Quick Transmigration: Yandere Male Leads? Hand 'Em Over! - Chapter 244

The next day marked the start of the new disciples’ trial in the secret realm.

This trial was led by the senior brothers and sisters, while the newly accepted disciples entered the secret realm to choose their destined artifacts.

From Yellow-grade to Heaven-grade—so long as they had the ability to bring one out—it could be bound and become their life-bound artifact.

As for Yuheng Peak, it was naturally led by Senior Sister Qin Lan.

Su Ci originally had no intention of going.

After all, Master Xuanxiao valued her greatly. Not only had he gifted her a rare Earth-grade artifact, the Cloud-Hidden Thousand Mechanism Fan, but even the pill furnace in her alchemy room was of extraordinary quality. Whether for cultivation or alchemy, it was more than sufficient.

But Mo Yu seemed extremely eager to leave the mountain.

The moment Senior Sister mentioned the Lingyou Secret Realm, he immediately started clinging and licking at her from within her sleeve, pestering her non-stop until she finally agreed to join the trial.

Su Ci might be new to the sect, but Mo Yu was well-versed in all sorts of secret realms.

For instance, this Lingyou Secret Realm was the abandoned cave dwelling of an immortal in the mortal realm. It drew celestial energy from the heavens, and was brimming with rare herbs and treasures.

The founding ancestor of Xuantian Sect had stumbled upon it by chance and sealed it off with an array. Since it was ownerless, it naturally became the property of Xuantian Sect.

Mo Yu knew that within this secret realm, there was a Heaven-grade, tier-nine Glazed Cauldron—perfect for stewing meat… ahem, for assisting his little female cultivator in her alchemy.

Ye Lingtang never received an apology from Jing Yuan.

Nor did she see First Senior Brother or Second Senior Brother.

Not even her Master, Immortal Qingxu, came to see her.

Left with nothing but a pouch of spirit stones, she had no choice but to join the trial alongside the other disciples.

She had entered the Lingyou Secret Realm in her previous life, too.

But back then, she hadn’t cared about magical artifacts. She’d simply gone along to accompany Second Senior Brother and had watched from the sidelines as the other disciples fought tooth and nail over mere Yellow-grade weapons.

As for her, she didn’t need to lift a finger. Even Earth- or Profound-grade artifacts had been laid out for her to choose from freely, because her brothers and Master adored her, giving her the best resources from Jiangxue Peak.

But this time around…

What on earth was going on?

Just as she reached the outskirts of Jade Vault Platform, she caught sight of a figure surrounded by a throng of admiring disciples.

“To think that Junior Sister, at such a young age, can already refine a tier-nine Yellow-grade pill—she’s sure to become a Heaven-grade alchemist one day!”

“It’s too valuable, Junior Sister, you’re too kind.”

“Exactly! The gifts we gave Junior Sister pale in comparison to a single bottle of breakthrough pills!”

Too many had come bearing gifts for Su Ci over the past few days. In return, she had refined some pills as thank-you presents.

Refining pills was a daily exercise for an alchemist. What might be rare and precious to other cultivators wasn’t particularly useful to Su Ci—after all, she couldn’t eat them as meals.

Feeling slightly guilty, Mo Yu burrowed deeper into her sleeve.

What Yellow-grade tier-nine? That was an Earth-grade tier-three!
The lowest-grade pill he carried in his storage pouch was Earth-grade tier-three.

As for the Yellow-grade pills Su Ci had refined? Naturally, he had secretly swapped them out and eaten every last one.

Su Ci was still unaware, thinking the little snake was simply shy. After all, his identity wasn’t suitable for being out in the open at Xuantian Sect, so it made sense that he avoided others.

Hearing the crowd’s conversation, Ye Lingtang’s heart sank. Su Ci could already refine tier-nine Yellow-grade pills?

She was just a step away from breaking into the Profound-grade tier!

Meanwhile, Ye Lingtang had been wasting time, unable to control her flame properly, and could barely manage a tier-three Yellow-grade pill.

Still, it was fine. She had Senior Brother Jing Yuan—he’d never let her be overshadowed by anyone.

Too bad he didn’t show up today…

Just as that thought crossed her mind, she spotted four towering figures not far off. The man in the lead had robes that fluttered like clouds and features of pure jade, radiant and untouchable.

It was First Senior Brother, Xiao Zhuo.

And the other three senior brothers were also with him.

Ye Lingtang was a little surprised. In her past life, only Second Senior Brother had led the team for this trial. Why were they all here now?

Could it be… they were here to back her up?

Filled with hope, she walked toward them.

But the four men had their own thoughts. Their gazes, intentionally or not, landed on “Junior Sister,” expressions unreadable.

Xiao Zhuo’s reaction was the most obvious.

He was like the ever-frozen snow atop Jiangxue Peak—cold, clear, untouched. But now his master had summoned him to discuss dual cultivation with this newly accepted Junior Sister Ye, as a means of improving his cultivation.

Only he and Yin Jingze knew of this arrangement.

It was all because during last year’s Immortal Sect Competition, he had lost to Qin Lan, the senior sister from Yuheng Peak.

But Qin Lan possessed the rare Vermilion Bird Spirit Vein—how could an ordinary cultivator hope to surpass her?

Lately, he had been silently brooding, wondering why Su Ci didn’t choose to take Master as her teacher. But seeing her now, chatting and laughing with Qin Lan, he felt a massive weight lifted from his heart.

Thank the heavens Su Ci didn’t pick Master back then.

As the eldest senior brother, he ought to have visited the new junior sister. But to avoid suspicion, he hadn’t gone even once—he refused to use her as a mere furnace.

“Senior Brother!”

Ye Lingtang, unaware of their internal conflicts, greeted them cheerfully.

Jing Yuan gave her a sidelong glance and said blandly, “So you’re not just a servant.”

Not that it mattered.

To him, all the other junior sisters were no different from servants—only Su Ci was special.

Xiao Zhuo retracted his gaze and nodded gently but distantly. “Everyone’s here. Let’s go.”

Not far away, Qin Lan shook her head, thoroughly unimpressed by the group from Jiangxue Peak.

This was just a newbie trial—why the need for the entire entourage? Did they think she’d favor her own disciples?

Hopefully, those prodigies from Qingxu’s lineage wouldn’t cause trouble inside the secret realm.

Each disciple was given a jade token. In the face of danger, crushing the token would allow the leading seniors to rescue them and escort them out of the realm.

Once inside, Mo Yu immediately took Su Ci away from the crowd, heading toward the remote forest.

He couldn’t stand the covetous looks the other disciples threw her way. Out of sight, out of mind.

After entering the realm, Ye Lingtang recognized the familiar landscape and suddenly remembered—there was a semi-immortal artifact hidden here.

In her past life, a black snake had led her to it.

Unfortunately, her strength at the time was lacking, and she had nearly died at the hands of the artifact’s guardian beast. Thankfully, Second Senior Brother had rescued her.

But this time, all four senior brothers were present. Snatching that artifact should be a breeze, right?

Xiao Zhuo, with his late Nascent Soul cultivation, would naturally be her first choice.

But to her shock, Xiao Zhuo gripped his jade flute and said calmly, “The secret realm trial is based on one’s own ability. You’ll have to go alone.”

With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked away.

She hurriedly called after him.

“Senior Brother, where are you going?”

For a moment, Xiao Zhuo’s expression stiffened.

“Just wandering… to supervise.”

He had seen Su Ci head into the dense forest alone earlier. That area was crawling with vicious beasts—far too dangerous. He had to follow, just in case.

These past few days, his music had been in disarray.

Because he missed her.

Even though they’d never even spoken.

He still thought of her.

Even Xiao Zhuo, whose heart was like still water, had begun to stir. The other three were even less restrained, quickly finding excuses to leave, leaving Ye Lingtang standing there alone.

She ground her teeth in frustration and followed the path from her memories toward the artifact’s location.

Without the black snake’s guidance this time, she wasted a great deal of energy. After nearly losing her life, she finally reached the cliff’s edge.

Only to find someone had already beaten her to it!

A white-robed female cultivator sat gracefully atop a jade lotus platform, holding the translucent Glazed Cauldron in her hands. Two guardian beasts flanked her sides, heads lowered in submission, softly growling.

A thunderclap went off in Ye Lingtang’s mind.

Her immortal artifact… had been taken by someone else?