The next day, at the trial of magical skills, Bai Roushuang confronted a female cultivator on the stage. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her long sword glistened like snow. Her fighting posture was so graceful and delicate that it instantly brought to mind the line "Her slender waist is gentle and soft". Against the backdrop of the dazzling spiritual light of the magical treasures, she looked even more elegant and out of this world. It seemed more like she was dancing than fighting, attracting the attention of the entire audience. Even Lu Beichen below the stage had all his attention fixed on her.
The trial of magical skills had no restrictions on the use of magical treasures, which might sound unfair.
However, this event was mainly an opportunity for the new disciples of various major sects to show themselves, and little consideration was given to the feelings of small sects with limited cultivation resources or even independent cultivators.
At this time, Bai Roushuang had defeated two opponents in a row with the help of her magical treasures.
The string of delicate and transparent Linglong Rain on her wrist was a defensive magical treasure. When infused with spiritual power, it glowed with a magnificent and dazzling light all over. Although its practicality was a bit weak, it was still a rare item that was hard to come by even with a lot of money.
Moreover, it was more than enough to deal with other new disciples at this time. Even a cultivator one level higher than her couldn't break through her defense and finally had to admit defeat.
These battles on the stage were rather childish to Xu Shulou, but she was watching intently with her chin in her hand. When she saw this string of Linglong Rain, she was slightly lost in thought. This was another magical treasure that, according to the storybook, was given by Lu Beichen.
She hadn't yet thought about what to do if the dream turned out to be real.
People's hearts always tend to side with the weaker side. Since she already knew the type of girl Lu Beichen liked, if she wanted to break the situation and avoid the fate described in the storybook, pretending to be weak and seeking protection would naturally be one way.
Facing this son of destiny who would eventually become invincible, it seemed like a good idea to get on good terms with him now and cling to this powerful backer.
A bad strategy, Xu Shulou blinked and evaluated in her heart.
There was an easier and more convenient way right in front of her. She glanced at Lu Beichen not far away, whose eyes were always on Bai Roushuang.
If it were the her from a hundred years ago, instead of trying to please him, she would probably just kill him directly to solve the problem at the root.
Thinking of this, Xu Shulou smiled. They were all bad strategies. She didn't believe that a dream could determine her future.
She wouldn't judge people's good or evil based on a dream. The same applied to Li Qi, her little junior sister, and Lu Beichen.
It was true that he was arrogant, self - centered, and seemed a bit self - conceited, but he hadn't committed any crimes worthy of death.
Xu Shulou only killed those who deserved to die. She wouldn't kill someone for her own self - interest.
As the trial of magical skills continued, Bai Roushuang finally couldn't hold on relying solely on the power of her magical treasures. In the fourth round, she was defeated.
There was no sign of discouragement on her face. She softly congratulated the male cultivator who defeated her and stepped off the competition stage with a proper smile.
As a new disciple who had only entered the cultivation world for a year, it was already considered qualified if she wasn't nervous when she took the stage. Moreover, she had won several rounds with the help of her magical treasures and showed no sign of discouragement when she was defeated. Immediately, someone praised her.
Bai Roushuang responded with smiles one by one. She didn't really care about the outcome of this competition. After all, she had only been in the sect for a year. No matter how talented she was, it was impossible for her to win in the end. She participated in the competition just to get to know more powerful cultivators, show herself more, leave a good impression on others, and build a good reputation for herself.
Just like in the sect, she would occasionally cook meals for her senior brothers and help them with medicine and bandages when they got injured accidentally while practicing swords. She always seemed so careful and considerate.
She was always good at using small efforts to build a good image.
Bai Roushuang glanced in Xu Shulou's direction with an unclear expression, then turned to Lu Beichen, who came to praise her for her good performance, and showed a shy smile.
When Lu Beichen heard that Bai Roushuang was going to the mortal world with Xu Shulou, he seemed a bit worried: "What if she takes the opportunity to make things difficult for you when I'm not around?"
His worry was really unnecessary. After all, if Xu Shulou really intended to do something, it didn't really matter whether he was present or not.
Xu Shulou didn't know about his pointless worry yet. After the three disciples from Dustless Island who participated in the trial of magical skills had all finished their matches, she analyzed and gave pointers on their advantages and disadvantages in the battles one by one, and then took Bai Roushuang to the mortal world with her.
In the storybook, there were far more than just Bai Roushuang who were against Xu Shulou. Lu Beichen was also strange. He clearly seemed to like Bai Roushuang so much, but he was often entangled with other women.
Among them was a girl named Su Lian'er, one of Lu Beichen's confidantes. She was only sixteen years old when she first appeared in the story and was also from the mortal world. The storybook briefly mentioned her background. On the Qixi Festival when she was nine years old, a flood washed away Sweetwater Town where she had lived since childhood. Many people died, and her parents died in the flood to save her. Later, she suffered a lot and was even deceived into becoming a medicine person under the hands of evil cultivators. In the storybook, Lu Beichen felt pity for her tragic background and later fell in love with her. Xu Shulou was so angry that she even mocked this confidante about her sad past.
The description in the storybook was probably intended to highlight Xu Shulou's unreasonable behavior, mocking someone for their tragic background.
But after reading this part, the information Xu Shulou extracted was that there might be a flood in the mortal world, resulting in countless casualties.
Calculating the time, according to the storybook, this flood would happen on the Qixi Festival three days later this year.
Xu Shulou decided to go and check it out in person. She didn't really believe this dream at first, but when she saw Bai Roushuang's spiritual pet Jiuyao, she immediately remembered this part. As long as there was a one - in - ten - thousand possibility, she couldn't just let countless mortals die.
Bai Roushuang would always remember this day. It was probably the day when she truly set foot on the path of cultivation.
On the Qixi Festival in the mortal world, it was a day when girls prayed to the heavens for ingenuity and good marriages. Bai Roushuang and Xu Shulou strolled along the banks of the Canglan River. Along the way, they saw many mortal girls releasing river lanterns and making wishes.
The mortal world was in a prosperous era, presenting a peaceful and prosperous scene.
Bai Roushuang sighed softly in her heart. She never thought that she would spend this year's Qixi Festival with this senior sister whom she didn't know very well. She was a little on guard against Xu Shulou and also had a slight hostility towards her.
She didn't know what Xu Shulou's purpose was in coming to Sweetwater Town. What was there to see in a small town? But the gentle breeze blowing on her face that night was so pleasant that her mood gradually calmed down.
Noticing that she had been looking at the girls releasing river lanterns, Xu Shulou specially bought a lantern for her when passing by a small stall.
Bai Roushuang thought it was a bit funny in her heart. Such a childish thing, she didn't even have an interest in it when she was still living in a brothel in the mortal world.
But when the lantern was in her hand, emitting a soft light and a slight warmth, she lowered her head and looked at it. Somehow, she seemed to be infected by the emotions of those girls by the river. She knelt down by the river and carefully placed the lantern into the river, watching it drift away with the current.
Xu Shulou was also beside her. She released a lantern and sincerely made a wish.
Bai Roushuang's beautiful eyes swept across Xu Shulou's face. Could Lu Beichen really be completely unmoved by such beauty?
Unable to contain her curiosity, Bai Roushuang probed, "Senior Sister, what wish did you make?"
Xu Shulou looked back at her, the faint light of the lanterns reflected in her eyes. "Peace in the Three Realms," she replied.
Bai Roushuang let out a mocking laugh. "The Qixi Festival is for praying for marriage. At the very least, you should have prayed for your own cultivation progress."
What a false and empty wish. Who was she trying to impress?
"One can't force a marriage," Xu Shulou smiled. "Cultivation depends on oneself."
At this time, the waves on the river gradually grew stronger. The lantern released by an eight - or nine - year - old girl beside them was about to be capsized by the waves. The girl pursed her lips, on the verge of crying. Then, Bai Roushuang watched in disbelief as Xu Shulou quietly used her spiritual power to ensure that the lantern floated away steadily.
Bai Roushuang was both amused and exasperated and was about to say something when an unexpected turn of events occurred. The waves on the river became higher and higher. The water level was already high at this time of the year, and soon the waves crashed down on the women on the shore. The common people quickly fled.
Bai Roushuang noticed a flash of spiritual light in Xu Shulou's hand. She had used her spiritual power to create a barrier, shielding everyone from the waves.
"An immortal! It's an immortal!" Exclamations from the common people rang out one after another.
An immortal? Bai Roushuang thought indifferently. The common people in the mortal world really didn't understand the difference between cultivators and those who had achieved immortality. They called anyone who could use magic an immortal.
How could there be a real immortal in the mortal world?
Soon, wave after wave came, and the waves almost turned into huge tidal waves. Xu Shulou tapped her toes and flew into the air, hovering above the river.
Only then did Bai Roushuang notice that Xu Shulou wasn't just blocking the waves in this area. The barrier created by her spiritual power had extended along the riverbank as far as the eye could see.
The great river roared forward with imposing grandeur. The huge waves rolled in with the power to destroy everything. The common people were already in a panic, and their terrified shouts filled the air.
At this moment, Xu Shulou unfolded her folding fan and threw it out.
Bai Roushuang took a closer look. Sure enough, the folding fan that matched Xu Shulou's red dress today was a snow - white plum blossom fan.
The folding fan expanded in the air and became gigantic. With the blessing of Xu Shulou's spiritual power, it resisted the towering waves.
The waves were like a giant beast, repeatedly charging and biting at the folding fan.
Compared with the raging waves, Xu Shulou's figure in the air seemed extremely tiny, but she managed to control the wild wind and waves with her own strength.
The power of the waves that could destroy towns was truly awe - inspiring. It was the first time Bai Roushuang had witnessed such a sight. Seeing the folding fan tremble slightly under the impact of the water waves, she subconsciously raised her hand and sent out her own spiritual power.
Unfortunately, her spiritual power was too weak, and the effect was minimal. After a short while, she exhausted her spiritual power. Her body swayed, and she had to stop.
A woman beside her saw her staggering and quickly supported her. Bai Roushuang thanked her casually, "Thank you, auntie."
"Why are you thanking me, girl?" the woman said. "It's us who should thank the two immortals."
Bai Roushuang shook her head indifferently. "I didn't help at all."
The woman helped her sit down. "You had the intention to save people."
Bai Roushuang was slightly stunned. She glanced at the woman but didn't say anything.
The common people who had lived by the river for a long time naturally knew what kind of harm the big waves would have brought to the town. They looked at Xu Shulou in the air with worry, praying that she could withstand the huge waves.
Bai Roushuang also kept her eyes on Xu Shulou. She didn't know that a cultivator could resist a natural disaster with their own strength.
The flipping of that folding fan could actually save tens of thousands of people.
This kind of power that seemed to be challenging fate had a great impact on her, and she fell into a very mysterious state.
An hour later, the huge waves subsided, and the splashes gradually diminished.
Xu Shulou also seemed to be overly exhausted. She immediately withdrew her spiritual power and landed on the river surface. The snow - white plum blossom fan shrank back to its original size and was held in her hand.
Amid the thanks of the common people, Bai Roushuang stared at her blankly.
The beautiful woman in red under the moon walked across the river on the water.
At that moment, Bai Roushuang couldn't help thinking that no wonder the common people mistook her for an immortal.
She felt that everyone present would probably never forget this scene.
Including herself.
As soon as Xu Shulou stepped onto the shore, she was surrounded by the common people to express their gratitude. She helped up the old man kneeling beside her. "There's no need to be so polite, everyone. Helping those in need is what we cultivators should do."
Bai Roushuang was still in a daze until Xu Shulou came over and handed her a small bag of qiaoguo wrapped in oil paper. "A girl over there gave this to me. Want to try it?"
Bai Roushuang took it blankly. Suddenly, she heard Xu Shulou's surprised voice. "You've broken through to a new realm. What did you realize just now?"
Break through to a new realm? Bai Roushuang was overjoyed. She quickly checked her internal condition and was surprised to find that she had indeed advanced to a new level. She looked down at her hands. "I don't know. I was just thinking that this is the dignity of a cultivator..."
Xu Shulou looked at her seriously, listening to what she had to say.
Bai Roushuang composed herself. "I mean, I've heard that powerful cultivators can even move mountains and fill seas, but I always thought it was just a legend..."
Suddenly, she thought of something and looked at Xu Shulou sharply. "Did you come here just to save people?"
"Yes."
Bai Roushuang even forgot to ask how she knew there would be a flood here. She just asked blankly, "Why?"
Xu Shulou replied casually, "If I can save them, then I'll save them."
Bai Roushuang fell into silence. When she was still a mortal, she was both jealous and envious of those cultivators. She hated that they were so high - handed, ignoring the sufferings of the mortal world, and using their magic to override the mortals. Some even bullied the common people in the mortal world. But at the same time, she envied that they could live a carefree and glorious life.
After she was taken to Dustless Island, she was overjoyed but also always worried. She was afraid that she couldn't successfully build a foundation and truly enter the path of cultivation. She would try her best to please the senior brothers in the sect, make friends with powerful cultivators, and find a male cultivator with a high status as her backer. She grasped at everything she could. She told herself that although she had a hard - working background, she would carefully plan to make herself live better than anyone else.
For her, the meaning of cultivation was to live a glorious life.
However, watching Xu Shulou turn the tide just now, an idea kept swirling in her mind. So this was the dignity of a cultivator. So a cultivator could do such things.
Right, she was also a cultivator now...
Maybe it was at that moment that she quietly broke through to a small realm.
She seemed to have realized something, but at this moment, she was still confused and didn't know exactly what she had realized.
"Once you've figured it out, practice hard," Xu Shulou gently bumped the pastry in her hand against the qiaoguo in Bai Roushuang's hand, as if toasting. "The good thing about the cultivation world is that it doesn't distinguish between men and women, and doesn't care about one's background. Everything is based on strength."
Did she notice? Bai Roushuang was shocked. Did she see through her thoughts?
It turned out that this senior sister, who seemed simple - minded, was actually unfathomable.
When he turned his head and was about to say something, he saw this senior sister, who he regarded as unfathomable in his heart, happily squatting beside the spiritual bird Jiuyao. With one hand stroking the bird's feathers and the other holding a qiaoguo (a kind of traditional Chinese pastry), she poked it in front of the spiritual bird and said, "Do you want to eat?"
Jiuyao on one hand wanted to grimace in disgust at the qiaoguo, while on the other hand, it was enjoying the stroking so much that the whole bird was in a very contradictory state.
