Chapter 211: I Want You to Swear an Oath Before You Leave
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Si Tu Xuan, though an outsider to this dispute, could barely tolerate what he was hearing.
Lan Zi Yu had clearly been at fault. Yet, instead of reflecting on his mistakes, he twisted the truth to suit himself, as if the world revolved around him.
Yu Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes, I hit you. What are you going to do about it?”
“Apologize! You must apologize to me, or you’re not leaving here!” Lan Zi Yu demanded coldly, his voice sharp and filled with anger.
“Daoist Yu, you don’t have to apologize to him! He’s not a good person!” Si Tu Xuan interjected hastily, worried that Yu Zhao might relent. To prove his point, he recounted the details of the incident, emphasizing how Lan Zi Yu intercepted the Black Spirit Ginseng, even though Si Tu Xuan had discovered it first.
For a fleeting moment, Lan Zi Yu’s expression faltered, but he quickly masked it.
An unclaimed item belongs to the one who can take it.
Si Tu Xuan letting the Black Spirit Ginseng escape simply proved he wasn’t capable enough. How could he blame Lan Zi Yu for seizing the opportunity?
“Hand over the Black Spirit Ginseng,” Yu Zhao said, her voice icy as she fixed her gaze on him.
“Why should I?” Lan Zi Yu’s face turned a darker shade of fury. Not only did Yu Zhao refuse to apologize, but she also had the audacity to demand the ginseng from him. Her disdain for him was clear.
“Because I’m stronger than you. If you refuse, I don’t mind taking it myself,” Yu Zhao replied.
“Yu Zhao! Are you really willing to turn against me for an outsider? Think carefully—you’ll regret this!” Lan Zi Yu’s tone was a mix of threat and warning.
Yu Zhao answered with a cold smile.
Lan Zi Yu, unable to contain his anger, pulled the Black Spirit Ginseng from his storage space and threw it violently to the ground. “Fine! From this day on, we are done. Don’t ever expect anything from me again!”
With that, he turned to leave.
“Wait,” Yu Zhao called out suddenly.
Lan Zi Yu’s eyes glimmered with a brief sense of triumph. He turned back with a feigned air of indifference. “What? Regretting it already?”
“No,” Yu Zhao said with a faint smile. “I just want you to swear an oath before you go.”
Lan Zi Yu’s history of going back on his word was well-known. Yu Zhao no longer trusted his empty declarations.
“…Unbelievable!” Lan Zi Yu’s face alternated between shades of pale and dark, a flash of panic briefly flickering in his eyes. In the end, he fled in haste, his departure more akin to an escape.
Yu Zhao clicked her tongue lightly, used her spiritual energy to pick up the Black Spirit Ginseng, and tossed it into Si Tu Xuan’s arms.
Si Tu Xuan held the ginseng, overwhelmed by emotion. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
“You’re injured. Stay here and rest for two days before continuing your journey. This is where we part ways. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”
The Floating Island had only recently opened, and Yu Zhao aimed to gather more heavenly treasures without the complications of traveling with a companion.
Though a bit disappointed, Si Tu Xuan understood her intent. He smiled and said, “Thank you, Daoist Yu, for your help. Until we meet again.”
Yu Zhao nodded, then, like a streak of light, disappeared into the distance.
As soon as she was gone, Si Tu Xuan, feeling drained, sank to the ground, fatigue evident on his face. He glanced at the Black Spirit Ginseng in his hands and couldn’t help but smile.
“A blessing in disguise,” he murmured.
The ancestors were right—misfortune and fortune are two sides of the same coin.
Meanwhile, an awkward silence lingered over the Endless Sea. The Sect Master of Ji Yuan pretended to study the sky and ground, avoiding eye contact with the other sect leaders. His old face burned with embarrassment.
What a disgrace!
Lan Zi Yu, as the second disciple of Master Qing Yan, enjoyed monthly allowances of ten mid-grade spirit stones, yet somehow he had grown into such a petty character. Competing with Si Tu Xuan for the ownership of the Black Spirit Ginseng was one thing, but why treat a former junior sister with such venom? His lack of tolerance was appalling.
Sect Master Ji Yuan was baffled.
The other sect leaders shared his sentiments.
The disciples of Master Qing Yan were reputed to be prodigies, outstanding talents admired by all. Yet, the reality often contrasted with these lofty rumors.
Quan Ye and Lan Zi Yu, two of his pupils, were considered decent talents by ordinary standards. However, each had glaring flaws in their temperament. Compared to the extraordinary Yu Zhao, their achievements paled in comparison—like fireflies attempting to rival the brilliance of the moon.
Any discerning individual would naturally choose Yu Zhao over the others, but Master Qing Yan defied expectations, dismissing his most promising disciple. What could possibly explain this baffling decision? No one could fathom his reasoning, no matter how much they speculated.
Master Qing Yan remained expressionless, his thoughts a storm beneath the calm exterior. From the moment Yu Zhao stepped onto the Floating Island, her every move seemed to challenge his authority and undermine his decisions. His frustration was undeniable, but it was mingled with curiosity.
How had Yu Zhao transformed so drastically in just a few short years? His memories of her were of a talented yet sluggish student. When he taught her the Bright Moon Over the Sea Technique, her progress was excruciatingly slow. She struggled to grasp even the basics, often failing to complete her assignments on time. Over time, Master Qing Yan lost patience and ceased paying her much attention.
Yu Zhao’s sudden rise to prominence was both startling and unforeseen. If she had displayed her brilliance earlier, he might never have expelled her. Was her outstanding performance in the cultivation competition a form of revenge against him? These thoughts preoccupied Master Qing Yan, his mind spinning in endless circles.
…
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
During her time on the Floating Island, Yu Zhao achieved moderate success, but the Longevity Tree remained elusive. Along the way, she encountered notable cultivators like Yao Wu Ji, Mo Ci, and Liu Zheng. These meetings were brief—polite exchanges of information followed by a tacit agreement to continue their searches independently.
One day, Yu Zhao stumbled upon a concealed cave beneath a cliff. Inside was a dark river of unknown origin, its roof adorned with a mesmerizing array of stalactites and stalagmites. After examining a sample of each, Yu Zhao concluded their spiritual energy was negligible and ventured further into the cave.
The cave was eerily silent, save for the rhythmic dripping of water from the stalactites.
Drip, drip…
Her steps suddenly halted.
Looking down, Yu Zhao spotted a patch of grayish-green sludge. Its color blended with the stone walls, making it nearly invisible. This was the excrement of some demonic beast. Alert, she kept her Heart-Protecting Mirror hidden within her sleeve, her vigilance heightened.
After turning two corners, the passage opened into a cavernous space. Yu Zhao gazed at the expansive stone wall, her breath catching as she spotted thousands of translucent, semi-circular objects clinging to its surface.
“Is that… White Jade Swallows’ Nests?” she whispered in awe.
White Jade Swallows’ Nests were a legendary treasure, renowned for their restorative properties. A single nest was said to rival a third-grade pill for enhancing beauty and vitality. The sight of thousands of such nests before her was enough to ignite a fierce greed in her heart, even with her experience from two lifetimes.
Yet, the soft fluttering of White Jade Swallows’ wings snapped her out of her daze. The nests varied—some were dry remnants from years past, while others were freshly built, sticky and moist. Among the newer nests, some contained White Jade Swallows tending to their young.
Though only second-tier beasts, White Jade Swallows lived in colonies. If startled, their retaliation would be overwhelming. Yu Zhao knew she couldn’t afford to act recklessly. Harvesting the nests required patience, strategy, and precision. Only then could she avoid provoking the deadly swarm.