hǎo zài zhè ér běn jiù dì chǔ huāng pì ， yǔ wài jiè shǎo yǒu wǎng lái ， gù ér shí hǔ shū yuàn suī shì · xiǎo
好在这儿本就地处荒僻，与外界少有往来，故而石虎书院虽是·小
Fortunately, this place was already in a remote area with little interaction with the outside world. Thus, despite being a small sect, Stone Tiger Academy lived a peaceful and carefree life.
mén xiǎo pài ， rì zi què yě guò dé xiāo yáo zì zài 。
门小派，日子却也过得逍遥自在。
Originally, the Confucian lineage rarely admitted female disciples. However, there weren't many people around, let alone those with spirit roots. To ensure the sect's survival, this rule had been broken over the past millennium, splitting into upper and lower academies.
yuán běn rú mén yī mài ， jí shǎo zhāo shōu nǚ dì zi ， bù guò fù jìn fán rén ， shù liàng běn jiù yī bù duō ， qí
原本儒门一脉，极少招收女弟子，不过附近凡人，数量本就一不多，其
The lower academy now housed several hundred female disciples, with their head being a cultivator at the Condensation Core stage.
zhōng yōng yǒu líng gēn de jiù gèng wéi fēng máo lín jiǎo le 。 wèi le zōng mén néng gòu chuán chéng xià qù ， gāi pài rú jīn dào
中拥有灵根的就更为风毛麟角了。为了宗门能够传承下去，该派如今倒
Seven-star Island was indeed different; Stone Tiger Academy was merely a fourth or fifth-rate small sect. In terms of strength, it was on par with second-tier sects in Youzhou's cultivation world.
shì dǎ pò le zhè ge guī jǔ ． jīng guò jìn qiān nián de fā zhǎn ， yǐ rán fēn gē chéng le shàng xià liǎng yuàn 。
是打破了这个规矩．经过近千年的发展，已然分割成了上下两院。
"Senior Sister, this is early morning practice time. Why are you pulling me out?" A young woman called out from the forest, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
qí zhōng xià yuàn de nǚ dì zi yě yǒu shù bǎi 。 yuàn zhǔ gèng shì yī wèi níng dān qī de nǚ xiū 。
其中下院的女弟子也有数百。院主更是一位凝丹期的女修。
"Junior Sister, we've known each other for so long; when has your senior ever wronged you to let you out for something good?" Another voice responded, sounding more composed and slightly older.
qī xīng dǎo què shí bù tóng ， yào zhī dào shí hǔ shū yuàn bù guò sì wǔ liú de xiǎo pài kě cóng shí lì lái
七星岛确实不同，要知道石虎书院不过四五流的小派可从实力来
"But if I don't do morning practice, Master will punish me by making me face the wall for half a month," the first woman complained. The mention of facing the wall brought a hint of fear in her tone.
shuō ， jǐ jīng yǔ yōu zhōu xiū xiān jiè èr liú de mén pài chà bu duō 。
说，己经与幽州修仙界二流的门派差不多。
They were on the back mountain of Stone Tiger Academy, two women dressed in long robes walking slowly along a forest path. They were around twenty years old, one with a slender figure and wearing a red robe, while the other was shorter and wore a green one.
“ shī jiě ， rú jīn zhèng shì zǎo kè ， nǐ lā wǒ chū lái zuò shén me ……” lín jiān ， chuán lái yī
“师姐，如今正是早课，你拉我出来做什么……”林间，传来一
"Senior Sister, stop teasing me. What's the real reason you brought me out?" The green-robed girl raised her eyebrows in annoyance.
nǚ zǐ de jiāo hū yǔ qì zhōng lüè dài bù mǎn zhī sè 。
女子的娇呼语气中略带不满之色。
"Well, I wanted to give you a surprise," sighed the woman in red. "But now, Junior Sister, I found a ginseng plant."
“ shī mèi ， wǒ men xiāng jiāo zhè me duō nián jiě jiě shén me shí hòu hài guò nǐ ， ràng nǐ chū lái ． zì
“师妹，我们相交这么多年姐姐什么时候害过你，让你出来．自
"Ginseng?" The green-robed girl was shocked. "Senior Sister, are you joking? Ginseng is just common; it can be bought from pharmacies in the mortal world. Why did you make me miss morning practice for this?"
yǒu hǎo shì 。” lìng yī nǚ zǐ de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr lǐ ， dài zhe jǐ fēn zhèn dìng zhī sè tīng shēng yīn ． yào
有好事。”另一女子的声音传入耳里，带着几分镇定之色听声音．要
"For someone so young and impatient, Senior Sister has nothing to tease you about," the woman in red replied with a hint of displeasure at her complaint. "Ordinary ginseng isn't rare, but what if it's over six or seven hundred years old?"
bǐ qián miàn yí gè nǚ zǐ lüè dà yī diǎn diǎn le 。
比前面一个女子略大一点点了。
"Six or seven hundred years?" The green-robed girl was suddenly delighted. "Senior Sister, I misunderstood you. Ginseng that old could fetch many crystal stones."
“ kě bù zuò zǎo kè ， bèi shī fù fā xiàn le 。 shào bù liǎo yào bèi fá miàn bì bàn gè yuè de 。”
“可不做早课，被师傅发现了。少不了要被罚面壁半个月的。”
"Yes," the woman in red agreed. "Now, come with me; there’s a protective beast near it—a one-horned python snake."
qián yí gè nǚ zǐ dū nāng zhe kāi kǒu le ， shuō dào miàn bì ， yǔ qì zhōng dài shàng le jǐ fēn wèi jù 。
前一个女子嘟囔着开口了，说到面壁，语气中带上了几分畏惧。
"One-horned python snake?" The green-robed girl's expression changed to alarm. "That's a first-grade upper-tier monster."
zhè lǐ shì shí hǔ shū yuàn de hòu shān 。 liǎng gè shēn chuān zhǎng qún de nǚ zǐ ， zhèng zài lín jiān xiǎo dào xú xú dài
这里是石虎书院的后山。两个身穿长裙的女子，正在林间小道徐徐待
"Don't worry, such beasts are no match for us in a one-on-one fight," the woman in red reassured her. "But with our combined strength, we can easily defeat it."
ér xíng ． dà yuē dōu shì shí ** suì nián jì ， zhǐ bù guò yí gè guā zi liǎn ， shēn cái gāo tiǎo ， shēn shàng qún
而行．大约都是十**岁年纪，只不过一个瓜子脸，身材高挑，身上裙
"Right, that makes sense." The green-robed girl nodded, her anxiety dissipating. For low-ranking cultivators like them, daily expenses were tight. Selling such a precious spirit herb could bring substantial rewards.
zi yě shì hóng sè ， ér lìng wài yī míng lǜ yī shào nǚ ， shēn cái zé yào jiāo xiǎo dé duō 。
子也是红色，而另外一名绿衣少女，身材则要娇小得多。
Thus, missing morning practice was not a big deal.
“ shī jiě ． nǐ jiù bié mài guān zi ， jiū ： jìng } yuē wǒ chū lái ， yǒu hé yào shì ？” lǜ sè shào nǚ xiù méi yī tiāo ． shí fēn bù mǎn de dào 。
“师姐．你就别卖关子，究：竞}约我出来，有何要事？”绿色少女秀眉一挑．十分不满的道。
The two women quickly used their lightness techniques and hurried off.
“ hǎo ba ， yuán běn hái xiǎng gěi nǐ yí gè jīng xǐ 。” hóng yī shào nǚ tàn le kǒu qì ：“ nà jiù
“好吧，原本还想给你一个惊喜。”红衣少女叹了口气：“那就
That ginseng plant had been there for some time but hadn't been discovered by other cultivators of Stone Tiger Academy. The location was naturally well hidden, taking them nearly half an hour to reach the spot.
xiàn zài gào sù nǐ ， shī mèi ， wǒ fā xiàn le yī zhū rén shēn ．”
现在告诉你，师妹，我发现了一株人参．”
Jungle vines were everywhere here, but as cultivators, they could navigate such treacherous terrain with ease. Otherwise, even mortal martial artists would find it difficult.
“ rén shēn ？” lǜ yī shào nǚ tīng le ， biǎo qíng mǎn shì jīng è ：“ shī jiě ， nǐ kāi shén me wán
“人参？”绿衣少女听了，表情满是惊愕：“师姐，你开什么玩
"Junior Sister, we've arrived. See that rock? That's where the ginseng is growing," the woman in red stopped and pointed excitedly.
xiào ， rén shēn yǒu shén me liǎo bù qǐ ， shì sú jiān de yào diàn dōu néng mǎi dào ， jiù wèi zhè ge ， nǐ ràng wǒ dān
笑，人参有什么了不起，世俗间的药店都能买到，就为这个，你让我耽
"Yes, there’s a cave nearby; that must be the one-horned python snake's lair." The green-robed girl nodded, but her expression was tense. The aura of the monster was stronger than expected—had it already started to advance?
wù zǎo kè ． nǐ kě zhī dào ， duì yú wǒ men rú mén xiū xiān zhě ， měi tiān dú shū péi yǎng hào rán zhī qì hěn zhòng
误早课．你可知道，对于我们儒门修仙者，每天读书培养浩然之气很重
This wasn't good!
yào de 。”
要的。”
But with such valuable treasure in sight, they had no choice but to proceed. They exchanged glances and took out their spiritual artifacts.
“ nǐ zhè yā tou hái shì zhè xīn ，‘ jí ， shī jiě méi shì gàn má xiāo qiǎn nǐ 。” hóng yī shào nǚ tīng
“你这丫头还是这心，‘急，师姐没事干嘛消遣你。”红衣少女听
A sword and an jade ruler appeared, but from the energy fluctuations, they were merely low-grade items. This was not unusual; a low-ranking cultivator could usually earn only a few crystal stones after a year of effort. Even such a low-grade artifact often cost them decades of savings.
le bào yuàn ， liǎn shàng yě liú lù chū le jǐ fēn bù mǎn ：“ pǔ tōng rén shēn zì rán háo bù xī qí dàn rú guǒ
了抱怨，脸上也流露出了几分不满：“普通人参自然毫不稀奇但如果
As the saying goes, "A nobleman's home is filled with fine food and wine, while the poor freeze to death on the streets." The disparity in wealth was just as stark in the cultivation world.
yǒu gè liù qī bǎi nián de cān líng ne ？”
有个六七百年的参龄呢？”
The two women focused intently, reciting incantations. Suddenly, a strange phenomenon occurred.
‘ liù qī bǎi nián ？” lǜ yī shào nǚ tīng le ， dùn shí zhuǎn chēn wéi xǐ “ hǎo jiě jiě ， shì wǒ wù huì
‘六七百年？”绿衣少女听了，顿时转嗔为喜“好姐姐，是我误会
From about seven or eight meters above their heads, a rumbling sound akin to thunder but also like galloping horses echoed. Above them, an intricate array appeared out of nowhere, followed by gusts of wind and numerous bolts of lightning, setting trees ablaze with its immense power.
fèn le ， liù qī bǎi nián de rén shēn ， nà kě néng mài bù shǎo jīng shí 。”
奋了，六七百年的人参，那可能卖不少晶石。”
"What is this?" The two women were stunned as the lightning approached; they quickly retreated, using their spiritual artifacts to protect themselves.
‘ jiù shì 。”
‘就是。”
Fortunately, the strange phenomenon didn't last long and soon vanished. A white light flashed, revealing a person from within the array.
“ zhǐ shì shī jiě nǐ wèi hé zì jǐ bù zhāi ne jiāng xiǎo mèi jiào lái yuè ， kě shì yǒu shén me nán chǔ ？”
“只是师姐你为何自己不摘呢将小妹叫来粤，可是有什么难处？”
The youth had an ordinary appearance but was covered by at least three layers of protective barriers, each thick and shimmering, making it impossible to look directly at him.
lǜ yī shào nǚ yǎn zhū yī zhuǎn gū ， yǒu yí de kāi kǒu le 。
绿衣少女眼珠一转轱，有疑的开口了。
Though low-ranking cultivators, the two women weren’t inexperienced. This young man’s display suggested he wasn't just any low-rank cultivator.
“ ń ， nǐ zhè yā tou hái shì nà me cōng míng ． yī cāi jiù zhōng 。 zài nà rén shēn páng biān yǒu yī kàn
“嗯，你这丫头还是那么聪明．一猜就中。在那人参旁边有一看
With a mental probe, they were even more alarmed; his depth was unfathomable, and no one—not even the head of Stone Tiger Academy—could match this terrifying presence.
hù de yāo shòu ” hóng yī shào nǚ tàn le kǒu qì ， xú xú de kāi kǒu ：“ shì yī dú jiǎo mǎng shé 。”
护的妖兽”红衣少女叹了口气，徐徐的开口：“是一独角蟒蛇。”
So, could he be at the late Condensation Core stage?
“ dú jiǎo mǎng shé ？” lǜ yī shào nǚ dùn shí wèi zhī sè biàn le ：“‘ nà kě shì yī jiē shàng pǐn yāo
“独角蟒蛇？”绿衣少女顿时为之色变了：“‘那可是一阶上品妖
Excitement flashed in their eyes but quickly turned to unease. Such an opportunity was rare; whether it brought fortune or misfortune remained uncertain.
shòu 。”
兽。”
The youth’s expression had been serious until he emerged from the array, visibly relieved and letting out a sigh of relief. He then waved his sleeves, making the protective barriers vanish, and the double rings in his hands retracted into his sleeves. Finally, he looked around before landing on them.
“ dān xīn shén me ， zhè yàng de yāo shòu ， ruò shì dān dǎ dú dòu }， wǒ men zì rán bú shì duì shǒu ． dàn
“担心什么，这样的妖兽，若是单打独斗}，我们自然不是对手．但
"Two ladies, where are we?" he asked slowly.
Fortunately, this place was already in a remote area with little interaction with the outside world. Thus, despite being a small sect, Stone Tiger Academy lived a peaceful and carefree life.
Originally, the Confucian lineage rarely admitted female disciples. However, there weren't many people around, let alone those with spirit roots. To ensure the sect's survival, this rule had been broken over the past millennium, splitting into upper and lower academies.
The lower academy now housed several hundred female disciples, with their head being a cultivator at the Condensation Core stage.
Seven-star Island was indeed different; Stone Tiger Academy was merely a fourth or fifth-rate small sect. In terms of strength, it was on par with second-tier sects in Youzhou's cultivation world.
"Senior Sister, this is early morning practice time. Why are you pulling me out?" A young woman called out from the forest, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Junior Sister, we've known each other for so long; when has your senior ever wronged you to let you out for something good?" Another voice responded, sounding more composed and slightly older.
"But if I don't do morning practice, Master will punish me by making me face the wall for half a month," the first woman complained. The mention of facing the wall brought a hint of fear in her tone.
They were on the back mountain of Stone Tiger Academy, two women dressed in long robes walking slowly along a forest path. They were around twenty years old, one with a slender figure and wearing a red robe, while the other was shorter and wore a green one.
"Senior Sister, stop teasing me. What's the real reason you brought me out?" The green-robed girl raised her eyebrows in annoyance.
"Well, I wanted to give you a surprise," sighed the woman in red. "But now, Junior Sister, I found a ginseng plant."
"Ginseng?" The green-robed girl was shocked. "Senior Sister, are you joking? Ginseng is just common; it can be bought from pharmacies in the mortal world. Why did you make me miss morning practice for this?"
"For someone so young and impatient, Senior Sister has nothing to tease you about," the woman in red replied with a hint of displeasure at her complaint. "Ordinary ginseng isn't rare, but what if it's over six or seven hundred years old?"
"Six or seven hundred years?" The green-robed girl was suddenly delighted. "Senior Sister, I misunderstood you. Ginseng that old could fetch many crystal stones."
"Yes," the woman in red agreed. "Now, come with me; there’s a protective beast near it—a one-horned python snake."
"One-horned python snake?" The green-robed girl's expression changed to alarm. "That's a first-grade upper-tier monster."
"Don't worry, such beasts are no match for us in a one-on-one fight," the woman in red reassured her. "But with our combined strength, we can easily defeat it."
"Right, that makes sense." The green-robed girl nodded, her anxiety dissipating. For low-ranking cultivators like them, daily expenses were tight. Selling such a precious spirit herb could bring substantial rewards.
Thus, missing morning practice was not a big deal.
The two women quickly used their lightness techniques and hurried off.
That ginseng plant had been there for some time but hadn't been discovered by other cultivators of Stone Tiger Academy. The location was naturally well hidden, taking them nearly half an hour to reach the spot.
Jungle vines were everywhere here, but as cultivators, they could navigate such treacherous terrain with ease. Otherwise, even mortal martial artists would find it difficult.
"Junior Sister, we've arrived. See that rock? That's where the ginseng is growing," the woman in red stopped and pointed excitedly.
"Yes, there’s a cave nearby; that must be the one-horned python snake's lair." The green-robed girl nodded, but her expression was tense. The aura of the monster was stronger than expected—had it already started to advance?
This wasn't good!
But with such valuable treasure in sight, they had no choice but to proceed. They exchanged glances and took out their spiritual artifacts.
A sword and an jade ruler appeared, but from the energy fluctuations, they were merely low-grade items. This was not unusual; a low-ranking cultivator could usually earn only a few crystal stones after a year of effort. Even such a low-grade artifact often cost them decades of savings.
As the saying goes, "A nobleman's home is filled with fine food and wine, while the poor freeze to death on the streets." The disparity in wealth was just as stark in the cultivation world.
The two women focused intently, reciting incantations. Suddenly, a strange phenomenon occurred.
From about seven or eight meters above their heads, a rumbling sound akin to thunder but also like galloping horses echoed. Above them, an intricate array appeared out of nowhere, followed by gusts of wind and numerous bolts of lightning, setting trees ablaze with its immense power.
"What is this?" The two women were stunned as the lightning approached; they quickly retreated, using their spiritual artifacts to protect themselves.
Fortunately, the strange phenomenon didn't last long and soon vanished. A white light flashed, revealing a person from within the array.
The youth had an ordinary appearance but was covered by at least three layers of protective barriers, each thick and shimmering, making it impossible to look directly at him.
Though low-ranking cultivators, the two women weren’t inexperienced. This young man’s display suggested he wasn't just any low-rank cultivator.
With a mental probe, they were even more alarmed; his depth was unfathomable, and no one—not even the head of Stone Tiger Academy—could match this terrifying presence.
So, could he be at the late Condensation Core stage?
Excitement flashed in their eyes but quickly turned to unease. Such an opportunity was rare; whether it brought fortune or misfortune remained uncertain.
The youth’s expression had been serious until he emerged from the array, visibly relieved and letting out a sigh of relief. He then waved his sleeves, making the protective barriers vanish, and the double rings in his hands retracted into his sleeves. Finally, he looked around before landing on them.
"Two ladies, where are we?" he asked slowly.