Proving one's status starting with magical girls

When Li Jiang returned home, she took off her shoes in the entryway, put on slippers, threw her schoolbag on the sofa, then changed into an apron, tied her hair up, and went into the kitchen.

Taking the remaining greens out of the basket, the girl figured that it wouldn't matter if the vegetables were left out for a day or two in this season, since the weather in April wasn't that hot yet.

With practiced skill, she washed the vegetables, steamed the rice, stir-fried the dishes, and served them on the table; the girl's dinner was ready.

A plate of stir-fried greens with an extra half spoonful of salt and a small bowl of white rice.

After a simple meal, it's time to wash the dishes and brush your teeth, followed by a lot of homework.

The girl's grades weren't very good, so when faced with those math problems that looked like alien scripts, her eyebrows were almost twisted into a knot. But even so, she still gritted her teeth and finished writing them.

After all, the teacher said that writing a solution would earn points, and she even wrote a lot of nonsense after the solution, so she should get an extra point for her attitude.

By the time the girl finished her homework, it was already midnight. She stretched and let out a long sigh of relief.

Theoretically speaking, the amount of homework assigned by Linjiang No. 3 Middle School is already excessive, especially in recent years when dangerous animals have been frequently active. For the safety of students, the Education Bureau has issued notices to several cities where dangerous animals are frequently active, requiring students to leave school early in the evening. Linjiang City is naturally among them.

Schools can let students leave earlier, but the cut-off scores won't be lowered.

Students who lack educational resources are inherently at a disadvantage, and in order to make up for this disadvantage, all kinds of tutoring and extracurricular classes have become a popular choice.

However, the girl had no choice, so the school's free "voluntary" evening study sessions became the only viable path for her.

Fortunately, it's Saturday today, so I can relax and rest tomorrow. Maybe I can go to the Magical Girl Fan Club's convention downtown. Even if I can't afford the merchandise, it'll be nice to look around. Oh, and I also need to go to the antique market to check out that mirror I found today. If I'm lucky, I might be able to sell it for some money...

With hope for tomorrow, the girl fell asleep peacefully.

In the dead of night, the moonlight was cold and clear, and a ray of light shone through the window, illuminating the girl on the bed.

......

The world was gray and silent.

The girl walked aimlessly across the scarred earth, surrounded by countless dilapidated gray-white building ruins and scattered crescent-white pebbles.

She traversed the ruins of the mountain. Step by step, the girl ascended the jade bricks along the mountainside, walking for an unknown amount of time until she reached the highest platform.

Before anyone knew it, a bright moon peeked out and hung high in the sky.

Under the bright moonlight, a huge tree with white leaves stood in the center of the platform. The moonlight shone down and dazzled the tree. There was only a stone table and a stone chair under the tree.

A white-haired figure in a long robe stood with his back to her under the tree, looking like a painting in the moonlight.

The girl unconsciously held her breath, as if afraid of disturbing the painting, and became very careful.

She quietly stepped back, but her foot accidentally struck a small pebble. The pebble fell down the steps, its tiny sound echoing in the small space.

The girl's heart tightened, and she quickly turned around to look, then her breath caught in her throat.

The man was dressed in a long robe, with white hair like a waterfall. Crescent moon patterns were embroidered on the cuffs and collar. His face was as handsome as jade, with a faint scar on his left cheek and a ray of light between his brows. He had turned around at some point and was carefully examining her with his deep eyes.

"Wow, so handsome..."

The girl couldn't help but gasp in surprise, completely mesmerized.

But then the man chuckled and said...

"Who are you, and what do you seek here?"

This clear and concise sentence immediately snapped the girl out of her daze, and she looked confused.

"...who I am?"

"Yeah...who am I again? Am I dreaming?"

Seeing the girl still looking bewildered, Yuan An's smile froze for a moment before he spoke naturally.

"In dreams, reality and illusion are intertwined, all but a fleeting illusion. Foolish child, awaken."

As he spoke, he secretly manipulated the full moon in the sky, causing a cold, eerie light to shine on the girl, which made her shiver and instantly regain her senses.

Before the girl could react, he spoke first.

"You are new to this place and must be confused, but no worries, I will explain it to you now."

Yuan An stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

"This place is the Yuehua Yuanfu lineage under the Qingxuan Great Dao Donghua Dao Gui."

"The classics must originate from the Three Mysteries. The reason why they are supremely noble is called the application of the Dao. The reason why they command all the gods is called mutual protection. The reason why Yin and Yang live in harmony is called the Three Unity."

"What is the Three Ones? It is green. The three represent the birth of all things, and the one represents me. The Three Ones are in perfect harmony, which is the supreme and wonderful method of cultivation."

"The people of Yuanfu spread the Dao of Qingxuan, thus they have the merit of warding off evil worship, suppressing all virtues, restraining demons and ghosts, and killing immortals and immortals. Therefore, they sealed off the extraordinary mountains, gathered farmers and sericulturalists, and all ordinary people, laborers, commoners and the masses followed me. All those who cultivate my lineage will nurture your morality."

His words were profound and mysterious, and I was so engrossed in them that my tone gradually turned cold.

"And we, the Qingxuan cultivators—will uphold the Five Virtues and slay immortals and gods, daring to do anything!"

And this last sentence carried a chilling edge that even he himself could hardly perceive.

The girl trembled.

"I can't understand what he's saying, but it sounds really scary..."

"...Ahem." Seemingly realizing his lapse in composure, he coughed lightly and regained his composure.

"In other words... it's a place where you can cultivate immortality."

Upon hearing this, the girl's eyes lit up, and she raised her hand excitedly.

"I've watched a few episodes of Mortal's Journey to Immortality, I know this one! Is it like the Yellow Maple Valley?"

Yuan An: "..."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Perhaps..."

Although I don't know what Huangfeng Valley is, I imagine it must be some kind of major sect of immortal cultivation.

"Yay! Does that mean I can cultivate immortality now?!"

"Great power, great power, can you tell me what kind of spiritual root I have?"

Perhaps it was the strong acceptance inherent in modern people, or perhaps she still thought she was dreaming, but in any case, the girl quickly accepted this bizarre situation and ran straight to Yuan An without any sense of distance, her big eyes full of excitement.

"Indeed, this child's temperament is extraordinary." Yuan An nodded secretly, then stretched out his jade-like palm and placed it on the top of the girl's head.

...Um?

Yuan An frowned almost imperceptibly.

"Great power, great power, how is it, how is it?"

"You have no spiritual insight."

The girl was completely confused.

Yuan An sighed and turned away.

"Since there is no spiritual aperture, there is also no spiritual root."

But the girl simply looked at him, blinked, and said, "Oh."

...

and then?

Yuan An was somewhat surprised.

Aren't you disappointed?

"Not disappointed at all."

The girl revealed two small dimples and smiled naturally.

"Anyway, I'm never lucky enough to get anything good, not even in my dreams. I'm used to it."

Yuan An: ......

Never mind, we'll know whether it's a dream or not when she wakes up.

After all, his actions were not as simple as just entering a dream. Using a sliver of Yin light from this world, he actually guided the true spirit of the person in front of him into the mirror.