My mother is the white moonlight of the cultivation world.

The next day, Hua Yue, sporting dark circles under her eyes, was dragged out of that pink room by Mo Ze.

"Master, where are we going?" Hua Yue looked at the increasingly familiar mountain road and her heart skipped a beat.

Isn't this the main peak of yesterday's election, Qinglin Peak, the peak of Immortal Venerable Yue Qingxue?

"You'll see when we get there." Mo Ze remained as nonchalant as ever, waving his folding fan.

Soon, the two stopped at the foot of Qinglin Peak.

Yue Qingxue, dressed in green, stood with her hands behind her back in front of the bamboo forest, her aura so cool that it seemed to lower the temperature of the air.

Hua Yue's scalp tingled instantly, and her feet felt rooted to the spot; she absolutely refused to take another step forward.

Do we have to do this kind of social death scene a second time?

Mo Ze ignored her and strode forward, shoving Hua Yue forward without any politeness.

"Here, senior brother, I'm entrusting this child to you from now on."

Yue Qingxue frowned almost imperceptibly, her voice as cold as ice, "I've said it before, I will not take on any more disciples."

"Hey, didn't you just pick one up yesterday?" Mo Ze retorted immediately, gesturing with his chin toward Xuan Tianyu, who was standing not far away.

That's because...

Before Yue Qingxue could finish speaking, Mo Ze interrupted her.

"Hey, I never said she was your disciple." Mo Ze grinned like a cunning fox. "She's my disciple, your niece. I've been busy dealing with those messy things in the Demon Realm and haven't had time to teach her, so can't I ask you, her senior, to do it for me?"

This fallacy and heresy is presented with a self-righteous air.

Yue Qingxue fell silent.

He could never win an argument with his unreliable junior brother.

"...Fine." In the end, he uttered two words helplessly.

He asked Xuan Tianyu to show Hua Yue around first, while he and Mo Ze went to the side.

"I know that child looks a lot like my senior sister," Yue Qingxue said in a low voice, with a hint of warning, "but she is not my senior sister after all."

"So what?" Mo Ze asked, hands clasped behind his back, a look of anticipation on his face.

"Don't project your feelings for your senior sister onto her," Yue Qingxue said solemnly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Mo Ze burst into laughter as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. He laughed so hard that he was bent over backwards and couldn't catch his breath.

"Hahahaha! I can't take it anymore... How can you all be so dense!"

He finally managed to stop laughing, wiping away the tears that had welled up in his eyes. "My feelings for my senior sister are brotherly, pure brotherly love! After all, she practically raised me!"

Yue Qingxue's expression softened, and when he mentioned that senior sister, a hint of... awe appeared in his eyes.

"Who isn't?"

Indeed, compared to a loving mother, that senior sister was more like a strict father, the kind with a fiery temper who would resort to violence at the slightest disagreement. These fellow disciples weren't afraid of their master, but they were afraid of their senior sister.

Mo Ze's communication stone suddenly lit up, and the smile on his face faded slightly.

"Alright, I have to go." He patted Yue Qingxue's shoulder and whispered, "I advise you to treat this child well. Don't blame me for not warning you, or you'll be in trouble when your senior sister comes back."

"What do you mean?"

Before Yue Qingxue could ask any further questions, Mo Ze's figure had already transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.

the other side.

Xuan Tianyu looked Hua Yue up and down, his arrogance almost overflowing.

"Since you joined the sect before me, then you are the senior sister." He said, his tone neither respectful nor provocative.

"Okay." Hua Yue didn't care about these things, after all, she wasn't a proper senior sister, just a temporary one.

At this moment, Yue Qingxue walked over.

He looked at the two teenagers in front of him; one was unruly and arrogant, while the other was meek and submissive.

Listen.

A gentle voice rang out, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"Everyone says that cultivating immortality is about defying the heavens, seeking longevity, and obtaining boundless magical power. But for me, these are not the fundamental things."

"I only have two things to tell you."

"First, understand the purpose of the power you possess. It is not a sharp blade for your conquests and displays, but a shield to protect your heart. You must first protect yourself; if your body is uneasy, your Dao heart will have nowhere to rest."

"Secondly, no matter where you are in the future or what level of cultivation you attain, you must always maintain a gentle compassion. To heaven and earth, to all living beings, and to yourselves."

"Supernatural powers will eventually come to an end, but only a kind heart can lead to a wider and wider path."

Yue Qingxue spoke each word clearly, her voice not loud, yet it resonated deeply in their hearts.

Xuan Tianyu curled his lip, clearly unconvinced. In his family, kindness was the most useless thing.

Hua Yue listened attentively to every word. On the cruel path of seeking immortality, there are very few people like Yue Qingxue who pursue kindness.

Yue Qingxue's words drifted in the cool wind, the bamboo leaves rustling as a silent response.

A surge of emotion welled up within Hua Yue, an urge to ask about her mother. Where had her mother gone? Was she safe? More than finding her adopted father whom she had never met, she was worried about her mother's safety. But the words caught in her throat, and she swallowed them back.

She was now just a mortal with no spiritual power, living under someone else's roof, in an awkward position. She was afraid, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she would touch some taboo and bring disaster upon herself.

Never mind, let's wait a bit longer.

Hua Yue lowered her eyes, suppressing all her surging emotions, and returned to her meek and docile demeanor.

Yue Qingxue's gaze fell on her face, and she froze for a moment.

so similar.

This face is practically a carbon copy of my senior sister when she was young. The same beautiful eyebrows and eyes, but she lacks my senior sister's fearless and flamboyant nature, and has gained a bit more cautious obedience.

He recalled the private warnings from several elders. His senior sister had been missing for many years, without a trace. During these years, there had always been some unscrupulous individuals who attempted to harm her by imitating her appearance or mannerisms. Disguising herself with a disguise pill or sophisticated illusion magic was not impossible.

Can……

Yue Qingxue looked into Hua Yue's clear yet slightly timid eyes, so pure and without a trace of impurity. He remembered what he had just said.

"Maintain a gentle compassion."

Whether it's true or not, she's still just a child. Children are innocent.

He made up his mind, and the scrutiny and wariness quietly disappeared.

"Come with me."

Yue Qingxue turned around and led the two towards a quiet room deep in the bamboo forest. The room was simply furnished with only a stone table and a few futons.

With a flick of his finger, two streaks of light flew out from his sleeves and hovered in front of the two people respectively.

In a beam of light, arcs of electricity leaped and crackled softly, revealing an ancient booklet with the words "Nine Heavens Thunder-Drawing Technique" written in a flamboyant style on its cover.

The other one exuded a rich life force and a strong killing intent. Within its emerald green halo was a yellowed manual, inscribed with the title "The Scripture of Life and Death."

Xuan Tianyu took the "Nine Heavens Thunder-Drawing Technique" with undisguised elation on his face. Thunder-type techniques are rare, known for their domineering and extreme attack power. Just from the name, this "Nine Heavens Thunder-Drawing Technique" is no ordinary item, worthy of the number one sect.

Hua Yue hesitated for a moment before reaching out and touching the "Scripture of Life and Death." As soon as she held the manual, a warm aura spread from her fingertips throughout her body, easing some of her fatigue.

She turned to the first page, but froze.

She had learned about wood-based cultivation techniques from novels; most focused on healing, defense, and promoting the growth of spiritual plants, making them the most popular support-type techniques in the cultivation world. But this book, *The Scripture of Withering and Flourishing Life and Death*, begins with the line: "One thought is life, one thought is death; glory is saving the world, withering is annihilation."

This... this is an offensive wood-type cultivation technique? And judging from the description, it seems quite domineering.

Hua Yue looked up and gazed at Yue Qingxue with a puzzled expression.

"Wood-type techniques are mostly focused on defense and healing, while offensive techniques are extremely rare and difficult to cultivate." Yue Qingxue's voice rang out calmly, as if she were explaining or stating a fact.

He paused, a complex and unreadable emotion creeping into his voice, "This 'Scripture of Withering, Flourishing, Life and Death' was not originally mine."

"It belongs to my senior sister."

Later, she left this scripture to me.

Senior sister...

The novel mentions Yue Qingxue's senior sister, who is also known as Hua Zhishuang, the white moonlight of the cultivation world.

Hua Yue's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the manual. This cultivation technique... it belongs to her mother? Her mother left it to Yue Qingxue? Why?

"Wood-type? And an offensive one at that?" Xuan Tianyu burst out laughing, breaking the silence of the quiet room. He looked at Hua Yue with a hint of superiority in his eyes. "What's the use of this thing? What kind of offensive power can wood-type have?" He spoke arrogantly and rudely.

Hua Yue gripped the book pages, remaining silent. She didn't want to cause trouble; after all, if she remembered correctly, Xuan Tianyu was the third male lead in the original book, the second young master of the Xuan family, a family of cultivators.

"Xuan Tianyu." Yue Qingxue's voice was not loud, but it made the mockery on Xuan Tianyu's face freeze instantly.

"All methods lead to the same source; the Dao has no inherent superiority or inferiority. It is only the human heart that makes distinctions." Yue Qingxue looked at him calmly. "If you underestimate any Dao in the world, you will surely suffer a great setback because of this arrogance in the future."

Xuan Tianyu pursed his lips, not daring to argue further, but his resentful expression was obvious to everyone. In his view, lightning was inherently superior to wood; it was something he was born with.

Yue Qingxue said no more, and waved her hand: "Go back and meditate. There are several empty disciple courtyards on the back mountain of Qinglin Peak. Choose one to stay in. If you have any questions about cultivation, come back and ask me another day."

"Yes." Hua Yue replied respectfully, then turned and left with the manual in her arms.

Xuan Tianyu didn't move. He stared at Hua Yue's back, his provocation growing stronger.

"Hey!" he suddenly called out to Hua Yue.

Hua Yue stopped and turned to look at him.

Xuan Tianyu raised his chin, looking arrogant and haughty. "I heard you were born a mortal."

"Mm," Hua Yue replied faintly. She hadn't really been interested in cultivating immortality; she just wanted to find her mother and continue living an ordinary life.

Her indifference only enraged Xuan Tianyu further. He had been a prodigy since childhood, always the center of attention wherever he went. He had never been so ignored before! Especially since the other person was a seemingly frail mortal who had only been placed there by sheer luck!

"You!" Xuan Tianyu was speechless with anger, then sneered, "Fine!"

He stepped forward, getting closer to Hua Yue, "I said, Senior Sister..."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice not loud, but full of hostility.

"In three months, there will be a preliminary competition for the sect's new disciples. How about we have a match?"

Hua Yue simply hummed in agreement again.

Adding her age from her previous life, her mental age is almost thirty. There's really no need for her to get angry with a little kid.

She remembered that in the original book's plot, the top scorer in this beginner's competition was the sword-cultivation prodigy, the second male lead, Gu Ye.

Xuan Tianyu will lose to Gu Ye in the competition, which will be a huge blow to his pride. Ye Xinrou, the heroine of the original book, will then appear at the right time to comfort him with her saintly radiance.

From then on, Xuan Tianyu's attention will be completely drawn to Ye Xinrou and Gu Ye, officially beginning his career as the third male lead, contributing to the romance between the male and female protagonists.

What I need to do now is to train hard and improve my strength in these three months so that I don't lose too badly.

The disciples' courtyards of Qinglin Peak are all built on the back mountain, nestled among lush bamboo forests and ancient pines, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

Hua Yue deliberately chose the most remote and inconspicuous courtyard. The courtyard was not large, but it was quiet, and there was a small open space in front of the door, which was just right for her to tinker with something.

Closing the courtyard gate shuts out all the disturbances of the outside world.

Hua Yue took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the futon, and spread out the "Scripture of Life and Death" in front of her.

The first thing she had to do was to guide the Qi into her body.

This is the first and most crucial step on the path to immortality. Only by successfully drawing qi into the body and forming the first cycle of spiritual energy can one truly enter the Qi Refining stage.

For aristocratic scions like Xuan Tianyu, they probably started using rare and precious herbs even before they were born. For them, guiding qi into their bodies is as simple as eating and drinking.

But I am just an ordinary person, and I have to start everything from scratch.

In a few days, we'll be going to the main peak for a unified introductory course, which is equivalent to a modern general education course. There will be many people and things to do then, and there will be even less time to cultivate quietly like we do now.

She has to hurry!

Hua Yue closed her eyes and tried to sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth, following the opening mantra of the "Scripture of Life and Death".

At first, there was nothing around me, and I couldn't feel anything.

She remained calm and composed, circulating her inner energy again and again, immersing her mind in the deepest part of her being.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but when her consciousness was almost fading, a faint, emerald-green light suddenly appeared in her perception.

Like the first star in the night.

Then, a second, a third... countless emerald green lights appeared, like fireflies on a summer night, dancing merrily around her.

It's wood-type spiritual energy!

Hua Yue was overjoyed and carefully followed the guidance of the mental cultivation method, attempting to introduce a wisp of spiritual energy into her body.

The light seemed to have an innate affinity for her; as soon as she had the thought, a wisp of emerald-green spiritual energy obediently entered her fingertips.

A cool and soothing sensation instantly spread throughout her body, invigorating her spirits.

It worked!

Hua Yue was overjoyed and quickly guided the wisp of spiritual energy to circulate along the meridian pathways.

However, what happened next was completely beyond her expectations.

As the first wisp of spiritual energy entered, the wood-elemental spiritual energy outside seemed to have found an outlet, and without her deliberate guidance, it surged wildly into her limbs and bones!

The meridians in her body seemed to have transformed into wide river channels, and the spiritual energy was like the surging tide, turbulent yet gentle, causing no impact or discomfort.

The spiritual energy circulates automatically within the body, one cycle after another...

She could clearly "see" the spiritual energy in her dantian rapidly condensing and growing at an unbelievable speed.

Qi Refining Level 1...

Level 2 Qi Refining...

Qi Refining Level 3...

In just half a day, as the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window into the quiet room, Hua Yue's cultivation had already surged forward like a whirlwind, reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining!

Hua Yue slowly opened her eyes, feeling the abundant spiritual energy within her body, and was completely stunned.

So... you've reached the fifth level of Qi Refining?

For a normal person, it takes at least ten days to half a month to go from drawing qi into the body to refining qi to the first level. Even those with good aptitude can be stuck for a year or two.

Even for so-called geniuses, it would be impossible to reach the fifth level of Qi Refining without several years of arduous training.

What am I compared to others? I walk in a day what others take years to accomplish?

Could it be... that I am actually a cultivation prodigy, one in a million?

Before she could even rejoice at her discovery, a sudden change occurred.

She simply stopped practicing her martial arts and wanted to stand up and stretch her sore and numb legs.

The moment she stood up, she could clearly feel the immense spiritual power that had just gathered within her body dissipate rapidly, like a receding tide, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

She looked inward at her dantian again, and it was empty, with only the insignificant trace of spiritual energy left when she first drew qi into her body, proving that everything just now was not an illusion.

My cultivation level... has dropped again?

"Could it be my imagination?"

Hua Yue couldn't believe it. She sat down cross-legged again and began cultivating once more.

As before, the wood-elemental spiritual energy in the world was extremely favorable to her, almost summoning her at will, and her cultivation level began to rise rapidly again.

Qi Refining Level 1, Level 2, Level 3...

This time she paid special attention, and when her cultivation level reached the third level of Qi Refining, she stopped cultivating again.

As expected, the result was as predicted.

As soon as she stops circulating her spiritual energy, the spiritual power within her body will dissipate completely in just a few breaths.

It's like trying to draw water with a broken bamboo basket—you'll get nothing.

"No way, am I the legendary 'useless' body?"

Hua Yue slumped onto the prayer mat, on the verge of tears, her emotions shifting in an instant.

What kind of nonsense is this?!

She carefully examined her body but did not feel any spiritual energy emanating from it. The spiritual energy seemed to appear out of thin air and then disappear just as suddenly.

"This is so strange, it's absolutely so strange."

After struggling for a long time, Hua Yue's cultivation level fluctuated wildly, like riding a roller coaster, but in the end, she returned to where she started.

I hadn't stored up much spiritual energy, but my stomach was growling with hunger.

After all, she hadn't reached the point where she could abstain from grains, and her body couldn't take it after such high-intensity "exercise" all day.

"Never mind, let's go fill our stomachs first."

She planned to visit the canteen on the main peak.

According to Ye Yueyue, the main peak dining hall of Lingyun Sect uses ingredients that contain spiritual energy to make the food, which is not only delicious but also very beneficial to the cultivation of lower-level disciples.

Most importantly, new disciples get their first month free!

For her, who was penniless, this was incredibly good news.

The Lingyun Sect has teleportation arrays between its various peaks, but only disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage or above can use them.

For a novice like Hua Yue, who is only at the Qi Refining stage, traveling between the peaks requires either relying on her own slow legs or taking the sect's standard transportation—the crane.

On the Crane-Stopping Platform of each peak, a row of magnificent cranes rests, which disciples can ride for free by presenting their identity jade tokens.

Hua Yue is actually a little afraid of birds, especially those with sharp beaks, and always feels that they might suddenly peck her.

But she was so hungry that she didn't care about anything else.

She carefully chose the crane that looked the most docile and...fattest.

The crane was pure white with a long neck, but it was rounder than its counterparts and had a lazy look in its eyes, appearing completely harmless.

As soon as Hua Yue approached, the plump crane lowered its head and gently rubbed its smooth beak against Hua Yue's palm, displaying a very affectionate gesture.

Hua Yue was somewhat surprised, but she also became bolder and tentatively touched its feathers.

It feels smooth to the touch and has a slightly cool feel.

She flipped herself onto the crane's back, and the crane let out a clear cry, flapped its wings and took flight steadily toward the main peak.

The wind whistled in my ears, layers of clouds surged beneath my feet, and distant mountain peaks were gilded by the setting sun, creating a magnificent scene.

Hua Yue sat on the broad back of the crane, chatting casually with it.

"What's your name? If you don't have one, I can give you one, okay?"

The crane turned its head and looked at her with its clear eyes.

Hua Yue thought for a moment and then smiled, "How about calling me Baiyu? Your feathers are so beautiful, like the finest mutton-fat jade."

"唳——"

The crane called out again, whether in response or rejection, it was unclear, but it flew even more joyfully.

Soon, the main peak came into view in the distance.

The canteen is built halfway up the mountain. It is a magnificent three-story pavilion. Even before you get close, you can smell the aroma of food.

Hua Yue ordered a serving of spirit rice, a serving of stir-fried green vegetables with beast meat, and a bowl of three-delicacy soup, and found a corner to sit down.

She had just taken a couple of bites of rice when she heard Ye Yueyue and He Nai calling her.

The two men, carrying their trays, sat down opposite her with great enthusiasm.

"Hua Yue, where do you live? We've been looking for you for ages," Ye Yueyue asked curiously.

"I'm currently living on Qinglin Peak, and I chose a courtyard that's a bit out of the way," Hua Yue said vaguely.

Just as the three were about to eat and chat, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance of the cafeteria.

Hua Yue looked up and saw a group of boys and girls dressed in various colors forming a circle. In the center of the circle, a girl in a white dress fell to the ground, spilling food all over the place, looking quite disheveled.

A girl dressed in gorgeous purple, with upturned eyes and an air of arrogance, was pointing down at the girl on the ground.

"You're just lucky; you stumbled upon the perfect opportunity to become a disciple of Immortal Venerable Ji Wuchen!"

Hua Yue recognized her; the girl in purple must be Zi Qianyun, the female supporting character in the original book who had a crush on the second male lead, Gu Ye.

Ji Wuchen is Gu Ye's master. According to the original book, after taking Ye Xinrou as his disciple, Immortal Venerable Ji Wuchen announced that he would close his sect and no longer accept disciples.

This directly caused Zi Qianyun's dream of becoming Ji Wuchen's disciple and Gu Ye's junior sister to be completely shattered.

No wonder she was so angry.

"You...you're going too far!" The girl on the ground named Ye Xinrou bit her lip, her eyes red and swollen, looking like she was about to cry.

"I'm being unreasonable?" Zi Qianyun sneered. "You were the one who wasn't watching where you were going, bumped into me, and spilled all the food on my brocade robe! And now you're saying I'm being unreasonable?"

Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out.

"Get out of the way!"

The crowd parted to make way, and a young man dressed in white with a cold expression walked over.

It was Gu Ye.

"Brother Ye..." When Zi Qianyun saw Gu Ye, her arrogant demeanor instantly diminished, and her voice carried a hint of grievance.

It was clearly Ye Xinrou's fault, but now that he looked at her like that, she seemed to be the one being unreasonable.

Gu Ye ignored her and walked straight to Ye Xinrou, helping her up.

"Xinrou didn't do it on purpose." Gu Ye glanced at Zi Qianyun's expensive dress and said calmly, "I'll compensate you for your clothes in spirit stones."

After saying that, he took Ye Xinrou, who was still sobbing, and turned to leave the cafeteria.

Zi Qianyun was left standing there alone, her face turning pale and then flushed, looking extremely unwell.

"Has this storyline started so early?"

Hua Yue silently stuffed a large mouthful of spirit rice into her mouth, her heart completely unmoved, and she even felt a little like laughing.

A group of kids who look only seven or eight years old are seriously staging a melodramatic soap opera about a lovelorn man and woman, and a hero rescuing a damsel in distress. It's utterly ridiculous.

However, this spirit rice is really delicious.

The rice grains are plump and full of vitality, and taste sweet and soft.

Hua Yue made a decision: she would definitely eat as much as possible during this month-long free newbie protection period!