Chapter 17
Junior Sister, What’s Your Greatest Secret?
She thought back to the herb garden at Qingxu Temple.
Although outer disciples there weren’t given spiritual plants, the temple still distributed ordinary mountain herbs.
The distribution was handled by the Elder in charge, based on each disciple’s cultivation and contributions — organized, seasonal, and fair.
There might not have been fertile spiritual fields, but everyone received their share. Everything was orderly.
Inner disciples and personal disciples could receive spiritual plants, and the personal disciples didn’t even need to complete missions to get them.
Yet no one ever fought over it.
Serious conflict within the sect was strictly forbidden.
You could spar, but no matter the reason, you could never strike to kill.
There was no open fighting — at most, a few sarcastic words were exchanged.
Because “disaster comes from the mouth,” everyone’s words and behavior were carefully disciplined.
But here…
What kind of “fairness” was this?
They deliberately placed the best resources and the most tempting rewards right out in the open — without any rules.
This was provocation!
They were encouraging the lower-ranked disciples to fight each other — to claw, to scheme, to kill for those paltry gains, for that tiny twenty-percent profit share!
Let them waste their energy on internal strife. Then who would still have the strength or courage to question, let alone challenge, the upper ranks’ control?
This was exactly the same as the hierarchy of the dining halls, the vast contrast between thatched huts and celestial residences — all one and the same system!
A system that used the cruelest, most direct form of profit and law to tame them.
To make them accept the law of the jungle. To let them grow numb through endless internal conflict.
How vicious!
A storm of thoughts raced through Su Ling’er’s mind, but her face remained calm.
She lowered her head and replied softly,
“Senior Brother is right. Ling’er has learned much.”
The two continued walking, bypassing a noisy stretch of medicinal fields.
Up ahead, in a secluded corner, the scene turned a little eerie.
Disciples skirted around it from afar, their faces showing unease.
Su Ling’er looked closer.
In that corner stood a plant about half a man’s height, with a wooden tag below it inscribed with two words: “Shen Nong.”
The plant was pitch black. Its vines twisted like serpents, and at the top, a large dark-purple flower bud kept opening and closing slowly.
A faint sense of malice seeped from it.
“Junior Sister, look at this,”
Lin Qingfeng said, eyes shining.
“This is the work of our sect’s Junior Brother Shen Nong.”
“He tried to merge the devouring nature of the Soul-Eating Vine with the illusionary essence of the Bewitching Immortal Flower.”
“Though he didn’t quite succeed, he created a new kind of strange plant.”
Admiration flickered in his gaze.
“This flower doesn’t harm the flesh—but it reveals the heart.”
“Whoever approaches it will see reflected their innermost fear.”
“Junior Sister, do you know what this means for cultivators like us?”
Su Ling’er blinked.
“This junior does not. Please enlighten me, Senior Brother.”
“The greatest trial in the path of cultivation,” Lin Qingfeng explained solemnly,
“is the Heart Demon Tribulation.”
“It has no form, no shadow—yet it strikes directly at the heart.”
“Many brilliant cultivators have fallen at that step.”
“But this flower allows one to foresee that heart demon in advance—to face one’s deepest fear.”
“If one can often gaze upon it and stay vigilant, then when the tribulation truly comes, one might face it with calm—and survive.”
Su Ling’er listened, but inwardly she wanted to roll her eyes.
Heart Demon Tribulation?
Girl, I haven’t even reached Foundation Establishment! And you’re talking to me about tribulations that only Nascent Soul cultivators worry about?!
Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?!
In this demonic sect’s hellish environment, I’m not even sure I’ll live long enough to rebuild my meridians!
She kept her sarcasm buried deep, only putting on a face of admiration.
Lin Qingfeng seemed to sense her skepticism, and smoothly shifted the conversation.
“Junior Sister, you must think that tribulation is far from you, right?”
He sighed.
“It’s precisely because it’s so far that one feels the long and powerless road of cultivation.”
“To be frank, with your talent, if you proceed step by step, you might never reach that stage in this lifetime.”
“But you still have the ‘Sword Refining Manual’.”
“It is a heaven-defying path made for ordinary mortals! It’s painful, but it’s not limited by spiritual roots or innate talent!”
“Even with poor aptitude, you can break your shackles and reach Foundation Establishment!”
“If you’re worried, take some Foundation Pills during the process. Our sect’s pills are cheaper and more effective than those outside.”
“You’ve seen the sect’s supply of spiritual plants—it’ll ensure you don’t die during the process.”
“And those who also practice the Sword Refining Manual might even fight to get you extra resources!”
“Junior Sister, doesn’t that tempt you?”
Boom—
Su Ling’er’s imagination exploded.
In her mind, a terrifying battle unfolded.
A demonic cultivator in black robes hovered in the air—his silhouette resembling Lin Qingfeng’s.
He faced a monstrous beast, eyes calm.
He raised his hand.
“Sword—come!”
Suddenly, Su Ling’er felt her body fly uncontrollably—
Not toward him… but into his hand.
Her ankle was grabbed tightly by a strong, warm hand.
Then—
She was hoisted upside down!
Her hair whipped wildly in the wind.
She saw the monster’s claws crashing down—
And Lin Qingfeng swung her!
“Clang—!!!”
Her head struck the beast’s claws. Sparks flew!
Nooooooooo!!!
Su Ling’er screamed in her mind.
What kind of cultivation method was that?!
Using my head as a sword to fight monsters?!
This was sheer madness!
Demonic! Utterly demonic!
These lunatics didn’t think about improving their own cultivation—they just invented twisted methods like this!
“Junior Sister? Junior Sister?”
Lin Qingfeng’s voice jolted her awake.
She shivered, face pale.
“I—I’m fine,” she stammered.
“It’s just that… what Senior Brother said is… far too shocking.”
“I’ll need time to… comprehend it.”
“Indeed, cultivating the Dao begins with the heart,” Lin Qingfeng sighed.
“Take your time.”
He walked two steps forward, stopping in front of that eerie black flower.
“Since we’re done with cultivation talk,” he said, turning toward her, eyes gleaming—
“Why don’t you go and try it?”
“I’m curious—what would it show to you?”
“What is your deepest fear… or perhaps…”
“Your greatest secret?”
Thump—
Su Ling’er’s heart slammed in her chest.
She instinctively took a step back, tripping on a stone and nearly falling.
Her eyes widened in terror.
Could it be—?
Was he testing her?
That cursed flower revealed one’s deepest fears and secrets!
If she approached, what would it show?
The gate of Qingxu Temple?
The worried face of her Sect Master?
The insect talisman she used to send secret messages?!
Or the emergency soul worm she used for communication?!
If any of that were exposed—she’d be finished!
By then—
Would they turn her into a pill? Or into a “human sword”?
Either way, she wouldn’t have a say.
What do I do?!
What should I do?!
Sect Master, please save your disciple, QAQ!!!
【Outside the Secret Realm】
In the Realm of Burning Heavens—
The peak forces of both righteous and demonic paths arrived almost simultaneously at the source of the glow.
There, they beheld an ancient Immortal Vine suspended in midair at the heart of the secret realm.
The vine was frail—so frail that the smallest surge of power might destroy it completely.
Both sides entered a tense standoff. Neither dared act rashly, nor would they withdraw.
Soon, even more forces were drawn in—
From the righteous alliance came The Celestial Mechanism Pavilion and Palace of Thunderclad Heavens;
From the demonic side, the Eternal Night Hall and Blood River Sect arrived.
The Heavenly Furnace Sect, being one of the pillars of the righteous alliance, naturally joined under orders.
Time passed.
The ancient vine’s condition worsened. The divine radiance dimmed by the day.
If no one acted soon, the vine would wither completely—and everyone would leave empty-handed.
Finally, under the proposal of an elder from the Celestial Mechanism Pavilion, a secret council was convened.
The righteous side was led by the Sword Master of the Heaven’s Gate Palace, the demonic by the Soul-Reaping Demon Lord.
The elder spoke first:
“The vine’s essence is dying. It can only be saved by two divine substances.”
“One of them lies within the neutral sect’s secret realm—the Emerald Heart World.”
“There grows the Tree of the Spirit Eye, whose nectar flows once every two hundred years—a pure essence of life that can restore the vine.”
But the Emerald Heart World was guarded by several neutral sects—Cloudfall Sect, Immortal Sword Gate, Hundred Flowers Valley—protected by formidable arrays, making a direct assault unwise.
The only option—
Was to use the spies both righteous and demonic paths had planted within those neutral sects.
And so—
A secret collaboration was struck between the righteous and demonic factions…
