2: I humbly request Senior Brother Shen Nian to grant me entry into the sect!

The person who arrived was a Disciple dressed in the Heavenly Sword Sect's white robes. He looked significantly older than Shen Nian but appeared incredibly respectful. Besides admiration, his eyes held a hint of nervousness, and his entire body was tense.

It was no wonder he felt this way.

Who in the entire Heavenly Sword Sect didn't know that Shen Nian, the Chief Disciple of the Ninth Mountain, entered Heavenly Sword Mountain at the age of thirteen and, in just six years, had already become a super expert at the Half-step Golden Core Stage!

Moreover, he had already cultivated the Heavenly Profound Sword Art to Major Achievement just one year after first encountering it!

This terrifying Sword Dao Talent was simply the makings of a born Sword Cultivator!

It was normal for such a figure to have a cold personality, and usually, no Disciple dared to disturb his cultivation.

But Long Stick Li had a simple nature and had handled several tasks for Shen Nian before. This time, he truly couldn't bear to stand aside, so even risking potential punishment, he wanted to help that young girl.

Opposite him.

Shen Nian paused slightly, then turned and glanced over.

Perhaps it was the innate cold arrogance that made Long Stick Li's body tremble. He immediately buried his head lower and tentatively said, "If Senior Brother Shen doesn't wish to meet her, this Junior Brother shall take his leave..."

Senior Brother Shen's aura is as powerful as ever!

It's just a pity for that young girl.

Alas, I tried my best... Saying this, he was about to bow and depart.

The next second, a gentle voice sounded beside his ear.

"Go bring her here."

...Outside the Sect Entry Stele of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

This place was enveloped by the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sect Protecting Sword Array, where Sword Qi constantly raged. Only by entering the Stele's vicinity could one be safe from the Sword Qi erosion.

At this moment, just a hundred meters away.

A young girl stood upright beside a large locust tree. Her green vine dress was stained with blood, and her exquisite face was deathly pale. Only her eyes firmly stared upward, her jade hands tightly clenched, allowing her fingertips to sink deep into her flesh, ensuring she remained awake and didn't faint.

The identity of the young girl was obvious: it was Xiao Qinger.

However, her cultivation had recovered quite a bit now, and she finally understood why her cultivation was lost: it was because of the residual female soul inside her body, who called herself Yan Emperor... "The people of this Heavenly Sword Sect are actually decent. They mitigated a lot of the Sword Qi erosion for you, otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to hold on for so long..." A lazy female voice rang out in Xiao Qinger's mind.

Hearing this, Xiao Qinger's gaze became even more resolute.

In this current world, the lives of Mortals are like grass. Since the Heavenly Sword Sect could do this much, it seemed she had come to the right place.

Half a month ago, she had met a Senior who told Xiao Qinger that if she could possibly gain the recognition of their eldest Disciple, she could enter their tutelage.

But she had waited for a full half month without seeing the eldest Disciple mentioned by that Senior. The Xiao Family was already at a dead end, and now she was being hunted. The three-year agreement was also approaching, so she had to take a gamble!

Relying on the few words spoken by that Senior—Chief Disciple Shen Nian and the mention of the Heavenly Sword Sect—she embarked on her journey.

Before coming, she had mentally prepared herself. Maybe she wouldn't find the Heavenly Sword Sect at all, or maybe she would be captured and horribly killed by that Wolf Demon, but she wasn't afraid!

In the end, Heaven rewards the diligent. She finally found it. But lacking status, and unable to directly speak of the Senior's intention to take Disciples, she only said she wanted to see Senior Brother Shen. Even if the Heavenly Sword Sect were accommodating, they couldn't possibly let her in.

Having run out of other options, Xiao Qinger could only wait here for three entire days!

"No matter what, I must see Senior Brother Shen. Only by gaining his recognition can I join an Immortal Sect and survive. Only then can I save the Xiao Family!" Xiao Qinger bit her silver teeth.

"Heh, what kind of Immortal Sect is this? Just frogs in a well... But it's true that being targeted by a Golden Core Wolf Demon makes things uneasy for you right now."

"Looking at this situation, the other party clearly didn't intend to see you."

"Forget it. I estimate I can make one move. If no one appears after today, you should switch to another Sect. Doesn't Great Xia have Three Sects? Whichever Sect you choose, it will be their fortune. The Heavenly Sword Sect will have enough time to regret this later..." the Female Yan Emperor said in her mind.

Xiao Qinger clenched her jade hand but did not reply. Although she had a fallback plan, her intuition told her that joining the Heavenly Sword Sect was the best choice!

Meanwhile, near the Stele, several Heavenly Sword Sect Disciples were whispering.

"Ai, this young girl is truly stubborn. What kind of person is Senior Brother Shen? He's the Chief Disciple of our Heavenly Sword Sect's Ninth Mountain. How could she expect to see him just because she asks?"

"That's right. Let alone her, even we Outer Sect Disciples have never met him. But this girl is indeed very pretty!"

"Yeah, I almost wanted to take her in for Senior Brother Shen myself. She's so good-looking, keeping her as a vase would be pleasing to the eye!"

"Speaking of which, she's really amazing. Without a map, relying solely on her Fourth Layer Qi Condensation strength, she managed to walk all the way here alone and endure the Sword Qi for so long."

"Pretty people have good luck, I guess."

"What are you saying? Should ugly people be unlucky then?" A plain-looking Disciple complained.

The Outer Sect Disciple who spoke bluntly replied, "That's not exactly it, but I dare say, if she were ugly, we certainly wouldn't have helped mitigate the Sword Qi erosion for her, and Senior Brother Long Stick wouldn't have risked going to see Senior Brother Shen."

"..." The plain-looking Disciple was instantly speechless.

It seemed very reasonable; he couldn't refute it.

"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Li has been gone for a while. Why hasn't he returned yet..." The Disciple suddenly turned, looking worriedly behind him.

"Could he have angered Senior Brother Shen and been put in solitary confinement!" another Disciple guessed.

Just then, a figure arrived as swift as a gale.

"Senior Brother Li is here!"

"It's just him!"

"Sigh, looks like it's still a no-go!"

Long Stick Li ignored the group and walked straight up to Xiao Qinger, saying, "Young girl, let's go."

Sensing the sudden figure in front of her, Xiao Qinger's eyes were slightly dazed. After recognizing the person, she showed a faint smile, then firmly shook her head.

She knew this person; he had often come to persuade her to leave over the past three days.

"Didn't you want to see Senior Brother Shen? If you don't follow me, are you expecting him to come and fetch you personally?" Long Stick Li gave a wry smile, feeling a bit emotional internally.

Aside from his kindness, another reason he helped her so much was that he saw a reflection of himself in her.

The path to Immortality is difficult and winding. Back then, someone had also given him a helping hand, otherwise, there would be no Long Stick Li, an Outer Sect Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, today.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qinger's pretty face showed a trace of astonishment.

After seeing Long Stick Li nod, Xiao Qinger's face immediately lit up with surprise. She quickly stood up, but her legs went weak, and her vision darkened.

Oh no!

I stood up too fast!

But the next second, she felt an invisible force support her from behind.

Long Stick Li raised his left hand, and a faint visible light shone on it. He then took out a Medicinal Pill with his right hand and handed it to Xiao Qinger.

"Although you have the strength of the Fourth Layer Qi Condensation, you already had old injuries. Being able to hold out for three days is impressive. This is a Qi Recovery Pill, hurry and take it," Long Stick Li said with a complex expression.

It wasn't hard to see the old injuries on the young girl's body. She was covered in dried bloodstains, and when she arrived, her aura was extremely weak, clearly having gone through a major battle.

After taking the Medicinal Pill, Xiao Qinger immediately felt much better. She glanced gratefully at Long Stick Li, cupping her hands and saying, "Thank you, Sir."

"No need to be polite, follow me," Long Stick Li said, then walked toward the interior of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Xiao Qinger nodded and immediately followed. As she stepped into the Heavenly Sword Sect, her eyes immediately showed relief.

"The Sword Qi pressure has disappeared..."

The Disciples near the Stele watched the two figures leave, their faces filled with shock.

"Hiss... It actually worked!"

"I can't believe it, Senior Brother Shen actually agreed to see her!"

"I refuse to accept this! I want to withstand the Sword Qi too! I want to see Senior Brother Shen!" a female Disciple lamented, beating her chest and stamping her feet.

Ninth Mountain.

Xiao Qinger followed behind Long Stick Li, curiously observing the surroundings. It was somewhat different from what she had imagined. There were no magnificent palaces, only two simple wooden houses, a pavilion, and a locust tree... "All Sword Cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect pay the least attention to external things; they prefer simplicity..." Long Stick Li explained in a low voice without turning around.

Hearing this, Xiao Qinger nodded slightly, and then heard Long Stick Li speak again.

"We've arrived."

What came into view was a White-robed Figure sitting quietly on a stone stool. She could only see a handsome and unparalleled profile as he lowered his eyes to drink tea.

"Senior Brother Shen, the person has been brought. This Junior Brother will take his leave first..." Long Stick Li cupped his hands in salute, then gave the very nervous Xiao Qinger an encouraging look.

Although he didn't know why she wanted to see Senior Brother Shen and she had been unwilling to speak about it before, he hoped she would succeed.

After Long Stick Li left, the White-robed Figure still did not move.

Xiao Qinger gazed at the white-robed back figure sitting alone on the stone stool, understanding something. She took a deep breath.

"I earnestly request Senior Brother Shen Nian, grant me entry!" Xiao Qinger bowed sincerely.

She felt that the Senior had already informed the other party of her situation. The reason he had been reluctant to see her until now.

Perhaps it was... a test?

Shen Nian slowly turned around and looked up.

[Ding, detecting the presence of a fated female protagonist... Currently reading target information]

[Reading complete]

[Name: Xiao Qinger]

[Age: Sixteen]

[Realm: Qi Condensation Second Layer (Fallen Realm)]

[Cultivation Technique: Qi Condensation Art (Perfection) — Qi Condensation, Flame God Art (Uninitiated) — Unknown]

[Divine Ability: None]

[Talent: Aptitude for Immortal Ascension (Gold)]

[Fate: Eternal Youth and Immortality]

[Special Physique: Divine Phoenix Sacred Body (Unawakened)]

[Fated Cheat: Yan Emperor Residual Soul (Awakened)]