When I Lay Flat, the Female Lead Panicked - Chapter 20.1

Chapter 20.1: Three-in-One

“It has been a while, Miss Si.”

Wen Nanshu met the young miss’s fiery gaze and nodded lightly. Knowing that Si Gan had always kept a low profile, Wen Nanshu did not reveal her identity when she replied.

“Big Sister Wen… You… are you doing well, lately? I, I…”

The young miss twisted her hands together, looking at Wen Nanshu shyly. Her exceptionally demure voice made Luo Xiaoxiao’s arms instantly break out in goosebumps.

Good heavens, a Sichuan dragon has been completely revamped into a Taiwanese loli…

Unable to watch this bizarre scene, Luo Xiaoxiao bit her lip and quietly lowered her head.

With an incredibly strong belief, she endured, forcing herself not to laugh.

Pfff… cough cough! Who, who gets this?! The contrast! I really can’t hold it in!

“Everything is fine.”

Wen Nanshu’s voice was flat. As if she hadn’t noticed how intense the young miss’s gaze was, Wen Nanshu’s expression remained calm, polite, and distant.

“Then, Big Sister Wen, you…”

The young miss was still trying to say something in a clipped voice when the person beside her, who was clearly out of patience, spoke first. He addressed Wen Nanshu with a haughty tone.

“If there’s nothing else, we won’t bother you. Yu’er, let’s go.”

“Hey, Great Grandfather, wait…” Seeing Si Gan turn and leave decisively, the young miss, despite wanting to talk to Wen Nanshu for a few more minutes, had no choice but to stop.

She shyly gave Wen Nanshu a proper curtsy. Then, her gaze inadvertently fell on Luo Xiaoxiao beside Wen Nanshu.

Her eyes were filled with hostility. She was angry and jealous. Why did this person get to stand beside Big Sister Wen? But to maintain her gentle and refined image in front of Wen Nanshu, she had to try to keep a graceful demeanor.

She simply left Luo Xiaoxiao with a gentle but powerful warning.

“Niewodie, I’ll see you at the Immortal Gate!”

“Cough, cough, cough…”

She was already struggling to hold back her laughter, but the young miss just had to drop that last line before she left.

Her expression was hard to maintain. With her head lowered, Luo Xiaoxiao’s little shoulders trembled as she tried to suppress her laughter.

Seeing Luo Xiaoxiao’s head lowered and her body trembling, Wen Nanshu thought she was scared by True One Xuanheng’s aura. She considerately reached out and gently patted Luo Xiaoxiao’s back.

Her voice, compared to when she spoke to the young miss, was not just a little bit gentler.

“They’re gone. Don’t be afraid. I’ll take you back to the room. Okay?”

“Okay~”

Wen Nanshu led her all the way to the top floor of the Full Moon Tower, the legendary “Heaven-rank” room.

Upon entering, Luo Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. Suddenly, she could understand the young miss’s impulse to steal her room.

Because this place was a hundred times more luxurious than the floor below!

Having a floor made of jade was a basic luxury, but the key point was this: in Fengtian City, where every inch of land was worth a fortune, and on the top floor of the most luxurious inn, this entire floor was her room!

The facilities were top-tier, but the most important thing was that there was even a spiritual spring pool in the room.

A spiritual spring! You know, that’s something money can’t buy outside, and here, it’s for taking a bath!

The lavishness left her speechless…

So much so that Luo Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but fantasize about her retirement as a lazy bum.

Hehe, when the time comes, she would follow the style of the Full Moon Tower’s room and get herself a luxurious PLUS version!

Thinking this, Luo Xiaoxiao felt a surge of fighting spirit.

Seeing that the girl liked it, Wen Nanshu stepped forward and gently placed a storage bag in her hand.

She softly instructed, “This contains some spirit stones, pills, clothes, and food you might need during this time.”

“Big Sister?”

“In a few days, the Tianyan Sect’s leading disciples will come to Fengtian City to guide you through the sect’s barrier and into the Immortal Gate for the trial. From now on, I won’t be able to help you.

The path of cultivation depends on destiny and comprehension, and one thing is certain: there are no shortcuts. You can’t rely on others, and I can’t help you. So whether you can stay in the end depends entirely on your own fate.”

Wen Nanshu spoke to Luo Xiaoxiao about the cruel reality of the cultivation world. But when she saw the girl’s eyes slowly droop, Wen Nanshu quickly added.

“The Immortal Gate is not the only path in your life. If you can’t endure it, you can choose to give up. Don’t be afraid, and don’t feel burdened. At that time, I will still arrange a place for you to stay in Fengtian City and help you…”

Perhaps because she cared, the cold and quiet person became uncharacteristically talkative, her words filled with concern.

Before Wen Nanshu could finish, she suddenly felt her waist being tightly held. A soft figure had buried itself in her chest.

“Big Sister~”

Luo Xiaoxiao’s “Big Sister” was soft and sweet, sounding particularly pleasant and exceptionally reluctant.

She knew that returning to the sect’s territory meant Wen Nanshu would resume her busy role as the head disciple of the Tianyan Sect.

She guessed she wouldn’t see her for the next few days.

So, after a greedy but brief hug, Luo Xiaoxiao wasn’t greedy. She slowly pulled back, her face flushed.

Then, she raised her beautiful face and looked at Wen Nanshu with determination.

“Big Sister, believe me, I can do it! Because I promised to be with you, Big Sister. So no matter how difficult the path ahead is, I will make it through.”

“…”

The girl’s serious expression showed an astonishing sense of tenacity.

Looking at the person who was staring at her with beautiful, star-like eyes, like a small, spoiled puppy, her heart was filled with an unknown warmth.

Wen Nanshu unconsciously reached out to caress the girl’s soft hair. A faint smile slowly appeared on her beautiful lips.

“I believe in you, but… promise me you won’t push yourself too hard.”

“Mhm! Big Sister, wait for me.”

“…Okay.”

…

The seventh day of the eleventh month was the official start of the Tianyan Sect’s recruitment.

On this day, the main street of Fengtian City was crowded with people. It was exceptionally lively, with lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere.

Whether they were participants in the recruitment or just people who came to watch the fun, they all gathered in the center of the city’s huge plaza, eagerly awaiting the Tianyan Sect’s once-every-five-years recruitment.

With a purple-winged white tiger leading the way and colorful firecrackers going off, the Tianyan Sect’s recruitment ceremony was a grand affair, as befits the top sect in the cultivation world.

As one of the tens of thousands of participants, Luo Xiaoxiao, being small, couldn’t squeeze into the sea of people. She could only stand alone in a corner at the very edge of the plaza, waiting.

She looked up at the huge screen in the center of the plaza, which was showing a live broadcast, like a projector from her world. Luo Xiaoxiao’s eyes were filled with wonder.

This projected object was called a Mist-Shadow Stone in the cultivation world. It was a magical item that, once connected, could broadcast the scene from the other end.

However, its raw materials were scarce and expensive.

It was generally only owned by very wealthy cultivation sects or noble families, a symbol of status and power, and was not widely available.

Only a wealthy sect like the Tianyan Sect would be willing to use it for recruitment.

She watched the live broadcast on the Mist-Shadow Stone. Several male cultivators, with calm auras, flew on their swords from the sky and landed on the high platform in the center of the plaza.

The people present cheered enthusiastically, as if they had seen some sort of a superstar.

The cultivators on the high platform seemed unfazed by the passionate crowd below. As if they were used to it, their expressions were extremely cold and business-like.

Like mission-giving NPCs in a game, they explained the rules for entering the Immortal Gate with a detached and matter-of-fact tone.

“I’m sure everyone here has the same goal. Next, I will open the sect’s barrier and lead you into the only path to the Tianyan Sect—the Immortal Gate.

To enter the Immortal Gate, there is only one condition: you must be under 20 years of age. If you don’t meet this condition, I’m sorry, you won’t be able to enter at all.

As for those who meet the condition…

The path of cultivation depends on destiny and will. Abandoning mortal attachments and dedicating yourselves to the Dao is the first step to entering the Immortal Gate.

As for who you are, whether you are rich or poor, noble or common, it has no bearing on whether you can enter the Immortal Gate or the Tianyan Sect.

After entering the Immortal Gate, you will not encounter anyone you know. And the protective artifacts and spiritual weapons with offensive attributes that you have equipped will also be unusable after entering the Immortal Gate.

What you encounter inside the Immortal Gate and how you pass the trial are all unknown and vary from person to person. To enter the Tianyan Sect, you must rely on yourself to reach the end. No one can help you.

And one more thing, the Tianyan Sect does not accept trash.

If you are weak in the middle of the trial, get seriously injured and cannot continue, or have even a single thought of giving up due to difficulty or fear, the Immortal Gate barrier will automatically detect that you are not suitable for the Tianyan Sect and send you back to Fengtian City.

Of course, there is one thing you don’t have to worry about. Although the injuries inside the Immortal Gate are one-to-one, as long as you return to Fengtian City, these injuries will no longer exist.

Alright, no more nonsense. Now, open the barrier! Eligible candidates will be automatically teleported inside.”

With that, at the command of the male cultivator at the front of the high platform, the other cultivators behind him all summoned their spiritual swords. They performed hand seals and chanted something.

Soon, a huge spell formation was summoned by their spiritual swords, which were suspended in the air and spinning rapidly.

The spell formation shimmered with golden light, and a powerful spiritual energy overflowed, creating a strong gust of wind.

In no time, the people in the center of the plaza who met the conditions turned into little specks of light and disappeared from their original spots.

“Wow~”

Luo Xiaoxiao looked up at the cool and realistic spell formation and her eyes were filled with amazement.

As she felt a faint golden light envelop her body, a moment later, with a dizzying sensation, she also disappeared from her spot, leaving no trace.

…

At the same time, in the Tianyan Sect.

On a peak shrouded in clouds and an ethereal aura, there was a spacious and elegant meeting hall.

At the head of the hall was the Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect, Ning Xueyan. On the mahogany chairs on both sides sat the eight elders of the Tianyan Sect, all of whom were powerful and highly respected.

They were Chu Qingjue of the Serenity Peak, Lan Muwan of the Zither Music Peak, Elder Yao of the Spiritual Medicine Peak, Xiong Li of the Beast Taming Peak, Shui Linglong of the Sacred Water Peak, Fu Yun of the Floating Cloud Peak, Mu Ze of the Observational Peak, and Wen He of the Ethereal Peak.

In the center of the spacious meeting hall, the scenes from inside the Immortal Gate were split into tens of thousands of small spheres, distributed in front of the elders and the Sect Master.

“It looks like this year is the same. It hasn’t even been a quarter of an hour, and half of the people have already been eliminated.”

Shui Linglong, with her voluptuous figure, idly played with her brightly painted nails. She crossed her legs and said nonchalantly, her eyes showing a hint of boredom.

“Mhm, this year doesn’t seem to be any different from previous years. But we still have to wait and see. There are still people left. Among these people, there might be a good prospect hidden away.”

Elder Yao, the oldest person present, stroked his white beard. His expression was kind and calm.

“Heh, as far as recruitment goes, hasn’t the best prospect already been taken in by the Sect Master?”

Shui Linglong subconsciously looked at the white-haired beauty on the high seat, whose demeanor was ethereal and otherworldly. Her beautiful eyes showed a hint of envy and longing.

“Haha, you have to be able to handle a good prospect, and they have to be a good fit for you. Let’s wait and see. Maybe this year, if you look carefully, you’ll find your destined core disciple.” Xiong Li, with his brawny face, gave a hearty laugh. His deep voice boomed like a bell.

“You say that so easily. They are not that easy to find. Even if there is one among these tens of thousands, can you even see them? You still have to assess them in the later talent tests or the inner disciple selection.”

Shui Linglong lazily retorted. She was indifferent about taking in a core disciple.

“Who do you think has the most potential in this batch?” Mu Ze held a gossip mirror in his hand. As if he had divined something, he asked with an inscrutable expression.

“Potential? Well… I heard that this time, Si Gan personally sent in their precious little treasure from the Dark Underworld Empire.”

Fu Yun took a sip of the fragrant tea at his table and replied slowly.

“Oh? The precious treasure of the Dark Underworld Empire?” A hint of interest flashed in Ning Xueyan’s beautiful eyes.

The Sect Master, Ning Xueyan, on her high seat, had a relaxed and languid demeanor. But her breathtakingly beautiful appearance was that of a holy immortal.

Her bones were as pure as jade, and she was refreshingly beautiful. Her powerful aura was visible to the naked eye.

With a light flick of her hand, she effortlessly locked onto one of the tens of thousands of screens and magnified it without even looking.

The next second, the elders’ gazes all turned to the center of the screen, to the “precious treasure” that Fu Yun had mentioned.

In a background of volcanic lava, facing a siege from dozens of flaming fire lizards, a beautiful girl lightly flipped backward and gracefully dodged to the side.

She easily avoided the dense fireball attacks from the flaming fire lizards. She then quickly seized the opportunity and instantly fired a poisonous sleeve arrow from her wrist.

It accurately hit the eyebrows of several flaming fire lizards, killing them with one blow.

“You ugly things aren’t even worthy of having your hides made into shoes for me, the princess. How dare you try to stop me?”

With the same technique, she easily eliminated the remaining ones. Si Luoyu stepped on the head of one of the huge, terrifying lizards. She looked arrogant, disdainful, and scolded.

“Hmph! You’re courting death!”

…

“Oh? Is this the little princess of the Dark Underworld Empire? Although her temper is a bit fiery, her talent is truly good. Given time, she will surely achieve great things.”

Chu Qingjue’s mismatched eyes showed a hint of interest, and he gave Si Luoyu high praise.

“Not only is her talent good, but I just observed her face and the aura around her. When this child attacked, there was no obvious spiritual energy driving it, yet there were still a few streaks of red light around her. This child has probably inherited their Dark Underworld Empire’s divine beast bloodline, and its concentration seems to be high, though I can’t be sure.” Mu Ze added.

“Si Gan’s Dark Underworld Night Flame is already impressive enough. I wonder if this little princess, who has inherited the divine beast bloodline, can go even further.” Fu Yun nodded, looking forward to Si Luoyu’s future growth.

“What? Fu Yun, are you impressed? Are you thinking about taking in a core disciple?”

Shui Linglong laughed and teased him, seeing that Fu Yun was showing such an expression for the first time.

Fu Yun smiled and shook his head, not saying anything explicitly. He raised his teacup and said nonchalantly.

“This is a matter of fate. After all, there can only be one core disciple. We must be very cautious. We can’t rush this.”

“Brother Fu is right. Even if we find a disciple we like, we must reconsider them and deliberate carefully.”

Wen He, who was known for being an old-fashioned stick-in-the-mud, nodded silently, agreeing with Fu Yun.

But Shui Linglong sneered. “Heh, it’s normal for you to deliberate. After all, you two are so nit-picky. You are picky about all your inner disciples, let alone finding a core disciple you like.”

…

Just as everyone at the table was captivated by Si Luoyu and discussing her, in a corner of the screen that no one was paying attention to, Luo Xiaoxiao was standing in a daze.

After being teleported into the Immortal Gate’s barrier, she looked at her surroundings, which had instantly transformed from a noisy crowd into a gloomy, silent, old forest.

Luo Xiaoxiao’s expression was calm. She wasn’t in a hurry to find the exit, nor was she worried about her safety.

She was observing the dense trees around her and had no intention of taking any action.

She calmly took out a clean blanket from her storage space, spread it on the ground as if for a picnic, and sat down cross-legged on it.