After fully digesting the original body's memories, Qiao Zhi slowly opened her eyes. She maintained the circulation of her internal energy as she swept her gaze over her surroundings, cautiously verifying every detail.
Once she confirmed that this was indeed her own residence in this world, she allowed herself a rare moment of ease. Then, she instructed System 045 to transmit information about the current world line.
This was not a minor world.
It was a middle-plane realm—a self-sustaining world with its own laws, protocols, and layers of protection. Unlike lesser planes, where she could easily force information from the world consciousness, middle planes were vastly more complex. Any brute intrusion might trigger countless fail-safes, and in the worst case, even detonate the world itself.
And Qiao Zhi, naturally, had no intention of destroying the world where her Gu'er resided—at least, not before she found her.
System 045, the auxiliary system bound to this body, was what many cultivation novels referred to as a "golden finger"—a mysterious tool that helped protagonists rise to greatness. The original soul of this body had been born with the fate of a chosen one, and thus obtained 045 through an encounter of great fortune. However, Qiao Zhi had already sent that soul off to reincarnate and fulfill her karmic cycle. Now, 045 belonged to her and is a little companion that may be of some help to her.
"Host, the main system's access to external data is limited," 045 responded with a slight delay. "It cannot retrieve the full world line and can only offer an overview of the early stages. Please review the current available data."
"Understood. Thank you," Qiao Zhi replied coolly. She wasn't surprised. With tens of thousands of worlds under its jurisdiction, the main system could not possibly monitor every detail of every plane.
She had previously met the main system—or more accurately, the administrator behind it. That woman, while not quite at Qiao Zhi's level, held terrifying influence across both minor and middle planes. She had created the system as a method to control fate and collect karmic power from across the realms. The greater her influence over countless worlds, the more powerful she became.
System 045 was one of the administrator's many subordinates. If even the main system had limited access here, it was evident that the administrator had yet to establish proper control over this middle-plane world. It appeared she had intended to use the original soul of this body as a foothold to deepen her influence.
Too bad for her—those plans were now dust.
Qiao Zhi dismissed the thought and turned her attention to the limited information provided by 045. As she reviewed the contents, her disgust toward the male lead of this world only deepened. However, a glimmer of satisfaction surfaced when she discovered the identity of her Gu'er. In this world, her Gu'er was the heroine—and even her name remained unchanged. That in itself felt like a blessing.
To her relief, she had entered this world at the very beginning of its storyline. The timing couldn't have been better. According to the original plot, the male lead and Gu Yangjin were still only nominally senior and junior disciples—there were no romantic ties yet. Even better, the body she now inhabited hadn't engaged in any physical or emotional relationship with the male lead. She was free of entanglements and could act without emotional pretense.
While Qiao Zhi was still processing the available data, a knock sounded at the door. A respectful voice followed:
"Holy Son, the disciples selected for your service have arrived. The Sect Master requests that you choose a few to retain."
"I understand," Qiao Zhi said, stepping out of her reverie.
She reached for the whip resting near her bedside and swung it a few times to reacquaint herself with its weight and balance. After adjusting to her current state, she wrapped the weapon around her waist and strode to the door.
The gathered disciples bowed deeply as she emerged. One of them stepped forward and spoke respectfully, "Holy Son, please follow me."
Qiao Zhi nodded and followed, taking the opportunity to examine her surroundings. The sect grounds were tranquil—lush greenery, modest stone and wooden structures, and a serene atmosphere reminiscent of a mountain retreat.
The sect that the Central Plains martial world derogatorily referred to as the "Demon Sect" was known here as the Yuexuan Sect, or more reverently, the Holy Sect. To the locals, it was a symbol of strength and protection.
Located in the remote northwest, Yuexuan lay well beyond the reach of the imperial court. Local officials, often native to the region, shared strong ties with the sect. It wasn't uncommon for the magistrates to request the sect's aid in capturing fugitives from the Central Plains.
By contrast, the so-called "righteous sects" of the Central Plains were viewed with fear and resentment. Their arrivals often meant destruction—shops ruined, families slaughtered, and villages devastated. In the eyes of the locals, it was the Central Plains that played the role of demons.
Still, the Yuexuan Sect wasn't without its flaws. Its recruitment standards were lax—especially for outer disciples. So long as one reached third rank and hadn't had any history of betrayal, they were accepted. Furthermore, the sect protected its own unconditionally. If someone killed a disciple, even one guilty of heinous crimes, vengeance would be swift and unforgiving.
Over time, this policy led to its vilification. The sect lost its original name in public discourse and was instead branded a demonic force to be eradicated.
"Holy Son, there are 132 disciples in total. How many would you like to retain?" the attendant asked, stepping respectfully behind her.
Qiao Zhi cast a casual glance over the assembled group. One figure stood out.
Unlike the others—whose eyes sparkled with ambition or nervousness—this man's gaze was pure and direct. His presence was like that of a bamboo grove—noble, firm, and unyielding. Without question, he was the male lead.
Qiao Zhi silently clicked her tongue.
If the plot were allowed to progress naturally, she would have been compelled to pick him, giving him a path to infiltrate the sect and eventually betray it. Not today.
Deliberately avoiding his position, she pointed to ten women at random. "These ten. Have their backgrounds been verified?"
"They have," the attendant replied immediately. "Each candidate was vetted three times. No connection to the Central Plains martial sects. I swear it on my life!"
Qiao Zhi was quiet for a moment. How ironic. The very man they overlooked was the greatest threat.
"Very well," she said. "They will serve as my personal guard. Have them update their badges and report to me afterward."
With that settled, Qiao Zhi began considering her next move.
She needed to find a valid excuse to leave the sect. She couldn't simply walk out without arousing suspicion—not when the original soul's behavior had been so dutiful.
The Yuexuan Sect was nearly a thousand miles from the Central Plains. If she didn't take initiative, she would miss her chance to meet Gu Yangjin entirely.
Fortunately, three days later, a perfect opportunity arrived.
After a long training session with the whip and sword, Mu Jun, the current sect master and Qiao Zhi's adoptive mother, approached her with a proposition.
"Qiao Zhi," Mu Jun said, "the martial world of the Central Plains is holding a grand conference in three months. They intend to choose a leader for the younger generation. What are your thoughts?"
Qiao Zhi's lips curved ever so slightly.
This was exactly what she had been waiting for.
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