After Being Reborn, He And Senior Sister Qingleng He - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Yan Tian (III)

“On the island surrounded by the lake, a…”

…

After the apprenticeship ceremony concluded, Chi Wanyin’s most urgent task was to learn how to guide spiritual energy into her body.

To this end, she practiced daily in the bamboo house on Drifting Cloud Peak, listening to the rustling of the bamboo leaves outside.

On this particular day, Chi Wanyin had just completed a cycle of spiritual energy circulation through her meridians when she heard a commotion outside.

Suppressing the doubt in her heart, Chi Wanyin secretly gathered her True Qi and pushed open the wooden door to investigate.

Seeing that the person was Liu Qianhe, Chi Wanyin finally let out a sigh of relief, lowering her guard. “It’s Senior Sister Liu.”

A smile hung on Liu Qianhe’s lips. “Otherwise, who did you think it was? Your Senior Sister Song Qingtang?”

As they spoke, Liu Qianhe took out a storage pouch hidden in her sleeve. “Song Qingtang left, and she entrusted me to bring you some things.”

Chi Wanyin accepted it without hesitation. She knew these were the cultivation resources that Yan Tian Sect disciples were supposed to receive monthly.

Actually, sending these items could have been done by a small immortal attendant, so the fact that Liu Qianhe made the trip was likely because her Senior Sister was worried about her.

“In that case, thank you, Senior Sister Liu,” Chi Wanyin said obediently.

Liu Qianhe waved her hand. “It’s just an easy favor. I’m not like your Senior Sister, who’s born to be busy.”

Chi Wanyin guessed that Song Qingtang must have left for a sect mission. As the most promising disciple of her generation in the Yan Tian Sect, she was naturally very busy.

After exchanging a few more words with Liu Qianhe, she bade farewell. Chi Wanyin then looked down at the storage pouch in her hand. It was an ordinary, common style, but inside were thirty Grain-avoidance Pills and three hundred spirit stones.

Cultivators believed that consuming too much mortal food would hinder the circulation of spiritual energy, so they mostly took Grain-avoidance Pills, even though the taste wasn’t very good.

Chi Wanyin just looked at the items and put them away. Spirit stones weren’t useful to her yet in the Yan Tian Sect, but they would be essential if she went to a mortal town.

As for the Grain-avoidance Pills, since she needed to concentrate on her cultivation this month, they would come in handy. However, Chi Wanyin still missed the food she had eaten in the dining hall that day. She decided to go feast again once she finished her cultivation.

…

In this way, Chi Wanyin cultivated for a month and finally reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Condensation stage. However, she was not in a hurry to establish her Foundation. She hadn’t found her Birth Sword yet. If she could establish her Foundation with her Birth Sword, it would be more complete.

Thinking this, she pushed open the wooden door. Outside was a misty bamboo forest. After reaching Great Perfection in Qi Condensation, her environmental perception was sharper, and her spiritual consciousness was stronger. She could sense a single bamboo leaf falling in the forest.

Chi Wanyin was quite satisfied with this. She summoned the immortal crane, rode on its back, and headed to the dining hall.

It seemed she was unlucky and arrived just as the outer disciples finished class. Seeing the crowd, Chi Wanyin really didn’t want to be squeezed like a dumpling, so she decided to wait outside for a while.

However, having reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation, her perception was extraordinary. The conversations of the passing disciples naturally fell into her ears.

“The Sword Tomb is opening again this year. I wonder if I can choose a good sword.”

“Don’t even think about it. Eldest Senior Sister is entering the Sword Tomb this year too. The best sword is definitely going to be Eldest Senior Sister’s.”

This conversation brought Chi Wanyin back to her memories. She remembered that it was when she entered the Sword Tomb that she encountered Shi Shui (Fading Water)… but Shi Shui did not choose her; it chose her Senior Sister.

It was at that moment that she began to hate Song Qingtang.

Now, it seemed like a trivial matter, but for Chi Wanyin, who was desperately seeking recognition at the time, the seed of hatred was planted then.

When she came back to her senses, the two disciples who were talking had already walked far away, and the crowd in front of the dining hall had thinned considerably. Only then did Chi Wanyin step inside.

After a hearty meal, Chi Wanyin lamented how difficult the days of consecutively eating Grain-avoidance Pills had been. After all, her current body was only that of a girl in her teens, and she had been too frail before. Now that she was in the Yan Tian Sect, she could finally eat her fill.

However, after eating, Chi Wanyin did not plan to return directly to Drifting Cloud Peak. Since she had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation, there would be no further progress in her cultivation until she established her Foundation.

She had already memorized the routes when Liu Qianhe showed her around the sect. After some thought, she decided to go find Liu Qianhe, the only acquaintance she had in the sect.

At Outgoing Cloud Peak, Liu Qianhe was busy in the medicinal garden.

When Chi Wanyin landed with the immortal crane, she saw Liu Qianhe diligently watering and fertilizing the spirit herbs like an old farmer.

Chi Wanyin called out, “Senior Sister Liu.”

Liu Qianhe, who was bending over, looked up. With just one glance, she said, “You’ve reached the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation now?”

Chi Wanyin dismounted the crane and quickly walked toward her. “Naturally, I can’t hide it from Senior Sister.” She had no intention of hiding it from her anyway; she knew Liu Qianhe wouldn’t spread the word.

Liu Qianhe straightened up, smiled, and nodded. “Not bad. This aptitude of yours is already quite remarkable.”

Chi Wanyin smiled bitterly in her heart. This was merely her quick entry due to her cultivation method from the previous life. When she established her Foundation in her last life, her speed would inevitably be compared to her Senior Sister’s.

Speaking of which, Liu Qianhe remembered something. “Oh, by the way, Song Qingtang should return when the Sword Tomb opens. Do you want to go with her?” She knew Chi Wanyin would definitely be looking for a sword.

Chi Wanyin paused slightly. “That depends on what Senior Sister decides.” She was being vague.

Liu Qianhe didn’t press the matter, only handing her a small porcelain bottle. “Take this. It should be useful when the Sword Tomb opens.”

Chi Wanyin knew that Liu Qianhe had an honest and straightforward temper, so she simply accepted the bottle. “Thank you, Senior Sister Liu.”

Liu Qianhe frowned. “Why talk about thanks? You’re Song Qingtang’s Junior Sister. It’s only right that I look out for you more since she’s away.”

Chi Wanyin smiled. In her previous life, she was so focused on cultivation that she wasn’t very close to Liu Qianhe, but she knew that Liu Qianhe was forthright and deeply loyal. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have chased her relentlessly to avenge Song Qingtang’s injury in the previous life.

Liu Qianhe then patted her shoulder. “I believe, Junior Sister, you will surely find a sword that belongs to you.”

Chi Wanyin’s smile froze for a moment. She also didn’t know if she would be able to find that sword in this life.

When Song Qingtang returned, fine snow was falling from the sky.

However, this scene was only outside the sect’s magical barrier. Inside the gate, it was still a scene of eternal spring.

Standing on the three thousand steps was a red umbrella. The person under the umbrella saw her figure and hurriedly came forward. “Senior Sister.”

Chi Wanyin’s hands were already red from the cold, but when she saw Song Qingtang, she still wore a radiant smile.

In Song Qingtang’s eyes, she seemed to have grown a little taller, which was definitely a good thing. Almost subconsciously, she gently stroked the top of her head.

Chi Wanyin was momentarily stunned before saying, “Senior Sister Liu said you were returning today, so I thought I would come here to meet you.”

Song Qingtang had already taken the red umbrella from her hand and cast a small warming spell. Only then did she speak of the actual business. “The Sword Tomb is about to open. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have rushed back.”

Chi Wanyin nodded. “Senior Sister, was the mortal realm fun?”

Song Qingtang pondered for a moment before replying, “It was fun. After you get your sword, I’ll take you to wander around the mortal realm.”

“Really?” The girl’s face was filled with hope.

“I never lie.” Song Qingtang lowered her eyelashes as she spoke. The two had walked all the way to Drifting Cloud Peak, and were almost at the bamboo house.

Before Song Qingtang left, she cast another spell, conjuring a faintly warm ball of light and giving it to Chi Wanyin. “Don’t freeze yourself again.” For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, this was a trivial spell, and Chi Wanyin hadn’t expected her to use it.

So Chi Wanyin smiled. She wasn’t actually afraid of the cold, but she agreed anyway.

After Song Qingtang left, the spell lasted all night. That feeling of warmth seemed to envelop her.

…

The next day, Realist Huai Yu summoned everyone. Opening the Sword Tomb was a major event, so detailed instructions were naturally necessary before setting off.

Afterward, everyone reached the Sword Tomb via the sect’s teleportation array. Most of the swords in the Sword Tomb were either masterless or belonged to masters who had died and whose Dao had dissipated. However, finding a sword also depended on fate, as swords possessed tool spirits.

Chi Wanyin had originally planned to act alone, but as soon as they passed through the teleportation array, Song Qingtang took her hand. “Junior Sister, let’s travel together.”

Chi Wanyin guessed that Liu Qianhe must have said something to her. However, even if she traveled with her, Chi Wanyin knew which sword Song Qingtang would take, so she wasn’t worried.

The question was, which sword did she want to take for herself?

In her previous life, she chose Shi Shui, but it was merely an act of competitive pride. Since Shi Shui was an extraordinary artifact, she wanted to prove that she was no worse than her Senior Sister.

Now, this question required careful consideration. Seeing her overly distracted, Song Qingtang called her. “Junior Sister, have you decided which sword you want to take?”

Chi Wanyin shook her head. Song Qingtang comforted her, “It’s alright. You will definitely find a sword suitable for you inside this Sword Tomb.”

Though this place was called the Sword Tomb, there were still ferocious beasts roaming the edges. Song Qingtang solved all of these problems one by one, without even taking down the disciple sword on her back.

Chi Wanyin couldn’t help but admire her, truly worthy of being the most promising person in the sect to reach the Golden Core stage at the youngest age.

With the Sword Tomb opening this time, people from other sects had also come to seek swords, but most did not dare to target Chi Wanyin. Although they did not recognize Chi Wanyin, they recognized Song Qingtang.

The two traveled together until they reached a lake.

On the island surrounded by the lake, a brilliant peach tree grew, and a long blue sword stood next to the tree.

Looking at this familiar scene, Chi Wanyin was momentarily lost in a trance, as if she had returned to her previous life.

Song Qingtang saw her bewildered look and thought she didn’t understand, so she explained, “This sword is named Shi Shui (Fading Water). I’ve only seen it mentioned in ancient texts. The water surrounding the Shi Shui sword is also no ordinary thing.”