That night, Xu Shulou dreamed again.
In the dream, after her spiritual power had been stripped away, she painstakingly begged for someone to take her into the Void Abyss Secret Realm, seeking a rare spiritual herb to rebuild her meridians.
The secret realm was perilous, especially for someone like her who had lost all cultivation. Relying only on the faint remnants of her spiritual energy to activate protective artifacts, she managed to secure the aid of a few cultivators by promising them the last of her treasures in exchange for their protection.
Beyond that, the story also hinted that she had used her beauty as part of the bargain.
Xu Shulou was staking everything on this gamble.
It was only after barely surviving life-threatening dangers that she finally obtained the herb.
Yet just then, Lu Beichen and their sect disciples blocked her path. It turned out Bai Roushuang had been injured in the secret realm and needed the herb to save her life.
They recited the same old arguments—*You’re not in mortal danger, but she needs this to survive. After all, you were once fellow disciples—how can you be so heartless? We’ll just find another herb for you later.*
When Xu Shulou refused, they simply took it by force.
She could only watch helplessly as Lu Beichen and their sect used the herb to heal Bai Roushuang, and then as Bai Roushuang not only recovered swiftly but even gained a boost in cultivation from the herb’s power.
She watched as Bai Roushuang, upon waking, softly thanked all the senior brothers and Lu Beichen—yet acted as if Xu Shulou, the former senior sister who had been forced to surrender the herb, did not exist.
No one spared her a single glance. Seeing their affectionate camaraderie, Xu Shulou nearly ground her teeth to dust, her nails digging so deeply into her palms that blood dripped from her clenched fists.
Even upon waking, she could still feel the seething hatred from the dream.
Morning had already arrived. Xu Shulou blinked, feeling the faint warmth of sunlight on her skin.
Just then, a soft knock came at the door.
“Senior Sister, are you awake?”
Xu Shulou recognized the voice immediately—it was Bai Roushuang, the very person from her dream. The clash between dream and reality was perilous; had she been weaker-willed, she might have projected that hatred onto the real Bai Roushuang and lost her clarity of mind.
Xu Shulou steadied herself. “Come in.”
Bai Roushuang entered, still dressed in her usual gentle and elegant pale robes, and bowed slightly with a hint of hesitation. “Senior Sister.”
“Sit,” Xu Shulou said, pouring tea for both of them. “What brings you here?”
“Senior Sister, I wanted to ask about the Void Abyss Secret Realm,” Bai Roushuang murmured, fingers nervously tracing the rim of her cup. “What is it like inside?”
“The secret realm is another world entirely, unlike the mortal realm,” Xu Shulou replied with a faint smile. “Why? Thinking of going?”
Bai Roushuang flushed slightly at being seen through. “Would I… be allowed to join?”
Xu Shulou didn’t answer directly. “First, spar with me for a while.”
The two dueled atop the Bright Moon Peak, and Xu Shulou could see Bai Roushuang was taking it more seriously than their last practice.
“You should have learned about cultivation stages when you first joined the sect,” Xu Shulou said, calling a halt. “You’re currently at the third layer of Qi Refining. Once you successfully reach Foundation Establishment, you’ll gain decades of extended lifespan and truly step onto the path of cultivation.”
“I know,” Bai Roushuang nodded, then hesitated before asking, “Senior Sister… has there ever been someone who could never reach Foundation Establishment?”
Xu Shulou didn’t lie. “Yes.”
Bai Roushuang bit her lip. “Then… what happened to them?”
“They lived the same lifespan as mortals—grew old, withered, and died.”
Bai Roushuang shuddered. Compared to ordinary humans, those who had glimpsed immortality only to be cast back into mortality likely found such a fate even harder to bear.
Like herself. From the moment she had entered the cultivation world, Bai Roushuang had sworn never to return to being a mortal.
Her thoughts churned until Xu Shulou spoke again.
“Until a few centuries ago, when cultivators discovered a method—using rare spiritual treasures to forcibly elevate someone to Foundation Establishment.”
Bai Roushuang’s eyes flickered. She had heard of this method—and it was precisely the path she intended to take. Lu Beichen was the head disciple of Lingxiao Sect, his master and ascended parents were powerful cultivators—he surely had the resources to help her break through.
“But cultivation built on pills is defying fate,” Xu Shulou continued, watching her closely. “From then on, the path of cultivation will be far harder to tread.”
Once someone reached Foundation Establishment through artificial means, further progress would forever depend on spiritual medicines.
Bai Roushuang stiffened slightly.
There were no true shortcuts in cultivation.
Xu Shulou had said as much before.
But even if the path was difficult—wasn’t it still better than becoming a mortal again?
“Would you… look down on someone like that?” Bai Roushuang suddenly asked.
Xu Shulou paused. “What?”
“I know many in the cultivation world scorn those who rely on pills to break through. But… is choosing that path really wrong?” Bai Roushuang pressed, as if desperate for an answer.
Xu Shulou slowly shook her head. “Longing for immortality is human nature. Who would willingly accept their fate when another path exists?”
*Yes*, Bai Roushuang thought bitterly. *Who would?* But then Xu Shulou added, “But you’re different.”
Bai Roushuang’s heart clenched. “What do you mean?”
Xu Shulou met her gaze steadily. “What are you really afraid of? The hardship?”
“I—”
“If you think cultivation is too difficult, I can give you the pills to reach Foundation Establishment right now,” Xu Shulou said calmly. “You’ll gain a few extra decades of life. I’ll also give you spirit stones to exchange for mortal wealth—you can live in luxury as an ordinary person. Or you can stay in the cultivation world, forever searching for more treasures to prolong your life.”
Bai Roushuang shook her head instinctively. “No! I’m not afraid of hardship!”
“Then what *are* you afraid of?” Xu Shulou asked. “Our master wouldn’t have brought back someone with no hope of Foundation Establishment. You should trust his judgment.”
*What am I afraid of?* Bai Roushuang trembled, a flicker of clarity breaking through her confusion. “I… I don’t know… I’m afraid of growing old… ugly… unattractive…”
A cultivator’s appearance froze at the moment they reached Foundation Establishment. Bai Roushuang couldn’t help but fear—if she delayed too long, and her beauty faded, even if she sought pills later, Lu Beichen might no longer be willing to help her.
Xu Shulou rested a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not even twenty. You have more than enough time to strive for Foundation Establishment. Why torment yourself with hesitation?”
In the dream, Bai Roushuang had relied on Lu Beichen and the others to provide spiritual treasures for her cultivation. But her talent was genuine—had she cultivated diligently on her own, she would have achieved far more.
Indeed, in the storybooks, Lu Beichen had always been exceedingly generous toward her, spending lavishly without hesitation. Even when entangled in ambiguities with other women, he still held Bai Roushuang in high regard, never ceasing to provide her with elixirs and spirit herbs.
But Xu Shulou didn’t wish to see her squander her talents as depicted in those tales, ending up dependent on others for survival, relying on medicinal aids to tread the path of cultivation.
Bai Roushuang listened and fell into a long silence.
Two paths lay before her. She believed there was nothing wrong with choosing pills to aid her foundation-building—she was simply like many ordinary people, easily tempted by the seemingly easier route.
But… she had to admit Xu Shulou was right. She wasn’t even twenty yet—why shouldn’t she dare to strive for more?
A surge of inexplicable determination rose in Bai Roushuang’s chest. As she wrestled with her thoughts, Xu Shulou shifted the topic: “If you want to enter the Void Abyss Secret Realm, I’ll take you with me.”
Bai Roushuang was taken aback, not expecting such an immediate agreement. “With my cultivation level, I’ll probably just hold you back.”
“That’s what senior sisters are for,” Xu Shulou winked at her. “I’ve already trained your rowdy brothers. The Void Abyss Secret Realm holds many rare treasures of the cultivation world. Even if you’re not after artifacts or spirit plants, the experience alone will benefit you.”
Bai Roushuang gripped the hilt of her sword. “Senior Sister, why…?” *You can clearly see the issues between me and Lu Beichen—why are you still so kind to me?*
The question remained unspoken. Instead, she said, “Then I won’t go sightseeing in the mortal realm. I’ll focus on diligent cultivation during this time.”
Xu Shulou nodded approvingly. “Good. If you encounter any difficulties in your training, feel free to ask me anytime.”
“Thank you, Senior Sister.” Bai Roushuang paused thoughtfully. “Oh, I’ll handle tonight’s dinner. I already know the brothers’ preferences, but I’m not sure what dishes you like. Tonight, I’ll cook everything to your taste.”
Xu Shulou beamed. “Wonderful!”
Bai Roushuang chuckled.
Without hesitation, Xu Shulou began listing her favorites: “I’d love Four-Joy Meatballs, Cherry Blossom Pork, Ginger-Glazed Fish Slices, Steamed Ribs with Rice Flour, Scallion-Blasted Beef, Osmanthus-Scented Scallops, and Hibiscus Shrimp. No need to make them all—just pick what you can prepare.”
All were common mortal-world dishes, and Xu Shulou deliberately avoided extravagant imperial banquet fare to avoid burdening her. Bai Roushuang nodded. “I can make them all.”
Xu Shulou regarded her with newfound respect. “You’re amazing.”
Bai Roushuang couldn’t help but preen a little. “Just let me know anytime Senior Sister craves something.”
Xu Shulou’s eyes sparkled as she envisioned such a delightful future—only to immediately worry: *What if that scoundrel Lu Beichen lures away such a sweet, skilled junior sister?*
Her brow furrowed slightly. She could only hope Lu Beichen wouldn’t truly be as fickle and promiscuous as the stories portrayed, entangled in countless romances.
At dinner, the disciples gathered around the table. One glance at the spread confirmed: “Every dish is Senior Sister’s favorite.”
Fifth Disciple Jiang Yan groaned dramatically. “I knew it! Once Senior Sister returns, we brothers inevitably fall from favor in Junior Sister’s heart.”
Xu Shulou smugly bit into a steamed rib and gave Bai Roushuang a thumbs-up.
Bai Roushuang, however, was too busy devouring her rice to respond.
The table fell silent as everyone watched Bai Roushuang unabashedly scoop up her *third* bowl of rice.
Xu Shulou praised, “You’ve got quite the appetite!”
Sixth Disciple Ji Ci hesitated. “Junior Sister didn’t eat this much before…”
Between mouthfuls, Bai Roushuang explained, “Senior Sister trained me in swordplay today. It made me ravenous.”
Ji Ci nodded sagely. “Spend enough time with Senior Sister, and becoming a bottomless pit is inevitable.”
Xu Shulou shot him a glare. “Are *you* calling yourself a glutton too?”
“Of course,” Ji Ci counted on his fingers. “Bright Moon Peak has seven bottomless pits. Add our master, and that makes eight.”
Xu Shulou huffed, ready to rally the others in protest—only to find them already locked in a magical skirmish over the last ginger-glazed fish slice. One disciple ended up splattered with sauce, his disheveled appearance perfectly embodying Ji Ci’s “bottomless pit” label.
