Sufang City was a square-shaped city that wasn’t particularly large among cultivation cities, but it was wealthy, built like an immortal palace.

The city had two streets: Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise, intersecting at a circular stone platform in the center where the golden lotus was placed.

There weren’t many pedestrians on the path to the golden lotus. Su Zhuyi stepped on the jade stone stairs and walked to the lotus flower’s side, looking left and right without seeing anyone. But the next moment, she felt spiritual energy surging from beneath her feet—an array formation had activated.

Su Zhuyi was prepared. She didn’t move recklessly, standing confidently with her hands clasped behind her back.

The next moment, the scenery before her eyes wavered, and she vanished from the spot in a blink. Little Skull had been following behind Su Zhuyi in a daze. Now he was completely confused, spinning in circles. Where had big sister gone? His bones stepping on the array formation produced no reaction at all. He sniffed, hugging the little dog as he chased in the direction of Su Zhuyi’s aura.

Suyue Sect wasn’t located within Sufang City. The sect was a hundred li away from Sufang City, built by the sea with Fragrant Mountain at its back.

After landing, Su Zhuyi felt the slightly salty, humid sea breeze and heard the sound of waves crashing against rocks. Looking up, a flock of seabirds flew across the sky, then flapped their wings to land on the roof eaves. Back then, from high atop the Wangtian Tree, she could also see the distant sea—azure blue like the sky, with heaven and sea forming a single line.

She had once sat at the edge of that little wooden house, feet dangling outside, telling Qin Jianglan how she envied the freedom of seabirds.

But Qin Jianglan had only told her to pull her feet back inside the room. When she refused, he grabbed her ankles and placed both feet on the wooden house floor while holding them. His sleeves were wide, but even through the fabric, she could feel the warmth of his arms.

What had he said then?

“It’s cold outside. There’s a barrier inside the room.” At that time, she had lost all her cultivation, and her injuries hadn’t healed—she couldn’t endure the cold wind for too long. Truth be told, if Qin Jianglan hadn’t used the finest spirit medicines to sustain her life, how could she have lived so long? How could she have waited for the Liuguang Mirror to repair itself…

She’d accidentally thought of him again.

Shaking her head, she began examining her surroundings.

Though she knew the Suyue Sect was wealthy and well-backed, seeing it with her own eyes still gave Su Zhuyi a small shock.

This location wasn’t particularly good in the cultivation world—after all, the blessed lands rich in spiritual energy had all been claimed by major sects. But every brick and tile here was made from crafting materials, all containing spiritual energy, combined through array formations to create an atmosphere of paradise in what was originally an ordinary place. Look at that azure seawater beneath the pavilion, scattered with countless immortal bamboo flower petals, rolling up wave by wave and retreating wave by wave—truly extravagant to the extreme.

Immortal bamboo flowers could be used to refine Spirit Concentration Pills, and they weren’t cheap.

No one came to receive her after landing, so she looked around. Since this pavilion was built over the sea with only one path ahead, Su Zhuyi wasn’t timid and walked straight along the small path. Soon she saw another golden lotus—oh, another teleportation array.

She walked directly over and was instantly transported again, this time arriving on Fragrant Mountain.

Fragrant Mountain had many red leaves and a faint fragrant aura. Su Zhuyi had heard of it before, and seeing it in person now, it was just so-so. This fragrance—she sniffed—was clearly from ground-covering grass planted on the mountain. That grass grew underground and had a faint, sweet scent. Those with little knowledge thought the mountain was fragrant because of all the beauties there, but it had nothing to do with those female cultivators—it was just the grass’s fragrance.

She belonged to the well-read type and viewed all this quite calmly, so from the moment she entered the Suyue Sect, she appeared very composed and dignified, like a child from a prestigious family.

Su Zhuyi walked a bit further and came to a courtyard. The courtyard was empty except for two polished, mirror-smooth stone surfaces. Continuing forward, she saw a red-robed female cultivator holding a jade ruler, walking over with a smile. “Little girl, are you here to register?” she asked with a sweet smile.

That jade ruler was for testing cultivation aptitude—this red-robed woman must be the person responsible for accepting new disciples.

Otherwise? Su Zhuyi thought this, but smiled sweetly on her face. “Yes, beautiful sister. Are you a disciple of the Suyue Sect?”

“I’m called Hong Qin, the senior sister who will guide you.” After speaking, Hong Qin pointed at the two stone mirror surfaces. “Come, stand before the mirrors and let’s see which path suits you.”

Hearing Hong Qin’s words, Su Zhuyi was extremely satisfied.

Look—people could enter the Suyue Sect, and Hong Qin hadn’t even mentioned spirit stones. Her face was truly reliable.

Su Zhuyi stood before the left mirror under Hong Qin’s guidance.

Seeing herself in the mirror, she was slightly stunned.

“Junior sister is so composed. When I first saw this Floating Life Mirror, I was shocked speechless.”

Su Zhuyi smiled and said, “Senior sister, I was stunned silly.”

She smiled, and the person in the mirror smiled too. That smile bloomed, making even Hong Qin, who was used to seeing beauties, pause slightly. She knew the little girl was pretty—she’d passed through the teleportation arrays without anyone charging her spirit stones—but she hadn’t expected her to be beautiful to this extent.

The person in the mirror was her adult self.

The Suyue Sect didn’t care about aptitude. What they tested first wasn’t aptitude, but appearance. Since new disciples were usually very young with undeveloped features, who knew what they’d look like when grown?

Many children who were adorably cute when young grew up crooked, not ugly, but ordinary. So Suyue Sect had created two Floating Life Mirrors. These mirrors were crafted jointly by the cultivation world’s most skilled painter of bones and flesh, the Nascent Soul stage cultivator Divine Brush Zhang Liang, and his good friend, master craftsman Sikong Yu. Named the Floating Life Mirrors, they could display a person’s appearance at their most beautiful time based on bone structure and features.

Floating life like a dream, with women in dreams preserved at their most beautiful moment.

And this little girl with hair only an inch long would grow up to be this beautiful. The left Floating Life Mirror showed red robes with an enchanting, seductive aura. The woman in the mirror smiled slightly, making Hong Qin’s heart skip, as if her soul might be hooked away by those eyes.

Su Zhuyi also looked at herself in the mirror—the self there was three parts more beautiful than in her previous life. After all, in her previous life, those early years were difficult, she was often injured with heavy murderous aura, so her beauty wasn’t this pure.

She knew what she’d look like in the future, so seeing it wasn’t surprising. Instead, she leaned closer to look again and again, asking, “This is the future me?” She widened her eyes, and the beauty in the mirror widened hers too. She made faces, and the person inside followed suit. The atmosphere became lively, and Hong Qin’s heart settled. She smiled and said, “Now come look at this side.”

Su Zhuyi followed her to stand before the right mirror.

In the right mirror, she wore white robes with a slightly cold expression. This was a different style of beauty—the former was alluring and seductive, the latter holy and noble. The former was passionate as fire, the latter like a lonely moon over mountain streams.

Su Zhuyi smiled slightly again.

The person in the mirror curved her lips faintly—snow melted, peach blossoms bloomed, hearts were stirred.

Hong Qin stood there in a daze, covering her pounding chest. Only after a long while did she look away at Su Zhuyi. “You little fairy, this is quite difficult. I don’t know how to advise you.”

Suyue Sect wasn’t large, divided into Listening Sea Pavilion and Fragrant Ridge. New disciples would choose suitable paths based on what the Floating Life Mirror showed—alluring ones went to Listening Sea Pavilion, pure ones to Fragrant Ridge. For someone like Su Zhuyi, Hong Qin truly didn’t know where she should go.

With looks like that, there was no need to test aptitude with the jade ruler. No matter how poor her aptitude, the Suyue Sect would accept her.

Thinking this, Hong Qin said, “Little junior sister, please wait here a moment. I’ll report to the sect master and see where she wants you to go.”

Su Zhuyi nodded, cupping her hands in salute. “Then thank you, senior sister.”

Before leaving, Hong Qin waved her hand and provided tables, chairs, and spirit fruits. Su Zhuyi sat waiting, thinking that this Suyue Sect really could make a living off faces—it truly suited her.

At this time, Hong Qin had already arrived at Suyue Sect Master Qu Ningsu’s chambers.

“Sect Master, this year we’ve gained an excellent prospect.”

Before her was a bamboo grove with pink gauze curtains fluttering. Beneath those curtains, a woman lazily reclined on a couch, holding a round fan while embroidering flowers on its surface.

Hong Qin was separated from her by the bamboo grove, unable to see the sect master’s face at all. She only knew the woman’s silhouette was exquisite—from afar, every gesture carried charm. Through the pink gauze curtains, even the motion of raising her hand was particularly alluring.

The sect master’s seduction arts had advanced again. Hong Qin felt her heart beating like drums after just one glance. She was a woman herself, yet still felt distracted. Looking down, she remembered the junior sister she’d just seen in the mirror and sighed even more—that junior sister was truly stunning. When grown, she’d probably be three parts more beautiful than the sect master. Of course, she could only think such thoughts—she absolutely wouldn’t dare voice them.

After embroidering a red plum blossom, Qu Ningsu lifted her eyes slightly and asked softly, “How good? How many spirit stones did Listening Sea Pavilion and Fragrant Ridge’s recruitment officers charge her?”

Hong Qin answered, “They didn’t charge anything.”

“Oh?” Qu Ningsu raised her willow brows slightly. “Then how much did you charge?”

Hong Qin replied, “This disciple also didn’t collect any spirit stones from her.”

Now, Qu Ningsu was interested. She sat up and took out a mirror from beside her pillow. Looking into it, she saw the face that had just appeared in the Floating Life Mirror.

This sight made her hold her breath.

“Truly stunning,” she murmured.

“Sect Master, should I send her to Listening Sea Pavilion or Fragrant Ridge?” Hong Qin asked.

“Send her to Hehuan Sect.” Qu Ningsu tossed the mirror face down onto the bed carelessly.

Hearing this, Hong Qin was stunned, then immediately understood. Suyue Sect only accepted beautiful female disciples, true, but if that female disciple was more beautiful than the sect master…

Hong Qin’s heart trembled. How had she been so foolish, running here to touch the sect master’s sore spot?

“This disciple obeys.” Hong Qin broke out in a cold sweat. After acknowledging the order and preparing to withdraw, she heard the sect master inside speak again: “Wait.”

Qu Ningsu spread her hand, examining the rouge on her fingernails, pursing her lips slightly. “Don’t send her to Hehuan Sect. Find some excuse to scar her face, then throw her out.”

“Use Beauty’s Withering.”

Hong Qin felt chilled to the bone—even the nervous sweat she’d just worked up went cold. She nodded in acknowledgment and walked out. After leaving the bamboo grove chamber, her legs were still trembling slightly. Just then, Qu Jing Yao, the sect master’s disciple who always attended her, also followed out. “Senior Sister Hong Qin, you’ve caused great trouble today.”

“Bringing such a filthy girl to offend the master’s eyes.” Qu Jing Yao frowned. “You’d better handle this beautifully, or Senior Sister Hong Qin might have to visit the punishment hall.”

“Junior sister’s teaching is correct.” Hong Qin kept her head down, not contradicting her.

Qu Jing Yao was the most beautiful among their batch of female cultivators. However, her aptitude was poor, and her current cultivation wasn’t high, so no one respected her. But the sect master favored her, making an exception to take her as a personal disciple, bringing her everywhere and often visiting major sects where she could interact with outstanding young talents, quite enviable. Hong Qin particularly didn’t get along with her because they both fancied the same man—Yunxiao Sect’s currently most prominent sword cultivator.

She’d thought that with such an excellent prospect coming, the sect master would abandon Qu Jing Yao to nurture that little girl. Who would have thought, who would have thought…

That girl was too beautiful, even more beautiful than the sect master, to the point where the sect master couldn’t tolerate her.

Hong Qin took a deep breath and silently went to the medicine room to retrieve Beauty’s Withering. Once she scarred that face and used Beauty’s Withering, that face would never heal—ugly and hideous like a demon for life.

…

Su Zhuyi had eaten all the spirit fruits on the plate but still hadn’t seen Hong Qin return.

She had patience and wasn’t impatient. She even wandered around, discovering only those two Floating Life Mirrors. She went back to look at herself repeatedly in the mirrors, extremely satisfied with her appearance.

After waiting a while longer, she saw Hong Qin emerge with a sweet smile. “Congratulations, little junior sister. The sect master plans to take you as her disciple for direct teaching.”

Uh, being personally taught by the sect master? Though having powerful backing, there were disadvantages too. She only planned to stay at Suyue Sect temporarily to gather some resources. Once she had some strength, she’d venture out on her own and establish her sect—essentially betraying her teacher. Though she wasn’t afraid, becoming the sect master’s disciple would certainly add considerable trouble.

But at this moment, she definitely couldn’t refuse, so she said, “That’s wonderful.”

Then she heard Hong Qin continue, “You know that joining our Suyue Sect has rules. Congratulations on joining the sect, little junior sister. The total is one hundred high-grade spirit stones. Please pay the entrance fee.”

If someone didn’t have enough spirit stones but confidently came to challenge the Suyue Sect, then sorry, they’d receive punishment. This girl child was only five or six years old. Handling her this way wouldn’t damage the Suyue Sect’s reputation if word got out. She hoped the sect master would be satisfied and not blame her for this.

Hearing this, Su Zhuyi’s heart sank.

One hundred high-grade spirit stones—that wasn’t something ordinary people could produce. Asking this price meant they didn’t plan to accept her and wanted to trick her, too. Everything had been fine just now—Hong Qin had enthusiastically called her little junior sister. But after requesting instructions from the sect master, there were problems?

It seemed the issue lay with the sect master.

Su Zhuyi’s mind worked quickly. Among all the cultivation sects in the world, she hadn’t dealt much with the Suyue Sect, which would be carved up in a few hundred years anyway. She only knew the sect master was beautiful with powerful backing, the sect had abundant resources, disciples got plenty of spirit stones, and produced quite a few famous beauties, though they were all eventually overshadowed by her. After requesting instructions, the sect master wanted her gone. Could it be that she felt Su Zhuyi’s beauty was too threatening?

This made sense—after all, that sect master also relied on her face and men.

Damn it, she couldn’t stay at Suyue Sect after all. Su Zhuyi thought she shouldn’t linger and turned to leave, but saw Hong Qin’s expression change. “You girl, don’t tell me you came to challenge the Suyue Sect without bringing enough spirit stones?”

Her willow brows stood on end. “Do you know that breaking the rules means severe punishment!”

With that, she flung out a flying blade. Su Zhuyi’s eyes and hands were quick—she used Swift Steps, but even so, the flying blade scraped past her cheek, leaving a bloody mark on her face.

Damn it, she finally understood—this Suyue Sect planned to ruin her appearance!

Just one cut definitely wouldn’t work. With spiritual energy, such wounds would heal quickly. Hong Qin had follow-up moves! She couldn’t fight directly—she wasn’t a match right now. Seeing Hong Qin produce a medicine bottle, Su Zhuyi widened her eyes and shouted sternly, “How dare you! Do you know who I am, yet you attack and wound me!”

She hadn’t looked around carelessly along the way, appearing quite extraordinary, not like a child from an ordinary family. So young, not yet six years old when cultivation typically began, yet her body already contained spiritual energy, seemingly at early Qi Refinement strength. Hong Qin’s mind raced—Su Zhuyi’s shout made her pause slightly.

But she needed to get the other party’s backing out in the open. Thinking this, Hong Qin sneered, “I don’t care who you are. Coming to our Suyue Sect means following our rules!”

With that, she opened the medicine bottle. Su Zhuyi smelled the medicinal fragrance and felt chilled to the bone. Beauty’s Withering—it was Beauty’s Withering. This Suyue Sect was truly vicious!

She immediately shouted, “My master is Luo Ying of Gujian Sect. You dare touch me? My master and senior brothers will level your wicked, evil Suyue Sect!”

In this critical situation, she couldn’t fight directly and had to save herself. Just invoking Luo Ying’s name wasn’t nearly enough.

Hearing it was Luo Ying, Hong Qin immediately scoffed. She wasn’t afraid at all—Luo Ying only had one disciple. How could there be an additional little girl? Besides, Luo Ying’s disciple couldn’t possibly lack even one hundred high-grade spirit stones.

On the ground, Su Zhuyi snorted coldly, “You think no one knows about the sordid dealings between your Suyue Sect and Hehuan Sect? You think you can hide from the world that old lecher from Dong Fushang Sect secretly uses young girls as cultivation cauldrons?”

Su Zhuyi declared loudly, “Master has long been investigating you. This time, she sent me as an undercover agent. I didn’t expect you to expose yourselves so quickly! If you dare touch a hair on my head, the master will know exactly what happened. When that time comes, Dong Fushang Sect itself will be in danger, let alone your small Suyue Sect!”

Everything she said was true—things that had happened in her previous life—so Su Zhuyi knew her words would have an effect. How could a little girl possibly know such private scandals? There was only one possibility: someone was backing her, someone who had investigated these matters.

Luo Ying, that great female cultivator who went around acting chivalrously, was perfect to take this blame!

…

Above in the sky, Qinghe was riding his fan and had just flown over the Fragrant Mountain of the Suyue Sect when he happened to hear Su Zhuyi’s shouting.

Qinghe: “…”

Even lying with such righteousness, completely fooling people, she had quite some ability.