Three years ago, Mingli had entered the late Nascent Soul stage and began training on her own. At first, she would send regular updates, but as time passed, it had been almost a year since she last sent word. If it hadn’t been for the spatial rift they recently discovered, who knew how much longer it would’ve been before they heard from her again?
But what got under her skin was—this time, Mingli had sent her message to Yan Hui instead of her! That was just too much! After everything she went through raising that little brat into adulthood!
After returning to the sect, Mu Liuyin finally remembered to bring the matter up. She looked at Mingli, her expression cold and composed.
“Why didn’t you send the message to me directly?”
Caught off guard by her master’s stern expression, Mingli was confused for a moment before realizing what she meant—why she’d contacted Uncle-Master Yan Hui and not her own master.
Mu Liuyin always maintained a distant, aloof persona with others, but she had always been gentle and patient with Mingli. Seeing her like this now, even though her face was stern, Mingli had a strange feeling that her master was… jealous? Not truly angry.
Amused by her own thought, Mingli’s pale eyes sparkled with laughter. She softened her tone and said sweetly,
“That was my mistake, Master. I just didn’t want you to worry.”
But deep down, she was thinking: Master is so lazy—she’s handed off sect matters for decades. It’s better to let Uncle-Master Yan Hui or Uncle Qin Yu handle time-consuming things like sealing rifts.
Mu Liuyin had the weakest resistance toward this side of Mingli. She glared at her once, then said,
“Next time you’re in danger, you must let me know immediately.”
Fortunately, Mu Liuyin had no idea what Mingli was thinking, or she might’ve been truly furious.
Lazy? She just didn’t like to meddle in sect affairs—that’s all!
“I understand,” Mingli said with a curved smile. “I’ll listen to Master from now on.”
She looked as though she wanted to say something else, but in the end, the words never came.
Mingli’s obedient demeanor left Mu Liuyin unable to stay upset. Still, the blood-red mark that had appeared on Mingli’s collarbone during the seal-breaking worried her. There was no mention in the original story of when or why the Red Spider Lily mark appeared—but from what she saw today, it was likely connected to demonic energy.
Now seeing Mingli hesitate as if she wanted to ask her something, Mu Liuyin reached out to pat her head, only to stop, remembering that Mingli wasn’t a child anymore. She withdrew her hand and said softly,
“Mingli, remember what I told you before we returned to the sect.”
Her voice was light, almost like a sigh. Mingli still didn’t understand why that eerie red mark had appeared on her collarbone. But clearly, her master had known about it for some time. Maybe… it was something she’d been born with.
Blood-red, like a curse.
Mingli nodded lightly.
After returning to the sect, Mingli didn’t venture out again. Instead, she threw herself into cultivation—until one day, a dark tribulation cloud gathered above her cultivation chambers. Bolts of golden-purple lightning struck down, alarming the nearby disciples. This tribulation thunder… was terrifying.
Qin Yu also looked uneasy. He had never seen anyone face such a powerful tribulation at the Soul Formation stage. It felt like the lightning meant to destroy its target entirely. His senior brother, however, remained as calm and expressionless as ever.
Unable to help himself, Qin Yu asked,
“Senior Brother, you’re not worried?”
Mu Liuyin’s expression remained composed.
“If she can’t endure a Soul Formation tribulation, then how will she ascend and become immortal?”
Still, even she found this display intimidating. But she wasn’t too concerned—after all, in the original storyline, Mingli did successfully reach Soul Formation.
The tribulation lasted over two hours before the dark clouds finally dispersed. A soft golden light shone down, followed by the cleansing rain that signaled success.
Mu Liuyin was the first to enter Mingli’s chamber. Mingli, still seated cross-legged, opened her eyes. Her pale gaze was icy cold, detached and indifferent, like a deity looking down upon the world, untouched by mortal concerns.
That look made Mu Liuyin’s heart clench.
She realized: the higher Mingli’s cultivation grew, the colder and more emotionally distant she became. Unlike her original personality—calm and aloof—this version of Mingli was like a banished immortal, separate from the mortal realm and caring for none of it. If one day she ascended, would she lose all her emotions entirely?
But just as quickly, Mingli’s eyes softened. That coldness seemed like nothing more than an illusion.
“Master.” Mingli’s eyes curved with a smile. “I’ve reached Soul Formation.”
Mu Liuyin nodded, her voice still cool but with a hint of warmth.
“Stabilize your realm. In three days, we’ll hold your Soul Formation Ceremony.”
In most mid-to-small sects, disciples would be honored once they reached Nascent Soul. But among the Nine Great Sects, Soul Formation was the true milestone on the path of cultivation.
Hearing her master intended to host a ceremony, Mingli’s eyes lit up.
“Does that mean I’m considered a powerful cultivator now?”
Mu Liuyin couldn’t help but smile a little.
“Yes, you are now… Honored Immortal Mingli.”
Mingli had gone from late Nascent Soul to Soul Formation in just ten years—that was lightning speed. Thinking that she might reach her master’s level in another three or four decades, she said seriously,
“Master, I’ll catch up to you soon. We’ll ascend together. Please wait for me.”
That earnest expression was too adorable. Mu Liuyin smiled gently.
“Alright. I’ll wait.”
Just then, Qin Yu and Yan Hui stepped in—only to hear that final exchange. Hearing Mingli’s bold claim and Mu Liuyin’s calm “Alright,” the two were left speechless.
These two are way too confident!
Ascension was no easy feat—but considering Mingli’s absurd cultivation speed, it might not be entirely impossible…
“Congratulations, little Mingli,” Qin Yu said with a teasing glint in his peach blossom eyes. “You reached Soul Formation already!”
“Congratulations, Mingli,” Yan Hui echoed with a warm smile.
“Thank you, Uncle Yan Hui. Uncle Qin Yu,” Mingli replied politely, though her tone was much more distant than when speaking to her master.
Mu Liuyin turned to Yan Hui.
“Prepare the invitations. In three days, invite the other eight sects to attend.”
After agreeing, Yan Hui could no longer hold his calm facade. He asked blankly,
“Senior Brother, do you remember how long it’s been since you last handled any sect affairs?”
lazyfujoshy On CFRFGC Chapter 87