Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Over Five Years

Ling Bu Fei stumbled as he stepped through the gate, nearly tripping over his own feet. “What are you shouting for? Hurry and stop it!”

Bai Li Xu looked innocent to the point of offense. “Wasn’t it always like this? Young Master, did you forget?”

Behind them, Bai Meng Jin laughed. She still remembered the grand welcome when she first returned to the Limitless Sect with Ling Bu Fei—disciples crowding the path, craning their necks for a look.

Ling Bu Fei covered his face like he’d been struck. “Disperse. Disperse!”

The maids and attendants scattered at once, each rushing off to do whatever task they’d been pretending was urgent.

After five years away, everything felt new to Ling Bu Fei.

He wandered the courtyard, teasing the fish in the pond, tugging at the paper kite hanging nearby, admiring the bonsai arrangements as if he’d never seen a tree before.

“You took good care of the place,” he said, genuinely impressed.

Bai Li Xu grinned.

When Ling Bu Fei wasn’t around, Bai Li Xu had lived comfortably too. All of Startling Swan Reflections belonged to him. When he practiced sword, no one hovered and no one nagged.

Ling Bu Fei pushed open the door. The room looked the same, but the bed curtains and furnishings had all been replaced. Everything carried a clean, fresh scent.

He flopped onto the bed and let out a long, satisfied breath. “Ah… I finally made it back alive.”

When he thought of those five years, it truly felt like living in darkness.

By day, Venerable Ku Mu trained him until his bones ached. By night, Granduncle Master Hua tempered his body until his blood felt like it was boiling. He cut sleep down to the bare minimum.

The worst part was the cycle—flesh tearing and repairing over and over. Before he fully recovered, he had to adapt to new strength the very next morning.

Feeling like you can’t hold on?

No problem. Granduncle Master Hua had prepared countless spirit medicines. Swallow a handful and keep going.

The gains were enormous, though.

His body tempering had reached the level of a Golden Core cultivator. And when he finally beat Bai Li Xu in a sword match, Granduncle Master Hua let him out at last, as if tossing a bird from a cage.

Before he left, she said casually, “Next month is the Spirit Cultivation Assembly. You’re going too.”

Ling Bu Fei had stared at her, stunned. “Me? Can I?”

The Spirit Cultivation Assembly was held once every ten years. Elites from every sect attended. The rewards were rich enough to make disciples dream themselves hoarse. Ling Bu Fei had never imagined he could stand among them.

Hua Wu Sheng replied as if he’d asked whether he could drink water. “Why not? The disciples who join are Foundation Establishment or Golden Core. You can already beat Bai Li Xu. That’s qualification enough.”

Then she kicked him out with a ruthless wave. “Go prepare. I won’t demand first place. Top ten isn’t too much, right? If you can’t do it, handle it yourself.”

Top ten.

This wasn’t an internal sect match. Every sect would send their best. Top ten would be brutal.

Bai Meng Jin had poured oil on the fire with a smile. “At this Spirit Cultivation Assembly, Ning Yan Zhi will definitely be there. Last time, he was still Foundation Establishment and still took fifth.”

Her eyes gleamed. “What place do you think he’ll take this time? You promised me you’d become the World’s Number One Sword Cultivator. Are you going to lose at the first clash?”

Thinking of their first meeting in Flowing Moon City, Ling Bu Fei’s competitive spirit flared hot. “This time, he won’t take first.”

Bai Meng Jin’s smile turned satisfied. “Is that a promise to me?”

Ling Bu Fei nodded without hesitation. “If I promised you, I’ll do everything I can.”

“Good,” Bai Meng Jin said softly. “I believe you.”

*

Bai Meng Jin returned to the room next door.

Over those five years, Ling Bu Fei hadn’t stepped out of Mirror Flower Water Moon, and she had rarely left the island. Her room now felt strangely unfamiliar, like a place borrowed rather than owned.

She sat at the vanity and looked into the mirror.

Five years had passed. The last trace of childishness was gone from her face. She now looked exactly like Yu Mo from her past life.

In that past life, at this time, she had already trained under Cen Mu Liang for several years and was still in Foundation Establishment. She had attended the Spirit Cultivation Assembly and become famous in one battle, earning the nickname “the Jade Immortal Maiden.”

Ning Yan Zhi had taken first place without surprise, exactly as the world expected.

But Bai Meng Jin wasn’t going to the Spirit Cultivation Assembly because of Ning Yan Zhi.

This assembly was a crucial turning point. Something would happen there—something that could reshape the cultivation world.

In her previous life, she hadn’t had enough strength to get involved in the deeper struggles. This time, she would go in person and see what truly lay beneath.

Footsteps sounded at the door. A maid entered and reported, “Miss, your older siblings are here.”

Bai Meng Jin rose and stepped outside.

Bai Meng Lian and Bai Meng Xing were waiting.

Five years had changed them both.

Bai Meng Lian’s features had matured into warm brightness, her temperament gentle and steady. Bai Meng Xing had changed even more: the roguish playboy look had been polished away. In flowing disciple robes, he almost looked like an immortal lord.

Then he opened his mouth and ruined the illusion.

“Sister!” he blurted. “Did you come out of seclusion? Rumors are everywhere now. Some people say the Young Sect Master’s Severed Meridians are healed, and some say it’s all fake.”

He leaned in, noisy as ever. “So which is it? Is he better or not? Are you really going to the Spirit Cultivation Assembly?”

Bai Meng Jin raised a brow. “Brother, your phrasing improved. You can even say ‘rumors are everywhere’ now.”

Bai Meng Xing puffed up proudly. “Of course. Elder Sister forced me to memorize an entire dictionary. I’m basically a scholar now!”

“Ow!”

Bai Meng Lian flicked his forehead. “You memorized one dictionary and you call yourself a scholar? Move aside. I’m talking business with Sister.”

“Oh…” Bai Meng Xing immediately shuffled aside, obedient.

Bai Meng Lian looked at Bai Meng Jin, eyes bright. “Sister, since everyone is talking, I assume you and the Young Sect Master really will attend the Spirit Cultivation Assembly?”

Bai Meng Jin nodded. “Yes.”

“Perfect.” Bai Meng Lian’s face lit up. “We came to tell you—we were selected too!”

Bai Meng Jin’s expression brightened with genuine surprise. “Really? That’s great!”

Bai Meng Lian nodded, joy plain.

She had reached Foundation Establishment in her second year. Elder Wen from the steward hall took a liking to her, and she became Senior Sister You Yan’s junior sister.

Bai Meng Xing originally wasn’t qualified, but Elder Wen submitted his name too—for Bai Meng Lian’s sake.

Elder Wen was the head disciple of Peach Blossom Peak’s line. His cultivation was high, his position as steward hall master carried weight, and his background and ability were formidable.

Without realizing it, the three siblings had become people others envied.

Bai Meng Jin looked at Bai Meng Xing with open skepticism. “It’s not strange Elder Sister was chosen. But you? Brother, how did you make it in?”

Bai Meng Lian couldn’t help laughing. “In the final selection, a few slots were left, so they decided to settle it with matches. Little Brother went to fill a spot and didn’t expect to win.”

She shook her head, still amused. “Who knew the person before him used a tainted-qi talisman and accidentally blasted himself? He won for no reason at all.”

Bai Meng Jin burst out laughing.

Come to think of it, in this life Bai Meng Xing always had this inexplicable luck. Back in the Bai Family, if he hadn’t run into her, he would’ve been sacrificed in the formation along with everyone else.

Could it be that when the Reincarnation Mirror dragged her back through time, he’d picked up some of her fortune?

It wasn’t impossible. Twisting time itself carried terrifying fortune.

There was no true ascension in this world. The higher your cultivation, the closer you came to being immortal.

But those who called themselves “immortals” were still human.

Only a rare few could endure lonely cultivation without wavering. Most people still carried mortal weaknesses—fighting for power and profit, craving comfort and pleasure.

They called it the immortal path.

Yet it was still the dusty world.