Chapter 1: Stirring Up Trouble Upon Entering the Immortal Sect

“Useless! You can’t even master the simplest sword control technique—how dare you remain in the sect?” The piercing voice cut through the clamor of the training grounds, stabbing straight at Yun Yao.

Around her, the disciples cast disdainful gazes, their whispering like a swarm of mosquitoes buzzing incessantly at her ears.

Yun Yao drew a deep breath, struggling to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. It was only her first day after transmigrating into the novel, yet she faced a daunting challenge—the original character was a villainous supporting role: not only mediocre in talent, but also arrogant and domineering, having offended everyone in the sect.

Now, she had to endure in this body, learn sword flight, and survive the trial three months hence—or else her soul would be wiped out.

The jeers grew louder, and Yun Yao could almost hear their thoughts.

“Look at that idiot, she’ll never learn it.”
“Exactly, how did she even get into the sect?”
“She must have gotten in through connections.”

Yun Yao clenched her jaw, silently bemoaning her fate. Connections? Hardly—she’d been forcibly inserted here by the system!

At that moment, a cold voice sounded at her ear: “Yun Yao, if you can’t learn it, leave the sect sooner rather than later. Don’t bring shame upon our Clearwind Peak.” It was her master, Elder Clearwind.

He stroked his graying beard, impatience glimmering in his eyes.

Yun Yao secretly rolled her eyes but put on a facade of humility. “Master, your lesson is well taken. I’ll do my best.”

“Hmph, your best? You can’t even hold your sword steady—what’s the point in trying?” Lin Wan’s mocking voice rang out again. With a flourish, she twirled her longsword, gracefully soaring into the air like a dancing butterfly.

Yun Yao gripped her sword tight, feeling its icy touch. Yet a stubborn resolve welled up within her.

“Sword flight? It can’t be that hard!” she cheered herself inwardly.

“Oh? Still feeling defiant?” Lin Wan glared down at Yun Yao, descending slowly to stand before her. “With your skills, you’ll never learn sword flight in your lifetime.” She laughed contemptuously, her malice undisguised.

Li Yang stood behind Lin Wan, chiming in, “That’s right, Yun Yao. Don’t waste your effort.”

Yun Yao took a deep breath, forcing down her anger. She managed a radiant smile. “Is that so? We’ll see.”

Elder Clearwind looked at Yun Yao’s stubborn expression, his brows furrowing more tightly.

He snorted coldly, “Enough chatter! Begin practicing your techniques…”

The moment his words fell, the disciples scattered to practice. Lin Wan and Li Yang deliberately circled Yun Yao, occasionally letting out sneering laughs, like noisy flies.

Yun Yao watched them intently, striving to keep her composure.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and raised her sword above her head.

Following the memories of the original character, she began to channel her spiritual energy, trying to guide it into the blade.

But no matter how hard she tried, her spiritual energy remained motionless, stagnant as a dead pool.

Sweat beaded on her brow, and her hand trembled as she gripped the sword.

“Giving up before you’ve even begun?” Elder Clearwind’s voice sounded overhead, tinged with ridicule.

“I told you long ago—you’re simply not fit for cultivation.”

Yun Yao opened her eyes and looked stubbornly at Elder Clearwind. “I haven’t given up, Master, it’s just…”

“Just what? Just that you’re too stupid?” Elder Clearwind cut her off mercilessly. “Look at yourself! You can’t even circulate your spiritual energy, yet you dream of sword flight? Utter nonsense!”

Yun Yao bit her lip, refraining from retort.

She knew that words meant nothing now; only action would prove her worth.

She drew another deep breath, closed her eyes, and focused entirely on her spiritual energy.

This time, she did not blindly force it, but tried to sense it, to understand it.

“Hm?” Elder Clearwind seemed to notice a change. He walked over, carefully scrutinizing her every move.

Suddenly, Yun Yao felt a warm current rise from her core, flowing slowly along her meridians into the sword.

The blade trembled in her hand, emitting a clear ring.

Delighted, Yun Yao increased the flow of spiritual energy.

“She actually…” Elder Clearwind stared at Yun Yao, stepping closer. “How did you do that?”

Yun Yao opened her eyes, meeting Elder Clearwind’s puzzled gaze.

“I just practiced as Master taught,” she replied respectfully.

“Nonsense!” Elder Clearwind’s face darkened. “When did I ever teach you such a method for channeling spiritual energy?” A chill swept up Yun Yao’s spine as she sensed a powerful surge of emotion from Elder Clearwind.

“This girl, lazy and cunning! She even dares to deceive me!” Yun Yao suddenly realized—she could hear Elder Clearwind’s thoughts!

Steadying herself, she glanced at Lin Wan nearby, who wore a smug smile, inwardly thinking, “Hmph, Yun Yao, let’s see what you have to say now!”

Yun Yao sneered silently. Clearly, Lin Wan was behind all this!

“Master, I wasn’t shirking. It was Senior Sister Lin Wan—”

“Enough!” Lin Wan’s face blanched, cutting Yun Yao off with a shrill cry. “You’re slandering me!”

“Oh? Is that so?” Yun Yao smiled faintly at Lin Wan. “Then tell me, why did Master suddenly punish me?”

Lin Wan opened her mouth but could not reply.

“Enough!” Elder Clearwind waved impatiently. “We’ll discuss this later. Yun Yao, come with me to the quiet chamber.”

Yun Yao followed Elder Clearwind from the training grounds, silent all the way.

Upon returning to her lodgings, a faint scent of herbs mingled with the fragrance of wood furniture greeted her.

Her roommate, Su Yao, sat at the table reading. When Yun Yao entered, Su Yao timidly lifted her head, then quickly looked away, as if afraid to meet her gaze.

Yun Yao sighed inwardly. The original character’s arrogance had alienated everyone, even the timid Su Yao kept her distance.

Before Yun Yao could speak, a rough knock echoed from outside, accompanied by Li Yang’s shouting, “Yun Yao, come out here!”

Yun Yao clenched her fists as anger surged.

Li Yang, emboldened by his pursuit of Lin Wan, found every excuse to harass her.

She took a deep breath, striving for calm, then strode to the door and flung it open.

Li Yang, mid-tirade, was startled by her sudden action. He stiffened, then challenged, “What—what do you want?”

Yun Yao stared at him coldly, not a trace of fear in her eyes. “Li Yang, you’d better show some respect. I am not someone you can bully at will.”

Intimidated by Yun Yao’s aura, Li Yang faltered, unable to muster another harsh word. At last, he slunk away in defeat.

Yun Yao closed the door and let out a long breath.

Though she appeared calm, her heart still quivered with fear.

After all, she was now a weak girl with no real power, and in this perilous sect, she must tread carefully to survive.

Night deepened, and the library was silent. Yun Yao sat alone under dim lamplight, poring over ancient tomes.

Outside, the cold wind howled and the branches swayed, rustling ceaselessly.

Her heart rose and fell with the wind.

She practiced entry-level spells again and again, but could not grasp their essence.

Time slipped by, her anxiety mounting.

She recalled the fate of the villainous supporting character in the original novel, fearing she would meet the same end.

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

She drew a deep breath, closed her eyes, focused on her spiritual energy.

This time, she did not blindly force it, but sought to sense and understand it.

Gradually, she felt a warm current rise from her core, flowing along her meridians to her fingertips.

Opening her eyes, she reached out—her finger flicked, and a faint glow of spiritual energy flashed.

“Finally, I did it!” Joy surged in Yun Yao’s heart, and a smile of relief lit her face.

Just then, the doors of the library swung open. Elder Clearwind entered, followed by other disciples.

He surveyed them with a stern gaze. “Tomorrow, there will be a small assessment to test your mastery of the techniques.”

Yun Yao’s heart sank, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

She glanced at the other disciples—all wore expressions of anticipation, as if awaiting her failure.

Elder Clearwind approached, his eyes sharp as he fixed them on Yun Yao. “Yun Yao, are you prepared?”