'Confession…' Ling Tian fell into deep thought.
This seemed very simple, but it had two difficult problems. First, the Sacred Heaven Sect was a top-level righteous sect. It had numerous rules and precepts, among which was a prohibition that could not be broken. It was forbidden to have a relationship amongst disciples.
This rule had been personally issued by the sect master, Ye Qingxian, in hopes that the disciples would focus on cultivation. She herself set an example. She never had a scandal with anyone. There were even rumours of outsiders calling her a "Cold Steel Old Woman".
Thinking of his beautiful master's punishing methods, Ling Tian couldn't help but shiver. If this matter were to be revealed, he would be dead meat. However, in order to complete the mission, he could not waver.
The second problem was to whom to confess to. Ling Tian was the Holy Son of the Sacred Heaven Sect; he should be indifferent and holiest. Confessing to a girl did not fit his personality.
In order not to arouse others' suspicion, he had to guarantee his success in one swoop.
Who do I choose…
After deep contemplation, Ling Tian finally chose his junior sister as the confessional target. That girl was obsessed with him. She was like a bug creeping on him all day, so his success rate should be very high.
The most important point was that she was the little sister of the protagonist, usually absent-minded; it seemed that her IQ wasn't high, so she wouldn't get suspicious.
Thinking of this, Ling Tian decided to take action. Right now, he didn't have the mood to continue pretending anymore and descended from the mountain.
Due to his cultivation base being blocked, his senses became duller. If he personally confessed to his junior sister, it's very likely that his confession to be seen by someone. So he decided to confess using a recording stone, which was a lot safer.
Thinking of this, Ling Tian decided to take action. Right now, he didn't have the mood to continue pretending anymore and descended from the mountain.
Inside the quiet room, Ling Tian sat on a chair with a cyan stone in his hand. The cyan stone was called a Recording stone. It was a low-level artifact that couldn't even be regarded as an artifact.
Due to its low quality, one's Qi was not even needed to activate it. As long as you injected your consciousness into the stone, the recording stone would automatically generate the scene and voice that you wanted, and other people could see the content as long as they put their consciousness into it.
In Ling Tian's eyes, this was simply a confession artifact. But when he was planning to record a video, he discovered a major problem.
He actually forgot his junior sister's name!
An insignificant side character, such as that junior sister, was just a passerby for the previous owner of the body; why would he remember an insignificant person's name? This caused the current owner, Ling Tian, to be less likely to know!
And even in the game storyline, she was only introduced in one line of text.
A literal one-liner NPC.
Ling Tian's expression stiffened.
"Damn it… how am I supposed to confess if I don't even know her name?!"
He rubbed his temples painfully. In the original storyline, the protagonist's little sister only showed up once:"The Holy Son saved the protagonist's foolish little sister."That was it. No name. No description. No background. Just a convenient prop to trigger the protagonist's gratitude.
Ling Tian wanted to cry.
"System, can I get a name-searching function?"
[Ding! Host is advised to use his own brain.]
"…You're useless."
Alright, since it is so, it's better not to say her name than to get it wrong.
Ling Tian closed his eyes and focused his mind on portraying the scene he wanted to show inside the stone.
He first praised her beauty, then expressed how much he loved her. Omitting ten thousand words @$%#* that aren't suitable for children here…
With his junior sister's innocence, he was certain his video would make her heart skip a beat, and she would cry, wanting to have his baby.
In just half an incense stick's time, the video was done. Ling Tian carefully checked and confirmed that there was no problem with the scene and then put the stone in a sandalwood box. He then furtively headed to the junior sister's residence.
When he arrived, it just so happened that her window was open. Once Ling Tian made sure that there was no one nearby, he threw the sandalwood box through the window and watched it land on the table.
Anyway, the time limit is twenty-four hours. Even if the shadow stone doesn't work, I still have enough time to confess in person.
With that, Ling Tian clapped his hands and then left.
…
After a while, amid a bustle of chatterings, several young female disciples appeared…
"Sigh, Elder Su has already delayed me for too long. When I rushed to the mountaintop, Holy Son had already left," said one pretty girl.
She was obviously disappointed at not being able to catch a glimpse of Ling Tian in time.
"Xinran, You keep pestering Holy Son every day. Be careful, if you were to displease him, he might catch you and turn you into his Human Cauldron!" others joked.
[note: Dual cultivation is consensual and has both sides benefit and get stronger, while cultivation using a human cauldron is closer to rape and only the person using the human cauldron benefits, not both parties. Usually, capturing a person as a human cauldron will provide faster results than dual cultivation.]
Li Xinran clenched her small fist and firmly said, "If I can increase the cultivation of Holy Son, what's wrong with becoming his Human Cauldron? I am willing!"
"Tsk, you really are a loyal supporter of Holy Son."
"Of course, I like lord Holy Son the most!"
The girls talked as they returned back to their respective rooms.
After entering the room, Li Xinran languidly collapsed on the chair.
"So tired~"
At this time, a female disciple passed by her door and asked, "It should be the time to handle the pill for the assessment. Since I am visiting the sect master, do you want me to take yours to the sect master?"
"Yes, yes, of course."
Li Xinran caught a glimpse of the sandalwood box on the table. Then she picked it up without much thought and handed it to the female sister, "I have to trouble Sister."
"It doesn't matter."
The female disciple took the box and threw it into the storage ring alongside several boxes with similar designs.
Ye Qingxian, the master of the sect, although a murderous female deity in everyone's eyes, she was very caring to her sect disciples. Especially for direct disciples on the main peak, she would regularly check their cultivation progress.
Alchemy was one of the most important cultivation paths.
The elders once advised her not to do everything personally. After all, she is an emperor-level powerhouse, so she had to keep her solemnity. But Ye Qingxian was very enthusiastic about this matter, so it became a tradition after the elder's efforts were in vain.
———
Holy Peak.
Winter of the twelfth lunar month, it was snowing heavily. A beautiful and peerless figure stood amidst the snow, her robe fluttered in the snowstorm, looking like white waves.
Ye Qingxian's eyes were filled with profoundness as she looked at the mountains in the distance. Nobody could guess what was on her mind.
At this moment, a female disciple came over and presented her with a jade stone.
"Master, this is the information from the central mainland."
"Ok."
After Ye Qingxian took the jade stone, the female disciple backed off.
Ye Qingxian's hands shimmered in a faint light; instantly, myriad words started spilling from the jade stone, arranging themselves into a readable form automatically.
— Fairy Cai Xia and Master Chi Mu established themselves as Dao Companions. Zhengyi Sect added a new Heavenly Tribulation realm expert to their ranks. —
"That ugly woman, Cai Xia, found herself a Dao Companion? Does Chi Mu have a problem with his brain, or is he just blind?" complained Ye Qingxian while reading this piece of news.
She kept on scanning the information.
— Lin Yuan, sect master of Lieyang Sect, in order to assist his Dao Companion Mo Xiaoxian to overcome a Heavenly Tribulation, used his physical body to fend off heavenly thunder, in the process damaging his cultivation base. The Lieyang Sect may fall off the list of first-class sects due to this development. —
Ye Qingxian raised her brows, "Resisting the heavenly thunder with his physical body just for a woman? Is Lin Yuan a fool? If the Lieyang Sect turns into a second-rate sect due to this, Lin Yuan will have committed a great sin towards his sect!
"Sure enough, personal relationships between men and women will only affect people to make wrong judgments !" she muttered dejectedly, though her expression resembled a person who has been fed ten catties of lemons.
She read on.
— The sect master of Five Elements Sect and the Fairy of Frozen Cloud Sect became Dao Companions… —
— Shentu Ye, the first rank-three expert of the Imperial Court, went to Lingyang Mountain to attend their wedding… —
— The ancestor of Huanxi Sect invented a high-efficiency Dual Cultivation method without stopping for 24 hours… —
…
Crack!
Ye Qingxian expressionlessly smashed the jade stone. "What's wrong with the news recently? Why is it filled with all this damn couple gossip?"
She had her hands on her back, her face expressionless. "The world is not benevolent, the immortal road is merciless!"
"What damned Dual Cultivation, what damned Dao Companionship… That group of idiots is clearly going astray! Why can't they be like me, giving up the passion to follow the path of a pure heart? Concentrating on Cultivation and reaching the Emperor level is the only true path!" Ye Qingxian sneered repeatedly.
She had already cut off her seven emotions and six desires before she reached the age of 15. She concentrated all her energy on her cultivation and finally achieved this unparalleled level.
"Look back at those so-called geniuses of my generation! They are all troubled by love and such distractions, unable to achieve the peak of Dao."
"I have become the sect master of Sacred Heaven Sect, but they are still rolling in the dirt, unable to progress. It's so stupid!"
Just like that, Ye Qingxian also forbade her disciples from pursuing love.
Although there were many gossiping behind her back, her faith never wavered. For hundreds of years, she has thought that her Heart of Dao was as solid as stone.
But she didn't know why, when looking at the white snow-capped mountains, her heart was a little disconsolate.
Only the wind and snow accompanied us here. It felt like she was lacking the slightest bit of warmth around her.
If there were no accident, for the next 100 and even 1000 years, wouldn't she continue her lonely life like this?
Ye Qingxian wrapped herself tighter in her robes.
But why did she feel a chill at this moment? Undoubtedly, her Taoist body should be immune to sudden changes in temperature.
Clop-clop~
Footsteps sounded out behind her.
"Master, all the pills made by the disciples have been handed in. Should I put their works in your study?" the female disciple respectfully inquired.
Ye Qingxian adjusted her expression, turned around, and answered, "No, just give them to me."
She needed to divert her attention and change her mood.
"Ok." The female disciple submitted a storage ring and left.
With that, Ye Qingxian looked for a secluded courtyard and sat down on a wooden chair.
Cultivation was a very complicated thing. The slightest mistake or any omission might lead her to Qi Derivation and death. She already experienced that horrible moment herself. Therefore, on her first day as the sect master of Sacred Heaven Sect, Ye Qingxian steeled her heart that she has to take responsibility for the disciples and not let them go astray in practice.
While practicing alchemy, one could best see a person's character and cultivation.
"Very good, the progress of these disciples is promising." Ye Qingxian nodded in satisfaction. "It seems keeping them barred from love and relationships was the correct decision."
Thinking of this, her mood improved a lot. But as she took out the last pillbox, she noticed that the weight seemed to be wrong. It also lacked any kind of signature.
After opening it, she saw a cyan-colored stone within it.
"Huh?A Recording Stone?" Ye Qingxian frowned. "Who fooled around with this thing?"
At first, she wanted to throw it away, but after hesitating, she eventually projected her mind into it out of curiosity.
"I want to see who is so bold!"
After the Recording Stone projected light in front of her, the scene slowly shifted. The backdrop remained the Holy Peak, clouds drifting like a celestial sea—but now a tall, straight figure stood where the mist parted. Dressed in pure white robes embroidered with subtle golden talismans, he looked like a young deity who had descended from the heavens.
Ling Tian.
Ye Qingxian blinked. "This brat… why record a video? He sees me every day. What on earth is he planning?"
A strange, uneasy flutter stirred in her chest.
In the projection, Ling Tian smiled gently, that usually cold, sharp face softened impossibly. "You are here," he greeted.
Ye Qingxian raised a brow. "What nonsense… Of course I am here."
But the Ling Tian in the message continued, unaware of her present exasperation. His eyes softened as he gazed straight at her—so focused and tender that Ye Qingxian, watching alone atop the Holy Peak, felt her heartbeat skip for half a breath.
"Thank you for being by my side all this time," he said quietly. "You are like a ray of warm sunshine shining into my dark life…"
Ye Qingxian let out a breath of relief. "Ah… so it's gratitude. Good. He scared me for a moment."A faint smile tugged her lips. "And where did this rascal learn to talk politely? Did one of the elders bribe him with spirit pills?"
But the image of Ling Tian didn't end there.
He looked at her—no, he stared at her—with eyes deep enough to drown in. His voice dropped, low and magnetic, vibrating faintly within the air.
"I like the rain in summer, the rainbow after the rain… and you."
Ye Qingxian froze.
"…Huh?"
Her eyes widened a little.
That… that didn't sound like gratitude anymore.
Ling Tian's projected self continued, his expression filled with a sincerity that could topple mountains.
"In my eyes," he whispered, "not even billions of stars can compare to your beauty."
"EEEH??"
Ye Qingxian nearly choked on the air itself.
Wait—wait wait WAIT.
Beauty?? Her beauty?? Stars?? BILLIONS??
Had he eaten some kind of heavenly aphrodisiac before recording this?!
Ling Tian inhaled deeply in the video, as if trying to gather courage.
"I like you," he declared, firm and clear. "Please be in a relationship with me!"
Ye Qingxian: "WHAT—?!"
Her mind blanked.
Her heart thudded.
Her entire soul left her body for a full breath.
Ye Qingxian looked at "Ling Tian", her mouth slightly opened, and her phoenix eyes widened.
She was shocked to the extreme. If she heard it right… It was a confession.
Ling Tian's image was still whispering, "I found that I liked you very much yesterday, and I like you very much today, and I have a hunch that I will like you more tomorrow. In my eyes, billions of stars can't match your beauty."
"Shut up!" Ye Qingxian's clothes fluttered, and the snow on the entire Holy Peak shook under her powerful cultivation.
Disgusting!
Just too despicable!!!
Looking at Ling Tian's image, she was shaking uncontrollably.
Ye Qingxian had been single for hundreds of years. If there were a ranking for single dogs, she would be the strongest monarch on that list. Although it was her own decision to abandon love, the fact also was, no one had confessed to her at all. She was too powerful and her methods too ruthless. Her sight either garnered incessant flattery or evoked quaking fear in people. No one dared to pursue her. So she just remained single as a matter of course.
But now, this status quo has been broken. Someone pursued her barefaced. Besides, this person was unexpectedly her disciple, her most outstanding disciple at that!
"That—THAT brat…"
As Ye Qingxian looked at Ling Tian's image, her hands trembled uncontrollably. "This rebellious scoundrel! You not only violate our sect's taboo, but the one you pursue is me!?"
Ye Qingxian was shaking. She was pretty sure this was not a prank. The sect had a ban on marriage and love after all. Joking about this kind of thing was equal to openly seeking death. This was indeed Ling Tian showing sincerity!
Ye Qingxian withdrew from the Recording Stone. Her eyes reflected her complicated state of mind.
She wanted to crush the stone, but when she recalled Ling Tian's affectionate look and "sincere" words, she suddenly lost all of her strength.
"Is this how it feels to be confessed to…"
"Tian'er… he likes me?" Ye Qingxian's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and a myriad of complex emotions emerged in her heart.
"Tian'er is so indifferent most of the time. Even if I'm his teacher, he never really got close to me, but I didn't really expect him to have hot emotions such as this buried in the depths of his heart!"
"He is extremely talented and owns a Daoist Mark. He will definitely surpass me in the future. From this perspective, he is indeed a well-matched Dao Companion."
"Considering his looks, he actually is a handsome man!
"How about… I give him a chance?" Thinking of this, Ye Qingxian's heart started beating even faster. But then, she remembered something.
— Sacred Heaven Sect strictly prohibits romantic relationships, and those who violate this will be expelled. —
This was the rule she personally set. Now, not only did she want to break it herself, but the other person was her own disciple. If this spread, she would turn into the world's laughing stock!
"No, absolutely not!" Ye Qingxian shook her head vigorously.
She took the stone into her arms. "Anyone there?"
"Yes, what is your command?"A shadowy cloud squeezed in through a crack in the door, quickly coalescing into a human shape, kneeling on one knee.
"Tell our Holy Son to come see me."
"Yes." The shadow disappeared.
Ye Qingxian looked at the heavy snow falling outside the window, not knowing what to think.
…
At this moment, Ling Tian paced across the room, a bit fidgety.
Logically speaking, after seeing the Video Capture Stone, the junior sister should come to him as soon as possible. But now, it started getting dark, and there was still no movement outside.
"Did the box fall into the wrong place, and she wasn't able to find it yet?"
Just when he was about to go out and check the situation himself, a knock sounded from the door.
He hurriedly sat back down. "Come in"
The door of the room opened, a cloud of black mist swept in. A deep voice rang in the air. "Holy Son, the sect master has summoned you. Proceed to Holy Peak."
Ling Tian's heart beat faster. "Okay."
The black mist dissipated as if it had never appeared.
"The master wants to see me now? Besides, she even sent her shadow guard to inform me… Is something big happening?" Ling Tian had a bad feeling about it.
Whereafter, he casually put on a coat and left quickly.
…
The Xuantian Mountains stretched for hundreds of miles. The Holy Peak was the highest mountain of the chain, towering into the clouds, and the peak's top was covered with snow all year round. Sect Master Ye Qingxian's palace was located just there.
Ling Tian was feeling nervous walking all the way towards the peak's top.
He saw Ye Qingxian standing in a pavilion nearby, her back turned towards him.
"Master, did you summon me?" Ling Tian stepped forward respectfully.
Ye Qingxian turned to look at him with a complicated expression. "Tian'er, I think your cultivation base has made no progress for a full month. Are you focusing on your cultivation? Or is your mind focused elsewhere?"
Ling Tian's heart jumped, and he hurriedly said, "My mind has indeed been upset recently, which has affected my cultivation. But Master, rest assured, I will definitely adjust myself well."
Ye Qingxian snorted. 'If you think about that kind of thing every day, of course, you will get distracted!'
"You are very talented and have the prospect of becoming a great immortal emperor. In the future, you will definitely surpass me. You must concentrate on cultivation, and don't always think about those… strange things." Ye Qingxian persuaded.
Ling Tian's expression immediately turned serious, and he said, "Master, rest assured, apart from you and cultivation, I can't hold anything else in my heart!"
He originally intended to flatter her, but when it reached Ye Qingxian's ears, the meaning completely changed.
She blushed. Her eyes panicked, and she said, "What are you talking nonsense? Why should you put me in your heart?"
So strange, this was not like Tian'er's character; the offensive is too fierce!
Ling Tian was also a little puzzled, feeling that his master was weird today.
"Alright, since you mentioned that, we should have an open talk! I want to ask you, how are you going to explain this Recording Stone?" Ye Qingxian took out a cyan-colored stone.
Ling Tian was so frightened that his soul almost departed his body.
Shit! Isn't this the video of my confession to the junior sister!
Damn it, this is game over, I'm exposed!
***
A/N: Yo! My dear readers,
Surprised? Didn't expect to see a cultivation-type novel from me, right? Well, I want to try something new, and this idea has been revolving in my mind for quite some time, so I simply wrote this.
This one is inspired by another novel, so at the start, there will be similarities. But afterwards it will go the other way.
Comment your thoughts on this first chapter.
Peace Outt✌️