Chapter 107: Not Even Giving a Title

Sighing, Ruan Xing put away the jade plaque.

She didn't know if this Peak Master, who had achieved success late in life, had some special hobby; she herself had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection at seven, which could probably count as a genius, so what was she collecting here?

But well, soldiers come, generals block; water comes, earth covers. Once she went to Yaoguang Peak later, she could first use a simulation to test it out.

But for now, she was more curious about those two islands floating above Xianyuan City.

She flipped through a few more books similar to local gazetteers of customs and geography, but none of them mentioned the islands in mid-air. Was this some very obscure secret? After thinking for a while, Ruan Xing couldn't come up with any reason, so she put the books down in disappointment and began the final purpose of her visit to the Library Pavilion.

In the past, when reading web novels, there were always protagonists who discovered hidden information in travelogues written by cultivators, such as ancient Cave Abodes or ruins, and thus successfully picked up leaks.

Although with her luck, it was probably just wishful thinking, but people, you know, wouldn't be satisfied without trying.

Ruan Xing rubbed her hands together and opened the simulation.

She found a few plausible-sounding travelogues and followed their contents to search for possible ruins, but every time, the places she found were vastly different from the contents of the books, completely two different things.

Was it too much time passed, with seas changing into mulberry fields and the sun and moon shifting? Or were the people who wrote the travelogues just indulging in wild fantasy literature? If you don't work hard at Cultivation, you'll just be sulking in your old age.

Why were such useless idle books still kept here to corrode the Dao-seeking hearts of young cultivators? After conducting two simulations and returning empty-handed, Ruan Xing gritted her teeth and squeezed the book in her hand hard. Given her strength, even if the book didn't shatter, it should have deformed, but perhaps for the sake of long-term preservation, the book had undergone some special treatment and showed no signs of damage.

After a while, Ruan Xing let go in frustration.

She walked out of the Library Pavilion. Inside, it was brightly lit, but outside, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. People came and went on the streets. For most cultivators, the boundary between day and night was no longer so clear. Anyway, Foundation Establishment cultivators no longer needed to sleep, so what difference did day or night make?

Ruan Xing looked up at the sky. The gray sky stretched out as one, and one couldn't see at all that there were two behemoths floating within it.

She was suddenly a little curious: did other cultivators know about the existence of those two islands?

Since the map was free and public, other cultivators should be able to see it too, so why had no one else been curious, explored, or left any information?

In the two simulations just now, she had chosen memory for both. In her memories, she had almost flipped through every book in the entire Library Pavilion, and there wasn't a single word about Tianxin Island or the Floating Island.

So mysterious, it must be extraordinary. Next time there is a suitable opportunity, she could ask someone else in a simulation.

However, she hadn't actually gained nothing from those two simulations just now. At the very least, when she chose to leave Xianyuan City after finishing the travelogues, no one stopped her, and in the decades of exploring various places afterward, she rarely encountered any danger.

This proved that the Peak Master of Yaoguang Peak had no malice toward her, and wasn't even narrow-minded; the temper was quite good.

She had chosen to leave Xianyuan City directly after receiving the message on the jade plaque. A normal person would certainly think that she looked down on Yaoguang Peak and didn't want to go, which was why she chose to leave.

The Peak Master of Yaoguang Peak would likely think so too, but she was a dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch—could she not be angry at being looked down upon by a mere Foundation Establishment stage?

A True Monarch's rage causing blood to flow for a thousand miles—that wouldn't be excessive, right?

Yet she really had no reaction at all, letting Ruan Xing leave and wander around outside for decades without ever thinking of teaching her a lesson.

Ruan Xing's opinion of this True Monarch she had never met changed a little.

Perhaps the master the Sect assigned to her was actually quite good, and she also had a wealthy and generous genius Shixiong, Qintai He. If she could build a good relationship, maybe she wouldn't need to trouble that backer and could get the Golden Core Stage cultivation technique.

She wondered if Shixiong liked the obedient and sensible type of Shimei, or the lively and cheerful type? There was less than an hour left before dawn. One couldn't ride a Sword in the city, so if she hurried over using a Lightness Talisman, the time should be just right.

However, there is always a gap between reality and imagination.

After Ruan Xing rushed to Yaoguang Peak, she was quickly received by other Shixiong and Shijie. After some understanding, Ruan Xing finally understood what was going on.

Here in the Central Province, because of the system of one hundred and eighty peaks, besides Personal Disciples, there was also a title called Registered Disciple.

In the entire Yaoguang Peak, only Qintai He was a Personal Disciple; all other disciples were Registered Disciples assigned by the Sect.

Ruan Xing suddenly felt a bit disappointed... so it turned out she was just being sentimental; the Yaoguang Peak Master might not even know a person like her existed.

"Although we are only Registered Disciples, the resources we get are still better than other Inner Sect Disciples. Since we enjoy the benefits of Yaoguang Peak, we must also be respectful to the Master and serve the Master. The Master will also guide us when she has time," a warm-hearted Shixiong said to her seriously.

"Yes, I understand. Thank you, Shixiong, for your instruction."

Because the Yaoguang Peak Master had only been in the position for less than forty years, except for Qintai He, the other Registered Disciples were mostly in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, with a few in the early stage. Strictly speaking, Ruan Xing's cultivation was considered high among them.

But after all, she was a newcomer, so Ruan Xing was still very humble when facing these Registered Disciples.

Seeing that this Shixiong seemed quite easy to talk to, Ruan Xing asked a few more questions about where to collect the monthly stipend and some basic information about Yaoguang Peak.

Before she finished speaking, a silver-white figure leaped over her head, the wind it brought stirred up her hair, and it kicked up a cloud of dust when it landed.

It was fortunate that she had a good temper; otherwise, who could tolerate someone jumping over their head?

She suppressed the urge to take action, turned her head, and gave the person a cute smile, "Hello, Shixiong."

Qintai He sat on the white wolf and nodded haughtily, "Ruan Xing, come with me to see the Master."

The Shixiong beside her, who had been looking down, widened his eyes in surprise when he heard this and looked at her.

His eyes seemed to be saying, 'You, a Registered Disciple who just arrived on the first day, what virtue or ability do you have to make the Master personally speak up to see you?'

So she wasn't being sentimental? Ruan Xing was a bit amused and coughed twice in embarrassment, "Alright, Shixiong."

Qintai He led the way on the white wolf, and Ruan Xing followed on foot. Seeing no one around, Ruan Xing put on an expression of admiration, her eyes shining as she said to Qintai He, "Shixiong, your Monster Beast is truly majestic and extraordinary, with a temperament as remarkable as yours. Could you let me go up and experience it too?"

"No." Qintai He shook his head decisively, "Silver Wind only recognizes me. It won't agree to let you ride it. Just walk slowly; I'm not in a hurry anyway."

Was this a question of whether you were in a hurry or not? You're going to let the Master, that old lady, keep waiting for the two of us?

Sure enough, those who are favored are fearless. Which of the other Registered Disciples wasn't trembling with fear when facing the Master, and wouldn't be moved to tears just by being guided or praised by her? Qintai He actually made the Master wait.

It seemed Qintai He didn't buy that. Ruan Xing curled her lips imperceptibly.

On the white jade corridor, a woman in green was standing there, looking down at the pool water misting with white vapor, seemingly thinking about something.

The white wolf bent its front paws and lowered its body. Qintai He jumped down, stepped forward two paces, crossed his hands, and bowed, "Master."

Ruan Xing hurriedly followed behind him and said, "Disciple Ruan Xing greets the Master."

"You don't need to call me Master; just call me Peak Master." The woman turned her head, her beautiful face showing a hint of fatigue. Her slender fingers flicked slightly, and the bamboo leaf by Ruan Xing's temple flew into her hand.

She looked at the bamboo leaf in front of her with a calm expression, then flicked it lightly, and the bamboo leaf turned into debris and drifted away with the wind.

Seeing this scene, how could Ruan Xing not know that the backer Elder Wen mentioned was this person? One had to admit that a Nascent Soul True Monarch was indeed powerful. She hadn't met her, nor had she sent anyone to contact her, yet in less than half a day, she had transferred her to her own peak so quickly.

However, looking at the Peak Master's attitude, their relationship didn't seem that good either.

Ruan Xing hesitated, "But Elder Wen did not take me as a disciple..."

"It doesn't matter." The woman's voice was faint, "You are still a Registered Disciple of my Yaoguang Peak."

Ruan Xing said helplessly, "Yes, Peak Master."

The woman nodded and looked at Qintai He, "Entrusted by an old friend, look after her for me. If there is anything, have her come find you."

"Yes, Master." Qintai He nodded in agreement.

It seemed that calling her over to see her was just to give those few instructions; after speaking, the woman turned her head to look at the pool water again.

This meant she did not intend to pay them any more mind, so Qintai He skillfully pulled Ruan Xing away.

Ruan Xing was a bit confused; what exactly did this Peak Master mean? If Elder Wen had a good relationship with her, why would she refuse to take her as a disciple? If the relationship was not good, why did she let Qintai He take care of her after seeing the bamboo leaf? Could there be some unknown love-hate entanglement in this? Hiss—Old Man Wen is quite old, but he plays quite wild.

However, she had seen in biographies that the Peak Master was a late bloomer who broke through to the Nascent Soul stage when her Golden Core limit was approaching, so her actual age should be around five hundred, while Old Man Wen was still at the Golden Core stage and had not yet exceeded five hundred years old.

But none of this had anything to do with Ruan Xing; as long as she was sure the Peak Master had no ill intentions toward her and she could use the Peak Master's help to improve herself, that was enough.

As for the title of master and disciple, she didn't care at all.

Thinking of this, Ruan Xing couldn't help but speak up, intending to exchange some pleasantries with Qintai He first, "Senior Brother Qintai, you are young and promising, already at the Golden Core stage; you must be very famous within the Sect, right? To be taken care of by you, I am truly fortunate."

"Heh, you flatter me; I don't think I'm famous enough." Qintai He stopped his footsteps, lowered his head, and smiled at her: "Otherwise, why wouldn't you know that my compound surname is Qintai?"

Uh... Ruan Xing was stunned for a moment, then laughed awkwardly: "Haha, Senior Brother, I'm still young; I'm uncultured, it's normal."

"Qintai is a major surname in Xizhou; I come from a Xizhou Clan. From now on, don't forget it." The white wolf to the side had already lowered its body again, and after Qintai He sat on it, he looked down at Ruan Xing and said.

Ruan Xing put on an expression of having been taught, "Of course, I will certainly not forget the teachings of Senior Brother Qintai."

Qintai He snorted, took Ruan Xing's Sect Jade Token, added his contact information, and then returned it to her, "If you have something, find me; if not, don't bother me."

Having said that, he patted the white wolf, leaped up, and disappeared from Ruan Xing's field of vision in a few moments.

Ruan Xing put away her smile and rubbed her Sect Jade Token.

It seems this Senior Brother is also quite mysterious.

Others might not know, but Ruan Xing had been to Xizhou many times in the Simulator, so she knew that in the current state of the Cultivation world where techniques are hard to come by and changing them is difficult, even clans in Xizhou that often intermarry would not practice each other's family techniques. Why would Qintai He come to the Central Province to join the Xuanbing Sect? Then, what is he practicing—the Xuanbing Sect's Tongxuan Scripture, or his own Qintai Family's techniques? However, she really didn't know about the surname Qintai; every time she went to Xizhou, she chose skills or cultivation, never memories, and all information about Xizhou came from the simplified text display of the Simulator. The Simulator wouldn't tell her how many major clans there were in Xizhou, or what these clans were named.

Eh? Wait.

Just now, I was interrupted by Qintai He, and I forgot what I wanted to ask! The Golden Core stage technique!

Forget it, the person is already gone; I'll just ask in the Simulation.

Thanks to the kind Senior Brother she met at the very beginning, Ruan Xing learned some of the unwritten rules on Yaoguang Peak.

If you want to live somewhere, just find a place with beautiful scenery and build it yourself without damaging the landscape of Yaoguang Peak.

For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this is not a difficult task; among the Lesser Five Elements Art, the Five Directions Movement of Earth and the Five Directions Movement of Wood can both accomplish this. If you are too lazy to learn these two Magic Arts, taking a Sword to find a rock and hacking out a Cave Abode is the same thing.

It's just that if your technique is bad, it won't look very good.

Ruan Xing thought it was quite interesting; she used to love watching wilderness survival programs, so building a house was a piece of cake for her.

Half an hour later, a wobbly treehouse hung on the cliffside.

Just right, her tent and bedding came in handy for the third time. After organizing everything, adding a restriction to the treehouse, sticking on a talisman that could strengthen it, and finally placing an Array Disk for protection, Ruan Xing looked it over with satisfaction.

Why does it look a bit like a bird's nest? Forget it, just treat it as a new experience; anyway, she definitely won't be living here for long! Ruan Xing had a deep understanding of herself; with her constitution of not looking for trouble but having trouble look for her, it was very difficult for her to live stably in one place for more than three months.

Lying in her bird's nest, Ruan Xing stretched comfortably.

Now she could simulate with peace of mind; where should she start from?

Carefully recalling her interaction with Qintai He today, she felt this person was quite contradictory. Before seeing the Peak Master, although he looked arrogant, he didn't intentionally make things difficult for her, and his tone was quite normal. Although he didn't let her sit on his white wolf, he didn't urge or dislike Ruan Xing for walking slowly; instead, he said there was no rush and to walk slowly.

After seeing the Peak Master, his attitude became a bit bad, and he even said not to bother him.

Was it because she got his name wrong?

He shouldn't be that petty, right...

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