Qian Li came with Fang Hui to find Ming Li. The Spirit Calming Bell rang, reminding them to go to the South Gate Vermilion Bird Platform for star power meditation.
On the way, Qian Li asked her: “Why are you staying in the new dormitory? Is it because you don’t have enough money?”
Ming Li shook her head, and Fang Hui explained for her: “She’s been targeted by a senior sister from the Wing Constellation Academy.”
Qian Li: “Who?”
Fang Hui glanced at him: “Jiang Wuyue’s sister.”
Qian Li turned to ask Ming Li, “Is it because of me?”
“I quite like the new dormitory,” Ming Li deflected and asked, “Are you now Cui Yaocen’s disciple?”
Qian Li was startled, seemingly surprised that someone would directly use Cui Yaocen’s name. Generally, people referred to her as Saint Cui or other honorific titles like Pilgrim. Hearing Ming Li speak so naturally made him feel oddly unfamiliar.
“After I woke up yesterday, Saint Cui took me as her disciple and brought me back to Three Saints Peak to align all seven of my awakened meridians. Just two hours ago, she was watching me practice Eight Meridians spirit techniques,” Qian Li answered honestly.
Fang Hui said, “You’re lucky to be taken as Saint Cui’s disciple.”
But Qian Li said, “Actually, I felt something was off from the beginning, or rather, I couldn’t believe I would become Saint Cui’s disciple, so I asked again at Three Saints Peak.”
He paused and lowered his voice: “That night, wasn’t I transferred out of Nan Que by a formation? If not for Saint Cui’s arrival, you probably wouldn’t be seeing me now.”
Fang Hui didn’t know about Cui Yaocen rescuing Qian Li and only now understood why the Jiang Clan’s people had returned Qian Li that night.
But Ming Li asked: “She saved you?”
Qian Li nodded.
Ming Li smiled slightly. It seemed this young man didn’t know his Seven Star Command had shattered, and Cui Yaocen hadn’t mentioned it either.
A Bei Dou person rescuing a Nan Que disciple before Nan Que could—this would greatly irritate Cui Yaocen, who would not voluntarily tell Qian Li.
“You mentioned Jiang Wuyue’s sister earlier, the one engaged to Nan Que’s young master. The current situation is that they’re in love, but the relationship between the Jiang Clan and Nan Que isn’t very good,” Qian Li said. “Saint Cui knows my identity, and taking me as her disciple is just right for dealing with the Jiang Clan.”
He calmly continued: “In this matter, our goals align.”
Now able to use Cui Yaocen’s influence to intimidate the Jiang Clan while becoming stronger, he certainly wouldn’t refuse.
Fang Hui patted his shoulder and said, “Keep up the good work.”
Qian Li turned to Ming Li and said, “After the Jiang Clan learns of this, they shouldn’t act rashly. After all, they can’t afford to offend Saint Cui. If Jiang Ying causes trouble for you…”
Ming Li said, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll handle it.”
Though Qian Li was her junior sister’s only clan member, he was the one bearing the Zhao family’s deep blood feud. As her junior sister was a Bei Dou disciple, Ming Li didn’t want Qian Li involved in the affairs between Bei Dou and Nan Que. The best approach was for each to handle their own business.
Throughout this journey, Ming Li had defined Qian Li only as her junior sister’s clan member, not as a companion.
*
Many people had already arrived at the South Gate Vermilion Bird Platform. As the Spirit Calming Bell stopped ringing, everyone faced the direction, concentrating and calming their minds to sense the purest star power between heaven and earth.
The methods weren’t uniform, but most people sat properly in meditation. Some nonconformists simply lay on the ground or brought chairs to sit and daydream.
Dou Lanmin had stacked four or five chairs beside him, with prices marked.
Qian Li looked at him, puzzled: “Where do you get all these things?”
Dou Lanmin proudly said, “If you set your mind to it, you can find them anywhere.”
Qian Li waved his sleeve and bought all the chairs. Ming Li chose a recliner, then curled up with her feet against the backrest and closed her eyes.
Observing disciples: “…”
So this was how one could enjoy cultivating star power?
Today, coincidentally, Jiang Ying was supervising the cultivation. Cui Yuanxi escorted her to the South Gate Vermilion Bird Platform, glancing at the disciples meditating behind, and reminded Jiang Ying to take care of her health.
Ming Li heard someone mentioning the Nan Que young master and opened her eyes, looking in the direction of the gossip to see Cui Yuanxi standing with Jiang Ying.
Cui Yaocen’s younger brother, Nan Que’s young master.
This was Ming Li’s main impression of Cui Yuanxi until last night, when she confirmed that Cui Yaocen had cured Jiang Ying’s illness with the blood nourishment technique. Only then did she realize Cui Yuanxi’s role in this.
Jiang Ying had suffered a backlash from the Eight Meridians, living in unbearable pain daily, unable to leave her bed. Cui Yaocen knew the cure but had difficult requirements. She wouldn’t run errands for Jiang Ying, so the only one who would search for the catalyst was Cui Yuanxi.
Li Yansi had also mentioned that Cui Yuanxi went out to find a cure for Jiang Ying, so he must have been the first to contact Qing Ying.
Ming Li couldn’t help but recall whether her junior sister had ever mentioned knowing Nan Que’s young master. The answer was no.
But if Cui Yuanxi knew about Qing Ying as a junior sister, knew she was a disciple of Bei Dou’s Yaoguang Academy, knew her senior sister was Bei Dou’s pilgrim, then Cui Yuanxi, who viewed Qing Ying as a catalyst, certainly wouldn’t let her know his true identity.
If her junior sister had indeed died as Jiang Ying’s catalyst, the main culprit must be Cui Yuanxi.
Ming Li was lost in thought.
Beside her, Cheng Jingbai, with one eye open and one closed, sighed: “They look like a talented man and a beautiful woman.”
Dou Lanmin rubbed his hands together: “Their wedding day will surely be lively!”
Even Qiu Hong opened his eyes to look.
Qian Li rolled his eyes and said, “What are you all doing? The purest star power of the day is right in front of you, yet instead of seriously sensing it, you’re gossiping!”
Cheng Jingbai unhurriedly said: “This is the arrogance of the Eight Meridians Awakened.”
Dou Lanmin, unusually aligned with him: “Those who aren’t Eight Meridians Awakened wouldn’t understand.”
After speaking, the two even high-fived in front of Qian Li to celebrate this rare moment of accord.
Qian Li turned to ask Fang Hui: “Am I being targeted?”
Fang Hui was concentrating on sensing star power and ignored him.
When Jiang Ying approached the Vermilion Bird Platform, the disciples who had been quietly gossiping finally shut their mouths and focused. In contrast, Ming Li lazily leaned against the chair back and opened her eyes, her bright black pupils quietly watching Jiang Ying.
Jiang Ying stopped at the edge of the Vermilion Bird Platform and, meeting Ming Li’s gaze, said gently: “Close your eyes and concentrate on meditation.”
Ming Li smiled at her: “With Sister Jiang watching, how dare I close my eyes and concentrate? After all, Sister Jiang just said last night that you aren’t magnanimous enough to watch me live well in Nan Que.”
The smile on Jiang Ying’s face faded considerably.
Their voices were neither loud nor soft, but almost all the disciples present heard them. Those who had been focusing on cultivation couldn’t help but prick up their ears to eavesdrop on the gossip.
Cheng Jingbai and the others inwardly admired Ming Li’s courage.
“Rest assured, I won’t act against you in front of so many people,” Jiang Ying, seeing Ming Li’s public stance, said nonchalantly. “But Junior Sister Zhou, you should be careful when you’re alone.”
Ming Li slightly raised her chin, her gaze pointing at Jiang Ying: “Sister Jiang, the same goes for you.”
The disciples in morning meditation: How can we concentrate on cultivation after hearing all this?
Unfortunately, the two didn’t speak again until the morning meditation ended. Everyone pretended to open their eyes and rise, only to see Jiang Ying’s consistently gentle smile and Ming Li’s lazy demeanor.
Jiang Ying left with several disciples, all newcomers from the Wing Constellation Academy, specifically not calling Ming Li.
Ming Li didn’t mind. Did Jiang Ying think she would care about Nan Que’s cultivation teaching resources?
Cheng Jingbai and the others were discussing how Ming Li was being isolated by the Wing Constellation Academy. They invited her to go to the dining hall for breakfast. Dou Lanmin said, “You absolutely mustn’t walk alone. Sister Jiang just warned you to be careful!”
Qiu Hong also nodded and said, “With us, there are more people.”
Qian Li was the most concerned, scratching his head and saying: “I’ll go talk to her later and make it clear that if she has issues, she should come to me.”
Ming Li shook her head to indicate they needn’t worry. After eating a steamed bun at the dining hall, everyone returned to their respective academies. Li Yansi taught them Nan Que-related mental techniques and spirit skills, ensuring they mastered the commonly used spirit techniques needed for certification and passage in various Nan Que academies.
This lesson took the entire morning. During lunchtime, just as Ming Li left the Wing Constellation Academy, she saw Qian Li waiting for her outside.
Many senior disciples from the Wing Constellation Academy approached Qian Li with smiles, greeting him: “Who is Saint Cui’s first disciple looking for at our Wing Constellation Academy?”
Having navigated the rough-and-tumble of Ji Dan for many years, Qian Li was very familiar with such probing and handled it naturally. His smile was sunny and energetic, making people like him on sight.
He was also good with words, addressing everyone as beautiful senior sisters, offering compliments that were natural rather than slimy, making the Wing Constellation Academy senior sisters laugh incessantly.
Only after seeing Ming Li emerge did Qian Li end the conversation, waving as he walked toward her.
Ming Li stopped at the notice board and turned to look at Qian Li: “Why are you here?”
Qian Li asked her, “Waiting for you to go to the dining hall for lunch together?”
Ming Li asked again: “Aren’t you busy?”
Qian Li answered honestly: “I’m worried about you.”
Ming Li withdrew her gaze back to the notice board and said seriously, “You don’t need to follow me. I just need you to do one thing for me.”
Qian Li immediately said, “What is it?”
Ming Li said, “Let me know when your master leaves Nan Que.”
Qian Li was stunned, unclear why she would make such a request, but didn’t ask further. He nodded in agreement: “Alright.”
At the dining hall, everyone discussed today’s public tasks, which required traveling across half of Nan Que, going back and forth between the seven academies to help with various trivial matters. The rewards weren’t substantial, and the tasks were troublesome. Most disciples wouldn’t bother with such public tasks when they saw them.
But Ming Li said, “I’ve accepted it.”
“Are you short on money?” Qian Li asked worriedly.
Dou Lanmin immediately said, “If you need money, borrow from me. I can charge less interest!”
Ming Li shook her head and said, “I’m not short on money. I just want to become more familiar with Nan Que.”
Cheng Jingbai said, “Then you’d better be careful on your own.”
They didn’t want to do this exhausting, troublesome, and poorly rewarded task, so they couldn’t accompany her.
Seeing Cheng Jingbai and Qian Li constantly nagging, worried that Ming Li might be attacked during the mission, Fang Hui finally couldn’t bear it anymore and turned to say: “I’m telling you all, you probably couldn’t beat Zhou Li.”
The world fell silent.
*
In the afternoon, Ming Li followed the star map’s guidance to familiarize herself with Nan Que’s paths, traveling back and forth between the nearest Zhen Constellation Academy and Willow Constellation Academy. The third task was to fetch tea leaves from the supplies hall for the Well Constellation Academy Master.
Ming Li, carrying the tea canister, arrived at the Well Constellation Academy and made her way to the academy master’s main residence. Just as she entered, she happened to encounter Academy Master Yumei collapsing on the floor due to a sudden illness attack. The tea table was covered with blood he had coughed up, thick and somewhat blackish.
She didn’t approach but called for disciples guarding outside, then watched as the Well Constellation disciples anxiously carried him back into the room.
This wasn’t the first time such an incident had occurred. The guard disciple summoned the Well Constellation Academy’s senior brother, Shan Siyuan.
Ming Li stood in a corner of the room and saw a handsome young man with a sword at his waist enter with furrowed brows. The anxiously waiting disciples greeted him as “Senior Brother” and led him around the screen to treat Yumei.
Because the Well Constellation Academy Master was physically weak, in recent years, all academy affairs had been entrusted to his first disciple, Shan Siyuan, to manage. This kept Shan Siyuan busy all day, and because his master was weak and could relapse at any time, he dared not leave the Well Constellation Academy.
He was truly a filial disciple.
Seeing the Well Constellation disciples busy trying to save their master, Ming Li left the tea canister in the room and quietly departed.
She walked along the path, checking the star map. The next task was to go to the Ghost Constellation Academy to help the dining hall organize the vegetable garden. These were indeed all small tasks, but the journey was long and troublesome.
Ming Li hadn’t gone far when the guiding star map began to malfunction. The image became blurry, the guidelines incorrect, leading her to a deserted place. On a massive rock ahead were two large, red characters: Forbidden Area.
There was no hint of aesthetics, only an eerie, undisguised intimidation.
Ming Li looked up at it and casually tucked the star map back into her pocket. Behind the massive rock was a grove of giant trees, lush with green plants. The ground showed no path, completely covered with extending green vines.
It looked eerie and terrifying, like a man-eating jungle, yet Ming Li could sense the immense star power emanating from within.
This power was somewhat familiar to her.
It came from the Bei Dou sacred artifact she had guarded for years, a rare, supreme divine weapon: Shi Fei.