Chapter 20: The Peak Master asks you to be the leader

“Xingruo, the Demon Lord’s intention is for you to infiltrate the immortal sects’ dragon vein and steal their supreme treasure—the Heavenly Pivot of the Spirit Vein! If you can disrupt the immortal domain’s dragon vein and disturb their fortune, even better.”

“You’ll marry into the Huangji Sect, becoming the mistress of Chui Xing Peak. If you manage the peak well, you might secure a spot in the dragon vein’s operations.”

The words of Elder Lin and her master before she set out still echoed in her ears.

Their plan was for Li Xingruo to marry Si Ruochen under the guise of Li Xianer from the Qinghe Li family, gaining control of Chui Xing Peak through the crippled peak master.

As the peak’s mistress, she could secure a slot to cultivate in the dragon vein when it opened.

Since only young disciples from the immortal sects, most weaker than Li Xingruo except for a few prodigies, were allowed in, she could find the Heavenly Pivot, the immortal sects’ treasure, and bring it back to the demonic path.

With the Pivot, the Demon Lord and others could sever the immortal sects’ dragon vein or even reverse the fortunes of the immortal and demonic paths.

Ideally, she’d complete these tasks within the dragon vein, as smuggling the Pivot out under the noses of immortal sect leaders was daunting.

Li Xingruo knew how tough these tasks were.

The Demon Lord and elders casually tasked a Foundation Establishment junior like her to infiltrate the enemy’s lair and risk her life…

She’d mentally cursed their entire families more than once.

Her resentment, refusal to accept a woman’s role, and unwillingness to marry fueled her escape attempt, only to be caught and forced to Chui Xing Peak to cancel the engagement.

Yet, she never expected Si Ruochen to offer her a chance to join the Huangji Sect—not just as a disciple, but as a rare purple-belt inner sect disciple.

The opportunity came so suddenly, she couldn’t help suspecting a plot.

She’d come to cancel the engagement, yet Si Ruochen wasn’t angry and offered her a massive gift.

Was he scheming something?

The Demon Lord had lured her into this immortal-demon conflict with the Holy Coffin ritual as bait…

Recalling that lesson, Li Xingruo snapped alert, reminding herself: No pie falls from the sky.

She couldn’t agree easily—she needed to probe further.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Immortal, you want me to join the Huangji Sect and revive Chui Xing Peak. But I’m just a rogue cultivator—how can I handle such a task?”

“You’re too modest,” Si Ruochen smiled, meeting her gaze. “Rogue cultivators, limited by resources, often take over a century to reach Foundation Establishment, even with great talent. Yet you, at just sixteen, reached late Foundation Establishment without sect support. Such talent is rare in history.”

“I just… got lucky,” Li Xingruo said.

She understood now—he saw her as a prodigy.

Her water-type Heavenly Spirit Root was indeed exceptional, but reaching late Foundation Establishment in her teens without sect resources?

Even mythical physiques like the Chaos Immortal Body or Innate Dao Embryo would struggle.

I’m just a water-type Heavenly Spirit Root—how could I do that?

Clenching her fingers, she pressed, “Immortal, leaving talent aside, how do I revive Chui Xing Peak? Do you have a plan? If I agree, what exactly do I do?”

“It’s not hard. Join Chui Xing Peak and act as its peak master,” Si Ruochen answered promptly.

“Act as peak master?”

Li Xingruo froze, confused. “Didn’t you say I’d join as a purple-belt disciple?”

“Yes, as a purple-belt disciple,” he nodded.

Raising his arms, he continued, “You saw on your way up—Chui Xing Peak has only me, a crippled peak master, and no disciples. If you join, you’ll be the sole disciple of our lineage. Since I’m a wreck, you’ll handle all the peak’s affairs.”

“All the affairs?”

“All the affairs.”

Seeing his serious expression, Li Xingruo felt an urge to kick him off the peak.

So you’re not just asking me to revive Chui Xing Peak—you want me to be your housekeeper too!

Even the Demon Lord wouldn’t dare make such a brazen demand!

If the purple-belt disciple status wasn’t so tempting, I’d shove you into the lotus pond to drink foot-washing water!

Suppressing her urge to hit him, she probed, “Forgive my ignorance as a rogue cultivator. What does ‘all the affairs’ mean? Can you explain?”

“As it sounds—after joining, you’ll manage Chui Xing Peak’s resources, disciple selection, personnel arrangements, its ranking in the sect, and securing opportunities,” Si Ruochen listed, finger by finger.

Pausing, he summarized, “In short, you’ll not only be a disciple but wield the peak master’s authority too.”

“And you?” Li Xingruo couldn’t help asking.

Si Ruochen tucked his hands into his sleeves. “I’ll focus on healing. You can’t expect a sick man to run around, right?”

His blatant intent to be a hands-off leader made her face twitch. She said coldly, “Your abacus is clacking too loudly, Immortal. If I handle everything, when will I have time to cultivate?”

“That depends on your management skills.”

Perhaps due to his lingering injury, Si Ruochen looked tired, yawning. “My offer’s sincere. If you keep haggling, fine—the deal’s off, and we proceed with the marriage.”

“You’re threatening me?” Her eyes widened. “You think I’ll marry you just because you won’t cancel?”

Si Ruochen smiled ambiguously. “Call it that. But I see you’ve already decided, haven’t you? All this talk is just to squeeze more value from me.”

“You’re projecting,” Li Xingruo shot back, unfazed.

Though she was now a delicate girl, her mouth remained sharp.

Since Si Ruochen was crippled, unlike that stinking Taoist who spanked her for his higher cultivation, she had no reason to fear him.

No need to panic—she could push back.