them, then continued with a troubled look, "I have already memorized the mental cultivation techniques you taught me, Master. I wonder if there are other techniques that could help me reach the next level?"

A golden light containing several mental techniques flew into Ning Yin’s mind.

Ning Yin was overjoyed. Before she could offer more words of gratitude to Immortal Yuwei, he said, "Ning Yin, the matter of the forbidden grounds is over. Do not speak of it in front of others. From now on, focus on your cultivation. Remember, do not stir up unnecessary trouble, and do not try to stand out."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master; I understand. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave!"

—

The Sword Pavilion was where disciples of the Lingyun Sect selected their life-bound swords. Countless disciples went there every day, hoping to find a sword that belonged to them and would acknowledge them as its master.

'Ning Yin' had come to the Sword Pavilion many times before, but returned empty-handed each time. No sword was willing to choose her as its master. It wasn't until later that Immortal Yuwei personally gifted her a sword, ending the awkward situation.

I have to say, this damn cultivation world is truly unfriendly to villains. You can't beat the protagonist anyway, so what would it hurt to give 'Ning Yin' a life-bound sword? You just had to add fuel to the fire on her path to darkness.

Ning Yin was prepared to return empty-handed today.

The Sword Pavilion was bustling with people. The moment she appeared, the previously quiet pavilion became lively.

"Hey, look, it's Ning Yin. She’s here to find her life-bound sword again."

"How many years has it been? No one else in the Lingyun Sect has gone this long without finding their sword."

"I bet you anything that no sword will acknowledge her today."

Whispers filled the air. Ning Yin walked straight toward the Sword Tomb, her heart calm.

When choosing a sword, one’s mindset is the most important thing. Looking out, countless jagged rocks were embedded with longswords, quietly waiting for their masters to arrive.

"She must be forced to try her luck because of next month's competition. Otherwise, with only a foundation establishment cultivation, who could she possibly defeat empty-handed?"

"Have you seen the list for the competition? Guess who I found on it?"

"Senior Brother Si?"

"No! Although it's unexpected that Senior Brother Si is on the list, there’s someone else. The name must be familiar to Ning Yin."

"You mean Sang Wan, right?"

"Sang Wan? Who is Sang Wan?"

Upon hearing the name Sang Wan, Ning Yin was startled.

Back then, when 'Ning Yin' came from the State of Cheng to the Lingyun Sect to study, she brought dozens of servants and hundreds of guards. The extravagance was evident.

But the Lingyun Sect was a place for cultivation. Aside from daily cleaning by menial disciples, other tasks had to be handled personally, with no servants allowed. 'Ning Yin,' having been pampered for years, was used to having everything done for her. She had over ten personal maids, so how could she get used to living alone?

'Ning Yin' caused a scene during her apprenticeship, eventually getting Immortal Yuwei to grant her an exception, allowing one personal maid to stay and care for her.

But what she didn't know was that shortly after arriving at the Lingyun Sect, Sang Wan awakened her spiritual roots. After being beaten by 'Ning Yin' once more, she finally rebelled, left her, passed the sect’s entrance examination, and successfully became a disciple under Immortal Qingxu, becoming an inner-sect disciple of the Lingyun Sect.

***

Speaking of Sang Wan, she had always harbored hatred toward 'Ning Yin.'

She was born into a prominent family in the State of Cheng. Before coming to the Lingyun Sect, she had a childhood sweetheart fiancé, but because she was chosen by the princess, she had to stay in the Lingyun Sect. It wasn't until she awakened her spiritual roots and decided to leave the sect that she discovered her fiancé, who had promised to marry her with an eight-bearer sedan chair, already had a new wife.

As a reader, Ning Yin found this plot quite satisfying.

Men are not as important as cultivation.

Unfortunately, Sang Wan didn't think so.

She hated 'Ning Yin.' If it weren't for 'Ning Yin,' the woman her fiancé spent his life with would have been her, not someone else.

"A former maid of hers, who awakened her spiritual roots ten years later than her, is now at the late stage of foundation establishment and about to enter the Golden Core stage. Back then, Ning Yin used her status as a princess to beat and scold her at will. The Dao of Heaven works in cycles. If she gets matched with her on the day of the sect competition and is kicked off the stage by her former maid, let’s see how she has the face to stay in the Lingyun Sect!"

"..." Ning Yin glared fiercely at the person who spoke.

People who try to mess with your mindset at a critical moment are all orphans without parents!

"Don't get distracted." A calm voice rang in Ning Yin’s ear, and her wavering heart felt as if it had taken a sedative.

Ning Yin looked up. Yan Hanzhou was standing to the side, his gaze cold and filled with undisguised killing intent, slowly sweeping over those few people.

"Why are you here?"

Yan Hanzhou said nothing more. "Pick a sword."

Ning Yin settled her mind and, following the instructions of the Sword Pavilion Elder, released her spiritual sense to drift toward the center of the Sword Tomb.

She only had the time of one incense stick.

Many of the swords here were once the life-bound weapons of fallen powerhouses from the Nine Provinces, each stained with the aura of blood. But this was the fastest way to get a life-bound sword; after all, forging a new one required materials, manpower, and resources that an aristocratic family without hundreds or thousands of years of heritage couldn't afford.

According to the typical novel tropes, when the protagonist picks a life-bound sword, they always choose one that no one else wants, and this sword is bound to be an ancient divine sword buried in dust, finally recognized by the protagonist's keen eyes after thousands of years.

But Ning Yin’s spiritual sense traveled through the center of the Sword Tomb for a long time without finding any dusty divine sword. Instead, she saw many bizarre and grotesque visions, filled with blood and violence. There were even powerful sword spirits that tried to attack her, warning her that the weak were not qualified to be their masters.

Fine, fine, I’ll leave well enough alone.

Just as the time for the incense stick was about to run out, and she was at her wit's end, a dim, lusterless longsword stuck diagonally in the ground caught her attention. Its sword spirit was curled up in a corner, detached from the world and devoid of any bloody aura.

"She actually took a liking to that sword..."

"Pfft—doesn't she know her own worth? That sword has never been stained with blood and requires someone with a pure and kind heart to draw it. Even Junior Sister Lingyi failed. She thinks she's worthy? It’s simply asking for humiliation!"

"Guanghua has been here for hundreds of years. Junior Sister Lingyi said she would have no other sword. I don't believe Ning Yin can take it away today!"

Ning Yin walked up to the longsword.

As long as you can pull the sword from the ground, it means the sword spirit acknowledges you as its master and becomes your life-bound sword.

She didn't hesitate. She placed her hand on the hilt, and spiritual energy spread from her palm. The sword spirit seemed to sense something and looked toward Ning Yin. A stream of pure, clear light flowed from the hilt, wrapping around Ning Yin like silk thread. After circulating a few times, it finally merged into Ning Yin’s spiritual sea.

*Clang—*

With almost no effort, the sword was pulled from the giant rock. A brilliant, snowy sword aura instantly illuminated the entire blood-drenched Sword Tomb.

In an instant, Ning Yin and the longsword were of one mind. The rust fell away from the blade, making it look brand new. The sharp blade reflected Ning Yin’s eyes, which looked as if they were dotted with starlight.

Ning Yin was filled with the joy of obtaining a life-bound sword. She held the sword and walked quickly to Yan Hanzhou, her eyes sparkling. "Look! I have a life-bound sword!"

The corners of Yan Hanzhou’s mouth lifted slightly. "Congratulations."

There was an uproar in the Sword Pavilion.

"She... how is that possible! How could Guanghua acknowledge her as its master!"

"Isn't it said that Guanghua only recognizes those with a pure and kind heart? How could it recognize Ning Yin?"

"Impossible! Even Junior Sister Lingyi failed; she absolutely shouldn't be able to! Elder, Ning Yin must have cheated!"

The Sword Pavilion Elder, sitting on the high platform, merely glanced once before retracting his gaze. "Guanghua is willing to acknowledge Ning Yin as its master. This is the Sword Tomb; no shouting allowed!"