Chapter 3

Everyone at the sect rejoiced at Gu Yunzhou’s safe return. Only after fussing over him did they turn to me.

Lin Xunzhen took out a spirit-testing stone with an almighty pout.

“Once you’ve been tested, hurry back to your mortal world.”

Rubbing my hands together, I planted them firmly on the stone.

One breath. Two. Three.

“See? I told you there weren’t any—”

Just as Lin Xunzhen began to gloat, the stone erupted in light.

Everyone around me fell silent.

“Are these spiritual roots no good?” I asked cautiously.

“Good!” an old man bellowed. “Who says they’re no good? They’re absolutely marvelous!”

He wanted to take me as his disciple on the spot.

I glanced at the disciple who had traveled with us. His eyes were wide. “That’s the master of Yuxu Peak! He hardly ever accepts disciples.”

Understood. A very important man.

I dropped to my knees and bowed.

“Your disciple, Wang Yaozu, pays her respects, Master.”

Gu Yunzhou stared. “Isn’t your name Wang Jiaojiao?”

I laughed it off. “Stage name. Stage name.”

My parents had only one daughter and had high hopes for me, so they named me Yaozu: honor the ancestors.

After finding Gu Yunzhou, I’d lost my heart to his handsome face.

To seduce him as quickly as possible, I had given myself a complete makeover.

Jiaojiao sounded cute and gentle. You could tell just by hearing it.

Master nodded approvingly. “Yaozu is a fine name. Bring glory to our lineage’s ancestors.”

He swept me up in his sleeve and took me back to Yuxu Peak.

Unfortunately, my parents had no spiritual roots.

Only after I pleaded with Master were they grudgingly allowed to stay and work in the dining hall.

They comforted me. “It’s our old trade. We made our money running a food business. Couldn’t be better.”

Master said I was getting a late start, and shut me away for a month of seclusion to temper my body.

When I emerged from my cave dwelling, the sunlight was so bright it dazzled me. I felt a little out of place.

Gu Yunzhou had been waiting for days. At the sight of the spiritual energy brimming within me, his tone grew complicated.

“You really have begun cultivating.”

I suppressed my rising smile. “Cultivation? Nothing to it.”

Gu Yunzhou’s expression was unreadable. “Don’t get above yourself. The road to immortality requires more than talent. Character matters too.”

“A trial of love, inner demons, karma. You haven’t passed any of those hurdles yet.”

I hated people raining on my parade. I wanted to swear at him.

But my parents had taught me to persuade people with reason.

He didn’t like the name I’d originally given him, Helai, and I didn’t understand the sect’s hierarchy.

I thought about his age.

Clasping my hands, I asked humbly,

“Grandpa, are you so worried about this because you’re stuck yourself?”