Chapter 069

Chapter 69: Task Away from the Sect

Today, Yun Xi’s task was clearing one of the meridians in her lungs. This took careful patience, and by the time she finished cultivating, dusk had already fallen.

Yun Xi took a deep breath, feeling her lungs open freely. Satisfied, she moved to put the Immortal Spirit Herb back into her space, but the herb suddenly transmitted a thought:

“Master, the spiritual energy we’ve stored is almost depleted. You need to find a new spiritual vein soon.”

Yun Xi’s hand paused in mid-air. Wasn’t that too ambitious? With her cultivation, dreaming of capturing a spiritual vein might be courting death. Using a cautious tone, she replied, “Little Immortal Herb, your expectations are too high. Master’s ability is limited. Last time we succeeded only because the sect wasn’t vigilant. If we try again, we’ll surely attract unwanted attention.”

“Ah, small places are so troublesome. Even such a meager resource is guarded like treasure,” the little herb grumbled.

Yun Xi didn’t argue. Their perspectives were naturally different.

Shaking its leaves, the Immortal Spirit Herb continued, “Fine, if we can’t touch the sect’s veins, let’s search for one outside. Surely an unclaimed spiritual vein would be safe to absorb?”

Yun Xi considered this suggestion thoughtfully. Indeed, she was struggling to suppress her cultivation, only one small step away from Foundation Establishment. Once she broke through, the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation would reveal her true cultivation level and spiritual roots if she stayed within the sect. Leaving temporarily was essential.

“Little Immortal Herb, your idea is excellent. Give me some time to prepare. I’ll pick a sect mission that lets me go out openly.”

“Good. Make your plans carefully. When you enter a large mountain range, release me. I can sense the location of spiritual veins.”

“Agreed.”

Yun Xi answered decisively, placing the Immortal Spirit Herb back into her space. She cast two cleansing spells on herself and left the Alchemy Room.

“Senior Brother Chu, here’s today’s batch of pills, payment for renting the Alchemy Room.” Yun Xi handed over a small bottle with a friendly smile.

Senior Brother Chu opened it and sniffed appreciatively, then said with a smile, “Junior Sister Wei, your alchemy is quite stable. You consistently produce middle-grade pills.” There was an underlying curiosity in his voice.

Yun Xi scratched her head shyly, replying, “Senior Brother Chu, recently I’ve been trying to refine high-grade pills. I spent all my spirit stones on herbs, but I still fell short. I’ll take on more missions to earn spirit stones and come back to try again.”

“You’re always welcome here. However, if you keep failing, there might be another problem. Next time, I could watch you refine pills and give some pointers,” Senior Brother Chu offered generously.

Yun Xi’s eyes lit up immediately. “Senior Brother Chu, do you truly mean it?”

“Of course. We’re fellow disciples—helping you is easy enough.”

“It might be easy for Senior Brother Chu, but for this junior sister, it’s a great boon. If I’d known you were this helpful, I would’ve asked shamelessly long ago. Today, I’ve wasted another batch of herbs.” Yun Xi sighed regretfully.

Chu looked pleased, reassuring her, “It’s alright. Next time you come, we’ll try it together.”

Seizing the opportunity, Yun Xi pretended to push further, “Senior Brother Chu, that’s a promise. Next time, please guide me well. I’ll go pick more missions now, gather herbs, and return soon.” With a quick salute, she hurried off, as if fearing he might reconsider.

Senior Brother Chu watched Yun Xi depart, smiling faintly. He casually released a message talisman, then returned to resting with closed eyes.

However, once out of sight, Yun Xi’s smile faded instantly. Did they take her for an easy target just because she was young? Chu’s hidden calculations were practically written across his face. Although uncertain if Senior Brother Chu had acted on his own, been instigated, or was under orders, Yun Xi’s suspicions fell first upon Wei Yun Qing. After a quiet period, that troublesome female protagonist had begun stirring trouble again.

Yet Yun Xi had anticipated this development since encountering Wei Yun Qing a month prior at the Alchemy Hall.

Wei Yun Qing had been startled seeing Yun Xi emerge from the hall wrapped in pill fragrance, asking incredulously, “You practice alchemy?”

Yun Xi inwardly rolled her eyes but answered calmly, “Just started.” She had left without engaging further.

Wei Yun Qing hadn’t stopped her, watching thoughtfully instead. After Yun Xi departed, she sought out the attendant disciple, using Alchemy Peak’s Senior Brother Ye as a pretext to inquire about Yun Xi’s rented room logs. She discovered her junior sister had intermittently rented rooms for three years, usually paying fees with refined pills. Curious, Wei Yun Qing had purchased one of Yun Xi’s recent batches—a bottle of middle-grade Spirit Nurturing Pills.

After appraisal confirmed the pill’s quality, Wei Yun Qing’s face darkened considerably. She recalled Wei Yun Ting mentioning Yun Xi’s alchemy, but had assumed her junior sister was limited to simple fasting pills for saving spirit stones. Unexpectedly, Yun Xi had already progressed to refining middle-grade Spirit Nurturing Pills.

Wei Yun Qing’s alchemy, in contrast, was still unstable, stuck producing lower-grade pills, with frequent furnace explosions. Such stark comparison ignited jealousy in her heart.

She then paid disciples at the Alchemy Hall to secretly watch Yun Xi and learned her sister had earned a substantial amount of spirit stones over three years. Although Yun Xi spent most earnings on spirit herbs, Wei Yun Qing refused to believe she hadn’t kept plenty for herself, and now coveted those savings.

The heroine’s reasoning was astonishingly selfish—never considering making her own money, instead fixating on her younger sister’s hard-earned stones as if it was her entitlement.

If Yun Xi knew Wei Yun Qing’s arrogant thoughts, she would likely spit in disgust.

Upon returning to her new residence at the Outer Three Peaks, Yun Xi immediately sent a communication talisman to Hua Xuan Zi. Receiving a swift reply, the two met in a cultivation room the next day.

Hua Xuan Zi smiled warmly, teasing, “Junior Sister Yun Xi, why the secrecy? Do you need my help with something?”

Yun Xi returned the smile. “I do, actually. Could you help me accept a task that requires leaving the sect? Someone’s watching me lately, and going to the Outer Sect Mission Hall would attract attention.”

Hua Xuan Zi frowned deeply. “Who would dare be so brazen?” The Wei disciples had a good reputation in the Outer Sect.

“Ah, it’s family trouble. Too embarrassing to mention openly,” Yun Xi answered vaguely, sipping tea.

Hua Xuan Zi nodded in understanding, handing Yun Xi a jade slip. “Here, pick one. Let me know once you’ve chosen.”

Yun Xi took the slip without hesitation. Sweeping her divine sense through it, she quickly selected a mission and smiled. “Senior Sister Hua, this is the one.”

Hua Xuan Zi’s brows knitted tightly upon reading it. “This task involves finding missing fellow disciples, taking you ten thousand miles from the sect to Treasure Blossom Range. It’s your first mission outside, and the place is far. I’m uneasy about this choice.”

“Rest assured, Senior Sister. There’s a first time for everything. I’ll be careful. Besides, among the missing disciples is a junior sister I know.”