Chapter 6: Strange Chamber Her hands, clutching the colored map, trembled slightly.
When Shen Wenji stepped into the sect's territory, the feeling in his heart was completely different from before.
When she returned to the mountain, her disciples avoided her like the plague, and her mother avoided her even more. Unless it was an extremely important matter, she would never be allowed to set foot in the inner gate.
But today, as soon as she reached the foot of the mountain, her mother came down to greet her in person.
Shen Wenji's heart surged, and beneath the joy, there was more of a heavy sense of uneasiness.
Looking at his silent mother beside him, he felt a little choked up in his throat and asked tentatively, "What mother said in the letter... is it true?"
Her mother glanced at her and snorted coldly, "Why? You used to clamor to join the sect and learn immortal arts, and you blamed me for being partial. Now that I've granted your wish, you don't believe it anymore?"
Shen Wenji's face was slightly embarrassed: "Mother, that's not what I meant."
"How can I, the dignified sect master and a cultivator at the Fusion Stage, deceive you?"
Shen Wenji hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, no, I am too happy and worried about gains and losses."
I thought my mother, given her personality, would ignore me for the rest of the trip. But after a brief silence, she spoke, her voice carrying a rare solemnity and a subtle hint of worry.
"Susu." Her mother called her by her long-lost nickname.
Her eyes were heavy, filled with complex emotions that Shen Wenji couldn't understand, as if she was reluctant, but also seemed to be pitying: "Inheriting the position of the sect leader... have you really thought it through?"
It’s just the position of the sect leader. Is her mother worried that she can’t bear the responsibility?
"I'm willing." Shen Wenji held her slightly cold hand and said firmly: "I can learn anything I don't know. I will do my best to become the sect leader and will never let my mother worry."
"I'm relieved to hear you say that." Mother nodded, but a flicker of unnaturalness flashed across her face. She changed the subject and said, "Let Elder Zhang familiarize you with the specific matters within the sect. After that, come find me in the inner sect meeting hall."
"Yes." Shen Wenji agreed, feeling slightly happy in his heart.
Mother seemed particularly easygoing today. Her eyes rolled, and she couldn't help but ask, "Why is Mother willing to pass the position of Sect Leader to me? What about my brothers and sisters?"
Before she finished speaking, her mother, who had always looked young, raised her hand to support her forehead. Her brows were filled with deep fatigue, as if she had aged dozens of years in just a short breath.
"You all, none of you are worry-free, you too, and your senior sisters and brothers too!"
Mother sighed deeply and continued, "My clan has always been declining, and few upright people have signed up. This year, we've only accepted three disciples."
Shen Wenji's heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling.
As expected, my mother's voice was tinged with fatigue. "Your eldest brother got extremely drunk at the restaurant last night and didn't come home all night. I went looking for him this morning, but he'd mysteriously disappeared. We're still investigating."
"As for your Second Senior Sister..." A hint of anger crossed her mother's brows. "As soon as she heard the position of Sect Leader might fall to her, she packed up her belongings and eloped with her lover overnight! Her heart and eyes were filled with only those little sentimental thoughts."
"Junior Sister is still young, her foundation is not yet solid, and she has never even come into contact with the sect's core texts. How can she shoulder the responsibility of being the sect leader?"
The more Shen Wenji listened, the more his heart sank.
This position of clan leader...why doesn't it sound like a coveted position, but rather a hot potato? Not only is no one vying for it, but everyone is avoiding it as much as possible?
Alarm bells rang in her heart.
But thinking of the promise she had made to her mother, Shen Wenji gritted her teeth. What if there were mountains of swords and seas of fire? Since she had promised, she would never back down!
A long-held question surfaced in my mind. "Mother, what is the sect's name? I've asked many times before, but you never told me. Now that I'm about to become the sect leader, you should finally tell me."
My mother's body stiffened imperceptibly. She was silent for a moment, her eyes flickering as she abruptly changed the subject. "There's no rush. I'll take you to the sect's secret room to choose your life-defining magic weapon, and then I'll have Elder Zhang come find you."
"My natal magic weapon? Is it the most powerful magic weapon in our sect?" Shen Wenji's eyes lit up, and he temporarily cast aside his previous doubts and asked with longing: "Can I choose anything I want?"
"...Of course." Mother hesitated, "But don't be greedy. If you can't decide right away, don't force it. It's more important to find something that suits you."
Shen Wenji nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, mother, I understand. Actually, I haven't thought about it yet. I don't know whether to choose a sword, a knife, or a long whip..."
"Mother, you know best. Why don't you accompany me to take a look?"
"...No." The mother looked away guiltily, as if burned by something. "I have something important to do. I can't spare you time."
Before she finished speaking, and before Shen Wenji could react, she disappeared in a flash.
It’s better to be a cultivator in the fusion stage, who can come and go without a trace.
Shen Wenji secretly vowed to himself that he must study the sect's secret manual well and reach this realm as soon as possible!
She pushed open the door of the sect's secret room according to her mother's instructions.
All the taboos on the door in the past have been thoughtfully removed, and there is not even a guard, so the journey is unobstructed.
The items displayed in the front hall of the secret room were not valuable. They were just some common third- and fourth-grade elixirs, or magical weapons and blades that could be found everywhere in large chambers of commerce. Many of them were even items that she was tired of playing with.
After glancing at it with a lack of interest, Shen Wenji consoled himself: "The treasures must be hidden in the innermost part! Let's go in and take a look."
Sure enough, there was an inconspicuous small door deep in the secret room, like a hidden attic, with a Jindan stage magic circle attached to the door.
She had seen her mother use this magic circle before, and she easily untied it after trying a few times based on her memory.
Shen Wenji raised the corners of her lips. She didn't expect her mother to set up a level to test her.
Her eyes, full of inquiry and ambition, fell on the door. She rubbed her hands and pushed open the door of the secret room with anticipation.
The structure of the house was exactly as she expected.
But... her eyes were stunned.
Why does it feel wrong?
A thin silk skirt as thin as a cicada's wing was hung in the most conspicuous position opposite the door.
Through the thin gauze, you can even clearly see the wood grain of the hanger.
Shen Wenji:???
Why is there a skirt? Can I wear this? Does it make any difference if I wear it or not?!
Hanging on the wall behind the skirt is no ordinary magic weapon.
Several jade artifacts of bizarre shapes and unknown uses glowed with a warm light, and beside them hung several dark iron chains that shone with a cold light...
Shen Wenji: Uh... is she just ignorant? How come she's never seen anyone use a secret treasure like this?
On the right side of the attic are several rows of display shelves filled with countless exquisite boxes.
Shen Wenji casually opened a medium-sized treasure box, and inside lay a crystal clear oriental pearl the size of a baby's fist.
"It can't be... just a decoration, right?" Shen Wenji was suspicious. "Could it have any special function?"
She carefully took out the Dongzhu, and the moment the bead touched her palm, it started vibrating on its own without any warning, for some unknown reason.
The frequency is neither slow nor fast, and quite regular.
Shen Wenji:???
She was so startled that she almost dropped the beads on the ground.
This thing was too weird, so she didn't dare to delay. She hurriedly stuffed the strange bead back into the box and snapped it shut.
After a moment, the shaking stopped and the world finally came to a halt.
Shen Wenji let out a long sigh and cast his gaze towards the row of bookshelves on the left side of the attic that looked the most normal.
She doesn't understand the use of the magic weapon, but she should be able to understand the secret manual.
But there was something strange about this bookshelf. Each layer was tightly covered with thick black cloth, and even if you got close, you couldn't see a single crack.
"Moisture-proof? Or anti-peeping?" Shen Wenji muttered, prepared for the rebound of the formation, and tentatively reached out to lift it.
The black cloth rose up easily without any hindrance.
Shen Wenji: ...
So, what's the point of the black cloth? Is it purely decorative?
She was filled with confusion. This sect seemed to have many secrets that she did not understand.
Random guesses in her mind, her hands didn't stop moving, Shen Wenji casually pulled out a secret book from the bookshelf. She flipped through it carefully, wanting to see what the secret book hidden in the secret room was.
Carefully open the title page.
What comes into view is the secret manual called "Eighteen Styles of Spring Mountain".
Spring mountains imply vitality and vigor, which is good.
The Eighteen Forms seem to have many uses, and they progress step by step, which is good.
Full of a spirit of academic inquiry, she turned to the next page.
boom!
A surge of hot blood rushed to her head! Her pupils suddenly contracted, her eyes suddenly widened, her breathing stagnated, and her whole body froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
Wait, what did she see?
Why is it a comic strip about two people exercising?!
Even, even in color.
Shen Wenji shuddered in shock, a burning sensation behind his ears, and his cheeks quickly turned red.
She belatedly realized what was happening and covered her eyes with her hands, her hands holding the colored picture trembling slightly.
She had only seen this kind of thing on the desk of her second senior sister. Why would it appear in the secret room now?
"It must be that fool Second Senior Sister who put it in the wrong place... Yes! It must be her!" Shen Wenji hypnotized himself with a blushing face, but his eyes could not help but glance at the bookshelf again. He was torn between his conscience and his desires: Should I... draw another book to verify it?
As he hesitated, a familiar voice sounded like a heavenly sound, breaking the suffocating awkwardness: "Xiao Wenji?"
Shen Wenji felt as if he had been pardoned. He turned around and saw Elder Zhang standing not far away.
When she saw Shen Wenji, she took a few more steps forward to greet him, and said with a smile: "Little Wenji... No, I should call you the new sect leader. Have you chosen your life magic weapon?"
"Aunt Zhang, stop teasing me." Shen Wenji forced a smile, quickly stuffed the obscene secret book back, and covered the black cloth again without trying to cover his ears or steal the bell.
Elder Zhang pointed at the bookshelf and wanted to say something.
Shen Wenji took Elder Zhang's arm and pulled her away affectionately, saying coquettishly, "Mother asked you to tell me more about the sect's affairs. Let's go now without further delay."
Elder Zhang was dragged along by her, his eyes casually sweeping across the bookshelf covered with black cloth. A knowing smile flashed across his eyes, but he didn't expose her. He agreed and said, "Okay, okay, as you say. Let's start from the main entrance."
Elder Zhang is the second-in-command around my mother. He is eloquent and has a good relationship with people. He often helps my mother deal with social problems.
When Wen Ji was young, she missed her mother and often sneaked to see her. When her mother found out, Elder Zhang was ordered to "send her back".
Elder Zhang loved children very much and often secretly took little Wen Ji to play. The two had a close relationship, and Shen Wen Ji called her "Aunt Zhang" in private.
Now facing all the unknown sects, Shen Wenji felt much more relaxed with a familiar person by his side to introduce him.
This time she has changed her identity, and she doesn't want to miss any of the corners that she didn't pay much attention to in the past.
She looked at the sect carefully, and even couldn't help but compare it with the Tianxuan Sect.
Looking at it this way, her own sect wasn't that bad. The scenery was even more beautiful than that of the Tianxuan Sect. How could it be so desolate? She would definitely make the sect flourish!
When he reached the towering main gate of the sect, Shen Wenji looked up and suddenly stopped.
"Aunt Zhang," she pointed at the empty top of the door lintel, her face full of surprise, "Where's our sect's plaque? I still don't know what sect we belong to..."
The author has something to say:
----------------------
Susu: My life-saving magic weapon? I can’t find a single one! What kind of weird things are these…
Our Susu is still a pure and innocent baby [dog head holding a rose]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
