Chapter 2

Chapter 2: What Is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator Doing Challenging a Nascent Soul? Liu Ruyan’s father had been a close friend of Xie Yi. After both her parents died, she brought her father’s final letter to Xuantian Sect and asked Xie Yi to take her in. Thus, Xie Yi accepted the daughter of his old friend as his disciple. She was actually four years older than Xie Lianxin. However, because she had entered the sect later and her strength was inferior to Xie Lianxin’s, she addressed Xie Lianxin as Senior Sister. “Do you people have so much free time that you have to bring such a trivial matter before the Disciplinary Hall?” Xie Yi said. A terrifying, overwhelming pressure erupted from his body, and the entire great hall began to shake violently. Everyone’s faces turned deathly pale as they trembled in fear. Whether they were disciples at the Void Refinement, Mahayana, or Tribulation Transcendence stages, or Peak Masters and elders of the various peaks who had already achieved Immortal Ascension, all of them felt their hearts pound with terror. Liu Ruyan’s legs went weak, and she fell to her knees. The other disciples also knelt on the floor, their faces pale. He was the Immortal Alliance’s strongest expert. Even the slightest trace of pressure leaking from him was enough to leave everyone horrified. Xie Yi looked at Song Xuan and the others, finding these disciples increasingly disappointing. His little disciple was only eighteen, and as the daughter of an old friend, she might have been somewhat spoiled in the past. That was understandable. But these people had cultivated for hundreds of years, some even longer. How could they still join in such childish nonsense? The Peak Masters and elders of the various peaks stepped forward to smooth things over. “Senior Brother Yuyang, they’re only children. They’re ignorant and will learn with time.” “Senior Brother Yuyang, why get so angry over this?” “These youngsters aren’t worth getting angry over, Senior Brother.” Xie Yi glanced at the disciples kneeling below. “Every disciple present today will copy the sect rules fifty times. You’ve caused trouble for no reason!” The disciples wailed inwardly one after another. Fifty times! The Sect Master was far too ruthless! Xie Lianxin felt secretly pleased. In her previous life, she had openly talked back to Xie Yi, and in a fit of anger, he had ordered her to face the wall in confinement for ten years. Xie Yi stood up and was about to leave when he suddenly glanced again at Xie Lianxin and Liu Ruyan, who were still kneeling. “Still, when you want to spar, find someone in the same realm. What is a Foundation Establishment cultivator doing challenging a Nascent Soul?” Liu Ruyan’s body trembled, and she nearly fainted. Xie Yi’s words had scraped away her dignity like a steel blade. Liu Ruyan’s aptitude was actually not bad. It would be more accurate to say that it was quite outstanding. Reaching the early Foundation Establishment stage at eighteen was already remarkable, but she had happened to encounter the monster that was Xie Lianxin. Xie Lianxin had reached Foundation Establishment at four, Core Formation at five, and Nascent Soul at eleven. Now, at fourteen, she was already in the late Nascent Soul stage. In the face of Xie Lianxin’s monstrous aptitude, Liu Ruyan was made to look like a useless cripple. This was something Liu Ruyan could not accept. She was jealous—jealous of Xie Lianxin’s talent. They were both disciples of Immortal Venerable Yuyang, yet the difference between them was so great that Liu Ruyan could not help but feel unbalanced. No matter how many people hated Xie Lianxin, no one could deny her talent. Did Master despise her? Liu Ruyan looked at Xie Yi with tears in her eyes, but by the time he finished speaking, his figure had already vanished. Everyone bowed toward the empty air. “We respectfully see the Sect Master off!” After Xie Yi left, the Peak Masters and elders also departed. Xie Lianxin immediately stood up. Looking at Liu Ruyan, she revealed a smile. “Junior Sister, how are you feeling? Are you all right?” Liu Ruyan forced a smile. “I’m much better now.” “That’s wonderful. I feel terribly guilty for accidentally injuring you, Junior Sister.” Xie Lianxin smiled brightly. “Xie Lianxin, don’t get cocky. You were just lucky this time!” Song Xuan angrily leaped out. He had originally intended to seek justice for Junior Sister Yan’er, but now he had been punished as well. Fifty copies of the sect rules! The sect rules were so long—he would be copying them forever. The others also began complaining bitterly. Their resentment at having defended Liu Ruyan all focused on Xie Lianxin. Even those who had merely come to watch the excitement now harbored quite a bit of dissatisfaction toward Liu Ruyan. She had made a mountain out of a molehill and gotten them punished as well. They would never come to watch the fun again. “Senior Brother Song, are you deliberately trying to cause trouble for me? Be careful that Master doesn’t make you copy the sect rules another fifty times,” Xie Lianxin said. “You…” Song Xuan gnashed his teeth. Looking at the Xie Lianxin before him, he felt that she was different from before. In the past, this girl’s tongue had never been so sharp. “Junior Sister, I’m heading back to Yuyang Peak. Are you coming?” Xie Lianxin asked with a smile as she looked at Liu Ruyan. She knew how to smile with a dagger hidden in it and hide poison behind honeyed words as well. Liu Ruyan eyed Xie Lianxin suspiciously. Like Song Xuan, she was shocked by the change in Xie Lianxin. Why did Xie Lianxin’s gaze make her feel so uneasy? “I—I’ll go back later.” Liu Ruyan wanted some time to sort out her emotions. Xie Lianxin smiled. “Then I’ll be going first.” The moment she turned around, the smile vanished from Xie Lianxin’s face. Liu Ruyan’s life could remain in her hands for now. Once the time was right, she would send Liu Ruyan to her death just as she had in her previous life. She had ended her life with a single sword strike back then, which had been far too merciful. In this life, she would make sure Liu Ruyan died a truly miserable death. ———— After walking out of the great hall of the Disciplinary Hall, Xie Lianxin arrived outside, where her field of vision suddenly opened up. Above the sky, the clouds shifted and transformed like the aurora of the polar regions. A misty sea of clouds stretched into the distance, and suspended immortal islands floated above it. Every immortal island had its own unique scenery. On some, exotic flowers and strange herbs bloomed eternally; on others, waterfalls and flowing springs were everywhere. Some were steep and rugged, while others were filled with dazzling violet mist… Xie Lianxin walked across the suspended rainbow bridge that stretched for ten thousand miles. In the distance, a crimson sun was rising, while the sea of clouds and countless immortal islands lay beneath the bridge. The wind lifted Xie Lianxin’s white robes, making them flutter. Feeling the gentle breeze against her face and gazing at the scene before her, Xie Lianxin’s mind raced. Rebirth. Why had she been reborn? The shattered sky, the burning earth, the sun and moon robbed of their light, the broken starry heavens, the overturned cosmos—all suddenly appeared before her eyes. Countless powerful figures had been torn apart by the Black Heaven Emperor. The Black Heaven Emperor’s evil power had eroded the heavens and the myriad realms one by one. She had to stop that monster from destroying the world. But how? Having her father and mother join forces would naturally be the best option, but was that possible? Put those two together, and they would inevitably fight to the death at the slightest disagreement. Unless she revealed what had happened in her previous life—but that would not work either. The Black Heaven Emperor’s Eye of Insight was terrifying beyond measure. That man monitored the heavens and the myriad realms at all times. The moment she spoke his name, she would draw his attention. Writing it down would not work either. He would sense that as well. Even paying too much attention to him would allow him to sense her. Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons, Demon God Emperor, Black Heaven Emperor, Demon Emperor, Dark God, Night Sovereign, God of Sin, Redblood Emperor—no matter which of his names she used, anything that created a connection with him could not be mentioned carelessly. If he noticed her now, she would be finished at once. At present, she did not have the ability to drag that monster into mutual destruction with her. Damn it! How could such a terrifying monster exist? Where had he come from? How was she supposed to kill him? Xie Lianxin’s head began to ache. She did not dare continue thinking about it, afraid that if she thought too much, the Black Heaven Emperor would sense her. She made up her mind that the first thing she needed to do was repair her relationship with her father, and then find a way to locate her mother. Red light surged around Xie Lianxin’s body. She transformed into a crimson streak of light and flew into the distance. The mountains continually receded around her as she flew toward Yuyang Peak. Xuantian Sect was located within the Kunshan Mountain Range. Besides being the Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance and the Sect Master of Xuantian Sect, Xie Yi was also the Peak Master of Yuyang Peak, one of the one hundred and eight peaks of Kun Mountain. He was called Immortal Venerable Yuyang precisely because Yuyang Peak was where he secluded himself for cultivation. Only Xie Yi, Xie Lianxin, and Liu Ruyan lived on Yuyang Peak. Xie Lianxin descended in the rear mountain of Yuyang Peak.