Chapter 021

Chapter 21: Leaving the Family

Seeing his daughter’s cheerful expression, Wei Ling Yue softened his stern face and spoke a few comforting words, even giving her a gift as compensation before leaving Brilliant Bloom Court.

Wei Yun Xi took the small box into the cultivation room, curious to see how generous Wei Ling Yue had been this time.

Opening the box, she found a pair of ruby earrings lying on a brocade cloth, finely crafted with a faint aura of spiritual energy. They were clearly valuable items.

“They’re nice, but they’re not quite right for me right now.” Wei Yun Xi felt the design was too mature for her age. Still, she held them to her ears to try them on.

Feng Xiu praised softly from beside her, “Young miss, these are first-grade defensive artifacts. They can block a single strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. You should refine them before going to Grand Righteous Sect.”

Wei Yun Xi mumbled quietly, “Mm, but the style needs some changes.” Everyone loves beautiful things, herself included—especially protective jewelry, which she certainly wouldn’t reject.

Feng Xiu immediately offered, “Young miss, if you trust me, I can take these to an artifact refiner. We can modify them into studs that would better suit your age.”

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.” Wei Yun Xi carefully placed the earrings back into the box and handed it over to Feng Xiu.

After storing the box safely in her storage pouch, Feng Xiu noticed Wei Yun Xi seemed hesitant and asked gently, “Young miss, is there something else you want to talk about?”

Wei Yun Xi nodded seriously, “You said Zhen Zhu gave me a Spirit-Melting Pill to destroy my spiritual root, but Father insists it was just medicine to make me sick. Is he covering for Zhen Zhu?”

Feng Xiu immediately understood the young miss chose to trust her rather than her father, so she explained carefully, “Young miss, Master Wei isn’t covering for Zhen Zhu. When he says she’s been dealt with, it means she was silenced permanently. Who he’s really protecting is the person who ordered her.”

“You mean Concubine Du?” In front of those she trusted, Wei Yun Xi never acknowledged Du Ruo Lan as Madam Wei.

“Yes.”

“Then why isn’t she punished when she did wrong?” Wei Yun Xi frowned in confusion.

Feng Xiu thought for a moment, choosing words Wei Yun Xi could understand easily, “Master Wei isn’t completely shielding Du Ruo Lan. He simply wants peace and hopes you won’t hold grudges against her and her daughter. After all, once you and your sisters enter Grand Righteous Sect, you’ll need to support each other.”

Wei Yun Xi shook her head and spoke with exaggerated seriousness, “Me and Yun Qing? Supporting each other is impossible. It’d already be good enough if she doesn’t sabotage me. So what if her talent is slightly better than mine? Look how arrogant she is!”

Hearing that, Feng Xiu smiled knowingly. Her young miss was perceptive; she clearly knew who treated her well and who plotted against her.

The very next day, the Wei family gathered all the chosen disciples who would enter the sect. Wei Ling Tao delivered a motivational speech before their departure.

The Wei family had eight spots this time. Apart from the five selected previously, the three additional disciples chosen were Wei Yun Xi, Wei Yun Ting, and Wei Zong Hao.

Wei Yun Ting was Wei Ling Tao’s eldest daughter. At ten years old, she had reached the third layer of Qi Refining with water, wood, fire, and earth spiritual roots. She hadn’t entered Grand Righteous Sect earlier because, when she turned five, the sect wasn’t recruiting disciples, and her talent was average, taking five years to reach her current stage. Since the sect granted extra spots and Wei Yun Xi had taken one, Wei Ling Tao naturally added his daughter’s name as well.

Wei Zong Hao, a boy from the branch family, had fire, wood, and earth spiritual roots, each with values around seventy-five—an excellent aptitude. After cultivating for a year, he had already reached the first layer of Qi Refining. He was a sturdy Little Fatty.

Wei Yun Xi quickly glanced at her future companions before turning her gaze toward the passionately speaking Wei Ling Tao.

A quarter-hour later, the Wei patriarch concluded his speech, emphasizing one main point: cultivate diligently in the sect, don’t disgrace the Wei family, and notify the family if suitable resources were found, as rewards would be given.

Afterward, Patriarch Wei gave each disciple a first-grade storage pouch as the family’s support.

Wei Yun Xi, like the others, immediately bonded the pouch with her blood and inspected its contents.

Inside the storage pouch were a hundred spirit pearls, ten low-grade spirit stones, one bottle each of Qi Refining Pills, Fasting Pills, and Healing Pills—all first-grade and suitable for their current levels.

Wei Yun Xi found the family’s preparations practical. They weren’t abundant but matched their status perfectly. Too many resources would attract unnecessary attention.

Under Wei Ling Yue’s guidance, the group of eight left for Emerald Jade City’s gates, as True Lord Yu Feng had declared they must depart without delay.

By now, many people had gathered outside the city gates to bid farewell to the chosen children.

Yesterday had been the most bustling day in Emerald Jade City. Every family that heard the news brought their children for spiritual root testing. Because time was short, only children from within the city and nearby villages had managed to arrive overnight.

For mortals, this was a precious chance. Being selected could change a family’s fate entirely. Many came with hope; some succeeded, while others left disappointed.

True Lord Yu Feng was very satisfied with this disciple selection. Including the Wei family’s chosen eight, Emerald Jade City had yielded seventy-eight children, a bountiful harvest.

True Lord Yu Feng scanned everyone with his spiritual sense and declared, “Everyone, this True Lord will depart for the sect soon. You have one quarter-hour to say your goodbyes. We leave punctually.”

Hearing his voice clearly, everyone hastened their farewells.

Meanwhile, Wei Yun Xi was being advised by Feng Jia Qing, “Yun Xi, even in the sect you must remain cautious and avoid unnecessary trouble. You’re still young; don’t act alone. Stick together with disciples from Wei and Feng families or others from Emerald Jade City. Competition in the sect is fierce, and newcomers often get bullied. Don’t cause trouble, but don’t fear it either. If necessary, you can rely on the Wei family’s connection to True Lord Yu Feng to deter others.”

Wei Yun Xi promptly nodded in agreement.

“Yun Xi, your maternal uncle will keep safe the items your mother left you. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, you’ll be able to leave the sect for training. Return to Emerald Jade City then, and I’ll hand them over to you. For now, you’re young and weak; having too many treasures would put you in danger. You understand the risks.”

Wei Yun Xi had no choice but to nod repeatedly.

Seeing he’d said all he wanted, Feng Jia Qing allowed Wei Yun Xi to return to the Wei family group.

But Wei Yun Xi quickly pulled out a small porcelain vial and handed it to Feng Jia Qing, whispering, “Maternal uncle, this is for the soul lamp. Please keep it safe.”

Feng Jia Qing immediately understood his niece’s meaning, feeling deeply comforted. It reassured him that the child had plans of her own. He waved his hand, stored the porcelain vial away, and said warmly, “Yun Xi, join your group now.”