Chapter 22: Su Muxue

Early the next morning, Ye Xiao descended Bamboo Mountain with a menial disciple's token hanging from his waist.

He was heading to the Yin-Yang Academy’s library. Previously, the Ye family had kept to their own corner of the world, leaving him with little knowledge of the wider continent, or even the Southern Territory. The academy’s library was the perfect place to remedy this gap in his education.

As he walked, the official disciples of the academy looked at him with curiosity, particularly the female cultivators—after all, Ye Xiao was quite handsome. However, the moment they spotted the menial disciple's token at his waist, they instantly lost interest. Menial disciples were common throughout the Yin-Yang Academy and held the lowest status of all.

"Yo, isn't this the genius who reached the ninth floor of the Haoran Tower?"

Suddenly, a mocking voice rang out. Ye Xiao turned to see an Open-Gateway Realm cultivator he recognized from the trials. He vaguely remembered the man’s name: Qiao Rong.

"Qiao Rong, are you certain he reached the ninth floor of the Haoran Tower?" asked the disciples accompanying Qiao Rong, their own tokens identifying them as official disciples from Sword Peak.

Qiao Rong gave a cold laugh. "Indeed, senior brothers. He has been the talk of the town these past two days. It’s a pity that, in the end, he is still nothing more than a menial disciple."

Ye Xiao cast a cold glance at Qiao Rong and, choosing not to engage, continued walking straight ahead.

"Stop!" Qiao Rong barked.

Ye Xiao halted and asked coldly, "Is there something you need?"

The group stepped forward to block his path. Qiao Rong sneered, "Ye Xiao, you are a mere menial disciple. How dare you not show respect when you see us?"

Ye Xiao frowned. Seeing the playful mockery in the eyes of the others, he replied, "Are you worthy of it?"

"Insolent!" Qiao Rong roared, his eyes widening with feigned rage.

"Hahaha, Qiao Rong, you’re pathetic. A tiny Profound Realm brat doesn't even put you in his eyes."

"Exactly. Don't go around saying you’re from Sword Peak in the future; it’s embarrassing!"

Faced with the taunts of his peers, Qiao Rong’s face darkened even further. He glared at Ye Xiao and said, word by word, "Kneel and show respect, or don't blame me for what happens next!"

While the Yin-Yang Academy prohibited private combat, that rule applied to official disciples. For menial disciples like Ye Xiao, such protections did not exist. Over time, it had become an unwritten rule that low-level menial disciples must bow their heads before official disciples.

Ye Xiao, however, paid no heed to such customs. He simply looked at Qiao Rong calmly, remaining silent.

"Damn you!" With a roar, Qiao Rong lunged forward, striking out with his palm.

In his mind, Ye Xiao was only at the ninth level of the Profound Realm, while he was in the Open-Gateway Realm. Though it was only the first level, it was a genuine, higher tier of cultivation.

Yet, Ye Xiao’s reaction caught him completely off guard.

Instead of dodging, Ye Xiao met the strike with his own palm.

As the two palms collided, both men were sent reeling backward. Qiao Rong retreated three steps, while Ye Xiao slid back seven or eight before regaining his footing.

"H-how is this possible!" Qiao Rong’s expression shifted. He had not expected his full-strength strike to merely push Ye Xiao back.

The onlookers, meanwhile, had begun to grasp the situation.

"This kid has an incredibly strong physique."

"Indeed. It seems his physical strength alone is comparable to the ninth level of the Profound Realm, or perhaps even the first level of the Open-Gateway Realm."

"Where did this monster come from? How is he just a menial disciple?"

Qiao Rong, oblivious to the murmurs of the crowd, stared fixedly at Ye Xiao, muttering "impossible" under his breath.

"Qiao Rong, is it? I heard you’re just a rogue cultivator. Since you were lucky enough to join the Yin-Yang Academy, you should focus on your training," Ye Xiao said calmly, shaking his aching arm.

"You dog! You dare lecture me?" Qiao Rong was furious. He drew his long sword and charged toward Ye Xiao once more.

"Stop!"

At the sound of the command, Qiao Rong abruptly froze. As the group turned toward the voice, a smile appeared on Ye Xiao’s face. Feng Buxing was rushing toward them in a flurry.

"Qiao Rong! What do you think you’re doing!" he shouted angrily.

"None of your business!"

Feng Buxing was equally incensed, his tone icy. "How has Brother Ye offended you that you would attack him?"

"And where did you crawl out from?" the onlookers scoffed as they saw Feng Buxing blocking Qiao Rong. "Get lost. You’re just trash at the seventh level of the Profound Realm, don’t come here and embarrass yourself!"

"Who said the people of Pill Peak are trash?"

Another voice rang out. The disciples from Sword Peak frowned.

"So what if I did? Trash is trash, and if you don't—"

The man’s voice cut off abruptly. He had caught sight of the newcomer.

"Su Muxue!"

Everyone present, save for Ye Xiao and Qiao Rong, was startled. The person who had arrived was the Chief Senior Sister of Pill Peak.

Su Muxue walked up to Feng Buxing, glanced at Ye Xiao, and then turned her gaze toward the man who had just spoken so rudely.

"You said the people of my Pill Peak are trash?"

Suppressed by her aura, the man’s face turned bright red; he stammered, unable to utter a single word.

"Since you consider us trash, then I have decided: from now on, the monthly pill allocation for Sword Peak will be reduced by ten percent. Any objections?"

The group turned deathly pale. As the Chief Senior Sister of Pill Peak and one of the most powerful alchemists in the Yin-Yang Academy, her word carried weight that even the masters and elders had to weigh carefully.

What is the goal of cultivation, after all? It is resources. Pill Peak supplied over eighty percent of the academy’s medicine. If Sword Peak’s supply were cut by ten percent, and Ao Jian found out, they would be lucky to escape with their lives.

The disciples quickly scrambled to apologize.

"Senior Sister, please calm your anger! We were blind—please, do not take it to heart!"

"Yes, Senior Sister, you are magnanimous; please forgive us this once!"

Qiao Rong stood there, dumbfounded. *Who is this woman? Why are those senior brothers so afraid of her?* he wondered to himself.

Su Muxue ignored them, instead turning to Feng Buxing with a gentle expression. "Junior Brother, is this the Brother Ye you mentioned?"

Feng Buxing smiled. "That's right, Senior Sister. Please, see if there is any way to extend Brother Ye’s lifespan."

Ye Xiao was taken aback. Feng Buxing had brought this young woman here for his sake? A warmth bloomed in his heart.

Su Muxue looked at Ye Xiao, and after a moment, she said in a clear, crisp voice, "Come, reach out your hand and let me take a look."