Little Junior Sister, We Can’t Handle This Grind Anymore - Chapter 9

Feng Qingran brought up the subject of the Sect Competition because the top twenty participants would have a chance to enter the Jiuyuan Secret Realm.

She remembered that hidden within the secret realm was the legacy of a Great Ascension cultivator. If she could obtain that legacy for her master, he would undoubtedly advance to the next stage.

“We never participate in these competitions.”

Mo Jinghong’s single sentence deflated Feng Qingran’s enthusiasm. All the words she had prepared were stuck in her throat.

“Why not?” she asked.

Mo Jinghong smiled faintly. “Too boring. No opponents at our level.”

If anyone else had said this, Feng Qingran would have dismissed them as arrogant. But coming from Mo Jinghong, it sounded undeniably true.

In the world of cultivation, breaking through to the Golden Core stage before the age of a hundred was already considered a prodigious feat.

Yet, among Lingyun Sect’s disciples, the oldest was barely a hundred years old, and all of them had already reached at least mid-stage Golden Core—some even higher.

The most unbelievable among them was Mo Jinghong. With the appearance of an eighteen-year-old youth, he had already reached the Nascent Soul stage—meaning he had broken through to Nascent Soul before turning eighteen.

Once a cultivator reached Nascent Soul, their lifespan extended to over two thousand years, and their appearance would remain frozen at the age of their breakthrough.

“Seventh Senior Brother, I want to participate—and I want all my senior brothers and sisters to join too!”

The first step in changing Lingyun Sect’s fate was to establish its reputation.

Overwhelming strength alone inspired fear, but strength combined with prestige made others think twice before acting.

Her master’s cultivation level was higher than Xiao Hongyu’s, yet the other sect leaders treated them with vastly different levels of respect—solely because Xiao Hongyu was the leader of the number one sect.

Mo Jinghong casually poured Feng Qingran a cup of tea, his every movement exuding effortless grace.

“If Little Junior Sister wants everyone to go, then we’ll go.” His lips curled into a doting smile. She’s changed so much in this life.

“No, no—it should still depend on everyone’s willingness. But as an incentive, I’ll give each participant a top-grade immortal herb!”

Feng Qingran had considered offering something even rarer, but top-grade immortal herbs were already the most precious spiritual plants on this continent. Anything higher would trigger celestial phenomena and cause unnecessary trouble.

“Fine.” A mysterious glint flickered in Mo Jinghong’s starry eyes.

“But the herbs will only be given after we return from the secret realm.” Feng Qingran already had an explanation prepared—she’d claim they were obtained inside Jiuyuan Secret Realm.

“Fine.”

Hearing Mo Jinghong agree, Feng Qingran’s heart leaped with joy.

Now, the first step was to raise her cultivation level.

She began shooing him away. “Thank you, Seventh Senior Brother. I’ll start cultivating now.”

Mo Jinghong was slightly taken aback. Cultivating on the very first day? Did I pressure her too much?

Little did he know, the real pressure would soon fall upon the entire Lingyun Sect.

…..

Heaven’s Sword Sect

Su Yanran stood in front of a courtyard, her expression dark.

At the sect assembly, Sect Leader Xiao Hongyu had seemed inclined to take her as a disciple—but after meeting Feng Qingran, he never mentioned it again.

Ever since encountering Feng Qingran, everything had gone wrong for her.

Not only had she failed to obtain the spatial bracelet, but she had also lost the chance to become a direct disciple. Fortunately, an elder had taken her in—otherwise, as the top examinee, she would’ve been stuck as an ordinary inner disciple. How humiliating.

Just then—

Creak!

The courtyard gate swung open, revealing a young woman in yellow robes.

Arms crossed, the girl smirked with undisguised mockery. “Oh? Isn’t this our genius junior sister? Why aren’t you coming in?”

Su Yanran was stunned. Sheng Shike, the Sheng family’s young mistress—why is she here?

“Tsk, tsk. Junior Sister Yanran seems very reluctant to share a courtyard with me.” The girl’s posture was domineering.

“No, Senior Sister. I’ll go in right away.” Su Yanran lowered her gaze, gripping the low-grade storage bag in her hand, not daring to say more.

Never had she imagined that as an elder’s disciple, she would have to share a courtyard!

Sheng Shike snorted coldly and pointed at a small, cramped side room.

“Junior Sister Yanran, the other rooms haven’t been cleared out yet. You’ll have to stay here for now. Surely you don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind.” Su Yanran clenched her fists.

Sheng Shike was the daughter of a peak master—she couldn’t afford to provoke her.

As she stepped forward, she immediately noticed something odd—the spiritual energy here was even thinner than in the main sect hall.

Strange. Didn’t the sect leader say every courtyard has a spirit-gathering array?

“Oh, right. Junior Sister Yanran, I forgot to mention—our spirit-gathering array’s core is damaged. It might take a month or two to repair.”

Sheng Shike continued needling her, watching to see how long Su Yanran could endure.

“I understand.” Su Yanran suppressed her fury, not daring to retaliate.

The Sheng family’s influence far surpassed the Su family’s. She couldn’t afford to clash with Sheng Shike.

Her only option was to earn enough contribution points to buy her own courtyard and cultivate in peace.

After all, she had to participate in the sect competition three years later—and claim first place.

The prize, the Frostblade Sword, was a spiritual weapon she had to obtain.

Had Feng Qingran witnessed this scene, she would’ve clapped in delight.

In the original story, Sheng Shike was also a villainess—one who was later stabbed through the heart by Su Yanran, her soul crushed by the Netherworld Emperor (one of Su Yanran’s admirers), erasing her from the cycle of reincarnation.

In the original timeline, Feng Qingran and Su Yanran entered the sect together. Back then, the fifteen-year-old Sheng Shike had immediately seen Feng Qingran as a threat.

At eleven, Feng Qingran was already stunningly beautiful—like a finely carved jade doll—hinting at the peerless beauty she would become.

Fearing that Feng Qingran would overshadow her as the sect’s top beauty, Sheng Shike had repeatedly tried to eliminate her in secret.

This fixation had caused her to overlook Su Yanran—until it was too late to act against her. So instead, Sheng Shike took out her frustrations on Feng Qingran.

But in this life, without Feng Qingran drawing her attention, Sheng Shike’s hostility was directed squarely at Su Yanran.

She had deliberately arranged for Su Yanran to share her courtyard, suppressing her at every turn and hindering her cultivation progress.

……

Three Months Later

Lingyun Sect, Qianjue Peak

A sudden wildfire erupted, startling even those in seclusion.

By the time people arrived, all they saw was a charred, barren mountain—and a completely naked, smooth-skinned Mu Qianjue, his bald head gleaming under the sunlight.

Mu Qianjue shrieked at the onlookers:

“EVERYONE, CLOSE YOUR EYES!”

Yet apart from one female disciple who turned away, everyone else remained unfazed—staring straight at him without blinking.