After the Demon Lord was Reborn, She Switched to a Master-Disciple Romance Script - Chapter 9

Zhu Jiyun and Ji Nianyan, along with the hundreds of others chosen, were led to the Qingmiao Sect by Chu Fengxiu, just as they had been in their previous lives.

The Cultivation World was rich in spiritual energy, allowing anyone to cultivate. After ordinary mortals successfully underwent Spirit Awakening, they could circulate and store Spiritual Power within their bodies through cultivation. Only upon reaching the Enlightenment Stage could they attempt Foundation Establishment.

Cultivators considered Foundation Establishment the critical threshold. Success marked entry into Qi Refinement Transforming Spirit, the true beginning of cultivation. Failure meant a mere hundred and twenty years of life, only slightly longer than ordinary mortals. Without sufficient Spiritual Power, they could never advance beyond basic spells, forever barred from witnessing the Great Dao.

The stronger a cultivator became, the greater the Spiritual Power they possessed, extending their lifespan. Yet the universe maintained balance: the more powerful a cultivator, the harder it became to conceive offspring.

This meant that each year, the Cultivation World saw very few exceptional new talents.

That was why every decade, major sects organized joint expeditions to Liulan Mountain in the mortal realm for Spirit Awakening, selecting mortals with Spiritual Roots for cultivation.

As the foremost sect in the Cultivation World, the Qingmiao Sect naturally required the largest number of disciples each time.

Thus, when Chu Fengxiu returned to the sect with Zhu Jiyun and the others, they were followed by a grand procession of over a hundred people.

She led the group to the Azure Phoenix Courtyard, the residence for new disciples, and exchanged a few words with the courtyard master. The master, well-versed in such matters, quickly waved goodbye to Chu Fengxiu, who had other duties to attend to, and efficiently assigned rooms to all hundred-plus newcomers.

Zhu Jiyun’s assigned room was completely different from her previous life. With Ji Nianyan constantly by her side, her roommate was also different this time around.

It felt as if everything had been reset, creating the illusion that fate could be altered.

Yet Zhu Jiyun hadn’t forgotten the strange occurrences she’d experienced on Liulan Mountain.

After arranging her bedding, Ji Nianyan, having learned from the courtyard master that sect disciples could later claim missions from the Hall of Myriad Affairs to descend to the Human Realm, quickly put aside her sadness over parting with Granny Zeng. Her heart now burned with a single-minded determination to cultivate diligently, to see Granny Zeng again soon, and to avenge her!

She noticed Zhu Jiyun lying fully clothed on the bed, her thick eyelashes still and unmoving, as if she were asleep.

Zhu Jiyun was different from the others, who were eager to explore.

“Sister,” Ji Nianyan asked, “aren’t you going out to look around?”

Zhu Jiyun kept her eyes closed and said listlessly, “I’m not going out. If you want to, go with them.”

Ji Nianyan hesitated.

Zhu Jiyun seemed to know what she was going to say. “Go ahead. Don’t worry about me. I’ll just lie here for a while.”

After everyone left the room, Zhu Jiyun opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling, which was both familiar and different, for a long moment before closing her eyes again and drifting into a light sleep.

She had a dream, but it was deeply unsettling.

Her eyes snapped open, the dark pupils hollow and unnerving. Fine beads of sweat covered her forehead, making her pale face look fragile.

Her hand twitched uncontrollably by her side, a lingering effect of the dream.

She took a deep breath, trying to forget the bloody scenes and the bone-deep pain.

Perhaps returning to this familiar place had made even distant, hazy dreams vivid again.

After such a disturbing dream, Zhu Jiyun sat up with a grim expression.

As soon as her feet touched the floor, her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees beside the bed.

Zhu Jiyun was silent.

She took a deep breath, ignoring the System’s frantic shrieking in her mind. With an impassive expression, Zhu Jiyun stood up, brushed the dust off her legs, put on her shoes, and went outside.

Zhu Jiyun knew this place well. After all, she had lived in Azure Phoenix Courtyard for a while.

Without needing directions, she twisted and turned through the paths until she reached a little-known spot in the mountains behind Azure Phoenix Courtyard.

In her past life, after yet another pill furnace explosion and a scolding, Zhu Jiyun had wandered here in a foul mood.

It was here that she had encountered a wild pheasant.

Starving, Zhu Jiyun immediately caught the pheasant, cleaned it, and roasted it herself.

Even without proper seasoning, the pheasant’s meat was so delicious it left a lingering fragrance on her tongue. This ignited Zhu Jiyun’s insatiable appetite, and she later snuck back with her own spices to catch another pheasant and satisfy her hunger.

But as she grew busy with cultivation and various other matters, she never found another chance to hunt pheasants in the mountains.

What she couldn’t do in her past life, she could do now.

After more than a century, the memory of roasted pheasant suddenly made Zhu Jiyun crave it intensely.

If she was craving it, she’d just catch one!

Just then, a brightly feathered pheasant fluttered into Zhu Jiyun’s line of sight.

Her eyes lit up. She grabbed a branch lying at her feet, her movements now swift and precise, showing no trace of the lingering sluggishness from her nightmare-induced awakening. The ordinary, nearly withered branch seemed to come alive in her hands, transforming into a sharp, menacing sword.

“Chirp chirp chirp!”

This pheasant was unusually agile. Zhu Jiyun suspected it had spent too long in the Qingmiao Sect’s back mountains, absorbing spiritual energy. It flew higher than the two pheasants she’d caught before.

Of course, it could also be because she lacked spiritual power and couldn’t fly herself, making the hunt more challenging than before.

Watching the pheasant flap its wings and chirp wildly, Zhu Jiyun grew even more determined to catch it and roast it with spicy seasoning.

A pheasant like this would surely have firmer, more flavorful meat!

The pheasant flew ahead with renewed vigor, while Zhu Jiyun pursued it with equal determination, gripping the branch tightly.

Just as she was about to strike the pheasant’s wing, she took a deep breath, her feet shifting in a blur. In an instant, she was about to pierce the bird.

But in the next moment, her sleeves billowed as an invisible force of spiritual power blocked her attack.

Having narrowly escaped death, the pheasant squawked and flew away in a flash while the iron was hot, leaving only its cries and a few drifting feathers in the air. It vanished completely.

Zhu Jiyun withdrew her branch and stared at the woman who had suddenly appeared before her.

Frost-tinged strands of hair fluttered around her face, a crimson mark adorned her forehead, and her aura was as ethereal and cold as the deepest snow. This was the very person she, Ji Nianyan, and Granny Zeng had encountered in the town plagued by Demon Cultivators.

Zhu Jiyun shifted her foot, brushing away a fallen feather, and asked the woman who had blocked her attack, “Was that pheasant yours?”

Xun Juexue was surprised to see Zhu Jiyun here.

But then she remembered that it was the time of year when disciples descended to the Mortal Realm for Spirit Awakening, which made sense.

She shook her head slightly. “It’s not mine, but it does have an owner.”

The current Sect Leader of Qingmiao Sect had a little-known hobby: raising animals. However, burdened by his duties and his indiscriminate affection, he often kept creatures for only a short time before releasing them into the back mountains.

Xun Juexue had once inadvertently witnessed her Junior Sister feeding the pheasants, so she naturally knew who their owner was.

Zhu Jiyun sighed, a hint of regret in her voice. “I see. If it belongs to someone, I shouldn’t have done that.”

Just thinking about how delicious the meat had been in her previous life made Zhu Jiyun’s regret even deeper.

She had originally thought she could eat her fill this time around, but it turned out the chickens had an owner, so she wouldn’t get a single bite.

I really should apologize to the owner for accidentally eating two of her chickens last time, Zhu Jiyun thought.

“Fellow Daoist,” Zhu Jiyun said, “thank you for stopping me in time. I almost hurt someone’s pet.”

Xun Juexue’s expression was slightly odd.

Back in the mortal realm, being called “Fellow Daoist” by a junior might have been acceptable. But now that they were back in the Cultivation World, being addressed with such familiar terms by someone so young felt strange to Xun Juexue.

It wasn’t offensive, exactly, but the informality felt jarring to someone who always adhered strictly to etiquette.

Still, the girl didn’t know her true identity, so the casual address was understandable.

Xun Juexue’s expression shifted only for a moment, but Zhu Jiyun, who had been watching her closely, noticed it.

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Jiyun understood why. She quickly corrected herself, “I misspoke. I should call you Senior. I’m a newly initiated disciple, while you’ve been in the Sect for much longer. My earlier familiarity was rather presumptuous.”

As far as Zhu Jiyun knew, Immortal Venerable Qingwu had always upheld the teachings of righteousness, practicing self-discipline and adhering to propriety. Moreover, the Sect Leader, who shared the same lineage as the Immortal Venerable, was also a stickler for rules. With such an example set by those above, those below naturally followed suit, resulting in a culture of strict adherence to etiquette throughout the Qingmiao Sect.

Although the Qingmiao Sect was vast, not everyone valued rules and propriety equally. Yet the prevailing atmosphere inevitably influenced even those who were less inclined toward formality.

Judging by the way the other woman had bid farewell last time, Zhu Jiyun could tell she was someone who valued proper etiquette. It was only natural for her to be particular about titles and formalities.

With this in mind, Zhu Jiyun cupped her hands in a respectful bow. “Senior, please forgive my earlier impudence.”

Xun Juexue observed Zhu Jiyun’s sincere apology, devoid of any awkwardness, her demeanor composed and self-assured. She shook her head and said calmly, “It’s nothing. I don’t mind such things.”

Zhu Jiyun’s lips curved into a slight smile. “It’s quite a coincidence to meet you again, Senior. My surname is Zhu, and my given name is Jiyun. May I ask how I should address you?”

Now that they had exchanged names, Xun Juexue saw no reason to conceal her identity. She began to answer frankly, but as soon as she uttered the syllable “Xun,” she felt the Communication Stone in her Cosmic Pouch grow hot.

Without time for further explanation, Xun Juexue’s expression turned stern. “Fellow Daoist Zhu, I have urgent matters to attend to. I must take my leave now!”

Before her words had even finished echoing, the person before Zhu Jiyun vanished without a trace.

Zhu Jiyun was silent.

“Xun?” she murmured, frowning in thought. “Which Xun?”

Immortal Venerable Qingwu’s full name was Xun Juexue. Could it be that Xun?

And how could she have no memory of such a strikingly serene and aloof senior sect member from her previous life?

Zhu Jiyun muttered, “Could it really be because I was such a homebody in my past life?”

******

In her previous life, Zhu Jiyun had been a workaholic through and through. Having witnessed firsthand the tragic fate of those without power, she was fiercely determined to improve her own strength.

Especially after discovering her Spiritual Root and gaining the opportunity to cultivate, Zhu Jiyun seized the chance with relentless diligence. She buried herself in arduous training day after day, rarely interacting with others.

As a result, she remained largely unfamiliar with most members of her sect.

Reflecting on this, Zhu Jiyun suddenly felt her current life choices were absolutely right.

To live as a lazy, laid-back salted fish!

What was so bad about being a salted fish? Everyone dies eventually. Now that Zhu Jiyun had accepted her fate, the timing of her death didn’t matter. What mattered was whether she had thoroughly enjoyed herself before it came!

With this mindset, Zhu Jiyun, having failed to catch a wild chicken that day, went to the river and caught a fish instead. After cleaning and preparing it herself, she grilled it with her own seasonings.

The fish from the Cultivation World truly tasted extraordinary.

No wonder it was infused with spiritual energy!

******

“You summoned me back so urgently. Has something serious happened?” Xun Juexue asked, her icy gaze fixed on Ning Huaizhu’s deeply furrowed brow.

Ning Huaizhu’s expression was grim. “Senior Sister, Cheng Ruo reported to me after completing her training exercise. While tracking a Great Demon, her team accidentally crossed into Kangtuo’s border. There, they discovered hundreds of corpses drained of their life force by Demonic Qi.”

Xun Juexue’s expression instantly darkened, a chilling aura of murderous intent filling the air.

“Kangtuo?”

Ning Huaizhu’s tone was grave. “Yes. But since Wu Hongye’s soul was scattered there, Kangtuo has become forbidden territory. Malignant Qi permeates the land, making it barren and uninhabitable. No Demon Cultivator could withstand such soul-corroding energy long enough to wreak havoc there.”

Yet hundreds of corpses had been found there.

As the Sect Leader’s disciple, Cheng Ruo possessed extraordinary strength. Before accepting this Sect mission to eliminate a Great Demon, she had been warned. If she hadn’t sensed the danger and retreated in time, the Malignant Qi would have consumed her, claiming her life in Kangtuo.

Could it be that some Demon Cultivator had truly managed to overcome Kangtuo’s soul-corroding energy?

Xun Juexue knew what she was thinking.

“Absolutely not.”

Ever since the Kangtuo War ended, an unprecedented dark gas had inexplicably enveloped the land. Because it could corrode souls, causing them to dissipate, the area had long been sealed off.

Neither humans, demons, nor monsters could set foot there.

Xun Juexue had once investigated the area herself and found that even a few breaths of exposure would subject her to the torment of the corrosive gas.

She told Ning Huaizhu, “I’m aware of this matter. Warn your disciples against rash actions.”

Ning Huaizhu hesitated, then said, “Senior Sister, you’re now at the Great Ascension Stage. Shouldn’t your focus be on achieving Enlightenment and Ascension?”

In the Cultivation World, no cultivator had ascended in millennia. As the foremost cultivator of their era, Xun Juexue could ascend to godhood after reaching the Great Ascension Stage. Ning Huaizhu desperately hoped to witness her Senior Sister’s Ascension, believing it would make her Senior Sister’s thousand years of cultivation worthwhile.

Ning Huaizhu knew she lacked the talent and ability for Ascension. Her only wish was to manage the Sect well, upholding her Master’s reputation, but she truly didn’t want to see her Senior Sister burdened by worldly affairs.

“Huaizhu,” Xun Juexue said, “I’ve already considered this matter thoroughly. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Ning Huaizhu sighed. “You said the same thing back then.”

******

Years ago, Wu Hongye had risen to power with overwhelming force, leaving no one in the Cultivation World capable of opposing him. The entire realm suffered under the Demon Cultivators’ invasion, with countless lives lost. Xun Juexue, unwilling to see him ravage the world and slaughter innocents, had resolved to take up her sword against him. Ning Huaizhu, who had recently inherited the position of Sect Leader from their Master, who had returned to the righteous path, had pleaded with her, only to receive the same words in reply.

Fortunately, they had won!

But the victory had come at a terrible cost.

Ning Huaizhu gazed at Xun Juexue’s snow-white hair and sighed heavily.

Xun Juexue, uncomfortable with the heavy, accusatory atmosphere, suddenly spoke up, though to Ning Huaizhu, it sounded suspiciously like she was trying to change the subject.

“Do you still remember those wild chickens you used to raise?” she asked.

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