READ NOVEL ONLINE chapter 4
4. Journey to the West for Jing
“Master, senior brother… is there something wrong…?”
Being looked back at by Lin Nuo several times, Su Kexin grew more convinced there was something odd about her.
Lin Nuo still didn’t respond, sizing up Su Kexin again.
Truly worthy of the protagonist, not only exceptionally perceptive but also blossoming into a charming and lovely girl. She’s about fifteen now, still an inexperienced and cute little sister.
He could never have anticipated that this sprightly little sister would be the one to stab him five years later.
Others get stabbed over a harem dispute, but me? I get stabbed playing the villain.
“Senior brother, is there something strange on me…?”
“No.”
Lin Nuo’s cold response, as he turned his head back.
You’re overthinking it; she’s not going to stab me now.
“Oh…”
Su Kexin felt that Lin Nuo was acting oddly today.
Lin Nuo, usually a chatterbox, could talk for ages when he saw his junior sister.
But today, upon meeting, he uttered just two words coldly, “No.”
There was an empty seat between Lin Nuo and his senior sister, Liu Shuqin.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps, “tap tap tap,” approached from afar.
Everyone’s gaze followed the sound, and Lin Nuo’s second senior sister, Qin Shili, walked over lightly.
Her shiny silver-white hair, stunning figure, a thin silver-white dress, enticing black silk legs, every move she made exuded an air of nobility.
Among her peers, the young and breathtakingly beautiful Qin Shili constantly attracted the eyes of all disciples.
Upon seeing her master, Han Xianzi, she nodded slightly without a word, then slowly stepped forward to fill the gap between Lin Nuo and Liu Shuqin.
With his lineage now complete, the gentle and virtuous senior sister, the aloof and glamorous second senior sister, the enchanting and charming fourth junior sister, and him, the only male disciple, it seemed like the perfect setup for a harem protagonist.
Indeed, that’s what he used to think, but in the end, he caught none and even became the arch-villain.
His fate had already been clearly spelled out in “Journey to the West.”
His master, Tang Sanzang, a monk purely devoted to Buddhism, while his master, Han Xianzi, was far from pure, her mind always on benefits.
His senior brother, Sun Wukong, was rough and violent, while his senior sister was gentle and virtuous.
His second senior brother, Zhu Bajie, was ugly and lecherous, while his second senior sister was incomparably beautiful and untainted by the mortal world.
As for his third junior brother, Sha Seng, since the four disciples were of the same gender, the role shifted to his fourth junior sister, Su Kexin. Sha Seng was honest and simple, with low presence and screen time, while Su Kexin was quick-witted and perceptive, and as the protagonist, her presence was off the charts.
This was the female version of “Journey to the West,” in reverse.
According to a certain lecherous critic, this was the journey to the West for scriptures.
So Lin Nuo, seemingly set as the harem protagonist, was actually destined to be the villain!
It was logical and reasonable.
In front of the Hun Ling Hall, more than a dozen elders sat, the elders of Xuan Yun Sect, with the sect leader sitting in the center. This gathering of many elders was to witness the growth of the young disciples.
In front of them lay two massive spirit stones, the Tian Xuan Stones hidden within the Hun Ling Hall. By placing one’s hand in the cavity, one could test their spiritual cultivation level.
This was the biannual grand assembly of Xuan Yun Sect, to test each disciple’s spiritual level and see their progress over the past six months.
For someone like Lin Nuo, a mere chicken, it was a public execution.
Among Lin Nuo’s peers, there were hundreds of disciples, some anxious and nervous, others brimming with confidence, while Lin Nuo remained unfazed.
He had read the entire script; what was there to expect?
With everyone present, the head of the sect, Zhao Zhangmen, began to speak:
“Good morning, disciples. Welcome to this spiritual level testing assembly. Please come up one by one to test, and let us witness the fruits of your half-year’s cultivation.”
One after another, disciples approached the Tian Xuan Stone, placing their hands on the cavity.
The Tian Xuan Stone could sense the cultivator’s spiritual power and fortune, emitting various spiritual lights.
“Li Pu, fifth stage of spiritual realm!”
“Zhou Jianhu, Spirit Realm Fifth Stage!”
“Lu Benwei, Spirit Realm Fourth Stage!”
“Niu Bi, Spirit Realm Third Stage!”
“Ma Baoguo, Spirit Realm First Stage!”
…
Monks beside the Tianxuan Stone shouted out loud, revealing each disciple’s Spirit Realm level to all, and recording it in the ledger.
Some rejoiced, others grieved; some soared rapidly, while others remained stagnant, much like the public posting of final exam scores.
When it was Han Xianzi’s lineage’s turn, Lin Nuo watched as the two girls before him lightly stepped to either side of the Tianxuan Stones, slowly extending their hands to touch the sockets.
The Tianxuan Stones responded, emitting a dazzling array of spiritual lights.
“Liu Shuqin, Spirit Realm Sixth Stage!”
“Qin Shili, Spirit Realm Seventh Stage!”
As the monks’ voices rang out, the crowd below immediately burst into chatter.
“Sister Shuqin has finally broken through the Fifth Stage of the Spirit Realm, it’s been two years, congratulations!”
“Sister Shili has ascended to the Seventh Stage of the Spirit Realm within a year, she’s celestial!”
“The two proud disciples of Han Xianzi are truly formidable.”
…
The Fifth Stage of the Spirit Realm is a watershed; to ascend to the Sixth Stage requires high comprehension and effort. Liu Shuqin, grounded and diligent, practiced every day and after two years, finally advanced to the Sixth Stage.
Qin Shili, with her exceptional talent, was the earliest among her peers to ascend to the Sixth Stage, and now, in just one year, she has risen to the Seventh Stage.
After the two stepped down, it was Lin Nuo and the protagonist Su Kexin’s turn.
Su Kexin was extremely nervous, while Lin Nuo was as calm as water. In the past, he might have been expectant, but now, having read the script, there was no novelty left, it felt like a public execution.
Accompanied by the faint spiritual light twinkling from the Tianxuan Stones, the monks on either side shouted:
“Lin Nuo, Spirit Realm Second Stage!”
“Su Kexin, Spirit Realm Third Stage!”
Hearing this, Su Kexin was incredibly excited and thrilled. To think she had only started a year ago, advanced two stages six months prior, and now reached the Third Stage, it was unbelievable.
Watching Su Kexin’s excited demeanor, Lin Nuo clicked his tongue disdainfully.
Excited over the Third Stage of the Spirit Realm? As the protagonist, is that all you aspire to?
“Master, your disciple has ascended to the Third Stage!”
“Hmm,” Han Xianzi nodded in satisfaction, “Your foundation is solid, and your cultivation diligent. I’ve seen every step of your progress, keep it up.”
“Yes, Master! I will work hard!”
Su Kexin bounced back to her original spot, while Lin Nuo remained impassive, neither happy nor sad.
The three senior sisters shone like dazzling pearls, emitting a brilliant light that captured the attention of all their fellow disciples.
“Suke Xin has only been initiated for a year and has already advanced to the third rank. Lin Nuo has been here for five years and is still at the second rank. How did he get into Han Xianzi’s door?”
“Right, out of Han Xianzi’s four disciples, three are exceptionally talented and diligent. It’s only him who’s lagging behind, ignorant and boastful.”
As high as they were held, Lin Nuo was thrown down just as hard. Caught among these dazzling pearls, their radiant light exposed his position, leaving him nowhere to hide.
Yet his mindset remained the same; it wasn’t the crowd watching a monkey, but him watching a crowd of monkeys.
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