Foundation Establishment

A crow flew past, and a splatter of bird droppings landed on Peak Master Yue's head.

Peak Master Yue felt a chill on top of his head. He reached up to touch it, and his vision went black.

"Ning Shuang, Qiaoqiao, you've gone too far... Ethereal Peak, this isn't over between us!!"

Leaving Moonlight Peak, Ning Shuang took Yue Tingxi and followed the elders who had gathered to watch the spectacle back to Ethereal Peak for the discipleship ceremony.

Qiaoqiao followed cheerfully behind, playing with a small mirror. The sect master had given it to her in private, saying it was her personal reward for her.

Intricate patterns were engraved around the mirror's edge, resembling some kind of incantation script. It looked ancient and mysterious, making one all the more curious about what it actually did.

The Flowing Cloud Sect Master had said mysteriously, "You'll find out on my birthday."

As she spoke, she winked at her, as though it were a little secret between the two of them.

When everyone reached Ethereal Peak, before they could head up the mountain, they saw a group of disciples waiting at its foot. The moment Qiaoqiao appeared, they surged forward and surrounded her.

"Junior Sister Qiao, we've come to honor our bets!"

Chapter 18: Foundation Establishment

A dense crowd blocked Qiaoqiao at the foot of the mountain. They were precisely the disciples who had bet against her on the Jade Slip Forum.

"Junior Sister Qiao, a bet's a bet. Here's a high-grade sword manual. It's yours!"

"Junior Sister Qiao, these are the ten thousand Spirit Stones I saved by scrimping on food and expenses."

"My three hundred..."

All sorts of Spirit Stones, Law Treasures, and secret manuals piled up in front of Qiaoqiao, soon forming a small mountain. Qiaoqiao blinked and remembered-these were the bets she had made with the others on the forum. Not a single person in the forum thread had thought she could pass the trial, and now they had all come to pay up.

She had staked the ten thousand Spirit Stones she earned from exposing Elder Chen and won the Law Treasures and Spirit Stones before her, worth more than ten times that amount. This time, she really had struck it rich!

[That's me for you!]

[Is this what it feels like to get rich overnight?]

Beside her, Shen Ji showed a faint trace of envy.

Probably only his junior sister could produce a result like this. Not just anyone could manage to fail the trial ten times...

After handing over their things, the disciples from the other peaks added, "Junior Sister Qiao, can we add you as a friend on our Jade Slips? We can discuss the way of the sword more in the future."

"Me too!"

"And me."

"Junior Sister Qiao, I have eight-pack abs, a luxurious cave abode, and a top-tier flying boat. Um... do you have a dao companion?"

Damn it, this fellow was so crafty! Did having a house and a vehicle make him so special?

But who wouldn't want to get on good terms with the Sword Immortal's successor?

Shen Ji's face darkened. He stepped in front of Qiaoqiao, his piercing presence forcing everyone to retreat a step in unison.

He said coldly, "Everyone, are you also planning to attend our newly admitted junior brother's discipleship ceremony?"

Everyone shook their heads repeatedly. Attending the ceremony meant giving a gift, and they had just emptied their entire fortunes. What did they have left to give?

And another thing-

Senior Brother Shen, all we wanted was to add your junior sister as a friend! Could you put down your sword before we talked?

[Wow, Eldest Senior Brother is so handsome!]

[One man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot break through!]

Shen Ji: ...

Was that how that phrase was supposed to be used?

Still, hearing Qiaoqiao praise him, the stern, upright senior brother could not help showing a hint of a smile.

After seeing off the disciples from the other peaks and heading up the mountain, they were met with one admiring look after another from their own peak's disciples. Every gaze focused on Qiaoqiao as they whispered among themselves-

"Junior Sister Qiao actually took first place in the trial. A true master really does hide her hand!"

"I heard Junior Sister only pretends not to work hard. She secretly swings her sword ten thousand times at night!"

"Our Ethereal Peak finally got to hold our heads high in this trial! When will I get a chance to meet the Sword Immortal too?"

"I hereby declare that Junior Sister Qiao is my idol from now on!"

Though Yue Tingxi was the one undergoing the discipleship ceremony, Qiaoqiao drew the most attention throughout. Even the elders pulled her aside to talk during the ceremony.

Yue Tingxi had no objections to this, however. He held his Jade Slip contentedly, having just added Qiaoqiao as a friend, and secretly labeled her [Junior Sister], then placed her in the [Closest Friends] group. She was the only one in it.

Putting away his Jade Slip, the white-haired youth gave a shy smile.

After the discipleship ceremony, Shen Ji led his junior sister up to the summit to pay their respects to Immortal Venerable Wanghan. Qiaoqiao had taken first place in this trial, so as her senior brother, he had fulfilled the trust placed in him and could report back to their master.

The white-robed Immortal Venerable stood before the window, one hand behind his back and the other hanging loosely at his side. His posture was relaxed, like a white plum blossom in early spring, his whole being exuding a cool, aloof, immortal air.

Still remembering her senior brother's earlier punishment, Qiaoqiao put in a good word for him to restore his standing in their master's eyes.

"Master, it was all thanks to Eldest Senior Brother's careful instruction that I took first place."

"Eldest Senior Brother is so good to me."

Hearing this, the Immortal Venerable glanced at his eldest disciple, and the chill around him deepened.

Shen Ji's heart tightened. Was his master still dissatisfied with him?

Qiaoqiao remained entirely oblivious to the subtle shift in the atmosphere. "Master, you must reward Senior Brother well."

Their master's presence seemed to grow even colder.

Shen Ji trembled. Now doesn't seem like the time to say that, Junior Sister.

Just as the surrounding atmosphere was about to freeze solid, the Immortal Venerable glanced at Qiaoqiao and said, "Well done."

Shen Ji: R-really?

Why does Master seem not particularly happy?

"Go choose a sword manual from the seventh floor of the library."

Delight immediately appeared on Shen Ji's face. "Thank you, Master!"

Their sword-obsessed eldest senior brother left in high spirits. Qiaoqiao moved up to her master. "Master, I got hurt during the trial."

Immortal Venerable Wanghan had a cold temperament, and his disciples held him in great awe. Only Qiaoqiao was unafraid of his deadly chill and even liked drawing close to him.

As soon as she approached, much of the chill surrounding the Immortal Venerable dissipated.

He raised his long lashes slightly and asked quietly, "Where were you hurt?"