The woman on the far left, with her hair styled in a flying bun, exuded an air of nobility and elegance, her entire being radiating an irresistible allure.

Her occasional smile gave off a sense of mystery, making her hard to read.

This was Meng Yutong, the master of Qianyun Peak of the Azure Pavilion Sect, and the sect's renowned beauty.

Today, she wore a purple robe with light makeup. Even among her five senior sisters, who were all stunning beauties, her looks and figure were slightly superior.

After all, she was ranked in the top ten of the "Beauty Registry," probably around fifth or sixth place.

Of course, the Beauty Registry's rankings were comprehensive, taking into account cultivation level, influence, and other factors.

Meng Yutong's conservative and strict personality was her only downfall. Her usual cold demeanor and limited wardrobe choices, no matter how beautiful, could become tiresome over time.

[Honestly, if I could dress her up, she'd definitely make it to the top three. From a distance, that purple robe makes her look like a gas canister, with only her face and hands visible.]

 

[If she wore a black short skirt with black stockings, high heels, and exquisite makeup, she could even compete for the top spot in the Beauty Registry!]

 

[Tsk! But that's unrealistic. After all, she's the protagonist's girl, and I know what kind of character the protagonist is. He only allows himself to shine, never letting others steal the spotlight.]

 

[Forget it. The world is vast, and there are countless beauties. Meng Yutong is just a feather in the wind. There are so many beauties in the Beauty Registry. Once I'm invincible, I can surely snag a few!]

Meng Yutong was utterly bewildered, a giant question mark forming in her mind.

What kind of strange noise was that?

Her divine sense quickly scanned the entire hall, her gaze landing firmly on Lin Heng.

Him?

Mu Liuxi and Yun Yao glanced at Lin Heng incredulously.

This guy dared to slander their master in his heart. They didn't know what a "gas canister" was, but they were sure it wasn't a compliment.

The two couldn't help but find Lin Heng's identity peculiar. He seemed to know some extraordinary things.

Moreover, the human heart is the hardest to fathom, and the fact that they could hear his inner thoughts was already outrageous.

Black stockings, high heels?

Meng Yutong silently used her divine sense to scrutinize herself, only for Lin Heng's inner thoughts to continue.

[Ha! Those old geezers, soon the Third Elder will use the excuse of Qianyun Peak lacking male disciples to pass the buck to Meng Yutong.]

 

[I need to make a decision quickly. I'd rather die than stay by Meng Yutong's side. Being stingy is one thing, but later on, Ye Tian will catch me and hold me in his grasp...]

 

[Qianyun Peak is like a harem. If I go there, Ye Tian will see me as a thorn in his side. Staying here, I won't survive two years.]

 

[Better to hide at Sitting Dao Peak, farming and cultivating... With my extraordinary comprehension, I shouldn't fare too badly.]

 

[...]

'Scoundrel! He called Qianyun Peak a harem?!'

'And I'm being controlled by my disciple Ye Tian?'

Meng Yutong had always been selective in accepting disciples. Every recruitment event saw a flood of disciples vying for a spot at Qianyun Peak, yet he said he'd rather die than go there.

As a dignified Void-Returning True Monarch, how could she be threatened by anyone holding something over her?

"Elder Meng, how about letting this child join your Qianyun Peak? It's been decades since a male disciple entered, and there are always some menial tasks that need doing, right?"

Meng Yutong and the other two women were slightly taken aback. Lin Heng's thoughts had come true.

The Third Elder indeed used the excuse of lacking male disciples to pass the buck to Meng Yutong.

"I..."

Meng Yutong was about to speak when Lin Heng suddenly interrupted, "Esteemed elders, I come from a remote place, naturally accustomed to plowing the fields. Why not let me farm? The Azure Pavilion Sect's spiritual fields are vast and surely need manpower."

At these words, all the elders except Meng Yutong were taken aback.

Tending to spiritual fields was a task for servant disciples. Didn't Lin Heng want to become a core disciple and receive the best resources?

"Esteemed elders, I am aware of my own aptitude and talent. Everyone has their own aspirations and fate. As long as I have food and shelter, I am content."

His sincere eyes and words made the elders passing the buck feel somewhat relieved.

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

[They want me, Lin Heng, to be a laborer for those foolish women at Qianyun Peak? Dream on!]

 

[Stay away from Meng Yutong and the harem. I'll grow strong on my own and create my own glory!]

"Very well. Let him come to my Qianyun Peak. If he likes farming, we have plenty of land for him to cultivate."

Meng Yutong glanced at Lin Heng with a faint smile.

"Haha! Thank you..."

Lin Heng looked up in confusion, meeting Meng Yutong's slightly amused gaze.

"No, you... I..."

[What the hell? This isn't right. Why did you agree?]

 

[Shouldn't you have passed the buck to Sitting Dao Peak?]

 

[And! There's a large barren land behind Qianyun Peak, not a single spiritual field!]

"Look, he's so happy he's at a loss for words. Let him stay by Elder Meng's side."

The Grand Elder spoke.

[You're the one who's at a loss for words. I don't want to stay by Meng Yutong's side and die!]

"So, does this mean you're our Seventh Junior Brother now?"

"Hello, I'm Yun Yao. Please take care of me in the future!"

Yun Yao took two steps forward, extending her fair jade-like hand.

[A handshake?]

"Hello, Lin Heng."

Lin Heng grasped the soft hand, feeling the cool touch, but before he could react, he felt a tremendous force as if his fingers were about to be crushed.

"Hiss~~ Senior Sister Yao, you're too enthusiastic!"

[Oh my god! Why is this silly girl using so much strength? It's going to break!!]

Yun Yao tilted her head and smiled slightly, only releasing his hand when she saw him grimacing in pain.

Mu Liuxi also approached Lin Heng, her demeanor still cold, "Second Senior Sister, Mu Liuxi."

"Hello, Second Senior Sister. Please take care of me in the future."

Lin Heng rubbed his right hand, responding quickly, afraid Mu Liuxi might also show unexpected enthusiasm.

Although neither knew they could hear Lin Heng's inner thoughts, they had already agreed in their hearts to "take care" of him.

Initially, they were thinking of ways to approach Lin Heng and investigate his secrets.

Unexpectedly, their master accepted him.

"What? You don't seem willing?"

"I should be willing. Lin Heng, greets Master!"

Lin Heng forced a stiff, standard smile. The ball had been kicked almost into the goal, and he had no choice but to accept.

The plot hadn't developed as he expected, perhaps because the tide was unstoppable.

Regardless, he had to change the script of his life!

Lin Heng firmly believed: If God closes a window for you, then He must have closed a window!

Next came the purification and bone-testing process. The Grand Elder waved his hand, and a large bell enveloped Lin Heng.

The Chaos Bell, imbued with the power of impurities, could absorb the impurities and filth from a cultivator's body. Since Lin Heng had become a member of the Azure Pavilion Sect, he naturally had to undergo this process.

[Honestly, this mysterious power feels quite warm, and expelling the impurities from my body is indeed refreshing.]

 

[But... fate is fate, joy is joy, and sorrow is sorrow. Meng Yutong is indeed pleasing to the eye.]

 

[But what's the use of being pleasing to the eye? She still ends up being manipulated by Ye Tian, becoming a Furnace for his cultivation... The storyline ends there. Although I don't know what kind of Furnace it is, the known popular ones involve feeding heavenly materials and treasures, directly plundering lifespan, or absorbing cultivation. Logically, this term shouldn't apply to a female protagonist.]

Meng Yutong, as the peak master and a Void-Returning True Monarch, was a renowned figure.

With both strength and beauty, following this path, it wouldn't be long before she was framed, severely injured, and her cultivation destroyed.

Honestly, Lin Heng always felt this part of the plot was reminiscent of the "Bullying the Empress Master" scenario.

The master loses her cultivation due to certain reasons, then the disciple holds a secret over her, and then...

But this setup itself has significant loopholes. Although the target of the scheme is multifaceted, it ultimately benefits the protagonist.

But a Void-Returning True Monarch, no matter how schemed against, shouldn't fall to the point of being threatened by an unripe protagonist, right?

Isn't there a trump card for counteraction?

Lin Heng shook his head, closing his eyes to enjoy the mysterious power.

No matter what, the plot would undoubtedly favor the original protagonist.

[But I reckon, at this point, the old geezers from the Purple Void Sect and Ballad of the Clear Moon have already set up a trap, waiting for Meng Yutong to enter the secret realm...]

Meng Yutong: !!?

---

Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan