Gu Bai, the straightforward eldest senior sister of the Gujian Sect, had ultimately failed to leave her beloved Xianyun Abode.
After a fierce argument with Wu Ming, she had gone to Zheng Lingxi's Tree House with a cold expression to retrieve her luggage. Then, amid the girl and a whole bunch of little beasts celebrating as if they'd just won a prize, she had returned to Xianyun Abode and squeezed out a patch of floor in the study on the east side of the main hall, where she laid out a bedroll.
After that, no matter how Wu Ming offered her the bedroom, Zhu Ying refused to change her mind.
--
Truth be told, Wu Ming didn't really want to live with this beautiful senior sister.
For one thing, over the course of his not-so-long career as a professional first-clear player, he had already given his heart to someone. He had devoted all his affections to a silver-haired girl in a green dress who was good at setting the ocean ablaze. From then on, he'd had no interest in any of the beauties in the real world.
Senior Sister Zhu Ying had a five-star aptitude and what seemed to be catgirl blood in her veins, but compared to setting the ocean ablaze, she was nothing but common powder and rouge.
For another, he'd been used to living alone even before transmigrating, and wasn't really accustomed to having someone around all the time.
But as a professional first-clear player who upheld civility and promoted a wholesome new ethos, Wu Ming couldn't just stand by and watch his eldest senior sister get driven from her own home while someone else occupied her nest. Nor could he stand by and watch his second senior sister's nest be occupied, leaving her to choose never to return home again.
What's more, after facing countless trials since transmigrating, he could finally begin cultivating the Immortal Path in earnest. He needed to seize every second and make the most of his time. How could he let such a wonderful private tutor get away?
With that positive attitude, once Zhu Ying had tidied up the room, Wu Ming eagerly volunteered. "Senior Sister, when do we start practicing the divine art?"
Zhu Ying paused. First, she smiled despite herself, but then her expression hardened and she said sternly, "Cultivating the Immortal Path is no child's play. Before you begin, there are some things I have to make clear to you."
His eldest senior sister was going to say a few words?
Wu Ming blinked, picked up the teapot from the table, poured tea for Zhu Ying and himself, then took a Fruit Cake and savored it with his tea...
Zhu Ying was so furious that her pretty face flushed and her eyelids twitched. "You... Do you think you're watching a play!?"
Wu Ming hastily swallowed his Fruit Cake and explained, "Studies show that pairing snacks with short videos can improve focus and boost memory..."
"Stop spouting strange nonsense that no one understands!" Zhu Ying snapped. It took her a while to calm down before she said coldly, "You're from the countryside in Qiongzhou, and no one taught you manners when you were young. It's not your fault if you say or do the wrong thing. But now you've joined the Gujian Sect, received the Human Dao Seal, and become a proper cultivator. If you keep doing whatever you please, the ridicule you invite will be the least of your worries. It'll also hinder your cultivation."
Wu Ming swallowed and nodded.
"Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality—the Immortal Path is, at its core, the path of humanity. And to cultivate the human way, you must observe human ethics and propriety. The sages said, 'Without rules, there can be no square or circle.' You must remember the word 'rules' throughout your future cultivation."
Wu Ming swallowed again and nodded.
Zhu Ying was so exasperated she gave up. She pushed the plate of snacks toward him. "Go on, eat! You're not listening to a word I say anyway... Fine, we'll do as you wish. We'll skip the rules and principles and start with practice!"
Wu Ming's eyes lit up. He poured her some tea. "Senior Sister is wise!"
Zhu Ying took the cup. Her chest rose and fell for a moment as she tamped down her anger. While Wu Ming wolfed down the snacks, she continued seriously, "Master probably told you that you're exceptionally clever, and that there's a pure side to your nature—though I don't really agree. But you're lacking in one of the foundations of cultivation: your Spirit Root aptitude. There are ways to make up for that, of course, but in my view, neither the Human Emperor Scroll nor exploring an Immortal Mansion is the answer. It's hard cultivation."
Wu Ming drained the last of his tea and grinned. "So it's grinding instead of paying to win. I get it, Senior Sister. Don't worry."
Zhu Ying sneered. "We'll soon find out whether you really get it."
With a sweep of her sleeve, she bundled up the few tea snacks left on the table. Then she opened the door and led Wu Ming outside the courtyard fence. When they reached the mountain path, she pointed toward the Sect Leader Temple.
"I carried you here with Divine Movement Technique last time. This time, walk back by yourself. With the tea and Fruit Cake you just ate to tide you over, you can go three days without food or water. Walking one mountain path should be a piece of cake." Zhu Ying added, "And take this bundle of snacks to Master..."
Wu Ming took the bundle and stared at the mountain path ahead, silent for a moment.
He'd experienced the rugged, treacherous road from the Sect Leader Temple to Xianyun Abode firsthand. Without Divine Movement Technique, even a monkey would bare its teeth at the thought of climbing it. And now he had to carry a bundle of snacks and trek over the mountains on foot, even with spirit tea and fruit in his belly...
Zhu Ying sneered. "What, is it too much for you?"
Wu Ming smiled. "For a great delivery man, no road is too hard. I just fear losing my connection... I'm planning a route to see if I can get a speedrun."
Zhu Ying sneered again. "Fine. I'll wait while you plan."
"No need. I've got a rough idea..." Wu Ming set off, moving briskly along the mountain path with nimble steps.
Zhu Ying's smile faded as she carefully watched his posture and footwork. After a moment, she nodded to herself.
"As expected of a descendant of the Sheep-Headed Demon Race. He really does have a knack for crossing mountains and ridges..."
As she spoke, Zhu Ying took out two yellowed, battered Spirit Talismans and stuck one to each shoulder. In an instant, her petite body grew dozens of times heavier. Not only was her Foundation Establishment Realm Mana firmly suppressed, but her qi and blood seemed frozen as well. It felt as if sharp nails filled every limb and bone; each breath seemed to tear at her lungs, bringing a dull ache.
Yet despite the agony, Zhu Ying showed not the slightest hint of discomfort. She set off too, following Wu Ming at an unhurried pace.
As the Gujian Sect's eldest senior sister, Zhu Ying was equally stern with everyone—including herself. Under the Spirit Talismans' near-torturous pressure, walking the mountain path was even harder for her than for Wu Ming... But she had never intended to tell him any of that.
The talismans weren't there to silence anyone. As the sect's eldest senior sister, she simply had to lead by example when it came to cultivation. This was what hard cultivation looked like!
Making a boy who hadn't even begun cultivating in earnest trek over mountains on foot was undoubtedly asking too much of him. But twenty years ago, that very hardship had forged her rock-solid Dao foundation. Even in a poor and dangerous environment, she had been able to keep improving her cultivation...
Today, Zhu Ying had reached the peak of the early Foundation Establishment Realm, only one step away from breaking through to the middle stage. She no longer needed to hone herself through such plain, unadorned methods. But whenever she had time to spare, she would walk this mountain path over and over. Every time, she gained a different insight and came away with something new.
And now, what would the boy from Wuyang Village, whom Master valued so highly, learn from this mountain path?
Or rather, how far would he be able to go?
Zhu Ying didn't expect Wu Ming to make it all the way in one go—the mountain paths of Yan Mountain were far more rugged and treacherous than they looked. Even a pure-blooded Sheep-Headed Demon from back in the day might have given up at the sight of them, let alone Wu Ming, a mixed-blood descendant with only a trace of that ancestry.
If he managed a third of the way—not even that, a quarter—he'd already be doing pretty well, wouldn't he?
--
Yet an hour later, Zhu Ying had to raise her expectations considerably.
Watching the boy ahead of her abruptly turn away from a smooth, open stretch of mountain road and take a detour, she couldn't help clicking her tongue.
"Tsk. So that route planning wasn't just talk after all..."
The easy path right before them eventually led to a smooth rock face so steep it was nearly vertical. Climbing it would be a huge hassle and could even mean falling off the cliff. The seemingly impassable cliff beside it, on the other hand, concealed a winding trail that would take them to the next pass without danger.
The trail was extremely well hidden. Zhu Ying had only discovered it by chance after walking this route more than ten times. Yet Wu Ming had only been carried along it once by Zhu Ying with Divine Movement Technique, flying past it in a blur. And somehow, he had still managed to spot the trail...
Wu Ming had made more than five such precise route choices in the past half hour. Each time, he picked the best path available and avoided needless detours over rough ground. It was as though someone had unfurled a painstakingly detailed map of all Yan Mountain in his mind!
Zhu Ying couldn't possibly understand. For someone who had spent his childhood immersed in all kinds of open worlds and miniature labyrinths, and who had hung around map-guide groups for years, finding his way had long since become second nature.
But she had witnessed with her own eyes how the boy had made it half again as far as she'd expected, relying on nothing but his route-planning skills!
However...
After painstakingly making his way around the final bend of the winding trail, Wu Ming finally began to tire. He was panting hard, drenched in sweat.
Zhu Ying thought to herself, ...He's still a country boy who grew up going hungry. His physical foundation is a real weakness. At this rate, even if he keeps choosing the easiest paths, he'll probably only just make it halfway. Still, that's already quite impressive for him.
And so, another hour passed, and they were halfway there. As expected, Wu Ming reached his physical limit. His small face had gone pale, and his legs were shaking so badly that he looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Zhu Ying tensed and hurried closer, following right behind him in case Wu Ming ran out of strength and rolled down the cliff.
Yet she followed him, watchful, for a full half hour, and Wu Ming still didn't fall. Again and again, Zhu Ying thought he was about to roll his eyes back and topple over. But whenever the boy looked up at the distant peaks and trees, he somehow found a little more strength to keep going.
From behind, the boy looked as if some unseen force were pulling him onward from a lofty, unknowable place. Possession, demonic influence, a zombie virus taking hold... A thousand thoughts began circling through Zhu Ying's mind. Even with all her experience, she couldn't help feeling a chill crawl up her spine.
Still, Zhu Ying never stepped in to stop him. Whenever Wu Ming twisted around and looked back, she could clearly see that his eyes remained as clear as ever, and that delight nearly spilled from his gaze.
The rough road had left not the slightest shadow on him. The hard cultivation Zhu Ying had insisted on hadn't left even a trace of bitterness. All along the way, Wu Ming had felt nothing but the joy of exploration.
Then a sudden realization rose in Zhu Ying's heart: she probably wasn't going to see him collapse from exhaustion.
All she could do was wait for Wu Ming to keep surpassing her expectations, wait for him to stumble past the milestone she had set twenty years ago and had been proud of ever since, and wait for the boy to cross the final mountain pass and reach the Sect Leader Temple...
By the time the temple's familiar, peeling paint finally came into view, the sunset had turned a deep blood-red. After walking for most of the day, Wu Ming could feel every limb and bone grow cold and numb. He was only able to keep going because, as a professional, his boundless desire to uncover the map and clear the fog of war kept him alive. It felt just like the good old days of pulling endless all-nighters to explore a new game.
Alas, all good things had to come to an end.
At that moment, Master Gu Bai sat on the threshold of the temple's main entrance, a little twig dangling from his mouth, his gaze as gentle as jade.
Wu Ming drew a deep breath and squeezed the last of his strength from his body. He hurried over and carefully presented the bundle in his hands.
"Master, here's your snack bundle. Please accept it and leave a like."
As Gu Bai reached out to take the bundle, Wu Ming felt one of the threads keeping his body going suddenly snap.
Fortunately, before the boy's body hit the ground, a strong arm caught him.
Gu Bai sighed and gently laid Wu Ming down on a cushion nearby. Without even lifting his head, he asked, "How do you think he did?"
After a long pause, a voice filled with frustration finally came from beside him.
"Master has keen eyes. I thought he'd make it only halfway at most... I never imagined he had that kind of perseverance."
Zhu Ying's face was utterly dejected. She clutched the two battered Spirit Talismans in her right hand, squeezing them so hard they were on the verge of cracking without her even realizing it.
She had planned to lead by example and appear when Wu Ming collapsed, using her own actions to teach him about the meaning of hard cultivation and perseverance. Who could have guessed that Wu Ming's stamina would be so absurd? Instead, she was the one who couldn't go on when she was only a tenth of the way from the finish, and had no choice but to remove the talismans.
She had beaten her personal record, but when it came to teaching by word and deed, she had lost to her own junior brother... What a disgrace.
Gu Bai chuckled. "Knowing something is not as good as loving it; loving it is not as good as delighting in it. When it comes to perseverance, hardly anyone among your peers can beat you. But for little Wu Ming, perseverance isn't what cultivation requires. You might think he's frivolous, and that even if he's happy for a while, he won't be laughing in the end. But those who can keep smiling along the path of cultivation are often the ones who smile to the end."
Zhu Ying pursed her lips. After a long silence, she nodded reluctantly.
Gu Bai asked again, "And what else?"
Zhu Ying replied solemnly, "I watched him the whole way. Wu Ming's Spirit Root aptitude is lacking, but his talent for body cultivation is excellent. If he hadn't been born in the countryside of Qiongzhou and gone without enough food and clothing as a child, his physical foundation alone might have carried him all the way along this mountain path... On the other hand, that means he's got a lot of ground to make up. And at his age, he's already starting body cultivation late. So I think the best introductory technique would be Root Stance. It can make up for his physical deficiencies while also somewhat compensating for his Spirit Root aptitude."
Gu Bai said, "You're the sect's eldest senior sister. I entrusted your junior brothers' and sisters' cultivation to you long ago. If you think Root Stance is best, then teach him Root Stance."
Zhu Ying relaxed a little, but still hesitated. "With his personality, I doubt he'll like such a clumsy technique."
Gu Bai shook his head with a smile. "Heh, not necessarily. People like him, who seem flighty but are pure of heart, often love clumsy techniques the most."
Zhu Ying still wasn't willing to admit it. "Pure of heart... Master, you rarely give anyone such high praise. Even Ling Xi only got 'nearly pure of heart, which benefits the Dao.'"
Gu Bai smiled again. "Everyone has different strengths. For Wu Ming, isn't your Spirit Root aptitude something to envy?"
Zhu Ying's elegant brows drew together. "I'm not envious! I just can't understand it... Never mind. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you any longer, Master."
With that, Zhu Ying went over to Wu Ming and used a Lesser Origin Return Technique to wake him.
But as she watched the boy whom Master had called pure of heart slowly wake and rub his eyes as he sat up, a mischievous impulse to test him suddenly stirred in Zhu Ying's heart.
She slowly schooled her expression into a cold mask and looked down at Wu Ming. "Now that you're awake, stop dawdling. Today's cultivation isn't over yet. You still have to walk all the way back."
The moment she said it, Zhu Ying's face flushed. She was stern by nature, but there was always a reason for it. This was the first time in her life she had gone looking for trouble for no reason... She was ashamed of herself.
Still, to test the mettle of her little junior brother, occasionally playing the villain was part of a senior sister's duty!
Fortunately, the sunset was shining on her face, so no one could see her true expression... Zhu Ying drew a quiet breath, lowered her gaze, and watched Wu Ming's reaction.
People only showed their true nature when faced with setbacks. And the real setbacks were often not insurmountable mountains or bottlenecks that couldn't be overcome... They were the naked, malicious obstructions of one's own kind, or something close to it.
Wu Ming had already far exceeded everyone's expectations on the way from Xianyun Abode to the Sect Leader Temple. Asking him to turn around and walk all the way back was practically impossible. And considering how late it was, walking the mountain path at night would be extremely dangerous... Zhu Ying was sure she'd been malicious enough, and convincing enough.
So, faced with his senior sister's malicious demand, could Wu Ming still remain "pure of heart"?
Would he immediately challenge her? Turn to Master and complain? Drag his feet and do as he pleased behind her back? Or perhaps...
While all kinds of scenarios ran through Zhu Ying's mind, she suddenly heard a cheer.
"Really? I can do the map-running quest twice?!"
If his completely incomprehensible words were within expectations, then his cheerful tone made no sense at all! Why did he sound so happy!?
But he didn't just sound happy. He was genuinely delighted. As Zhu Ying watched in disbelief, Wu Ming sprang to his feet like a jack-in-the-box. Muttering incomprehensible words under his breath, he bounced off down the mountain path toward Xianyun Abode!
Zhu Ying gaped for a long time. Only after the boy's back had faded from sight did she come to her senses and ask incredulously, "That counts as being pure of heart too!?"
Gu Bai couldn't hide his surprise either. "Well... I suppose it does... The mountain path is hard, but for him, it may actually be fun."
Zhu Ying couldn't believe it. "He can have fun doing this? Is there something wrong with his head?!"
Meanwhile, a voice only Wu Ming could hear echoed leisurely through his mind, then turned into invisible encouragement that let him push his body beyond its limits once more and keep walking.
[Completed the Yan Mountain Cross-Country Log. Received 20 Spirit Crystals as a creative incentive...]
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