The next morning, Lu Zhaozhao was sitting cross-legged in her room, meditating and resting, when a rapid knocking on the door interrupted her cultivation.
She got up and opened the door, where a familiar figure stood.
"Senior brother."
Lu Zhaozhao spoke calmly, seemingly unsurprised by his arrival.
"I've disturbed your sleep, Junior Sister." Ying Che's expression remained unchanged as he exchanged pleasantries with her.
"Senior brother came to my place so early in the morning, surely not just to talk about these things?" Lu Zhaozhao chuckled, her words sharp.
Ying Che frowned, seemingly considering how to start the conversation, but Lu Zhaozhao cut him off first.
"If you've come here because of Junior Sister Nian, then please leave."
"Junior Sister! You were wrong in this matter." Ying Che said earnestly, "Junior Sister has a difficult background and has only recently entered the sect. She is very thoughtful, so you should understand. How could you say such harsh words with veiled sarcasm?"
Lu Zhaozhao glanced at Ying Che in front of her and realized that her familiar senior brother seemed somewhat unfamiliar at this moment. She wondered if this was the forced effect of the plot? Should everyone revolve around the main characters? She couldn't help but laugh.
Ying Che was completely bewildered by her inexplicable smile, but he still patiently advised, "Junior sister, don't be so childish. Apologize to your junior sister."
Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow and said, "Senior brother, let me ask you, is junior sister's difficult life because of me?"
"no."
"Is her sensitivity caused by my daily suppression?"
"no……"
"In that case, how I speak to her is my own business, and how she interprets things and causes internal strife is also her own business. Senior brother, you know my temperament. I wouldn't pay any attention to anyone else. I only told her to focus her mind on the right path and not to underestimate herself because I consider her my junior sister. Is that wrong?"
After the conversation, Ying Che was speechless. He knew that Lu Zhaozhao was right, but for some reason, he had a thought that made him want to refute her, and he did just that.
"You're the senior sister, how can you speak so harshly without considering the situation? Have you forgotten all the etiquette and hierarchy that Master taught us over the years? Or do you think the sect can't tolerate you after you've been out there for a few years of training!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ying Che regretted them. But words spoken are like water spilled; they cannot be taken back. He didn't know why he suddenly became so angry and said such harsh words.
Lu Zhaozhao was clearly taken aback. She stood there stunned for a moment before questioning, "Are you trying to use your status to pressure me? Or are your words today also from Master?"
"No, junior sister, listen to me..." Ying Che subconsciously wanted to refute, but Lu Zhaozhao did not give him the chance.
“Since you’ve said so, then I should. But I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong, so please don’t apologize to me. The Golden Banquet is just around the corner, which is a major event for the sect. I will avoid my junior sister these days to prevent any further trouble. If you have nothing else to do, please go back and comfort your junior sister. I need to rest too.”
After saying that, without waiting for Ying Che to say anything more, he immediately closed the door. The door slammed shut with a loud bang, leaving Ying Che standing outside, momentarily at a loss.
His hands clenched and unclenched, unclenched and unclenched, but he never dared to knock on the door he had knocked on countless times before.
Lu Zhaozhao returned to the room and calmed down at the same time.
Frankly speaking, she had read in the book a long time ago that Ying Che liked Nian Zhi, but Ying Che was the first person Lu Zhaozhao met in this world, and the first person to give her warmth, so she subconsciously had some expectations of him.
But what happened not long ago laid bare the truth before her.
In the early part of the book, the female protagonist was neglected by the other members of the sect because of her sensitive personality. However, as time went by, they felt her kindness and were willing to open their hearts to her, except for the vicious female supporting character Lu Zhaozhao.
In the original book, Lu Zhaozhao always disliked the female lead, not only because the female lead stole the attention of her master and senior brother, but also because the female lead, who had always looked down on her for her mediocre talent, made rapid progress in a short period of time due to various fortuitous events, and caught up with her proud cultivation level in just a few days.
All the opportunities in the book serve as a prelude to the male and female protagonists, and it is through these experiences that they gradually develop a deeper connection. But aren't these opportunities also, in a way, taking advantage of others' good fortune?
Take the Golden Banquet, which is the closest one, for example.
The Golden Banquet has always been a major event that attracts the attention of all factions, not only because the outcome of the banquet represents the future strength of a faction, but also because the top-ranked player can witness the glory of reaching the top of the Golden Terrace.
What exactly is at the summit of the Heavenly Staircase? Perhaps only those who have been there know.
However, all the top scorers remained silent after their victory, and without exception, these chosen ones either made rapid progress in their cultivation or comprehended heavenly secrets and achieved great success in a short period of time after winning the top spot.
With such a gem preceding them, all cultivators in the cultivation world coveted the mysterious pinnacle, and Lu Zhaozhao was no exception.
In the original book, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the champion of this year's competition will undoubtedly be decided between her, Bai Yuanshi of Wenyuan Academy, and Yao Tong of Tianyin Sect.
But things always take unexpected turns.
Nian Zhi, who had only cultivated for a few years and whose talent was mediocre or even poor, was awakened to spiritual intelligence and began to cultivate after missing the best time for cultivation. With the help of her master and senior brothers in the sect, she continuously absorbed spiritual herbs that ordinary cultivators could only dream of. With the abundance of heavenly treasures, she stepped into the arena where she could compete with a group of geniuses. Afterwards, she frequently encountered unparalleled opportunities and overpowered all the heroes to win the championship.
In the original book, Lu Zhaozhao was severely defeated by Nian Zhi in this competition, becoming a stepping stone for Nian Zhi to achieve fame. Later, she became jealous and tried to expose her schemes, which led to her being disgraced and ruined.
Thinking of this, Lu Zhaozhao's relaxed brows furrowed again.
“The Golden Palace Banquet…” she murmured unconsciously.
The Heavenly Steps of the Golden Terrace are the closest place to heaven, and perhaps also the most remote place in this world. The Golden Banquet is the only way to reach the Golden Terrace.
Therefore, she will definitely spare no effort to seize the top spot this time.
She is not Lu Zhaozhao from the original book; she is Lu Zhaozhao from the new era. She will not be confined; she will surely wield her sword, cut through the obstacles in her path, and forge a new road.
The existence of the Child of Heaven is unfair to all cultivators, and also unfair to her, but this is a problem of this world, and she cannot correct it.
Fortunately, she wasn't without a chance of winning. At least she was outside the book, so she could use the information gap to prepare in advance.
Emperor Huizong could no longer stay, Lu Zhaozhao's gaze turned cold.
Her original plan was to recuperate in Qinghui and try to control the cultivation level that Wei Zhanjie had previously attained, but now she has given up on that idea.
Whose cultivation level isn't cultivation level? Even if it's a demon, forcibly separating it might damage her cultivation level. Since it's in her hands, it's hers now.
In addition, she also knew of an opportunity before the Golden Banquet, an opportunity that might turn the tide.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com