In a dark cave on the mountaintop, water trickled drop by drop onto the ashen black rock, year after year, month after month, carving a hollow into its surface.
Beside the rock sat a person in a black robe, eyes closed in meditation on a stone, their hands clasped together.
—— The six realms within, traversing the four seas; what is born, what is built; foundation takes shape, foundation is complete.
"Drip."
Another drop of water had just fallen into the shallow pool in the hollow. The sound, amplified in the quiet, empty cave, echoed crisply. Just then, another drop formed above, hung suspended for a moment, then fell straight down. As it was about to fall into the water-filled hollow again, the person beside it suddenly reached out and caught the drop.
The cold drop of water rested in her palm. Ye Su opened her eyes: She had finally succeeded in reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, ten years after transmigrating here.
Ten years to Foundation Establishment – Ye Su was truly satisfied.
This was because her sect – the Heavenly Mechanism Sect – was famously poor. For 500 consecutive years, it had proudly held the title of the poorest sect, with no other sect able to compete. The entire Heavenly Mechanism Sect had only one faint spirit vein left, and spiritual energy was pitifully scarce. To cultivate, Heavenly Mechanism Sect disciples had no choice but to go to other sects each year to scrounge for spiritual energy. It had been several hundred years since their first "spiritual energy scrounging trip."
Five hundred years ago, any artifact forged by the Heavenly Mechanism Sect was fiercely contended for. Five hundred years later, the Heavenly Mechanism Sect was still "renowned" in the cultivation world, but for its extortion capabilities.
They were truly poor, and they truly lost face.
To explain, one must go back 500 years. Heavenly Mechanism Sect's geniuses emerged in droves. Any weapon they forged would cause the major sects to frantically compete for it, and even disciples from the Two Factions and Four Sects would show the Heavenly Mechanism Sect members utmost courtesy.
It was just that... there were a few too many geniuses. This led to them, in their artifact forging, inadvertently draining their sect's spirit veins dry. Only one spirit vein, thinner than thin, remained on Heavenly Peak – a spirit vein no one wanted and that was almost forgotten. Furthermore, the sect lacked good management, and the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, glorious for generations, thus declined. From then on, it embarked on a path of extortion with no return.
Ye Su's master was the Sect Master of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect. While that sounded glorious, the Sect Master's peak didn't receive any benefits. Each year, they were only allocated a few miscellaneous pills and low-grade spirit stones; all the good materials were distributed to Elder Yang's Golden Cauldron Peak.
This Elder Yang dual-cultivated with the Sect Master of the Void Yin Sect, and thus often resided at the Void Yin Sect. He would also bring his disciples along, and disciples from other peaks in the Heavenly Mechanism Sect would then use the excuse of "looking for Elder Yang's disciples" to go and scrounge for some spiritual energy to cultivate.
Therefore, for the sake of his disciples, the Sect Master proactively yielded the good materials to Elder Yang, even though the other party didn't even care for those items.
Ye Su stood up and walked out of the cave. She erected a golden barrier around herself before slowly gliding through the curtain of water at the cave entrance. She followed a small waterfall downwards, her feet lightly touching the rocks. Just as she was about to head towards Nine Profound Peak, she heard voices coming from ahead. She immediately stopped, hiding behind a nearby rock.
"Lu Gege, I've successfully reached Foundation Establishment!" A sweet, innocent voice drifted over.
Ye Su couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. She had been so engrossed in cultivation that she almost forgot today was also the female protagonist's successful Foundation Establishment day.
Yes, Ye Su wasn't just transmigrated; she was a fellow member of the vast transmigration army.
Ye Su didn't often read novels. That particular book was shoved into her hands by a junior colleague at her research institute. "Senior Sister, there's a supporting character in this book with your exact namesake. I suggest you read the whole thing, just in case you transmigrate one day."
Ye Su originally didn't like reading novels, but the time spent waiting for data at the research institute was truly boring, so she casually picked it up and read through it once. Only then did she realize her name appeared only twice in the entire book: once making an appearance in the prologue, and once again after the Heavenly Secret Sect was annihilated by the second male lead, when she stepped forward to shield the sect master, only to have her soul scattered by the Demon Race.
After that... she woke up from a nap and found herself to be Ye Su from the book.
However, being an unimportant minor supporting character, Ye Su felt that the past ten years had been relatively carefree. Every day she diligently cultivated, striving to advance her realm.
The only slightly uncomfortable thing was that the male and female leads always liked to flit about in front of her.
Ye Su had always adapted well to any situation, so she simply treated it as if she were watching a TV series.
The one who had just spoken was the female lead, Ning Qianyao. She was a direct disciple of Elder Yang of the Heavenly Secret Sect, born with the Profound Yin Physique. If the blood of a Profound Yin Physique was dripped onto a weapon during refinement, it could increase the weapon's grade many times over. No need for any rare treasures or spiritual herbs; her blood alone was the most precious material, making her the Heavenly Secret Sect's hope for future resurgence.
About a year ago, Ning Qianyao hid Lu Chenhan, who was injured by an assassination attempt at the time, in the back mountain area. This forced Ye Su, who had originally cultivated long-term in a grotto behind the mountain waterfall, to take a different path to avoid encountering them.
She never expected these two to actually appear here today, directly blocking her path to leave.
Ye Su looked at the two standing opposite her upstream of the stream. The young man wore a long black robe. He had a tall and imposing figure with an upright back. Although the attire he wore was clearly a Heavenly Secret Sect daoist robe made from coarse fabric, on him it resembled fine ceremonial robes. His face was handsome, his expression cold.
The young woman standing opposite him slightly tilted her head up to look. Her skin was as white as snow, delicate and adorable, with a pair of round, clear, innocent deer eyes.
She was even several times more beautiful than the movie stars from her previous world, Ye Su thought. Truly a feast for the eyes.
"Congratulations," Lu Chenhan said indifferently.
"Today, Master gave me a Heart Nurturing Pill (Dưỡng Tâm Đan)." Ning Qianyao opened her palm and offered it to the person in front of her. She smiled innocently. "Lu gege, this is for you."
Lu Chenhan lowered his head to look at the girl's open palm. "No need. I must leave now."
Ning Qianyao was taken aback. "Lu gege, you... but your injuries haven't fully healed yet."
"Thank you for looking after me this past year." Lu Chenhan took out a jade token engraved with characters and handed it to Ning Qianyao. "My surname is Lu, and I am a disciple of Kunlun. If you ever need anything, come find me at Kunlun."
Kunlun... The foremost cultivation sect, the holy land of sword cultivators.
Before Ning Qianyao could even fully process the news of his departure, she then heard these words. It took her a long time to regain her composure.
When she found him that year, Ning Qianyao had already felt he was no ordinary person, but she never expected him to be a Kunlun disciple.
Ninh Shenyao's eyes welled up with unshed tears. She took a deep breath, clutching the jade token, and still pushed the Spirit Nourishing Pill into Lu Chenhan's hand. She looked up, her voice resolute: "Lu, Brother Lu, I didn't save you for a reward. Will you participate in the grand sect competition three years from now?"
Lu Chenhan lowered his gaze to the low-grade Spirit Nourishing Pill in his hand, then looked up at the serious young woman opposite him. Finally, he nodded: "I will."
"Then we'll meet again at the grand sect competition in three years," Ninh Shenyao mumbled, lowering her head. "I don't need your gratitude. I will stand proudly on Mount Kunlun. You must wait for me."
"...Alright."
A moment later, Lu Chenhan raised his hand, summoning his Gu Cang Sword. He leaped onto it and flew away, vanishing from the Heavenly Mechanism Sect in the blink of an eye.
Ninh Shenyao looked up, staring blankly at the vanished figure. So, Brother Lu had already reached Foundation Establishment.
In the cultivation world, only those at Foundation Establishment and above could fly on swords.
After both of them had left, Ye Su emerged from behind the rock. She couldn't help but sigh: "The Heavenly Mechanism Sect's guardian formation is truly a hollow drum, making a lot of noise but letting anyone come and go as they please."
How embarrassing, utterly embarrassing.
As the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's senior disciple sister, Ye Su felt ashamed. No wonder the second male lead later only needed to send a small branch of the Demon Race to destroy the Heavenly Mechanism Sect.
Ye Su shook her head and quickly ascended Nine Profound Peak.
Along the way, the disciples of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect were all beaming with joy, as if something good had happened.
Ye Su arrived at her master's room, reached out, and knocked: "Master."
"Come in."
Ye Su pushed the door open. The Sect Master sat there drinking tea, dressed in a black robe, though with a few gold thread embellishments on the chest and cuffs.
"Your junior disciple sister reached Foundation Establishment today," the Sect Master stroked his beard, raising his teacup and speaking joyfully. "She has the Profound Yin Physique. If she becomes a grandmaster artificer in the future, she might even be able to secure a spirit vein for us. Then our Heavenly Mechanism Sect won't have to leech spiritual energy from other sects anymore."
The Sect Master was over two hundred years old, at the early Nascent Soul stage. His talent was decent enough, and his artifact forging skills were barely sufficient to keep the Heavenly Mechanism Sect afloat. Unfortunately, without spiritual energy and spirit pills, he had been stuck at this realm indefinitely.
Ye Su walked straight over and sat on the chair next to the Sect Master, pouring herself a cup of water. "Master, I've also reached Foundation Establishment."
"That's good," the Sect Master nodded, then lowered his head and took a sip of tea. When he finally reacted, his eyes widened, and he spat it out: "Cough—"
"You've also reached Foundation Establishment? When did that happen?" The Sect Master asked, a mix of surprise and alarm in his voice. "How did you reach Foundation Establishment? You managed to cultivate to Foundation Establishment even in these circumstances?"
"I successfully reached Foundation Establishment this morning," Ye Su calmly replied, dodging the tea her master had spat out. "It must be because my talent isn't bad."
The Sect Master put down his teacup and grabbed Ye Su's hand, his beard trembling uncontrollably. "Your junior disciple sister spends over twenty days each month at the Vo Yin Sect, so it's no surprise she reached Foundation Establishment with abundant spiritual energy. But you, reaching Foundation Establishment here with nothing at all, truly..." This senior disciple of mine only gets a few meager spirit stones each year.
"Master, Foundation Establishment has already been achieved," Ye Su patted the Sect Master's hand. "You can't take it back now."
At this moment, someone called "Master" from outside the door. The two turned their heads to look, and outside stood an extremely handsome youth. In the middle of his forehead was a bright red mole, like a drop of fresh blood. This appearance should have been impeccably pure and holy, but precisely because the youth's face was too beautiful, his overall look had a touch of the bewitching.
The Sect Master suppressed the turmoil in his heart. He feigned calmness, raising his teacup, maintaining his image as a master, and invited the person in: "Is that you, Yi Xuan? What is it?"
"Master, Senior Sister." The youth stepped in, paused, then lowered his gaze and said, "Yi Xuan has just successfully completed Foundation Establishment."
The Sect Master was as if struck by lightning in that instant. The teacup fell from his hand straight to the ground. He shot up, not a trace of joy on his face: "You children... does the Heavenly Dao truly wish to destroy my Heavenly Secret Sect?!"
Ye Su stood up to support the Sect Master: "Master, please calm down a little."
The Sect Master's entire body trembled. He looked up at the sky and sighed: "Five hundred years ago, too many geniuses appeared in the Heavenly Secret Sect, draining its spiritual veins dry. From then on, the Heavenly Secret Sect became listless and disheartened. And now, you children again..."
What the Heavenly Secret Sect feared most were these kinds of talented individuals. We can't afford to support them.
The Sect Master thought of his own dilapidated Nine Xuan Peak, his heart bleeding, but he still said: "Otherwise, you two should withdraw from the sect and go to another sect. The Heavenly Secret Sect truly... cannot sustain geniuses."
Ye Su coughed: "Master, it doesn't have to be that extreme. At worst, we'll go extort money everywhere."
The Sect Master looked at Ye Su seriously: "What kind of talk is that? If that accidentally gets out, how will the other sects view our Heavenly Secret Sect?"
Ye Su looked at her master's gaze, as if suddenly enlightened, and immediately corrected herself: "The various sects have shown such concern for the Heavenly Secret Sect over the years. As disciples, we should find an opportunity to pay them a visit."
The Sect Master immediately stroked his beard in satisfaction: "You children have finally grown up. Then, three days from now, take some of your junior brothers and sisters to visit the various sects."
"Yes, Master." Ye Su replied while helping the Sect Master sit down.
Yi Xuan quietly raised his eyes and watched the two master and disciple opposite him. Their shamelessness was truly a perfect match.
"Master, I..."
"Junior Brother, Master wants to rest. We should head out now." Ye Su cut off Yi Xuan's words. She smiled as she pulled him out, closing the door behind them.
Once the two were in the courtyard, Yi Xuan immediately pulled his sleeve away with force: "Senior Sister, in three days I will go down the mountain for training. You can handle the visits yourselves."
Ye Su turned her head, the smile on her face fading: "Whether you go or not is up to you, just don't say it in front of Master."
Yi Xuan was the second male lead in the original work.
He possessed a half-demon bloodline. From a young age, he was taken in by the Heavenly Secret Sect Master. He had extremely high self-esteem.
All the disciples liked to go to the Wu Yin Sect to absorb some spiritual energy for cultivation. Only he, as a child, was once ridiculed by a Wu Yin Sect disciple. From then on, he understood the Heavenly Secret Sect's status, and afterwards, he never went to the Wu Yin Sect again.
The female lead, Ning Qianyao, worried that he had no spiritual energy for cultivation, and she often gave him spirit stones.
Although Yi Xuan didn't accept them, from then on, he became Ning Qianyao's protector. Until later, he grew jealous of Lu Chenhan being favored by Ning Qianyao, and fell into demonhood. This then opened up the bloody, convoluted love triangle drama between the three of them.
According to the timeline, this time Di Huyen would follow Ninh Thien Dao out for training, protecting her. Afterwards, he would be highly regarded by an elder of the Wu Sword Sect, thus breaking free from the Heavenly Mechanism Sect and becoming a temporarily renowned young genius at the sect’s grand competition.
Ye Su remembered that in the original work, the Sect Master had always believed Di Huyen had encountered an accident and thus hadn’t returned. He went out to search several times, but in the end, he heard about the matter from someone else, which caused his heart to ache and led to damage to his cultivation realm.
Just now, although the Sect Master verbally told them they could leave the sect, the pride in his eyes couldn’t be hidden. Even without spiritual energy for nourishment, or the aid of spirit stones and spirit pills, his disciples could still successfully establish their Foundation.
“Oh right, if you want to leave the sect later, it’s best to send a letter to say so,” Ye Su reminded him. “After all, Master has raised you for ten years.”
Ye Su had transmigrated when she was only seven years old, found lying in a mass grave. It was the Sect Master who had picked her up; she was the fifth child Master had taken in.
That very year, the Sect Master and the elders of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect began accepting direct disciples. Most other elders only took one person, at most two, but the Sect Master felt responsible for the five children he had taken in. It wouldn’t be fair to accept some and abandon others, so he decisively accepted all of them as his direct disciples.
Ye Su became the Senior Sister by drawing lots. In truth, the five disciples weren’t far apart in age, but on a daily basis, the other junior brothers and sisters were all very obedient to her.
Di Huyen stood under the phoenix tree in front of the courtyard gate. The shade cast upon his face, instead, accentuated his striking features. He looked up at Ye Su: “Senior Sister, what do you mean by that?”
Ye Su shrugged: “Just a reminder. Junior Brother, with such high talent and skill with the sword, you’re truly not very suited for the Heavenly Mechanism Sect.”
“Senior Sister, are you trying to incite me to leave the sect?” Di Huyen asked back.
“I don’t mean that.” Ye Su didn’t dwell on the topic with him; after all, he would be going to the Wu Sword Sect in a few months anyway. She waved her hand dismissively, “I’m going now.”
Di Huyen silently watched Ye Su’s retreating figure. The red mole between his brows seemed to glow even more brilliantly.
Author’s note: Di Huyen is not the male lead!