A flying sword sliced through the biting mountain wind like a streak of dazzling silver light.
Atop it stood a young woman, her crimson silk robes clinging loosely to her exquisite, devilish curves, perfectly outlining a figure that could cause the downfall of cities. Her ink-black hair whipped wildly down her back, and her wide sleeves drifted around her arms like flowing water. Though her attire was simple, it could absolutely could not conceal her striking features.
A curious, crisp voice echoed from a communication jade in her hands.
"Meng Yao, why did you run off in such a rush?"
Meng Yao gave a delicate snort. "You know how those senior brothers of mine always bully me for being the youngest? Well, I finally have a junior brother! I didn't even know I had one until just now!"
The voice from the jade paused in surprise. "The Grand Elder took in another disciple? Why did he never make it public?"
Meng Yao narrowed her beautiful eyes. "Who cares why Master kept it a secret? The only thing that matters is that I won't be at the bottom of the pecking order anymore!"
A helpless chuckle came from the stone. The woman on the other end. She was clearly far too used to Meng Yao's behaviour.
Ahead, a majestic mountain peak pierced through the sea of clouds.
Meng Yao's eyes instantly lit up. "I've reached my junior brother's place. We'll talk later!"
Tucking the jade stone away into her spatial ring, she slowed her blinding speed.
A modest bamboo house sat quietly near the foot of the mountain. Meng Yao landed a short distance away, proudly straightening her robes and lifting her delicate chin with confidence.
"I must make a good first impression."
She strode gracefully toward the bamboo house.
"My junior brother lives quite modestly," she mused, noticing the plain structure. She fully approved of this modest path of cultivation. Her own dwelling was simple, though naturally not as bare as this.
With a bright, expectant grin she couldn't suppress, Meng Yao raised her jade-like hand and knocked. Her mind raced with countless scenarios. "Should I act profound and mature like our senior brothers, or strict and authoritative? Forget it, I'll just be my usual brilliant self. I can't copy them anyway."
One incense stick of time passed. No one answered.
Meng Yao's peerless face became impatient. She knocked again.
Inside the utterly unadorned bamboo room, Xu Xing sat cross-legged on a woven mat in the corner. An elegant looking book lay open in his hands:
Crossing River Formation V2.
His gaze swept across the lines. Occasionally, he nodded in realization; at other times, his brows knitted together tightly. Bursts of insight would flash in his eyes, only for the next line to drag him back into confusion.
Knock, knock.
Xu Xing frowned.
A third knock, much louder this time, battered the bamboo door.
"Why do they keep knocking?" he muttered, deeply annoyed. "Can't the Administration Hall workers just leave the supplies at the door and get lost?"
A fourth knock rang.
Xu Xing clicked his tongue. He stood up, strode to the door, and yanked it open. Instantly, he froze.
A woman of devastating, dream-like beauty stood outside.
For a brief second, Xu Xing's breath hitched. Her face was as flawless as if it was sculpted from immortal jade. Her slender waist looked as if it could be held with a single hand, yet her curves were ripe and alluring. Her unbound hair gave her a wild, mischievous charm. Even with the harsh mountain wind and the shabby bamboo house serving as her backdrop, she looked like an immortal painting that had somehow stepped into the mortal realm.
Since when did the Administration Hall start employing such gorgeous workers? Fortunately, as a transmigrator who had seen his fair share of things, Xu Xing possessed exceptional self-control. He forcefully dragged his gaze away.
"I see you're new here. Just leave whatever you brought at the door next time. Do not disturb my cultivation."
He reached to slam the door shut.
The stunning woman coughed in embarrassment. Then, lifting her delicate chin with pride. "Junior brother, I am not some worker from the Administration Hall. I am your senior sister, Meng Yao!"
Meng Yao stared at him with confidence, her expression practically screaming, 'You should have heard of me!'.
Xu Xing gave her a deadpan look.
Ever since he had joined this sect, he had holed himself in this room. He had never once heard his master mention a 'Senior Sister Meng Yao.'
More importantly, he did not care.
The only thought in his mind was: I need to get rid of her immediately before that dog-shit system acts up again!
"Ah, Senior Sister," Xu Xing said with a polite tone "I am currently in the middle of extremely urgent business. Why don't you visit next time?"
He shoved the door forward.
Meng Yao grabbed the edge of the door, a flash of genuine anger in her beautiful eyes. "Junior brother! I came all this way specially to meet you. Shouldn't you at least invite your senior sister in for tea?"
Xu Xing gritted his teeth, pushing harder. "Senior Sister, I truly cannot entertain you. There isn't even a place for you to sit in here!"
But Meng Yao was infuriatingly stubborn. She refused to budge an inch.
The door violently trembled between their contesting grips. Then, with a sharp CRACK, the fragile bamboo completely snapped, shattering into pieces and collapsing inward.
Meng Yao let out a mischievous, thoroughly unrepentant chuckle. "Thanks for holding the door open for me, junior brother."
Xu Xing stared at the splintered bamboo on the floor. Then at Meng Yao. Then back at his tragically deceased door.
He wanted to cry, but had no tears left to shed. Was this woman really so utterly bored that she had to come torment him?
Resigned to his cruel fate, he stepped aside. Since he couldn't toss her out, he might as well ignore her and keep reading.
Meng Yao strolled inside, her gaze sweeping the barren room with deep curiosity. A table, a mat, some chairs, and bookshelves lined with neatly stacked tomes. That was it.
Xu Xing sat back down on his mat, picked up his book, and completely shut her out.
Meng Yao watched him with interest before glancing at the cover of his book.
Crossing River Formation.
Her delicate brows shot up. "Junior brother, what cultivation realm are you currently at?"
"Golden Core," Xu Xing replied flatly, his eyes glued to the book.
"Oh."
She stared at him with a complicated expression.
To reach the Golden Core stage at his age means his talent is indeed terrifying. But to be so young and arrogant enough to study high-level Crossing River formations at just the Golden Core stage?! With her Nascent Soul perception, she could clearly sense that Xu Xing had only recently condensed his Golden Core. Yet he actually dared to touch such a profound formation technique!
Meng Yao folded her arms across her chest. This Junior Brother seems a bit difficult.
Time passed by.
Meng Yao would time to time toss out some questions. Some about Xu Xing's background, some about his thoughts on their master, others about his hobbies. Xu Xing answered only when forced to.
Suddenly, the sound of slow footsteps approached from a distance.
Meng Yao spun her head around excitedly, sensing exactly who had arrived.
"Master!"
Grand Elder Li Xuanji walked into view with a faint smile.
His gaze swept over the shattered door and rested on his two disciples. "It seems you two have already met."
Meng Yao giggled. "Not only have we met, Master, but junior brother has already opened his heart to me!"
Li Xuanji shot Xu Xing an suspicious look. This brat? Opening his heart to someone? Hmph. The old man coughed into his fist, clearing his throat. "Xu Xing, your Senior Sister Meng Yao will be staying with you for a while to assist with your cultivation. Do not judge her by her eccentric personality. Her strength is terrifying."
Xu Xing's head shot up in panic. "Master—!"
Li Xuanji instantly glared at him. "This matter is settled."
Xu Xing opened his mouth, then closed it serval times, yet did not utter a single word. He knew well enough that once this stubborn old man made a decision, he would not listen to anyone.
Li Xuanji turned his gaze to Meng Yao. "Your junior brother carries a lot of arrogance."
Meng Yao nodded solemnly. Internally, she completely agreed. A newly-advanced Golden Core trying to comprehend the Crossing River Formation? If that isn't arrogance, what is?
Li Xuanji continued, "Do your best to correct that terrible attitude of his. I have officially decided to throw him into the Dao Exchange Gathering. It is high time he stepped out to witness the true vastness of the outside world."
Xu Xing's face violently twisted into an expression of pure despair.
The Dao Exchange Gathering?! Just the mere thought of it made his scalp numb.
What if the dog-shit system forces me into that state there?! In front of a sea of people?! I'll experience complete social death! I won't have a single place to hide my face! Absolutely not! He practically lunged forward. "Master, I beg you, I truly do not want to go! I would rather stay in seclusion and write the sect's entire history a hundred times over!"
Li Xuanji coldly snorted, dismissing his pleas. "Hmph! You will absolutely go. Only when you witness the true, boundless sky outside will you finally tone down that ridiculous arrogance of yours. This is for your own good!"
Xu Xing almost choked on blood.
Arrogance?! Who the hell wants to be arrogant?! How could he possibly explain that he desperately wanted to keep a low profile?! It was that damned, broken system that forcefully shoved those humiliating lines! Even when he tried to stay humble, that familiar heat would rise in his chest and seize control!
He could only cry about the injustice in his heart.
Meng Yao crossed her arms, lifting her chin with confidence. "Do not worry, Master! Meng Yao will ensure junior brother is prepared!"
Satisfied, Li Xuanji nodded and turned to leave.
Xu Xing could only silently bid farewell to his privacy, staring blankly at the shattered door he would now have to repair.
Watching their master disappear, Meng Yao turned back to Xu Xing, flashing a bright smile. "There's no need to be scared, junior brother. This gathering happens every year. When I first attended a few years ago, every single person there was terrified of me!"
Xu Xing remained completely silent, slumping back down onto his mat with an expression as if he had resigned himself to fate.
Meng Yao assumed he was just nervous about meeting his peers for the first time. It was understandable; after all, not everyone was born as fearless as her.
"Let me tell you something, junior brother," she began, leaning forward slightly, adopting a gentle tone. "When I was your age, I didn't even go near sword formations! Yet here you are, already studying one. That alone proves your incredible dedication."
She paused with an earnest expression. "But you must not lose heart if you fail. Only true, heaven-defying geniuses like Saint Chendao ever managed to master sword formations at such an early stage. It is wonderful that you are trying, but you must not let failure crush your Dao heart."
Suddenly, a bizarre, terrifying heat erupted within Xu Xing's chest.
Oh no! That feeling! Damn it to hell, not now! His fingers dug into the book, his knuckles turning white.
Dog system! Stop!!! But it was utterly useless. The book slipped from his trembling grip, hitting the bamboo floor with a dull thud.
Xu Xing stared blankly at the cover. Then, completely against his will, his body moved.
He slowly stood up.
"Oh?" Xu Xing's voice shifted, carrying an aura of absolute, unparalleled disdain. "Only mighty figures like Saint Chendao managed to learn it?"
Meng Yao froze.
Xu Xing slowly turned to her, his gaze sharpening into an impossibly arrogant glare. He forcefully placed one hand behind his back, adopting a posture that looked down upon the myriad realms.
"Senior Sister," his voice boomed, carrying a terrifying, unshakeable confidence. "In my eyes, they are not even qualified to stand in front of me!"
Meng Yao's gentle smile instantly stiffened into a grotesque mask of shock. Her beautiful eyes widened to the size of pinpricks; she was in sheer disbelief. The bamboo room plunged into a suffocating silence; the only sound was her own breathing.
Xu Xing stood proudly in the center of the room, looking like a peerless sovereign gazing upon the mortal dust... while internally, he was weeping tears of blood, violently wishing he could tear his own mouth right off his face!