When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 32

For the first time, the Grand Hall was packed with people. The Yun Cang Mountain disciples responsible for errands ran themselves ragged, exhausted from carrying snacks alone. Still, they managed to place fresh fruit and pastries on every small square table in the hall.

Besides Yun Cang Mountain and Zhen Sui Mountain, four other lesser-known sects had sent disciples, though in smaller numbers. Currently, Yun Cang Mountain and Zhen Sui Mountain disciples made up the majority of the crowd.

As hosts, the Yun Cang Mountain disciples were exceptionally courteous, but this did little to restrain the others.

The chaotic din made Zhu Ning frown. She had imagined cultivators would behave differently from ordinary people, but now she wondered if they were even worse.

Lin Xiayan trailed behind her, looking utterly indifferent. She was used to such chaotic scenes, now viewing these cultivators with the same disdain she reserved for minor demons in the Demon Realm. She didn’t even feel like complaining.

“The Immortal Venerable has arrived!”

A voice rang out from somewhere, instantly silencing the hall. The crowd parted to clear a path for Zhu Ning and Lin Xiayan to pass.

Zhu Ning forced an awkward smile and finally settled gracefully onto the Sect Leader’s throne. The chair was cold and opulent, making her appear divine and aloof.

Lin Xiayan looked around but still couldn’t find a place for herself. She had no choice but to stand beside Zhu Ning, like a little attendant, her youthful face wearing an unusually serious expression.

The crowd at least showed some restraint in Zhu Ning’s presence. Though they still stood in a disorganized mass below, no one was talking or chatting anymore.

All eyes were fixed on Zhu Ning, waiting for her to speak. Fortunately, Zhu Ning had often presided over the opening of various meetings during her school days, making such occasions second nature to her.

Zhu Ning slowly rose, not bothering to smooth out the wrinkles in her robes. Her voice carried a hint of appropriate urgency as it rang clearly through the Grand Hall: “The competition was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but recently, demonic ghosts and evil spirits have been rampaging frequently below the mountain. Even demonic beasts dare to invade Yun Cang Mountain itself. This Venerable One senses something is amiss and has hastily summoned you all here to spar and select the most suitable disciples from each sect to descend the mountain and aid those in peril. I believe every disciple who has sought mastery under a master has done so for that very moment when their righteous heart is tested. That moment has now arrived. I trust that in the upcoming trials, I will not witness any resorting to underhanded tactics to secure victory.”

Zhu Ning had laid down the harsh truth upfront. The Zhen Sui Mountain disciples scoffed, showing no intention of taking her words seriously.

Zhu Ning’s eyes flickered. Realizing her words had been too harsh, she added, “To ensure fairness, This Venerable One will lead two personal disciples down the mountain to quell the unrest. The outcome of the competition will not influence the selection of Yun Cang Mountain’s representative.”

Though she spoke of fairness, everyone understood this was Zhu Ning’s preemptive warning. A lackey from Zhen Sui Mountain massaged the shoulders of their lead female disciple, whispering, “How many useless disciples is Yun Cang Mountain sending this year? Zhu Ning’s already making excuses for them. It’s hilarious.”

The female disciple preened, as if the mere mention of Yun Cang Mountain’s weakness pleased her. She casually pulled a silver coin from her sleeve and pressed it into the lackey’s hand, her smile widening.

“I’ve always said Yun Cang Mountain is all bark and no bite,” she declared, her confidence nearly overflowing the Grand Hall. “I truly don’t understand why anyone fears them.” Like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, her arrogance drew sidelong glances, including from Yun Cang Mountain disciples.

“Y-you! What a big mouth!” Zhu Ning’s gaze snapped toward the voice, recognizing Han Xiaoxiao, the shy disciple from earlier.

Han Xiaoxiao stood with her hands on her hips, pointing accusingly at the Zhen Sui Mountain disciple. The female disciple bristled, her voice rising shrilly, “What I say is none of your business! Why aren’t you listening to your Immortal Venerable instead of eavesdropping on our conversation?”

Her voice, sharp and harsh, echoed throughout the Grand Hall. Zhu Ning frowned, displeased. It was one thing for the people of Zhen Sui Mountain to be despicable and shameless, but to lack even the basic decency of proper upbringing? Such boisterous behavior was utterly unbecoming.

“Silence,” Zhu Ning commanded, her voice imbued with spiritual energy, ringing clear and ethereal. Han Xiaoxiao immediately shut her mouth, her hands dropping from her hips, a stark contrast to the female disciple’s fiery demeanor.

This was precisely what Zhu Ning admired most about Yue Qing. Though the man himself remained enigmatic, his disciples at least possessed a strong moral compass, unlike the arrogant and overbearing disciples of Zhen Sui Mountain.

“The Grand Hall is no place for your petty squabbles,” Zhu Ning continued, her voice carrying an air of authority. “If this disciple believes no one from Yun Cang Mountain can defeat her, she may prove her worth on the day of the competition. If she cannot wait, she is welcome to challenge This Venerable One now.” Zhu Ning exerted her spiritual pressure, her captivating peach blossom eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. Her usually gentle white robes now seemed cold and unapproachable, a stark contrast to her words. Lin Xiayan stood to the side, watching with a satisfied nod.

The female disciple hesitated, wanting to retort, but her fellow Zhen Sui Mountain disciple tugged at her sleeve and shook his head.

She could only flee the Grand Hall, leaving behind a disheveled figure.

“This applies to everyone here,” Zhu Ning declared. “Yun Cang Mountain supports fair competition and accepts defeat. But if you speak recklessly, This Venerable One will not spare you. Do you all understand?” Zhu Ning’s reputation had long preceded her among the six sects. They already regarded Zhu Ning and their own Sect Leaders as invincible legends, so they dared not object. They all nodded obediently.

Zhu Ning sat down in a huff, managing to keep her composure. She lowered her head to smooth out the wrinkles in her skirt, but she could hear Lin Xiayan’s soft breathing as she approached.

“The Immortal Venerable was quite formidable just now,” Lin Xiayan teased. Zhu Ning looked up and met her playful gaze. Lin Xiayan tilted her head, feigning the most adorable expression in the world, but her mind was only set on teasing Zhu Ning.

Zhu Ning turned away, refusing to look at Lin Xiayan. Only after everyone had left the Grand Hall did Lin Xiayan find a chair, cross her legs, and say, “That arrogant woman’s name is Xia Meng. She’s in charge of odd jobs at Zhen Sui Mountain. Though she’s not a direct disciple, she has plenty of sycophants.”

Lin Xiayan had been diplomatic enough, but Zhu Ning understood perfectly: she was basically the manager of a cleaning company.

The sycophant from earlier was probably one of her “cleaners.”

Zhu Ning couldn’t help but laugh at the thought, her eyes crinkling with amusement. Even without Lin Xiayan’s prompting, she knew her smile was beautiful.

Lin Xiayan smoothed her little dress, grabbed the hem, and hopped off the chair. She realized she was falling in love with the art of alchemy.

When Zhu Ning noticed Lin Xiayan running toward the Alchemy Chamber, she decided to let her go. After such an eventful day, her tense mind finally relaxed, and a wave of drowsiness washed over her.

She stood up, intending to return to Mùdōng Courtyard for a nap, but Han Xiaoxiao stopped her just as she reached the Grand Hall’s entrance.

Han Xiaoxiao twisted her fingers, her face filled with remorse. “Immortal Venerable, I acted improperly. I shouldn’t have stooped to her level. Now everyone is saying you’re biased toward your own…”

Han Xiaoxiao’s voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes. She felt both wronged and deeply ashamed.

Zhu Ning was stunned for a moment. She hadn’t given the matter a second thought. Wasn’t it natural for her to speak up? Perhaps Han Xiaoxiao still clung too strongly to her image of the original Zhu Ning, believing that someone as aloof and otherworldly as the original Sect Leader shouldn’t concern herself with such mundane affairs.

But Zhu Ning wasn’t the original. Her personality was completely different. In fact, she rather enjoyed standing up for her own. “It’s fine,” she reassured Han Xiaoxiao. “Don’t feel guilty. They were the ones being arrogant on our territory. What’s wrong with the Sect Leader of Yun Cang Mountain saying a few words? You, on the other hand, shouldn’t let their gossip bother you. This isn’t about favoritism. Even if you were in the wrong today, I would still stand by you. Zhu Ning always sides with family, not fairness.”

After Zhu Ning finished speaking, Han Xiaoxiao remained speechless, still reeling from the shock. The Zhu Ning she knew before had never been like this. This new Zhu Ning only deepened Han Xiaoxiao’s admiration.

“Immortal Venerable…” Han Xiaoxiao managed to choke out the words, her heart overflowing with gratitude rather than guilt. She wiped away her tears, smiled, and bowed in farewell, her mind already made up.

“I must cultivate diligently! I must make the Immortal Venerable proud of us! I’ll make sure she can hold her head high!” From that moment on, a tiny seed of hope took root in Han Xiaoxiao’s heart.

Zhu Ning continued toward Mùdōng Courtyard, encountering no one else along the way. She kept pondering whether she truly deserved the title “Immortal Venerable.” While the original owner of the body had indeed earned that reputation, Zhu Ning now felt like a complete failure. Whenever someone addressed her as Immortal Venerable, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

“Sigh… Even after my cultivation recovers, I need to train diligently and learn more techniques. Otherwise, if something unexpected happens, I might not be a match for anyone,” Zhu Ning sighed, her expression dejected as she trudged forward, each step heavy.

The weather had turned even colder today. A fierce wind whipped through the trees, bending them into grotesque shapes that resembled a horde of dancing demons. Snow beneath the trees was swept into the air, creating the illusion of a fresh snowfall.

Without a cloak, Zhu Ning hurried back to Mùdōng Courtyard, only relaxing once she had closed the door behind her.

Inside, the charcoal stove burned warmly, filling the room with a comforting heat. The silence was so profound that she could hear the crackling of the burning charcoal. A wave of drowsiness washed over her, and Zhu Ning curled up under the brocade quilt, preparing to sleep.

But her mind raced with thoughts, and she tossed and turned, unable to find rest. Her hand brushed against the jade bracelet, activating her Pocket Dimension. She decided to check if there were any new techniques she could learn.

Unfortunately, after searching thoroughly, she found nothing but a Sword Manual. Even worse, the techniques in the manual were inferior to Lin Xiayan’s Sword Wielding techniques.

Zhu Ning felt even more dejected, cradling the kitten in her arms as she sank into thought.

“Meow~” The kitten leaped from her embrace and led Zhu Ning to a corner. There, nestled in the shadows, was a small box overflowing with books. Though dusty with age, they were enough to fill Zhu Ning with delight.

So, this little cat is my golden ticket after all?

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