When a Female Alpha Transmigrates into a Book as a Substitute - Chapter 3

The Heavenly Profound Sect was in complete chaos.

The presiding elders were utterly stunned, unable to regain their composure for a long time under the sudden burst of immense power from Jiang Xuezhi.

It wasn’t until Shen Qingxian arrived that the cry of his crane barely managed to restore their senses.

“What has happened here?”

Shen Qingxian wore brocaded white robes, his face as pure and elegant as a lotus flower, radiant and refined.

He quickly stepped forward, personally helping the injured disciples to their feet without any airs of being the Alliance Leader.

This was one reason, aside from his high cultivation, why he had steadily held the position of Immortal Alliance Leader for many years.

He was exceptionally adept at handling people, never flaunting his authority as Alliance Leader. He traveled without any pomp, always speaking in soft tones. Whether major or minor matters, if someone brought a request to him, he would always help resolve it.

The cultivation world often said he was a truly great benevolent soul, there wasn’t a single person in the Heavenly Profound Sect who didn’t respect him.

“Alliance Leader Shen.”

Wu Shuang trembled as she stood up. Shen Qingxian politely supported her with his wrist, but she still seemed unsteady, leaning toward him as if about to collapse.

Shen Qingxian subtly sidestepped, using his spiritual power to steady her, then deftly moved to Lin Wanwan’s side.

All the injured were now on their feet, and the next step was to determine who had reduced the Heavenly Profound Sect to such a state.

Shen Qingxian knew Jiang Xuezhi, though only superficially, they had never exchanged a single word.

If the Heavenly Profound Sect wanted to collaborate with the demon race and engage in underhanded schemes, they would inevitably have to take some risks. Fearing they couldn’t bear these risks alone, they had privately sought out Shen Qingxian for approval before taking action.

Of course, Shen Qingxian did not agree. But the Heavenly Profound Sect pleaded with such sincerity, and Lin Wanwan’s “death” was truly regrettable. After all, she was someone he had once considered for marriage, though the engagement never materialized, there was still some sentiment between them.

After weighing the situation, Shen Qingxian consented, but on the condition that they secure the consent of the substitute, Jiang Xuezhi, and that she must be willing.

The Heavenly Profound Sect readily agreed, and it never crossed his mind that they would lie.

Only now, as he surveyed the devastation around him, did he realize something was amiss.

“Fellow Cultivator Lin.”

Shen Qingxian first greeted the resurrected Lin Wanwan, courteous and proper: “Your escape from death is a great fortune, yet it remains a painful experience for you. I will not offer congratulations.”

There was indeed nothing to congratulate.

While surviving was a good thing, if given the choice, no one would wish to go through such an ordeal.

Lin Wanwan held no grievances toward Shen Qingxian. She pressed her lips slightly and bowed to him in salute.

Shen Qingxian accepted the gesture before turning to speak with Xie Wangwu, the highest-ranking person present.

“Sect Leader Xie, what exactly has happened here?”

He had already pieced together most of the story, but he needed to hear it from those involved first.

Xie Wangwu’s expression was grim, as if he had been frightened by something, both wary and sullen.

It took him a long moment to reply, “Alliance Leader Shen, this was an accident. There’s no need for concern. It was merely someone going back on their word and causing a scene.”

“Going back on their word.”

The phrase made Lin Wanwan uncomfortable.

Using such a term implied that someone had previously agreed to something, but the truth was, she was certain Jiang Xuezhi had been kept in the dark.

She wanted to say something but hesitated when she met her master’s pleading gaze.

Shen Qingxian glanced between the master and disciple, closed his eyes briefly, and then, with a faint smile, just as described in the original text, proceeded to inform Lin Wanwan of how the Heavenly Profound Sect had privately reported and pleaded with him.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, your return is a great fortune for both yourself and the Xuantian Sect. Before coming here, I encountered Fellow Daoist Jiang, and it seems she parted ways with you all on unpleasant terms. Strictly speaking, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

Shen Qingxian spoke slowly, “Back when the Xuantian Sect wanted to perform forbidden arts for your sake, I disagreed. But they were so heartbroken by your death, unable to sleep or function, and your passing was indeed deeply regrettable. After careful consideration, I agreed that as long as they obtained consent from another person and handled the aftermath properly, they could proceed.”

“I share some responsibility in this matter, but now it seems none of us need worry anymore. Fellow Daoist Lin has returned safely, and the other person is free to leave. Isn’t this a joyous outcome for all?”

“Wanwan.” Shen Qingxian called Lin Wanwan’s name softly, his tone gentle. “Having known you for so long, I couldn’t bear to see harm come to you, but I also couldn’t bring myself to cross moral boundaries for you like your master and senior brothers did, disregarding the foundation of the sect.”

“They truly care for you.”

Lin Wanwan’s unspoken words remained stuck in her throat, never to be voiced.

Seeing that the time was right, Shen Qingxian took his leave. “I rushed here as soon as I received news from the Xuantian Sect. With many matters awaiting my attention in the alliance, it’s time for me to return.”

“Sect Leader Xie.”

Thinking of his brief encounter with Jiang Xuezhi before arriving, Shen Qingxian felt an inexplicable unease.

Before departing, he reminded Xie Wangwu, “Ensure the aftermath is handled properly. Avoid any unnecessary complications.”

Xie Wangwu’s expression shifted unpredictably, but he ultimately agreed, “Rest assured, Alliance Leader Shen.”

Only then did Shen Qingxian leave.

Xie Wangwu watched the fading light of the crane-drawn carriage, his fingers subtly forming a silent hand seal.

Proper handling? It certainly needed to be handled properly.

Jiang Xuezhi’s abrupt departure raised the risk of her exposing the Xuantian Sect’s “internal affairs,” which could implicate Shen Qingxian as well.

She must not escape the sect’s control.

After three years of daily companionship, there was some sentiment involved. As Shen Qingxian said, Lin Wanwan’s safe return was a cause for celebration.

Yet Jiang Xuezhi had chosen to make things difficult, even unleashing power that shouldn’t belong to her, an act both strange and dangerous.

She must be captured.

Alive or dead, she must be found.

He exchanged a glance with Xiao Jin, who understood immediately. Though reluctant to leave Lin Wanwan, Xiao Jin set off in pursuit.

Lin Wanwan tried to speak, but Xie Wangwu intercepted her, steering the conversation elsewhere.

Under the cover of night, Jiang Xuezhi raced through the forest.

Her head throbbed violently, as if countless blades were stabbing her temples, and her vision began to blur.

But she couldn’t stop.

This was her only chance. If she didn’t put enough distance between herself and her pursuers now, it would be nearly impossible to succeed once they were on guard.

This pain was nothing to her, she had endured far worse.

Yet, no matter how fast she ran, it couldn’t match the speed of sword flight. Soon after Xiao Jin set out, Jiang Xuezhi sensed his approach.

If this were her world, she wouldn’t even glance at sword flight. Magnetic levitation crafts were a hundred times faster, any aircraft from her realm could easily outpace it.

But this was the world of cultivation from the book.

Backward and fantastical.

Jiang Xuezhi knew the situation was dire. If caught in her current state, it would be over for her.

She absolutely could not use her spiritual power again in a short time, if she did, her soul would scatter to dust along with this body.

She carefully observed her surroundings and, before Xiao Jin could discover her, leaped into a cave glowing with red light.

Xiao Jin had followed the unique medicinal fragrance emanating from Jiang Xuezhi all the way here. After circling the cave and finding no trace of her hiding spot, he eventually stood at the cave entrance, hesitating as he gazed into the darkness beneath the red glow.

Would she dare to jump in here?

Highly unlikely.

Although she had begun cultivating immortality, Jiang Xuezhi had started late, already older when she began. In three years, her greatest progress had been merely swinging a sword with slightly less clumsiness. She had never experienced real combat or set foot on an actual battlefield. She was the type to scream in fear at the slightest sight of demons or monsters. There was no way she would dare enter this place.

This was, after all, where the Xuantian Sect exiled its criminals, a place filled with expelled traitors, each more vicious than the last.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Jin continued his pursuit elsewhere.

Meanwhile, deep within the cave, a vast expanse of yellow sand stretched as far as the eye could see.

Jiang Xuezhi lay half-buried in the sand, motionless, appearing as though she were already dead. Slowly, dark shadows gathered around her, bending down to assess her condition. Her breathing was so faint it was almost imperceptible, even if she wasn’t dead yet, she surely would be soon.

Several qiankun bags hung from her waist. Forcibly opening another’s qiankun bag required immense effort, and taking them might not even be worth the trouble. But in this barren, desolate land, where nothing grew, the sight of such treasures was rare. They had to seize the opportunity first and think later.

Countless hands reached for the bags at her waist, but the moment they collided, the shadows began fighting fiercely over them. Without Jiang Xuezhi lifting a finger, simply by lying there, several shadows had already fallen or fled.

Only three remained, on the verge of deciding the victor, when her sand-buried hand suddenly shot out.

In her grasp was the former owner’s sword. Though its spiritual power was mediocre, the sword was elegant in appearance, a mere decorative piece Xie Wangwu had used to deceive its short-sighted former owner. Still, even a decorative piece was, at the very least, a weapon.

Accustomed to piloting mechas and wielding firearms, Jiang Xuezhi was trying a cold weapon for the first time. She tested its weight in the sand and found it surprisingly well-balanced.

Judging the timing to be right, Jiang Xuezhi climbed out of the sand. Her loose black hair flew wildly in the sandy wind as she tilted her head, eyeing the menacing shadows, and shook off the dust from her clothes.

“Shall we do this together, or one by one?”

Despite being severely injured, devoid of spiritual power, and in terrible condition, she still dared to act so arrogantly.

The three shadows exchanged glances and charged at her simultaneously.

Gripping her sword tightly, Jiang Xuezhi rushed straight toward them.

The swirling yellow sand obscured the scene of their battle, requiring a closer look to see clearly.

A man in white brocade robes, wearing a bamboo hat, approached from a distance, taking in the entirety of Jiang Xuezhi’s fight.

Shen Qingxian had caught up to Jiang Xuezhi even earlier than Xiao Jin. He had seen her enter this place and, astonished, followed her in.

Xie Wangwu’s words were not to be trusted, he had most likely deceived him. Although this was an internal affair of the Xuantian Sect, for which they bore the primary responsibility, Shen Qingxian was still privy to the information. If word got out or if anything went wrong, he would also share in the blame.

He needed to confirm his suspicions were true, so he couldn’t let Xuantian Sect handle this matter entirely on their own.

At this moment, he was only grateful he had followed along.

Because he discovered that Jiang Xuezhi was completely different from how Xuantian Sect had described her.

In the words of Xuantian’s members, Jiang Xuezhi was timid, quiet, gentle as water, and submissive.

She was unsuited for cultivation, with a chaotic spiritual root and poor physical stamina, barely managing to draw in spiritual energy after three years.

She was narrow-minded, vain, and habitually sought to please others.

This was the Jiang Xuezhi that Shen Qingxian knew.

But the reality he witnessed was the complete opposite.

Amidst the swirling yellow sand, the black-clad woman, with her spiritual power nearly depleted, stood tall and imposing, her presence extraordinary.

Her body was at its limit, yet her speed was astonishing, and she possessed combat experience that defied her supposed identity.

Facing three vicious criminals, she relied solely on her speed and agility, handling the situation with ease and skill even when outnumbered.

Shen Qinxian watched in astonishment, his heart racing along with the intense battle.

Jiang Xuezhi was soon surrounded.

The three shadowy figures, realizing they had underestimated her, were already covered in wounds.

To survive, they had to truly cooperate, setting aside their earlier suspicions and attempts to sabotage one another.

This was precisely what Jiang Xuezhi had exploited. In battle, the greatest taboo was betrayal by one’s comrades. Having suffered from it before, she knew the disaster it could bring, and now she turned it against her enemies.

Applying everything she learned to practical use was a strength she had been commended for by the Imperial Military Academy’s head instructor.

Jiang Xuezhi held her sword horizontally before her. If her spiritual power was unusable, she would rely on the spiritual energy within her body.

Even if it was shallow, it was better than nothing.

She had never systematically studied cultivation in the cultivation world, but that didn’t hinder her from using it.

The way power was utilized in this world followed the same patterns.

With a trace of spiritual energy, combined with her rich and advanced combat experience, and her opponents’ mutual sabotage and scheming, Jiang Xuezhi darted through the swirling yellow sand and, with a single sword strike, skewered all three like candied hawthorns.

As the three shadowy figures fell, Jiang Xuezhi collapsed as well.

She had indeed overexerted herself.

Her greatest flaw was her tendency to push herself too hard and refuse to admit defeat, a trait also acknowledged by the head instructor.

Lying in the yellow sand, Jiang Xuezhi’s breathing grew faint, and her eyes slowly closed.

The yellow sand soon buried the three shadowy figures and her along with them.

Just as she was nearly out of sight, someone approached, brushing the sand from her face.

Shen Qingxian knelt on one knee beside her, his gaze piercing through the veil of his bamboo hat as he stared at the unconscious woman.

He had no idea where Xuantian Sect had found such a person.

But if he were to say, she and Lín Wanwan were nothing alike.