Chapter 56

Chapter 56: A Plain and Simple Way to Say Thanks
Xiu Luo was like a wilted flower, her spirit fading fast, which made Elder Hou beside her panic.

In his eyes, among all the Inner Disciples, Xiu Luo was the one with the most potential.

He had picked Xiu Luo on purpose to rub down Yu Zhao’s sharp edge. At the same time, he wanted to help Xiu Luo make a name for herself and increase her chances of becoming a Personal Disciple.

But things had not gone the way he planned at all.

If Xiu Luo lost her fighting spirit because of this and her Dao heart shattered, he would become a sinner through the ages.

[No, no, this won’t do!] Elder Hou was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan and had no idea what to do.

Yu Zhao stepped forward and stopped in front of Xiu Luo: “Didn’t you want to become a Personal Disciple? You’re giving up this fast?”

Xiu Luo lowered her head and said nothing.

Yu Zhao’s face stayed calm, but her heart was thumping.

[Did I really hit her that hard?]

She had only wanted to test the effect of her Illusion Art. She had never meant to crush Xiu Luo’s confidence.

Yu Zhao thought for a moment, then asked: “Do you know Su Ming?”

Xiu Luo’s ears twitched.

Su Ming?

Of course she knew him.

He was Master Qing Yan’s third disciple.

He was filthy rich and spent money like water. He was the biggest patron of the Five Elements Market.

[Why is Yu Zhao suddenly bringing him up?]

Yu Zhao said calmly: “Su Ming was also caught by my Illusion Art once. He even talked to a wooden post for a long time.”

Yu Zhao had never planned to protect Su Ming’s reputation. The fact that she was not adding extra details already showed how broad-minded she was.

She went on: “Think about it. Neither of you could break my Illusion Art. That means your strength is about the same. Since he could become a Personal Disciple, you should believe that you can do it too.”

“Huh?”

Yu Zhao’s strange way of comforting people completely looped Xiu Luo.

She felt that what Yu Zhao said made a lot of sense, but also that something seemed off.

She lifted her watery eyes and looked toward Elder Hou for help.

What could Elder Hou do?

He was in a tight spot too.

He could not admit in front of so many disciples that Xiu Luo and Su Ming were on the same level. Wouldn’t that be a slap to Master Qing Yan’s face?

He made a vague sound, then nodded a little. It looked like he agreed, but in fact he had not said anything at all.

But Xiu Luo did not think that deeply. Right now, she urgently needed to rebuild her confidence.

Seeing even Elder Hou agree with Yu Zhao’s words, she suddenly straightened up.

So she was not that useless after all.

She took a deep breath and looked straight at Yu Zhao: “Thank you.”

Yu Zhao’s appearance had pulled her out of her arrogant state. Now she clearly understood that there was still a big gap between her and those strong Personal Disciples.

But Yu Zhao had also brought her new hope.

As long as she cultivated hard, one day she would also become a Personal Disciple, an even stronger Personal Disciple than Su Ming.

Yu Zhao smiled, her eyes bending: “You’re welcome. But if you really want to thank me, then give this little courtyard to me.”

Only now did Yu Zhao reveal her real purpose for coming.

Xiu Luo: [?]

The Inner Disciples who had been listening in confusion: [?]

The topic had changed too fast. They could not keep up.

Yu Zhao kept a polite smile.

Xiu Luo finally reacted and nodded quickly like a pecking chick: “Of course, no problem. I’ll move out right away.”

She did not want to go through such an embarrassing thing a second time.

As long as it was something Yu Zhao wanted, she would give it all to her.

Elder Hou said tiredly: “Since your place to live has been settled, I’ll go now. You stay here and slowly get used to it.”

He felt exhausted.

He did not want to see Yu Zhao again.

[Is this why the Sect Master refused to let Yu Zhao go to the Main Peak?]

[Does he think she stirs up too much trouble?]

“Respectfully sending Elder Hou off.”

As the group of disciples bowed and saluted, Elder Hou waved his sleeve and left without taking even a cloud with him.

Xiu Luo went back into the courtyard and quickly packed up her things, putting them all into her Storage Pouch. After taking one last reluctant look at the room, she walked out of the courtyard and said to Yu Zhao, who was standing at the gate: “From now on, it belongs to you.”

Xiu Luo looked lonely, her head drooping. She was like a homeless stray puppy, which made Yu Zhao feel a bit embarrassed.

Yu Zhao tried to invite her: “Do you want to stay and have a cup of tea?”

Xiu Luo: […]

[There is really no need.]

She let out a long breath: “Maybe next time. I have to go find a place to stay too.”

Yu Zhao could hear a faint killing intent in her last sentence.

Yu Zhao instantly understood.

She gave a pitying look at the Inner Disciples who were still gathered outside to watch the show, then nodded to Xiu Luo, walked into the courtyard, and closed the fence behind her.

In that moment, the noise of the world was shut outside, and Yu Zhao’s ears finally became quiet.

Yu Zhao first walked a circle around the ancient tree that interested her the most.

Standing under its shade, she felt a cool air wash over her.

Yu Zhao was very satisfied. She walked another circle along the fence, then finally went into the house.

There were three rooms in the courtyard. The one in the middle was the main hall. The room on the right was a quiet room for cultivation, and the one on the left was the living room. The layout and size of each room were about the same.

After Yu Zhao finished checking the layout, she left a Divine Sense Mark on the Restriction Ward stone that controlled the courtyard’s Restriction Ward.

At once, every plant and tree inside the courtyard fell under her control.

After gaining control of the courtyard, the first thing Yu Zhao did was enter the quiet room and activate its Restriction Ward.

When she felt the quiet room get wrapped in an invisible barrier, Yu Zhao finally relaxed. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out the Storage Pouch that Sect Master Ji Yuan had given her.

A wisp of Divine Sense slipped silently into the Storage Pouch.

Yu Zhao had already guessed that the payment from Sect Master Ji Yuan would not be a small amount. But when she saw the Spirit Stones piled up like a small mountain inside the Storage Pouch, the tears at the corners of her eyes almost flowed out from the corners of her mouth instead.

“Senior Sister Zhou, from now on, you are my one and only Senior Sister!”

She had to admit, Sect Master Ji Yuan’s way of showing thanks was really plain and simple.

Inside the whole Storage Pouch, there was nothing but Spirit Stones, and more Spirit Stones.

Yu Zhao pushed down the excitement of a poor person who had suddenly become rich and counted all the Spirit Stones inside the Storage Pouch.

The huge number hit her so hard that she almost lost her sense of direction from happiness.

With this pile of Spirit Stones, she could soon gather all the materials she needed to refine her Life-bound Dharma Artifact.

After that, she would just need to gather some Spirit Herbs and refine a furnace of Pills. Then she could try to hit the Golden Core Stage.

Putting down the Storage Pouch, Yu Zhao could not help thinking that her luck really seemed to have improved after leaving Lone Moon Peak.

Sure enough.

Lone Moon Peak had been a complete jinx for her.

Her good days were still ahead.

Thinking of this, Yu Zhao’s motivation reached its peak.

She silently recited the Clear Heart Formula twice. After her mood calmed down, she closed her eyes and started drawing Spiritual Energy into her body.

After her Cultivation Level was fully stabilized, she would head out again to temper herself.

Time waited for no one.

…

Outside the courtyard.

Xiu Luo and a big crowd of Inner Disciples stared wide-eyed at each other.

These inner sect disciples had laughed so brightly just now. Now they were crying just as hard.

One disciple rushed forward and shouted: “Senior Sister Xiu Luo, we were wrong!”

“Yes, yes, yes, we shouldn’t have stayed here. We’ll leave now, we’ll leave right now.”

“Senior Sister Xiu Luo, don’t hit me. I’m willing to give you the place I live in!”

“…”

Some were apologizing, some were wailing, and some were crying their hearts out.

“Shut up!”

Xiu Luo swept them with a sharp look.

Everyone fell silent in an instant.

Xiu Luo then looked at the long-haired young man with peach blossom eyes standing at the front of the crowd and grinned.

“Feng Qi Yun, I want your turf.”