Even If You're My Senior, It's Still Forbidden - Chapter 5

The main peak was the core of the entire sect, covered with so many formations that even a single blade of grass could serve as the heart of a spell. This was a precaution the sect had adopted since the war five hundred years ago to remain vigilant.

At the summit stood a palace-like structure, clearly built many years ago likely over a century yet it still appeared remarkably new from a distance. A plaque in the center bore the three characters “Qingchen Hall,” indicating it was the main hall where the sect leader handled sect affairs.

“Be careful on the steps, Junior Sister,” came the reminder, as arrays were laid across the staircase.

“Mm,” Su Jin’an replied, holding onto her senior sister’s hand while lifting the hem of her dress. The clothes Ji Weining had given her were still a bit too long for her.

Ji Weining noticed this as well, blaming her own lack of skill in such matters. She usually just bought whatever was available during the sect’s supply runs. “When we get back, I’ll trim it for you. The fabric shop in the city has been closed these days.”

She had intended to buy clothes for her that morning but found the fabric store shut when she passed by. Qingheng Mountain was remote, making it difficult to transport such goods, and surrounded by mountains, ordinary people rarely ventured there.

“This Qingchen Hall is where the sect elders usually hold meetings. I only attend when they summon me; otherwise, I stay at Qianling Residence.”

Arriving at the hall’s entrance, they stood at the highest point of Qingheng Mountain. Turning around, the mountain ranges below spread out before their eyes, unobstructed and vast.

“What about that cave over there?” Su Jin’an spotted a cave among the mountains to the right, from which a faint golden light shimmered likely sealed. She immediately sensed something unusual about it.

Ji Weining followed her gaze and explained, “That place is called Qingling Cave. It’s a storage site for magical artifacts, holding relics left behind by immortals of Qingheng Mountain over thousands of years. During the selection competition, the top five disciples are allowed to choose a weapon from there to practice with.”

“Then, what about me?” Unlike the outer disciples who had entered after aptitude tests, Su Jin’an had been picked up by Mu Chanjuan. She knew she possessed something her master wanted to uncover, which was why she had been kept. How could an immortal take in a waste? She had been tested as a child and found to have no spiritual roots, so how could she possibly learn magic?

“Junior Sister, do you want a weapon too?”

Ji Weining recalled participating in the competition when she was twelve. She had casually picked this bamboo flute then not to mention, it had proven quite durable. Honestly, she had chosen it simply because it looked beautiful.

“Am I, not allowed?” Su Jin’an asked with pure innocence in her eyes.

Ji Weining had initially planned to find a suitable artifact for Su Jin’an elsewhere, but truthfully, Qingling Cave housed all kinds of divine weapons, far more practical than ordinary ones.

“It’s not that you’re not allowed, but you must participate in the sect competition to enter.” She hadn’t considered her junior sister joining before, having just bid farewell to Zheng Juhe. But if Su Jin’an was interested, it wasn’t an issue. “There’s still a month left. Do you feel confident about competing, Junior Sister?”

A month was rather tight, considering most of the outer disciples my junior would face had been cultivating since childhood. Ji Weining pondered that in a month, their master would also emerge. If she could coax a bit more guidance from her and supplement it with other methods, perhaps her junior could even rank in the top three so long as she could obtain a suitable weapon from the trial. Nowadays, most magical artifacts were held by powerful families, who used their wealth to recruit master craftsmen from across the land. As a result, few skilled artisans remained within the sect.

“Senior Sister, I want to go,” Su Jin’an said firmly. Though she had never mastered spells over the years, that didn’t mean she lacked other abilities. The cave might hold what she needed.

Ji Weining had originally intended for Su Jin’an to wait a few more years; the timing now was indeed rushed. But it didn’t matter, she had a plan.

“If Junior Sister wishes to go, I’ll secure a spot for you tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Senior Sister.”

“Your matters are never a bother,” Ji Weining replied, taking Su Jin’an’s hand and leading her away.

“Then I’ll trouble you for your guidance from now on.”

After touring Qingheng Mountain, they had a rough understanding of the place. Remote and hard to find, it was no simple sect to have maintained such a state while the larger sect was in decline.

By the time they returned to Qianling Residence, dusk had fallen.

Ji Weining released the invisibility spell and let go of Su Jin’an’s hand, which had been warmed by her own. “What would you like to eat tonight, Junior Sister?”

“Anything light will do, Senior Sister. I’m still a bit full from lunch.”

Ji Weining brought out the books she had studied back then, took Su Jin’an to the tidy room she had prepared, and handed the texts over to her. After a moment’s thought, she headed to the kitchen to whip up a simple bowl of noodles. She cracked an egg into it, sprinkled some scallions, and the comforting aroma of fresh noodles soon filled the air.

Su Jin’an wandered around the room before settling on a small daybed with the books. She placed one on the luohan table in the center and began reading. The text detailed methods for drawing spiritual energy into the body.

Broadly, there were three approaches: the first, drawing energy from above through the head often practiced by sword cultivators; the second, drawing from below through the feet common among body cultivators; and the last, drawing from all around the body. This final method was the most obscure and challenging, yet it had no limitations.

This was entirely different from what she had been taught at home about guiding qi into the body.

Following the last method, she closed her eyes, silently reciting the passage she had read. As instructed, she stilled her breath, focused her mind, sat cross-legged, and rested her hands on her knees.

All between heaven and earth enters my heart, becomes my spirit, becomes my qi.

The words seemed to carry a mystical power. Her heart gradually calmed, and in the darkness, her surroundings grew clearer. Her body felt as if filled by a gentle energy, washing away her fatigue until the scent of cooking wafted toward her.

“Junior Sister, come eat your noodles.” Su Jin’an opened her dazed eyes, her vision clearing to reveal Ji Weining in blue robes, holding a bowl of noodles before her.

Sensing the shift in the ambient energy, Ji Weining said nothing, only smiling as she set the bowl on the table beside Su Jin’an.

“Want to try? It’s my first time making this not sure if it’s any good.”

“Mm.”

Su Jin’an picked up her chopsticks and took small, slow bites. Ji Weining sat on the other side of the table, tidying up the books scattered across it. Seeing that Su had finished eating, she turned her head and asked, “How does it taste?”

“Mmm, it’s delicious. I’ve never had noodles made by you that tasted this good before.”

“If you like it, I’ll cook for you again next time. I’ll definitely come up with different variations for you to try tossed noodles, boiled noodles, clear broth noodles, stir-fried noodles.” Ji Weining began listing the types of noodles she had experimented with over the years.

Noticing the bowl was already empty, it was clear her junior sister had enjoyed the meal. Seeing a bit of broth still lingering at the corner of Su Jin’an’s lips, Ji Weining took out a handkerchief and reached over. Su Jin’an, realizing the gesture, took the handkerchief from her.

Ji Weining withdrew her hand and tucked it back into her sleeve.

“By the way, Senior Sister, have you ever heard of drawing energy into the body through water or through fire?” Su Jin’an asked, wiping her mouth and clutching the handkerchief.

She had been pondering this question since mealtime but hadn’t come up with any reasonable answers. These methods seemed vastly different from what was described in the books.

“Fire and water?” Ji Weining recalled past knowledge. Using the five elements to cultivate was mostly attempted by those without spiritual roots, a method for those lacking an affinity for immortality. Centuries ago, many mortals had tried to ascend overnight through such means, only to lose their lives. Within a year, the population had dwindled, and the royal family had dispatched officials to restrict and prohibit the practice.

“I’ve heard it exists, but it’s extremely difficult. At best, it leads to injuries; at worst, death. It’s no longer promoted.”

“If I remember correctly, such methods were officially banned over a hundred years ago.”

“Has Junior Sister seen someone cultivating using such methods?”

Understanding the implications, Su Jin’an fabricated an answer: “I was just reading about these methods in a book and thought, since one can cultivate using the energy of heaven and earth, perhaps it’s possible to use the five elements instead.”

“Junior Sister truly has remarkable talent.” Ji Weining was astonished. For a mortal newly introduced to spiritual energy, such thoughts were indeed rare.

“With a few more attempts, Junior Sister will surely succeed.”

Su Jin’an had a similar premonition. Perhaps she wasn’t as devoid of spiritual roots as others had claimed. She needed to prove it to clear her name, she still had to return to where she came from.

“Mmm.”

Ji Weining collected the used bowl and chopsticks. When she returned, she found Su Jin’an meditating with her eyes closed.

It seemed she had succeeded.

Strands of spiritual energy swirled around her, flowing into her body. The moment it filled her, she opened her eyes and extended her palm. A translucent, mist-like sphere floated above her hand.

“Senior Sister, did I succeed?” Su Jin’an looked at Ji Weining in confusion.

Her eyes seemed to ask, “Was it really this simple?”

“Mmm.” Ji Weining nodded.

In an instant, the knowledge she had accumulated over the past eighteen years crumbled. So, this was how it worked.

A faint, bitter smile touched Su Jin’an’s lips.

“What’s wrong?”Ji Weining keenly noticed that her junior sister seemed somewhat unhappy.”

“Nothing, I’m just a little too happy.” Su Jin’an forced a dazed smile and looked at Ji Weining, her eyes clear and bright. She asked cheerfully, “Does this mean you can start teaching me spells now?”

Ji Weining leaned closer, picked up another book from the table, and flipped through it casually before replying, “No rush. The spiritual energy within you is still too faint. Su Jin’an knew too little about this and asked eagerly, “Then how can one accumulate enough to be considered profound?”

“Hold out your hand.” Ji Weining closed the book she had been reading, a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips as she signaled for Su Jin’an to extend her hand.

Su Jin’an was puzzled, unable to comprehend her intention. What did she want her to do?

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