Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Leaving the Family

Wei Ling Yue saw his daughter’s happy expression and finally put away his stern face. He said a couple more soothing lines, gave his daughter a gift as compensation, and only then left Zhuo Hua Courtyard.

Wei Yun Xi carried the small box into the cultivation room. She wanted to see how much Wei Ling Yue had bled for this time.

When she opened the box, she saw a pair of ruby earrings lying on brocade. The craftsmanship was delicate, and they gave off a faint aura. One look told her they were good.

“It’s good stuff, but it doesn’t suit me to wear right now.” Wei Yun Xi felt it looked a bit too mature, but she still held them up to her ears to compare.

Feng Xiu praised from the side, “Miss, this is a first-grade defensive artifact. It should be able to withstand one blow from the Foundation Establishment Stage. You just need to refine it before you go to the Hao Ran Sect.”

Wei Yun Xi muttered, “Mm, but the style needs to be changed.”

Everyone loved pretty things, and she was no exception. Besides, it was jewelry that could protect her. There was no way she would give it up.

Feng Xiu spoke at once. “Miss, if you trust me, you can give these to me. I’ll find a refiner to modify them. If we change them into studs, they’ll suit Miss better.”

“Alright. Leave it to you.” Wei Yun Xi put the earrings back into the box and handed the box to Feng Xiu.

After Feng Xiu stored the box in her storage pouch, she looked at Wei Yun Xi, who seemed hesitant, and asked, “Miss, do you still have something you want to tell me?”

Wei Yun Xi nodded. “You said what Zhen Zhu gave me was a Spirit-Melting Pill, and it would destroy my spirit root. But Father said it was just something to make me sick. Is he shielding Zhen Zhu?”

The moment Feng Xiu heard that, she knew the Miss was choosing to believe her, not her own father. She replied immediately, “Miss, Eldest Master Wei wasn’t trying to shield Zhen Zhu. If he said Zhen Zhu was dealt with, then she was definitely silenced. The one he’s protecting is the person who ordered Zhen Zhu to do it.”

“You mean Concubine Du?” In front of someone she trusted, she never acknowledged Du Ruo Lan’s status as Madam of the Wei Family.

“Yes.”

“Then… she did something wrong. Why isn’t she punished?”

Feng Xiu thought for a moment, then tried to explain in words Yun Xi could understand. “Eldest Master Wei isn’t doing this only to protect Du Ruo Lan. He just wants to let it go and keep things quiet, so you won’t hate Du Ruo Lan and her daughter. After you sisters enter the Hao Ran Sect, you’ll still need to support each other.”

Wei Yun Xi shook her head and deliberately put on a deep, mature look. “Sister Yun Qing and I can’t possibly support each other. It would already be good enough if she doesn’t trip me up. Isn’t it just that her aptitude is a bit better than mine? Look at how smug she is!”

Feng Xiu’s lips curved up. It seemed her Miss was very sharp. She knew perfectly well who treated her well and who wanted to harm her.

The next day, the Wei Family gathered the disciples chosen to enter the sect, and Wei Ling Tao gave a rallying speech before they left.

The Wei Family had eight slots this time. Besides the five people chosen earlier, the three newly added were Wei Yun Xi, Wei Yun Ting, and Wei Zong Hao (hao).

Wei Yun Ting was Wei Ling Tao’s eldest daughter. She was already ten years old, and her cultivation had reached the third layer of the Qi Refining Stage. She had four spirit roots-water, wood, fire, and earth. She hadn’t gone to the Hao Ran Sect before, first because the Hao Ran Sect didn’t take disciples when she was five, and second because her aptitude was average. She had cultivated for five years and only reached the third layer of Qi Refining.

But this time, the Hao Ran Sect gave three extra slots. Wei Yun Xi took one, and Wei Ling Tao added his eldest daughter to the list as well.

Wei Zong Hao was a boy from a side branch of the Wei Family. He had three spirit roots-fire, wood, and earth-and his spirit root value was seventy-five. His aptitude was also decent. He had cultivated for a year and was at the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage, a sturdy little chubby kid.

Wei Yun Xi swept her gaze over her future companions, then looked back at Wei Ling Tao, who was speaking passionately.

A quarter of an hour later, the Wei Clan Head finished his speech. The core message was simple: after entering the sect, cultivate well and don’t shame the Wei Family. If they encountered suitable resources, they could send a message back to the clan, and the clan would give appropriate rewards.

Then the Wei Clan Head gave each clan disciple a first-grade storage pouch as the family’s support.

Wei Yun Xi, like everyone else, bound it on the spot with a drop of blood, then checked what was inside.

Inside were one hundred spirit beads, ten low-grade spirit stones, a bottle of Qi Refining Pills, a bottle of Fasting Pills, and a bottle of Healing Pills. The three bottles were all first-grade pills, suitable for disciples who were just starting out.

Wei Yun Xi felt the Wei Family’s preparations were pretty practical. It wasn’t much, but it fit their status. Having too much would be worse, because it would make others covet them.

After that, the eight of them went under Wei Ling Yue’s lead to gather at the Kun Yu City gate. True Lord Yu Feng had said they would depart today and would not delay even a moment.

By then, many people had gathered at the city gate, all there to see off the chosen children.

Yesterday had been the liveliest day in Kun Yu City. Every family that received the news brought their children to the spirit-root test because time was tight. The ones who came were all children from Kun Yu City, along with five-year-olds who rushed in overnight from several nearby villages.

For ordinary people, this was a rare chance. If they were chosen, it could completely change a family’s fate. So they all came with a “might as well try” mindset, rushing in overnight. Some got their wish, and some left disappointed.

True Lord Yu Feng was quite satisfied with this round of recruiting. After the testing, there were seventy-eight children selected from Kun Yu City, not including the Wei Family’s eight pre-selected slots. It was a full haul.

True Lord Yu Feng swept his spiritual sense over them and said, “Everyone, I’m about to depart and return to the sect. I’ll give you one quarter of an hour to say your goodbyes. When time is up, I won’t wait.”

His voice reached everyone’s ears clearly, and everyone sped up their farewells.

At that moment, Feng Jia Qing was holding Wei Yun Xi and talking to her. “Yun Xi, once you enter the sect to cultivate, you still need to be careful. Don’t rush to stand out. You’re still young, so don’t act alone. Try your best to stick with disciples from the Wei Family, the Feng Family, and Kun Yu City.”

He continued, “Competition in the sect is fierce, and bullying newcomers is normal. Don’t cause trouble, but don’t fear trouble either. The Wei Family has some ties to True Lord Yu Feng. When you need to, you can use that to intimidate people. Do you understand?”

Wei Yun Xi nodded immediately.

“Yun Xi, I’ll keep the things your mother left you. After you reach Foundation Establishment, you’ll be able to leave the sect for training. When you return to Kun Yu City then, I’ll give them to you.”

He added, “You’re still young, and your cultivation is low. Having too many treasures will only harm you. You should understand that having treasure makes you a target.”

Wei Yun Xi could only nod again and again.

Feng Jia Qing saw he had said everything he needed to, so he told Wei Yun Xi to return to the Wei Family group.

But Wei Yun Xi pulled out a small porcelain bottle and handed it to Feng Jia Qing, whispering, “Uncle, this is for preparing the soul lamp. Keep it safe.”

Feng Jia Qing understood at once what his niece meant. He felt even more comforted (yu) in his heart. A child who had her own sense was good. He waved his hand, stored the jade bottle in his storage pouch, and said with a smile, “Yun Xi, go gather with them!”