I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 76

The Courage of a Single Battle

Later, Bai Roushuang occasionally crossed paths with this so-called Thirty-Third Young Master. Amused by his behavior, she couldn’t help but complain to her senior sister, "I’ve heard of people like this in the mortal world. I suppose he’s the cultivation world’s version of a spoiled young noble."

Xu Shulou shook her head. "There are no noble families in the cultivation world."

Bai Roushuang paused, recalling that since she had entered the cultivation world, she had indeed never heard of any prominent clans. Curious, she asked, "Why not?"

"To form a noble family, a crucial factor is a flourishing lineage," Xu Shulou explained with a smile. "But the cultivation world isn’t fond of multiple wives and concubines."

Bai Roushuang immediately understood. In the cultivation world, almost everyone pursued the Dao and immortality, striving to ascend. Cultivation partners were nothing like mortal couples—sometimes, they wouldn’t see each other for decades due to secluded cultivation. It was also rare for female cultivators to be eager to bear child after child. Moreover, strength in the cultivation world wasn’t determined by gender, which meant most male cultivators couldn’t possibly maintain harems like mortal men.

Of course, there were still those with lustful tendencies who took mortal women as concubines to enjoy the pleasures of multiple partners. This did result in more offspring, but to establish a true noble family, one needed corresponding power. The children of cultivators and mortals only had a fifty percent chance of stepping onto the path of cultivation. To think such a method could build a stable and influential family was simply underestimating the cultivation world.

"I hadn’t thought it through," Bai Roushuang admitted with a light laugh. The cultivation world was truly a wondrous place. Even after all this time, she still found herself constantly amazed by it.

Xu Shulou lounged on the grass, flipping through a history book of the cultivation world, and lazily glanced at her junior sister. "By the way, I feel like it’s been over half a month since I last saw your Fifth and Sixth Senior Brothers."

"Same here," Bai Roushuang nodded. "One’s studying talisman techniques, and the other’s immersed in alchemy. Both are the type to bury themselves in their studies for days or even months."

Xu Shulou chuckled. Her junior brothers and sisters seemed determined to squeeze every bit of knowledge they could from Xuan Cang Academy during their short years of study, each branching out to absorb expertise in different fields.

Bai Roushuang demonstrated her increasingly refined water manipulation technique, shaping droplets into a lifelike rabbit with meticulously detailed fur. As she did, she mused, "Cooking will be so much easier now—no need to prepare water. I can just conjure it. It’s really convenient."

Xu Shulou smiled again. Others might think Bai Roushuang lacked ambition, but Xu Shulou knew cooking was merely a hobby for her junior sister. She didn’t need to feed anyone or use culinary skills to curry favor—she simply enjoyed the process, finding peace in creating delicious food.

Mention of cooking immediately stirred Xu Shulou’s appetite. "Shall we head to the dining hall later?"

"Sure," Bai Roushuang agreed readily. Xuan Cang Academy provided meals for students who hadn’t yet achieved fasting through cultivation. The chefs were puppet servants, following recipes precisely. While the dishes lacked creativity, the flavors were at least reliable.

The only slight disappointment was the limited selection of light, bland dishes.

Xu Shulou adapted well, but Bai Roushuang had a feeling it was only a matter of time before she dragged everyone into a barbecue or hotpot feast.

That day, the two entered the dining hall. Xu Shulou ordered a bowl of green broth, stir-fried wild rice stems with asparagus, a serving of jade-like rice, and a plate of sliced crisp pears for dessert.

As they carried their trays, a familiar classmate waved them over to join.

Human nature leaned toward forming cliques, and the dining hall inadvertently revealed hints of background that Xuan Cang Academy’s rules forbade inquiring about. Some students believed those who frequented the dining hall were undoubtedly of mortal origins, while cultivators from cultivation backgrounds, even if not yet fasting, preferred fasting pills. This division even spawned two factions, occasionally clashing and making some too self-conscious to eat in the dining hall.

Xu Shulou paid no mind to such matters, steadfastly collecting her meals every day.

Seated by the window, she listened as classmates discussed a new guest lecturer arriving at the academy.

"Who is it?"

"I only heard he’s a young, handsome male cultivator."

"You don’t know?" A female cultivator laughed. "I have inside information."

"Stop teasing and just tell us!" someone urged impatiently.

"He’s the current top-ranked genius on the Azure Sky Prodigy List!"

"Wow, impressive," someone said admiringly. "I’ve heard of this top-ranked genius for so long—finally, I’ll get to see him!"

"Not only is he from a prestigious background, but he’s also said to be exceptionally handsome and dignified!"

"And so accomplished for his age! At the Azure Sky Martial Assembly, his sword alone overwhelmed all challengers," another gushed, resting her chin in her hands. "I wish I were that strong."

Her friend teased, "If you were, you wouldn’t be sitting here as a student."

Noticing Xu Shulou’s silence, someone gently tugged her sleeve. "Xiao Yi, why aren’t you saying anything?"

The so-called "Xiao Yi"—Xu Shulou—had no idea who this top-ranked genius was but played along with a smile. "The top-ranked prodigy sounds incredible. I can’t wait to hear his teachings."

Bai Roushuang shot her a strange look, hesitating as if wanting to say something.

Someone chuckled, "Xiao Yi, your tone makes it sound like you’ve never heard of him before. You must be from the mortal world, right?"

"What’s wrong with being from the mortal world?" another retorted. "Aren’t all of us here in the dining hall from there? Don’t start looking down on mortal origins like those high-and-mighty types."

The first speaker hurriedly clarified, "That’s not what I meant!"

Xu Shulou smiled. "I am indeed from the mortal world. There’s no shame in admitting it."

Her classmates shook their heads. "Xiao Yi, you’re just too good-natured."

Bai Roushuang choked on her lily and lotus seed soup.

After lunch, as everyone dispersed, Bai Roushuang finally sidled up to her senior sister and said meaningfully, "Senior Sister, have you heard of the Azure Sky Prodigy List?"

Xu Shulou nodded. "Of course. It’s a ranking updated every century, featuring cultivators under three hundred years old."

Bai Roushuang sighed. "Do you know when the last competition was held?"

"No."

"It was during your five-year seclusion," Bai Roushuang said, looking regretful. "I wanted to call you out, but Master said it wasn’t worth interrupting you for something like this."

Xu Shulou smiled. "I really wasn’t that interested. Missing it isn’t a big deal."

Bai Roushuang propped her chin on her hand. "Senior Sister, if you had participated, where do you think you would’ve ranked?"

"Hard to say. The cultivation world is full of talent," Xu Shulou mused. "I’d guess… maybe top ten?"

"No. You would’ve been first."

"How do you know?" Xu Shulou laughed.

Bai Roushuang sighed. "Do you know who the current top-ranked genius is?"

"No."

Bai Roushuang looked at her and enunciated each word clearly, "The current top-ranked on the Qingyun Heavenly Prides List is none other than the chief disciple of the Lingxiao Sect—Lu Beichen."

Him? Xu Shulou was momentarily stunned, recalling her classmates' earlier remarks, and couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise.

Back when she had that dream, the Lu Beichen in it always gave her a sense of dissonance. After all, in reality, he had always been her defeated opponent. Watching him tread an invincible path in the dream felt utterly unreal.

Only now did she realize—was Lu Beichen truly such an impressive figure in the eyes of others?

Xu Shulou couldn’t help but sigh, "So the strength of those on the Heavenly Prides List is just… this mediocre?"

Bai Roushuang laughed, "It’s only mediocre in your eyes. To reach such cultivation levels before the age of three hundred—everyone on that list is hailed as the future of the cultivation world."

Xu Shulou shrugged and offered no further comment.

———

On the day Lu Beichen arrived, many students gathered at the mountain gate, eager to catch a glimpse of the top-ranked prodigy on the Qingyun Heavenly Prides List.

Lu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍Beichen did not disappoint. His appearance was undeniably striking—tall, handsome, and dignified, clad in pristine white robes as he descended gracefully from his sword mid-air, his wide sleeves billowing like an immortal descending from the heavens.

Xu Shulou, squeezed among the crowd, overheard gasps of admiration around her.

Lu Beichen greeted everyone with a smile before heading to the main hall to deliver his lecture. As a guest instructor, he wouldn’t be staying long—just dropping by occasionally to share his insights on cultivation, bolstering his reputation and credentials.

Xu Shulou chose a seat in the corner, but Lu Beichen, sweeping his triumphant gaze across the room, still spotted her.

Their eyes met, and Lu Beichen felt a pang of awkwardness. How was he supposed to pontificate about his cultivation epiphanies in front of someone who had always bested him?

He took a deep breath, avoiding that corner, and drew courage from the adoring eyes of the other students as he began his lecture.

Xu Shulou listened attentively. To be fair, Lu Beichen spoke well—clearly having prepared in advance. His delivery was engaging and humorous, and by the end of the session, she could see the reverence in the students' eyes deepen further.

When the lecture concluded, he seemed about to approach Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang, but a swarm of students intercepted him with questions—mostly about the Qingyun Heavenly Prides List. He patiently answered each one without a trace of impatience.

Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang left the hall and exchanged a glance at the entrance, both feeling the situation somewhat surreal.

Bai Roushuang hesitated before speaking, "Senior Sister, with your skills… you really don’t need to be a student here."

"But I still feel there’s so much more to learn," Xu Shulou mused, rubbing her chin. "Knowledge knows no bounds, after all."

The two headed straight to the dining hall for a meal. During the afternoon swordsmanship class, Xu Shulou entered the room and found Lu Beichen there as well.

Of course—this was the top-ranked prodigy famed for "a single sword subduing all rivals." It wasn’t surprising for him to teach a swordsmanship lesson.

With effortless grace, he demonstrated a few sword techniques for the students, who then eagerly asked if they could spar with him.

Just as Lu Beichen was about to agree, a student chimed in, "Number One-Twenty-One is the best among us in swordsmanship. Why not try a match with her?"

The best among them? Lu Beichen didn’t even need to check the number tags—his gaze went straight to Xu Shulou, sweeping over the wooden plaque at her waist. Indeed.

He smiled. "I’ll hold off on sparring today. Let’s focus on theory for now."

Xu Shulou didn’t contradict him. She had no interest in humiliating someone publicly.

A sudden nostalgia washed over her—she missed the Lu Beichen who used to challenge her to fights back in the day. Though he’d been brimming with reckless audacity, at least back then… he’d still had the courage to face her in battle.