Chapter 071

Chapter 71: One Step Behind

A faint fragrance of green tangerine drifted into Yun Xi’s senses, gently easing her nausea.

After two breaths, Yun Xi felt somewhat better. Looking at the boy, she spoke, “This sachet pleases me. How many spirit stones for it?”

The young lad waved his hands, clearly surprised by her interest, and hastily replied, “Senior, this humble trinket is hardly worth spirit stones. Two spirit beads would be enough.”

Yun Xi could tell the boy wasn’t lying. She casually tossed two spirit beads to him, then lifted her gaze to carefully survey her surroundings. Moments ago, she’d been preoccupied with her sickness, neglecting her vigilance. Thankfully, she was still within the teleportation hall of Treasure Blossom City. Had this happened out in the wild, it would have been truly dangerous.

Yun Xi reminded herself to be more cautious; this wasn’t the sect, after all. She couldn’t afford to lower her guard here.

Luckily, her late-stage Foundation Establishment aura acted as a deterrent. No troublemakers had yet appeared, and the only one who dared approach her was this mortal youth. He had likely summoned his courage only after seeing her in distress, hopeful to sell his sachet.

Fortunately for him, the encounter ended positively. Not only had he avoided offending the senior cultivator, but he’d also earned two spirit beads.

Now, Yun Xi withdrew her gaze from the surroundings and asked the departing youth, “Do you reside in Treasure Blossom City?”

“Yes. This humble one may be mortal, but my family has a cultivator, allowing me to live within Treasure Blossom City,” he replied respectfully.

“Then you’re familiar with this city?”

“Yes. I have lived in Treasure Blossom City since birth.”

“Good. Be my guide for today, and I will pay you two spirit stones. Are you willing?” Yun Xi proposed gently.

The boy’s eyes brightened instantly, and he eagerly replied, “Thank you for your trust, Senior! This humble one is willing. You can simply call me Jiao Zi; it’s my childhood nickname.”

Jiao Zi was ecstatic. He hadn’t expected such fortune today. Usually, all the guiding jobs in Treasure Blossom City were monopolized by children who cultivated. Mortal youngsters like him could only scrape by, selling small trinkets. Two spirit stones were nearly half a year’s earnings, so he accepted without hesitation.

Relieved, Yun Xi instructed him, “First, take me to the city’s shops that sell pills and talismans.”

“Senior, please follow me. The stores in Treasure Blossom City are concentrated along West Street. The largest among them is Xi Zi’s Pavilion—I’ve heard they sell almost anything there.”

Without another word, Yun Xi followed Jiao Zi toward West Street.

Unbeknownst to Yun Xi, just as she stepped into the teleportation array at Grand Righteous City, disciples had already tracked her movements there, urgently searching for her whereabouts.

Meanwhile, within the sect, the mission to Treasure Blossom Mountain—initially for locating missing disciples—had its difficulty and prerequisites elevated. Now, only Foundation Establishment disciples could accept it, and it had been moved to the Inner Sect’s mission hall.

When Hua Xuan Zi noticed this, she hesitated briefly before decisively removing Yun Xi’s name from the mission list.

Two days later, Wei Zong Hao came to hand in his assignment, and Hua Xuan Zi informed him of Yun Xi’s mission cancellation.

“Senior Sister, Yun Xi already left the sect. What should we do?” he asked anxiously.

Hua Xuan Zi quietly reassured him, “It’s alright. When Yun Xi accepted the mission, the requirements hadn’t changed. Her identity token records this clearly. As long as she safely returns, she can easily explain it. By removing her name, I also concealed her whereabouts. Yesterday, Senior Brother Ye from Alchemy Peak came here searching for Yun Xi’s recent missions, but I managed to divert his attention. Yun Xi told me someone was following her, so be sure to send her a message, reminding her to stay cautious. Those people probably won’t let this go.”

Zong Hao’s expression darkened briefly, but he respectfully replied, “Thank you, Senior Sister, for your trouble. You’ve had to bear this worry because of us.”

“Don’t worry about it; I’m merely doing my duty. Just stay vigilant.”

“I will.”

After submitting his collected spirit plants, Zong Hao returned to the medicinal fields. He intended to continue his cultivation while tending the plants. He found that cultivating near the spirit fields greatly enhanced his progress. The rich soil and spirit plants harmonized perfectly with his spiritual roots, making cultivation twice as effective. He planned to attempt a breakthrough to Qi Refining ninth layer in the next three days.

Elsewhere, Wei Yun Qing suddenly lost Yun Xi’s trail, reigniting her anxieties. Frustrated, she angrily hurled away the pill bottle she was holding.

“Hmph! I refuse to believe you’ll never return!”

The very next day, she made a fuss, openly searching for Yun Xi, purposefully letting all the other Wei Clan disciples know.

Wei Yun Ting was genuinely concerned about Yun Xi’s safety. However, she doubted Wei Yun Qing truly cared enough to cause such commotion, so outwardly she appeared anxious but was inwardly calm. Yun Ting believed Yun Xi was far too cautious and steady to do anything reckless.

Finally, when the Wei disciples visited Yun Xi’s rented medicinal field, they found not Yun Xi but Wei Zong Hao, whose cultivation had impressively risen to Qi Refining ninth layer.

Having just completed his breakthrough, Zong Hao performed a cleansing spell before opening the protective formation. “Elder Sister Yun Ting, Brother Zong Han, what brings you here?”

Wei Yun Ting smiled warmly, “Congratulations, Zong Hao, your cultivation has advanced greatly again.”

Zong Hao was no longer the little fatty he once was, having grown into a lean youth. With a radiant smile, he replied, “It’s thanks to Yun Xi. She lent me her rented medicinal field for my breakthrough.”

Yun Qing eyed Zong Hao bitterly; seeing his cultivation now surpassing hers left her simmering inside. Eventually, she couldn’t help herself and asked bluntly, “Zong Hao, have you seen Yun Xi? She seems to have vanished.”

Zong Hao glanced at Yun Qing in confusion, replying carefully, “Junior Sister Yun Qing, don’t speak recklessly. Yun Xi accepted a sect mission, so why would she be missing?”

“A sect mission? Which mission? Why didn’t I…know?” Yun Qing almost said ‘Why didn’t Senior Brother Ye find out?’ but caught herself just in time.

Zong Hao frowned, appearing hesitant. “Considering your relationship with Yun Xi, it’s normal she didn’t inform you. She showed me the mission before leaving; it’s a search-and-rescue task, looking for a fellow disciple. That’s why she left in such a hurry.”

Yun Ting immediately asked, “Did Yun Xi accept the mission to search for missing disciples at Treasure Blossom Range?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“But that mission’s difficulty was upgraded recently, and now only Foundation Establishment disciples can take it. How did Yun Xi manage it?”

“What? How could that be? When I saw the mission requirements, there were no cultivation restrictions. Yun Xi wouldn’t have been able to accept it otherwise. She was also determined because she wanted to find her friend. I was trying to break through to Qi Refining ninth layer, so I couldn’t join her.”

“Her friend?”

“Yes, Qin Tong Shuang.”

The Wei disciples quickly recalled Qin Tong Shuang’s identity and subtly glanced toward Wei Yun Qing.

Wei Yun Qing almost choked on her anger. Qin Tong Shuang was the disciple that Senior Sister Mu from the Outer Three Peaks had specifically brought in to humiliate her, yet ironically, Qin Tong Shuang and her own younger sister had become close friends.

Zong Hao chuckled softly, “You all should know this fellow disciple. Yun Xi informed me privately before she left, entrusting me with this field.”

Wei Yun Ting took a deep breath and concluded, “Alright. As long as Yun Xi didn’t vanish without reason, it’s fine. From now on, if any of us take missions outside, let’s inform each other to avoid unnecessary worry.”