Chapter 2: The First Encounter with Bai Lian

Choose Task 3.

Despite Bai Lian's resolve, she still had to address this watermelon-addicted "young girl."

Bai Lian clasped her hands and offered a slight bow, "…Master, you can count on me. I'll bring my martial sister back to the sect successfully!"

"Very well," An Lan replied casually.

[Task completed. Task reward: Soft Skill +1]

The reward distribution was quite timely.

While Bai Lian was taken aback, the nickname that stung her chest slipped from An Lan's lips, "Little Bai Lian."

"…"

The game developers were truly wicked!

Her name, Bai Lian, meaning "white lotus," could also be interpreted as "toy girl."

[Son of a b*tch, if I get back to Earth, I'll teach you a lesson with my fists!]

Bai Lian mentally cursed.

An Lan smiled and continued, "Even though you'll soon have a younger martial sister, rest assured that you'll always be my favorite disciple!"

Bai Lian mustered a faint smile, "Thank you, Master."

She'd rather An Lan ignore her existence, allowing her to easily slip away from the Duxian Sect.

"Master, then I'll take my leave—"

Bai Lian's words were cut short by An Lan, "Don't rush. Take this with you."

A small wooden plate was tossed her way, and Bai Lian swiftly caught it.

The square wooden plate bore engraved cloud patterns, a large "An" in the center, and "Qiongming Peak, Duxian Sect" in the lower right corner.

Bai Lian eyed An Lan skeptically.

"This is no ordinary identity plate," An Lan explained, "I've cast a spell on it so you won't lose your way."

Huh?

A pang of suspicion struck Bai Lian.

Could it be a tracking device?

She considered finding a discreet spot to discard the wooden plate. By the time An Lan noticed, she'd be thousands of miles away.

That's it.

Yet, three new options materialized before Bai Lian's eyes.

[Task 1: Loudly accuse An Lan: old woman, don't you trust me? (Reward: Attainment of Spirit Change Stage)]

[Task 2: Secretly discard the wooden plate (Reward: Mysterious Water Spirit Body)]

[Task 3: Keep the wooden plate (Reward: Strength +1)]

"…"

The previous task rewarded Soft Skill +1, but now it's offering Strength +1. Was this a classic carrot-and-stick strategy?

Bai Lian regarded An Lan's radiant smile expressionlessly.

Gaining Spirit Change Stage would be extraordinary, but considering An Lan was already at Body Combination Stage, upgrading would probably lead to a quick defeat.

The reward for the second task was tempting, as the Mysterious Water Spirit Body could triple her cultivation speed at least.

However…

She dared not take the risk.

The reward system in "The Battle of the Gods" was reasonable; higher rewards often came with more challenging tasks and greater risks.

Run away?

Bai Lian knew that regardless of where she disposed of the wooden plate or where she fled, An Lan would track her down. The ensuing consequences remained uncertain.

Crap!

Fine, I won't run away!

Bai Lian discreetly stowed the wooden plate and said, "Master, your kindness knows no bounds."

An Lan sighed, "After all, you're my favorite disciple."

With that, she resumed her watermelon consumption.

Bai Lian scrutinized An Lan's slightly squinted eyes. She suspected that An Lan was privy to her thoughts.

Moments later, Bai Lian bid her farewell and turned to leave.

"It's delicious."

The girl known as An Lan, reclining on her side, tossed away the watermelon rind before helping herself to another slice.

Nothing amiss.

An Lan's surprise was palpable, "Huh?"

The bluestone slab before her was devoid of watermelon.

An Lan sat up and regarded Bai Lian's retreating figure.

Speaking of which, three years had passed since Bai Lian became her disciple. Despite Bai Lian's aura of imminent death, she had endured, stoking An Lan's curiosity and fascination.

With crossed arms and a composed expression, An Lan mused.

Right now, all she craved was more watermelon!

...

The Duxian Sect might not hold top-tier status among East Divine Land's cultivation sects, yet its renown spanned the entire region, courtesy of two past ascensions.

Following the ceremony, a throng surged into the small town that stood at the foot of the Duxian Sect's mountain.

Outer disciples scurried to maintain order, their tasks appearing anything but gratifying.

"If not for spirit stones, I wouldn't be saddled with this thankless chore."

In front of a monumental structure, several outer disciples had gathered, engaged in idle chatter.

Amidst their banter, a young disciple flushed and started panting.

Hoo hoo~

Concerned, someone inquired, "Are you alright?"

The outer disciple gestured toward a distant figure, exclaiming, "It's Martial Sister Bai Lian, Martial Sister Bai Lian!"

"What? Martial Sister Bai Lian?"

In an instant, the gazes of nearby disciples converged on the direction indicated.

Upon the stone steps wreathed in mist, a young girl donning an ice-blue gown and a jade hairpin soared gracefully.

Her white boots seemed to meld with the clouds as she moved, an embodiment of elegance akin to the moon veiled by wispy light clouds.

The allure of her countenance left an indelible impression, but most captivating of all was the ★ symbol adorning the corner of her eye.

"I heard she's hailed as a Natural Saint!"

"I was such a fool! Someone once claimed Martial Sister Bai Lian was the reincarnation of an immortal, and I laughed it off!"

"Alas, heavens, I'm smitten."

"Do any of you know more about Martial Sister Bai Lian?"

"If Martial Sister Bai Lian progresses unhindered, the Duxian Sect might ascend to dominance over East Divine Land, right?"

"The Duxian Sect, the Duxian Sect—it's all about Martial Sister Bai Lian!"

"Why did Martial Sister Bai Lian choose us? Yaochi Holy Mountain and Wushan Holy Palace seem the more fitting choices."

"Hush! You dare speculate about a saint's intentions? Are you courting death?"

Bai Lian caught wind of these conversations.

It's only getting worse!

She touched the ★ beneath her right eye, not by birth but by An Lan's imprint.

An Lan possessed a yin-yang fish pattern beneath each eye. Deciding a star would be apt for her disciple, she'd bestowed this symbol. Yet somehow, the ★ had evolved into the mark of a Natural Saint in others' perceptions. Even if Bai Lian were merely boiling water on Qiongming Peak, gossip would proclaim she was receiving divine blessings.

Ignoramuses. Who propagated these rumors?

It was these baffling tales that led to Bai Lian's tribulations in the game's later stages.

A Natural Saint?

How formidable were you compared to us, Reincarnation of the Ancient Emperor, Ancient Taoist Incarnate, and Sun Sage?!

Let's have a showdown!

Bai Lian met her demise at the hands of these geniuses in numerous game routes.

She yearned to seize the instigator by the collar and fashion them into a chamber pot.

She had contemplated clarifying matters before regaining her memories, whispering to individuals that her talent wasn't extraordinary. Yet, the response had been merciless.

One said, "I see. Martial Sister Bai Lian wishes to spare us feelings."

Another declared, "Whoever slandered Martial Sister Bai Lian, I'll make them pay!"

Am I cursed? Why am I always the target?

Bai Lian grumbled inwardly, her expression growing despondent.

Soon after, a beautiful girl blocked her path, inquiring, "Martial Sister Bai Lian, where are you headed?"

Bai Lian, her countenance icy, turned her gaze.

It was Wen Ren Ya Le from Zhuyan Peak—a girl seemingly blessed with a wind and thunder variant Spiritual Root. A bona fide prodigy unlike Bai Lian.

In fact, Wen Ren Ya Le had embarked on cultivation before Bai Lian, yet Bai Lian's master, An Lan, bore a greater reputation than Wen Ren Ya Le's own. This reverence led her to hold Bai Lian in high esteem.

Bai Lian was not solely Qiongming Peak's Martial Sister, but also the entire Duxian Sect's.

With an air of indifference, Bai Lian responded, "I've been assigned a task by my master to venture down the mountain."

At the news, Wen Ren Ya Le smiled and conveyed, "Then I wish you a successful journey."

"Hmm."

Bai Lian's response was nonchalant.

She simply yearned to evade these true prodigies. Stay away, you miscreants!

As Bai Lian retreated, Wen Ren Ya Le's eyes darkened.

Each time she approached, Bai Lian seemed to regard her with "disgust" before speaking.

In actuality, she merely sought Bai Lian's proximity, yet suffered consecutive rebuffs...

Don't belittle me!

So what if you're a Natural Saint?

Wen Ren Ya Le seethed.

Time will reveal all!

...

Bai Lian departed the Duxian Sect.

She clutched a newly acquired map.

Marked with a red tick, the map indicated her destination—

The Xiao Family in the Wutan State.