1. Using a grafted flower to represent a past life

◎Oh no, I'm going to be sent as a hostage.◎

"This is outrageous! Such hypocrisy! How dare they call themselves a celestial sect personally established by the Heavenly Emperor? It's disgusting. Luckily you got away quickly."

Ye Qin sat in the kitchen, propping his cheek up with one hand and stuffing a mouthful of steamed osmanthus cake into his mouth with the other, mumbling indignantly.

The shop was packed with customers today. Yan Yunzhao wished he had three heads and six arms. He was busy kneading dough, adding water and cooking it, picking shrimp, marinating meat and chopping vegetables. He was so busy that his steps were unsteady.

Hearing Ye Qin speak up for her, she could only sigh and say, "Although Qingshan Sect did exploit me quite a bit, I got it all back. The spiritual herbs and elixirs I took are enough to make the elders furious for a long time."

"It's good that you're gone. Now your shop is thriving, and you can focus on your own business. How carefree you are! Once I successfully graduate from the Tianlin Sect, I'd like to come to the mortal realm and become a doctor. I can live a simple life with you by my side."

Ye Qin was born into a celestial sect, but he was kind-hearted and unlike those disciples of celestial sects who only had cultivation on their minds, he preferred a peaceful life.

Yan Yunzhao smiled at her, thinking it was a good suggestion: "Then remember to come and help out at my little shop!"

"Boss Yan, is my mushroom and shrimp noodle soup ready yet? And a side dish of cold appetizers, please!"

The diners were probably getting impatient, so they came up to the kitchen to urge them on.

"Please wait a moment, sir, your noodles are just going into the pot!"

The delicate and elastic dough is stretched and put into the water. It immediately separates into different parts as it boils over high heat. It can be taken out after cooking for a short while.

The three-colored sauce base is already prepared in the porcelain bowl. A handful of noodles is rolled up, and steamed tender shrimp are arranged in a circle. A few drops of light soy sauce are drizzled on top for color and flavor, and chopped scallions and peanuts are sprinkled on top. Finally, a large spoonful of mushroom and chicken soup base is poured over it. Just looking at it makes your mouth water.

Looking at the bowl of noodles, Yan Yunzhao felt a little lost. The last time she made this bowl of noodles was when she was cultivating at Qingshan Sect.

Four months ago.

That day, a fierce wind blew, and large raindrops, carrying a chill, swept in, rattling the windowpanes. But Yan Yunzhao was completely unaware. She was awakened by a basin of cold water.

The moment the icy water splashed on her face, she was jolted awake from her dream. With difficulty, she opened her eyes, and a familiar face came into view.

Yan Yunzhao propped himself up on the bed, wiped his face, and was not surprised when he saw that it was Zhu Qianqian.

"I'm sorry, you were just punished and are still in a deep sleep. I tried other methods, but you just wouldn't wake up, so I had no choice but to resort to this."

Her bright and beautiful face was filled with helplessness, and she was still holding the empty copper basin in her hand.

Yan Yunzhao shook his heavy head, feeling his mind clear up a bit.

What happened yesterday? She remembered that she had secretly gone to the back mountain to farm and even dug up a magical herb... and then her memory went blank.

Aches and pains throbbed through her limbs. She looked around and, seeing that she was still in her room, couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"Wasn't I in the back mountain? How did I get back? What happened when you said I was punished? Why do I hurt so much all over?"

Yan Yunzhao's head was still spinning, but she kept asking questions like a machine gun. Zhu Qianqian rolled her eyes at her, annoyed: "You ignored the rules and went to the back mountain to farm your lousy land again. You got caught by the elders and were locked in the Repentance Hall and whipped for two days. I just dragged you back from the Repentance Hall last night. I'm saying, how come you've lost your memory after being whipped?"

Yan Yunzhao slapped her forehead and quickly checked her storage pouch. Fortunately, the Spirit-Gathering Grass she had risked her life to steal was still there, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The loss of memories from the Hall of Repentance was probably also related to it.

Upon seeing the magical herb, Zhu Qianqian jumped up in fright: "You!"

"It's one thing for you to be so audacious as to trespass into the forbidden mountain, but this Spirit-Gathering Grass is a sacred treasure of the mountain. How did you manage to steal it?"

Yan Yunzhao, on the other hand, remained remarkably calm: "It was... dug up while farming."

Zhu Qianqian's face turned red with anger, and she paced anxiously around the bed: "When I brought you back last night, I didn't hear the elders mention the immortal herb, so they probably don't know yet. You're definitely going to be kicked out of the sect this time, so good luck to you."

As the only grandson of the sect leader, Zhu Qianqian was a bit arrogant, but Yan Yunzhao knew that she was all bark and no bite. She might be sharp-tongued, but she was always considerate of Yan Yunzhao's feelings; otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to the Repentance Hall to carry her back.

"If only they could really kick me out of the sect. Right now, I'm like a fat sheep about to be sent into the tiger's den. What sect would ever let me go?"

Yan Yunzhao fell back onto the bed and muttered something.

After hearing this, Zhu Qianqian lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long time before finally sighing and leaving the house with mixed feelings.

The news that Yan Yunzhao was about to be sent to the demon race for a political marriage had just spread when everyone in the Qingshan Sect knew about it.

The marriage between the Immortal Realm and the Demon Realm has never happened in a thousand years, and Yan Yunzhao was just that unlucky, being born at the critical moment when the Sword of the Two Realms was arrogant and domineering.

The Qingshan Sect was originally established to guard the divine beast at the foot of the mountain. However, with the beast's demise, the Qingshan Sect's situation also became quite dire. The surrounding area is rich in spiritual energy, and over the past ten thousand years, countless demon tribes have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, causing unrest for the Qingshan Sect.

So the sect leader followed the example of marriage alliances in the mortal realm and proposed to marry Yan Yunzhao to the tree demon tribe at the foot of the mountain. It was called a marriage alliance, but in reality, it was to select an outstanding wood spirit root from among the inner disciples, using the marriage alliance as a cover to cover up the fact that hostages and spiritual medicines were being exchanged.

Thinking of this, the whip marks on Yan Yunzhao's body throbbed with pain. Fortunately, her wood spirit root was pure and her self-healing ability was strong; by this morning, the wounds had almost completely healed.

"The demon race is brutal. These leisurely days will be few and far between. You will soon be quietly sent to the demon race to be used as human fodder, while the other disciples can use the elixirs and herbs you obtained in exchange for your life to cultivate. Hopefully, in a hundred years... no, next year, they will still remember your kindness."

Yan Yunzhao's golden talisman flickered on and off as he spoke playfully.

"How dare you bring that up? If you hadn't insisted on that Spirit-Gathering Grass from the back mountain, I wouldn't have been locked up in the Repentance Hall." She complained, tugging at the golden talisman, which emitted an even hotter light.

"You benefited from it too. Otherwise, do you think you could cultivate so quickly with your lousy spiritual root?"

Yan Yunzhao had no answer to this. Although she cultivated diligently, without the help of this talisman, it would indeed be difficult for her to pass through the Qi Refining stage and reach the Foundation Establishment stage in just over ten years.

This mysterious artifact has been on her wrist since birth. Besides issuing some bizarre commands, such as ordering Yan Yunzhao to steal elixirs and spiritual medicines for it to cultivate, it also burns her wrist when it disobeys orders.

For over twenty years, she had been secretly farming in Qingshan Sect. The elders had long since grown tired of this young disciple and scolded her for turning the magnificent immortal mountain into a vegetable garden. Not only did this leave the elders' spirit pets with nowhere to live, but precious immortal herbs would also mysteriously disappear.

Everyone knew where the immortal herb had gone, but Yan Yunzhao was exceptionally talented and possessed outstanding spiritual roots, so the sect leader made an exception and accepted him as a disciple. Since the sect leader hadn't spoken, the elders couldn't say anything more. Their encounter with the elders three days ago gave them the opportunity to carry out this ruthless attack.

What malicious intent could she possibly have? She just wants to farm peacefully. Right now, her most pressing concern is how to escape from Qingshan Gate; she doesn't want to jump into the fire pit of the demon race.

She washed her face, slipped into the back mountain with practiced ease, packed her belongings that she had left there, took one last look at the vegetable garden that covered the mountain, and reluctantly descended the mountain. The bell of Qingshan Gate rang on time, signaling the time for the disciples to be reprimanded in Qingxu Hall.

Yan Yunzhao dragged her tired body back into her disciple's clothes, quickly did her hair and makeup, and stepped into the teleportation array. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared from the spot.

The Qingshan Gate was originally built by the Celestial Lord of the Immortal Realm. With its white bricks and jade tiles, it was quite impressive. Three elegant and understated characters, "Qingxu Hall," hung at the entrance. Yan Yunzhao paused, glanced at them, straightened his clothes, and quietly stepped into the hall.

"Disciple greets Sect Leader and Elders." Yan Yunzhao's voice echoed clearly in the empty hall. She bowed to everyone and stood quietly waiting for the Sect Leader to speak.

"Tomorrow you shall set off for the Tree Demon Clan at the foot of Qingshan Peak."

The sect leader sat high above with a calm expression, his deep voice rang out, and Yan Yunzhao couldn't help but frown: Why is this old man in such a hurry?

Without a second thought, she obediently agreed. She had already been punished for sneaking into the back mountain yesterday; if she resisted, she would be locked up and there would be no chance of escaping again.

After the meeting ended, Yan Yunzhao deliberately kept a low profile and quietly blended in with the other disciples.

A few whispered words reached her ears clearly: "What benefits did the demon race offer the sect? They actually want to send the senior sister of the inner sect over there."

"Alas, the benefits are unknown. Qingshan Sect mainly cultivates Earth among the Five Elements, which is used for suppression. Only the eldest sister and junior sister Zhu have Wood Spiritual Roots in the entire sect. The sect leader would not bear to let his precious granddaughter go, so only the eldest sister can go."

"Isn't this just like going to be a hostage?"

"yes."

"yes……"

A chorus of low agreement came from within, and Yan Yunzhao was somewhat gratified that they had seen through the true nature of things.

She hadn't walked more than a few steps when, just as she had expected, the two senior disciples of the sect leader were searching for someone.

She had only been cultivating under the sect leader for three years and was not familiar with these two senior brothers. If they were looking for someone now, they would probably only be looking for her.

"Xiao Fu, quickly take out the Spirit-Gathering Grass." Yan Yunzhao poked the talisman on his wrist and whispered.

"This is for my cultivation. I won't give it to you." The talisman shrank back, tightening its grip on Yan Yunzhao's wrist as a warning.

"You're facing imminent disaster and you're still thinking about cultivation? I've been sent to a demon tribe, and you're in a much better position. Stop talking nonsense and give it to me."

As Yan Yunzhao watched his two senior brothers getting closer and closer, he hurriedly urged them on.

After hesitating for a moment, Fu Zhi handed over the immortal herb. She took it and took a light sniff; her aura was immediately concealed by the Spirit-Concealing Herb.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one could see her, Yan Yunzhao skillfully turned into the library and gently pushed the twelfth column of ancient books facing east. The mechanism clicked and turned. The bookshelf moved aside, and a secret passage leading underground was revealed before her.

Originally, no disciple was allowed to enter this forbidden library. However, after Yan Yunzhao broke through to the Qi Refining Realm, she was granted an exception. When the elder used magic to shield her five senses and open the secret passage, he recorded the method of opening the door on a talisman.

However, she really hadn't expected that the method to open the forbidden library would be so simple and unadorned.

Yan Yunzhao carefully scanned the rows of books recording secret techniques, skipped over the techniques of the Five Elements, and fixed his gaze on a book called "Array Formation: Shifting Flowers and Grafting Trees".

The Qingshan Sect's barrier was extremely tight, and Yan Yunzhao could not slip away from the elder's watchful eye. The teleportation array that would send her to the demon race tomorrow would be a breakthrough.

What if the teleportation array appears normal, but actually sends two people to different locations? Driven by a possessed impulse, she opened this book that seemed to have been sitting there for a hundred years.

The book recorded hundreds of different teleportation arrays. Yan Yunzhao quickly skimmed through them but couldn't find the array she wanted.

She closed the book with a hint of regret, when a page tucked inside suddenly fell out.

"The key to the 'transferring flowers and grafting trees' formation lies in concentrating spiritual energy at two points within the formation, which is not unique to traditional methods. If one person stands inside, the formation will malfunction; if two people stand inside, it may cause abnormal fluctuations in spiritual energy. Try it with caution."

"Spiritual energy fluctuations..." Yan Yunzhao stared at the words for a moment, but could not fathom their true meaning.

"Little Fu, come and see, what do you think of this formation?" Although Little Fu had said that it couldn't remember anything about Yan Yunzhao before she was born, its understanding of cultivation far surpassed hers.

"The principle behind this formation isn't difficult; we can give it a try." With that, the light dimmed again.

Yan Yunzhao nodded thoughtfully, put the page into his storage bag, and left the Forbidden Book Pavilion.

"Go down the mountain to exorcise demons. Tell them you're going to do one last good deed for the sect." Little Fu blurted out these words the moment he stepped out of the library.

"I don't have the time to be a good person everywhere."

Xiao Fu seemed helpless and remained silent for a while before saying, "Drawing this array requires a lot of spiritual energy. The amount you have in your body is not enough. Let me absorb some when we go down the mountain."

Yan Yunzhao suddenly realized that this made sense, so he went to the Lizhai Hall and used the same excuse as Xiao Fu to get the exorcism task order. After signing the contract with his spiritual sense, he swaggered down the mountain.

The foot of the mountain is lush and green. A light rain has just fallen, and the dew mixed with the fragrance of the soil smells wonderfully fresh.

Yan Yunzhao chose an open space and drew a teleportation array as Xiao Fu requested, setting the destination as a place in a corner of Nanshan where various gangs were entrenched.

As soon as she stepped into the formation, a powerful force pulled her in.

After a dizzying moment, Yan Yunzhao landed steadily on a hillside. Several burly men were chopping wood nearby. They were stunned when they saw her appear out of nowhere, as if they had seen a ghost, and they all drew their broadswords.

"I'm sorry, I startled you all. May I ask how to get to the White Tiger Hall from here?" Yan Yunzhao asked politely with a smile.

[Author's Note]

Thank you for your support~ The main story begins after Chapter 3 [pink heart]. Chapters 1 and 2 are for introducing Xiao Fu and setting the stage for key plot points later on, so they are not easy to delete or modify.

The author is still a student; this is my first book as a new author, so please be gentle.

If you don't like it, just change it. Don't force yourself to watch something else! [Sprinkling emoji]