Chapter 17

Chapter 17

"Her spiritual energy isn't strong, and at this age, she hasn't yet guided qi into her body. It might be a bit too much for her to be an indoor disciple. Sovereign, perhaps it's better to leave her as an inner disciple at Sunset Peak for now," Wan Che quickly chimed in upon hearing this.

"What are you talking about? This trial evaluates the final performance, not just spiritual energy. This girl is clever, agile, and has a resilient physique. She might surpass others in the future. Wan Che, you can't just claim her now," Qin Jian protested. Everyone loves talent, and who wouldn't want to take in a brilliant disciple this time? How could anyone just give her up now?

Luo Qingci listened quietly to their argument, feeling somewhat smug. What's there to fight over? She's my disciple.

But after feeling smug, she looked at Ruan Li and Hua Xuwan fighting side by side and felt a pang of discomfort. In the original story, these two were both problematic disciples.

She just hoped Su Yu wouldn't turn out to be a bad apple and would treat her master well.

After all, they were just young people new to cultivation, and the Celestial Calculus Sect's trial wasn't overly harsh.

Following Ruan Li's method, the Threelegged Crows were being slain one by one. Seeing the situation turn around, Xue Cheng and the other two peak masters exchanged glances and simultaneously activated their spiritual energy.

A wave of spiritual energy silently rippled out, and wherever it reached, the previously frenzied Threelegged Crows stopped their attacks, retreating in terror back into the fissures.

Seeing this, the group, who had been breathing heavily and pale-faced, felt as if they had been pardoned, collapsing to the ground and gasping for breath.

The one standing the firmest on the battlefield was Ruan Li.

Although Ruan Li didn't have as much spiritual energy as Hua Xuwan or Xu Mushan did, she managed to kill many Threelegged Crows relying on her strong physique and skills.

Now, she stood there in a gray, narrow-sleeved robe stained with large patches of blood, her fair face streaked with blood, holding a bloodied longsword. Around her, the bodies of Threelegged Crows piled up, feathers and blood scattering, creating an indescribably intense scene.

Xue Cheng wasn't setting up such a challenge for the first time, but someone who could kill like this before officially joining was last seen a hundred years ago, that icy ancestor by his side.

"Looking at her, I can't help but think of you," Xue Cheng said, and Gu Zhichao couldn't help but agree, turning to Luo Qingci.

Luo Qingci's eyes shifted slightly, and she said indifferently, "It's different. She's gotten herself quite dirty."

Gu Zhichao was momentarily at a loss for words. He remembered that she wasn't much cleaner back then, looking more like a bloodthirsty demon than Ruan Li.

After Luo Qingci finished speaking, she casually lowered her head, then glanced up again.

In the scene, Ruan Li had already reined in the killing intent from the battle, leaning on her sword as she walked over to the bodies of the Threelegged Crows.

Before the inner cores dissipated, she quickly collected three of them.

The Threelegged Crows' spiritual energy wasn't strong, and their inner cores weren't large—pitch black like ink, with little luster.

Ruan Li only took three inner cores, dragging her sword as she found a tree to lean against and rest, carefully wiping them clean.

Luo Qingci's gaze followed her. After sitting down, Ruan Li ignored the scattered bodies of the Threelegged Crows, instead carefully playing with the three inner cores.

Her face showed fatigue, her spirit seemed somewhat scattered, and paired with her blood-stained clothes, she exuded a kind of decadent beauty.

But on that unfamiliar face, Luo Qingci caught a fleeting expression that was strikingly similar to the dragonet's.

It was subtle, gone in an instant.

The slight pout, the raised eyebrow, and the leisurely way she fiddled with the inner cores—it was clearly the look of someone who liked the round beads but was a bit disappointed they weren't prettier.

Even though she had grown up, from a dragonet to a young girl, this hadn't changed.

Luo Qingci suddenly felt a pang in her heart and quickly diverted her thoughts.

Luo Qingci didn't know that the reason Ruan Li's spirit seemed scattered was because she had a doubt in her heart. She was certain she hadn't misseen the spiritual energy attack from Ye Kong earlier—it was aimed at her throat. At that moment, she had felt a chill, knowing that move would be hard to dodge.

But suddenly, it shifted direction. Moreover, her sense of smell was exceptionally keen, faintly catching a subtle, elusive fragrance, like the cold plum blossoms in the snow, elusive and almost like an illusion.

But... she looked up into the air, knowing it wasn't an illusion. Someone had intervened.

Luo Qingci's brows slightly furrowed. The look in Ruan Li's eyes when she just looked up was completely different from the one she had before. She focused her gaze, and those eyes were still filled with the unique clarity and purity of a young person.

Ye Kong, Hua Xuwan, and the others all looked at Ruan Li, surprised to see her take only three inner cores and then close her eyes to rest.

Meanwhile, the others had recovered and were scrambling to collect the inner cores.

In this round of the trial, because Ruan Li didn't compete or fight, only taking three inner cores, her ranking wasn't high. But in the eyes of the elders and peak masters, she had already stood out.

"When will the third trial begin?" Jiang Yuebai asked Xue Cheng, staring at the listless figures on the screen.

Xue Cheng pondered for a moment, stroking his beard, "Tomorrow. Let's end it here for today and let them rest. But let's stay here; tomorrow we'll head straight to the peak, and then we'll see who the real talents are."

She had chosen to refine her body before entering the Dao, taking an unconventional path. This kind of unorthodox, rule-breaking girl was exactly to his taste.

The next day, Luo Qingci surprisingly arrived at Jiukun Hall on time.

Jiang Yuebai and Qin Jian were both surprised. Qin Jian, feeling displeased, couldn't help but taunt Luo Qingci a few times. Luo Qingci simply ignored him, sitting as steady as a bell, which made Qin Jian fume with anger.

"Lady Zitan, Lord Nanming, would you like to guess how far they can climb on the celestial steps?"

At this, everyone present couldn't help but become interested. Even Gu Zhichao, usually so steady and serious, spoke up, "The Celestial Calculus Sect has been established for over eight hundred years. These celestial steps were left by the first Sovereign upon his ascension. Over eight hundred years, countless disciples have tried, but once the formation is activated, no one has ever truly completed the entire staircase. According to records, the farthest anyone has gone is nine hundred and forty-seven steps, still fifty-three steps short."

The so-called three thousand steps actually only have formations on the first thousand steps.

Hearing this, Qin Jian's heroic face showed a hint of pride, "The one who went the farthest was our master."

The master he referred to was Tian Jizi.

"The old Sovereign was a rare genius of a thousand years. I remember, the Sovereign at that time took nine hundred and twenty steps, and Lady Huai Zhu was right behind, just one step short. Even Lord Nanming and Lady Zitan broke the nine hundred mark, ranking high in the Celestial Calculus Sect."

The celestial steps of the Celestial Calculus Sect are the ultimate test of one's Dao heart and willpower. Those who climb must be free of distractions and must comprehend the restrictions and residual laws on the steps.

The further one goes, the harder it becomes. The most intriguing part is that it's not easier for those with higher cultivation levels; it entirely depends on individual talent. Thus, it is an ironclad touchstone.

Mentioning this, everyone present looked at Gu Zhichao and Luo Qingci.

"It's only natural that the senior brother could reach that far. In the current cultivation world, few can compare to him. It's a pity, Huai Zhu, you were once a dazzling genius, but now..." Qin Jian shook his head, his face full of regret.

Only Gu Zhichao glanced at Luo Qingci without changing his expression, then lowered his eyelids. At that time, he had actually only taken nine hundred and nineteen and a half steps. The last half step was taken with all his might, spitting blood as he crawled up, only to faint halfway and be carried back by his master.

But later, when Huai Zhu entered, she chose to give up on continuing herself. Though she was also exhausted, she was still standing.

Luo Qingci, of course, didn't know what Gu Zhichao was thinking, nor did she care about Qin Jian's words. As an outsider, those glories had nothing to do with her, and she didn't care about any titles of genius.

Even though she had been here for sixteen years, even though she maintained the identity of Luo Qingci, she felt no sense of belonging to this world. She didn't belong here.

Luo Qingci's eyes were vacant, her already emotionless gaze now even colder.

The third trial had begun.

A group of people rushed towards the peak, afraid of falling behind.

The three thousand steps stretched endlessly, steep and towering into the clouds, like a long sword pointing diagonally into the sky, imposing and majestic.

From a distance, the spirited young people on the steps looked like ants on a long rope, hanging on the steps extending towards the clouds.

A group of people watched the young disciples with intense gazes. As time passed, the originally clustered group began to separate, clearly distinguishing the frontrunners from the rest.

After a hundred steps, some could no longer advance, and the number of participants dwindled sharply.

"Three hundred steps is the critical milestone. Anyone who surpasses three hundred steps qualifies as an inner sect disciple in gray robes," Jiang Yuebai remarked with a raised eyebrow, watching the dwindling crowd with calm composure.

She was quite pleased. The few who had shown promise earlier were still leading, which boded well for selecting personal disciples this year.

The trial was both monotonous and exhilarating, with little variation from start to finish. The only question was who could surpass the benchmarks set by the previous generation of elite cultivators in the Celestial Calculus Sect.

Five hundred steps marked another milestone. Surpassing it would earn one the title of green-robed disciple, and after six hundred steps, white-robed disciple.

In the current group, participants began to drop out one by one. Fewer than a hundred remained in motion.

At the forefront were Xu Mushan, Hua Xuwan, Ye Kong, and a white-haired youth named Yue Wuxin. Close behind were Bai Jing, a female disciple, and Ruan Li, who lagged significantly.

Except for Ruan Li, the top five were fiercely competitive, none willing to yield. Though gaps emerged later, none exceeded ten steps. Only Ruan Li trailed Bai Jing in fifth place by a full seventy steps.

"Ruan Li seems to be faltering. She likely won't surpass seven hundred steps," Qin Jian remarked, shaking his head regretfully.

He then turned his attention to Xu Mushan, the frontrunner, as if beholding a treasure. "Senior Brother, Xu Mushan employs earth-based techniques. He must possess an earth spiritual root. He'd thrive under my guidance. My techniques align perfectly with his abilities."

"Nanming, that's hardly fair. Calling him 'Senior Brother' to gain an edge in recruitment? You always have some new ploy. With two personal disciples already, aren't you content?" Jiang Yuebai rolled her eyes, slightly displeased.

"Zitan, your expertise lies in alchemy. Fire and wood spiritual roots are ideal for you. Xu Mushan likely doesn't interest you, but Ye Kong and Bai Jing are excellent choices."

Jiang Yuebai couldn't help but laugh, pointing at Luo Qingci. "You're entirely overlooking Lady Huai Zhu."

Qin Jian straightened his robe and glanced at Luo Qingci. "Lady Huai Zhu is reclusive. As the Law Enforcement Elder, she seldom engages in sect matters and likely has no stake in this. Moreover, while she excels in cultivation, her teaching abilities... just consider her disciple Su Yu. We wouldn't want to lead anyone astray. Furthermore, Lady Huai Zhu likely wouldn't take an interest in these candidates. Why even inquire?"

Luo Qingci found Qin Jian's sarcastic comments rather entertaining. The members of the Celestial Calculus Sect were quite intriguing. Jiang Yuebai appeared stern but was kind-hearted, while Qin Jian was forthright and direct, albeit somewhat naive, yet not ill-intentioned.

She longed to join them and declare, "You're all mistaken, and your faces will be thoroughly slapped!" Qin Jian, your Senior Brother's record will soon be broken.

But these thoughts stayed locked within her, ultimately distilled into four icy words: "I want one."

Everyone turned to Luo Qingci, anticipating her usual silence, but to their astonishment, she spoke in a crisp, icy tone.

They were all stunned, turning to look at her.

"Who's so unlucky?" The voice was faint, almost an involuntary murmur, as if the speaker hadn't meant to voice it and promptly fell silent.

But Luo Qingci and the others, all at the Nascent Soul stage or higher, caught it distinctly.

Luo Qingci discerned that it was one of the spectators, a disciple fond of gossip, who had uttered the 'offhand comment.'

"Haha, indeed, who's so unlucky?" Qin Jian, ever eager to stir the pot, chuckled gleefully.

Luo Qingci maintained her composure. "Xu Mushan. May I have him?"

Internally, however, she was fuming. *You're the unlucky one, along with your entire family. How could anyone utter such words?*

She was asking Gu Zhichao. Over the years, she had never actively sought a disciple, and she only had one. This was her first time making such a request, and Gu Zhichao couldn't easily refuse.

Qin Jian's face turned green with anger.

"You're a sword cultivator who practices the Heartless Sword Art, with an ice spiritual root. You know nothing about earth-based techniques. Taking him in would ruin him!"

Luo Qingci was, of course, deliberately provoking Qin Jian. According to the plot, whether she wanted it or not, Ruan Li would definitely become her disciple.

So she calmly watched Ruan Li on the screen, ignoring Qin Jian's words.

Some readers say that the extent to which the master is tormented depends on the dragonet's intelligence, haha.

We'll be going VIP the day after tomorrow. Word count pressure? Whatever, I don't care anymore.