Chapter 126
Chapter 126: Simply Showing Off
Sheng Yu Hong stood quietly beside Yun Xi, clearly hearing every word in the communication talisman. He could sense the genuine delight in her voice. However, Wei Yun Qing saw things differently. To her, Yun Xi was brazenly flaunting her good fortune—yet she couldn’t deny that it had gotten under her skin.
Wei Yun Qing struggled to maintain her composure, and for the first time, she initiated her departure. With a polite smile, she turned to Sheng Yu Hong and said, “Senior Brother, Yun Xi’s success in becoming a personal disciple is wonderful news. I need to discuss suitable congratulatory gifts with my clan siblings, so please allow me to take my leave first.”
Sheng Yu Hong nodded, replying simply, “Very well, go ahead.”
With a forced smile and a respectful salute, Wei Yun Qing turned and swiftly returned to her courtyard.
The moment she activated the courtyard’s protective barrier, her feigned joy vanished instantly. In frustration, she slammed her palm against the wooden table, shattering it into pieces. Gritting her teeth, she muttered bitterly to herself, “Wei Yun Xi! You’re truly my nemesis! Why must every good fortune fall into your hands?”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew. [How am I lacking? Among the eight clan disciples, my talent is clearly the highest. Why, then, have I always trailed behind Wei Yun Xi, even after nearly ten years in the sect? Now that she’s a personal disciple, our gap will only widen.] This was something she absolutely couldn’t tolerate.
Wei Yun Qing’s eyes shifted thoughtfully, her mind already scheming once more.
Indeed, Yun Xi had intentionally informed Wei Yun Qing of her acceptance as a personal disciple precisely to flaunt her success and undermine Wei Yun Qing’s confidence. She, a mere triple spiritual root disciple, had become a personal disciple, while Wei Yun Qing had yet to achieve anything similar. This fact was bound to sting deeply.
At this moment, Yun Xi wasn’t aware that Wei Yun Qing had already become True Lord Yu Huo’s named disciple. However, even if she knew, Yun Xi wouldn’t care, as a named disciple and a personal disciple couldn’t be compared at all.
Around the same time as Wei Yun Qing, Wei Zong Hao also received Yun Xi’s message. Upon learning that Yun Xi had entered Frostridge Peak as a personal disciple, he felt genuine joy and pride for his younger cousin.
Currently, Zong Hao’s cultivation had stabilized at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, and his alchemy skills had improved considerably. He had no trouble refining common first and second-tier pills, with his success rate steady at sixty percent, earning him the approval of Elder Dan Yang.
Though Zong Hao and Wei Yun Qing both belonged to Alchemy Peak, their residences were far apart. Additionally, Zong Hao had arrived earlier and had quickly forged close relationships with reliable senior brothers and sisters. After becoming Elder Dan Yang’s alchemy attendant, he spent most of his time at the elder’s side, making it impossible for Wei Yun Qing to approach or influence him easily.
Wei Yun Qing’s cultivation level was lower than Zong Hao’s, and she’d joined Alchemy Peak much later. With their different social circles, they rarely crossed paths. Furthermore, Zong Hao had no interest in Wei Yun Qing, actively avoiding her. As a result, despite being on the same peak, they had only met three times.
The first was when Wei Yun Qing advanced to Foundation Establishment and deliberately visited Zong Hao, trying to signal to others that she had clan backing. The second was when she successfully cultivated three third-tier spirit plants, hoping Zong Hao could help her sell them to Elder Dan Yang. The third was after she became True Lord Yu Huo’s named disciple, purely to show off.
Zong Hao remained calm and indifferent. The sect was different from the clan; any schemes Wei Yun Qing had in mind required willing participants. Besides, his cultivation was higher, making her wary. Above all, Zong Hao clearly understood that Wei Yun Qing no longer stood at the same starting point as him, and nothing she did could affect him.
The other Wei clan disciples also received Yun Xi’s message, their reactions mixed yet generally positive. Most felt genuinely happy; after all, Yun Xi’s success meant another influential backer for them on their cultivation journeys.
Every Wei clan disciple currently within the sect sent congratulatory messages back, expressing eagerness to visit Yun Xi’s new home on Frostridge Peak.
After returning the peak master’s token, Yun Xi took to her sword, flying leisurely around Frostridge Peak, searching for a suitable spot to build her new home.
Dian Dian poked out its tiny head from Yun Xi’s arms, sniffing curiously at the snowy landscape before transmitting its thoughts, “Master, is this our new home?”
“It is indeed,” Yun Xi smiled. “You’ve been awake for a year now; have you fully integrated your bloodline inheritance? Can you find a good spot for me?”
Dian Dian wiggled its little nose proudly. “Of course I can.”
Having painstakingly survived its heavenly lightning tribulation and successfully advanced to become a second-tier spirit beast, Dian Dian had awakened the Treasure Sniffing Mouse bloodline. Now, a tuft of golden fur adorned its forehead—a sign, it proudly informed Yun Xi, that it could sniff out even more treasures.
Since then, Dian Dian had comfortably cultivated in Yun Xi’s courtyard, benefiting from the Immortal Spirit Herb and feeling thoroughly content with its steady growth.
However, during Yun Xi’s acceptance ceremony as a personal disciple, Dian Dian had remained hidden and silent in her robes. The aura of True Lord Leng had been truly terrifying. Dian Dian felt that even a mere glance from him could turn it into an ice sculpture. It only dared to move again once that frightening presence was gone.
Yun Xi teased Dian Dian for being a coward, and the mouse generously admitted, “We mice are naturally timid demon beasts. We’ve survived precisely because we run away at the slightest hint of danger.”
Laughing softly, Yun Xi affectionately squeezed Dian Dian in her hand, rubbing its soft fur to her heart’s content. Finally satisfied, she returned to business, “Dian Dian, I want to find a spot halfway up the mountain. Let’s circle around, and you let me know when you find something suitable.”
“Yes, Master!” Dian Dian replied enthusiastically, its tiny black eyes staring intently at the mountainside, sniffing diligently. After fifteen minutes, it squeaked excitedly, “Master, over there!”
Yun Xi immediately descended upon her flying sword, landing amidst a sea of delicate Snow Ice Flowers. She felt an extremely pure ice spiritual energy washing over her, and she nodded approvingly. This place was indeed perfect for cultivation.
Dian Dian proudly explained, “Master, these Snow Ice Flowers are third-tier spirit plants, very precious. Not only can they be refined into pills, but they also purify spiritual energy. This is the best place for your cultivation.”
Then Dian Dian secretly transmitted, “Actually, the peak’s summit has the purest and densest spiritual energy, but unfortunately, that’s where the boss cultivates. I’m quite sure there’s a spirit vein buried there, probably a high-grade one.”
Amused, Yun Xi gently rubbed Dian Dian’s head again. “You’re certainly sharp-nosed. Naturally, Master’s cultivation site must be excellent. He’s about to attempt Divine Transformation, so it makes sense that the spiritual energy up there is exceptionally rich.”
“No wonder Master’s master is so terrifying,” Dian Dian muttered, burrowing back into Yun Xi’s robes. It was chilly here.
From the summit, Leng Ruo Han observed their activities with mild amusement. Sipping his spirit tea, he murmured to himself with a faint smile, “She certainly knows how to choose a good spot.”
Having chosen her future residence, Yun Xi used her communication jade slip to contact Daoist Master Han from the Inner Sect. Upon receiving confirmation, she met him at Frostridge Peak’s entrance, where he personally led fellow disciples to construct her new home, showing great respect for Yun Xi’s new status.
Within an hour, a beautiful courtyard had been built beside the Ice Bloom Flower pool. Yun Xi was delighted, paid generously for the work, and personally saw Daoist Master Han and his disciple off.
Daoist Master Han had handled the matter impeccably, showing both goodwill and proper decorum.
Just as Yun Xi was circling her new courtyard, considering how to set up isolation arrays, she heard her master’s voice clearly:
“Yun Xi, come up to the peak’s summit.”