When a Female Alpha Transmigrates into a Book as a Substitute - Chapter 4

His fingertip traced downward from the tip of her nose…

Shen Qingxian had assumed Jiang Xuezhi was unconscious, which was why he revealed himself.

He gently cleaned her face, then pressed two fingers together to examine her body. His fingertip trailed from the bridge of her nose downward, brushed past her lips, and finally settled on the pulse at her neck.

Beneath his touch, a steady, powerful rhythm beat, a sign that her life was not in immediate danger.

Shen Qingxian’s hand continued its descent.

He didn’t believe the Xuantian Sect would make such a grave error, mistaking someone like her for the figure spoken of in rumors.

There had to be some unforeseen circumstance, something that could be inferred from Xie Wang’s grim expression.

The problem undoubtedly lay with Jiang Xuezhi herself.

How had she ended up like this?

A person stuck at the Qi Refining stage for three years, where had she gained the combat experience she’d just displayed?

Shen Qingxian frowned slightly as his fingertip reached her chest, feeling the heartbeat pulsing beneath the softness.

Just as he gathered spiritual energy at his fingertip to probe her heart meridian, a lazy voice drifted over, tinged with amusement: “Lurking around for so long just to do this?”

Shen Qingxian paused, his gaze snapping upward to meet Jiang Xuezhi’s contemplative expression.

She wasn’t unconscious.

She had been fully aware the entire time.

His hand froze for an instant before he withdrew it smoothly, recovering his composure swiftly.

“I merely noticed you were injured and wanted to check on your condition,” he explained simply.

Jiang Xuezhi didn’t buy it.

“You’re not from this place,” she said slowly, sitting up. Her bones ached, her body stiff and sore all over.

But she showed no sign of discomfort, her gaze fixed on Shen Qingxian, occasionally peering through the gaps in his veil to study his face.

It was hard to see clearly, and from the original host’s memories, she couldn’t recall anyone with such features.

“Who are you?”

As Jiang Xuezhi leaned in, about to lift the veil of his hat, Shen Qingxian stepped back, evading her.

“Who I am is unimportant,” Shen Qingxian said calmly, rising to his feet as Jiang Xuezhi stood as well. “What matters is who you are.”

This man was composed, his demeanor steady, and he seemed far more perceptive than those from the Xuantian Sect.

He must have come from outside, likely connected to the Xuantian Sect in some way. His serene aura was nothing like the black-robed figures within this purgatory.

He’d had countless opportunities to take her life just now, yet he hadn’t.

So, he probably wasn’t a pursuer, at least, not one intent on harming her.

In that case, there was no need to waste time on him.

“A fair point,” Jiang Xuezhi replied nonchalantly. “Figuring out exactly who I am must be quite urgent for all of you.”

“I gave you the chance just now. I hope you learned something useful. But I won’t be keeping you company any longer.”

With that, Jiang Xuezhi turned and walked away, her back to him, completely unguarded.

She was certain Shen Qingxian wouldn’t strike.

And she had every confidence in her judgment.

Shen Qingxian indeed had no intention of attacking.

There was no need.

He was aware of the Xuantian Sect’s affairs, but Jiang Xuezhi didn’t know that he knew.

Even if she were to reveal anything, she wouldn’t expose him.

The Xuantian Sect itself wouldn’t publicize the matter, they still needed him to turn things around.

Standing with his hands clasped behind his back amid the yellow sand, Shen Qingxian watched as Jiang Xuezhi not only failed to leave but ventured deeper into the treacherous terrain. Though he had initially resolved not to interfere further, he couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you leaving, miss? Why are you heading further in? Do you even know what this place is?”

“This is the Barren Wasteland Prison, the place where the Profound Heaven Sect exiles its criminals. It is filled with countless ruthless and vicious individuals, as well as demons and monsters suppressed here, each of their cultivation levels far surpasses yours.” Shen Qingxian analyzed rationally. “A victory like the one you just had isn’t something you’ll encounter every time.”

“So what?”

Jiang Xuezhi turned around amidst the swirling yellow sand.

Her long hair flew wildly, and her black robes fluttered fiercely. Even though her face was unclear, Shen Qingxian could still sense the disdain and contempt on her expression.

“Whoever you are, why not go back and tell Xie Wang where I am? Let’s see who ends up being the one who’s afraid, me or him?”

After uttering these final words, Jiang Xuezhi’s figure vanished into the intensifying sandstorm.

Shen Qingxian stood in place for a long moment before suddenly letting out a soft laugh.

He clasped his hands behind his back, his fingertips lightly rubbing together as if they still retained the warmth from her lips and body.

In the end, he left the Barren Wasteland Prison and returned directly to the Immortal Alliance, without detouring back to the Profound Heaven Sect.

It was hard to say what exactly motivated him, but it was only after he had been back at the Immortal Alliance for some time that he leisurely sent a message to Xie Wang, informing him of Jiang Xuezhi’s whereabouts.

Xie Wang replied quickly, with a hurried word of thanks, not even adhering to the formal format for communicating with the Alliance Leader, clearly, he was in a state of urgency.

The Profound Heaven Sect wasn’t exactly a top-tier sect. The current cultivation world was divided into three parts: the Upper Three Continents, the Lower Three Continents, and the Central Heavenly Realm.

The Upper Three Continents consisted of Tianxuan Continent, Lingxu Continent, and Penglai Continent, these were the gathering places for righteous factions. The Immortal Alliance headquarters was located in the Tianxuan Continent, while the major cultivation families of the cultivation world occupied the Lingxu Continent and other areas. The remaining sects and rogue cultivators held sway over Penglai Continent.

The Profound Heaven Sect was situated within Penglai’s territory, a standard, unremarkable cultivation sect, neither outstanding nor falling behind.

The reason it could establish close ties with the Immortal Alliance, even to the point of its disciples being considered for marriage with Shen Qingxian, was twofold. First, Shen Qingxian had met Lin Wanwan a few times and held a favorable impression of her. Second, the Profound Heaven Sect possessed a secret treasure: the life-bound magical instrument left behind by its founding ancestor, a long spear named “Po Jun.”

Few people knew that the Profound Heaven Sect, which now primarily focused on sword cultivation, once specialized in spear techniques.

This shift occurred because no one could draw the spear left by the founding ancestor. Over the generations, not a single disciple achieved any notable success in spear techniques. To prevent the sect from declining, they began transitioning to sword cultivation several generations ago.

This transition barely managed to sustain the Profound Heaven Sect’s vitality. After all, the current cultivation world was dominated by sword cultivation, with many believing that sword cultivators were the most suited for combat and possessed the greatest power. The master of the First Immortal Manor, that reclusive old monster, was a sword cultivator, and the current de facto ruler of the Immortal Manor, the Snow-Caressing Sword Venerable, was also a peerless sword cultivator of this era.

Everyone aspired to cultivate the sword, just as they yearned to enter the First Immortal Manor.

No one wanted to be an obscure spear cultivator.

Yet, the life-bound magical instrument left by the Profound Heaven Sect’s founding ancestor remained highly enticing.

It was said that Po Jun had been forged by the ancestor into a divine artifact, which was why it imposed such high requirements on its wielder.

To refine a magical instrument into a divine artifact required not only a long period of nurturing but also countless rare and precious materials to feed into it.

In this world, the number of cultivators with the wealth and lifespan to forge a divine artifact could be counted on one hand.

Currently, the top-ranked weapon on the cultivation world’s armament leaderboard was the life-bound sword of the Snow-Caressing Sword Venerable from the First Immortal Manor, “Zhao Han.”

“Pojun” was little known, but if it were included in the Weapon Ranking, it would undoubtedly rank among the top three.

Jiang Xuezhi likely hadn’t stumbled into the Barren Abyss by accident.

Before parting, her cryptic words and Xie Wangwu’s attitude made Shen Qingxian ponder carefully, could the Xuantian Sect have hidden something crucial in the Barren Abyss? Perhaps their divine weapon, Pojun.

That was something he desired.

It must be said, Shen Qingxian was truly clever.

He had immediately guessed the key point.

Jiang Xuezhi indeed hadn’t entered the Barren Abyss out of desperation.

The Barren Abyss lay far at the border of the Lower Three Realms. The Xuantian Sect had opened a portal near their sect, directly linking to the Barren Abyss, publicly claiming it was for exiling criminals.

But the real reason was that Xie Wangwu had hidden the divine weapon Pojun there.

No one would expect someone to conceal a sect’s treasured artifact in a place like the Barren Abyss. Neither the exiled criminals and demons nor the high-level cultivators coveting Pojun would think of it. Aside from Xie Wangwu himself, even the inner disciples of the Xuantian Sect were unaware.

But Jiang Xuezhi knew.

She had read the original book. Though she couldn’t recall minor details due to her hasty reading, she remembered the crucial parts.

Especially those related to weapons and cultivation methods, she remembered them most clearly.

By nature, she paid close attention to such things.

She urgently needed a weapon more suited to her than a spirit sword, one that could help her break through the encirclement and fight her way back to the Upper Three Realms.

Pojun was the closest and easiest to obtain.

Xie Wangwu believed no one could draw Pojun, so he hadn’t set up many defenses. He merely hid it beneath the Barren Abyss’s sands, where it could be found by reciting a specific incantation at a particular time.

Later in the plot, he retrieved Pojun, attempting to forcibly reshape it into a divine sword to win the female lead’s favor.

Unfortunately, divine weapons had their own spirits and would not tolerate such alterations. Not only did he fail, but he also suffered a backlash. Pojun would rather shatter than let him live.

Fortunately, the female lead arrived in time and saved him.

By then, the female lead had already been admitted to the First Immortal Manor. Xie Wangwu, fearing she would leave for a better place and never return, risked everything to make an effort, which finally moved her somewhat.

Moved she was, but staying was out of the question.

Before Xie Wangwu’s injuries had even healed, the female lead eagerly departed as soon as the Immortal Manor’s enrollment order arrived.

He was left alone, gazing at the destroyed divine weapon in despair and sorrow.

Jiang Xuezhi had to obtain Pojun.

It wasn’t just a divine weapon, it carried the legacy of its former master.

Once she acquired it and gained its acknowledgment, all her problems would be resolved.

But where exactly was Pojun?

Time was short. Xiao Jin would soon realize what had happened and enter the Barren Abyss to find her. Xie Wangwu would likely receive the news quickly as well. If both scoundrels came for her, her current physical state might not hold up.

She had to hurry.

What was written in the original book again? Something about a Qimen Dunjia formation. Ah, which way was it? What were those characters? Kun, Xun, and what else?

Jiang Xuezhi’s head felt like it was about to explode.

It was unbearable.

A simple headache or mental collapse was tolerable, but the feeling of densely packed words drilling into her mind was suffocating.

The one thing Jiang Xuezhi excelled at in this life was combat.

The one thing she was worst at was anything involving written work.

She suffered immensely every time she had to write post-battle reports, let alone decipher obscure formations and incantations.

She always skipped over them without a second thought.

Jiang Xuezhi stood still amidst the yellow sand, sensing that many were still attempting to approach her.

Still not giving up, huh.

Some died, and others took their place, a battle of attrition, meant to exhaust her. Perhaps they believed they would be the lucky ones to wear her down.

Dark shadows closed in around her, and Jiang Xuezhi couldn’t be bothered to search any longer.

She couldn’t remember, and she wasn’t skilled with formations, so she decided to abandon the idea.

Let’s try something more direct.

“Hello there,” she said, widening her eyes as she spoke to the empty air.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Jiang Xuezhi, currently at the first level of Qi Refining.”

“I know you’re nearby, but I’m not sure how to find you. If possible, could you come out and meet me?”

Jiang Xuezhi was exhausted, utterly drained.

No matter how strong her spirit was, it was useless if her body couldn’t hold up.

Her words were disjointed, her mind foggy and disoriented, drifting in and out of clarity.

The shadows surrounding her found her ramblings bewildering, convinced she was delirious and nearing her end.

A dying person might do anything, after all.

They closed in eagerly, coveting the Qiankun pouch at her waist and lusting after her body.

In the desolate wasteland of hell, demonic men abounded, and a peerlessly beautiful woman at the first level of Qi Refining was nothing short of a delicacy.

Jiang Xuezhi could already smell the foul stench emanating from them.

She wrinkled her nose, crouched down, and scooped up a handful of yellow sand.

“Would you rather remain buried forever beneath this sand, unseen by the light of day, than come out and meet me, to try one more time?”

Jiang Xuezhi stood up, shaking the sand from her clothes, and sighed.

“Well, there’s no other way.”

She turned to face the dense swarm of shadows, her frail figure barely able to stand against the wind and sand.

No one believed she could hold on much longer in this state.

They were certain she was on the verge of death, perhaps without them even needing to lift a finger.

And then they realized they were mistaken.

Something suddenly appeared in Jiang Xuezhi’s hand.

No one could make out what it was, but by the time they reacted, they were already thrown back by an overwhelming surge of spiritual power.

What followed were fatal wounds, someone had seized the moment while they were coughing up blood under the pressure, striking to kill while they were vulnerable.

She moved with incredible speed, like a nimble leopard, her movements deft and practiced. They died swiftly and silently.

Before closing their eyes for the last time, they finally understood where that immense spiritual power had come from.

In Jiang Xuezhi’s hand was a jade pendant engraved with the character “Xian.”

With such spiritual power and a name containing that character, there was only one person in the cultivation world.

Shen Qingxian.

In the Celestial Xuan Province, within the Immortal Alliance, Shen Qingxian had just finished handling official duties. As he changed his clothes, he touched his waist and suddenly realized something was missing.

His hand rested on his waist, and in an instant, he knew exactly who had done what, only he wasn’t sure when.

It must have been when he was examining her body.

Not only had she feigned unconsciousness to deceive him, but she had also managed to steal a magical artifact from him.

He had thought they wouldn’t meet again, but now it seemed he would have to see this not-so-innocent young woman once more.

Shen Qingxian raised a hand to massage his temples.

In the desolate wasteland of hell, the yellow sand was stained with the blood of countless lives. Having killed her assailants, Jiang Xuezhi did not stop there.

She was systematically draining the blood from each body.

The air was thick with the scent of blood, the metallic tang of rust filling her nostrils, a familiar smell to her.

Her spiritual energy recovered slightly as a result. Gripping her dagger, Jiang Xuezhi moved on to the next person, continuing to spill their blood.

When the blood of countless individuals had soaked the yellow sand, Jiang Xuezhi’s legs gave way beneath her, and she collapsed into the bloodstained desert.

The next moment, Xie Wangwang and Xiao Jin appeared in the desolate wasteland of purgatory.

Exchanging a glance, they split up to search for her.