Chapter 28: An Unyielding Dao Heart, An Irresistible Court Order

Shen Yingshu shook her head helplessly, but she did not disturb Jiang Youling's contemplation of the sword manual. She simply cleared the teacups from the table and silently returned to her room.

After finishing the *Fragmentary Manual of the Azure Nether Sword Art*, Jiang Youling indeed found it obscure and difficult to understand. The footwork and techniques mentioned within were far beyond the reach of a beginner.

It seemed that until she had read the *Introductory Explanations of Sword Moves* her senior brother mentioned, this *Fragmentary Manual of the Azure Nether Sword Art* would be of no use to her.

The sect's classics were all stored within the Scripture Pavilion. For a miscellaneous disciple to enter the pavilion, they needed to pay five spirit stones.

For disciples who had not yet reached the early stages of Qi Refinement, the monthly stipend was only one spirit stone.

To enter the Scripture Pavilion once, one had to save for five months.

Only those at the early stage of Qi Refinement received a monthly stipend of five stones, allowing them to easily gather the funds required for entry.

Presumably, the sect arranged it this way in hopes that those who had not yet broken through to Qi Refinement would focus solely on their cultivation.

Only after attaining a certain level of cultivation could one enter the Scripture Pavilion to contemplate the profound texts to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

After some thought, Jiang Youling put the fragmentary manual away and continued her meditation.

Jiang Youling closed her eyes and focused her mind, visualizing a heart-lamp as small as a bean. A tiny flame flickered to life at the Yunmen acupoint near her collarbone, slowly advancing toward the Tianfu acupoint on her upper arm.

The flame wavered like a dying candle, struggling to advance through the meridians, as if "carrying a candle through the night against the wind."

With every inch of progress, the flame was distorted and nearly extinguished by the invisible astral winds within the meridians, making it difficult to sustain.

It was also like "an autumn insect attempting to break through frozen soil"; just as it made a little progress, it would encounter heavy barriers within the meridians, like the thick ice of midwinter locking the earth, freezing the bean-sized flame and preventing it from advancing a single millimeter further.

Two full hours passed, and fine beads of sweat had broken out on her forehead, yet the Tianfu acupoint remained as unreachable as ever.

No wonder Shen Yingshu had said that even those with excellent talent would take at least six months to clear a single meridian.

Cultivation was truly not an achievement of a day or a night.

Jiang Youling sat in silence for a moment. Only when the bell signaling the end of the Hai hour rang did she cease her meditation and lie down to rest.

The next day, Jiang Youling arrived at the Ink Workshop on time. Just as she was about to slip quietly into the side hall as usual, a voice called out to her.

"Which one is Junior Sister Jiang Youling? Senior Sister Ruan requests your presence!"

Jiang Youling couldn't help but feel puzzled. Why was Senior Sister Ruan looking for her all of a sudden? Had she come up with some new way to deal with her?

Though she grumbled inwardly, she showed nothing on her face, merely following the messenger disciple to Senior Sister Ruan.

After dismissing the messenger, Ruan Ziqin looked at Jiang Youling, her expression turning complicated.

She had already heard about yesterday's events.

This Junior Sister Jiang was truly something; offending the Deacon Senior Brother wasn't enough, she actually dared to publicly refute a Master... she was simply too young.

Upon first entering the immortal sect, everyone claimed it was a place to feast on clouds and drink dew; only after living there long does one realize that only one or two out of ten are truly dedicated to pure cultivation, while the rest are merely engaged in petty schemes, gathering when there is profit and scattering when harm arrives.

Junior Sister's actions yesterday might have seemed like a grand display of brilliance, but in reality, she was destroying her own future!

As her thoughts drifted, Ruan Ziqin spoke.

"From this day forward, you no longer need to come to this Talisman Courtyard!"

Jiang Youling froze slightly, a flicker of panic rising in her heart, but she forcibly suppressed it.

"Is Senior Sister trying to drive me away? The three-month term has not yet expired; I'm afraid this does not follow the rules. I know you do not like me, but within the Taixuan Sect, all actions follow the *Mystic Gate Precepts*. May I ask, Senior Sister, which rule are you following by expelling me from the Talisman Courtyard today?"

Ruan Ziqin pretended not to hear the coldness and interrogation in the girl's voice, saying instead

"My apologies for not being clear. You are being promoted. Congratulations, Junior Sister, on catching Master Hong's eye. You are being transferred immediately to serve at Master Hong's cave dwelling."

Hearing this, Jiang Youling's brow furrowed even deeper. What was going on? Was this actually a transfer order issued by Master Hong?

Was it because of the words she had used to debate him in the Hall of Inquiry yesterday?

A faint sense of annoyance, along with a trace of inexplicable grievance, rose in Jiang Youling's heart.

Was Master Hong, a dignified Foundation Establishment expert, truly so narrow-minded? Just because of a discussion on the Dao, he would target her like this...

Yet, if yesterday happened again, she would still make the same choice.

After standing still for a moment to digest the news, Jiang Youling accepted the transfer order and prepared to leave, only to hear Senior Sister Ruan whisper a warning.

"Junior Sister Jiang, take my advice: once you go to the Master, endure everything and swallow your pride. Do not try to stand out or be a thorn in his side again. Once the Master's anger subsides, he will naturally stop holding a grudge against a mere miscellaneous disciple like you."

Jiang Youling remained silent for a moment, finally saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister," before turning to leave.

Watching her departing figure, Ruan Ziqin sighed inwardly.

The matter with Senior Brother Zhao had not yet been resolved, and now she had angered Master Hong; Junior Sister Jiang certainly had a lot of trouble ahead of her.

It was a pity that while this Junior Sister seemed gentle, she was actually soft on the outside but hard on the inside—a woman of strong opinions who would not compromise easily.

I fear she will have to suffer quite a bit before she learns to be sensible.

After shaking her head, Ruan Ziqin let out a soft sigh and went out to find Senior Brother Zhao to report this development.

Upon learning that Jiang Youling had been transferred because she offended Master Hong, Zhao Cheng frowned.

"...As expected, she is not a peaceful character! In your opinion, how long will it take for her to be sent back after being transferred by the Master?"

Ruan Ziqin hesitated for a moment before saying, "It is not unheard of for disciples to receive transfer orders because they angered a Master. Usually, after three to five days of being tossed around as a minor punishment, they are sent back. I expect Jiang Youling will be sent back to the Talisman Courtyard in a few days."

Hearing this, Zhao Cheng nodded with satisfaction. "Good. That way, it won't interfere with our main business... In any case, keep a close eye on Jiang Youling. Report to me immediately once she is sent back."

"Yes."

***

Amidst the hidden clouds and the jade-like mist, Jiang Youling arrived via a transport rope. She saw that many exotic flowers and strange herbs were planted upon this Danyang Mountain, and disciples moved among them in an orderly fashion, tending to spiritual grasses and harvesting leaves.

Not far away, a spiritual spring wound its way down, the water striking the stones with a clear, tinkling sound like the ringing of jade.

Indeed: "Jade herbs and fine flowers adorn the steps; the spiritual spring washes the stones, sounding like jade pendants."

A dignified-looking female cultivator noticed her and immediately stepped forward, asking, "Which peak's disciple are you, and what business brings you to our Danyang Mountain?"

Jiang Youling bowed. "Replying to Senior Sister, I am Jiang Youling, a newly joined miscellaneous disciple from Baina Peak. I have received Master Hong's transfer order and have come to Danyang Mountain to take up my post."

Upon hearing this, the female cultivator's gaze immediately became subtle. So, she was the miscellaneous disciple the Master had specifically ordered her to transfer!

Early this morning, she had received instructions from the Master to transfer a miscellaneous disciple named Jiang Youling from the Talisman Courtyard to the mountain.

The Master had always looked down upon miscellaneous disciples; why would he suddenly want to use one for his affairs?

Sensing something unusual, she had secretly looked into it—and sure enough, although this Junior Sister Jiang was young, her boldness in her actions was truly eye-opening.

After a moment of silent sympathy for the young junior sister, the female cultivator nodded professionally.

"So it is Junior Sister Jiang. My surname is Wang; you may call me Senior Sister Wang. Although the Master has issued the transfer order, he has not yet assigned you a specific duty, and I dare not take liberties. Rest for a moment, Junior Sister, and wait for instructions once the Master returns."