Golden Finger 1

As the largest sect in the world of cultivation, the Guiyuan Sect is like an immortal realm. Every decade, when their gates open to accept disciples, the place would become extraordinarily lively. Those who aspire to join the Guiyuan Sect would gather at the foot of the mountain gate, forming a line that stretches beyond sight even when observed from above.

Everyone that could stand within the Sect possessed spiritual roots. Some were disciples brought back from affiliated regions of the Guiyuan Sect, while many others came in search of an immortal fate of their own.

Upon the opening of the mountain gates, these individuals would enter in a structured sequence under the guidance of the outer disciples of the Guiyuan Sect.

In a place unseen by those participating in the initiation test, a man in a cyan robe stood with his hands behind his back. His hair was held up with a white jade hairpin and his expression was indifferent, as if nothing in this world could capture his attention.

At this moment, a silver snake crawled up the collar of his clothes and onto the man's head. The snake's tail was about to coil around the jade hairpin, but it shivered from its cold surface and was pricked by the sword qi that accompanied it. It quickly retreated its tail, its two small claws cradling its injured tail with a pitiful sound.

This sound disrupted the man's icy composure, causing a flicker of helplessness to surface in his gaze as he extended his hand toward the snake. The snake, barely the size of a finger, landed upon his palm. To say that it’s a small snake would be inaccurate since it possessed front claws and two tiny protrusions atop its head.

The snake extended the tip of its tail towards the man, making a pleading sound.

The man looked at the snake calmly. With a steady tone, he said: 'You shouldn’t make such noises.'

The snake paid no attention to what the man said, persistently extending its tail to show him the injury.

The man sensed someone approaching. Just as he was about to give a warning, he noticed that not only did the snake's front claws and head disappear, but the entire snake had slithered into his sleeve. Its body coiled around his wrist, resembling a snake-shaped bracelet.

For a moment, the man doubted whether this snake was the same silver dragon from his past life. The imposing dragon that cast the world into darkness upon its appearance; the dragon that still managed to shake the Heavens and Earth even though they had perished together.

The young man who had arrived halted a short distance away from the man. Despite the distance, the frigid aura of the sword qi left him momentarily breathless and he didn’t dare to look directly at the man. He lowered his head and bowed, saying, 'Senior Qin, Master requests your presence to discuss the matter of accepting disciples.'

The man was none other than Qin Ji, the youngest senior disciple of the Guiyuan Sect. Qin Ji cast another glance at those who aspired to join the Sect before departing.

When the young man lifted his head again, Qin Ji's figure was no longer visible.

After arriving at the Main Peak, Qin Ji went directly to the rear hall in search of someone.

It was a middle-aged man who appeared to have an air of an immortal. Upon seeing Qin Ji, he smiled and said, "Junior Brother, come and taste this spirit tea of mine."

Qin Ji walked over and took a seat across from the middle-aged man. The small snake concealed in his sleeve then popped its head out, its round and shiny black-bean eyes glancing around the area.

The Sect Master, upon noticing, simply smiled and said, "Is this your snake companion, Junior Brother? It seems quite clever."

Upon receiving the compliment, the little snake made a sound towards the Sect Master.

Qin Ji lifted his hand, allowing the small snake to emerge from his sleeve. It looked at the cup of spirit tea with curiosity.

Seeing this, the Sect Master smiled again, poured another cup, and pushed it towards Qin Ji, saying, "You should also try."

The snake instantly perked up, wiggling its head at Qin Ji.

Quietly, Qin Ji guided the snake to the edge of the cup. With a swift movement, the snake dipped itself into the tea, its head hanging over the rim of the cup and its tail leisurely swaying within the liquid. Occasionally, the tip of its tail would pop out as if greeting someone.

Observing the snake's behavior, the Sect Master hesitated for a moment and asked, "Junior Brother, is your snake companion perhaps not very intelligent?"

This question was tactfully put, as the Sect Master was actually thinking that the tail-wagging action resembled that of a dog.

The snake, which had been hanging its head, suddenly raised it, staring at the Sect Master. Then, it withdrew its head back into the cup.

The Sect Master: "…"

Qin Ji spoke, "Chen Xing."

Perplexedly, the Sect Master looked at Qin Ji and asked, "What?"

Without needing a response from Qin Ji, the Sect Master saw the small snake extend its head again, and then spray a column of water in his direction.

The Sect Master waved his hand, blocking the water column.

Seeing its failed retaliation, the snake retreated back into the cup.

Observing the behavior of the little snake, the Sect Master couldn't help but find it amusing. He casually asked, "Is your snake companion named Chen Xing?"

Qin Ji made an affirmative sound and took a sip of tea.

The Sect Master looked at Qin Ji and asked, "Junior Brother, does this snake – this Chen Xing – possess any special characteristics?"

Qin Ji lowered his gaze slightly and replied, "It might have dragon lineage."

The Sect Master understood. So that's why it was named Chen Xing. While it might not matter for other spirit companions, creatures like fish or snakes needed extra caution. After all, "Chen" corresponded to dragons. If this little snake didn't have dragon lineage, it couldn't possibly bear the name "Chen."

Based on the Sect Master's understanding of Qin Ji, since he dared to let his snake companion bear the name "Chen," he must have been entirely confident about it.

Chen Xing acted as if it didn't comprehend the meaning behind the conversation, idly blowing bubbles into the tea cup and swaying its tail, much like an indifferent snake.

The Sect Master asked, "Did you come out of seclusion early this time because of an issue? Or, perhaps, you're considering accepting disciples?"

Qin Ji lowered his gaze slightly. Based on the timeline from his previous life, he shouldn't have come out of seclusion until fifty years later.

At that time, the Guiyuan Sect accepted a disciple born with an innate sword constitution. In order to not hinder the disciple's talent, the Senior Master of the Sect initially kept the disciple by his side for guidance until he emerged from seclusion. As he possessed the same innate sword constitution, he became the disciple’s Master. This disciple was his first and only one, yet paradoxically, this same disciple ultimately brought him endless trouble. Right now, that person wasn’t even been born yet. "There's nothing specific. I don't have any intention of accepting disciples."

When it came to his own Junior Brother, the Sect Master didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "So, why did you suddenly come to the entrance of the mountain today?"

Qin Ji simply wanted to see the current state of the Guiyuan Sect: "Nothing in particular."

Observing that his Junior Brother didn't wish to elaborate, the Sect Master didn't press further. "Are you planning to continue seclusion?"

Qin Ji lowered his gaze slightly and looked at Chen Xing, who was still in the teacup. He couldn't find the peace of mind needed for meditation, which would render further seclusion futile. "Not this time."

After a moment's thought, the Sect Master spoke, "That's good then. You can lead the disciples' trial this time."

In his previous life, Qin Ji had been single-mindedly focused on cultivation. While he knew that it was customary for the Guiyuan Sect to have disciples below the Golden Core stage go on expeditions, he had never participated in one himself.

Seeing Qin Ji's expressionless demeanor, the Sect Master reassured him, "Don’t worry, I will arrange for others to handle affairs when the time comes. Your responsibility is to ensure the safety of the disciples within the Sect."

Qin Ji recalled the description of the Guiyuan Sect in the book he had read in the mysterious dimension after his death. It contained only a few words, yet it drove him to the brink of obsession.

Guiyuan Sect had been ambushed by demons and the Sect Master self-destructed, leaving only a few Elders alive and less than one in ten disciples surviving.

Looking back now, the entire incident was fraught with conspiracy. Leaving aside everything else, the Guiyuan Sect wasn't some small, remote faction. How did those demons infiltrate the multiple protective barriers and approach the sect so silently? Why didn't the Mountain-Guarding Array react at all? Being the foremost sect in the realm of cultivation, the Guiyuan Sect's strength far exceeded what was publicly known.

Even in the face of an ambush, it was unthinkable that the Guiyuan Sect would nearly face annihilation.

The Sect Master felt a dark aura emanating from Qin Ji. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Chen Xing emerge from the edge of the teacup, hissing twice at Qin Ji and flinging a fair amount of tea water at him with the tip of its tail.

Qin Ji used one hand to block the droplets of water. Though he didn't speak, the dark aura around him also dissipated.

The Sect Master's expression turned serious as he said, "You have a Heart Demon."

Qin Ji lowered his gaze slightly as if he were mentioning something inconsequential, "My Sword Heart shattered."

Chen Xing quickly changed its position upon seeing the astonished expression on the Sect Master's face. It coiled its body, leaving only its tail tip swaying contentedly. It would be great to have some sunflower seeds right now, but why did she suddenly want sunflower seeds? Could she even crack open sunflower seeds?

The Sect Master frowned deeply, "You…"

Qin Ji averted his gaze from the Sect Master's, unwilling to discuss the matter further.

After a prolonged silence, the Sect Master said, "I'll go request for the Spiritual-"

"No need," Qin Ji interrupted the Sect Master, "Senior Brother, I'm aware of my situation. Notify me before you set out."

Although Qin Ji's Sword Heart shattered and his strength was compromised, he was still a Nascent Soul Cultivator, capable of protecting disciples below the Golden Core stage during their trials.

The Sect Master didn't understand why his Junior Brother was avoiding medical cultivation and why his naturally sword-attuned constitution had led to a shattered Sword Heart and the birth of a Heart Demon. This was no trivial matter; even the slightest misstep could jeopardize his life. "Considering your current situation, it's best for you to stay at the Guiyuan Sect."

Qin Ji replied, "Senior Brother, I have my own plans."

Seemingly reluctant to dwell on these matters any longer, Qin Ji stood up and extended his hand toward where Chen Xing lay in the teacup.

Chen Xing climbed onto his hand before making its way up his arm and coiling around the collar of his clothes.

Qin Ji said, "I'll take my leave now."

Without waiting for the Sect Master to respond, Qin Ji left.

After leaving the Main Peak, Chen Xing transmitted her voice, "I saw the expression on your Senior Brother's face. He looked as if the sky was falling – it was quite amusing."

Qin Ji wasn't surprised that Chen Xing could talk, but he didn't respond to her.

Chen Xing didn't mind and continued, "If your Senior Brother knew you've switched to cultivating the Heartless Dao, would he burst into tears?"

As soon as the words were out, Chen Xing felt herself being tossed out. She angrily flew back with a swish of her tail but then met Qin Ji's serene eyes, devoid of any fluctuations.

Qin Ji's tone remained unchanged, "Don't disrespect my Senior Brother."

Chen Xing felt a bit uneasy and wiggled her tail. With a forced attempt at preserving her dignity, she huffed and didn't dare to lay arrogantly on his neck like before. She could only coil around his wrist. After hesitating for a moment, her tail tip secretly reached out to touch Qin Ji's pinky finger, all the while pretending to be innocent, "I'm just a newborn baby. Why can't we communicate nicely? Do you really have to scare a snake with your sword qi?"

Qin Ji felt the icy tail of Chen Xing brushing against his finger and thought back to the beautiful and majestic yet unstable silver dragon he’d seen in his previous life. If it was bad enough for his soul to be trapped in a mysterious dimension after his death, restricted to observing the gradual disappearance of familiar and cherished individuals from the book, then the fate of this silver dragon was even more sorrowful.

Despite dying due to its so-called master's command, it was ultimately flayed and dismembered. Its flesh and blood were refined into elixirs, its scales and tendons were crafted into treasures, and its bones and horns were forged into twin swords.

Qin Ji found it unbelievable after reading about it. No cultivator would treat a spiritual beast in such a way after its death. Moreover, it was the last dragon in the cultivation world. Weren’t they afraid of the dragon race from the Upper Realms finding out?

After all, the dragon race had left the cultivation world because they were too powerful, not extinct. Furthermore, dragons were especially protective of their own kind. If they saw those treasures made from a silver dragon's body, they may flay those involved alive. Or could it be that those people never planned on ascending to the Upper Realms?

Thinking about Chen Xing's fate in her previous life before looking at her current state, where neither her lineage nor intellect was complete, even the most unfeeling cultivator would soften a little. "No, I won't."

Chen Xing was puzzled, "What won't you do?"

Qin Ji returned to his cultivation peak and said, "I won't use sword qi to harm you again."

Chen Xing instantly regained her confidence, "Then it's settled."