The gathered sects were bracing themselves, determined to give Wushuang Sect a crushing blow during the Golden Core stage matches.
Wushuang Sect might look arrogant now, but they had no foundation. These great sects could afford to lose multiple times, yet Wushuang Sect? If they lost even once, the others would seize that chance to trample them into the ground.
The Golden Core matches would be where Wushuang Sect finally learned the meaning of true strength.
Seven days later, the Golden Core stage battles officially began.
For this Grand Sect Ranking Conclave, the Foundation, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul matches were all hosted within the main city. These three stages were considered lower-tier combat strength. Even if one's sect took first place, the points gained were not the highest.
In the past, the great sects prepared, yes, but never went overboard. Some Sect Masters wouldn't even bother to appear for these minor contests.
But this time, it was different.
They had a common enemy.
Wushuang Sect.
Fourteen sects competing, bound together in unprecedented unity.
Ordinarily they schemed and clashed with one another. But now? During the competition, they were all brothers-in-arms. Rivalries were set aside, competition forgotten. Their sole purpose was to work together to defeat Wushuang Sect's disciples.
Sects that usually guarded their techniques jealously now freely exchanged cultivation insights.
When Si Wanning, Yu Songnian, and the other Golden Core disciples of Wushuang Sect arrived in the city, they were immediately met with a storm of hostile stares.
The disciples of Wushuang Sect remained calm.
A small scene, nothing to fuss over.
After all, the Foundation disciples had already warned them. Because Wushuang Sect was simply too strong, they had drawn endless envy and resentment.
Gao Jingxuan had even held a special training session for them after returning.
He emphasized two points:
First, if no one envies you, it means you are mediocre.
Second, the more jealousy you attract, the more of a genius you are.
Both had already been proven true by their Sect Master herself. Tell them—who in the entire Qingxiao Region could rival their Sect Master in talent? And who else was so envied, so hated?
Therefore, the logic was sound: the more jealousy, the greater the genius.
By extension, those without jealousy were destined to remain nobodies.
Naturally, the other sect disciples had their own plans. They wanted to shake Wushuang Sect's disciples with an early show of hostility, to crush their morale before the fights even began.
If Wushuang Sect's disciples cracked under the pressure, their side would gain a clear edge. Of course, none dared to go too far. Many still remembered vividly the sting of Yun Jin's whip.
But displaying a little open contempt? That was safe enough. And so, when news spread that Wushuang Sect's disciples had arrived, crowds of sect disciples hurried to surround them, eager to display their disdain.
Sneers and side-eyes came from all directions. It was as if each of them had written across their foreheads: "Wait and see—you're about to be isolated."
As Wushuang Sect's disciples walked down the street, cold glares piled up on both sides.
The others believed this would create unbearable psychological pressure.
And indeed, one female Golden Core disciple of Wushuang Sect trembled visibly, her face twitching as if she could not control her nerves.
The watching disciples smirked. Their strategy was working.
Then that very girl whispered, voice shaking, "Senior Sister Si, are they… all staring at us?"
Si Wanning nodded calmly. "Seems so."
The glares sharpened. They would crush them with their eyes alone. The next moment, that same girl's voice rose with sudden excitement. "Heavens, we've become that hated already?"
"Correct." Another Wushuang Sect disciple, usually stoic, spoke with barely hidden delight. "I thought we'd have to win a few battles first before proving our strength. But it seems everyone already knows how powerful we are."
"So this… this is the treatment of true geniuses?" someone else said, eyes misting over.
"Don't get carried away," Si Wanning said steadily. "We owe this honor to the efforts of our Junior Brothers and Sisters in the Foundation stage. But we can't stop here. From now on, we must rely on our own strength to earn even more envious glares!"
"That's right. Only strength will carry us far," Yu Songnian said with his usual cold face.
The surrounding sect disciples: "???"
What was wrong with these people?
Being hated by everyone—how could that possibly be something to celebrate?
Another Wushuang disciple spoke up. "And look at how afraid they are of us. See? As we walk, everyone within several meters makes way for us! What is this if not the treatment reserved for the strong?"
"Wow, they're so considerate," another said, touched.
The Wushuang Sect disciples became visibly moved.
Meanwhile, the other sect disciples who had deliberately kept their distance to display rejection were left speechless.
What?
How could they possibly twist things this way?
They were being isolated! Shunned!
Yet the Wushuang Sect disciples smiled warmly, one even assuring them, "There's no need for such fear. True, our strength is considerable, but we won't bully the weak without cause."
"Yes, you don't need to be so intimidated," another chimed in.
The other sect disciples: "…"
Not bullying the weak? Were they calling us the weak ones?!
They exchanged glances, completely unsure whether to keep up this "isolation act."
In the end, seeing Wushuang Sect's disciples beaming with joy, they gave up and dispersed.
"Eh? Wait, you're leaving already?"
"Don't go! I can act even more unlikeable if you want!"
The more they tried to hold them back, the faster the other sect disciples walked away.
Once the street cleared, Si Wanning sighed. "We're still not strong enough. If we were, they wouldn't have left so quickly."
"True. Only iron strength will keep them here," someone agreed solemnly.
"Which is why we must give it our all this time, and lay a solid foundation for our Senior Brothers and Sisters in the Nascent Soul stage."
"Let's go. Time to meet the Sect Master."
Yun Jin hadn't come to greet them personally, but Yue Zhao had already filled her in on what happened. Hearing it, Yun Jin nearly laughed herself to tears. Not bad at all. These disciples had been trained well.
"Senior Brother, your intelligence network is quite something," Yun Jin said with a grin.
The sect disciples had tried to pull tricks, but Yue Zhao had received word of it in advance. She had to admit, that was a true skill.
Yue Zhao chuckled proudly. "No place is ever truly sealed tight. Rest assured, Sect Master. I've already gathered a few people to our side. They may not dare stand with us openly yet, but leaking a little information from the shadows? That's easy enough."
Confidence radiated from him. Back when he was at Tianxing Sect, under much harsher conditions, he'd still managed to rally secret supporters.
Now, Wushuang Sect's circumstances were far better than those of Tianjian Peak. It hadn't taken much effort to establish a simple intelligence web.
For now, his informants were disciples of mid and lower sects. He wasn't planning to touch the high sect disciples yet.
But even this was enough. He had seen such networks work wonders before. As long as Wushuang Sect kept winning, his intelligence net would only grow tighter. One day, it would completely encircle Qingxiao Pavilion.
===
Hopeless, truly hopeless, Wushuang Sect from top to bottom already screaming with "Yun Jin's Style"
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After Killing Dao Partner, the Villainess Becomes the Demon Ancestor has officially gone through the book vetting process and is now available on my profile! So far, I've translated 100 chapters, and my impression? This novel is pretty solid.
The beginning is packed with schemes, like layers being built up and peeled away one after another. It's more about scheming than fighting at first. Then from chapter 100 onward, the scheming runs really deep. You can't just set it aside and only look at the fight scenes. The level of intrigue is almost on par with Gōngdòu (宫斗), the "Palace Fight." That kind of scheme-driven tension and pacing is super rare in xianxia, which makes this novel feel really fresh. Of course, the fight scenes are also well written.
I think it's good overall, though the author's writing in the early chapters can feel a little stiff or awkward at times, mostly because it focuses on Yun Qingyue's intelligence and intricate intrigues. I get what the author wanted to convey, and I polished it a bit so it's easier to digest. At least I think it's better now—though I'm curious what you'll think!
The later chapters with fighting are really well done. I even found myself laughing and speechless in some moments, lol. There's that saying, "you will find happiness watching others' misfortune." She's definitely not a saint—she's ruthless, and I'd say she's somewhat similar to Song Wanníng.
The author has a very distinctive style—I got this unique feeling while reading and translating it, something I haven't experienced in other novels I've worked on.
Anyway, I personally think you should give this one a shot!
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Yun Qingyue never expected her grand wedding to end in divine execution. All because a manipulative little junior sister with a hidden "system" and a talent for tears convinced their entire sect to force Yun Qingyue aside. When she unleashed her full power to crush the traitors, it wasn't her enemies who finished her—it was the Nine Heavens' Thunder Tribulation, a punishment she never deserved.
She thought it was the end. But a shred of her soul survived, now trapped in a mortal body so weak it's practically a prison. Her spirit root is gone, her meridians are feeble, and her immortal path is sealed shut.
But Yun Qingyue has finally seen the truth: her "pure" junior sister is a system-wielding thief, her sect are all pawns, and the very Heavens are blind. So if the heavens call her a villainess, she'll become the demon they fear. If the path of immortality is closed, she'll open the road to the Demonic Path.
Her new philosophy is simple: sever all karma and dominate everything in her path. This time as Xie Zhaolin, she's not just climbing to the top; she's burning the entire mountain down on her way up.