Chapter 144: Fame

Time slipped through one's fingers like sand, impossible to hold; when she looked down, five years had already rushed by.

Taixu Sect, Xianling Cave.

A girl in green robes stepped out; she looked young, her delicate face lit with a faint smile, appearing utterly adorable.

Yet her aura startled the surrounding cultivators.

"Foundation Establishment?"

"When did the sect gain another such genius?"

Many exclaimed, "She looks no more than twelve or thirteen—she's already broken through to Foundation Establishment? Isn't she as talented as Sister Zi, the Peak Lord?"

"Out of seclusion?"

Though they were also Foundation Establishment cultivators, even higher than Luo Yao, they had no choice—Luo Yao's seniority was greater.

Clearly, Zi Qianxue didn't want Luo Yao to feel pressure or burden from this matter.

Clearly worried she might be uncomfortable or afraid of unfamiliar surroundings.

Luo Yao ignored the murmurs around her, sent a message to her master, then hurried toward Yaoguang Peak.

And the only new genius to have recently joined Taixu Sect was one.

Zi Qianxue spoke casually, but Luo Yao knew she must have put in tremendous effort—after all, given Zi Qianxue's nature, her own Cave Abode was probably never this refined.

Seeing her usually stern master jesting, Luo Yao sighed, "Master, don't tease me—there'll be a flood of trouble knocking at my door."

If she became famous, countless overconfident fools would come to challenge her, hoping to climb to fame on her back; she wasn't one to seek fights—she'd avoid combat if she could.

On the way, a bold and curious fellow sect member approached, "Are you Senior Aunt Luo?"

The disciple beamed with joy—he was an ordinary disciple, with no background, relying solely on his own efforts for resources; Luo Yao giving him a Pill for Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally delighted him.

"I just decorated it simply—I wonder if you like it."

"Wait, could she be the new disciple Master Zi just took on?"

"Master, rest assured—I will win first place."

Then, she took Luo Yao to her Cave Abode.

"The top ten prizes look generous, but that's for others—if you want them, you don't need to compete; I'll get them for you."

Luo Yao nodded, showing no arrogance, "I'm Luo Yao. What's your name, Senior Brother?"

So even if you face an opponent twice your strength in competition, you can only consider yourself unlucky.

In truth, the gap between Foundation Establishment Peak and Golden Core Stage is immense.

After understanding these dynamics, Luo Yao gave the senior brother a Pill as thanks, then swiftly headed toward Yaoguang Peak.

"Master, I heard the Ten Veins Grand Competition is coming…"

And the sect-wide competition is the manifestation of competition among the major lines.

And inner disciples are those who join Taixu Sect's ten major lines—but not every disciple can join; only elites qualify.

Zi Qianxue was practicing swordplay; seeing Luo Yao return, she sheathed her sword and walked over.

Taixu Sect didn't divide into Inner and Outer Sects, but instead categorized disciples as direct disciples, inner disciples, and ordinary disciples.

Still, confidence is a good thing.

Though she'd only spent a full day with her master, Luo Yao now fully accepted her.

It was a Stone Room, but inside, it was furnished with all kinds of furniture—tables, chairs, benches—and flowers and plants hung on the walls as decoration.

The path of cultivation knows no fairness or unfairness.

"Silly girl."

"Senior Aunt, just call me Junior Brother—I'm truly unworthy of 'Senior Brother.'"

Then, Zi Qianxue prepared a medicinal bath for Luo Yao to cleanse her fatigue.

"Competition?"

Luo Yao was curious, and the cultivator explained.

If she were at Luo Yao's level, she wouldn't dare be so certain of winning first place.

"No problem—if you want to test your strength, go ahead; if not, skip it—it's not a big deal."

"Then I'll teach you the Qianxue Sword Technique tomorrow—it'll greatly strengthen your power."

"Will Senior Aunt participate in the competition?"

They had already imagined the entire Pingzhou trembling again.

Zi Qianxue unconsciously stroked Luo Yao's head, "Do you know that even though it's same-level combat, you've just entered Foundation Establishment, while others have been in Foundation Establishment Late Stage for years?"

The crowd exchanged glances, then suddenly understood—it was entirely possible, after all, rumors of such a genius in Taixu Sect had long circulated.

As if sensing Luo Yao's thoughts, Zi Qianxue tapped her forehead with a finger, "Don't be so naive—I was at Foundation Establishment Peak when I challenged a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator."

Another genius has emerged after Peak Lord Zi.

"Enough excitement—for now, rest well; cultivation requires balance between effort and rest."

But now, they'd never heard of her—so the most likely candidate was the new disciple.

In Taixu Sect, there were thousands of Foundation Establishment cultivators, or even more competing in the event; for Luo Yao to win first place would be extremely difficult.

"Get ready—you're the new prodigy of Pingzhou."

Yaoguang Peak had never had disciples before, so its ranking among the ten lines was last; yet Zi Qianxue didn't care about such things.

"Thank you, Senior Aunt!"

All who entered Taixu Sect were ordinary disciples.

Hearing this, Luo Yao's eyes lit up—consuming Spirit Power? She had no fear; with Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk, she could restore her Spirit Power anytime.

But now that Zi Qianxue had taken Luo Yao as a disciple, every Taixu Sect disciple wanted to see if Luo Yao truly deserved to be Zi Qianxue's disciple.

Feeling her master's care and concern, Luo Yao was moved—unlike her former master in Xuanyuan Sect, Zi Qianxue genuinely cared for her.

"But if you master this sword technique, you can challenge half of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators even with just Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation, though it consumes a lot of Spirit Power..."

Luo Yao had only heard of her master's legendary exploits from others, so she naturally knew her master had used his self-created sword technique to challenge a Golden Core cultivator while still in the Foundation Establishment Stage—and escaped effortlessly.

Although the masters of the Ten Veins got along well, their disciples still competed with each other.

For some reason, whenever Zi Qianxue saw Luo Yao, she became less cold, even a bit talkative.

"Good, your aura is steady and natural—your foundation is solid."

When she was in Foundation Establishment Late Stage, she went out to challenge Golden Core cultivators to pressure herself into breaking through to the Golden Core Stage; and that Golden Core cultivator was from Wangyue Pavilion—the two sects had good relations, so the cultivator didn't try to kill her.

Though it was called a sect-wide competition, the final battles were almost always fought by disciples of the Ten Veins, so over time everyone jokingly referred to it as the Ten Veins Grand Competition.

She silently resolved in her heart that no matter what, she must secure a good ranking in this competition—she couldn't disgrace her master.

She would show the might of Yaoguang Peak and establish the renown of the Qianxue Sword Technique.

(End of Chapter)