Chapter 25: Master, Who Are You Looking At?

Chu Huaizhou, about to head out, froze at Bai Li’s bombshell.
Stunned for a moment, he recalled her info was often unreliable and double-checked.
“You’re saying Ye Feng, the one we helped at the sect gate, is a girl?”

Bai Li nodded, tilting her head in confusion.
“Yeah, didn’t you notice, meow?”
On the bed, watching his disbelief, she tilted her head too far, lost balance, and flopped sideways.
Scrambling up, she shook her head, then lit up with realization.
“Oh, right! Your cultivation’s too low now, human. Even with my boost, you can’t see through high-level illusions, meow.”

Puffing out her chest proudly, her nine tails swished smugly.
“That Ye Feng’s illusion is clever, but it’s not enough to fool this palace, master of mental spells, meow!”

Chu Huaizhou’s mind flashed the meme of a confused Black guy with question marks. So many things to unpack, where do I start?
In his first playthrough of Black Abyss, he never noticed the protagonist seemed female…
Must be a developer trap, revealed in later playthroughs.
So, this world might be the final playthrough’s Sky Star Continent, slightly different from what he knew.
The devs said the first playthrough was only 60% of the content, with 40% more to come. Where was it added?

He pondered but gave up when no answers came.
No matter. With four Great Vehicle cultivators on his side, his lineup was invincible—any problem could be steamrolled.
First, he’d meet Ye Feng. Her gender didn’t change his goal of recovering his cultivation and memories.

Earlier:
“No wonder it’s the top sect! The spiritual energy here is unreal!”
On the martial platform’s spectator seats, Ye Feng meditated, recovering spiritual energy and minor injuries with the Yin-Yang Reverse Death Technique taught by her ring grandpa.
She felt dense spiritual energy flooding in like a tide.

Sword Knocks at Heaven’s Origin was short, running day and night, now nearing its end.
Her opponents grew stronger, and though none matched her, their numbers wore her down.
Even with her stamina, she needed breaks between matches.
Her dominance made her the biggest dark horse of this year’s exam, catching the eye of Nascent Soul elders who promised perks to choose them as her master if she took first.
Even a Spirit Severing hall master from the Law Enforcement Hall, impressed by her exquisite swordsmanship and techniques, offered a personal mountain peak as a cave abode.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Ye Feng, these offers should’ve been tempting.
But she showed no interest.
Her heart was set on one unforgettable figure.
So handsome…

She kept recalling yesterday morning, when that dashing figure burst into her vision.
Sunlight haloed him, adding a divine aura, his nine-striped sword robe billowing.
His thin lips curved in a carefree smile, his demeanor blending a sword cultivator’s sharpness with otherworldly calm.
As a natural sword seed, she sensed his towering sword intent—hers was a mayfly by comparison.
His starry eyes, locking with hers for a moment, left her dizzy.
To her, he was the epitome of strength, charm, and kindness.
How can such a perfect man exist?!
At the world’s peak, yet apologizing for her minor issue.

After he left, she asked around and learned: “The sect leader hasn’t handled sect affairs in ages, let alone Sword Knocks at Heaven’s Origin for centuries.”
It felt like fate.
She resolved that if first place let her choose any sect member as her master, she’d pick the sect leader, no question.
Thinking of Chu Huaizhou, her eyes sparkled like a fangirl’s, heart-eyes practically visible.
She even considered starting a sect leader fan club.
For the first time, she understood her old roommates’ obsession with idols.
But she wasn’t chasing a star—she was chasing lightning, light, a god, an immortal!

“Number 32, Ye Feng, versus Number 56, Baili Mingxuan!”
Battle-ready, Ye Feng stood, gripping her mid-grade spiritual weapon, the Qinghong Sword, from a secret realm.

The blood-red sunset bathed the ground.
Towering clouds churned like waves, tinting the floating sect hall like a celestial palace.
Normally sparse, the hall’s entrance was now packed.
At the doorway, two vice sect leaders sat smiling on stone chairs, facing a thousand new disciples.
Those who failed were likely poached by other sects’ recruiters at the gate.

A middle-aged man in an eight-striped sword robe, with white hair and a handsome face, was about to speak when he sensed something. Looking up, he saw Chu Huaizhou approaching.
He and the other vice sect leader stood, saluting the sky.
The crowd followed their gaze, buzzing with excitement, some adjusting skirts to kneel.
“Greetings, Sect Leader!!!”
The unified shout of ten thousand voices thundered like a tidal wave.

Whoa, this is a big deal.
Chu Huaizhou remembered being among those bowing to the sect leader, his heart racing at a glimpse.
Now, as the one saluted, the thrill lingered despite his discomfort.
Forcing composure, he said, “Enough, no need for formalities. I’m just here to observe. Proceed.”

Amplified by Bai Li, his voice reached all clearly.
The crowd straightened, and the middle-aged vice sect leader took a scroll, announcing:
“Sword Knocks at Heaven’s Origin has concluded. After the elders’ evaluation, here are the rankings.”
“First place, Ye Feng!”
“Second place, Chen Changsheng!”
“Third place…”

Chu Huaizhou landed behind the vice sect leaders, watching quietly.
He planned to use the excuse of rewarding new disciples to give Ye Feng two soul-nourishing elixirs, building goodwill.
But then, a chill ran down his spine, his spiritual platform jolting. Turning, he saw Leng Qingqiu step out from the shadows, her face icy as she asked:
“Master, why the sudden interest in Sword Knocks at Heaven’s Origin?”
“Let me guess—you’re here for someone specific, right?”

One arm crossed her chest, her other hand’s finger tapped her cheek, her expressionless face showing a hint of doubt.
“You’re interested in the first-place winner… Ye Feng, aren’t you?”