Who Dares Slander My Senior Brother

Chapter Two

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Blue Clothed Youth

August 25th, a clear and refreshing autumn day.

Wen Jing clenched his teeth as he grabbed onto the gra.s.s and stone on the side of the mountain path. He had almost finished climbing the almost ninety degree vertical mountain slope.

All around him there were people making the same challenging climb. Suffering beyond words, they only sought to climb as quickly as possible up this section of steep cliff.

When the gate opens, the new disciples were required to be a.s.sembled at Qing Xu hall. This was the hall belonging to the master of the Qing Xu sword sect. It was located half way up the mountain of the main peak Yu Rong Feng (1). Surrounded by white clouds, one side was backed against the mountain, while the remaining three sides were sheer cliffs. Disciples were required to resist the wind until they either were able to cultivate flying methods or obtained devices with flight capability.

Qi Refining disciples at the fifth layer like Wen Jing, had no means to ascend other than climbing the cliff wall.

Over the last few thousand years, countless people had climbed this mountain. This road was no longer dangerous. Only this remaining section of steep cliff about sixteen meters high was left in order to serve as an extreme test of a person’s willpower.

With difficulty, Wen Jing grabbed at a tree trunk growing on the top of the cliff. Pushing with his right foot, he finally managed to make it onto level ground.

“Before his eyes stood a large hall constructed to overlook the mountain. An enormous horizontal board hung there inscribed with the words “Qing Xu Hall”. In the center of the hall stood a realistic looking copper statue, about thirty four meters tall, of a young Daoist clothed in a robe with drifting sleeves wearing a smile on his face and grasping a drawn sword. At his side, coiled to a about half his height, was a majestic python with an awe-inspiring presence.”

-from 《A Calamity for All Living Things》Chapter Two

This was the description of Jun YanZhi ascending the mountain as he saw Qing Xu hall for the first time.

Wen Jing had imagined this scene many times.

Now, seeing the real thing for himself was even more awe-inspiring and his excitement surged.

Fortunately, now that he had entered the book, it was possible to see the world for himself. As he was now in a place endorsed by broadcasting (2) as a positive teaching material, he totally didn’t have to worry about the protagonist turning to the dark side, the world falling into ruin, or any other discouraging circ.u.mstances. His heart was bursting with joy. So awesome….

Wen Jing had a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery. He appreciated the scene for a while and then settled himself down.

He quietly turned on the system to see everyone’s moral standing.

Beep beep beep beep beep beep——

Small frames opened one by one, all showing green. This demonstrated that the standings were of a positive value. Wen Jing could roughly see that the values ranged from the lowest of about 100, to the highest of surprisingly 800. Everyone’s values fluctuated, there were none that were static and unchanging.

He subconsciously looked at the man with the highest moral standing——

A slender figure clothed in white was standing in front of the bronze statue. His appearance, however, was indistinct.

Who was he? Such a righteous person…..

Suddenly a single red frame appeared in his line of sight.

A moral standing with a negative value! A devious evil spirit?

While searching, the red frame suddenly disappeared.

After a while, it abruptly appeared again.

Wen Jing’s eyebrows raised as he followed that red frame. His gaze landed on the body of a fourteen or fifteen year old youth. He wore an old dark blue cloth garment patched up in a few places and was dressed in the style of a peasant. The youth’s face was cold but handsome and refined. Every movement was somewhat imposing. However, his manner of dress and age were really at odds with his expression.

His moral standing constantly fluctuated between positive and negative values.

Did he waver between good and evil?

Behind him came a sudden astonished buzz of sound. Wen Jing turned his head and suddenly turned red.

Jumping onto the precipice was a female in violet clothes of about fifteen or sixteen years of age. The left side of her face seemed to bear faint red traces most likely due to injuries from her climb up the cliff. However, this jade face along with skin like a holy snow lotus, quiet and exquisite beyond compare, her whole body graceful as she coldly floated free from the earth.

The crowd of male disciples were riveted at the sight of her.

Wen Jing also stole a few glances, overwhelmed with emotion.

Those violet garments and red marks, he had dwelled on them many times to himself.

Ji KeQing.

…… in his mind, she would always be the female lead.

When he was reading the novel, his deepest wish was that at the end she would become a couple with Jun Yanzhi.

Just then, an evil wind appeared. From the sky, in a powerful rush, came down a black bird of prey. Opening its talons, it reached towards the young woman. Not knowing what to do, everyone quickly cried out at the demonic beast. However, suddenly there appeared a gust of wind from Wen Jing’s side. The ray of white light crossed over and hit the black bird of prey.

“A renowned senior brother!” Someone gasped from within the crowd.

The violet clothed young woman sneered at those words. Already a violet light, as fast as lightning, had already struck the body of the black bird of prey. Struck by both the violet and white lights, the black bird of prey’s feathers burst into flame. Screeching, it flapped its wings and escaped.

The people in the surroundings immediately began to chatter in admiration.

“Such a young age, to unexpectedly have that level of cultivation!”
“Probably already at Qi Refining level twelve?”
“An excellent innate talent.”
“And in addition, so beautiful……”

At that time, the man in white that had been standing in front of the statue walked over. Everyone in the vicinity looked and felt that he seemed to have a strong scholarly temperament. The observers felt inferior in comparison.

He spoke gently and politely: “I’m Wen RenMu. This is my junior brother’s pet eagle. I ask that you please forgive me for carelessly causing you to be frightened.”

He cupped his fists and waited for her reply. (3)

A heroic man. A beautiful woman. Standing together they made a beautiful painting, enchanting the observers.

Unexpectedly, the young woman in violet gave him a cold look and said nothing as she walked away.

The white clothed young man was slightly startled.

He had merely kindly come to her a.s.sistance, how had he offended her?

Not feeling the least bit upset, he looked at her back and slightly smiled.

Wen Jing stared in rapture from a distance.

This was the “Hero Rescues Beauty, Showers Affection on Uninterested Party” scene. In the book, it was Wen RenMu and Ji KeQing’s first meeting.

Wen RenMu was Tian Heng Feng’s primary disciple.

Tian Heng Feng was Hui Shi Feng’s arch-enemy.

Thus, Wen RenMu was Jun YanZhi’s arch-enemy.

Currently, Jun YanZhi hadn’t yet done anything to become famous. The conflict between the two people was still a shallow thing. But in the future, they would both openly and covertly come into conflict, like water and fire.

However, Wen RenMu’s moral standing value, according to the system display, drifted at around 800, cla.s.sifying him as “Clean Record Virtuous Behavior, Deserves to be Admired By All”.

Ah, pei pei pei pei pei —— (4)

…….after encountering a powerful enemy on the road, he abandons the others from his sect and escapes first. Afterwards, to cover his actions, he frames someone else. His only concern was protecting his n.o.ble reputation. Is this kind of person worthy to be labeled “Deserves to be Admired by All”?

While he was having those random thoughts, a man in black clothes slowly entered his line of sight. Before he could react, an eye-grabbing dazzling red frame jumped out.

[Moral standing: -1000. Guilty of terrible crimes. Everyone is required to administer punishment]

The man in black clothes stood for a long time in front of the hall. Peacefully resembling the trunk of an ancient tree, he was solitary and silent.

Wen Jing quietly gazed at him.

There must be something wrong with Jun YanZhi’s numbers.

Other people’s moral standing was constantly changing, only he had an immobile static number. It was as if the system wasn’t measuring data but instead was reflecting a bug.

Otherwise, what else could be the reason for Wen RenMu’s “Deserves to be Admired by All” instead of Jun YanZhi’s “Everyone is required to administer punishment”?

With this thought, he frame of mind suddenly improved and the sky began to look a little bluer….

The long drawn-out cry of a dragon’s voice rang out from Qing Xu hall. The test had begun.

New disciples rushed to line up. The people from Qing Xu school (5) required both a “Bone test” and “Divine Eye” to evaluate everyone’s age and cultivation.

Fifteen years old and under, and Qi Refining level four or higher were the requirements to enter the Qing Xu sword sect.

……also every peak had their own requirements for acceptance.

For example, Tian Heng Feng and w.a.n.g Yue Feng (6) would only accept a few people, leaving the rest with no choice but to look and sigh.

After a short while, the ineligible were rejected and the remaining seventy-two people where arranged according to their quality of spiritual root to provide the head of each peak the opportunity to choose from among them.

The basic spiritual root comes in one of five types or elements. In other words, gold, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Ninety percent of cultivators have a spiritual root with four out of five attributes. A mixed root like this is very weak, slow to absorb spiritual energy, and has a slow cultivation rate. They’re barely better than the average person. Thus they’re also called “False spiritual root” or “Waste spiritual root”.

Those cultivators that have spiritual roots with two or three attributes are somewhat strong, their absorption rate is fast, and thus they’re called “true spiritual roots”.

For cultivators that have “celestial spiritual roots”, this implies that they are favored by heaven, only have one type, are very strong, and their cultivation rate is several times faster. In addition, they don’t suffer from bottlenecks when reaching the Core Formation stage. They’re the envy of everyone. It’s a pity that celestial spiritual roots are few and far between. Of the schools within the five large sects, there are very few individuals.

Furthermore, there are also variant types of spiritual roots that are also rare. Because they have two or three properties, the variations are able to refine and transform from multiple sources and the cultivation speed is extremely rapid. (7)

Wen RenMu was, as expected, Qing Xu sword sect’s only celestial spiritual root of the earth type.

Ji KeQing in contrast was a rarely seen ice variation spiritual root. Because she could use water and earth attributes to convert into power.

Jun YanZhi’s apt.i.tude in comparison was more commonplace. He was a gold and wood type spiritual root.

Wen Jing possessed five spiritual roots. Gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. He was a waste spiritual root.

While his apt.i.tude was of the lowest, he also possessed a special kind of physique. The Three Yang body.

The Three Yang body was absolutely rare and one hadn’t been seen in several thousand years. Their cultivation rate was second only to celestial spiritual roots.

If he brought it up, he would certainly be accepted by any of the peak masters.

However, Qing Xu sword sect had no reason to test whether anyone had a Three Yang body and Wen Jing wasn’t about to bring it up.

He and the other 71 individuals lined up in eight rows and together went inside the Qing Xu hall to stand and wait for interviews.

In front of the disciples there was a tall platform. More than ten Daoists were seated on it. There were men and women all with their own graceful bearing and outstanding temperaments. None were ordinary. In the middle was a man wearing a light yellow daoist robe with an immortal air and sage features (8). His eyes were gentle and bright. He seemed to be Qing Xu sword sect’s current clan head, Xi Fang.

Along with Xi Fang on the tall platform were fourteen seated daoists.

In other words, there was one peak master that hadn’t yet arrived.

There was no need to guess who.

Jun Yanzhi’s shifu Duan Xuan hadn’t shown his face for many years. The other peak masters had long ago come to a silent understanding. He already had no intention of recruiting disciples, why would he bother coming to the Qing Xu hall and waste his time?

The various masters of each peak roughly examined the new disciples apt.i.tudes, appearance, and bearing. Several people were asked to step out of the ranks in order to answer a few questions. One by one they gave their responses. Next, the disciples left Qing Xu Hall while the peak masters remained in order to discuss their fates.

As a five attribute waste spiritual root, no one gave him a second look. It was unlikely anyone would want to take him in.

As expected, Ji KeQing and another wind variation spiritual root were called in first.

Next, the ones with true spiritual roots were called into the hall one by one.

After a while, the three and four spiritual root holders were also called in one after another leaving only eight individuals left. Many had anxious looks and some wept.

Unexpectedly, one of the eight was also that blue clothed youth with the evil standing.

Wen Jing silently looked at him. By chance, that young man also glanced over at him.

Wen Jing remembered the system notice.

[Moral standing: 1. Has a charitable disposition. Can become friends.]

[Moral standing: -1. Has an unpleasant disposition. Be cautious when making friends.]

…….in the end, does this mean he should make friends with him or not?

The young man smiled: “My name is You Si (9), what’s your name?”

“….. Lu Jing.”

“Spelling?”

“Jing from brambles” (10)

“The road has brambles, you can’t move even a single step, with that kind of meaning…. (11)

“…..”

“Which mountain did you want to join?”

Wen Jing looked at him: “Whichever mountain will accept me.”

The youth smiled and said: “You and I finally got to this point and now we can only let others decide for us, we aren’t able to choose for ourselves.”

“That’s right….”

You Si’s words didn’t sound like a farmer’s son, but more like someone who had been raised in a privileged family.

Should he make friends with him or not?

He had never heard his name before, at least not in relation to Jun Yanzhi.

Just then, an individual wearing a light yellow daoist robe came out of Qing Xu hall saying: “The remaining eight people may now come in.”

The people sitting on the ground stood up all at the same time.

Authors notes:
Nothing interesting, only thanking for donations.

TN Notes:

1. Jade-like peak
2. Callback to the goverment radio and television oversight department from chapter 1
3. Probably something like this.
4. Spitting noises
5. As was mentioned before, there’s a sect and its a.s.sociated school. So far I can’t tell what the difference is betwen them and it’s possible I may have used sect in a few places where it should have been school but I’m too lazy to look double check.
6. Full moon peak
7. So what they’re saying, is that a variant of spiritual root can pull from multiple sources of energy. So instead of having a wood root, which means you can only absorb wood energy, you have let’s say an ice root, which can pull in water and earth energy, so double the absorption rate. Rating-wise, I think it should be between the single celestial root like Wen RenMu and the two attribute type like Jun Yanzhi.
8. This phrase gave me fits. it’s 鹤骨仙风, which is literally crane bone immortal manner. One person on Baidu said it was a made up phrase and I found other mentions that both did and didn’t include the crane that seemed to be reserved for old martial arts dudes. So that’s what I went with.
9. His name could be Shi or Si…. I’m taking a wild guess and going with the second one. (cuz the first makes me think of yoshi from mario world)
10. Chinese has a lot of h.o.m.onyms, so he asking which character is used in his name. In this case Jingji (荆棘) (brambles) is the same on as the one in Lu Jing (路荆)
11. More name meaning. Lu means road or journey. So he’s discussing the meaning of his full name. The second part is an idiom that means “to be in an extremely difficult situation”. For a parent to give their child a gloomy name like that…

Where did my vacation go?

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