Emei, one of the six major immortal sects in China, has long been famous among the many dynasties and sects across the country. With thousands of inner disciples and countless outer disciples, it has stood in China for thousands of years as a supreme paradise for cultivators.
In the vast expanse of land, ten towering mountain peaks form a ring that pierces the heavens and penetrates the earth. The peaks are wrapped in clouds, shooting straight up into the sky. Peculiarly, from midway up each peak to the summit is covered completely in snow, looking like ten snow-capped mountains. Yet from midway down to the base, verdant forests thrive without any influence from the snow above, brimming with vitality. Looking from afar, the upper white and lower green resemble an ethereal mirage.
This is the domain of the immortal Emei Sect.
At this moment, amidst the northernmost majestic peak, a blazing rainbow arcs across the sky before diving into the mid-level of a mountain. Within the rainbow, Li Mingru brings Lin Xiaolu and the Xiao Yuer siblings down from the heavens, landing swiftly in an antique courtyard. As soon as they touch down, the clear cries of Lin Xiaolu can be heard.
He is scared witless, having never been so frightened in his young life. Flying all this way, the seven-year-old saw endless rivers and seas, mountains and exotic lands passing beneath his feet. He was so terrified he nearly wet himself, only able to cover his sister's eyes while screaming the entire journey here.
Xiao Yuer looks curiously at her bawling brother, somewhat puzzled why he is crying so tragically when she saw nothing scary after having her eyes covered the whole trip. She did not feel too afraid.
Not long after the three landed, a girl with chubby cheeks dressed in a yellow skirt hurriedly runs up to Li Mingru and pays her respects.
After greeting Li Mingru, the girl curiously looks at Lin Xiaolu and Xiao Yuer. Her rosy cheeks reveal surprise as she says, "Master, you are truly amazing to have already accepted disciples after just half an hour!"
Li Mingru nods indifferently with his hands behind his back, "Miaoxin, from now on these two children are your junior brothers and sister. I'll leave them in your care to guide them properly."
Hearing this, the girl called Miaoxin's face lights up with joy. She quickly affirms, "Master, don't worry. I know junior brothers and sister must be outstanding saplings handpicked by you. I will earnestly teach them and never disgrace our Pluck Star lineage's reputation."
Hearing the girl's words, Li Mingru's old face turns red as he awkwardly coughs, then glares at the still bawling Lin Xiaolu.
"That's enough, haven't you cried enough yet? The bully of Winter Melon Village?"
The boy trembles, sobbing disjointedly for a while longer before stopping. With tears in his eyes he defiantly asks, "Where is this place?"
Li Mingru ignores him and directly instructs, "From now on you two will live here, following your senior sister to cultivate diligently. Don't cause trouble, or I won't let you off easy."
Having said that, he turns to leave and report to the sect master, eager to get back to watching erotic books in his cave abode.
Left in the quaint courtyard are only the chubby girl and the two siblings. By now, Lin Xiaolu has calmed down somewhat, holding his sister's hand while looking at the girl before them.
The girl is also curiously sizing them up, brightness in her charming face and delight in her voice as she coaxes like speaking to little kids, "Junior brothers, junior sister, I'm Li Miaoxin of the Pluck Star lineage. From now on I'm your senior sister. What are your names?"
"Hello sister, I'm called Lin Xiaoyu," Xiao Yuer crisply responds, blinking her big eyes curiously at the girl. She feels this sister is so pretty, more beautiful than all the village sisters combined.
Li Miaoxin is utterly charmed by Xiao Yuer's cuteness, extremely happy in her heart. After rubbing the girl's round little head, she turns her bright eyes to Lin Xiaolu.
"Junior brother, what's your name?"
Lin Xiaolu now feels not too scared. Looking at the girl who seems fifteen or sixteen, he tilts his head arrogantly and snorts, "Woman, you have no right to ask me questions!"
Li Miaoxin is startled, showing a brief silly cute expression on her face. Then she exclaims, "Ah~ So cute!" She immediately hugs Lin Xiaolu and rubs him fiercely, rubbing until the boy wails loudly.
"Haha." The girl happily takes a child in each hand and leads them out of the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, corridors and pavilions line the way with green flagstones underfoot and fragrant flowers all around, like a fairyland. This wondrous scene somewhat captivates the siblings, alleviating some of their tension and unease.
"Junior brothers and sister, you must be very tired after traveling all this way. Senior sister will first take you to the refectory to eat, then to collect some living necessities."
Upon hearing the word "eat", the siblings' eyes immediately brighten.
Being led by Li Miaoxin, Lin Xiaolu takes in the beautiful scenery all around. He feels this place doesn't seem too bad. Much better than the village. At least they can eat here.
But strangely, the place appears empty everywhere they go, despite the pleasing environment. Not a single person can be seen all along the way.
"Woman, why isn't there anyone here?" He tugs Li Miaoxin's hand and voices his puzzlement.
Li Miaoxin purses her red lips and smiles, "Junior brother, you should call me senior sister."
Lin Xiaolu turns his face away, unwilling. But Li Miaoxin amiably says, "If you don't call me senior sister, I'll ignore you." Having said so, she also turns her head away coquettishly, imitating the boy.
This angers Lin Xiaolu greatly. He tries with all his might to break free of Li Miaoxin's grip, but can't loosen it one bit.
Left without recourse, and unwilling to suffer losses right before his eyes, he reluctantly grunts, "Senior sister."
"Mm-hmm~" Only then does Li Miaoxin holding his hand agree. Happily she explains, "We're the Pluck Star lineage of Emei. This entire Pluck Star Peak belongs to us. But because our Master is too lazy, always hiding in his abode and not coming out, plus not liking to accept disciples, coupled with how our lineage is special to begin with, that's why there are only two disciples in all of Pluck Star - senior brother who's in secluded cultivation, and me your senior sister. Of course now there's you two as well."
Hearing this, Lin Xiaolu sneers. It seems the master he and his sister have accepted is rather unreliable.
The village storyteller said the most important thing when going out into the world is to follow the right person. It looks like in the future he'll have to take his sister to find a better master.
He continues asking, "Now that my sister and I have come here, what will we need to do every day?"
"For now you don't need to do anything," Li Miaoxin explains. "You two are still young. First go to the sect's literacy hall to learn reading and writing, then you'll learn some basic cultivation theories. Occasionally you'll need to do some odd jobs within your capability.
"Big sister, will we be learning from you?" little Xiao Yuer in her bellyband asks curiously.
The girl tenderly pinches Xiao Yuer's cheeks and says with a smile, "No."
"Literacy and cultivation theories are learned together with other inner sect disciples from the various lineages. Only after you reach the Qi Condensation Realm will Senior Sister pass down our Pluck Star lineage's martial arts to you."
"I see. It's just like going to the village schoolhouse," Lin Xiaolu strokes his beard sagely with a nod.
"Mm..." Li Miaoxin thinks for a bit then slowly nods. "What junior brother said is also right. The early period is quite similar to attending school."
ial death, also known as "shè sǐ" in Chinese, generally refers to... well, never mind, it's not important. My name is Ye Cheng, and I'm about to experience social death firsthand. ... 【Host, your mission is to confess your love to the young lady of the Dongfang family, the current student council president, in a way that will be unforgettable for everyone at the freshman ceremony!】 【Host, assist the girl with a sprained ankle in front of you to reach the infirmary, and fulfill the wicked thoughts in your heart!】 【Host, act on your desires and punish the arrogant young lady before you mercilessly!】 【Host, follow your instincts—abandon shameful surrender, begging, or groveling, and ruthlessly criticize the domineering, ill-mannered young lady in front of you!】 【Host...】 Ye Cheng: "Here, here, you take this host role—I quit!" Wait, why is the girl with a sprained ankle the daughter of a mafia boss? And what kind of punishment method is this for the arrogant young lady? Also, who the heck said anything about wicked thoughts in my heart? Come out here, let’s settle this one-on-one!!! ... The haughty student council president, the scheming mafia princess, the fragile yandere young lady, the airheaded maid-in-waiting, the mixed-blood loli/...
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
nto another world, I bought a slave for the first time, never expecting the silver wolf girl to be so cute... Lin Feng: I know it's cold, but you don't have to sneak into my bed! Yuna: Just sharing body warmth, if you dare do anything naughty, I'll definitely...
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!