Chapter 1: Paper Crane Messenger

"Ling Tian, seven Foundation Building Pills per month, for three years your cultivation hasn't improved, according to the regulations, five will be deducted. Next!"

The disciples behind him immediately pushed Ling Tian aside: "Get out of the way, trash who couldn't advance even after three years at the sect. The Qi Condensing Pill is a waste on you!"

This remark immediately caused an uproar of laughter among the surrounding disciples. "Three years without any improvement, how is this waste still not kicked out of the sect?"

"It's said that his family is the Wucheng clan, and they can only stay in our Xingji Sect every year with a large sum of spirit stones. Otherwise, with his mediocre talent, he would have been kicked off the mountain long ago!"

"I see, no wonder he still has the face to stay in the sect."

The sneers around him, like shards of sharp blades, cut into Ling Tian's heart. When he first entered the sect, his cultivation and family background were unmatched. These outer disciples had never dared to look at him this way. It was a pity that things change. Three years had passed, and he hadn't made any progress. Could he blame these inner disciples for their fickleness?

Catching the pill thrown by the attendant, Ling Tian didn't say a word and walked out of the Wu Ge Dan Fang. It wasn't until he stepped outside and the sunlight hit his face that he let out a long sigh and looked around.

The third peak of Xingji Sect swayed, with clouds and mist swirling around it, looking like a fairyland. Who would have thought that such a magnificent and opulent place would be a world so brutal and unforgiving?

"Li Tian, Zhao Tu has arrived!" Hou Haidai, a chubby man, came over from the crowd and whispered to Li Tian.

Hou Hai and Ling Tian were both outer disciples. Hou Hai was very straightforward, and the two got along well on a daily basis.

Ling Tian followed Hou Hai's gesture and glanced over. He saw a young man in white robes leading his men, striding arrogantly into the square. Wherever they passed, the black-robed disciples of the outer sect all dodged out of their way, everyone as silent as a cicada.

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"Leave him alone!" A glint flashed in Ling Tian's slightly narrowed eyes, motioning to Hou Hai to leave the square.

Ling Tian and Zhao Tu had known each other for a long time, but back then, one was a disciple of the family and the other was a relative of the elders. When they met, they were still polite. But ever since Zhao Tu's cultivation reached the mid-stage of the Xiantian period and became a core disciple, he became more and more arrogant and domineering. Ling Tian looked down on this kind of person who bullied others with their power, and the two had no more gatherings.

Just as Ling Tian and Hou Hai were about to leave, a young man from Zhao Tu's side walked over and brazenly stood in front of Ling Tian: "Can I borrow some Zhuji Dan for a try?"

After finishing his words, he reached out to grab the medicine bottle from Ling Tian's hand without waiting for his reply.

Hou Hai pushed Nian away forcefully: "Who are you, and what makes you think you can borrow from me!"

He was pushed and stumbled, his face sinking. “You dare push me?”

Houdanghai grabbed Nian's collar and slapped him hard, making Nian stagger. "Little punk! You dare rob your fellow disciples under the daylight, I'm barely giving you a taste of your own medicine!"

Ling Tian pulled a furious Hou Hai Da, during this gap, Zhao Tu had already brought several years over.

"Ling Tian, you've grown bolder, daring to defy my men," Zhao Tu glared at his subordinates, letting out a cold snort.

Li Tian smiled faintly: "Zhao senior brother is busy, it's inevitable that you are not well disciplined. I just wanted to give you a lesson."

"A joke, my people, getting taught by you. What are we going to do about this?"

Ling Tian retracted his smile, "Zhao Senior Brother, what do you want to do?"

Zhao Tu let out a cold snort: "Fine, you're getting two Foundation Establishment Pills a month now. I don't want any more, just three months' worth of Foundation Establishment Pills as compensation."

Hou Haida was furious and shouted, "Zhao Tu, don't go too far!"

Ling Tian raised an eyebrow. Zhao Tu's move was truly ruthless. Without the foundation-building pill for three months, his cultivation would definitely be stagnant, and he would likely be expelled from the sect. However, there was one thing Ling Tian couldn't figure out: why did Zhao Tu suddenly target him?

Ling Tian held Hou Hai's shoulders and said in a low voice, "Zhao Tu, we are all from the same sect. I don't think I have ever offended you. Why do you want to make things difficult for me?"

Hearing Ling Tian's words, Zhao Tu burst into wild laughter: "Making things difficult on purpose? You dare!"

Zhao Tu's subordinates burst into laughter. "Someone who hasn't even reached the peak of the late stage after three years in the sect, dares to call himself a person?"

With such a character, you dare to challenge Senior Brother Zhao? You are truly clueless.

And Zhao Tu's board? A thought struck Ling Tian's heart, as if he understood the reason why Zhao Tu targeted him so much.

He didn't say a word, casually tossed the medicine bottle to Zhao Tu: "Zhao Tu, remember this, I will get my revenge someday!"

After finishing his words, he pulled Hou Hai towards the mountain.

Zhao Tu took the medicine, triumphantly saying to his attendant by his side: "This useless waste, I thought he would really dare to attack me!"

"Brother Zhao is brilliant and powerful. How dare this waste provoke him?"

……

Hou Haida listened to the laughter coming from behind and blushed, "Why didn't you fight Zhao Tu? The two of us together could at least put up a fight."

"Ling Tian sneered: "Since others have dug the pit, why should we foolishly jump in? Besides, my medicine, is it that delicious?"

and

Hou Hai's eyes lit up: "You gave him the Zhuki Dan?"

"Ling Tian smiled faintly: "That medicine is like the Foundation Establishment Pill, but it was customized by me when I went down the mountain. It contains laxatives! On a mountain like this, how can you survive without some precautions?"

Hou Haidao was stunned for a moment, then burst into wild laughter and walked towards the mountain cottage in front with Ling Tian.

The Xingji Sect has three peaks: Yu Heng, Kai, and Yao. The Yu Heng Peak is where the elders of the sect reside, the Kai Peak houses the sect's Holy Son, while the Yao Peak is where the outer and inner disciples live.

The inner disciples occupied the back mountain, which had a more abundant supply of spiritual energy. Each disciple had their own hut, while the outer disciples could only live in the front mountain. Although each outer disciple was given a house, the environment was far inferior to the meticulously arranged huts on the back mountain, which resembled those in a fairyland.

Upon arriving at their dwelling, Hou Haida suddenly stopped in his tracks, his expression grave. "Zhao Tu, although he is domineering and tyrannical, isn't a raving madman. This time, it seems he truly is targeting you."

Ling Tian nodded. "His subordinates said that I was at odds with him, most likely because of Mu Xue. Mu Xue also told me a few days ago that Zhao Tu has been pestering her lately."

"I see." Hou Haida suddenly understood.

Mu Xue, as mentioned by Ling Tian, hails from the prestigious Wu Cheng clan and possesses extraordinary talent. She joined the Xing Ji Sect soon after and quickly rose through the ranks as a core disciple. The Mu family and the Ling family share a close familial bond, and Ling Tian and Mu Xue have been childhood sweethearts, their relationship deeply affectionate. This, understandably, has caused Zhao Tu's displeasure.

After Hou Hai departed, Ling Tian returned to his former mountain dwelling. He took out the Qi-Building Pills he had brought from the alchemy room, but his heart grew heavier and heavier.

He and Mu Xue although close, but with Mu Xue's talent, she will likely soon become the sect's holy daughter, going to open a peak. By then, the two peaks will be separated, making it difficult to meet again.

What's the point of staying in Xingji Sect if Mu Xue isn't here?

Suddenly, a paper crane fluttered in from the window. Its eyes, dotted with vermilion, seemed to glimmer with life. It circled leisurely under the roof beams before settling gently before Ling Tian. On the back of the crane was a half-moon hall inscribed in small, gilded characters – the name of the best-selling fantasy novel published once a month.

In the Great Yue nation, there are nineteen cities across three continents. Each city has a branch of the "Half-Moon Hall," which sells legendary novels for leisure entertainment. A paper crane like this costs two spirit stones. Ordinary people can't afford it; only those wealthy young cultivators would buy it to read.

In the rare moments of leisure that Ling Tian found between his rigorous cultivation, there was only one thing besides Mu Xue's smile that could bring him solace: the legendary tales of the Half Moon Hall.

"Bang!"

Just as Ling Tian had the paper crane in his hand, before he could even open it, the door was suddenly flung open. A figure in red rushed in from outside, like a red whirlwind, stopping at his bedside.

Star Sect disciples typically wore white, but Mu Xue was different. She liked to wear red, like a blazing flame, as if she could burn the gazes that were cast upon her.

Her eyebrows were delicately drawn, her skin as white as snow, and her hair as black as ink. Especially those star-shaped eyes, so clear and bright. Right now, her pearly white teeth were gently biting down on a cherry-like lower lip, and an uncontainable anger was evident on her charmingly pretty face.

"Brother Tian, that bastard Zhao Tu bullied you today, didn't he? Tell me, this time I'll definitely beat him until his teeth are on the ground!" Looking at it like this, if Ling Tian nodded, Zhao Tu, who was previously arrogant and overbearing, would surely be beaten up badly.

Ling Tian chuckled bitterly and said, "It's fine, it's not a big deal anyway. I didn't lose out!"

"Give up?" A hint of disappointment flashed in Mu Xue's beautiful eyes. "Tian Ge, what's wrong with you? You once told me that martial arts and cultivation prioritize willpower, that we must forge ahead without hesitation, possess the courage to go all out even if it means facing ten opponents. But now, just Zhao Tu has made you so afraid. How can you ever cultivate the Dao in this way?"

Ling Tian was stunned. Even though his cultivation had stagnated, he couldn't let go of the pride in his heart and didn't want others to step up for him. However, Mu Xue saw this as cowardice and fearlessness.

When did the chasm between two people grow to this extent?

Mù Xuè's words came out too quickly, and as soon as she said them, she regretted it. However, she didn't want to apologize immediately, so the atmosphere became awkward.

Ling Tian fell silent for a long time before speaking in a deep voice, "Mu Xue, are you here today as a disciple to guide my cultivation?"

"Brother Tian...I..." Mu Xue was choked up and couldn't speak.

Li Tian wouldn't give him a chance to explain: "I am dull-witted and have no connection with the great dao. I would not burden you any further, please."

As soon as those words were spoken, tears welled up in Mu Xue's eyes. After a moment of silence, she retrieved a bottle of foundation-building pills from her storage ring and placed it on the table before turning and leaving.

Seeing Mù Xuè depart, Lìng Tiān felt every step he took was like stepping heavily on his heart, a pain he couldn't express. It was as if the child before him, after stepping out of this room, would soar like a dragon and from then on, they would be separated forever.

Instantly, Ling Tian was in excruciating pain, as if thousands of arrows pierced his heart, but he endured it without trying to hold onto her. He had already thought this through. For Mu Xue, the two were worlds apart. Dragging things on would only be an obstacle on their respective paths of cultivating immortality. A prompt separation was the best outcome for both of them.

Li Tian lowered his head and, with trembling fingers, picked up the paper crane. Over the "Half-Moon Hall" inscription, a sheet of water rippled like a mirror, sending circles outward from the paper crane and floating before him.

"Huh!"

When Li Tian looked at the words in the water mirror, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face.