Shixian? The Shixian Who Said, "You're So Flirty"?

[But you'll awaken the Myriad Flower Divine Bone later. You'll probably need to cleanse your marrow first.]

[I can't get my hands on a marrow-cleansing pill. Don't forget, your host is flat broke. I think we'd have an easier time going to the mortal imperial palace and playing out a court-intrigue story. Anyway, we need to stay away from Ran Zirou. I'm not fighting a fool.]

Next, Li Zi began discussing with the system what they would have to do if they chose a household-intrigue story instead.

Up on the dais, the big shots were getting headaches from the two of them muttering away.

At last, the presiding martial uncle bellowed, "Silence!"

His voice rang like bells and drums, humming in their ears.

The disciples trembled with fright and hurriedly put away their weapons.

The solemn, commanding sect master rose to his feet.

"Elders, have any disciples caught your eye?"

[Host, I've got gossip!]

The sect master's voice faltered.

Ji Zheng, the eldest disciple, had just opened his mouth to whisper to the Fifth Elder. He closed it again and waited for the gossip.

[Just now, Ran Zirou threw herself into Ji Zheng's arms—that's the Fifth Elder's eldest disciple—and cried like pear blossoms drenched in rain. She melted that straight-laced man's heart in an instant. Ji Zheng is probably about to ask the Fifth Elder to take her as a personal disciple.]

Every elder's gaze swung toward Ji Zheng and the Fifth Elder.

Ji Zheng gave a strained laugh and scratched the back of his head.

"Well, Master, I think taking her in would just mean setting out another pair of chopsticks."

Li Zi clicked her tongue. [He's really taking her? This sect must be starving. It'll swallow anything.]

Everyone's faces darkened.

After that jab from Li Zi, they almost felt as if their sect really would swallow anything.

The system agreed. [Exactly. Look at the Medicine King Sect: they only take people with a talent for medicine and dual fire-and-wood spiritual roots. Flame Hall and Thunder God Hall only take people with single spiritual roots of their respective elements. At least they have standards. Our Spirit Sword Sect takes even the most useless mixed spiritual roots.]

Li Zi bristled. [I have mixed spiritual roots too.]

[You're different. You awaken a Divine Bone later. That's incredible. Ran Zirou just has a pretty face.]

Li Zi recalled the original story.

[No, she's not just pretty. She's got quite a mouth on her too. She can even force a kiss on a man. Ji Zheng gets kissed by her, then she lures him into bed for dual cultivation. Scary stuff.]

The system nodded. [Ji Zheng is Ran Zirou's first man. Soon after joining the sect, she lures him into bed. But Ji Zheng has an Extreme Yang Physique. If he masters the Blazing Flame Sword, he could even forge his own broad road to immortality.]

[And if he dual-cultivates with someone who has an Extreme Yin Physique, his cultivation speed would be astonishing. What a shame Ran Zirou ruins such a promising talent. Once he loses his primordial yang, his cultivation stagnates.]

System and host heaved a sigh together and observed a few seconds of silence for Ji Zheng.

Suddenly, the Fifth Elder stood and pointed across the hall toward Li Zi.

"Your name is Li Zi, isn't it? Come. Be my personal disciple."

It all matched.

Ji Zheng did indeed have an Extreme Yang Physique. Paired with fire-attribute swordsmanship, it let him cultivate at extraordinary speed. The Fifth Elder valued him highly as his eldest disciple; one day, Ji Zheng might become the sect's first ancestor to reach the Tribulation stage.

He said sternly to Ji Zheng, "Did you hear that? You could survive the tribulation and attain immortality! Don't destroy your Dao Path for a woman."

Ji Zheng was drenched in sweat.

He did feel some affection for Li Zi, but not enough to love her at the cost of his future.

"I will heed your teachings, Master."

He lowered his eyes and stood obediently beside his master, completely ignoring the coy looks Ran Zirou cast his way.

Meanwhile...

The Fifth Elder's words had thrown the entire gathering into an uproar.

Ran Zirou had been putting on an innocent act for Li Zi.

Looking pure and blameless, she said with concern, "Sister Li Zi, I truly didn't mean to look down on you. I just care about you so much. We're close, and I want you to join the sect. If you misunderstood me, then I'll apologize."

"I just met a senior brother. He said he could plead with his master to take me under an elder's wing. I could bring you in too..."

She was already certain she would become the Fifth Elder's disciple.

Her words carried more than a hint of boasting.

They drew envious looks from quite a few disciples.

But the moment the Fifth Elder spoke...

The smile visibly froze on her face.

What was going on?

He hadn't taken me as his disciple. He'd taken Li Zi?

Shixian? The Shixian Who Said, "You're So Flirty"?

Li Zi was dumbfounded too.

I was only here to make up the numbers!

How had I suddenly passed?

Was my court-intrigue plan dead before it even began?

Was the Fifth Elder all right?

The disciples stared at Li Zi, slack-jawed.

Li Zi had been right under their noses the whole time. She looked unremarkable, had hardly any spiritual energy, and was an utterly ordinary eight-year-old child.

No, why?

Why her?

Was there any reason for it?

Ran Zirou lost her composure. Pointing at Li Zi, she demanded, "She has mixed spiritual roots and hasn't even stepped through the gates of cultivation. Elder, why would you take her as your disciple?"

The Fifth Elder was a handsome, middle-aged man. Standing tall in his flowing robes, he spoke a few inscrutable words.

"A pearl buried in dust."

Tears welled in Ran Zirou's wide eyes, but the jealousy and resentment beneath them spoiled much of her pure, spotless appearance.

By the time anyone looked her way, she had hidden every feeling in her eyes, leaving only hurt and anger she dared not voice.

"Is she really a pearl? Elder, could you have been mistaken?"

The Fifth Elder's expression did not change, but his voice grew heavier.

"Are you saying these old eyes cannot see?"

As his words fell, Ran Zirou felt a crushing weight settle on her shoulders. Even the air around her seemed to squeeze her lungs.

She spat blood, her legs buckled, and she fell to her knees.

Rankings

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Transmigration into a Book

Supporting Female Character Stories

Xianxia Stories

Cannon Fodder