Only after Lin Qi entered the courtyard did she discover there was another richly dressed little boy inside, who looked to be only five or six.
The two stared at each other with wide eyes for quite a while.
Before she could speak, the little boy had already introduced himself.
"My name is Luo Ci. I'm from the Southern Continent Luo Family. Who are you?"
The Cangwu Realm had five continents, named East, South, West, North, and Central.
Lin Qi's hometown, Desolate City, and the Tianyi Sect were both located in the Southern Continent.
The Southern Continent Luo Family was one of the five great families of the Southern Continent.
This little fellow truly came from an extraordinary background. No wonder he walked with his chin tilted up.
After dawdling for a long time, Lin Qi finally said, "Lin Qi, of the Lin Family of Desolate City."
Luo Ci had already been growing impatient waiting for her reply. The moment he heard "Lin Family of Desolate City," his chin lifted even higher.
"Desolate City? What kind of place is that?"
There were over a hundred cities in the Southern Continent, and Desolate City was merely one of the most inconspicuous among them.
Luo Ci drawled, "Some little place."
Upon hearing those three words, Luo Ci gave Lin Qi a once-over, then turned and left with a trace of disdain.
Lin Qi could not be bothered to argue with a brat, so she found herself a room and curled up inside.
In such an enormous residence, there were only Luo Ci and her—what did True Monarch Qingyun mean by this?
Lin Qi lay on the bed for a long while without figuring it out. Just as she was stroking her Ice Phoenix Essence Blood Bead and pondering, she suddenly heard a sound outside the window.
She sprang up on her short little legs and climbed to the window, where she saw Luo Ci wielding a wooden sword as he practiced with nimble movements.
His movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water. His chops, slashes, lifts, and thrusts all followed a proper form; it was clear he had practiced diligently.
Lin Qi, whose heart had always been as steady as an old dog's, suddenly felt a little panicked.
There were still a hundred years until Daoist Jinwu dug out her golden core and refined it into a pill.
Before she had even begun cultivating for real, she felt as though a warning placard had been pasted to her forehead, counting down every day to the day her core would be dug out.
"Who's spying on me?!" Luo Ci suddenly jerked his head up toward her.
He put away his Small Wooden Sword and darted straight to Lin Qi's door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The earth-shaking knocking went on for quite a while before Lin Qi leisurely opened the door.
Luo Ci's flushed little face greeted her. "You were spying on my Luo Family Swordplay!"
Seeing Lin Qi's little face filled with calm indifference, Luo Ci angrily reached out, intending to grab the clothes at her chest and question her.
Lin Qi had not expected this brat to lay hands on her outright. She lifted her foot and kicked Luo Ci squarely in the abdomen.
Luo Ci let out a miserable cry and flew straight backward.
Lin Qi stared blankly at her short little leg... When had she become so strong?
Lin Qi jogged out to check on Luo Ci, only to see him clutching his lower abdomen as he climbed up from the ground. His face was full of fury as he said, "You spied on me, then ambushed me when you failed! You've gone too far! I demand a fight to the death!"
Luo Ci had been pampered into being fair and tender. His face reddened whenever he got angry, and he glared furiously at Lin Qi with his large eyes. He looked like a delicate flower battered by the wind and rain.
Lin Qi could not help getting a head full of black lines.
"I was only woken up by your noise and came out to see what was happening..."
Luo Ci wore an expression that said he would neither listen nor believe her, continuing to shout, "Come and meet your death!"
As he spoke, he took up a stance and raised his Small Wooden Sword, preparing to slash at Lin Qi.
Lin Qi became interested as well.
She had been wanting to test what this strange strength of hers was about.
An hour later, Luo Ci lay on the ground with a bruised and swollen face, while Lin Qi stood nearby, calm and composed.
She even kindly kicked the Small Wooden Sword closer to him, making it easier for Luo Ci to pick it back up.
"Want to go again? I think I still can."
Luo Ci lay on the ground and looked at her. This time, his gaze was like he was looking at a freak.
He shouted unyieldingly, "Once I start cultivating, I'll definitely win back my honor!"
Lin Qi folded her arms, carrying herself like a boss as she answered seriously, "Don't worry. I'll work hard and make sure you never can."
"You..." Luo Ci was so furious his vision blurred.
True Monarch Qingyun, who had witnessed everything from within the palace, could not help shaking her head with a smile.
"It seems Zonglei Peak will be lively from now on."
Feng Ling stood beside True Monarch Qingyun with a sword in her arms. "True Monarch, did you arrange for those two to stay in the same courtyard in order to observe their character?"
True Monarch Qingyun lifted her eyes gently, the smile in them undiminished. "Yes, and no. I only hope they won't disappoint me in the future."
As True Monarch Qingyun spoke, her fingertips absentmindedly stroked the Phoenix Feather in her palm.
This Phoenix Feather was identical to the one Lin Qi had received, except the content upon it differed.
She murmured, "To recover the Spiritual Wisdom Soul at this time... I truly don't know whether it is a blessing or a worry."
Early the next morning, Lin Qi met the legendary True Monarch Qingyun.
She was a gentle, affectionate beauty, jade-like in appearance, with bright eyes and pearly teeth.
She sat upright in the seat of honor, smiling warmly. "I wish to take you two as my personal disciples. Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?"
Luo Ci was the first to react.
Without another word, he knelt before True Monarch Qingyun and respectfully said, "This disciple greets Master!"
Lin Qi was a few beats slower, but she followed him in kneeling. "This disciple pays respects to Master!"
"Alright, get up."
This time, Lin Qi reacted faster than Luo Ci. She truly was not used to kneeling.
Yet she could not help marveling inwardly.
Was this what it meant to have connections in a sect?
She had become the disciple of a Nascent Soul True Lord so easily?
Most importantly, she was only four years old and had not even tested her spiritual roots... Yet everyone seemed to have assumed she could cultivate?
True Monarch Qingyun seemed able to see through Lin Qi's thoughts and handed her a blue Phoenix Feather.
"When your mother sent word, she included a secret message. If the Phoenix Feather remained colorless, it meant your mind had not recovered, and you could remain in the Lin Family as a wealthy, idle person for the rest of your life. If the Phoenix Feather changed color, she would send me a disciple of outstanding talent."
"Little Qi, your mother has considered much for your sake. Do not disappoint her heartfelt intentions."
Lin Qi took the Phoenix Feather and examined it carefully. Her eyes suddenly stung, and her chest felt blocked.
A feeling of longing and reluctance lingered in her heart.
She suspected it was an emotion left behind by the original Lin Qi.
Lin Qi involuntarily said, "Yes, Master..."
True Monarch Qingyun nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, it is time for us to depart and return to the sect."
Lin Qi gathered herself, and suddenly felt a little more anticipation toward the Tianyi Sect.
True Monarch Qingyun led the way in front, while Luo Ci chirped at her side, "Master, Lin Qi and I both acknowledged you as our master. So which of us is senior brother and which is junior sister?"
True Monarch Qingyun saw through his little scheme at a glance.
Her smile remained unchanged. "Neither of you has formally entered the master-disciple order yet. We will determine seniority after ascending Zonglei Peak."
A trace of disappointment flashed through Luo Ci's eyes, while Lin Qi was eager to give it a try.
If this brat wanted to be her senior brother, he would have to see whether she was willing!
Very soon, they followed True Monarch Qingyun to the foot of an exceedingly steep mountain peak. Its summit shot straight into the clouds, with no end in sight.
There was only one exceptionally steep stairway up the mountain, and every Stone Step reached Lin Qi's chest.
Beside this mountain peak stood a transparent Ascension Ladder, connecting the clouds to the ground.
True Monarch Qingyun smiled brightly.
"The Ascension Ladder next door is the first trial for disciples entering the sect. The stairway before you is likewise the first trial for joining Zonglei Peak."
Before you continue