From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 268 A New Chapter in the Immortal Sect: Xiao Yao Deals with Internal Affairs

When I returned to the Immortal Sect, a strange atmosphere that was hard to describe filled the air.

The familiar palaces and pavilions now seemed shrouded in a thin mist, creating a sense of oppression.

The disciples passing by no longer greeted me as enthusiastically as before. Instead, they lowered their voices, whispered among themselves, and looked at me with a hint of inquiry and distance.

Their gazes were like fine needles, pricking my back until it went numb.

I quickened my pace, wanting only to get back to my place as soon as possible.

However, this short journey felt incredibly long, filled with a cacophony of voices that buzzed around me like countless flies, making me feel restless and irritable.

Finally, I pushed open the door. The room was furnished as usual, but the bright red letter on the table was particularly glaring.

The stamp on the envelope is like a silent declaration, foreshadowing some impending change.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the unease in my heart.

I reached out and picked up the letter. My fingertips touched the rough texture of the envelope, and an ominous premonition welled up in my heart.

Upon opening the envelope, I found only a few words inside. There was no affirmation of my successful alliance, nor any reward. It simply instructed me to go to the back mountain the next day to handle some trivial matters.

My heart sank to the bottom, and my chest was filled with indescribable disappointment.

For the sake of the Immortal Sect, I risked my life and worked tirelessly. In the eyes of those elders, am I just a tool that can be used at will?

Was everything I did meaningless?

A strong sense of grievance welled up in my heart, making it hard for me to breathe.

I gripped the letter tightly in my hand, my knuckles turning white from the force.

Everything around seemed to blur, only the resentment and anger in my heart burned fiercely like wildfire.

I forced myself to calm down and looked around. The disciples' gazes were still filled with doubt and scrutiny, no longer admiration, but rather a hint of suspicion and...

Disdain?

I gritted my teeth and forced down my anger.

I will not give in, and I will never let those who look down on me succeed.

"Xiao Yao, you've arrived. The elders sent me to deliver a message..."

A sarcastic voice came from outside the door. I looked up and saw that it was a disciple in charge of logistics. His eyes were gleaming and there was a mocking smile on his lips.

I coldly interrupted him, "No need, I know where to go." With that, I pushed open the door and left, leaving him standing there in astonishment.

As I walked along the path leading to the back mountain, I keenly caught the hushed whispers of the disciples around me, as sinister as a viper's hiss and as bothersome as the buzzing of mosquitoes.

"Look, that's Xiao Yao. I heard she didn't actually contribute much to this alliance." A shrill female voice entered my ears, as piercing as fingernails scratching a blackboard.

"That's right. I heard she was just lucky and happened to meet a benefactor who helped her," another male voice chimed in, his tone full of disdain.

"Hmph, how could a useless person without spiritual roots receive so many rewards? I think she must have used some underhanded methods."

These words pierced my heart like sharp blades, leaving me feeling suffocated.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug deep into my flesh, but I felt no pain whatsoever.

I tried to control my anger and quickened my pace, wanting only to escape this disgusting place as soon as possible.

However, those rumors clung to me like maggots, impossible to shake off.

I felt as if I were in a huge swamp, and the more I struggled, the deeper I sank.

The air around me grew thinner and thinner, making it hard for me to breathe.

Upon arriving at the back mountain, I discovered that the so-called "trivial matters" were actually rough and tiring work such as tidying up the medicinal herb fields and cleaning the spirit beast enclosures.

The pungent smell of herbs mixed with the stench of animal feces made me feel nauseous.

I looked around and saw overgrown weeds and mountains of animal droppings that emitted a nauseating stench.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.

I understand that the elders are deliberately making things difficult for me, trying to suppress my arrogance.

My heart sank, and a sense of powerlessness welled up inside me.

Back at my residence, I found that the cultivation resources allocated to me were still pitifully scarce.

A few low-grade spirit stones and a few bottles of ordinary pills—compared to the treatment of other disciples, it was a world of difference.

Looking at the few dull spirit stones in my hand, my heart was filled with bitterness.

“Senior Sister Xiao Yao, this is…” A timid voice came from outside the door.

I looked up and saw a gentle breeze.

He was carrying a tray with some fresh spiritual fruits and a pot of spiritual tea on it.

“This is…” I looked at him with some confusion.

He placed the tray on the table and said softly, "This is a small token of my appreciation. Please don't find it offensive, Senior Sister."

I looked at him, feeling mixed emotions.

In this cold and indifferent immortal sect, there was actually someone willing to lend me a helping hand, which made me feel a little warm.

"Thank you, Qingfeng." I forced back the tears welling up in my eyes and gave him a grateful smile.

As night fell, I sat cross-legged on the bed, diligently circulating the spiritual energy within my body.

However, the spiritual energy around me was pitifully thin, and my cultivation progress was so slow it was despairing.

I opened my eyes and looked at the dark night sky outside the window, my heart filled with confusion.

Where should I go from here?

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Senior Sister Xiao Yao, the elders request your presence in the council hall." A cold voice rang out...

Hearing the cold voice coming from outside the door, I felt a chill run down my spine, knowing that this was the calm before the storm.

Without hesitation, I got up, straightened my clothes, and pushed open the door.

The disciple who delivered the message was surprised to see me so calm, but he quickly regained his indifferent expression and turned to lead the way.

The atmosphere inside the council chamber was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The elders sat in high positions, each with an expressionless face and eyes filled with scrutiny and disdain.

As I walked into the hall, I felt those gazes like invisible swords, making me feel uncomfortable all over.

I didn't argue as they expected, nor did I complain. I simply walked silently to the side and waited for their lecture.

“Xiao Yao, although you have made some contributions to this alliance, the internal affairs of the Immortal Sect are complicated and need someone to take charge.” The leader, True Monarch Ziyang, spoke first, his voice deep and authoritative. “You will be in charge of the affairs of the back mountain.” His tone left no room for doubt, as if he were announcing a given fact.

I neither refuted nor argued, but simply nodded slightly to indicate that I understood.

This surprised the elders present. They whispered among themselves, perhaps thinking that I would argue my case and make a scene as I had done before.

I sneered inwardly. I was no longer that impulsive girl who had just entered the immortal sect.

I understand that only by proving myself with my abilities can I gain their true recognition.

In the days that followed, I quietly took on the mundane tasks at the back of the mountain.

I didn't complain about these grueling tasks; instead, I completed each one meticulously.

While tending to the medicinal herb field, I discovered that many herbs had withered due to poor management; while cleaning the spirit beast enclosures, I noticed that many spirit beasts were weak and sickly due to improper feeding.

I recorded all these details and began to make improvements.

Using my experience from my previous life, I planned the medicinal herb field rationally, adjusted the planting methods according to the habits of the herbs, and formulated feed suitable for spirit beasts.

Through my efforts, the herbs came back to life, and the spirit beast regained its vitality.

I compiled my improvement plan into a booklet and submitted it to the council of elders.

At first, they didn't take it seriously, thinking I was just trying to attract attention. But when I explained the reasons behind it all and showed them the changes in the herb fields and spirit beast enclosures, the elders began to look at me with new respect.

The once indifferent disciples of the immortal sects began to change their opinion of me. They stopped whispering and looked at me with a hint of respect and curiosity.

I felt the atmosphere around me gradually ease, and the air was no longer as stuffy as before.

A glimmer of hope ignited in my heart.

"Xiao Yao, the elders request your presence in the council hall." Qingfeng stood at the door, his tone tinged with joy.

I stood up, feeling my blood boiling, and looked at the brightly lit council chamber behind him.

The atmosphere inside the council chamber was completely different from last time.

A faint sandalwood scent filled the air, and warm sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, casting a golden glow on the ground.

The elders' expressions were no longer as indifferent as before, but rather carried a hint of appreciation and expectation.

Ziyang Zhenjun put down the booklet in his hand and looked at me. "Xiao Yao, the Elders' Council has discussed your proposal and decided to partially adopt it." Although his tone was still dignified, it was less cold and hard than before and more gentle.

I nodded slightly, my heart not feeling particularly stirred. I knew this was just the first step.

In the days that followed, I began to participate in some important affairs within the Immortal Sect.

From planting medicinal herbs to breeding spirit beasts, from assessing disciples to allocating resources, I can offer constructive suggestions.

The elders also valued my ideas more and more, and my suggestions were often adopted.

I felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment; the atmosphere of glory enveloped me like warm sunshine.

As I walked along the path of the immortal sect, the disciples no longer cast inquiring or disdainful glances my way, but instead looked at me with admiration and respect.

Their greetings became sincere and warm, no longer as perfunctory as before.

I enjoy this feeling of being recognized, as if I'm floating on clouds, light and airy, yet incredibly grounded.

However, I was not blinded by this sudden honor.

I keenly sensed that within the Immortal Sect, there was a force opposing me.

Their eyes held a hint of barely perceptible hostility, and their words were often laced with sarcastic sarcasm.

Once, I was checking the harvest in the herb garden when I suddenly heard a series of light footsteps behind me.

I looked back and found no one there.

A chill ran through me, and a coldness rose from the soles of my feet.

"Senior Sister Xiao Yao, you're here." A familiar voice broke the silence.

I turned my head and saw Qingfeng, holding a pot of spiritual tea in his hand, with a gentle smile on his face.

"Qingfeng, what brings you here?" I suppressed my unease and tried my best to appear calm.

He handed me the spiritual tea, saying, "I saw that you've been working hard, so I specially brewed a pot of spiritual tea to help you relax."

I took the teacup, and a delicate fragrance wafted up, refreshing and delightful.

I took a small sip and felt a warm current flow through my body, which also relieved a lot of my fatigue.

"Senior sister, please be extra careful lately." He suddenly lowered his voice, a hint of worry in his eyes.

My heart sank, but I asked calmly, "What's wrong?"

He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I heard..." He suddenly stopped, looked behind me, and his expression changed slightly.

"Senior Brother Moyun," he said softly.

I followed his gaze and saw Mo Yun slowly walking towards me, a meaningful smile on his face...