Chapter 121

Chapter 121: Handling Loose Ends

“Foundation Establishment Disciples traveling outside should have enough strength to protect themselves. It’s very common for disciples to venture out in search of opportunities for breakthroughs. Picking up sect missions while on these journeys is an excellent way to fulfill responsibilities and gain experience at the same time. Most disciples choose this path.”

“Junior Sister understands. Many thanks for Senior Brother Song’s guidance,” Yun Xi responded politely.

Song Ke continued, “Inner Sect disciples typically communicate using jade slips. If it’s convenient, you should acquire a messaging jade slip as well. Messages sent through jade slips are safer and not easily intercepted.”

“No wonder Senior Sister Mu rarely uses messaging talismans. She communicates using jade slips,” Yun Xi said, suddenly understanding. She promptly took out spirit stones to buy her own messaging jade slip. Beside her, Zong Hao followed suit.

After receiving the slips, both exchanged spiritual imprints with Song Ke for ease of communication and then politely took their leave.

“Yun Xi, the Inner Sect truly is wonderful! Monthly cultivation resources are far better than the Outer Sect. Even just one mid-grade spirit stone is a hundred times better than the Outer Sect,” Zong Hao whispered, excitement sparkling in his eyes.

“Naturally! Everyone aims for higher places. Our ambition shouldn’t stop at the Lofty Cosmos realm,” Yun Xi replied calmly.

“Absolutely! The immortal realm should be our goal!” Zong Hao exclaimed, his eyes shining with longing.

Their new accommodations were within the inner five peaks. Zong Hao was fortunate to stay here due to Yun Xi’s presence. With Yun Xi’s cultivation at mid-Foundation Establishment, they were allowed to choose a dwelling closer to the core of the inner nine peaks, where spiritual energy was richer.

Taking a deep breath, Zong Hao marveled, “The spiritual energy here is incredibly dense. It feels like my cultivation grows with every breath.”

Yun Xi wasn’t particularly impressed, given the support she received from the Immortal Spirit Herb, which provided an even richer spiritual environment. Still, she acknowledged that the Inner Sect was indeed incomparable to the Outer Sect.

“Zong Hao, after handling some matters, I plan to go into seclusion for three or four years. What about you?”

Zong Hao wasn’t surprised to hear Yun Xi’s plans. Although she’d advanced through sudden enlightenment, she still needed to stabilize her cultivation and refine her mindset. He had plans of his own.

“I’ve just reached Foundation Establishment, so I’ll need about a year to consolidate my cultivation. Afterward, I plan to take the Alchemy Peak assessment.”

“So, you’re interested in alchemy?” Yun Xi asked, intrigued.

Scratching his head, Zong Hao admitted, “I’m not certain whether I have talent in alchemy, so I thought I’d try it out first.”

Yun Xi nodded approvingly. “That’s good. With two hundred years of lifespan after Foundation Establishment, you have plenty of time to explore. You’ll definitely find your path.”

Zong Hao chuckled, asking, “Yun Xi, after reaching Foundation Establishment, disciples can visit home. When do you plan to go back?”

Even if Zong Hao hadn’t mentioned it, Yun Xi intended to return home. The items her mother left were still stored at the Feng family. She planned to confront that scoundrel father and thoroughly investigate her mother’s mysterious “death.” If he was involved, she intended to settle the old and new grudges at once.

She considered carefully before replying, “I’ll return once I finish my seclusion. Do you want to go together, or head back first?”

Zong Hao hesitated slightly. Since entering the sect, he’d never traveled alone and lacked Yun Xi’s experience. He responded honestly, “After stabilizing my cultivation, I’ll accept some sect missions first to increase my battle strength and exchange for a suitable cultivation technique. By the time I finish these preparations, you’ll probably be out of seclusion. Then we can travel together.”

“Agreed. If plans change, just send me a message via the jade slip.”

After settling the matter, they arrived at their new accommodations.

The Inner Sect provided neat, square courtyards enclosed by fences, allowing disciples to plant spirit herbs and spiritual rice. Each courtyard had three rooms for disciples to arrange freely, equipped only with basic furnishings.

As they placed their identity plates into the courtyard’s array, a gentle green glow rose, verifying their identities. Moments later, Yun Xi saw a transparent barrier appear, likely the courtyard’s protective restriction.

Once their identities were verified, the barrier opened briefly, allowing entry. Zong Hao and Yun Xi nodded to each other, agreeing to meet in half an hour to settle remaining affairs at the Outer Sect before each entering their new homes.

Inside the courtyard, Yun Xi retrieved her identity plate as the protective barrier reactivated. She knew this plate was the key controlling the courtyard’s restrictions, which could even prevent Nascent Soul cultivators from casually probing—a significant layer of safety.

Using her half-hour, Yun Xi planted some spirit flowers to beautify the environment and arranged her three rooms into a guest room, a cultivation room, and a combined talisman-making and alchemy workspace.

Afterward, she changed into her new Inner Sect disciple robes. Still in green, these robes had a refined dark-green and gold trim at the collar and sleeves, making her appear even more elegant. She adjusted her wishful boots to match her robes.

Delighted, Yun Xi conjured a water mirror and admired her reflection. She noticed her features had grown even more exquisite, and she’d grown two centimeters taller, now standing at one hundred sixty-two centimeters.

Although shorter than many cultivators, Yun Xi was content. Thanks to the Interstellar Body Tempering technique, she was still growing, and that gave her hope.

After tidying up, she met with Zong Hao, who had also changed into his new inner disciple robes. The two exchanged smiles before heading toward the Outer Sect.

Steward Zheng from the Outer Sect disciple Hall greeted them cheerfully upon seeing two Foundation Establishment cultivators, “Do you both have business here?”

Yun Xi bowed respectfully, saying, “Steward Zheng, we recently entered the Inner Sect and came to handle some leftover matters from the Outer Sect.”

Steward Zheng glanced at Wei Zong Hao and smiled knowingly, “So it was this Junior Brother who recently experienced a tribulation!”

Zong Hao smiled modestly, cupping his hands, “Junior Brother was just lucky to achieve a breakthrough at the Outer Sect.”

After polite exchanges, they canceled their Outer Sect housing arrangements and returned their rented medicinal fields. Yun Xi didn’t insist on reclaiming the rental fee, considering it compensation for ending the contract early.

Steward Zheng saw potential in these Wei siblings and wished to maintain friendly ties, making the process smooth. Finally, both sides exchanged communication jade slips, after which Yun Xi and Zong Hao departed from the disciple hall.

“Zong Hao, let’s send messages to the others and tell them the good news.”

“Alright, I’ll send the messaging talismans,” Zong Hao agreed, promptly dispatching the messages, careful to include Wei Yun Qing this time.

Afterward, they visited Wei Zong Yu’s courtyard, but he was still in seclusion. However, Wei Zong Jin welcomed them immediately.

Seeing their new inner disciple robes, Wei Zong Jin felt envy, though he confidently knew he’d soon reach that milestone himself, already at the eighth layer of Qi Refining and approaching the ninth.

“Yun Xi, Zong Hao, congratulations on entering the Inner Sect.”

“Thank you. You’ll join us soon enough, Zong Jin. We’ll wait for you inside,” Zong Hao encouraged warmly.

“Definitely,” Wei Zong Jin replied, inviting them to sit in his courtyard.

“Zong Jin, I’ve already sent messages to the others asking them to meet here. I hope you don’t mind,” Zong Hao explained.