Chapter 28: The Whisper of Shadows

“Ying Aunt, are you hurt?” Not long ago, the system had mentioned Wen Ying’s condition, but she hadn’t expected it to be this severe.

“It’s nothing. Aunt just encountered some trouble and needs to go into seclusion.” Even though her aura was icy cold, her gaze toward Ji Jiuxuan remained gentle, and she even lowered her voice in concern that Ji might be frightened.

Knowing Wen Ying wouldn’t explain further, Ji Jiuxuan could only nod obediently in the end. “Don’t worry, Aunt. Ah Jiu will wait patiently for you to come out. You must return soon!”

“Alright, Aunt will definitely be back soon.”

Finally, Wen Ying glanced at the ring on Ji Jiuxuan’s hand, her eyes calm yet filled with expectation. “Then Aunt will go now.”

The moment Ji Jiuxuan nodded, Wen Ying departed—so quietly that it seemed as if she had vanished into thin air.

Gazing at the empty courtyard, Ji Jiuxuan suddenly felt a pang of loneliness. In her previous life, she was always alone, but now, unexpectedly, she found herself unaccustomed to solitude.

“System, do you think Wen Ying is in danger?” Her aura was so chaotic that she had to go into seclusion to suppress it. Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t help but worry.

No one in this world was as close to her as Wen Ying. Everyone treated her well, but it had been Wen Ying who raised her from the moment she arrived—still a tiny baby in a crib—until she set foot on the path of cultivation.

“Judging by the situation, she should be safe for a few years. If you work hard, perhaps you’ll be able to save her then,” replied the system, its cold mechanical voice accommodating.

Ji Jiuxuan wished she could slap her own hand. What luck—how did she draw a time-limited setting? With cultivation like this, even wanting to work hard left no time for effort.

“System, does meditating to absorb spiritual energy count toward cultivation time?” Due to her cultivation method, her spiritual power increased naturally, without needing to meditate or practice.

Recently, she had convinced the system that her time spent in the study hall was merely rest, so meditating and absorbing spiritual energy shouldn't matter. Now she wanted to test whether ordinary meditation for spiritual absorption would increase her progress.

“It counts.” The system seemed to sense her intentions and reminded her, “Host, your natural absorption of spiritual energy is as fast as normal cultivation methods. You should use your time for other pursuits, broaden your horizons, and develop interests.”

“The Health Growth Protection System exists so the host can grow with body and mind in harmony. Children ought to do what children do.”

Ji Jiuxuan felt as though she couldn’t swallow the words, uncomfortable and frustrated. “I’m not a child. My soul is already grown.”

“Memories fade swiftly. Host, you should forget your previous life. In this world, you are a child.”

Such Zen-like words left Ji Jiuxuan speechless. “But don’t children in this world strive hard in cultivation? I can follow their standard too.”

She thought this would fool the system, but this time the system seemed smarter and refused to be deceived. “This system comes from the modern era. Children’s standards are measured by modern criteria. Caring for children’s health is a grave responsibility. To prevent the host from becoming obsessively competitive and extreme, please follow the system’s guidelines carefully.”

Ji Jiuxuan sat cross-legged on her bed, resigned. “You mean to say that many children here develop personality disorders from excessive competition?”

Her two junior uncles seemed fine to her. Except for Ji Yue and Yu Heng, everyone she met appeared quite normal!

Where did all these troubled children come from? If such children grew up, wouldn’t society fall into chaos?

“Yes. Survival of the fittest. Those who become twisted are eliminated; more succumb to demonic influences and fail the trial of Heaven’s Way.”

The system, unusually verbose today, educated Ji Jiuxuan about various cases of personality distortion and disaster in this world. In the end, Ji Jiuxuan concluded that the system was like an anxious parent—worried their child might grow crooked, but also concerned about their future.

Unable to win the argument, Ji Jiuxuan could only lie down in frustration.

Fine, rest when it’s time to rest, tense up when it’s time to focus, relax when it’s time to unwind. This way, one won’t be worn out.

There were so many books in Master’s collection; someday she would research how to maximize her situation and achieve the strongest cultivation possible.

Soon, Ji Jiuxuan drifted into a deep sleep.

The moon sank into night, and all was silent. Ji Jiuxuan’s ring glowed once more. That familiar apparition appeared by her bedside as usual, but this time he stood there, puzzled and grave, gazing in the direction where Wen Ying had gone into seclusion.

After a long time, the apparition looked at Ji Jiuxuan, his eyes filled with confusion and sorrow.

His fingers gently brushed her cheek. Being an apparition, he merely grazed her; not even the air stirred at his touch.

His indistinct face, lips parted, murmured softly as if whispering, “Don’t be sad.”

That night, Ji Jiuxuan slept especially soundly, only waking when the sun hung high in the sky.

Surveying her surroundings with a puzzled look, Ji Jiuxuan sensed a familiar aura lingering here, as if it were an illusion, unreal and elusive.

Stretching lazily, she dressed herself, performed a cleansing spell, and opened the door to step outside.

A difficult day is a day, a happy day is a day; high-pressure study is a day, high-efficiency study is a day.

After a night’s rest, Ji Jiuxuan had completely sorted out her thoughts. She resolved to strive for efficiency and ease every day in her studies.

Yesterday, her junior uncle had told her to visit the library today.

In fact, every new disciple was granted a chance to enter the library and choose a cultivation method after channeling spiritual energy into their bodies, but only from the lowest level; higher-level techniques could only be obtained as rewards in sect competitions or exchanged for points.

Previously, her maternal grandfather and others had helped her choose a method, so she’d never been to the library.

The entrance to the library was situated at the center of the main peaks.

Ji Jiuxuan had expected to see a tall building, but was surprised to find a mountain valley, where many disciples queued with identity tokens.

Dismounting her moon-white rabbit, Ji Jiuxuan peered curiously ahead. In the center of the valley stood a massive gate, its surface radiating powerful spiritual energy. At the heart of the gate, a giant plaque bore the words “Library Pavilion” in elegant script.

At the front of the line, two young men placed each person's identity token on a golden artifact, which displayed their information and entry rights.

Not far from them, an elderly man with white hair and beard sat in a rocking chair, eyes closed as if deeply asleep.

It was another scene that filled Ji Jiuxuan with wonder.

Though the queue was long, it moved swiftly. Ji Jiuxuan, like everyone else, handed over her identity token.

The disciple receiving her token glanced at her in surprise. When the token was placed on the artifact, he walked straight to the old man, bent down, and whispered something.

The old man opened his eyes and looked at Ji Jiuxuan at the front of the line. He nodded, handed a red jade tablet to the disciple.

Ji Jiuxuan took it, and instantly, the crowd around her erupted in excitement.