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In just half a year, Flame Hall had gone from the foremost Sect to an obscure presence on the sidelines.

The person in charge of Flame Hall's delegation this time was the First Elder.

Huo Fei had not appeared in public for many years.

As far as everyone else was concerned, Huo Fei was too ashamed to show her face.

But judging by that voice...

What did it mean?

Could there be more to what had happened back then?

Though nothing the voice had said was wrong, everyone despised Huo Fei too much to hear a word in her defense.

Every Sect present had lost powerful members in that war between immortals and demons. Whatever the circumstances, Huo Fei was far from innocent.

The Five Elements Sect Master immediately frowned and clasped his hands toward the Spirit Sword Sect Master from afar.

"Sect Master Jiang, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."

As he spoke, his meaningful gaze swept over Li Zi. "Sect Master Jiang, that disciple of yours is still young. You should tell her about the taboos of the major sects, lest she make a fool of herself."

After the Five Elements Sect Master left, the other major sects departed one after another.

Li Zi was still asking about the Flame Hall Master in her mind.

[System, the Flame Hall Master didn't come today, did she? Everyone over there is a man.]

The system replied, [That's right. The Flame Hall Master hasn't shown herself in years. She's developed depression and nearly passed away, all because she feels guilty about what happened back then. The man she loved set her up too. She's quite pitiful.]

The people from Flame Hall, who had been about to leave, could not help looking at Li Zi a few more times.

For years, Flame Hall had been the target of everyone's arrows. This was the first time anyone had called their master pitiful.

Set up by the man she loved...

They all knew the truth, and they had willingly borne the consequences.

But after so many years, any explanation would ring hollow, so they had chosen to keep silent.

The Sect Master sensed the increasingly uncertain looks the other sects were casting their way and hurried to interrupt Li Zi's thoughts.

"Li Zi, we've got the top-grade Marrow-Washing Pill. Once we return to the Sect, you should enter seclusion."

Sure enough, at the mention of the Marrow-Washing Pill, Li Zi forgot all about the gossip.

Her eyes lit up. "Martial Uncle, you're amazing! You got me such a rare Medicinal Pill so easily."

After all, the supporting female character in the original story had survived nine deaths to obtain a Marrow-Washing Pill from a Secret Realm.

Yet Li Zi had only tagged along with her martial uncle for an outing, and now she had one!

The praise warmed the Sect Master's heart. The corners of his mouth lifted as he tossed the porcelain bottle to Li Zi.

"When we get back, focus on cultivation. Don't fill your head with nonsense."

Li Zi nodded vigorously.

She only indulged in gossip inside her head anyway. No one but her knew about it.

On the way back, the Sect Master deliberately brought up those matters with Li Zi to keep her from mentioning people everyone avoided.

In the sweltering summer heat, the group stopped to rest in a small town nestled between mountains and water.

They sat in a teahouse.

"Xiao Zi," the Sect Master said earnestly, "you're a cultivator now, so I should tell you about some people everyone avoids discussing. They're taboo in all the major sects. You must never bring them up."

Li Zi was savoring tea brewed from Mystic Mist Leaf.

At his words, her ears pricked up and her bright eyes sparkled. "Martial Uncle, who are these taboo people?"

[Of course I won't mention them to outsiders. I'll just enjoy the gossip with the system. System, look them up for me.]

The system answered eagerly, [You got it, Host! The Cultivation World has way more gossip than any mortal palace. I've saved up quite a few points too. In a few days, I can exchange them for a Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart for you. Then you can do two things at once: enjoy gossip while you cultivate. What a treat!]

Li Zi was delighted.

[System, you're my precious treasure.]

The Sect Master's face darkened. He added, "Not only must you never bring them up, you mustn't even think about them!"

Li Zi's lively thoughts stopped at once.

She blinked. "I definitely won't."

[No one would know anyway.]

The Sect Master rubbed his brow.

He was helpless.

"In today's Cultivation World, there are four people you must never mention: Flame Hall Master Huo Fei, Demon Lord's Holy Son Si Yaoxie, the foremost Confucian cultivator Cang Qing, and Immortal Hàn Rì, the Demon-Refining Sect's ancestor."

[Host, gossip! So much gossip! Piles and piles of gossip!]

Before Li Zi could speak, the system was already clamoring.

All that gossip meant points!

Li Zi ignored the system, which had turned into a melon-field badger bouncing up and down, and took a sip of tea to suppress her excitement.

"Martial Uncle, what did they do? Why can't anyone mention them?"

The Sect Master's expression turned grave. "What these people did caused immense harm throughout the mortal world. Countless lives were lost at their hands, and they bear the weight of those killings. Remember this: you must never mention them in the future. You mustn't even think of them!"

Li Zi nodded obediently. "I understand, Martial Uncle."

But in her mind, she said, [System, hurry and look them up. What's the gossip on these people?]

The system said, [It'll scare you out of your wits! They're the true leading lady and leading man. In nearly a million years of cultivation history, Immortal Hàn Rì was the first woman to pass her tribulation and ascend to immortality. She and the Demon Lord's Holy Son, Si Yaoxie, even had a love story that moved heaven and earth.]

Li Zi rolled her eyes inwardly. [But from what Martial Uncle said, none of them sound like good people. They've killed a lot of people.]

The system hesitated. [They're hard to judge, actually. They aren't entirely good, but they aren't evil either. Huo Fei, though, really is a sweet, innocent fool. Do you want to hear her story?]

Li Zi grew excited. [Tell me!]

The other Sect members at the table: "..."

The Sect Master asked quietly, "Little Zi, what are you thinking about?"

Li Zi snapped back to herself and took another sip of tea to cover it.

Rankings

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Transmigration into a Book

Supporting Female Character Stories

Immortal Fantasy

Cannon Fodder