Chapter - 26
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"Need some help?"
Meng Wan’s mocking voice sounded from the side.
Lu Xiang couldn’t hold back her laughter. “So there are things you can’t do? Want me to help you?”
Finally, it was her turn to see Qiao Han shocked and impressed.
Bai Rong reeled in his third fish, glanced at Qiao Han’s still and unmoving fishing rod, and tried not to laugh but failed internally.
Sheng Jue coughed lightly. “Don’t worry. This is a simple task. With everyone working together, it’ll be done easily.”
Qiao Han’s face darkened.
Darker than a Black Spirit Fish.
Sure, he’d never fished before.
But this is too bad? Seriously, not even a single fish was captured by him!!!
In the end, Qiao Han had swapped bait, borrowed others’ rods, and even changed his spot. But those damn Black Spirit Fish just refused to bite.
Qiao Han was on the verge of laughing out of sheer frustration.
He sat by the riverbank, just a step away from where the Black Spirit Fish were right there, practically floating on the surface. One by one, they popped their heads up to breathe.
Qiao Han couldn’t shake the feeling that they were taking turns coming up just to laugh at him.
Black Spirit Fish: Yo, bros, come check out this poor sucker. Haha! Don’t bite his hook—just mess with him for fun.
“Can you all at least pretend to respect me? I’m trying to fish!”
Qiao Han snapped, his tone laced with irritation.
In response, the Black Spirit Fish started surfacing even more enthusiastically.
Qiao Han sat there empty-handed while the others had already finished the task.
Lu Xiang stood behind him, looking smug, ready to step in the moment he gave up. Sheng Jue came over to help, and even Bai Rong, after hesitating for a moment, hopped over to join in.
But Qiao Han rejected them all.
It wasn’t about pride or being shy; this was a matter of honor. A man could be killed, but not humiliated.
Qiao Han stood up abruptly. Despite the sudden movement, the Black Spirit Fish showed zero fear. They kept leisurely swimming at the edge of the bank, right at his feet, carefree as ever.
Just when everyone thought he was going to change spots again, Qiao Han suddenly dropped his fishing rod.
The jade token on his wrist flashed with a greenish-blue glow, and in the blink of an eye, a thick vine-wrapped mace materialized in his hand.
Before anyone could react, Qiao Han raised the mace high and smashed it down, right on the heads of the Black Spirit Fish surfacing in front of him.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
A rapid barrage of heavy strikes followed—dozens in a row—water splashing, spiritual energy bursting, chaos erupting.
Everyone just stood there, dumbfounded.
Was this... a rage-induced breakdown?
But when Qiao Han finally stopped, they all stared at the water, and their brains froze.
Floating in that one spot… were dozens of Black Spirit Fish. Unconscious. Bumping gently against each other as the water rippled.
Everyone: “…”
Qiao Han let out a long breath.
“Satisfying.”
Then, with all the time in the world, he morphed his big mace into a finely-woven vine fishing net and began scooping up fish at a leisurely pace.
Normally, Black Spirit Fish are highly sensitive and spiritual, and would dodge a fishing net instantly. That’s why you had to use bait and patience. But unconscious fish?
Yeah… those were nothing more than ingredients waiting to be steamed.
Watching Qiao Han haul in a harvest worthy of legends, everyone had only one thought echoing through their heads:
“Wait—that was allowed?!”
Was it their brains that weren’t working fast enough?
One guy refused to accept this and tried to copy Qiao Han. But unlike Qiao Han’s spot, their areas weren’t blessed with overconfident, arrogant fish floating near the surface. Without that, there was nothing to knock unconscious.
They were stuck fishing the old-fashioned way.
And if anyone got bold enough to try exploding the pond? That’d summon the terrifying spiritual beast lurking below to tear them.
In the end, everyone could only watch with envy as Qiao Han casually gathered up the unconscious Black Spirit Fish. Then, one by one, they slinked back to their original spots and quietly resumed fishing.
There was nothing they could do. Some people were just born built different.
By now, the sky was nearing dusk. The pond area was safe and perfect for resting, so most cultivators had set up camp there, taking the opportunity to share intel. After all, it had already been two days since the assessment began.
Naturally, Qiao Han and his group stayed the night as well.
Watching Qiao Han haul in such a massive catch, Sheng Jue reminded him, “You could trade the extra goods or information. It’s a solid bargaining chip.”
But Qiao Han wasn’t having it. He left aside only what was needed for the task and dumped out the rest of the Black Spirit Fish, declaring bluntly:
“Anyone want some yummy spicy fish?”
“Spicy... what’s that?”
After Qiao Han explained the dish in mouthwatering detail, everyone present started swallowing saliva like they were dehydrated.
With a grand wave of his hand, Qiao Han started assigning jobs.
“Cleaners, clean the fish.”
“Foragers, go fetch spiritual herbs for seasoning.”
Soon, everyone was on the move, coordinated like a tiny army. But then... disaster struck. No one had a pot.
I mean, come on—what kind of cultivator brings a cooking pot on a deadly trial?
So imagine the collective disbelief when Qiao Han casually pulled out… a pill cauldron.
Yup. The standard-issue alchemy furnace every medical cultivator carries around.
Even though Qiao Han hadn’t started pill refining yet, somehow, Jiang Yin’s storage pouch had included a basic model furnace.
Fate? Dumb luck? Who cares—it worked.
And so it began.
Fishermen, loiterers, information traders… young cultivators from every corner of the cultivation world slowly turned their heads, staring wide-eyed in Qiao Han’s direction.
The pill cauldron was now a boiling hotpot, releasing an aroma that could seduce demons. Slices of Black Spirit Fish floated in the broth, their tender flesh soaking in fragrant, spicy goodness.
Before long, it wasn’t just the humans drooling—the Black Spirit Fish in the pond started leaping out of the water one after another, splashing noisily toward the smell.
But they weren’t being lured by the aroma. Oh no—they were probably mourning the tragic, brutal deaths of their fellow mates.
Right there. At their doorstep. Cooked alive and eaten without mercy.
Even Lu Xiang and Meng Wan, who’d been sniping at Qiao Han earlier, started treating him with… well, a suspicious amount of politeness.
As for Sheng Jue? He was already on his side.
Bai Rong, trying spicy food for the first time, had his tiny mouth dyed completely red from the chili oil, but refused to stop eating.
…
Meanwhile, outside the Water Mirror, Lu Zhui was already drooling.
“He really did learn something from you,” he said, swallowing hard. “Looks legit too. Judging by my little sister’s face, it must taste incredible. I only ever got to eat your cooking once… When are you making it again? I want some too.”
But after speaking, Lu Zhui didn’t hear a response. He turned his head, only to see Xiao Jiuci watching the Water Mirror with a rather strange expression.
“What’s wrong?” Lu Zhui asked, puzzled.
Xiao Jiuci’s mouth twitched slightly. “Let’s hope... nothing goes wrong.”
“Huh?”
Lu Zhui didn’t get it. But come midnight, what was supposed to be a peaceful, restful evening under the Water Mirror erupted into total chaos.
“Qiao Han! You poisoned us!”
Meng Wan, for the first time in his life, charged over pale-faced and panicked.
But before he could even steady himself, he saw Qiao Han clutch his stomach and sprint into the forest, throwing up a concealment array mid-run to hide himself.
Sheng Jue followed next, his face ashen as he bolted out of camp.
Then came Lu Xiang, swearing through gritted teeth and nearly crying as she ran after them.
Meng Wan couldn’t hold it in anymore either. His stomach made an ominous gurgling sound, and he instantly pressed one hand to his gut, the other to his... rear exit, bolting off in a very unnatural position.
Only Bai Rong, who the commotion had woken, sat up groggily. He rubbed his eyes and patted his stomach, completely confused.
It took a long time before the four victims stumbled back into camp, looking like they'd been dragged through hell itself.
“You did this on purpose, Qiao Han!”
“Bullshit! If I did it on purpose, why would I get hit too?!”
“Qiao Han… I’ve lived this long and I’ve never… never…!”
Lu Xiang couldn’t even finish the sentence, her dignity in shambles.
“Hey, I didn’t force you to eat it,” Qiao Han shot back.
“Fellow Daoist Qiao,” someone asked weakly, “what was in that stew? I remember checking, it was all edible…”
“I don’t know either! I swear! I just… I followed how Senior Brother Xiao cooked it before…”
Bai Rong looked at the collapsed group and began going around, quietly tending to each of them.
Someone blinked at him in confusion. “Wait—why are you totally fine?”
Bai Rong blinked back, then gave the most innocent lie he could think of.
“I-I feel bad too! Just… I didn’t eat much, that’s all.”
…
Meanwhile, outside the Water Mirror, Lu Zhui rushed off to find Xiao Jiuci for answers, completely stunned.
Xiao Jiuci looked incredibly awkward.
“Well… the way Qiao Han made it, yeah, that’s the same method he saw me use in the kitchen once. But I didn’t know he was trying to copy it. I never told him this, but there’s one spirit herb that, when cooked with Black Spirit Fish, creates a mild toxin unless you neutralize it with spiritual energy.”
Lu Zhui was speechless. “Is it serious?”
Xiao Jiuci replied calmly, “They’ll be fine after they finish... purging.”
The price of gluttony: by the next morning, everyone was alive, but mentally and physically wrecked.
Still, the trial continued. No mercy.
Bai Rong and Sheng Jue each had one task left. Different items, but both were notoriously hard to find. No fixed location. No pattern. Just dumb luck.
Lu Xiang and Meng Wan had two tasks each remaining. One of them overlapped: collecting Pure Yang Ginseng.
Luckily, Pure Yang Ginseng and Eight-Direction Wuzhen Grass were found along the same general path.
“We’ll find the ginseng first, then go after the Wuzhen Grass. We’ll help you!”
Lu Xiang declared with force, practically puffing her chest as she talked to Meng Wan.
After all, that Wuzhen Grass was fiercely guarded by a Rockspine Tiger; that one wasn’t going down without a fight.
Lu Xiang finally found her chance to shine in front of Qiao Han, and she wasn't letting it go.
Meng Wan wasn’t thrilled, but Lu Xiang had already made the call, so he had no choice but to tag along.
Sheng Jue was hoping to collect a few more rare materials, so staying with the group suited him just fine.
As for Bai Rong, although he’d initially been terrified of Qiao Han, after a full day together, he’d relaxed. In fact, he kind of liked hovering near him now. And since Lu Xiang was the heiress of Yuxu Sect, Bai Rong figured it’d be smart to cozy up. He had studied a bit of social strategy, after all.
And so, once again, the group set out together.
Pure Yang Ginseng had to be harvested by channeling spiritual energy directly into the plant. No one could help. If your luck was crap or your energy too low, you could end up drained and empty-handed.
Qiao Han, for once, wasn’t discriminated against by the heavens.
He managed to extract one root barely. He looked wrecked, but he’d done it even though it was not in his task list; he still wanted to try to get one for the sake of exposure and experience.
Everyone else got theirs too, except Meng Wan.
His face turned sour. No matter how hard he focused, the ginseng wouldn’t budge.
In the end, he burned through all his spiritual energy and was forced to give up. Since Pure Yang Ginseng stored the collector’s own spiritual energy, it couldn’t be traded or bought. That task was now a failure.
For the rest of the trip, Meng Wan was in a foul mood, tossing passive-aggressive comments like confetti. It gave off that bitter “if I failed, I hope you all fail too” energy.
Real textbook case of a petty mindset.
But fate has a sense of humor.
As they walked, Bai Rong—yes, fluffy innocent Bai Rong—just casually stumbled across the item he needed: a shed antler.
No fight. No effort. A spirit beast bounced past, dropped an antler like it was losing hair, and boom—mission complete.
Qiao Han walked up and patted Bai Rong’s head.
“Head pats for good luck.”
Sheng Jue laughed and joined in—pat pat.
Lu Xiang scoffed, “Superstitious nonsense.”
But then she remembered: Bai Rong was the only one who didn’t end up sprinting to the woods last night.
So… yeah. She quietly reached out and patted him, too.
Bai Rong stood there awkwardly, clutching both sides of his hair, face bright red, head lowered, silently enduring the group’s patting ritual.
They soon arrived at the territory of the Rockspine Tiger.
At the top of a small hill, covered in blooming blue lotuses, sat a dark, black-petaled spirit herb glowing faintly with white light. The energy radiating from it was intense, almost oppressive. Qiao Han, as a wood-element cultivator, could immediately feel how potent it was.
And where there’s a rare spirit herb, there’s always a guardian beast.
Right on cue, a thunderous roar echoed across the hillside, and a massive tiger-shaped spiritual beast rose from the summit, coiled protectively around the Eight-Direction Wuzhen Grass.
The Rockspine Tiger resembled an ancient saber-tooth, with wings.
It was only a Yellow-Rank beast, but its combat power was nothing to scoff at.
Clearly, their presence had triggered its alertness. With another deafening roar, it unleashed a wave of wind-element force that blasted the surrounding forest flat.
“…That’s insane,” Sheng Jue whispered from behind a boulder, face pale.
Bai Rong dropped into a squat, clutching both sides of his head, shaking like a leaf.
“C-can’t win. Absolutely can’t.”
Lu Xiang’s face didn’t look great either, but she kept her composure, eyes locked on the hill.
“We won’t know until we try.”
Meng Wan seized the moment to object.
“Look, Qiao Han helped us earlier, fine—but that doesn’t mean we have to die for him. Be realistic, this isn’t happening.”
Qiao Han stayed silent.
He hadn’t expected this either, not just any Rockspine Tiger, but one that had been cultivating for years.
Its strength was easily comparable to the late Foundation Establishment stage. They were Qi Condensation newbies. This wasn’t a fight. It was a massacre waiting to happen.
He wasn’t stupid. He had no death wish.
Should he give up?
Then Lu Xiang gave him a firm shove.
“What are you frozen for? I said we’ll try, so move!”
Outside the Water Mirror, the spectators were stunned.
“Have they lost their minds?” someone muttered.
“They’re Qi Condensation cultivators! Who picks a fight with a Rockspine Tiger?!”
The beast was known throughout the Azure Lotus Realm—deadly, territorial, but not aggressive unless provoked. Who would willingly provoke it?
“…Wait, is that my sister?” Lu Zhui was shell-shocked. “Why the hell are they picking a fight with that?!”
Xiao Jiuci’s face darkened. His brows furrowed as he recalled the strange expression Qiao Han made every time he checked his jade token.
Then, unsurprisingly, the outcome:
Total party wipe.
The Rockspine Tiger didn’t even break a sweat tossing them around.
Once they barely escaped the hilltop…
Lu Xiang immediately turned and snapped, “Meng Wan! What the hell was that?!”
“I didn’t want to get hurt for nothing!” Meng Wan retorted.
“If I’d stuck around, you all would've kept pushing, and we’d have been really injured. Qiao Han, don’t drag us into your death wish just to finish your task!”
Still gasping for breath, Qiao Han shot him a cold look.
“Relax. I won’t.”
Sheng Jue looked worried.
“So… what now? That grass isn’t going to hand itself over. The rest of your tasks are just as bad. You really think…”
He didn’t finish the thought. They all knew the implication: if Qiao Han failed even one more mission, he might not make the final cut.
“I’ll think of something,” Qiao Han said.
“We can’t beat it, so we’ll have to outsmart it.”
Meng Wan scoffed.
“I’d love to see this ‘brilliant plan’ of yours.”
Everyone was drained. They sat and meditated, recovering as night fell.
“I’m hungry,” Lu Xiang muttered.
“Eat a fasting pill. No more ‘cooking experiments,’” Meng Wan said, giving Qiao Han a sideways glance.
Qiao Han didn’t respond—eyes still closed, meditating.
Just then, Sheng Jue and Bai Rong returned. Sheng Jue had gone out scouting for his own mission and had picked some fruit for the group.
A tiger’s roar rumbled through the hills.
The Rockspine Tiger had clearly finished its hunt and was now enjoying a meal.
Sheng Jue opened his mouth to call out, but Qiao Han’s eyes suddenly snapped open. His peach blossom eyes sparkled with inspiration.
“I’ve got it.”
Upon the hill, the Rockspine Tiger was gnawing on some unfortunate wild bird. Its face twisted in disgust. Feathers stuck to its tongue, and it spat every few bites.
But it couldn’t leave. It had to stay by the Wuzhen Grass, waiting for it to fully mature. That plant was key to its breakthrough.
So no matter how gross dinner was, it endured.
Then… the smell hit.
A powerful aroma drifted through the air—bold, spicy, almost intoxicating.
The tiger’s hypersensitive nose twitched.
Drool dripped from the corners of its mouth in rivulets.
It spat the bird meat out in disgust and swung its massive head toward the source.
Smoke. Sizzle. Fragrance.
Just at the edge of its territory… a cooking pot.
Black Spirit Fish. Boiling in spicy broth.
It flapped its wings and soared straight for it.
There, bubbling over a flame, was Qiao Han’s pill cauldron, filled with slices of the fish from the previous night. They weren’t exactly fresh anymore, but the aroma? Still deadly. Still divine.
The tiger took a lick.
Its whole body jolted.
A moment later, it buried its face in the pot, tail wagging like an overgrown cat, devouring every drop.
Hidden in the grass nearby, the group stared in disbelief.
“…It’s actually eating it?!” Meng Wan blurted.
“Wait—you kept the leftovers?” Lu Xiang gawked.
Qiao Han chuckled awkwardly.
“Well… I thought it tasted amazing, so I stored a little for later. Forgot to toss it after the… uh, ‘incident.’”
“Does it actually work?” Sheng Jue asked, skeptical.
“Probably not,” Bai Rong said.
Qiao Han shrugged.
“This is several pots’ worth of concentrated leftovers. If that doesn’t work, I’ll give up.”
As they spoke, the Rockspine Tiger licked the cauldron clean. Not a scrap left. Even the bottom of the pot got polished.
Then, full and content, it swayed its tail and waddled back to the hilltop, slumping down like a drunk uncle at a wedding.
The group waited while resting quietly, night blanketing the land.
Then—out of nowhere—a strange, warped roar split the silence. Everyone jolted upright, instantly alert.
Under the moonlight, they spotted the Rockspine Tiger slumped weakly just a short distance from the hill. Its body trembled, crouched awkwardly, and from its direction came sounds and smells that were... frankly indescribable.
The once-mighty roar now sounded like a wailing sob—pitiful, whimpering, downright tragic.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Then—pfft!—Qiao Han was the first to snort with laughter.
Those who had suffered the exact same hell the night before couldn’t hold it in either. Laughter broke out, mixed with a twinge of bitterness.
“You’re evil,” Lu Xiang muttered, her lips twitching.
“That tiger's just unlucky it crossed your path.”
“Totally underhanded.”
Sheng Jue cleared his throat.
“Still… it worked. Can we go collect it now?”
Qiao Han, ever cautious, waited a bit longer. Only when the Rockspine Tiger collapsed onto its side, legs trembling and eyes half-rolled, did he give the signal.
The others prepared to intercept below, while Qiao Han darted up the hill and harvested the Eight-Direction Wuzhen Grass.
The moment the spirit herb was pulled from the earth, a surge of spiritual energy burst outward.
The Rockspine Tiger’s eyes snapped open.
It roared in fury and unfurled its wings, preparing to pounce on the thief.
But—
Gurgle... Gurgle…
…
Outside the Water Mirror, countless spectators witnessed—for the first time ever—the Rockspine Tiger’s face contort with such agony, its majestic fur practically graying from humiliation.
Why… why did they feel kind of bad for it?
“Poor damn beast…” someone muttered.
As the audience exchanged shocked whispers, word started spreading. The person behind this crazy stunt—the one who cooked the cursed fish, who baited the tiger with leftovers—was none other than Qiao Han, rumored dao partner of Qingyun Sect’s golden boy, Xiao Jiuci.
A few people snuck glances toward Xiao Jiuci.
Seeing his expression—stiff, cold, face like a thundercloud—they wondered: was he embarrassed? Disgusted? About to call off the engagement?
Lu Zhui clapped a hand on his shoulder and cackled.
“Man, I gotta say, getting that grass without a fight? That’s genius! Dirty, sure. But genius!”
Then Xiao Jiuci turned and left without a word.
“…Huh?” Lu Zhui blinked, hurrying after him.
“Hey, what’s up?”
Xiao Jiuci didn’t answer. He headed straight for the area where Qingyun Sect’s Xuanyang Pavilion disciples were camped. Spotting junior disciple Guan Jie, he cut right to the point.
“Who embedded the task spirit into Qiao Han’s jade token?”
Guan Jie blinked. “It was… Jiang Qiluo. He’s already returned to Qingyun Sect.”
Xiao Jiuci’s face darkened instantly.
Lu Zhui finally caught on.
So it was weird: Qiao Han was the one who took the Wuzhen Grass, and the others had risked their lives fighting the tiger for his mission. But… this wasn’t some random side quest. It was an official task.
And who had set that task? Jiang Qiluo.
Too many coincidences. One possibility left.
Lu Zhui knew little about the inner workings of Qingyun Sect, but his own sect would never assign a life-threatening mission during a test like this. This was a qualification exam, not a death match.
If Qiao Han didn’t choose it himself, then the jade token was tampered with.
Which meant Jiang Qiluo deliberately gave him an impossible task.
Probably thinking Qiao Han would chicken out—give up quietly. Then, when the test ended and points were tallied, Qiao Han would simply fail. No one would question it. They’d just assume… he wasn’t good enough.
Jiang Qiluo never expected Qiao Han to go through with it. And definitely not succeed.
“What an idiot.”
Lu Zhui clicked his tongue.
“You warned him last time, didn’t you? Guess it wasn’t enough. He really thought you’d never find out? Or that Qiao Han would just roll over and quit?”
He snorted.
“He probably assumed no one would ever realize that he tampered with Qiao Han’s task.”
“Well. Surprise.”
“In doing that, he didn’t just scheme against Qiao Han—he humiliated you. Your own junior tried to sabotage your dao partner.”
Lu Zhui wasn't done venting, but before he could speak again, Xiao Jiuci turned to Guan Jie.
“Send word to Qingyun Sect,” he said, voice cold as frost.
“By my order, the Disciplinary Hall is to arrest Jiang Qiluo. I’ll deal with him when I return.”
Guan Jie was completely baffled at first. But the moment he heard those words, a cold shiver ran down his spine.
Senior Brother Xiao Jiuci never spoke lightly. If he’d issued an order like this with that rare, simmering fury in his voice, it meant things were serious. Dead serious.
The oppressive aura coming off him was so intense that none of the disciples around dared to even breathe too loudly.
But… the one he was targeting was Jiang Qiluo—his favorite junior, the sect leader’s only son. This was big.
Despite the thousands of questions spinning through his mind, Guan Jie dared not question the command. Xiao Jiuci’s authority was absolute. He bowed and immediately accepted the order.
Once that was settled, Xiao Jiuci turned sharply and strode toward the secret realm’s entrance.
Lu Zhui rushed forward to block him. “Whoa, hold up—what are you doing?”
“I need to go in,” Xiao Jiuci said, brows drawn tight.
“If the Eight-Direction Wuzhen Grass wasn’t the only absurd task on his list… then there might be more. Worse ones.”
He glanced toward the Water Mirror.
“Everyone who’s seen that jade token looked stunned—some outright shocked. That means this isn’t just a single bad draw. Something’s off. I need to see for myself.”
Lu Zhui immediately stepped in, voice stern, “If you go in now, what are you planning to do—change his tasks? Yank him out of the trial? Either way, people will talk. You two aren’t strangers. Everyone knows you’re dao partners.”
He took a breath, then added firmly, “If Qiao Han passes the test after you interfere, no one will respect the result. His achievements won’t mean anything. If you care about him, let this play out. Once the trial’s over, hit back with the facts. No one will be able to deny it then.”
Xiao Jiuci’s energy pulsed with restrained fury. “But… I’m worried he’ll push himself too hard.”
His voice softened slightly.
That stubborn kid had sworn he’d earn his place as his junior. Thinking of that fierce determination only twisted the guilt deeper in Xiao Jiuci’s chest.
Lu Zhui, seeing how shaken he really was, dropped the teasing for once and spoke seriously, “Qiao Han’s sharp. You saw what he pulled with the Rockspine Tiger—brains over brawn. If it’s something he truly can’t win, he’ll back off. He’s not the type to throw his life away. Just wait. If things really go south, then step in.”
Xiao Jiuci stared at the glowing entrance of the secret realm. Slowly, he lowered his gaze. The guilt didn’t fade, but at least… for now… he would wait.
Because all of this—every last challenge—stemmed from someone trying to get at him through Qiao Han.
Back at the Water Mirror, the scene had shifted. Around a bonfire, the group laughed and chatted happily—everyone except Meng Wan, who sat sulking with thinly-veiled jealousy. But the rest were glowing with triumph. Even Lu Xiang, his usually sharp-tongued sister, had relaxed and blended in with the others.
Lu Zhui patted Xiao Jiuci on the shoulder. “See? He’s fine.”
Later that night, most had gone to rest. But Qiao Han remained seated cross-legged, surrounded by a gentle green glow—the dense, flowing light of wood-element spiritual energy.
“So diligent?” Lu Zhui chuckled.
Xiao Jiuci watched quietly and murmured, “The Eight-Direction Wuzhen Grass released a lot of raw energy. Pure wood-type spiritual force. It’s overwhelming… he’s probably trying to absorb and refine it.”
He paused for a beat.
“But…”
“But why?”
“He’s probably about to break through.”
“Seriously? To Foundation Establishment?”
A hint of worry crept into Xiao Jiuci’s usually calm expression. The Qinglian Realm was rich in spiritual energy, making it an ideal place for wood-type cultivators to break through.
But no matter how favorable the environment, it was still an uncontrolled trial ground—not the safest place to undergo a major advancement. It would be better if Qiao Han could wait until after the trial.
…
Meanwhile, back at the Qingyun Sect, Jiang Qiluo was practicing sword techniques in his courtyard when Jiang Suwei and Ou Zanrui came to find him again. The fact that they hadn’t received any news of Qiao Han’s elimination was making them increasingly anxious.
“Junior Brother, could it be... you were wrong?” Ou Zanrui asked, frowning.
Jiang Qiluo stopped, wiped his sword, and reassured them with confidence, “No way. I’m certain. I was careful.”
Jiang Suwei hesitated.
“Still, isn’t this going too far? What if something really happens? You should’ve told us from the beginning. If I’d known, I would’ve stopped you.”
Jiang Qiluo immediately defended himself, “That’s exactly why I didn’t! You’re too soft-hearted, Sis. Don’t worry—those last tasks are impossible. He’s going to give up. He has to.”
He looked at his sister, who had been crying over Qiao Han again and again, and felt his heart harden. If Qiao Han became a full disciple of Qingyun Sect, wouldn’t that just give him more power to bully them? How could Jiang Qiluo possibly do nothing?
Just as he spoke, disciples from the Discipline Hall suddenly appeared at the gate.
“Junior Brother Jiang, orders from the Senior Brother. We’ve come to take you into custody.”
“What?!”
Jiang Qiluo leapt to his feet, “Senior Brother wants to arrest me?!”
“Please don’t make this harder than it has to be,” the Discipline Hall disciples said awkwardly.
“We’re just here to detain you for now. Orders are orders.”
Jiang Qiluo was instantly furious. He had a sinking feeling that his little scheme had been exposed—but how could Senior Brother humiliate him like this over such a trivial matter? Where was he supposed to put his face now?!
“You must have it wrong! Senior Brother wouldn’t—” Jiang Suwei said, stunned.
“It’s real,” one of the disciples said with a sigh. “The message came straight from the Qinglian Realm. We wouldn’t dare make it up.”
And with that, they stopped explaining and moved in to restrain him.
Jiang Qiluo had tried to fight back, even striking out with force, but under the suppression of the Discipline Hall’s enchanted tools, he was quickly subdued and bound, dragged back to the Discipline Hall. Naturally, a lot of people witnessed the scene along the way.
Jiang Qiluo felt like he’d lost every last shred of dignity. He thrashed and yelled the whole way, causing a complete spectacle.
Jiang Suwei immediately ran to find their mother.
When Madam Jiang heard the news, she nearly fainted from sheer fury. Without delay, she rushed over to the Discipline Hall herself.
The elders of the Discipline Hall were put in a tough spot—they didn’t want to offend Madam Jiang, but they couldn’t release Jiang Qiluo either.
Before going into seclusion, the Sect Master had explicitly handed all core disciplinary authority to Xiao Jiuci. Madam Jiang, in contrast, had only been granted permission to handle mundane matters.
Looking at this family’s shameless favoritism and double standards, the elder couldn’t help but admire the Sect Master’s foresight.
Curious himself, one elder asked Jiang Qiluo why Xiao Jiuci would suddenly issue such an order, especially when he’d always favored the boy. But Jiang Qiluo kept his mouth shut, refusing to say a word. With no other option, they simply locked him up.
And so, the third night of the trial passed.
At this point, most of the remaining tasks were high-difficulty objectives. One by one, candidates from both sects had started to crush their jade plaques, choosing to forfeit rather than risk further danger.
On the fourth day, Qiao Han began feeling the pressure. He saw Lu Xiang playing savior again—this time helping a few more injured disciples—and to make it worse, she even wanted to invite them to join their team generously.
Qiao Han immediately played the bad cop, flat-out refusing. The two clashed again.
He was at his wits’ end. Who knew where that cultivator tainted by demonic energy was hiding?
Honestly, aside from Bai Rong, Qiao Han wasn’t confident about anyone in the team right now.
It was best to keep things as they were. If luck was on their side, maybe Lu Xiang could avoid triggering the main plot altogether.
“Miss Lu, we’re also here to apply for the Yuxu Sect. Can we join you? We’d be glad to help,” a group of disciples said.
Before Lu Xiang could respond, Qiao Han cut in coldly:
“Oh? We’re heading toward the Qinggu Eagle’s territory to mine some Celestial Luminary Stone.”
As soon as he said that, the group’s faces stiffened. One by one, they made awkward excuses and slipped away.
“What the hell was that for?” Lu Xiang snapped, clearly annoyed.
Qiao Han put on an innocent face.
“Didn’t you say you were going to help me mine the Celestial Luminary Stone? And your final task also involves the Qinggu Eagle, doesn’t it? Naturally, we’re heading in the same direction.”
Lu Xiang opened her mouth but had no retort. She just shot Qiao Han a suspicious glare before stomping off. Meng Wan hurried after her, muttering something under his breath.
“More people mean more strength. What’s the harm?” Sheng Jue whispered as he walked up beside Qiao Han.
“Brother Lu -you... she’s just naturally loyal, likes making friends. It’s just how she is.”
“But how’d she end up with that kind of personality?” Qiao Han muttered.
“Isn’t she tired of the trouble?”
“Talking about me again, aren’t you!” Lu Xiang suddenly turned and glared at them.
Qiao Han twitched.
“Not at all. I was praising you. You’re righteous, beautiful, kindhearted, and a moral paragon. Just saying, your behavior’s... quite different from your brother’s.”
Lu Xiang scrunched up her nose with a huff.
“I use Senior Brother Xiao as a role model. Of course, I’m being like him.”
“Huh?” Qiao Han stopped mid-step.
Lu Xiang suddenly realized what she’d just revealed. Her cheeks flushed a faint rosy pink as she shot Qiao Han another glare and turned away without a word.
Qiao Han was left stunned for a second, then let out a helpless laugh and caught up with her.
“Wait—don’t tell me… you’re trying to imitate him?”
Of course. The male lead was the real deal—brave, righteous, compassionate, and admired by all.
But even he wasn’t some bleeding heart constantly looking for people to save. He had his own sense of justice, his boundaries. He didn’t do good for the sake of appearances.
This girl had picked up the shape, but none of the soul.
Still, when Qiao Han looked at Lu Xiang, he couldn’t help but see a bit of himself in her—a younger version. It wasn’t so much admiration as it was worship.
She wasn’t crushing on Xiao Jiuci—she wanted to be like him. By imitating him, she hoped to get closer to the ideal she respected.
So that’s what this was. A little fangirl in disguise.
Lu Xiang, oblivious to his inner thoughts, tilted her chin proudly.
“So what if I am? Unlike you!”
Qiao Han blinked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lu Xiang snorted coldly.
“You think the way you act is worthy of being Senior Brother Xiao’s dao partner?”
Qiao Han was momentarily speechless. Then he raised a brow.
“And who do you think is worthy? You?”
Lu Xiang clearly wasn’t expecting him to ask that so bluntly. Her ears turned a bit red, but she stood her ground.
“I’m not worthy either. I haven’t done enough yet. Right now, no one’s worthy of Senior Brother Xiao. He’s admired by all, a paragon of virtue—who could match him? Maybe a celestial fairy from the heavens... No, even that might not be enough.”
Qiao Han: …Girl, you’ve got the makings of a hardcore toxic fan.
Now that he understood Lu Xiang’s “type,” everything suddenly made more sense—why she insisted on saving people, even when it was pointless or dangerous. She saw it as a way to embody the values of her idol.
Fine. Let her learn the hard way. Sooner or later, reality would teach her what ideals alone couldn’t.
Their conversation hadn’t been hushed. They spoke openly, not bothering to avoid being overheard.
Sheng Jue and Bai Rong looked curious, eavesdropping openly.
Meng Wan, on the other hand, looked like he’d eaten something bitter. He’d always thought Lu Xiang just had some kind of pathological hero complex. Now it turned out she was just desperate to cozy up to Xiao Jiuci.
And him? He used to dumbly play along with her antics, thinking she was righteous. What a joke. She probably only helped Qiao Han this time to gain points with Xiao Jiuci.
Before he could stew any longer, the group finally reached the edge of the Qinggu Eagle's territory.
Lu Xiang’s final task: Retrieve a Qinggu Eagle egg.
The Qinggu Eagle was surprisingly laid-back when it came to its eggs. If luck was on your side, you might even stumble upon one that had rolled out of the nest. But if the eagle caught you poking around? You’d be driven off with talons and wind blades.
But the Celestial Luminary Stone? That was a whole different beast.
Compared to its eggs, the Qinggu Eagle cared way more about its bed.
That “stone” was no ordinary mineral—it was a sacred place where the Qinggu Eagle had slept for countless years, the essence of spiritual energy and time crystallizing into the legendary Celestial Luminary Stone.
It didn’t let anything near it. Not humans. Not beasts. Not even its own eggs were allowed to rest on its precious bed.
If you wanted the stone, you had to sneak into its nest and dig it out. And the nest?
Built high atop the tallest ancient tree in the forest canopy. Elegant, dangerous, unreachable.
The group huddled together, deep in discussion. This wasn’t going to be easy—the Qinggu Eagle’s combat prowess was no less than the Rock Tiger’s. A frontal assault was suicide.
“Do eagles eat fish, too?” Lu Xiang was the first to speak up.
Qiao Han clicked his tongue twice and shrugged.
“Unfortunately, it’s a vegetarian. Lives off leaves. Big herbivore.”
“…Then do we look for the egg first?” Sheng Jue asked cautiously.
…
Meanwhile, outside the water mirror, the audience was closely watching.
“There’s definitely going to be an egg-retrieval task,” Lu Zhui commented casually.
Xiao Jiuci, however, didn’t look relaxed at all. His gaze was locked onto the water mirror, brows creased.
Because Qiao Han… was staring straight up at that high perch, right at the eagle’s nest.
And when Qiao Han stared like that, it only meant one thing.
He was planning something crazy again.
*********************************************************************
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