Ji Wushuang gazed at the youth before her, her expression complex, leaving Lian Yuan uneasy as chills crept up his spine.
"W-What's wrong, Junior Sister?" he asked nervously.
Ji Wushuang shook her head, releasing Lian Yuan before turning her attention to Lu Xingzhou.
Lu Xingzhou's lips twitched, resigned to offering a handshake.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Lu Xingzhou."
The celestial diagram reactivated, unveiling a future for Lu Xingzhou no brighter than Lian Yuan's—a destiny intertwined with tragedy.
Twin fates.
A life destined for smooth cultivation.
A life abruptly cut short.
How soon?
Two years later.
Two years hence, Lu Xingzhou ventured into a sacred inheritance site of a great sword cultivator. After immense trials and the near-separation of his soul, he deciphered every challenge in the legacy.
Yet, as he drew the inheritance into his spiritual sea, a woman appeared beside his physical body, casually patting his shoulder.
The power of the inheritance imploded, backfiring and leaving Lu Xingzhou a fool.
The explosive energy settled, becoming tame, and in a twist of fate, it was absorbed by the woman who had coincidentally "touched" Lu Xingzhou at the critical moment.
The fortuitous inheritance expanded her spiritual consciousness tenfold, propelling her from an above-average talent to an unparalleled prodigy.
Indeed, Lu Xingzhou was nothing more than a tool.
The cruelest irony was that the woman claimed she had no idea why Lu Xingzhou had become a fool but vowed to care for him for life, given their shared sect.
Praised for her "Bodhisattva heart," no one suspected she had stolen Lu Xingzhou's fortune and reduced him to his pitiable state.
Even the celestial diagram seemed to chuckle darkly at the Sword Sovereign lineage's endless string of ill-fated victims.
Ji Wushuang was speechless.
In both celestial visions, the woman's features remained indistinct, leaving Ji Wushuang powerless to eliminate her in advance.
What could she do?
As she pondered, a hesitant voice broke the silence. "Um… Junior Sister, could you… let go of me now?"
Startled, Ji Wushuang realized she was still holding onto someone.
She glanced up to find Lu Xingzhou's chiseled features tinged red, his deep eyes shimmering like rippling water—strangely reminiscent of a flustered maiden.
Unperturbed, Ji Wushuang released her grip. Mo Lanyi whispered lowly, "Junior Sister, though we cultivators aren't bound by worldly decorum, if you're that fond of the senior brothers, perhaps refrain from clinging to them—especially in front of other sect leaders. Don't bring shame upon Yunlan Sect."
Mo Lanyi's furrowed brow and earnest tone stood in sharp contrast to Ji Wushuang's indifferent demeanor.
This disparity only deepened Lu Xingzhou and Lian Yuan's belief that Ji Wushuang's earlier remark about "misfortune" was mere deflection.
Clearly, she was taking advantage of them.
Though they weren't inclined to argue over such matters, something about it still felt off.
Ji Wushuang inwardly scoffed, knowing explanations would be futile. She could only reveal her true identity to the sect master once the test concluded.
Nodding at the two, she returned to Lian Xing's side, muttering under her breath as she climbed up to her seat. Why must the sect master's seat be placed so high?
Short arms and legs made the ascent no easy feat.
Finally back beside Lian Xing, she was greeted with a conspiratorial whisper. "My little disciple, what do you think of my nephew, Lian Yuan? If you fancy him, I'll let you have him to play with."
Ji Wushuang: "..."
Is he your nephew or a pet dog you're offering?
The subsequent testing proceeded smoothly, revealing talents ranging from single to dual spiritual roots, with varying levels of purity. However, no other mutated or special spiritual roots appeared.
Each peak master left with promising disciples, spirits high.
Before departing, Xiao Chen handed Ji Wushuang a token with a smile. "Little one, your talent is remarkable. If Lian Xing's lineage proves insufficient to teach you, come to Fengxuan Sect."
Though Fengxuan Sect wasn't among the sects her masters had mentioned, the possibility of a name change over time couldn't be dismissed.
With Yunlan Sect matters resolved, perhaps a visit was in order.
With that thought, Ji Wushuang accepted the token.
Lian Xing: "..."
His heart nearly gave out.
Am I not a good enough master? Why accept that scoundrel's token?!
After stowing the token, Ji Wushuang adopted a solemn expression. "Sect Master Lian, I need to discuss the matter of returning my elder to Yunlan Sect."
Lian Xing nodded eagerly. "Which peak is your elder from? I'll summon the peak master."
"That won't be necessary. Please follow me."
Amused by the tiny figure mimicking an adult's seriousness, Lian Xing waved his hand, using spiritual energy to lift her as he teleported to Zhu Xing Peak.
Zhu Xing Peak, Lian Xing's domain, boasted a main peak and eighty-eight auxiliary peaks.
Rumor had it that the main peak alone rivaled a small sect in scale, its vast expanse and dense spiritual energy inspiring envy.
Ji Wushuang carefully placed her backpack on a table, meticulously wiping away "dust" before unpacking its contents.
Though Zhu Xing Peak was spotless, she left nothing to chance.
Lian Xing's admiration deepened. Such respect for one's elders—this child was indeed filial.
Finally, Ji Wushuang produced a small toe bone, placing it reverently on the table.
Just as Lian Xing was about to speak, the world dimmed—
A terrifying pressure, vast and overwhelming, swept through the air, shaking Zhu Xing Peak's barriers with unrelenting force.
The spiritual energy surged like endless tidal waves, crashing relentlessly against the formation.
"Boom… Boom…"
Even Lian Xing found himself struggling to breathe, his spiritual energy boiling uncontrollably.
What in the heavens is happening?!
"Wushuang, come here quickly!" he shouted, desperate to shield her.
But Ji Wushuang's calm reply left him dumbfounded.
"Sit cross-legged, center your mind, breathe into your bones, hold your breath to cleanse your marrow, guide the spiritual energy to Jumen and circulate between Kui and Mao, funneling it to your crown."
Seeing Lian Xing frozen, she urged, "Hurry!"
Lian Xing complied, astonished as the turbulent spiritual energy gradually tamed itself, even loosening the bottleneck that had trapped him in the early Integration stage for two centuries.
Ecstatic, he nearly broke through prematurely, only for Ji Wushuang's sharp voice to rein him in.
"Focus! Center your mind!"
"Yes!"
Something in her authoritative tone compelled obedience.
When Lian Xing finally completed his cultivation, ten days had passed.
Inspecting himself, he was overjoyed to find only a minor opportunity separating him from the late Integration stage.
Opening his eyes, he saw his new disciple munching on an unidentifiable piece of meat with great relish.
Seeing him awake, Ji Wushuang hastily stuffed the remainder into her mouth. "Sect Master Lian, if you had stayed in meditation any longer, I would've starved."
Ji Wushuang, having yet to cultivate inedia, genuinely required sustenance.
Lian Xing scratched his head sheepishly. "Wushuang… what exactly happened?"
Only now did he realize the impossibility of Ji Wushuang being an ordinary child. Her seamless use of spiritual transmission during the Ascension Hall proceedings should have been a glaring clue.
Had she encountered some extraordinary fortune?
Ji Wushuang replied, "Please summon the elders beyond the peak's barrier."
Expanding his senses, Lian Xing was stunned to find the sect's ancestral elders—all of them—gathered outside Zhu Xing Peak.
The Yunlan Sect, as the foremost sect of Dongzhou in Tianlan Continent, had weathered countless calamities. Its profound heritage included Lian Xing himself, an Integration-stage cultivator, the renowned Yunlan Eighteen, and even a reclusive Mahayana grandmaster.
Yet today, all eighteen had returned.
Pale-faced, Lian Xing hastily lowered the barrier to welcome them.
"Disciple Lian Xing greets the esteemed elders."
But the Mahayana grandmaster ignored him entirely, his cloudy eyes scanning until they landed on a small toe bone resting on the table.
Instantly, his gaze sharpened, tears streaming as he forgot his dignity, rushing forward to cradle the relic in trembling hands.
"Ancestor… Ancestor… You have finally returned!"