Offering Salted Fish to Master - C7
1- Where Am I?
2- An Excess of Beauties
3- The One Hundred
4- Clueless
5- Meeting The Ancestor
6- Sleep Schedule and Relax
7- Stairs, stairs and more Stairs
8- The red Lotus Fire
9- New Moon
10- Slim Waist
11- Cramped Hammock
12- Gengchen Immortal Mansion
13- The Youduan flowers of the Sun and Moon
14- Two Lumps of Flesh
15- White Deer Cliff
Chapter 7
Stairs, Stairs and more Stairs
Half a month had passed, and the group of a hundred women had significantly dwindled. By now, only about half remained. The most ambitious faction, “Become the Ancestral Master’s Concubine,” had shrunk to just a few members. The Sect Leader’s faction, “Become the Ancestral Master’s Disciple, Win Him Over, and Take Him Down When Possible,” still had over a dozen members bravely fighting on. The largest group was the “I’m Here to Serve the Ancestral Master But Have No Idea What I’m Doing, So I’ll Just Pass the Days in Confusion” team, which still had thirty people huddled together in constant fear.
Most of those who died from the first two factions were individuals who actively sought danger by being overly proactive. Another group had inadvertently triggered deadly conditions and was eliminated by the Ancestral Master, who roamed daily. The entire Three Saints Mountain had become a large-scale survival horror scene, with a murderous maniac facing off against a hundred people.
The fifty remaining women, witnessing the continuous decrease in their numbers and faced with the immense threat of death, all appeared somewhat haggard and frightened. None of them knew when or where they might encounter the bloodthirsty Ancestral Master, who loomed over them like a demon.
They couldn’t use spiritual power there, nor could they even protect themselves when facing the Ancestral Master. Even if they possessed spiritual power, they would still feel like ants in his presence, which only increased their psychological stress.
Sima Jiao was extremely sensitive to human emotions. Fear, disgust, jealousy, and greed—all these negative emotions were easily perceivable to him. Coupled with the Si Ma clan’s unique ability, the Oath of Truth, almost everyone was transparent to him.
“I dare not go see the Ancestral Master. Master-Aunt, please spare me!” a woman cried, kneeling before Mu Ni Sheng.
Mu Ni Sheng, who had initially stepped forward to lead everyone, now wore an ugly expression as she addressed the woman. “What are you saying? Wasn’t it you who originally begged to come serve the Ancestral Master?”
The woman’s face was filled with regret. “I don’t want to anymore, Master-Aunt. I’m scared. Has the Ancestral Master fallen into demonic cultivation? Otherwise, why would he slaughter disciples from our sect? If he can kill several Master Aunts and Master Sisters, he’ll kill me too!”
She had personally seen her two older sisters, who tried to secretly escape from Three Saints Mountain, burst into sprays of blood on that wide, clean jade platform. Who else could have done such a thing here but the Ancestral Master? He had killed casually before; it could only be him. Such a ruthless Ancestral Master was not at all what she had imagined.
Seeing the fear in the woman’s eyes, Mu Ni Sheng's expression grew serious as she waved her sleeve dismissively. “If you’re afraid, then don’t follow me anymore. I made it clear from the beginning that I came for the Ancestral Master. As long as he does not accept me, I won’t give up, not for a single day. You cowardly lot can't even endure this small test—how could you possibly be worthy of catching the Ancestral Master’s eye?”
Mu Ni Sheng was a descendant of the Sect Leader's line and possessed a sharp mind that distinguished her from others. Growing up under the Sect Leader’s guidance, she received extensive teachings from him. She often noticed the Sect Leader gazing toward Three Saints Mountain with a worried look. From the moment of her birth, she knew about the Ancestral Master residing on Three Saints Mountain, whose existence was vital for the survival of Gengchen Immortal Mansion for tens of thousands of years. The Sect Leader had specifically raised her with the hope that she would either become the Ancestral Master’s disciple or, if that was not possible, at least serve by his side.
“The day you gain the Ancestral Master’s regard will be the day you can save Gengchen Immortal Mansion. If not, I fear our mansion will perish at his hands,” the Sect Leader had once told her.
From the Sect Leader's words, Mu Ni Sheng learned about the Feng Mountain clan's bloodline, which included the Compassionate Repository Ancestral Master. She learned about his forbidden birth, the tragedy he had caused, and his temperament. This knowledge made her confident that she understood the Ancestral Master better than anyone else.
In her view, she had indeed received special treatment from him. Recently, the Ancestral Master had personally eliminated several individuals, including Yun Xi Yue—her fiercest rival—yet she remained unharmed. Day after day, she would go to the central tower and wait at the door that had long been shut.
Although she had encountered the Ancestral Master several times, she chose not to try to win his favor. Instead, her goal was to earn his respect through sincerity, hoping he would see her genuine intentions. The Sect Leader had advised her that it was pointless to conceal her true self in the presence of the Ancestral Master. Therefore, she decided to express her thoughts with devotion and humility.
Mu Ni Sheng faithfully followed this advice and discovered that the Ancestral Master was not as bloodthirsty as many believed. He only killed those who had done something deserving of punishment, and because her intentions were pure, he had never harmed her, even when he found her kneeling at the base of the tower. He seemed content to ignore her presence.
As time went on, Mu Ni Sheng became more convinced of her approach. She believed that if she persisted long enough, the Ancestral Master would eventually be moved by her dedication. Others who initially supported her gradually ceased their daily visits to the central tower, deterred by the Ancestral Master’s apparent impatience and his tendency to kill one or two people whenever he encountered them. Under such circumstances, who would dare to return? Only Mu Ni Sheng remained resolute, visiting day after day.
Most of those who died from the first two factions were individuals who actively sought danger by being overly proactive. Another group had inadvertently triggered deadly conditions and was eliminated by the Ancestral Master, who roamed daily. The entire Three Saints Mountain had become a large-scale survival horror scene, with a murderous maniac facing off against a hundred people.
The fifty remaining women, witnessing the continuous decrease in their numbers and faced with the immense threat of death, all appeared somewhat haggard and frightened. None of them knew when or where they might encounter the bloodthirsty Ancestral Master, who loomed over them like a demon.
They couldn’t use spiritual power there, nor could they even protect themselves when facing the Ancestral Master. Even if they possessed spiritual power, they would still feel like ants in his presence, which only increased their psychological stress.
Sima Jiao was extremely sensitive to human emotions. Fear, disgust, jealousy, and greed—all these negative emotions were easily perceivable to him. Coupled with the Si Ma clan’s unique ability, the Oath of Truth, almost everyone was transparent to him.
“I dare not go see the Ancestral Master. Master-Aunt, please spare me!” a woman cried, kneeling before Mu Ni Sheng.
Mu Ni Sheng, who had initially stepped forward to lead everyone, now wore an ugly expression as she addressed the woman. “What are you saying? Wasn’t it you who originally begged to come serve the Ancestral Master?”
The woman’s face was filled with regret. “I don’t want to anymore, Master-Aunt. I’m scared. Has the Ancestral Master fallen into demonic cultivation? Otherwise, why would he slaughter disciples from our sect? If he can kill several Master Aunts and Master Sisters, he’ll kill me too!”
She had personally seen her two older sisters, who tried to secretly escape from Three Saints Mountain, burst into sprays of blood on that wide, clean jade platform. Who else could have done such a thing here but the Ancestral Master? He had killed casually before; it could only be him. Such a ruthless Ancestral Master was not at all what she had imagined.
Seeing the fear in the woman’s eyes, Mu Ni Sheng's expression grew serious as she waved her sleeve dismissively. “If you’re afraid, then don’t follow me anymore. I made it clear from the beginning that I came for the Ancestral Master. As long as he does not accept me, I won’t give up, not for a single day. You cowardly lot can't even endure this small test—how could you possibly be worthy of catching the Ancestral Master’s eye?”
Mu Ni Sheng was a descendant of the Sect Leader's line and possessed a sharp mind that distinguished her from others. Growing up under the Sect Leader’s guidance, she received extensive teachings from him. She often noticed the Sect Leader gazing toward Three Saints Mountain with a worried look. From the moment of her birth, she knew about the Ancestral Master residing on Three Saints Mountain, whose existence was vital for the survival of Gengchen Immortal Mansion for tens of thousands of years. The Sect Leader had specifically raised her with the hope that she would either become the Ancestral Master’s disciple or, if that was not possible, at least serve by his side.
“The day you gain the Ancestral Master’s regard will be the day you can save Gengchen Immortal Mansion. If not, I fear our mansion will perish at his hands,” the Sect Leader had once told her.
From the Sect Leader's words, Mu Ni Sheng learned about the Feng Mountain clan's bloodline, which included the Compassionate Repository Ancestral Master. She learned about his forbidden birth, the tragedy he had caused, and his temperament. This knowledge made her confident that she understood the Ancestral Master better than anyone else.
In her view, she had indeed received special treatment from him. Recently, the Ancestral Master had personally eliminated several individuals, including Yun Xi Yue—her fiercest rival—yet she remained unharmed. Day after day, she would go to the central tower and wait at the door that had long been shut.
Although she had encountered the Ancestral Master several times, she chose not to try to win his favor. Instead, her goal was to earn his respect through sincerity, hoping he would see her genuine intentions. The Sect Leader had advised her that it was pointless to conceal her true self in the presence of the Ancestral Master. Therefore, she decided to express her thoughts with devotion and humility.
Mu Ni Sheng faithfully followed this advice and discovered that the Ancestral Master was not as bloodthirsty as many believed. He only killed those who had done something deserving of punishment, and because her intentions were pure, he had never harmed her, even when he found her kneeling at the base of the tower. He seemed content to ignore her presence.
As time went on, Mu Ni Sheng became more convinced of her approach. She believed that if she persisted long enough, the Ancestral Master would eventually be moved by her dedication. Others who initially supported her gradually ceased their daily visits to the central tower, deterred by the Ancestral Master’s apparent impatience and his tendency to kill one or two people whenever he encountered them. Under such circumstances, who would dare to return? Only Mu Ni Sheng remained resolute, visiting day after day.
๑‿︵‿୨🌸୧‿︵‿๑
On this particular day, she arrived at the base of the central tower as usual, kneeling with a straight back before the tightly closed door.
Liao Tingyan arrived at the central tower on Monday, looking as dejected as a corporate slave. To her surprise, she found her group’s big boss, the class monitor, kneeling there, occasionally calling out, “This disciple has come to serve the Ancestral Master. Please accept this disciple, Ancestral Master.”
Liao Tingyan thought, “What a brave warrior. While she enjoys her vacation far away, this boss willingly confronts that unpredictable ancestor. Her extraordinary psychological resilience is impressive—no wonder she’s the leading boss. This level of ideological awareness truly stands out.”
If only they could switch places so she could serve the Ancestral Master instead. However, that was not her decision to make. If the Ancestral Master summoned her, she had to obey, even if it meant her demise. The world seemed utterly chaotic—what you desire often eludes you, while what you don’t seek comes your way.
As she walked, her footsteps caught the girl’s attention. Mu Ni Sheng turned to look at her, and her previously sincere, fiery gaze became cold and disdainful. “You’re still not dead,” she remarked.
Liao Tingyan had intended to greet her but changed her mind. These people were bizarre—they all said the same thing when they saw her. Death? Not likely. She could continue to lie low for another day.
As Liao Tingyan advanced toward the main door of the central tower, Mu Ni Sheng watched in surprise, then with mockery. Although Liao Tingyan had managed to survive until now, it seemed likely she would meet her end at the tower’s base today. Mu Ni Sheng didn’t intervene; she merely watched to see how Liao Tingyan would perish. Recently, anyone who had hastily approached the central tower had been killed. The only person who could stay safely so close was Mu Ni Sheng herself, and she took pride in that.
Liao Tingyan walked slowly to the main door, feeling a bit awkward. Although the Ancestral Master told her to report for duty, he didn’t give her an access card, so she couldn’t pass through the security door. She wondered what would happen if she turned back now to sleep, but still lifted her hand to knock on the door.
Behind her came Mu Ni Sheng’s sneer. Did she really believe the central tower, where the Ancestral Master resided, would open for just anyone who knocked?
To her surprise, the door opened.
As Liao Tingyan calmly entered through that door, Mu Ni Sheng’s haughty, disdainful smile instantly froze. What was happening? Did she really get in? Was that door one that would open simply from a knock? Hadn't it stopped granting access freely since Yun Xi Yue went to see the Ancestral Master and angered him? Why could this junior disciple enter?
Mu Ni Sheng, recalling those who had died upon approaching, was stunned to see Liao Tingyan slip inside right under her nose. Her eyes nearly popped out. In her mind, having thought herself special, she couldn’t accept this newfound reality. In a fit of jealousy, she rushed forward, eager to follow and witness what tricks Liao Tingyan was up to.
But just as she stepped through the central tower’s door, a miserable scream erupted from her mouth, and she exploded into a mist of blood.
Liao Tingyan turned her head, a chill running down her spine. Had that been the scream of the girl outside just moments ago? The door was already closed, and she couldn’t see outside.
The ghostlike, expressionless Ancestral Master stood on the stairs. Noticing Liao Tingyan’s expression, he smiled faintly. “The person outside is dead,” he said. “Do you know why I killed her?” He turned and walked up the stairs, forcing Liao Tingyan to swallow hard and follow him.
"Most of the others I killed had greedy, ambitious, or foolish thoughts in their hearts. They offended me, so I removed them. However, that girl was different; she had nothing. A puppet, deliberately raised to fool me, inherently lacks any true essence. Compared to the visible greed of others, I find this kind of puppet—one that has lost its mind and soul—even more contemptible. I couldn't even muster the interest to kill her, but she was too noisy, which annoyed me somewhat."
He found some interest in sharing these thoughts, personally coming down to take her upstairs and appearing quite conversational.
The first time Liao Tingyan visited, she climbed to the fifth floor and could go no further. But this time, following the Ancestral Master, she kept going up and up, climbing ten floors with no end in sight. She was exhausted, with her tongue hanging out like a dog’s. How could this feeble body even call itself a cultivator?
The initial fear she felt toward the Ancestral Master and the nausea from witnessing another death faded after she climbed ten flights of stairs. She had no energy to think; all she felt now was extreme tiredness, almost as if she might collapse. Being inside this tower was even more uncomfortable than being outside.
The Ancestral Master ahead maintained his leisurely pace, never glancing back. Liao Tingyan clung to the railing, crawling slowly, occasionally peeking at the Ancestral Master’s back. His long black hair hung loose, and he was still wearing that same robe.
Liao Tingyan started to suspect he had never changed his clothes. If so, wouldn’t the hem dragging on the ground be filthy? Black clothing could certainly hide dirt well.
At that moment, Sima Jiao happened to turn his head and look at her.
Liao Tingyan’s face tensed. Wait, he had the truth-compelling ability; surely he didn’t also have mind-reading powers? She felt as anxious as she had during her first job interview after graduation.
“Your courage today isn’t as strong as yesterday; you’re frightened to such an extent,” he noted.
Liao Tingyan wiped away her sweat, thinking it was a good thing she had been more afraid yesterday. Today’s excessive sweating was mainly from exhaustion, not fear.
“Are you very afraid?” Sima Jiao asked.
Liao Tingyan felt her mouth had a mind of its own and responded, “Not afraid, just too tired from climbing stairs.”
This truth-compelling ability of his again! Did it have a setting that forced answers whenever it detected a questioning tone?
Sima Jiao's expression turned somewhat strange. “Tired? From just these few stairs? People from the Demon Realm are too weak.”
Liao Tingyan saw disdain in the Ancestral Master’s eyes. It was the first time she had seen such a clear and easily understood emotion from him.
After climbing another five floors, Liao Tingyan finally collapsed. She assumed the impatient Ancestral Master would kill her, but instead, he seemed to take it as a challenge, standing aside to see how many more floors she could manage to climb.
Slowly, Liao Tingyan crawled up the stairs, feeling as if the Ancestral Master were just a bored observer watching a hamster climb stairs to pass the time.
Finally, she reached the twenty-second floor. This space was still open but enclosed. The most striking feature in the room was a red flame burning within a red lotus, illuminating the entire area.
Liao Tingyan arrived at the central tower on Monday, looking as dejected as a corporate slave. To her surprise, she found her group’s big boss, the class monitor, kneeling there, occasionally calling out, “This disciple has come to serve the Ancestral Master. Please accept this disciple, Ancestral Master.”
Liao Tingyan thought, “What a brave warrior. While she enjoys her vacation far away, this boss willingly confronts that unpredictable ancestor. Her extraordinary psychological resilience is impressive—no wonder she’s the leading boss. This level of ideological awareness truly stands out.”
If only they could switch places so she could serve the Ancestral Master instead. However, that was not her decision to make. If the Ancestral Master summoned her, she had to obey, even if it meant her demise. The world seemed utterly chaotic—what you desire often eludes you, while what you don’t seek comes your way.
As she walked, her footsteps caught the girl’s attention. Mu Ni Sheng turned to look at her, and her previously sincere, fiery gaze became cold and disdainful. “You’re still not dead,” she remarked.
Liao Tingyan had intended to greet her but changed her mind. These people were bizarre—they all said the same thing when they saw her. Death? Not likely. She could continue to lie low for another day.
As Liao Tingyan advanced toward the main door of the central tower, Mu Ni Sheng watched in surprise, then with mockery. Although Liao Tingyan had managed to survive until now, it seemed likely she would meet her end at the tower’s base today. Mu Ni Sheng didn’t intervene; she merely watched to see how Liao Tingyan would perish. Recently, anyone who had hastily approached the central tower had been killed. The only person who could stay safely so close was Mu Ni Sheng herself, and she took pride in that.
Liao Tingyan walked slowly to the main door, feeling a bit awkward. Although the Ancestral Master told her to report for duty, he didn’t give her an access card, so she couldn’t pass through the security door. She wondered what would happen if she turned back now to sleep, but still lifted her hand to knock on the door.
Behind her came Mu Ni Sheng’s sneer. Did she really believe the central tower, where the Ancestral Master resided, would open for just anyone who knocked?
To her surprise, the door opened.
As Liao Tingyan calmly entered through that door, Mu Ni Sheng’s haughty, disdainful smile instantly froze. What was happening? Did she really get in? Was that door one that would open simply from a knock? Hadn't it stopped granting access freely since Yun Xi Yue went to see the Ancestral Master and angered him? Why could this junior disciple enter?
Mu Ni Sheng, recalling those who had died upon approaching, was stunned to see Liao Tingyan slip inside right under her nose. Her eyes nearly popped out. In her mind, having thought herself special, she couldn’t accept this newfound reality. In a fit of jealousy, she rushed forward, eager to follow and witness what tricks Liao Tingyan was up to.
But just as she stepped through the central tower’s door, a miserable scream erupted from her mouth, and she exploded into a mist of blood.
Liao Tingyan turned her head, a chill running down her spine. Had that been the scream of the girl outside just moments ago? The door was already closed, and she couldn’t see outside.
The ghostlike, expressionless Ancestral Master stood on the stairs. Noticing Liao Tingyan’s expression, he smiled faintly. “The person outside is dead,” he said. “Do you know why I killed her?” He turned and walked up the stairs, forcing Liao Tingyan to swallow hard and follow him.
"Most of the others I killed had greedy, ambitious, or foolish thoughts in their hearts. They offended me, so I removed them. However, that girl was different; she had nothing. A puppet, deliberately raised to fool me, inherently lacks any true essence. Compared to the visible greed of others, I find this kind of puppet—one that has lost its mind and soul—even more contemptible. I couldn't even muster the interest to kill her, but she was too noisy, which annoyed me somewhat."
He found some interest in sharing these thoughts, personally coming down to take her upstairs and appearing quite conversational.
The first time Liao Tingyan visited, she climbed to the fifth floor and could go no further. But this time, following the Ancestral Master, she kept going up and up, climbing ten floors with no end in sight. She was exhausted, with her tongue hanging out like a dog’s. How could this feeble body even call itself a cultivator?
The initial fear she felt toward the Ancestral Master and the nausea from witnessing another death faded after she climbed ten flights of stairs. She had no energy to think; all she felt now was extreme tiredness, almost as if she might collapse. Being inside this tower was even more uncomfortable than being outside.
The Ancestral Master ahead maintained his leisurely pace, never glancing back. Liao Tingyan clung to the railing, crawling slowly, occasionally peeking at the Ancestral Master’s back. His long black hair hung loose, and he was still wearing that same robe.
Liao Tingyan started to suspect he had never changed his clothes. If so, wouldn’t the hem dragging on the ground be filthy? Black clothing could certainly hide dirt well.
At that moment, Sima Jiao happened to turn his head and look at her.
Liao Tingyan’s face tensed. Wait, he had the truth-compelling ability; surely he didn’t also have mind-reading powers? She felt as anxious as she had during her first job interview after graduation.
“Your courage today isn’t as strong as yesterday; you’re frightened to such an extent,” he noted.
Liao Tingyan wiped away her sweat, thinking it was a good thing she had been more afraid yesterday. Today’s excessive sweating was mainly from exhaustion, not fear.
“Are you very afraid?” Sima Jiao asked.
Liao Tingyan felt her mouth had a mind of its own and responded, “Not afraid, just too tired from climbing stairs.”
This truth-compelling ability of his again! Did it have a setting that forced answers whenever it detected a questioning tone?
Sima Jiao's expression turned somewhat strange. “Tired? From just these few stairs? People from the Demon Realm are too weak.”
Liao Tingyan saw disdain in the Ancestral Master’s eyes. It was the first time she had seen such a clear and easily understood emotion from him.
After climbing another five floors, Liao Tingyan finally collapsed. She assumed the impatient Ancestral Master would kill her, but instead, he seemed to take it as a challenge, standing aside to see how many more floors she could manage to climb.
Slowly, Liao Tingyan crawled up the stairs, feeling as if the Ancestral Master were just a bored observer watching a hamster climb stairs to pass the time.
Finally, she reached the twenty-second floor. This space was still open but enclosed. The most striking feature in the room was a red flame burning within a red lotus, illuminating the entire area.
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