Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Before Leaving

In her last life, Bai Meng Jin cultivated the Qiong Jade Art—an art she had pieced together herself from the Gu Clan’s Clan Secret Art.

The Gu Clan of Bei Ming was an ancient great family, their roots sunk deep into the history of the cultivation world.

Thousands of years ago, a war to seal the devils had torn the realms apart. The scattered Devil Clan forces were driven north into Bei Ming. The two sides made the Ming River their boundary, each keeping to its own shore.

The Gu Clan earned immense merit in that war. Afterward, they guarded the Ming River, protected the peace of the Human Realm, and were honored by all.

The Ming River led to the Yellow Springs. It was not only the border between humans and devils, but the final resting place of souls in this world.

That was why the Gu Clan’s Yin-Yang Secret Art was so formidable.

Bai Meng Jin remembered her mother sighing when she was young: the Gu Clan had been corroded by yin energy for generations, to the point that it affected their fertility and left their numbers dwindling.

Because of that, her mother wouldn’t let her practice the Clan Secret Art. Otherwise, they would have discovered her Jade-Tempered Body long ago.

With a second chance in hand, Bai Meng Jin had no intention of taking detours again. The Gu Clan’s inherited art was the best fit for her. In that sense, whether she joined the Cinnabar Cloud Palace mattered less than it seemed.

Bai Meng Lian leaned forward, earnest. “Sister, going to the Cinnabar Cloud Palace isn’t just for their arts.

“You saved Immortal Master Huo and Immortal Maiden Yue. Perfected Chang Ling owes you. He’ll look after you.”

Her voice softened. “You have cultivation now, but your foundation is still shallow. And your situation is… unusual. Having a Divine Transformation senior watching over you will help more than you think.”

It was said from the heart. Bai Meng Jin felt the weight of that care, and for a moment she didn’t know what to do with it.

“You’re right, Elder Sister,” she said quietly.

Fine. The Cinnabar Cloud Palace or not—it didn’t matter. She had already cultivated the Devil Arts. They could no longer use her constitution as a weapon against her.

After breakfast, Bai Meng Lian dragged Bai Meng Xing off to “discipline him,” while Bai Meng Jin shut herself in to cultivate.

For someone who loved cultivation the way other people loved breathing, wasting time felt like a sin. And with her sudden rise in realm, she truly needed to stabilize her cultivation.

A few days passed.

Perfected Chang Ling summoned the three siblings.

“This is Elder Yi Ming,” he said, indicating the thin, gaunt Taoist standing beside him. “He will handle the Bai Family’s affairs.”

The three saluted. “Greetings, Elder Yi Ming.”

Elder Yi Ming nodded, gentle and composed.

Perfected Chang Ling continued, “We’ve taken stock of the Bai Family’s properties. Houses and shops can’t be liquidated quickly, so we had them valued and converted into spirit stones for you.”

He paused. “As for what’s in the storerooms, if there’s anything you want, take it. The rest will be converted as well—easier to carry.”

Bai Meng Lian bowed. After glancing at her brother and sister, she said, “We don’t want anything in particular. Please convert it all into spirit stones.”

Elder Yi Ming produced a list. “Here’s the inventory. Look it over. If anything seems wrong, speak up.”

None of them had ever managed the household. How would they know what should or shouldn’t be there? But with Perfected Chang Ling present, at least no one would dare to play tricks.

Bai Meng Lian accepted the list without hesitation. “Thank you for your trouble, Elder.”

Elder Yi Ming’s expression eased. Sensible children.

What was most valuable about the Bai Family wasn’t the property itself, but the territory and influence they left behind. With Perfected Chang Ling’s silent approval, Elder Yi Ming had already sent his juniors to take it over. There was no need to skim or squeeze in a place like this.

Once the arrangements were settled, Perfected Chang Ling finally looked relieved. “Something has come up in the sect. I’ll leave first.

“Travel with Elder Yi Ming. Don’t worry—he’ll take care of you.”

Yue Yun Qiao, who had been hovering nearby all sweetness and obedience, blurted, “Master, what could be so important? Can’t you wait a few days?”

“The Sect Master has given an order. How can we delay?” Perfected Chang Ling waved her off. “Pack up. You’re coming with me.”

Yue Yun Qiao bit her lip, eyes flicking from her master to Bai Meng Jin. She couldn’t hide her reluctance. “So soon…”

Huo Chong Xiao snorted. “Why are you making that face? It’s not like you’ll never see her again. Miss Bai is only leaving a few days later.”

“Fine.” Yue Yun Qiao sounded like she’d swallowed the word. Then she turned back, all reluctant sincerity. “Junior Sister Bai, I’m leaving first. I’ll wait for you at the Cinnabar Cloud Palace.”

Bai Meng Jin smiled. “All right.”

—

A few days later, the younger generation of the Yi Family arrived to take over Azure Cloud City. Once everything was formally handed over, Elder Yi Ming set out with the Bai siblings.

There were too many people to travel by flying boat without drawing attention, so they went by land.

The blue roan pulling their carriage could cover a thousand miles in a day. At most, five or six days would get them to the Cinnabar Cloud Palace.

Before they left, Bai Meng Lian called her brother and sister together.

Her voice was solemn. “The Bai Family only has the three of us left. Let’s not fight over elder or younger. We’ll divide what remains equally.”

Bai Meng Xing lit up. “Great! Great!”

He’d been half-convinced Elder Sister would leash him for the rest of his life. So there was still inheritance to split?

Does that mean he could finally buy whatever he wanted?

Like Elder Yi Ming’s blue roan. It was so cool—and he’d heard that once your cultivation was high enough, it could even fly.

Bai Meng Lian unfurled the list. “Altogether, it’s 87,000 spirit stones. That’s 29,000 each.” She pushed a pouch toward Bai Meng Jin. “Sister, this is yours. Count it.”

Bai Meng Jin glanced at it and accepted it. “I trust Elder Sister.”

Bai Meng Lian slid another pouch toward Bai Meng Xing. “This is for you.”

Bai Meng Xing opened it eagerly. His smile froze the instant he saw what was inside.

“Why is there so little?” His voice went shrill. “Elder Sister, did you give me the wrong one?”

“No.” Bai Meng Lian didn’t even blink. “It’s 100 spirit stones. Pocket money.”

“Why?” Bai Meng Xing shot to his feet. “Sister gets 29,000 and I get 100? Where’s the rest?”

Bai Meng Lian arched one brow. “In my hands.”

Bai Meng Xing’s face crumpled. “Elder Sister… you have a cruel heart!”

Bai Meng Jin snorted and couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Serves you right. You need Elder Sister to straighten you out.”

Bai Meng Lian didn’t soften. “Don’t be ungrateful. It’s for your own good. If I hand it to you now, won’t you waste it all?”

She tapped the pouch as if it were proof. “With your talent, you won’t make the inner sect. In the future, you’ll have plenty of places to spend money—pills, magic treasures, who knows what else.”

She wasn’t wrong. Twenty-nine thousand sounded like a fortune, but once you started spending, it melted away.

Take that blue roan, for example. A good one would start at 10,000. How many things could he buy with the rest?

Bai Meng Lian’s voice sharpened again. “And fix your bad habits. If you act like before—calling people bastards, stealing assignments, bullying others—every time you mess up, I’ll deduct 100 spirit stones.”

Bai Meng Xing looked like he was about to cry. “I’ll change, I’ll change. Isn’t that enough?”

Only then did Bai Meng Lian’s expression ease. When she spoke again, it was almost gentle.

“If you were someone else, I wouldn’t bother. But now the Bai Family only has the three of us.” She looked at Bai Meng Jin first. “Sister goes without saying—Golden Core already. Her future is bright.”

Then she looked at herself, almost matter-of-fact. “I’m not as good as her, but officially joining the sect won’t be hard for me.”

Her gaze returned to Bai Meng Xing. “If you don’t amount to anything, won’t you just drag us down?”

Bai Meng Xing’s pride sagged. “Am I really that bad?”

Bai Meng Lian stared at him like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Then what is it? Do you really think you’re some kind of cultivation genius?”

She gave a short, incredulous laugh. “You even believed the nonsense your mother made up?”