I Reloaded the Save File! [Transmigration] - Chapter 18

Eight years passed in a flash, and the time had completely exceeded the longest five-year period Mo Xiao had mentioned for her seclusion by a full three years.

During this time, Zuo Wuyi wanted countless times to go to the back mountain to check on Mo Xiao’s situation, but remembering the lesson learned from previous events, she forcibly suppressed the thought. She could only inquire about Mo Xiao’s condition reservedly through her Revered Master.

“Revered Master, Senior Sister has been in seclusion for eight years. Is she still not coming out?” Zuo Wuyi asked. Eight years had passed, and her cultivation had already reached the late Foundation Establishment Stage, showing signs of approaching perfection.

Of course, her actual cultivation level was only known to her and Xuan Shuang. To outsiders, she was still a minor cultivator who had just broken through to the early Foundation Establishment Stage. In the eyes of others, she was exceptionally talented, but since her cultivation was still low, it hadn’t caused a major sensation.

“Breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage is not a simple matter. Taking ten or more years is common. Yun Mu has a sense of proportion; you don’t need to worry,” Xuan Shuang was not worried that her second disciple would encounter any problems. Instead, she paid more attention to the young disciple before her.

“It is you, Wuyi. If I am not mistaken, you should have already touched the threshold of the Golden Core Stage, haven’t you?” Xuan Shuang said. If Zuo Wuyi hadn’t been cultivating right under her nose, she might have suspected that Zuo Wuyi had practiced some heretical cultivation method to achieve such an advancement speed.

Zuo Wuyi nodded and asked, “Revered Master, if I break through to the Golden Core Stage, can I go travel outside on my own?”

Xuan Shuang thought for a while, then shook her head. “That would be inappropriate. Consider the matter of a distant journey only after you have advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage. It is too dangerous for you to leave the sect for training alone. Once your age and cultivation level are exposed, many people will target you.”

The current situation was somewhat precarious. The major sects appeared to maintain frequent and cordial relations, and their disciples often traveled together when they met outside.

However, this seemingly harmonious relationship was based on the balanced strength of the three leading sects: the Wendao Sect, the Tianqing Sect, and the Wuxin Sect. Now that the Wendao Sect was subtly showing a trend toward becoming the leading sect, the other two had begun to frequently recruit new disciples, seemingly wanting to bring all talented disciples under their wing.

In such a situation, if a prodigy with monstrous talent like Zuo Wuyi were to appear, she could easily become a target for the other two sects and might silently perish at any time.

“Yes, this disciple accepts the order.” Although Zuo Wuyi was a little disappointed, she didn’t mind too much. After all, Mo Xiao was still in seclusion, so even if she left, she wouldn’t stay away from the sect for too long.

“If there is any place you wish to go, your master can accompany you on a trip,” Xuan Shuang added. By her count, this child, Wuyi, hadn’t left the sect for several years and must be feeling a bit bored.

Zuo Wuyi politely declined her Revered Master’s kindness. She had sensed that her Revered Master’s free time had become much scarcer recently, and since her Revered Master was busy, she didn’t want to disturb her.

Returning to her cave dwelling, Zuo Wuyi called the sleeping System awake. “According to the original trajectory, what is my cultivation level now, and what should I be doing?”

【Ah, Host, why are you suddenly interested in this? Didn’t you say you weren’t following the plot?】 The System had just woken up from hibernation and was slightly slow to respond.

“That’s not important. Tell me the original plot,” Zuo Wuyi urged. She felt like she had forgotten something important these past few days.

【Host, please wait…】 The System quickly searched for the relevant data. 【According to the original trajectory, the Host’s current cultivation level should be early Foundation Establishment Stage, and you will participate in the Inner Sect Disciple Grand Competition in one month, where you will be targeted as a challenge by the Outer Sect Disciples…】

After the System started, Zuo Wuyi’s memories flooded back.

That was right. The Wendao Sect held a Grand Competition every ten years. In this competition, the top twenty Outer Sect Disciples would gain the right to challenge any Inner Sect Disciple participating in the competition.

In her previous life, she had no idea that the “True Person Yun Mu” these people referred to was Mo Xiao. She had always fully cooperated with the System, fighting difficult battles every time. Even when she eventually won, she was left with quite a few injuries.

【Host! When did your cultivation level reach late Foundation Establishment Stage! You won’t be able to follow the plot this way!】 The System belatedly realized the situation.

Zuo Wuyi scoffed. “I never planned to follow the plot. Assuming no unforeseen circumstances, I won’t even participate in this Grand Competition.”

【But Host, if you don’t participate in this Grand Competition, you won’t qualify to enter the Trial Grounds! Don’t you want the cultivation methods and inheritances?】 The System asked excitedly.

“Cultivation methods and inheritances? Do I lack those things?” Zuo Wuyi couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the System. She had only forgotten a few trivial details; she hadn’t forgotten everything she had learned.

【But Host, there are also some rare materials in the Trial Grounds! Don’t you want to forge your destined weapon?】

“No need. I really disliked my previous weapon,” Zuo Wuyi said. She didn’t tell the System how much she had despised her destined weapon—a jade flute—when she found out about it in her previous life. Moreover, she had never used the so-called destined weapon after entering the demonic path.

Now that she had a chance to start over, even if she couldn’t casually conjure a weapon with spiritual energy, she was going to forge a proper sword as her destined weapon.

Zuo Wuyi’s thought was simple: as long as she didn’t participate in the Inner Sect Grand Competition and didn’t win a ranking, even if those Outer Sect Disciples challenged her, it would be useless. She could smoothly remain a simple spectator.

Unfortunately, things did not go as smoothly as Zuo Wuyi had hoped, because she had forgotten about Xuan Min, who was watching her menacingly.

“You have indeed proven yourselves through your hard work. I can grant an additional opportunity to twenty of you.” Just as the challenge phase was about to begin, Xuan Min, who had been acting as background scenery, suddenly spoke up. “Whoever can defeat the Inner Sect Disciple Zuo Wuyi, I am willing to break convention and accept him as my disciple.”

As soon as Xuan Min’s words were uttered, the twenty Outer Sect Disciples’ eyes turned red with ambition, and their gazes immediately locked onto Zuo Wuyi.

“Junior Brother, your suggestion is inappropriate,” Xuan Shuang frowned upon hearing this. “If you want to take a disciple, then take one, but do not involve Wuyi.”

“Senior Sister, you are mistaken. Wuyi is a disciple I favored in the past, but unfortunately, she did not join my lineage. To make up for this regret, I wish to accept a disciple whose cultivation is slightly higher than hers. Is that not reasonable?” Xuan Min said with a smile.

Over the past few years, he had made many gestures of goodwill toward Zuo Wuyi, but Zuo Wuyi never humored him. If his tribulation was indeed fated to be realized upon Zuo Wuyi, then he could only suppress Zuo Wuyi first.

“Sect Master, this is against the rules,” Xuan Shuang didn’t bother arguing with Xuan Min and looked toward the Wendao Sect Master seated in the center.

The Sect Master stroked the beard he had deliberately grown. “Xuan Min, Outer Sect Disciples can only challenge Inner Sect Disciples who have received a ranking. That is the rule.”

“Senior Brother, I have performed a divination. If I do not accept a disciple today, I likely won’t have a disciple in this lifetime,” Xuan Min said calmly. “Since Senior Brother says this is the rule, it seems I am destined not to pass on my skills.”

“This…” The Sect Master hesitated. Xuan Min was a Soul Transformation Stage cultivator, barely over two hundred years old. He certainly had a unique understanding of both the Way of the Sword and magical arts. It seemed a great pity for such a person not to take a disciple.

Xuan Shuang’s frown deepened upon seeing this. This was clearly an open plot. Xuan Min was actually using the refusal to take a disciple to force her young disciple to accept the challenge.

“Revered Master, it’s alright if I accept the challenge. Those people are only at the Foundation Establishment Stage,” Zuo Wuyi said in a low voice, not wanting to put Xuan Shuang in a difficult position.

Xuan Shuang shook her head at her, then turned to the Sect Master. “Sect Master, without rules, there can be no order. This is true for the sect, and it is even more true for the world.”

The Sect Master was indecisive. Xuan Shuang was right; some rules should not be broken easily. However, it would be a huge pity if Xuan Min didn’t take a disciple because of this.

“It seems we are fated to be without an apprentice,” Xuan Min said with a slight laugh, then stood up, intending to leave.

Just as Xuan Min turned around, the Sect Master spoke. “The rules indeed cannot be changed. However, those among you who wish to become Elder Xuan Min’s disciple can go and ask your Senior Sister if she is willing to spar with you.”

As the Sect Master spoke, he gave Xuan Shuang an apologetic look. Compared to one Foundation Establishment disciple, he felt that having Xuan Min accept a few disciples would be more beneficial to the sect.

Xuan Shuang immediately grabbed Zuo Wuyi’s hand. “The sect competition is over. Let’s go.”

“Revered Master…” Zuo Wuyi was somewhat surprised by Xuan Shuang’s action. After all, in her eyes, her Revered Master was a kind-natured person who should have negotiated further in this situation.

“I am your Revered Master, and of course, I must protect you.” Xuan Shuang rarely displayed a cold face. “Sect Master, since this is a spar, shouldn’t Wuyi decide for herself whether to accept or not?”

“This…” The Sect Master felt he was losing face. He hadn’t expected the usually amiable Xuan Shuang to turn hostile. He could only say awkwardly, “That is true. If Wuyi is unwilling, I cannot…”

“Since that is the case, I, her master, will decide for Wuyi. She does not accept any spar or challenge from non-fellow disciples.” Xuan Shuang said coldly, directly cutting off the Sect Master. After speaking, she immediately led Zuo Wuyi away, not even sparing a glance for Xuan Min throughout the entire process.

With Xuan Shuang’s abrupt departure, the atmosphere at the scene instantly cooled, especially Xuan Min’s face, which was particularly grim.

The Sect Master sighed softly. It seemed he had made a mistake today. To break the deadlock, he could only pretend that nothing had happened and continue to preside over the Grand Competition. “Everyone, the challenge phase officially begins. The top twenty Outer Sect Disciples each have one challenge opportunity. If you win one match, you can enter the Inner Sect.”