Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Elder Shi Ding is gone.

When Wan Xiang Immortal opened the door, and everyone surged into the room once more, they found no trace of Elder Shi Ding.

There were no remains, no clothing; he had disappeared from this world without a trace.

Stroking his beard in silence was Wan Xiang Immortal, while the Sect Leader of Xuandu, who had hurried over upon hearing the news, was questioning Linghu Chu about what happened.

Linghu Chu’s eyes were red as he struggled to speak a few sentences. Since he didn’t accompany Elder Shi Ding on his outing, he also had no knowledge of the incident.

Liang Ruohua, the third senior sister, was silently shedding tears next to them, her face expressing both sorrow and bewilderment.

The ones who should have been the most heartbroken, Luo Yan and Shi Liuli, unexpectedly showed little emotion.

Luo Yan gently hugged Shi Liuli, staring at the spot where the master had lain, still struggling to accept reality.

My master... just like that... is gone?

For a moment, he felt as if he had lost the ability to cry, his mind a tangled mess of thousands of thoughts, yet at the same time, empty and blank.

Shi Liuli, too, stared straight at the bed, not shedding any tears, utterly silent.

Her silence was so frightening that the Master of Xuandu, initially wishing to inquire her about the incident, regarded her like a calm volcano about to erupt and hesitated to speak further, instead quietly instructing Linghu Chu:

"Let Liuli calm down for a while first. When she’s come to, we can ask her about the attack on Shi Ding..."

"No need," Shi Liuli suddenly lifted her head, gently breaking free from Luo Yan’s embrace, and said to the Sect Master with a bow, "Whatever the Sect Master wishes to ask, Liuli will not hesitate to answer."

Seeing her act so out of character, Luo Yan, Linghu Chu, and Liang Ruohua couldn’t help but feel a sudden twinge of apprehension.

This was impeccable etiquette for conversing with an elder, but when had Miss Shi ever cared so much for protocol? The dissonance was too strong.

The Master of Xuandu then said gently:

"There’s no rush, no rush. Liuli, you should mourn first. It’s all the same if we ask in a few days."

"This matter is of vital importance to Penglai, it would be better to clarify it now," Shi Liuli said expressionlessly, as if mechanically, "My father and I were attacked on our way back."

"From where were you returning?" the Master of Xuandu asked.

"Yuling Island," Shi Liuli answered, "It lies one thousand five hundred li northwest of Penglai, an isolated island with no other large islands nearby."

"The island is surrounded by cliffs on all sides, with a lone peak in the center. Inside the peak lies the Purple Mansion Secret Realm. Upon hearing of it, my father took me there to explore."

"The location of the attack was at sea, on our way back from Yuling Island, about seven hundred li away from Penglai."

"I see," said the Master of Xuandu, surprised at the coherence of her account.

Liuli is actually a bright child... Perhaps it’s the loss of her father that has matured her?

"Regarding the attackers..." he began to ask again.

"I was just about to explain to the Sect Master," Shi Liuli said softly, as Luo Yan noticed her hands clenching imperceptibly, "They were three women, all in the Nascent Soul Realm. Due to my limited experience, I could not discern their exact cultivation levels."

"One of them wore a black robe, with her hair in a bun secured by a bone-colored hairpin with a green spot in its center. She summoned a Heavenly Demon to attack, a semi-transparent skeletal figure that moved amid green smoke emitting a terrifying sound..."

"Heavenly Demon Path’s leader, Dugu Xie," commented Wan Xiang Immortal, stroking his beard, "This scoundrel’s magic is extremely profound, not something ordinary cultivators can contend with. Your father... alas, was unfortunate."

Shi Liuli nodded slightly, continuing:

"The other two, also in black robes, had disheveled hair and a strikingly similar bewitching appearance, looking almost identical, with paper-white complexions, commanding invisible Heavenly Demons..."

"The Ghost Mother Sisters," stated the Sect Master of Xuandu solemnly, "Dugu Xie’s henchwomen, accomplices to the tiger."

Shi Liuli noted these names and said softly:

"There are some things I do not know whether I should speak of."

"Speak freely," encouraged Wan Xiang Immortal with a nod.

After a moment of silence, Shi Liuli spoke:

"These three did not seem to have encountered us by chance, but rather tracked my father here."

"I’m puzzled: our trip was decided spontaneously and not mentioned to anyone beforehand. How could those on the Demonic Path know of our whereabouts?"

"If there isn’t a traitor tipping off our enemies within the sect, then how else could this be explained?"

"Liuli..." Senior Brother Linghu Chu began to speak, only to be interrupted by the Wan Xiang Immortal:

"Xuandu, this matter cannot go uninvestigated. Since Liuli suspects that someone has alerted the Demonic Path of our movements, who was the elder patrolling the outskirts of Penglai that day?"

"It was Elder Lingying," the Sect Leader of Xuandu answered, "I will find her."

"Wait a moment, Sect Leader Grandfather," Shi Liuli spoke up, "Considering that before my father and I set out, we had not disclosed our whereabouts to anyone, it indeed could only have been the cultivators patrolling the outskirts of Penglai who saw in which direction we were heading and then notified the Demonic Path."

"The patrolling cultivators are under the jurisdiction of Elder Lingying. If an incident occurred, Elder Lingying would be the first to be suspected. If she were the traitor, acting so brazenly would be akin to standing directly beneath a collapsing wall," she added.

"That’s true," the Sect Leader of Xuandu nodded, "It’s also possible that the traitor is one of the rotational patrolling cultivators under her command, so..."

"My humble opinion is this: We should ostentatiously arrest Elder Lingying while covertly monitoring the patrollers under her command," Liuli suggested.

"If the traitor sees Elder Lingying being taken away, they will undoubtedly panic and expose themselves. Not only the patrolling cultivators but all of their daily contacts and relatives must be put under surveillance as well. We cannot rule out the possibility that they have learned about the leak from the mouths of the patrolling cultivators."

Shi Liuli finished speaking in one breath, then stepped back next to Luo Yan, bowing her head in silence.

"Let’s do as she proposes," the Wan Xiang Immortal sighed.

"There’s another matter for which I need the Immortal and Sect Leader Grandfather to make a decision," Shi Liuli said as the two were about to leave, speaking up once again.

"Speak," the Sect Leader of Xuandu, feeling pity for her plight, gently urged.

"Firstly, there’s the matter of the succession of the Heavenly Craft Workshop," Shi Liuli began calmly, "Before my father’s death, he had designated my junior brother Luo Yan as his successor to the Workshop. Now the sect should honor his will and allow him to inherit the position of the Workshop Master."

Luo Yan was somewhat surprised, only to hear the Sect Leader of Xuandu hesitantly say:

"Since it’s Elder Shi Ding’s last wish, of course, there’s no issue. However, Luo Yan has not yet achieved Core Formation, and it’s improper for someone at the Foundation Establishment Realm to lead the Heavenly Craft Workshop."

He turned his gaze towards Third Sister Liang Ruohua, saying:

"Since Senior Brother Linghu Chu has already started his own sect, why not have Hua Shu temporarily act as the Workshop Master until Luo Yan achieves Core Formation, and then hand over the responsibility..."

Luo Yan’s expression became stern, only to hear Shi Liuli exclaim in alarm:

"This must not be! Although our Heavenly Craft Workshop excels in crafting a hundred artifacts, our main income comes from setting up formations, which is precisely why my father designated Junior Brother Luo as the successor."

"Furthermore, the Heavenly Craft Treasure Bag that passes from the Workshop Master to his successor had already been bestowed upon Luo Yan by my father beforehand. If Sister Liang doesn’t possess the Heavenly Craft Treasure Bag and yet temporarily assumes the position of the Workshop Master, how would the outside world view Sister Liang?"

Upon hearing the Sect Leader’s words, Liang Ruohua’s heart had been moved, but after Shi Liuli’s reminder, she immediately cooled down:

The Workshop is known for crafting Magic Artifacts, but our strength is not in Magical Competitions. Without the Heavenly Craft Treasure Bag, how can I assume the role of the Workshop Master and command respect externally?

If the Demon Cult could assassinate Elder Shi Ding, couldn’t they do the same to her as the next Workshop Master?

Considering this, she also felt somewhat ashamed and declined, saying:

"The Heavenly Craft Treasure Bag is exclusive to the head of the Heavenly Craft Workshop. I dare not go against my master’s last wishes."

"This..." the Sect Leader of Xuandu looked towards the Wan Xiang Immortal.

"To take up the mantle of a sect with the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Realm, only heterodox sects would act so out of line," the Wan Xiang Immortal shook his head, "Since Hua Shu is unwilling, let’s set aside the matter of the Workshop Master..."

At these words, Shi Liuli bit her lip, growing even more anxious.

The Heavenly Craft Workshop as it stands was single-handedly upheld by her father.

His sudden passing was undoubtedly a massive blow to the Workshop’s status and reputation.

Whether it be the Third Sister, who was ignorant of formations, temporarily leading the Workshop, or leaving the position of Workshop Master vacant, both would only exacerbate the situation.

Now, soon after my father’s death, is when the elder members of the sect are most mindful of past affection — the best time to negotiate.

If I cannot push my junior brother to take up the role now, once this mourning period fades, it would be nearly hopeless!

My father’s Heavenly Craft Workshop... I can’t let it decline like this. I...

Just as she steeled her heart to cast aside all dignity, ready to kneel and kowtow, begging the Immortal in the most humble manner for his grace, she heard Luo Yan speak in a deep voice:

"Reporting to the Immortal and Sect Leader, I, Luo Yan, am undeserving but, during my recent travels and experience, I underwent Tribulation and have returned after forming a Second Grade Golden Core!"

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