Plan's First Step

"What? You want to travel through the Northwest Region?" Gongsun Lin sat on a stone bench in a courtyard, staring at the Pink-haired Girl before him in shock.

"Yes. After the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, I want to study at Jia Nan Academy. Please~?" Liuli smiled ingratiatingly, her voice soft and sweet, carrying a faint note of pleading.

"Hold on." Gongsun Lin waved to stop her from acting cute, coughed twice, and asked, "What's so good about Jia Nan Academy? Can't the Dou Saints in the clan teach you?"

"Those people are rigid as hell..." Liuli muttered quietly.

"What?"

"Nothing." The young girl gave an awkward smile. "Those elders can teach me a lot, but I want to experience school life, cultivate and get along with classmates. Being alone is very lonely."

Gongsun Lin tapped his fingers against the stone table as he considered it. "You could attend an academy among the clan's Descendant People. The teachers and headmasters there are all Dou Zongs, far better than that academy founded by the Lei Clan brat."

"Dad~, that's exactly where I want to go." Liuli began acting coquettishly again.

"It's not that I don't want to let you go. As my daughter, you'll inherit my position in the future. If something happens to you out there, what am I supposed to do? Ever since the Xiao Clan was destroyed a thousand years ago, the Dou Qi Continent has gradually become unstable. I don't want anything to happen to you." Gongsun Lin reached out and stroked Liuli's head, speaking earnestly.

Liuli raised her head and looked straight at her father. "I know all that. But tell me, since I began cultivating until now, what's the farthest place I've ever been?"

"This..." Gongsun Lin found himself at a loss.

"The Seven Peaks, Jian City, Myriad Sword Pavilion—they're all just places within our own clan. The only time I ever went out was twelve years ago, to attend the Ancient Clan Young Miss's first birthday celebration."

"Yes, my cultivation has improved quickly, and there are hardly any signs of unstable Dou Qi. Nothing has gone wrong in my cultivation. But isn't all of this too smooth? There have been no ups and downs, no hardships, no experience. I haven't even seen blood. Tell me, wouldn't someone like that, no matter how strong she became, be nothing more than an embroidery needle in the end?"

Seeing Gongsun Lin's slightly dazed expression, Liuli let out a light breath and continued, "Even if I become a strong individual in the future, apart from cultivation, I won't know anything. I won't understand people's hearts, strategies, or the situation of the world. How would I be any different from a flower in a greenhouse?"

"This... I hadn't considered things thoroughly enough." Gongsun Lin understood her point. He patted the young girl's head and rose to his feet. "I agree, but your mom..."

"I'll talk to her! As long as Dad agrees, that's enough! Help me persuade Grandpa Sanbu too, okay?" Liuli was overjoyed. Her previous calm and mature appearance vanished completely as she ran off with a grin.

"Ah..." Gongsun Lin watched her leave, then turned to look at the mountains beyond the pavilion.

An Old Man in white robes appeared behind him. It was Gongsun Sanbu.

"You're really letting the little girl go?" Gongsun Sanbu stroked his white beard.

"Let her go out and gain some experience. It's a good thing. The situation isn't chaotic yet, and the Northwest Region she chose is fairly peaceful. The people there aren't very strong either, so she has the ability to protect herself."

"She's so reckless. Who knows what kind of trouble she might cause." Gongsun Sanbu sighed.

"Let her cause trouble! It'd be best if she made trouble and made a name for herself! A genius of my Sword Clan can't live her life in obscurity. If she causes minor trouble, she can solve it herself. If she causes major trouble, we'll cover for her. On this Dou Qi Continent, there's no one my Sword Clan can't afford to offend!" Having thought it through, Gongsun Lin became much more open-minded as he laughed.

Looking at the small sun slowly setting in the distance, he narrowed his eyes and said faintly, "As long as they don't make any major moves over there."

Six months later

The Sword Clan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony, held once every fifteen years, arrived as scheduled. As one of the top representatives of the Dou Qi Continent, the grand ceremony naturally invited powerful factions from all sides to observe. Thus, Jian City, once peaceful and tranquil, had become exceptionally lively.

At the center of Jian City stood a massive floating circular plaza, surrounded by ten arc-shaped viewing platforms filled with people. A huge Stone Platform, twenty zhang tall, had been erected in the previously empty plaza. At its center stood a gigantic Stone Sword. The portion exposed above the platform alone was ten zhang tall.

Below the Stone Sword stood three Old Men, led by Gongsun Sanbu.

"The time has come. The first ceremony, the granting of Clan Marks, begins!" Gongsun Sanbu held an ornate short sword and lightly carved a Sword Mark beneath the Stone Sword.

"Buzz..."

As the Sword Mark was carved, the enormous Stone Sword began to tremble as though it were alive. White light radiated from its blade, and an ancient, majestic aura spread in all directions.

The light began to gather, eventually forming an illusory three-foot sword before the giant sword. It was exceedingly ordinary, like a miniature version of the Stone Sword, yet it exuded immense pressure.

"First, Gongsun Ning!" Gongsun Sanbu called out. His voice was not loud, yet everyone present heard him clearly.

A twenty-year-old Young Man descended from the viewing platform and slowly walked before the three Old Men, bowing respectfully to each of them.

"Place your hand on the hilt," Gongsun Sanbu said sternly.

Gongsun Ning nodded. He walked before the illusory sword, lightly gripped its hilt, and closed his eyes.

Boom! A massive golden Light Pillar rose from the giant sword, shooting straight into the sky before vanishing into the Sea of Clouds that perpetually gathered above Jian City.

"Gongsun Ning, twenty-seven years old, Two-Star Dou Zong, Sixth-grade Bloodline. Granted the Golden Sword Clan Mark." Gongsun Sanbu raised his short sword and formed a simplified golden Sword Mark in the air before him. The Sword Mark floated forward before finally settling on Gongsun Ning's forehead and slowly merging into it.

The huge golden Light Pillar gradually dissipated, ultimately leaving behind a streak of golden light that shot straight into the Sword Mark on Gongsun Ning's forehead and merged with it.

Gongsun Ning opened his eyes, delight on his face. Releasing the hilt, he hurriedly bowed to Gongsun Sanbu. "Thank you, Elder Sanbu."

Gongsun Sanbu nodded expressionlessly and flicked his sleeve, signaling for him to leave.

Only after Gongsun Ning flew back to the viewing platform did he continue, "Second, Gongsun Shangxiang!"

Liuli sat alone at the edge of a viewing platform, resting her cheek on one hand as she watched the ceremony below with some boredom. More than three hundred people would be tested during this Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and she was fairly far back in the order. The Clan Mark granting ceremony did not mean much to her anyway.

She had heard Gongsun Lin say that she seemed to have possessed her Clan Mark from birth, and that its rank was extremely high. That indicated the Dou Di bloodline within her was exceptionally dense.

"Transmigrators are supposed to have some kind of cheat, aren't they?" the young girl muttered matter-of-factly.

"One hundred and thirty-fourth, Gongsun Lan!"

"Hm?" Liuli was drawn by the call and looked toward the platform below. A yellow-haired Young Man appeared before Gongsun Sanbu and gave him a slight bow.

He wore plain clothes and had an elegant, handsome face, carrying a scholarly air.

Gongsun Sanbu nodded and said sternly as before, "Place your hand on the hilt."

Gongsun Lan stepped forward and lightly grasped the hilt.

Boom! A massive Purple-gold Light Pillar shot into the sky. In an instant, clear and ethereal sword chimes echoed melodiously throughout the plaza.

Gongsun Sanbu nodded, drew in a quiet breath, and slowly announced, "Gongsun Lan, twenty-five years old, One-Star Dou Venerate, Ninth-grade bloodline. Granted the Purple Gold Clan Mark!"

"Pretty impressive." Liuli raised a brow. A twenty-six-year-old Dou Venerate was considered a top-tier genius throughout the Dou Qi Continent. Becoming a Dou Saint in the future would pose no problem at all.

Oh, his father seemed to be a Dou Saint too—the master of Chixiao Peak, Gongsun Huayu. He was sitting over on the main viewing platform.

Gongsun Sanbu granted the Purple Gold Clan Mark to Gongsun Lan. The purple Light Pillar faded, and a streak of purple light entered his forehead.

Once everything was finished, Gongsun Sanbu waved his sleeve and said, "You may leave."

Gongsun Lan did not leave. Instead, he swept his gaze around before finally stopping on the Pink-haired Girl at the edge of the smallest viewing platform.

"Elder Sanbu, may I say something?" Gongsun Lan asked politely.

Gongsun Sanbu frowned slightly, but he did not refuse. He nodded.

Gongsun Lan smiled, then looked directly at the Pink-haired Girl on the platform and slowly said, "I, Gongsun Lan, hereby ask for Young Miss Gongsun Liuli's hand in marriage!"

Liuli, who had been casually watching the drama from the platform, was instantly dumbfounded.

A marriage proposal? Come on, you're already ten years older than me. I could call you Uncle, okay?