I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script

The Joyous Sect was brimming with spiritual energy. After only a few hours of sleep, Xu Shulou awoke feeling refreshed and invigorated. She casually draped her feathered robe over her shoulders and pushed open the door.

Bai Roushuang was crouched in a corner of the courtyard, fiddling with something. Xu Shulou approached and found her staring at a cluster of multicolored centipedes scattered across the ground.

Their iridescent shells shimmered under the morning sun.

Bai Roushuang covered one eye, trying to admire their vibrant hues while ignoring their countless legs. "It's like the most beautiful and the most disgusting things in the world fused together," she muttered.

Xu Shulou chuckled, grabbing the back of her collar and lifting her to her feet. "Had breakfast yet?"

"No," Bai Roushuang patted her robes. "I asked around earlier. The Joyous Sect members live on wind and dew—they don’t have a habit of eating breakfast."

"Wind and dew?"

"That’s my summary," Bai Roushuang stuck out her tongue. "They drink honey. Someone just gave me a cup, but I didn’t have the heart to say I’d rather have a meat bun."

"Our hospitality has been lacking," a young maiden approached gracefully, having overheard their conversation. She bowed apologetically. "Forgive us. In the Joyous Sect, only mortals need to eat. The rest of us are accustomed to morning honey and evening herbs. We didn’t realize our esteemed guests might require more."

"No trouble at all," Xu Shulou returned the courtesy.

"If you don’t mind dining with the mortals, I can lead you to them. They’re having breakfast now."

"Please, lead the way."

Bai Roushuang immediately called out, "Senior brothers and sisters! There’s food!"

Before her voice faded, the Dustless Island disciples materialized behind her in an instant, each maintaining an air of composed elegance.

The Joyous Sect maiden widened her lovely eyes and covered a laugh with her sleeve.

The group followed her through winding paths draped with ancient vines until they reached a courtyard.

Large pots steamed over fires, some kneading dough, others boiling rice, while clothes dried on ropes tied between trees.

Bai Roushuang, having rarely encountered such mundane scenes since entering the immortal sect, found it oddly nostalgic, as if she’d returned to the village of her childhood.

The Joyous Sect sheltered many mortals, and their long table alone seated over twenty.

No one seemed surprised by their arrival, merely offering bowls and chopsticks with warm hospitality.

"Thank you," Xu Shulou accepted a bowl of plain congee and struck up a conversation. "Auntie, are you all from Frostless City?"

"Only I am," the woman smiled kindly. "The others come from all over."

"How did you come to join the Joyous Sect?"

"Ah, a few years ago, my husband passed. His younger brother’s family wanted to seize what little he left us, so they accused me of adultery to drive me out," the woman wiped her hands on her apron and sat beside Xu Shulou. "I fled with my daughter. Thankfully, Sect Leader Luo took pity and gave us shelter."

"Which one is your daughter?"

"She’s not here. She’s training with the Joyous Sect now. The Sect Leader said she has spiritual roots and can cultivate immortality," the woman’s face glowed with pride. "Back in the mountains, people called this place a den of soul-sucking demons. But that’s not true at all."

"Exactly, just baseless rumors," a refined woman across from Xu Shoulo added. "I was a nobleman’s daughter until a rapist ruined my reputation. My parents, ashamed, sent me to live in seclusion in the countryside. I escaped and was fortunate enough to be taken in by the Sect Leader."

"Me too," a scarred woman placed a dish of pickled vegetables on the table and shared her own story.

Bai Roushuang sensed something amiss and whispered, "Senior Sister, do you think the Joyous Sect deliberately brought us here to hear these tragedies, hoping you’d take pity and help them?"

Xu Shoulo ruffled her bangs. "You’re learning."

Bai Roushuang propped her chin on her hand. "No wonder they’re so forthcoming. Could this all be rehearsed?"

"No," Xu Shulou shook her head. "Eyes don’t lie."

She had walked the mortal world long enough to recognize deceit—and genuine sorrow.

Xu Shulou took a bite of pickled vegetables and finished her congee before sharing her findings with her sect siblings. "Last night, I dug up graves in the wilderness outside Frostless City. The corpses were all tainted with demonic energy."

Bai Roushuang gasped. "You went digging graves at night?"

Xu Shulou blinked. "Would daytime have been better?"

"...Not really."

"Anyway, every corpse bore traces of demonic energy. Judging by the method of disembowelment, it was likely the same demon’s work," Xu Shulou added. "Oh, and I accidentally scared a scholar unconscious. I carried him back to the city, though I’ve no idea why he was wandering the wilderness at midnight."

Bai Roushuang shuddered, imagining her senior sister under the moonlit sky, exhuming a dozen graves and meticulously inspecting the wounds on the corpses. She silently pitied the poor scholar.

After breakfast, Xu Shulou met privately with the Joyous Sect Leader before the group prepared to depart.

Once beyond the verdant mountains, they encountered the Lingxiao Sect blocking their path.

Lu Beichen stood at the forefront, sword in hand, his striking features the very image of an upright sect disciple. Spotting the Dustless Island group, he grinned. "You must also be here to slay the demon. Why not join forces?"

Xu Shulou remained noncommittal. "What’s your plan?"

Lu Beichen offered a standard answer. "Ambush."

One of his disciples, impatient, pressed, "What clues did the Joyous Sect give you? If we’re cooperating, no secrets."

Ah, so it’s about the leads. Bai Roushuang rolled her eyes.

Xu Shulou smiled and circled Lu Beichen. "I have an idea."

"Go on."

"After examining the victims, I noticed they matched your age and build. Why don’t you suppress your spiritual energy, pose as a mortal, and lure the demon out?"

"..."

"Out of the question!" A disciple behind Lu Beichen stepped forward. "Our senior brother is the Supreme Elder’s direct disciple, the pride of our sect! He’s not some disposable pawn!"

Xu Shulou sighed. "Then which of you is disposable?"

"Insolent!" A furious voice boomed as two cultivators descended from the sky—an elderly man with white hair and a striking middle-aged woman. They were the Lingxiao Sect’s elders, Fan Yang and Fan Zhi, siblings.

Xu Shulou bowed politely. "Greetings, Elders Fan."

The others followed suit.

The moment they landed, the elders berated Xu Shulou. "How dare you mock the Lingxiao Sect’s head disciple!"

"My apologies," Xu Shulou conceded. "Elders must be weary from your journey. Shall we discuss the demon-slaying strategy?"

Fan Yang cast a haughty glance at the Dustless Island disciples. "Wait outside the city. We'll summon you when your presence is required."

"You may be a senior, but not a senior of Dustless Island," Xu Shulou replied coolly, having offered respect only for it to be dismissed. She was never one to grovel. With a flick of her wrist, she unfolded her fan and waved it leisurely before her. "Cooperation is possible, but don't think you can command my Dustless Island disciples in that tone."

Fan Yang's gaze swept over Bai Roushuang behind her, and he sneered. "Even those who haven’t reached Foundation Establishment? Dustless Island truly grows more pitiful by the year."

Bai Roushuang studied him in return, leaning toward Jiang Yan to whisper, "Fifth Brother, they say a cultivator’s appearance halts at the moment of Foundation Establishment. So this Elder Fan must have..."

"Must have reached Foundation Establishment in his seventies or eighties," Jiang Yan finished for her.

"You insolent brats, how dare you!" Fan Yang’s temper flared. Without warning, he struck at Bai Roushuang and Jiang Yan. Had the spiritual attack landed, it would have left Jiang Yan spitting blood and Bai Roushuang with several broken ribs.

Xu Shulou moved like a swallow skimming water, darting between them to intercept the blow.

A centuries-old elder, resorting to violence against a youth who hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment—this stirred Xu Shulou’s anger. "With all your peers ascended, Elder Fan, you must have grown accustomed to throwing your weight around unchecked. But disciplining juniors? That’s beyond your authority when it comes to Dustless Island."

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‍barb struck deep. Fan Yang, whose mediocre talent had forced him to rely on sheer longevity to climb the ranks, burned with humiliation.

"Today, I’ll teach you to mind that tongue of yours in Pei Changyu’s stead!" Fan Yang lunged, palm striking out. In the blink of an eye, before anyone could react, the two had exchanged several blows.

Bai Roushuang paled, guilt gnawing at her for provoking trouble. Yet from the moment Fan Yang appeared, every word from him had been a slight against them—how could she have stayed silent?

Jiang Yan and the others reached for their swords, but Fan Zhi stepped forward, her hand resting on the whip at her waist. "Hmm?"

The unspoken threat was clear: if any of Dustless Island’s disciples dared intervene, she would join the fray.

Bai Roushuang fought back tears. Both Lingxiao Sect elders were utterly unreasonable. "Senior Brother Lu..."

Lu Beichen caught her pleading look and sighed inwardly. Persuasion was futile with these two.

Behind him, Xiao Ya frowned. They were here to slay demons, yet these elders had barely arrived before picking a fight with another sect?

"Elder Fan," she called out, "shouldn’t we prioritize the demon extermination? Let’s regroup and strategize."

Fan Yang ignored her. Fan Zhi merely chuckled and pulled Xiao Ya aside. "Niece Xiao, don’t bother. He’s always been this temperamental."

But Fan Yang was in no position to retreat now. Xu Shulou had drawn her sword—a blade as unyielding as it was domineering—and was overwhelming him.

Her sword energy sliced like the wind, her strikes unrelenting.

With each exchange, Fan Yang struggled harder. By the fiftieth clash, Xu Shoulou’s blade sent him flying. He landed heavily, barely staying upright, forcing down the blood rising in his throat.

Fan Zhi gasped and reached for her whip, but Fan Yang raised a hand to stop her.

The onlookers stared, stunned. They knew Xu Shoulou was formidable, but was there no limit? She could even overpower an elder?

Lu Beichen watched, oddly comforted. See? It wasn’t just him who couldn’t match her!

Xu Shoulou stood with her sword still drawn—a blade that could not be sheathed without claiming a life. For now, she simply held it.

Casually, she pointed at Fan Yang, turning the moment into a lesson for her junior. "See? This is the consequence of forcibly reaching Foundation Establishment through elixirs. All show, no substance."

At that, Fan Yang finally coughed up the blood he’d been holding back.