Chapter 4: Disciple, How Blessed You Are

"Master, there are too many people called 'Number Six.' It doesn't suit the style of our master-disciple relationship. Why don't you call me Xiao Xi, or simply 'Disciple'?"

Xiao Baidao didn't mind; to him, a name was just a label, so he readily agreed.

Thinking of the five senior brothers she had yet to meet, Feng Xi felt a flicker of complexity. They were all, without exception, sycophants for Shen Zhilan. In the novel she had been reading, all of the Xuantian Sect's direct disciples had died, and every death was tied to the heroine. Xiao Baidao, having suffered blow after blow, was eventually severely wounded while battling a demonic elder and perished shortly thereafter. Once he died, the Xuantian Sect, left without a leader, was promptly annexed by the Hunyuan Sect. What a tragedy!

Fortunately, at this point in time, those direct disciples hadn't met the heroine yet, and their sycophantic tendencies hadn't been triggered. She had plenty of time to nip their obsession in the bud!

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Feng Xi asked Xiao Baidao, "Master, how many hours until we reach the Xuantian Sect?"

"Soon, at most three days. Although a flying boat could get us there in a day, one would miss all the scenery along the way. I prefer flying on my sword."

Feng Xi: "..."

If you’re poor, just say you’re poor! Why put on such airs?!

She suppressed her true thoughts and said with a straight face, "Master, you are absolutely right! Some people are too obsessed with quick success and ignore the scenery on the journey. It is the same with cultivation; some only care about increasing their rank without fully comprehending the process. Even if their cultivation level rises, their state of mind remains shallow."

After Feng Xi finished, she saw Xiao Baidao looking at her with earnest approval.

*If you’ve got more to say, keep talking!*

Feng Xi: "..."

*Fine, I get it!*

Feng Xi spewed out a stream of nonsense, finishing with a grand, uplifting conclusion: "Master, I believe cultivation is a struggle against the heavens. Tribulations and hardships are indispensable parts of the path. Instead of complaining, it is better to find joy within them—this is what we call finding happiness in bitterness..."

She was merely spouting nonsense, but Xiao Baidao fell into deep thought. The bottleneck in his cultivation, which had remained stagnant for years, began to loosen. While Xiao Baidao appeared carefree, the poverty of the Xuantian Sect had been causing him immense stress, which in turn had hindered his state of mind.

The little girl was right; any hardship or struggle was an essential part of cultivation. It shouldn't be a burden...

Xiao Baidao hurriedly landed his sword on a flat patch of ground. Wincing at the expense, he took out a protective array disk and activated a barrier. "I need to meditate for a while. Guard me!"

With that, he closed his eyes and sat in meditation.

Feng Xi: ...You really have a lot of nerve! Have you forgotten that I’m a useless little thing who can’t even cultivate?!

An hour later, Xiao Baidao opened his eyes and let out a roar of laughter toward the sky.

Feng Xi: ...It’s over! The old man has gone mad!

After laughing for a long time, Xiao Baidao looked at Feng Xi with admiration. "Disciple, your insight is remarkable. I have been stuck at the second level of the Spirit Severing Realm for years. I never expected that your words would allow me to successfully advance to the third level."

He had originally taken Feng Xi as a direct disciple just to extort some spirit stones from the Hunyuan Sect, and also because he genuinely felt the little girl was pitiful. To be honest, once he calmed down, he had felt a bit of regret; making her an inner sect disciple would have been enough. He hadn't expected such a massive, unexpected gain!

The more he looked at Feng Xi, the more he liked her. He wanted to show a bit of masterly affection.

"Disciple, your dantian is severely damaged, so you don't need to perform any sect tasks. It’s fine if you can’t cultivate; just living off the sect is perfectly fine. Out of everyone in the Xuantian Sect, you’re the only one who gets to eat for free. How fortunate you are!"

Feng Xi: ...I don't think you're comforting me; I think you're mocking me!

Seeing her look of utter despair, Xiao Baidao tried to salvage the moment: "Actually, it’s not entirely hopeless. Our Xuantian Sect has many ancient scrolls. Perhaps one of them contains a method to repair a dantian. When I have time, I’ll help you look for one."

Though Feng Xi knew Xiao Baidao’s words were likely just empty comfort, at least there was now a sliver of hope, wasn't there?

For the rest of the journey, Feng Xi fully leaned into her role as a flatterer, showering him with constant praise. The two spent their time watching the stars and the moon, discussing everything from poetry to life's ideals...

Finally, the master and disciple arrived at the Xuantian Sect.

Although the Xuantian Sect lived a frugal life, the mountain gate—left behind by their ancestors—was still grand and imposing. Xiao Baidao pointed at the plaque and said to Feng Xi, "Disciple, the three characters on that plaque were written by our founding ancestor himself. It is said that they contain a great opportunity. However, we are dull-witted; for tens of thousands of years, no one has been able to comprehend their mystery..."

*Thump!*

Feng Xi fell into a full prostration!

Xiao Baidao looked on with great gratification. "Disciple, the sect has a dedicated ancestral shrine; you don’t need to bow here."

Feng Xi: "..."

In truth, she had been sitting on the flying sword for too long and felt dizzy upon stepping off, causing her legs to give way. Of course, she wouldn't be stupid enough to explain that it was a misunderstanding. She said with absolute sincerity, "Master, the founder established the Xuantian Sect, giving me a place to live today. I revere our founder from the bottom of my heart. Forget one bow; I should kowtow eighty-one times."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Baidao felt even more convinced that his new disciple was a person of pure and kind heart, and his affection for her grew even more.

He chuckled, "It is rare to find such sincerity. Rise!"

Feng Xi scrambled up and fixed her eyes on the three characters on the plaque.

Awkward. She didn't recognize them.

They were written in ancient script, which differed significantly from the characters used today. However, she could guess that they were the words "Xuantian Sect." They looked ancient and powerful, and she could vaguely sense a trace of primordial aura.

She took a quick glance and then trotted happily after Xiao Baidao into the sect.

No one noticed that the three large characters on the plaque flickered slightly before settling into silence once more.

After passing through the gate, Xiao Baidao summoned his flying sword again to carry Feng Xi toward the main peak. Before they even arrived, Feng Xi heard an angry, beastly roar.

Xiao Baidao frowned immediately. "It must be the Golden-Haired Qiongqi making a scene again!"