Xue Mingzhao stood dazed on the crowded spectator stands, surrounded by cultivators from various sects.
Though it was a scene that should have been bustling with noise, it was currently so deathly silent that one could hear a pin drop.
Just a second ago, she had been curled up at home reading a cultivation web novel. The next, her vision spun, and she was suddenly transported to this unfamiliar place.
Subconsciously, she followed everyone's gaze and looked upward.
On the high platform, a young girl in white Daoist robes wept pitifully. “Senior Sister Chaoyue, I know you are the Sect Master's personal disciple and hold a higher status than me... But this Luan Jade Pendant is the only relic left by my mother. I was reluctant to give it to you, so you just shattered it with your spiritual energy...”
Luan Jade Pendant? Senior Sister Chaoyue? Shen Chaoyue?
Something clicked into place in Xue Mingzhao's mind.
She had transmigrated into a book!
She had transmigrated into the old-school novel she had just finished reading, 《The Path of Immortality: Chaoyue Defies Fate》!
She abruptly raised her right hand—a pale pink, five-petaled flower birthmark was clearly visible on her palm, its light color looking as if it were naturally embedded in her flesh.
It wasn't a soul transmigration, but a physical one!
A mortal with absolutely no cultivation had fallen barehanded into a world of cultivators!
Xue Mingzhao: “...”
She was doomed.
Without exaggeration, in this godforsaken place, even a stray dog on the street could easily pin her to the ground and run circles around her.
Several rogue cultivators beside her had witnessed her appearing out of thin air. There hadn't been the slightest ripple of spiritual energy throughout the entire process, which was incredibly eerie.
They silently retreated a few steps, internal alarms blaring.
It was an ancient, ironclad law of the cultivation world: the more ordinary and devoid of spiritual energy a person seemed, the more likely they were a top-tier powerhouse keeping a low profile.
Especially seemingly harmless individuals like young girls, old men, or children—they were absolutely hidden experts in disguise. Anyone who approached them was asking for death.
Understanding the unspoken rule, everyone quietly shuffled backward, leaving an empty circle around Xue Mingzhao on the crowded stands.
Xue Mingzhao had no idea that the surrounding cultivators had already imagined her to be a hidden powerhouse. She was busy frantically recalling the original plot.
In the book, Shen Chaoyue possessed a high-grade gold spiritual root. Her talent was heaven-defying, and she became Li Chengzong's personal disciple as soon as she joined the sect, receiving immense favoritism.
Unfortunately, this girl's personality was too cold and blunt; she didn't know how to curry favor. Instead, Jiang Yuran, who was sweet-tongued and skilled at winning people over, slowly usurped the favor of her master and senior brothers.
During today's Great Sect Tournament, Shen Chaoyue had lost to the male lead, Yun Yanchen, by a single move. Already frustrated, she was provoked by Jiang Yuran and lashed out in a moment of impulse.
This led to the classic falling-out scene unfolding before her: the shattering of the Luan Jade Pendant.
Watching the confrontation on the high platform, Xue Mingzhao felt utterly numb.
The good news: she hadn't transmigrated as the malicious female supporting character.
The bad news: she hadn't transmigrated as the destined female lead either.
She hadn't even landed a supporting role. She was just a nameless bystander—and a defenseless one at that!
On the high platform, Li Chengzong smashed the jade table in front of him with a palm strike and roared his command: “A hundred lashes of the Soul Whip, strip her of all sect statuses, and banish her from the Flowing Cloud Sect forever!”
Shen Chaoyue did not even flinch.
She yanked off her personal disciple jade token and slammed it onto the ground with a sharp clack, her voice as cold as ice. “Today, it is I, Shen Chaoyue, who abandons the Flowing Cloud Sect, not the sect banishing me. From this moment on, our master-disciple bond is severed, and all ties with my fellow disciples are cut.”
Her words left Li Chengzong's face livid, completely stripping him of his dignity.
The surrounding crowd sighed in pity. The hundred lashes of the Soul Whip specifically targeted the soul. Even if she survived, her cultivation would most likely be ruined.
At this moment, the Vice Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect stepped forward to smooth things over, exchanged a few polite words, and declared the event over.
The spectating cultivators dispersed in droves. Some flew through the air, some boarded spiritual vessels, and others rode spirit beasts, each showing off their unique abilities.
Xue Mingzhao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Panicking wouldn't help. She had to survive first.
She quickly recalled the original plot: after receiving the hundred lashes of the Soul Whip, Shen Chaoyue would be thrown into Sunset Valley under Jiang Yuran's instructions.
There, she would rescue the heavily injured Sect Master of the Heavenly Origin Sect, Huang Siqi—who was also the male lead's master. She would then be taken in as a personal disciple, officially kicking off her revenge and rise to power.
Sunset Valley.
Huang Siqi.
The female lead's first great opportunity.
Xue Mingzhao's eyes lit up.
If she followed the female lead to Sunset Valley and lent a hand to rescue Huang Siqi, she could use that favor to get into the Heavenly Origin Sect. Even if she only became an ordinary outer sect disciple, she would be perfectly satisfied.
Wait, what if she didn't have a spiritual root?
In that case, asking for some silver and gold would still be enough for her to live a comfortable life.
The more Xue Mingzhao thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Having made up her mind, she squeezed through the crowd and headed out.
She had only taken two steps before she froze.
Wait...
Where was Sunset Valley?
In the blink of an eye, the arena had emptied out. Only Xue Mingzhao remained standing in place, her face a mask of tears.
The female supporting character had specifically ordered her thrown into such a desolate, uninhabited place to finish her off. Surely Xue Mingzhao couldn't go there on foot? She would die of exhaustion before she ever arrived.
Not far away, the dying Shen Chaoyue was being dragged away by Flowing Cloud Sect disciples. Her consciousness was fading, but a sudden, inexplicable flutter in her heart made her instinctively look toward Xue Mingzhao.
Ultimately, she only caught a glimpse of a retreating figure. Before she could think further, she was dragged further and further away.
A patrolling disciple noticed that Xue Mingzhao was lingering. After a moment of hesitation, he stepped forward, his tone polite and respectful. “Daoist friend, the tournament has concluded. Please make your departure as soon as possible.”
Xue Mingzhao gave a casual hum of acknowledgment. Her mind was still occupied with finding a way to Sunset Valley, so she didn't think much of it.
But this cold, brief response fell upon the patrolling disciple's ears, causing his heart to seize.
He couldn't sense even a shred of spiritual energy from the girl, which had already made him wary. Now, he thought anxiously to himself: Did my urging displease her? With this senior's capabilities, she could easily wipe me out with a wave of her hand.
A thin layer of cold sweat broke out on his back. He bowed his head respectfully, not daring to utter another word.
Paying no attention to the patrolling disciple's wild imagination, Xue Mingzhao swept her gaze around and locked onto a young rogue cultivator who was still lingering nearby.
The youth had delicate features. On the surface, he maintained a calm and composed posture, but secretly, he was casting frequent, stolen glances at her.
Xue Mingzhao immediately put on a harmless smile and proactively approached him to strike up a conversation. “Daoist friend, aren't you leaving yet?”
This smile scared the youth out of his wits.
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