Chapter 7: Senior Brother Is Interested in Demon Cultivators: Senior Brother, Are You a Rune Cultivator?

Xu Zhian looked up directly at Pei Chengyin’s face, clearly seeing his expression shift from tearful to icy cold. Despite the change in his eyes, due to his features, he still gave off a jade-like, spring-breeze warmth with a faint upward curve at the corners of his lips. Having known him for so long, Xu Zhian was no longer deceived by such superficial appearances. He quickly became bewildered—what had he done wrong? He felt his words were entirely reasonable.

[Your senior brother is truly difficult to handle.]

His system thought the same.

[How exactly can someone like this be won over?]

Hearing the voice in his head, Xu Zhian felt an even greater headache coming on.

In truth, the Yin Tide Moon hadn’t begun just over a month ago; it started much earlier. Xu Zhian had witnessed it with his own eyes—one night, blood splattered around the moon, flowing like rivers from the edge of the sky, stretching thirty million miles with no end in sight.

Sitting on the windowsill, Xu Zhian picked up a peanut, cracked it open, retrieved the kernel, and tossed it into his mouth.

Yin energy ran rampant, demons roamed freely, and all that was seen and heard was illusion.

[Is that so? But what if I am the Way of Heaven?]

Xu Zhian frowned.

[I am the Way of Heaven, from the past, present, and future. Under the Yin Tide Moon, the door of time and space opened. I battled the demonic path and descended here. I have a task for you.]

[You must make Pei Chengyin fall in love with you.]

[Change the course of his future.]

[If he doesn’t love someone else but falls for someone in this timeline, he will die on a certain day in the future.]

[What he loves will be what kills him.]

[If you want to save him, alter this timeline.]

[Bound by rules, I cannot reveal the future or directly tell you who he will fall in love with.]

[You must be wary of everyone.]

Of course, Xu Zhian wouldn’t blindly trust the voice that appeared in his head. To gain his trust, the system told him something that would inevitably happen in the future:

Yu Xuhuai would bring back a child from outside.

At this thought, Xu Zhian snapped back to reality and shifted his gaze from Pei Chengyin to Shi Baoyue.

He didn’t actually dislike this child, but he certainly sensed danger. As he had discussed with Jiang Yining, in this era where cultivators and demons slaughtered each other with irreconcilable hostility, if demons dared to massacre a village, the cultivation world wouldn’t remain completely silent.

Since it had happened without a sound, someone must have deliberately covered it up.

The cause and consequences were unknown, but one thing was certain: the hidden truth behind it was bound to be earth-shattering.

The world of cultivation was vast, with powerful factions like the Celestial Pivot Bureau and sinister, unprovokable sects like the Yinshan Spirit Sect, none fearing external troubles. The problem was, aside from its long history, the Lingxu Immortal Sect had no other advantages. If this child truly had formidable enemies who tracked him here, they likely lacked the strength to resist.

Except when he felt like punching his absurd master, Xu Zhian rarely made decisions based on personal preferences.

If only Yu Xuhuai opposed expelling Shi Baoyue, there might still be room to maneuver.

The real trouble now was that Pei Chengyin had also taken their side.

Among all the disciples, Pei Chengyin and Xu Zhian had known each other the longest. Among the five disciples—or rather six now—their seniority and ages were out of order: Pei Chengyin was fifteen, Xu Zhian seventeen, Jiang Yining sixteen, Changsun Zexi thirteen, He Xiu eleven, and Shi Baoyue thirteen.

When Xu Zhian was eight, Yu Xuhuai brought him to the Lingxu Immortal Sect. Upon discovering that Yu Xuhuai had taken only him as a disciple, Xu Zhian assumed his status as the eldest disciple was set in stone.

Not quite—I do have an eldest disciple, but he’s not at the sect right now, Yu Xuhuai cheerfully informed him.

Later, Yu Xuhuai also took in Jiang Yining and Changsun Zexi. Years passed, yet they never caught a glimpse of this so-called eldest senior brother.

It wasn’t until three years ago, when Jiang Yining and Changsun Zexi led other disciples down the mountain for recruitment and Xu Zhian was left to mind the sect, that he saw Yu Xuhuai return with… a youth who looked exceedingly wealthy.

Adorned in gold and jade, his clothing and accessories all of fine quality, he was accompanied by servants. Though he responded politely to greetings and forced smiles, weariness clung to his expression.

This was the eldest senior brother he had never met.

He could be called the Lingxu Immortal Sect’s top combatant.

His good temper was merely a facade; in reality, he held undisputed veto power within the sect.

Once Pei Chengyin stood by Yu Xuhuai’s side, Shi Baoyue’s stay was practically guaranteed.

Xu Zhian quickly grasped the situation and decided to offer Pei Chengyin a favor. In his mind, Pei Chengyin ought to be moved to tears, his favorability soaring—after all, that was just the kind of person he was. But Pei Chengyin’s cold gaze made him realize this eldest senior brother was truly inscrutable.

Since that was the case, he might as well set the eldest senior brother aside for now and take a good look at this child.

Xu Zhian stroked his chin and leaned close to Shi Baoyue’s face.

A bit thin, but quite good-looking.

You have some cultivation foundation, right? What cultivation path do you lean toward? Xu Zhian swiftly abandoned his failed plan and moved on to the next topic.

I am a Demon cultivator, Shi Baoyue stated bluntly.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhian jolted so hard that if not for the chair blocking him, he would have leaped three meters away.

In this day and age, Demon cultivators and Heretical cultivators were no different from Demons in their eyes. Normally, they might turn a blind eye if there was no conflict, but if they encountered one head-on, failing to fight to the death would earn them a black mark from other sects.

His words startled several others present into gasping.

Pei Chengyin’s eyes widened slightly as he looked down at Shi Baoyue’s round head.

That was in the past, Shi Baoyue continued calmly, having given everyone a scare. To heal my injuries, I had no choice but to dissipate all my cultivation. I retained my foundation, but all my Demon cultivation prowess is gone. Now, as I start cultivating anew, I can choose a new path.

That’s not the issue! Jiang Yining exclaimed. The problem is, where did you come from as a Demon cultivator?!

Then what do you want to choose? Pei Chengyin suddenly grew interested, squatting down to look up at Shi Baoyue. Will you retrain in the Demonic path?

He Xiu wasn’t sure if he was overthinking it, but why did he feel his senior brother seemed rather pleased?

No, there’s no other way. Shi Baoyue calmly accepted what had already been lost. I’ve discussed it with Master. From now on, I’ll become a Sword cultivator and supplement it with the Art of Communicating with Celestial Secrets.

Sword cultivation was the most common practice method, while the Art of Communicating with Celestial Secrets required the purest spiritual energy. The path he had chosen for his second attempt was completely opposite to that of a Demon cultivator.

Pei Chengyin’s expression froze momentarily.

He Xiu clearly observed the change in his senior brother’s expression, though he couldn’t tell what he had been hoping for initially, nor what he was disappointed about now.

You’re… Changsun Zexi commented, quite thoroughly transformed.

Generally, those who had cultivated for several years like them had already gained considerable insight into their cultivation methods. Under such circumstances, even if they were to change their cultivation path, they would choose similar types. Demon cultivators and Heretical cultivators were incompatible with their sect, but choosing something like Gu cultivation or Ghost cultivation would be relatively less controversial and more suitable for transition. Yet he had gone completely in the opposite direction—a truly perplexing choice.

Mhm. Shi Baoyue offered no explanation, as his mind was already made up.

Silence fell over the scene.

Pei Chengyin cupped his face in his hands, pouting pitifully.

Why are you so despondent… Jiang Yining noticed that Pei Chengyin’s reaction was truly strange.

Hearing Jiang Yining’s words, Shi Baoyue looked at Pei Chengyin, then twitched the corner of his eye.

Pei Chengyin’s face was indeed filled with disappointment as he gazed dejectedly at Shi Baoyue.

Senior brother, you… Shi Baoyue slowly spoke, cautiously nodding at him, do you have any suggestions?

Being addressed as senior brother, Pei Chengyin immediately lifted his head as if waking from a dream. He had introduced everyone else to Shi Baoyue but forgotten to introduce himself.

Realizing his oversight, Pei Chengyin desperately wanted to immediately introduce himself, but with another topic currently underway, abruptly saying who am I would be too strange.

Torn between options, Pei Chengyin bit his lip, unable to utter a single word.

Haha. Yu Xuhuai laughed from the side.

None of us here are suitable to train you in sword cultivation, Pei Chengyin finally said.

Instantly, Yu Xuhuai’s smile froze, and Xu Zhian nearly couldn’t remain seated—weren’t they both Sword cultivators?!

Shi Baoyue had obviously already learned the basic situation here from Yu Xuhuai earlier. Hearing Pei Chengyin’s words, he unusually froze completely, his expression visibly stiffening, clearly unsure how to respond.

I heard Master is… acceptable, Shi Baoyue tentatively offered.

Yu Xuhuai silently wept—was he only considered passable?

Acceptable, I suppose, Pei Chengyin finally remembered that his master was a Sword cultivator.

Senior brother is a Rune cultivator? Shi Baoyue recalled his actions that night.

Pei Chengyin replied despondently, You could say that.

Shi Baoyue frowned, then directly pressed further, What exactly do you cultivate?

At these words, Jiang Yining, Changsun Zexi, and He Xiu simultaneously answered, We don’t know.

They had long believed that Pei Chengyin didn’t need to cultivate at all and was simply staying temporarily at the Lingxu Immortal Sect.

Shi Baoyue: …

It seems this sect was even more incomprehensible than he had imagined. With packs of wolves and tigers running rampant among the practitioners, devouring each other and blurring the lines between right and wrong, why would there be such a detached and free-spirited sect hidden away in a corner?

Alright, alright. Since the important matters have been discussed, let’s adjourn. Someone take little Baoyue to find a place to stay. I’ll head back to rest first. In the end, it was Yu Xuhuai who dissolved the increasingly drawn-out meeting. After speaking, he paid no mind to his disciples’ thoughts and turned to leave.

Senior brothers and sisters, please rest well. I’ll ask someone else to take me, Shi Baoyue said, aware that they hadn’t accepted him yet. He didn’t force the issue and intended to catch up with Yu Xuhuai.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he lifted his foot, someone grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up.

Shi Baoyue quickly turned his head.

Junior brother, let your second senior brother take you, Xu Zhian said with a sinister smile, planning to employ his usual tormenting tactics to dig out all of Shi Baoyue’s secrets.

Shi Baoyue struggled to break free, and in his effort, he accidentally made a motion with both hands outstretched forward.

Pei Chengyin, who was crouching in front of him, was taken aback, thinking Shi Baoyue wanted a hug, so he reached out and embraced him.

Shi Baoyue was utterly dumbfounded.

What’s going on? He Xiu couldn’t make sense of the scene.

Jiang Yining clicked his tongue in amazement. What a farce.

————————

Mini Theater

Shi Baoyue: Hugging me in that kind of situation—what were you even thinking?

Pei Chengyin: It was just… suddenly… a momentary lapse of reason.

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