Chapter 1: Who exactly is the goddess who delivers the message by the bluebird at Dongfeng Tower...?
"Have you all heard? Xiao Jingze is getting married!"
On a day when the academy was closed for the holidays, a group of scions of prominent families gathered at Dongfeng Tower to drink and chat. Upon hearing this news, the hall fell silent.
A young cultivator scratched his head: "This...isn't this a joyous occasion? Brother Xiao didn't mention anything about this. Which noble lady is she?"
"It is said that the marriage was arranged by Elder Ming many years ago, and it is still bound by the Immortal Venerable's seal and cannot be canceled. You must not mention this to Young Master Xiao, he has been in a very bad mood lately."
"I've heard that too. Isn't it said that he married that noble and precious goddess from the Ming family? Isn't that a perfect match?"
"If you ask me, it's probably because the goddess is in love, but the king is not."
Feng Yi shook his fan and smiled meaningfully: "Don't you all know that the goddess of the Ming family was born with a flaw and is a mortal who cannot cultivate?"
"Huh? The Ming family is a family of cultivators, with countless outstanding disciples. The eldest daughter of the Ming family is even more exceptional. How can a mortal be entrusted with the responsibility of a goddess?"
"The imperial advisor of the dynasty had the ability to prophesy. During the Lantern Festival, he observed the stars and predicted that when the moon was high in the sky, a goddess would be born to the Ming family of Yunchuan. At that time, Madam Shen was pregnant and about to give birth. She was highly anticipated and had a great reputation. However, she gave birth to a mortal with no spiritual roots. It was rumored that he would not even live past thirty. This matter became a laughing stock among the other noble families at the time."
"Since he's just a mortal, this marriage agreement shouldn't be valid, so why..."
"Young Master Xiao?"
Everyone fell silent, exchanged glances, and looked towards the door: "Young Master."
The newcomer wore a golden crown, red robes, and black hair. He had naturally a pair of affectionate, smiling eyes, a handsome face, and an arrogant demeanor. A magical artifact that others would treasure was cast into the shape of a golden ring and hung around his waist as if it were free, making a crisp sound when they collided.
He leaned closer to the young man, his hand resting on the back of the chair, a slight smile playing on his lips: "So interested in this marriage contract? Then go and marry him."
The young cultivator was restless, his body covered in cold sweat: "Young Master Xiao is joking. It was an arranged marriage."
Seeing the young man trembling violently, Feng Yi spoke up to defuse the situation: "Are you really going to marry him? If you truly don't like him, why would Old Master Xiao..."
Xiao Jingze sat down lazily, and someone poured him wine. He picked up the wine pot, lowered his eyes, and said in a dark tone, "Marry her, of course. Why wouldn't I marry her? My grandfather has kept this from me for so many years, which shows that he is very satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law. How can I let him down?"
Feng Yi had known Xiao Jingze for ten years, so he naturally knew what kind of people the Xiao family were. Among them, only Old Master Xiao truly cared about him, but even Old Master Xiao thought this way... He dared not persuade him any further, wondering to himself who exactly that mortal goddess was.
——
"Why should Mingying, a sickly woman, be able to marry Xiao Jingze!"
The woman was dressed in a brocade dress and had a face as beautiful as a peach blossom. Her eyebrows and eyes naturally exuded a touch of heroism, but at this moment her face was flushed red, and she was furious.
Seeing her daughter's indignant expression, Qin Lan rubbed her temples and said, "Don't say anything more. This was decided by Elder Ming and Elder Xiao before you were born. How can it be changed so easily?"
"Why shouldn't I say it? Elder Ming didn't explicitly say who it was back then, so how am I, Ming Yan, inferior to her?"
"The Ming family head saw the marriage certificate with his own eyes. If she is called a goddess, then she is naturally Ming Ying."
"Just because of that ridiculous imperial advisor's prophecy? That imperial advisor might be wrong! She only has ten years to live. Let alone becoming an immortal, it would be a miracle if she could even draw qi into her body."
"Hey, you'll suffer a lot if you keep this temper. There's nothing wrong with Mingying being a goddess. She's just a decoration for the Ming family. You have plenty of time. Why get angry with her?"
"I just don't believe it. What can she do? All she does is grow flowers and tend to plants all day, and she still looks sickly like me. She'll probably be dead when Xiao Jingze comes back from the secret realm."
Qin Lan frowned: "Be careful what you say."
"Mother, whose side are you on? Why are you also speaking up for that sickly child!"
"Of course I'm on your side. What's so great about that Xiao Jingze? He's always fighting cocks and chasing dogs, he's never serious. I don't know what you girls see in him."
"So what! He is the top student in the academy, a young genius. Every tool in the academy is his work. Even the Mountain-Stabilizing Plate that supports the entire barrier was made by him. Let alone the leader of the Weapon Sect, it is still unknown whether he can be compared with the Immortal Venerable."
"You still don't understand."
——
"I don't understand. Didn't the Ming family pretend that this marriage contract didn't exist after I was born? Why am I now forced to get married? I don't want to get married."
Shen Ci stroked her hair: "If we don't get married, will you run around in the fields like a little madwoman every day?"
"I have my own things to do."
"What could be more important than marriage?"
Mingying nestled her head into her mother's arms, her hair all messy from turning around, and giggled, "Of course I'm staying with Mommy."
"You really are..."
Shen Ci looked at her only child, and thinking of the imperial physician's prediction that she would not live past thirty, tears fell without warning.
Mingying said coquettishly, "Look at you, you're thinking nonsense again. It's my blessing to be able to live with my mother for thirty years. You are so lucky to have such a well-behaved, thoughtful, smart and clever daughter like me. I can't possibly give you all of this blessing."
She reached out and wiped away Shen Ci's tears, her expression serious: "That's why I said that Xiao Jingze is going to attain the Great Dao. He and I won't be together for long, and he won't like a mortal like me. So I might as well stay here for the next ten years to spend more time with my mother."
Shen Ci laughed and cried at the same time: "You're so good at talking. How do you know he doesn't like her? My daughter is a goddess. Xiao Jingze is not worthy of her."
Mingying laughed too: "That immortal figure must be referring to Xiao Jingze. I'm not an immortal. Who knows if I'll end up living a miserable life after marrying into the family. Look at my daughter, she doesn't understand anything. Being a wife in the Xiao family is tough. And I'm not in good health. What if I get upset? Even a real immortal couldn't save me."
Shen Ci touched her face, her expression hesitant: "That's a marriage certificate with the Immortal Venerable's seal. It can only be burned by heavenly fire, unless the Immortal Venerable himself cancels it."
Mingying jumped up: "Haha, you promised me, and you can't go back on your word! I'll just borrow that Heavenly Fire from Grandmother, cough cough cough..."
She got up in such a hurry, and her breath was still ragged, that she coughed a few times.
Shen Ci's eyelids twitched, and he patted her back: "What kind of clever tricks are you thinking now! That fire recognizes its master, it's not something you can just borrow as you please."
"Maybe it's possible. My grandmother loves me so much, she definitely wouldn't want me to marry into the Xiao family."
"I shouldn't have brought this up. The marriage certificate is still with the Xiao family. Even if there were heavenly fire, you can't just burn it down as you please."
"Then Xiao Jingze can go to the Xiao family, he can steal the marriage certificate and I can borrow the Heavenly Fire, then burn it, perfect!"
"Burning it is also impossible. If Elder Ming knew what you were thinking, he would definitely jump out of the cave."
Mingying gaped: "I'm so amazing! If Elder Ming attains immortality and ascends to heaven, then the entire Ming family will have to thank me."
"I can't argue with your sharp tongue. I've said what I needed to say. You've always been decisive. You can figure out the rest yourself."
"Hehehe, I'm relieved to hear that. But when Father asks, you must help me keep it a secret."
Shen Ci closed her eyes and ignored her. Ming Ying took this as tacit consent, lifted her skirt and ran out the door. She was going to settle this marriage contract right now.
Mingyan was sulking alone in her room when her right eyelid suddenly twitched twice, giving her a bad feeling.
Sure enough, there was a knock on her door: "Mingyan, Mingyan!"
Mingyan didn't want to pay attention to this sickly man, and pretended not to hear what he said.
Mingying continued knocking on the door: "Sister, dear sister, I'm here to tell you a little secret."
Mingyan turned slightly to the side, and Mingying stopped talking.
There was no sound outside the door. Mingyan stood inside the room, wondering if that sickly man had fainted at the door.
It's good that she fainted. Mingyan's lips curled up, then slowly relaxed. If Mingying had collapsed at the door without explanation, she wouldn't have been able to explain herself.
Thinking of this, Mingyan walked to the door again. Hearing no movement, she tentatively opened the door a crack, but didn't see anyone lying at the doorway. She pushed the door open, and a pale yellow figure rushed towards her.
Mingying hugged her and rubbed against her: "It's so boring to be alone, I came to play with you!"
Mingyan cursed inwardly, then reached out and ripped the sticky mess away, her expression indifferent: "I don't have time."
Mingying still smiled and said, "I really have a secret to tell you. You're the third person to know it."
Mingyan knew who the second person was without even thinking. She turned and went into the room. Mingying came in and closed the door. She sat down on a small chair and poured herself a cup of flower tea.
Mingyan watched coldly as Mingying filled their teacups, then picked out the prettiest peach blossom pastry from the plate and took a bite. After standing there for a while, she couldn't help but ask her, "What's going on?"
Mingying wiped her mouth: "I came to borrow the Bluebird from you."
Mingyan raised an eyebrow and sat down opposite her: "What are you going to do? The Bluebird can only communicate between disciples of the academy."
As soon as she finished speaking, she realized something, and her face turned ugly again.
Mingying glanced at her, took a sip of her flower tea, glanced at her again, and then asked a surprising question: "You like Xiao Jingze?"
Mingyan, whether out of embarrassment or anger, exclaimed, "Mingying!"
Mingying reached out and smoothed her frizzy hair: "This is the secret I'm going to tell you."
She repeated her idea of stealing the marriage certificate by borrowing the heavenly fire, and added, "What do you think?"
Mingyan looked at her with suspicion and uncertainty. What did she think? She didn't think anything of it.
She calmed herself down and looked at Mingying, who seemed determined to drag her down with her: "Are you crazy?"
Mingying's smile was utterly wicked: "So, are you going to lend it to me or not?"
Seeing her confident demeanor, Mingyan noticed that the word "no" kept circling around her lips. In the end, her selfishness prevailed over her concerns. After all, this was something the goddess had to do, so she wouldn't be held responsible.
She stared at Mingying: "I only lent you the Bluebird; you never told me this secret."
Mingying's eyes lit up: "Of course, of course, I certainly wouldn't tell you such a big secret."
Mingyan pursed her lips, and under Mingying's expectant gaze, she took out a small ceramic bird whistle, chanted a spell, and a blue-green mechanical bird materialized in the air, circled once, and landed in Mingyan's hand. Her expression was complicated: "Just give the letter to it."
Mingying patted its head and looked around, "I haven't written a letter yet, can I use your pen and ink?"
Mingyan squeezed out a single word: "Okay."
Mingying skipped off to write a letter, while Mingyan sat in a chair and looked at Qingniao, feeling that after spending so much time with Mingying, she had become just as eccentric as her.
Mingying didn't write more than a few words before quickly bringing the letter over. The bluebird swallowed the letter, and Mingyan held it up to the windowsill: "To Xiao Jingze of Dongfeng Tower."
The two watched as the bluebird transformed into an arc. Mingying asked curiously, "Why was it sent to Dongfeng Tower? Shouldn't it have been sent to the Marquis's residence?"
Mingyan twitched the corner of her mouth: "Xiao Jingze almost never returns to the Xiao family, and everyone in the academy knows this."
Mingying nodded in understanding: "I knew it. What kind of good place is the Xiao family? Even the family members don't want to go back. You're stupid to jump into a fire pit."
Mingyan heard the same words for the second time today, but she didn't explode. She just looked out the window quietly and said, "Since they are our parents and close relatives, if Xiao Jingze is willing to do good, how could the Xiao family be estranged from him?"
Mingying disagreed: "Do you think all aristocratic families are as good as the Ming family? If you and I were born into the Xiao family, I might have eaten the peach blossom pastry on your table and be dead by now, cough cough cough..."
Mingyan's heart stopped, and she gasped in shock as she grabbed Mingying's arm, "I never hurt you!"
Mingying touched her nose sheepishly: "I talked too much and choked on my own saliva."
Mingyan was speechless for a moment, then her face flushed red: "I've lent you the bluebird, and I've sent the letter. Now get out of my room!"
——
Xiao Jingze sat alone on the rooftop of Dongfeng Tower, drinking. It was sunrise, and the boundary between black and white was indistinct. The streets were brightly lit, but one spot flickered incessantly. He squinted and said, "Bluebird?"
The bluebird was a gadget he had previously developed for the academy, with each disciple receiving one. Presumably, it was the same group of people who couldn't find him again. He waved his hand, and the bluebird landed in his palm, spitting out a letter.
He popped a peanut into his mouth, slowly unwrapped it, and then paused.
The letter was short, and he read it quickly. He stared at the signature for a long time, then gave a cryptic laugh.
A note from the author:
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*Some less important world-building settings:
You were born into a world without demons, monsters, or ghosts, only humans. Humans are divided into mortals and cultivators based on whether they are born with spiritual roots. If you are lucky enough to become a cultivator, you can cultivate to become an immortal by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. However, it should be noted that there has only been one successful case to date.
There are many ways to cultivate yourself that you can choose from. If you have a distinguished family background (such as being from a prominent family), the best way is to enter an academy, study systematically, and then choose the major that best suits you.
What if you're just a commoner and don't have the money to enter the academy? No problem! You can also sign a contract with a powerful family and become their disciple. The family will provide you with cultivation resources. Of course, there's no such thing as a free lunch, and the family will also need your return.
Speaking of aristocratic families, we have to mention the four great families. The best choice would naturally be the Ming family, but they are all cultivators, so they don't need or recruit anyone. Therefore, you can only cross them out with tears in your eyes.
You might hesitate between the Shen family and the Xiao family, but if you have good talent, the Jin family will approach you first and offer you very generous terms. They are very generous in their treatment of retainers, so you can consider it carefully.
If you don't like either of those, joining another minor family or becoming a wandering cultivator to help the needy is also a good option. Many scions of noble families also choose not to enter the academy, but instead receive one-on-one instruction from teachers.
When you finally reach the Nascent Soul stage after overcoming numerous hardships, congratulations! Your cultivation level is now high enough to surpass 99% of people. At this point, you should also start focusing on your own "Dao." The key step to becoming an immortal and transcending worldly affairs is having your own Dao heart.
You can refer to the teachings of several Mahayana stage masters, such as Elder Ming who cultivates the Way of Non-Action, the Imperial Preceptor who cultivates the Way of Heavenly Prophecy, and Madam Shen who cultivates the Way of All Living Beings. By the way, the Way of Ruthlessness is also very popular among sword cultivators; as long as it's not an evil or heretical path, you can choose it freely.
Of course, if you insist on choosing the unorthodox path, it's not impossible, but you have to be careful. Unorthodox cultivators are still a very small minority in this world, and they generally don't live long.
Alright, I wish you a smooth and fruitful spiritual journey!
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