Mingguang Palace was located at the peak of Qingxu Mountain. Standing at the palace gates, one could see the rolling hills and layers of mountain ranges stretching far into the distance.
When Su Luo Wei arrived, Zhan Xuehan was buried in paperwork. Noticing her presence, Zhan Xuehan casually tossed a jade slip from her desk to Su Luo Wei.
Holding the jade slip, Su Luo Wei injected a trace of spiritual energy into it and instantly understood its contents.
The jade slip contained information about a trial ground within Qingxu Sect, an ancient immortal's cave known as Shifang Blessed Land. The cave opened only once every sixty years. Recently, the guardian cultivators reported unusual phenomena outside the cave, indicating that it would likely open soon.
Zhan Xuehan explained, "This time, when Shifang Blessed Land opens, the sect plans to send thirty Foundation Establishment disciples inside. They will be divided into groups of ten, each led by a Golden Core cultivator, to undergo a three-month trial. The cave, left by an ancient immortal, is filled with rare treasures, making it a valuable opportunity."
After considering for a moment, Su Luo Wei asked, "Given that it's an ancient cave, it's likely filled with dangers. If so many Foundation Establishment disciples are entering, I'm concerned that even with a Golden Core cultivator leading them, it might be…"
"You need not worry," Zhan Xuehan interrupted. "As a trial ground, Shifang Blessed Land's traps and beasts were mostly dealt with by the sect's predecessors. Even if some danger remains, with a Golden Core cultivator leading the way, the Foundation Establishment disciples should be safe. I called you here to ask if you're willing to enter Shifang Blessed Land."
Su Luo Wei naturally agreed.
Given its name as a "Blessed Land," the cave must be filled with abundant spiritual energy and rare herbs. With such an opportunity, Su Luo Wei was eager to improve herself.
"The trial roster for each peak will be finalized before Shifang Blessed Land opens. The sect elders have already checked it out; the cave will open next month."
Zhan Xuehan put down her brush and rubbed her temples before casually asking, "I heard there was some trouble with Yunfei today. She sent two disciples to the Disciplinary Hall, and one of them was Meng Shuying."
Since Zhan Xuehan already knew about it, Su Luo Wei didn't hide anything and straightforwardly recounted the events.
Zhan Xuehan wasn't surprised when she heard that Su Luo Wei had expelled the Qionghua Peak disciple from the sect. Instead, she praised her, "You handled it well. Rules are rules. If we let this slide today, tomorrow there will be others lining up at Yunfei's door with various excuses to request pills."
Pills were hard to come by. Even the ones Zhan Xuehan had given Su Luo Wei were exchanged for using her personal collection with Yunfei.
If people could ignore sect rules and steal pills just because they had a sob story, the entire Qingxu Sect would descend into chaos.
"I was just doing my duty," Su Luo Wei replied calmly.
Zhan Xuehan smiled and then asked, "It seems Meng Shuying hasn't reached Foundation Establishment yet. If she remains in seclusion for another month, she might miss the opening of Shifang Blessed Land next month."
"She'll be ready. Her cultivation is already sufficient; she can reach Foundation Establishment at any time."
"Are you planning to oversee her Foundation Establishment?" Zhan Xuehan frowned slightly, thinking of the rumors circulating at Qionghua Peak.
"Since she is now a disciple of Qionghua Peak, it would be best for you to keep your distance."
When Zhan Xuehan chose Wen Miaomiao as her disciple, Min Lanmeng was displeased, and Meng Shuying was ostracized at Qionghua Peak. Fortunately, Meng Shuying kept a low profile and rarely appeared before Min Lanmeng, eventually fading from her mind.
The disciples at Qionghua Peak were perceptive, and seeing that the peak master didn't care about Meng Shuying, they treated her harshly.
Moreover, Meng Shuying often sneaked off to Yanmo Peak, which further lowered her status in the eyes of her peers at Qionghua Peak.
For Meng Shuying, getting too close to Su Luo Wei was not in her best interest.
While Zhan Xuehan didn't explicitly state this, Su Luo Wei was perceptive and quickly understood her meaning.
After a moment of silence, Su Luo Wei quietly replied, "I understand."
After a brief pause, she added, "Once she reaches Foundation Establishment, I will distance myself from her."
As a marginal figure at Qionghua Peak, Meng Shuying lived in an undesirable area. However, Meng Shuying was quite content with it.
It was peaceful and close to the mountain's base, making it convenient for her to avoid others and sneak off to Yanmo Peak.
Meng Shuying closed the door to her quarters and retrieved a new robe from her wardrobe. Standing before a mirror, she slowly removed her clothing.
As she shed her white inner robe, large swathes of pale skin were revealed, as white and lustrous as blooming flowers in the night.
But amidst the pale skin was a conspicuous scar.
Meng Shuying leaned closer to the mirror, turning her body to examine the scar.
It was a whip mark, thin yet spanning most of her back, running from her right shoulder down to her left waist.
The whip that struck her was thin, but the pain it inflicted was excruciating, even through clothing.
She had originally had two scars on her face as well, but luckily those had faded in the past few days. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known how to explain them to her Senior Sister.
This was also why Meng Shuying had been avoiding Su Luo Wei since she came out of seclusion.
Meng Shuying raised her hand and lightly touched the scar on her shoulder, a hint of mockery in her eyes.
She had told Xie Hanzhu that she was doing well.
Such a poor lie, and only Xie Hanzhu would believe it.
This whip mark was left by Min Lanmeng.
Min Lanmeng had summoned Meng Shuying and viciously whipped her after hearing about Su Luo Wei's successful formation of a Golden Core, venting her frustration.
Meng Shuying looked up at her reflection in the mirror.
The person in the mirror had a cold, fierce expression, her eyes filled with icy resentment.
If the day ever came when she had enough power, she would make sure to repay all the suffering she had endured.
But.
When she thought of her Senior Sister, her expression softened, and the harshness in her aura melted away like snow.
Her Senior Sister wouldn't like someone with such a dark and vengeful nature.
Her Senior Sister preferred someone pure and kind, like Wen Miaomiao.
When Meng Shuying reached Foundation Establishment, Su Luo Wei stayed by her side to protect her.
Unlike forming a Golden Core, which involved sudden enlightenment, Foundation Establishment was a lengthy process.
Only by purging one's mortal bones could one establish a foundation.
Before Foundation Establishment, the spiritual energy accumulated through cultivation was stored in a cultivator's flesh and blood. Establishing a foundation required using that energy to refine oneself, purging all mortal impurities, and only then could the spiritual sea be opened and the foundation successfully established.
Su Luo Wei stood by Meng Shuying's side, watching as spiritual energy swirled around her, forming several vortexes. She glanced at the sky and made a hand seal, placing another layer of concealment around the area.
"It's almost done. She's only establishing a foundation, so the spiritual energy fluctuations aren't that strong. There's no need to be so cautious," Xiao Ba remarked, then added with a hint of jealousy, "You didn't seem this worried when Wen Miaomiao was establishing her foundation. Why are you so concerned about Meng Shuying?"
To Xiao Ba, Wen Miaomiao was clearly more likable than Meng Shuying.
It couldn't understand why Su Luo Wei seemed to focus on Meng Shuying, neglecting the opportunity to form a strong connection with the clearly advantageous Wen Miaomiao.
"It's different. When Wen Miaomiao was establishing her foundation, the Sect Master was there to protect her, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach. Meng Shuying only has me, so of course, I'm more concerned."
"That's a dangerous mindset," Xiao Ba said seriously. "Before, you could justify protecting Meng Shuying as treating her like a servant, to deceive the system by claiming that even a dog gets protection based on its owner. But now that she's reached Foundation Establishment, things are different, and this approach won't work anymore."
"I know," Su Luo Wei replied calmly.
From the beginning, her goal had always been to complete the mission and return home as soon as possible.
It was because she knew that she would have to do many things against her conscience in the future that she wanted to provide Meng Shuying with some warmth while she could.
While she was still young, defenseless, and had yet to fully understand the harshness of the world.
To embrace her, offer her shelter, and treat her with kindness.
But Su Luo Wei was also acutely aware that she couldn't protect her for long.
If she wanted to return home, she had to complete her mission, which meant pushing the plot forward.
Even if completing the mission might end up hurting Meng Shuying in the process.
Su Luo Wei lowered her eyes, hiding the guilt that flickered within them.
"Once she establishes her foundation, I'll stop getting involved."
It took Meng Shuying seven days to successfully establish her foundation.
On the morning of the seventh day, she opened her eyes from meditation and saw Su Luo Wei sitting cross-legged opposite her, her eyes slightly closed, breathing evenly, as if she had become one with the world.
Despite the excruciating pain she had just endured, seeing her Senior Sister upon opening her eyes brought a deep sense of peace to Meng Shuying.
"Senior Sister…" she whispered.
Su Luo Wei immediately opened her eyes. Seeing that Meng Shuying had awakened from her meditation, her eyes softened with a smile, and she asked, "Did you succeed in establishing your foundation?"
Meng Shuying didn't respond verbally. Instead, she connected with the surrounding spiritual energy through her newly formed spiritual sea, shaping it into a transparent little bird that perched on Su Luo Wei's shoulder. The bird, full of life, stretched its neck as if trying to nuzzle Su Luo Wei's chin.
To be so adept at manipulating spiritual energy right after establishing a foundation was impressive.
It was worth noting that many disciples who had been at Foundation Establishment for some time were not as skilled in spiritual energy control as she was.
Su Luo Wei's eyes showed a hint of approval. She raised her hand, letting the spirit bird hop onto her finger, and said to Meng Shuying, "Very good. The Shifang Blessed Land will open at the end of the month, and you should be eligible to go."
"What kind of place is that? Will you be going too, Senior Sister?"
"It's a trial ground, and yes, I will be going."
"Then I'll go too," Meng Shuying declared without hesitation. "If Senior Sister goes, I'll go too."
The spirit bird puffed out its chest and chirped at Su Luo Wei, as if echoing its master's words.
Su Luo Wei, amused, stroked the spirit bird's cheek and head with her finger, just as she used to tease Xuan Feng. The bird immediately melted into a puddle in her hand, its tiny beak nuzzling her.
"Whether or not you can go isn't up to us. Shifang Blessed Land has ten spots for Qionghua Peak, and you'll need your master's approval to go."
Hearing Min Lanmeng's name, Meng Shuying's brows furrowed slightly, but she quickly masked her emotions. After a moment's thought, she said, "Given the current generation at Qionghua Peak, there are no exceptional talents. I should have a spot."
Without Wen Miaomiao's exceptional achievements overshadowing her, Meng Shuying's accomplishment of reaching Foundation Establishment in three years was quite impressive.
Unfortunately, Wen Miaomiao had caused a sensation in the sect by reaching Foundation Establishment in under two years, significantly raising the bar for what was considered exceptional talent.
In her shadow, Meng Shuying's three-year journey to Foundation Establishment seemed less remarkable.
When Meng Shuying returned to Qionghua Peak after her confinement, news quickly spread among the disciples that she had reached Foundation Establishment. It wasn't long before this news reached Min Lanmeng.
Min Lanmeng reclined on her couch, gently fanning herself, the air filled with a delicate fragrance. Upon hearing the news, her beautiful eyes showed no surprise, as if she had anticipated this outcome.
After dismissing the servants, Min Lanmeng tapped her fan lightly on her leg, prompting Yu Qing, who had been standing by her side, to kneel and begin massaging her legs.
"I told you she had potential," Min Lanmeng said with a light laugh, her dimples deepening with a charming smile.
"She may not be as talented as Wen Miaomiao, but… she's better than you lot of worthless fools." Her tone was playful, but her words were anything but kind.
"You're always right, Master," Yu Qing replied, lowering her eyes, seemingly unfazed by the insult.
Min Lanmeng glanced at her, noticing the sincerity in her expression. She used her lacquered nails to tug at Yu Qing's collar, pulling her onto the couch.
"Are you jealous, little Yu Qing?" Min Lanmeng teased, tapping Yu Qing's lips with her fingertip.
Yu Qing's lips, devoid of any makeup, were dry and tender.
"As long as you behave…" Min Lanmeng whispered.
She slid her hand down to her waist, and with a slight tug, the loosely tied gown slipped off entirely.
Grabbing Yu Qing's hair with her fingers, Min Lanmeng gently pressed her head down until Yu Qing's nose was buried in her chest.
"As long as you behave, you'll remain my favorite disciple, and no one will take your place…"
The scent of powder and perfume was overwhelming.
Yu Qing closed her eyes, hiding the disgust that threatened to show.