Can You Cultivators Act Normal for Once?

Blurb:

Demons and monsters ravaged the world. Driven by a single conviction, Tang Yuan traveled thousands of miles to Mount Yunye to seek a master and cultivate the Dao.

On her first day, she received the sect's spirit communication mirror and joined the [Heaven-Seeking Sect New Disciples' Array]. She had planned to look up the Guide for New Disciples of Mount Yunye.

Instead, she saw this:

The sword cultivator was fishing for attention in the group, posting a selfie in a sheer top that showed off his chest and asking if it was acceptable to dress like that while cultivating a pure heart.

The alchemist was treating everyone to a feast, revealing that she was an elder's daughter and begging everyone not to call her "Miss.

The artifact crafter was lamenting and bragging about his exceptional talent for refining treasures, saying that using low-grade materials after joining the sect would be a terrible waste...

Tang Yuan, who just wanted some useful information: ?

Damn, she hated people who showed off!

*

The cultivation array was full of useless chatter, and Tang Yuan, who was devoted to the Dao and scorned frivolous talk, didn't hold back when she started roasting them.

Then, during cultivation practice...

The [Pure-Hearted Little Sword Cultivator] with the inverted-triangle physique was punished by an elder for not wearing his uniform, and made to squat.

The [Pure-Hearted Little Sword Cultivator], Lin Fushi, whined, "Elder, Tang Yuan told me I could dress like this."

Tang Yuan, punished to squat alongside him: ?

Wait, you weren't just fishing for attention? You really go out dressed like that?!

Lin Fushi blinked his innocent, big eyes. "So I'm not allowed to go out dressed like this? You're so nice to warn me! Senior Sister, let's stick together!"

At the dining hall...

The [Low-Key Alchemist], who hated being called Miss, dressed plainly but made a spectacular entrance.

[Low-Key Alchemist] Shangguan Mi stood calmly at the center of the crowd. "Today's meal is on me! Let's all be friends, and please don't call me Miss from now on! Especially you, Senior Sister Tang Yuan, my kindred spirit who took me on as a follower. Here, eat more!"

The crowd laughed as they enjoyed the free food. "!!! Long live Miss!"

Tang Yuan, held in Shangguan Mi's arms as she whispered, "I transmigrated into a book and awakened a tycoon System to support the protagonist? This is fun!": ?

What System? What protagonist? Why had this rich girl suddenly set her sights on me and started feeding me rare spiritual treasures?!

Shangguan Mi tightened her grip around Tang Yuan's leg. "There's no System or protagonist. You must have misheard. Senior Sister, hurry and try another one of my purple-grade marrow-cleansing pills!"

While shopping at the Treasure Forge...

The [Light of Artifact Refining], who loved showing off his talent, happened to see Tang Yuan picking out a low-grade spirit sword.

[Light of Artifact Refining] Bai Jiasong immediately stepped forward to stop her and offered her a top-grade immortal sword he'd made himself. With reverence, he said, "Senior Sister Tang, your talent is extraordinary, yet you don't obsess over an artifact's grade. I truly pale in comparison. I followed your advice in the array that day and spent a fortune on rare materials to refine this little sword. If you don't mind my humble work, I'd like to give it to you."

The top-grade immortal sword shimmered with golden light. It was clearly made from a priceless treasure of heaven and earth, and its maker was exceptionally gifted at artifact refining.

Honestly, Tang Yuan was tempted, but after a single glance, she coldly refused. "No thanks, I don't need it."

Even if he truly was exceptionally talented and willing to give her a treasure, she didn't want to get entangled with someone over a sword. She only wanted to cultivate her own Dao.

Seeing Tang Yuan's cold expression and how she treated the sword like trash, Bai Jiasong trembled and admired her even more.

"Senior Sister, do you think the sword has flaws? I thought so too, but everyone else says it's excellent and tells me to sell it. You're the only one who spotted the problem...

Senior Sister Tang, I'll make an even better artifact and earn your approval!"

Tang Yuan: ?

And so, for no apparent reason, Tang Yuan gained another follower.

*

She'd been at the sect for less than a year, and already three pairs of bright, starry eyes were trailing behind her, impossible to shake off.

Tang Yuan could only say, "Can you cultivators please act normal?!"

Determined to stop gaining followers, Tang Yuan left the array and devoted herself to cultivation, vowing not to speak carelessly again. But then she encountered one stroke of good fortune after another...

She saved the [Pure-Hearted Little Sword Cultivator] in the mountain-guarding formation, then happened upon the departed soul of an elder and learned the sect leader's secret.

After accidentally eating a treasured spirit bird from Herb Peak, she and her three followers were punished by being made to clean the sect's ancestral hall. By chance, they encountered a powerful cultivator's legacy and greatly advanced their cultivation.

She entered the Orthodox Sects' Exam, took first place, and received the sect leader's reward: a chance to choose a treasure from the vault. There, she accidentally found a case file and learned the truth about what happened that year...

Ever since Tang Yuan first set foot on the path of immortality, she'd been waiting for this day.

Then, one day, several topics appeared in the [Mount Yunye News Array]:

#Why has the rising genius Tang Yuan teamed up with the demon clan to attack her sect?#

#Shocking! An elder's daughter has defected!#

#Even more shocking! That sword cultivator, that artifact cultivator, and Senior Brother Ji, who cultivates the Heartless Dao, have all defected!#

During her second year at the sect, Tang Yuan helped Ji Jingyun, a peerless genius among the sect's senior disciples, overcome the inner demon in his Golden Core tribulation while they were secluded in a mountain grotto.

Those who cultivated the Heartless Dao were said to be cold-hearted, with nothing in their hearts but the Dao. He was one of only two people in the sect who followed that path.

So after they left the illusion, Tang Yuan thought they would never meet again.

But on the day the sword formation of Mount Yunye blotted out the sky and tried to destroy her soul, Ji Jingyun suddenly stepped in front of her and returned the plain ring she'd once given him.

Just as he had on the night the Orthodox Sects' Exam ended, beneath moonlight like flowing water and shadows falling like rain, he slipped the plain ring onto her ring finger and confessed his feelings.

Their gazes met in silence, their hearts set on the same Dao. Then the two joined hands and faced the Clear-Sky Sword with their rings. Ji Jingyun's voice, cold and broken, stained with blood, rang out amid the rain of falling swords:

"Quantum barrier, activate!"

*

In the sword formation, Shangguan Mi had exhausted herself trying to help Tang Yuan and lay badly wounded on the ground, waiting for the protagonist before her to miraculously escape danger once again. At his words, her eyes widened.

Damn, Senior Brother Ji, did you transmigrate into a book too?

How come you brought world-defying technology with you?!

And wasn't this supposed to be a no-romance story?!!!

[One-on-one] Blurb to be revised

Reader's Guide:

1. The male lead appears late.

2. The tone is two equally strong leads, not a strong female lead with an even stronger male lead. The story follows a normal course.

3. More details to come.

-Completed-

Author Weixu You's The Buggy Delivery Service: Mission Accomplished!

Premise: Keep a level head and keep striving