Starting as a Magical Girl, I Alone Shall Rule for Eternity

Chapter 224: Contending for the Great Dao

Jiangming City.

"Teacher, why did you suddenly call us over?"

In the small courtyard of the Azure Cloud Sect's branch, the two "Heaven Crippled, Earth Lacking" fools looked at their teacher, Bai Mei, who was smiling as she handed over a dictionary-thick book. "During this trip south, I had a chance encounter and was fortunate to achieve a breakthrough. I saw many more essential things on the path of cultivation. Inspired by this, ideas flowed like a spring, and I suddenly felt my previous work, 'The Tale of Green Mountain,' had many shortcomings."

Watching Shui Ling take the book, Bai Mei chuckled. "So I learned my lesson and rewrote it, naming it 'Azure Cloud Continent: Reborn Zombie.' I specifically called you here to be the first readers of 'Reborn Zombie.'"

Shui Ling and Qianjing immediately adopted serious expressions.

"Teacher, I feel that both Qianjing's and my studies and cultivation are still insufficient. We are not qualified to sit at the table and read."

"Yes, yes."

"Especially me. I didn't even finish middle school; I'm afraid I won't be able to understand the novelty of Teacher Bai Mei's work. Qianjing is more suited to be the first reader."

"Yes, yes... give? No, no!"

They saw the young teacher dressed in white looking at them with a gaze as gentle as a mother's. "No need for modesty. In my eyes, you rightfully deserve the first position. Shui Ling, you go first. It's perfect timing to help me think of a chapter title."Shui Ling's face fell. She took a deep breath.

This is a trial. This is a trial. This is a trial.

The teacher is an underage dementia patient; taking care of her is a student's filial duty...

Then, under Bai Mei's expectant gaze, she tremblingly opened the first page—

"Do you remember the story of Azure Cloud's founding ancestor? The first-generation Divine King, Sea Immortal Venerable, with a wisp of Divine Sense..."

"Look!!"

"In that distant outer space! Something wonderful is happening!!"

.......

In that distant Disaster Control Bureau Central Bureau.

Something heavy was happening. Inside the independent tower building in the southeast, the air was silent, heavy as a black hole, incredibly viscous.

Unable to bear the pressure, Xingxuan was the first to stand up, clutching her stomach.

"I, I have a stomachache, going to the bathroom..."

Before she could reach the door, Four Leaf immediately grabbed her younger sister and followed. "I was so focused on bringing people back earlier, my sister and I haven't gone to the bathroom yet..."

Six Leaf immediately cried out, "Wait, sister, the pretty ring, I want it..."

Four Leaf immediately covered her little sister's mouth and dragged her out.

Qinghua reacted swiftly too, pulling Thousand-Pinweed to retreat outside.

"It's been a long time since we met, let's go out and chat, so we don't disturb Lady Bingtang..."

Just then, Bingtang, who had been looking at her computer, typing who-knows-what, suddenly spoke up. "Just chat here. I have a few things I want to ask Thousand-Pinweed."

Qinghua immediately gave a dry laugh and let go of Thousand-Pinweed's hand.

We're doomed, meow.

She shot a resentful look at Thousand-Pinweed. The true-transmission disciple dressed as a great witch just looked utterly bewildered.

Although she didn't know what was happening, she knew the current atmosphere was slightly... not good.

However, Bingtang didn't ask too much. She just took a moment from her busyness to pour a cup of tea and hand it to Jiang Si. "The journey was tiring."

"It was alright."

"Didn't expect to run into Thousand-Pinweed. She didn't cause you any trouble, did she?"

"A little bit of trouble." Jiang Si originally wanted to tattle.

But with so many people here, tattling would make him seem a bit petty, so he just waved his hand. "Nothing too major."

Bingtang's gaze immediately shifted to Thousand-Pinweed.

The little witch raised her hands in grievance. "I, I didn't do anything."

Bingtang wasn't in a hurry to interrogate either, just saying, "Let Jiang Si rest a bit."

Qinghua immediately gave up her seat for Jiang Si.

After Jiang Si sat down, the girls all looked at the young man fiddling with his ring.

Clearly wanting to show it off.

Jiang Si also hadn't expected everyone to notice his magic treasure so quickly.

As for Xingxuan's muttering, he automatically filtered it out.

For him, obtaining a new treasure naturally meant letting the sect disciples admire it.

But directly displaying it would inevitably seem a bit rash. A mature Sect Master would let the disciples discover the ring on his finger by themselves, inadvertently.

Then he could introduce the ring's wonderful uses in a grand and glorious manner.

The true-transmission disciples mostly knew about his Calamity Dragon power. Using the ring could further demonstrate the superiority of Polluted Magic and Calamity Dragon strength.

Simple yet powerful, to see if any disciples were willing to cultivate this path comparable to parallel fire.

Six Leaf was indeed sharp, grabbing his hand and noticing the ring after a while.

But then, surprisingly, no one asked about the ring's purpose, which also puzzled Jiang Si. Disciples being too mature wasn't good either; they could actually suppress their desire to seek the Dao.

He couldn't just start introducing the ring on his own, could he?

Originally, he thought if Bingtang asked, he would remain silent.

After all, last time he asked about the use of her umbrella, he was brushed off.

Although it's indeed improper to pry into others' magical tools without permission, reciprocity is key. Jiang Si planned to similarly ignore Bingtang for a while.

But for a moment, no one asked, making him a bit impatient.

Such an obvious magic treasure, and no one is curious about what it does?

Indeed, the disciples' cultivation within the sect is insufficient...

Just as Jiang Si was planning to send Thousand-Pinweed away and explain the ring,

Little Yumo cautiously sat down beside him, leaning close and whispering, "Sect, Sect Master's b-boyfriend, sir, may I, may I look at your ring?"

Jiang Si immediately felt gratified.

Truly the top disciple among the true-transmissions, always appearing when he needed her.

Just as he was about to take off the ring and hand it to Yumo, the little Yumo immediately shook her head, then hurriedly touched the hairpin in her hood—the hairpin Jiang Si had given her before. Yumo had been wearing it all along.

Now she was afraid she might jostle it off.

"N-no need to take it off, Yumo, Yumo will just look like this..."

Jiang Si didn't mind and just offered his hand.

Little Yumo held Jiang Si's hand. Although Jiang Si didn't exert any force, she always felt it was heavy.

The Sect Master's hand was covered in calluses. Pressing a bit harder gave a feeling of abrasion.

The Sect Master's hand wasn't much larger than hers, but it could always perfectly envelop Yumo's palm, giving her an incomparably dependable sense of security and happiness.

Just like a father.

Her small fingers explored that stone-like palm. The back of his hand, rough as steel from long training, formed a stark contrast with Yumo's delicate skin.

Of course, Yumo had touched the Sect Master's hand many times before. Back in the sect during sparring, when she lost and cried softly on the ground in frustration, the Sect Master would come over and pull her up.

Before, when going out shopping with Lady Bingtang, the Sect Master had also held her hand. Later, when the Sect Master disappeared at the Heart Image Remnant and returned, she hugged him crying, and the Sect Master had also taken her hand.

So, the Sect Master's hand was not unfamiliar to Yumo. What was unfamiliar was that ring.

After carefully feeling it, she confirmed the ring was not problematic.

It was a genuine wedding diamond ring.

Yumo immediately felt her nose sting, looking up at Jiang Si with teary, misty eyes.

Jiang Si had originally wanted to explain a bit, but when he turned his head, he found Yumo, after feeling the ring, had tears shimmering in her eyes, looking at him with a pitiful and aggrieved expression.

Hold on, it's not like I stole your ring, why are you crying?

But who was Jiang Si? He immediately saw through the little girl's thoughts.

Bingtang had mentioned before that the true-transmissions liked gifts and would cry if they didn't get them.

Here, she probably saw this ring was pretty and wanted to take it from him as a gift.

Six Leaf was the same, wanting his ring.

How could he not see through these little girls' thoughts?

"Junior, this level of opportunity is not something you can grasp."

Jiang Si shook his head. "Wait until you make some progress in the future."

At least get an External Dao Nascent Soul in your belly first.

So Yumo became even sadder.

The Sect Master thinks my strength is too lacking...

She then ran to the side and grabbed Qinghua.

Thousand-Pinweed wore a thoughtful expression, watching the slightly anxious little Yumo.

This girl, could it be she has feelings for Jiang Si?

Over there, Qinghua raised her hands innocently. "What?"

"Give me the money."

"What money?"

"The money I lent you before, plus interest, give it all to me."

"Damn, boss, it's only been a few days!"

"If you don't give it to me, I'll report you to Lady Bingtang."

"Alright, alright, my living ancestor, I'll pay you back. I'll give you all my money, okay? What do you need so much money for?"

Yumo sniffled. "I want to buy a ring, to give the ring to him..."

Qinghua immediately understood her friend's idea and whispered, "What if he doesn't agree?"

Even if you buy a ring for Jiang Si, he might not accept it.

"If he doesn't agree, we'll commit suicide."

"Do I have to die too?"

"Yes."

Thousand-Pinweed, seeing the two good sisters vowing to live and die together, saw Qinghua looking over for help.

She immediately put some distance between them.

Are you kidding? She didn't want to die for this man.

However.

Thousand-Pinweed looked at Yumo, feeling a sudden shock in her heart.

She and Yumo weren't exactly close—among the seven true-transmissions, only Qinghua was a social butterfly, liking to chat with everyone. The other true-transmissions generally weren't too fond of socializing.

Back in the day, Thousand-Pinweed was also a cold, aloof little girl within the sect.

It was only later, to spread Harry Potter, that she had to become outgoing.

But among all the true-transmissions, Yumo was probably the most withdrawn one.

Every day, besides tailing the Sect Master, she would hide in corners writing and drawing, or train by herself.

There was one time when she had nowhere to go and rested in the Illusory Moon Cavern Dwelling for three days.

She hadn't even noticed Yumo was there beside her.

That's how distant their relationship was; they hadn't even spoken a few words.

But Thousand-Pinweed still knew about the sharpness hidden beneath Yumo's introverted exterior.

Among the true-transmissions, the first one who could ruthlessly kill members of the Witch Association was Yumo.

Others always needed a psychological adjustment process, but because the Sect Master did it that way, Yumo learned it very naturally. She even had the experience of dismembering and shredding Witch Association members with an innocent face.

It was only after being scolded by Bingtang, telling her not to mess with corpses like that in the future, that Yumo didn't grow twisted.

She could guarantee that if not for Lady Bingtang's restraints, Yumo would absolutely be the most insane and perverted one among the true-transmissions.

Innocent children could sometimes be especially lethal.

It was precisely because of this that Thousand-Pinweed found Yumo's display of closeness and affection towards Jiang Si particularly unbelievable.

Didn't this girl used to be completely unwilling to get close to the opposite sex?

Thought she would only like the Sect Master, yet she's getting so close to the Sect Master's boyfriend, not even trying to hide her fondness...

Thousand-Pinweed was startled.

Yumo, could it be she wants to steal the Sect Master's man?

Does the Sect Master know about this?

Or does the Sect Master tacitly allow it? After all, if the Sect Master didn't permit it, Yumo shouldn't be this bold.

Her being this audacious meant it was very likely encouraged by the Sect Master!

Encouraging her own disciple to pursue her own boyfriend?

That's pretty bold.

What kind of play is this? How is our Azure Cloud Sect playing things more wild than fanfiction...

"Hmm, didn't you used to not like accessories?"

Over there, Bingtang, who was still typing on her keyboard with her head down, suddenly asked casually. "The gifts I gave you before, you always found them troublesome to wear."

"It depends on whether they're useful."

Jiang Si responded matter-of-factly. "If they're useful, that's a different story."

Thousand-Pinweed's heart skipped another beat.

Lady Bingtang actually gave him a gift too? And it was rejected?

What's going on? Didn't Lady Bingtang always only be infatuated with the Sect Master?

Although Bingtang usually seemed gentle and easy to talk to,

in reality, Bingtang was the one with the greatest distance from others in the entire Azure Cloud Sect.

She was only close to the Azure Cloud Sect disciples and the Sect Master.

As for outside the Azure Cloud Sect, Bingtang had almost no interpersonal relationships.

Just like her name, Bingtang (rock candy): outside is a layer of cold, hard ice; only after it melts is there sweet sugar.

Besides becoming a Magical Girl and joining the Azure Cloud Sect, Thousand-Pinweed didn't know what else could melt the hard ice outside Lady Bingtang...

This young man before her was not an Azure Cloud Sect member, and obviously not a Magical Girl either.

Yet he could also receive special treatment...

Bingtang then asked with a smile, "Oh? What's it useful for?"

"Just like your umbrella."

Bingtang, who had been smiling, suddenly had her gaze cool down.

"Oh, I see."

After this simple response, Bingtang lowered her head again to type on her keyboard.

But Thousand-Pinweed, as a long-time producer of fan magazines, was sharp enough to immediately pick up on the sourness in it.

What's going on? It feels like Bingtang also has feelings for Jiang Si?

Add the Sect Master to that, and it's a love quadrilateral.

Thousand-Pinweed suddenly realized, could it be that actually, it was Yumo, Bingtang, and the Sect Master, three people competing for Jiang Si, and in the end, the Sect Master won?

But Yumo and Bingtang, still unwilling, are taking advantage of the Sect Master Celestial Being's absence to try and get a foot in the door by any means necessary...

"Thousand-Pinweed said you signed a marriage contract, but the other party wasn't Shion."

Although slightly downcast, Bingtang quickly composed herself and asked casually again. "Who did you sign the contract with? Does Keke know?"

Who is Keke again? How is this guy involved with so many girls!

"The Prince of the Mirror Kingdom. She suggested using a marriage contract to achieve cooperation, for mutual trust."

Just as Thousand-Pinweed was still processing what this guy was saying,

over there, Bingtang had already nodded. "I see. After that, you can move into the 'breaking off the engagement' plotline."

Thousand-Pinweed listened, dumbfounded.

Of course she knew that Jiang Si brought that document for an engagement precisely to set up a "breaking off the engagement" plot.

She wasn't incapable of understanding the conversation between Jiang Si and Xingxuan in the car.

After all, Thousand-Pinweed wasn't someone who didn't read web novels; it was because she was a truly seasoned Harry Potter Magical Girl-ist.

There is only one kind of Harry Potter Magical Girl-ism in this world—the Magical Girl-ism of still liking Harry Potter the most after having seen all web novels.

So she was aware of these kinds of plotlines.

But she didn't expect Lady Bingtang to understand the other party's train of thought with just one sentence, without Jiang Si needing to explain anything else.

Isn't this too familiar?

Thousand-Pinweed sensed something off.

Could it be that Jiang Si and Lady Bingtang are actually childhood sweethearts, and the Sect Master is the one who came later?

Childhood sweethearts losing to the new arrival is also a classic trope...

Although, in terms of appearance, Thousand-Pinweed didn't think Lady Bingtang would lose to Shion either, but there was a gap in terms of strength.

Losing to Lady Shion was also normal.

Little Yumo immediately raised her hand. "I, I can also break off an engagement!"

"You can't." Jiang Si casually denied. "Too young, and not imposing enough, lacking that innate arrogance."

Only someone with a temperament similar to the Nalan young lady breaking off an engagement would have value and meaning.

Someone like Bingtang or Yumo breaking it off would just feel boring.

Bingtang could handle it smoothly and flawlessly, considering face while achieving the goal; as for Yumo, it would be more like bullying a child.

Yumo immediately hung her head, pitifully uttering an "Oh."

Qinghua hugged her friend, softly comforting her, actually relieved inside.

At least she didn't have to go jump off a building with Yumo.

"Hope it goes smoothly."

Bingtang still said with a smile, picking up the water cup beside her to take a drink.

But for some reason, she didn't hold it steady and spilled it all over the table.

Thousand-Pinweed immediately went over, grabbed a towel to help clean up, and accidentally caught a glimpse of the content on the computer screen.

「「Fiancé marriage husband wife fiancé marriage husband wife fiancé marriage husband wife fiancé marriage husband wife fiancé marriage husband wife absolutely cannot cannot cannot

A full page of messy content. She only clearly saw the first two lines, and her heart was already shaken beyond measure.

Just as she was about to speak, one of Bingtang's fingers pressed against her lips.

Ice-cold, carrying a pleasant fragrance, but it rendered Thousand-Pinweed momentarily unable to move.

"Shh..."

Hearing Lady Bingtang's low voice, Thousand-Pinweed completely quieted down.

Then Bingtang closed her notebook, stood up, and said, "Want to go out and take a look? Keke and the others should have arrived by now. The remaining inner sect disciples are over at the square, exchanging pointers with the Disaster Control Bureau's Magical Girls."

Not feeling particularly tired, Jiang Si nodded. "Alright."

Qinghua immediately volunteered. "I'll lead the way!"

After Bingtang nodded, she eagerly went out the door, urging Jiang Si to hurry up.

Xingxuan, who had been eavesdropping at the door, poked her little head in to look at Thousand-Pinweed after Qinghua opened the door. "Want me to show you around elsewhere? I'm very familiar with the Central Bureau..."

Somewhat dazed, Thousand-Pinweed turned to look at Bingtang. Only after Bingtang nodded did she follow Xingxuan away.

When only Yumo and Bingtang remained in the room, little Yumo spoke softly. "The Prince of the Mirror Kingdom..."

"Very concerned about it, little Yumo?"

"La-Lady Bingtang, aren't you concerned?"

"Not concerned." Bingtang smiled. "After all, it's impossible."

"Mhm."

Yumo tugged at her hood. "If it's about getting engaged... Lady Bingtang would be better."

"Hehe."

Rubbing Yumo's little head, Bingtang didn't say much more. "Go on. This time, make sure to stick close to the Sect Master."

"Okay!"

Only after Yumo left did Bingtang close the door.

Then she looked out the empty window, confirming no one was around.

Then she slumped her shoulders and lightly stomped her foot.

"Darn it, was I still too slow..."

Jiangming City, Azure Cloud Sect Branch.

Who knows how much time had passed. Qianjing was already snoring loudly, while Shui Ling was seeing stars, her mind in a daze, having finally finished reading the last sentence of Teacher Bai Mei's new book.

"...Being within the mortal dust!! You and I are both Azure Cloud!!"

So many exclamation marks...

Shui Ling fell silent for a long time.

"Not bad."

Then she looked at Bai Mei.

"Starting a harem?"