Luan Hui is an utterly ordinary mortal. When she learns that applying to a cultivation sect means receiving a monthly stipend, plus full health insurance and retirement benefits, she immediately treks across mountains and rivers to the sect's entrance exam.
When it is time to test her spiritual power, she follows the instructions and places her hand on the testing pillar. A dense swirl of black and pinkish-gray energy lingers around it for ages. The pillar shudders violently, then displays two big red Xs:
[XX. The worst aptitude imaginable. No chance of entering the immortal realm. Thanks for your visit.]
The senior disciple helping with the test advises her to try again next year.
Luan Hui sighs softly, draws back her hand, and watches the last wisp of that energy fade from her palm.
So she really isn't cut out for this after all.
Little does she know, the Holy Son of the Demon Sect has rushed over after sensing her aura. He bites his handkerchief, barely containing his excitement:
Such pure demonic energy!
Such overwhelming power!
Such a humble, unremarkable person!
Ahhhhh, isn't this the demonic genius the Demon Realm has been desperately searching for?!
2.
Luan Hui is inexplicably accepted into the best cultivation sect, and even made an inner disciple. She attends morning lessons and evening training with her senior brothers and sisters, working extremely hard.
But the others can chop down trees and split mountains with a wave of their hands, and they come and go from the sect on clouds, as freely as they please.
When she waves her hand, the tree merely rustles its leaves. When she steps onto a cloud to leave, it instantly turns black, and even starts thundering and raining.
Luan Hui is deeply troubled. She really wants to become a cultivator, vanquish demons and monsters, and protect the people!
Little does she know, a thousand-year-old spirit tree has gained sentience overnight and transformed into a demon. The black clouds above the sect spread from one to another until every last one has turned black, shrouding the sect day and night.
The Holy Son of the Demon Sect, who has been undercover in the sect for years, is so excited he could cry. This person really is exceptionally gifted, and she's improved again!! It's time to bring her back to the Demon Realm!!
The people in the sect gradually realize something is amiss.
Huh, why is the sect full of black energy?
Hey, why are more and more flowers, plants, and little animals on the back mountain becoming spirits?!
Wait, why is the new junior sister wearing such heavy eye makeup?
Luan Hui, bewildered: Maybe I didn't sleep well. These are just dark circles.
The Demon Realm's undercover agent: Ahhhhh, she has a demonic body now!!! The future Demon Lord of our Demon Realm!!
3.
The sect's senior and junior disciples catch Luan Hui and test her spiritual power again. The results stun the entire cultivation world.
In just one short year, she has gone from having no aptitude and only miscellaneous energy to possessing a body suited to cultivation, with pure demonic energy.
And the undercover agent from the Demon Realm whom the sect unmasked turns out to be the uncle-master who taught her to practice day and night. Beaten black and blue by everyone, he waves at her and says, "Hi."
Luan Hui's worldview collapses.
People from the entire Demon Realm, and even the whole cultivation world, take turns trying to persuade her to cultivate demonic arts, but Luan Hui refuses to budge.
They ask her why.
With a grieving expression, she explains:
"When I was nine, the whole village..."
Sorrow shows on everyone's faces. No wonder, no wonder...
"All the chickens in the whole village were eaten by a snake demon!!"
Everyone: "...What?"
Luan Hui declares righteously, "So I swore that from then on, I would never make peace with the demonic path!"
-
Reader's Guide:
A sincere, hardworking heroine devoted to the righteous path x the Holy Son of the Demon Realm
1. The heroine is righteous to an almost absurd degree, while the hero is wicked to an almost righteous degree. He is the Holy Son of the Demon Realm and tries to tempt her into cultivating demonic arts.
2. Not a pure female-lead story. The plot and romance are split evenly, with a focus on the characters' growth.
3. Not strictly one-on-one. A dual-cultivation sect tries to seduce the heroine; the heroine is sexually inexperienced, while the men are not.
4. The world is based on cultivation and ascension, with some modern social rules mixed in. The style is half classical and half colloquial to match the story's tone, so please don't read if that bothers you.
5. I'm an average writer. It's an honor if any lovely readers enjoy my work.
Theme: Whatever path you choose, it won't be the wrong one.
