Chapter 99

Chapter 99: The Road Back to the Sect

Yun Xi’s eyes lit up. “Senior Sister Mu, are the big shots done negotiating?”

“Yes. The beast tide withdrew on its own yesterday, which means the big shots on both sides have reached an agreement.”

“Phew! That’s the best. I was afraid we’d get stuck here and couldn’t leave!”

Yun Xi was genuinely happy.

“Hey, I thought you wanted to temper your skills in the beast tide a bit more,” Mu Ning Zhu teased.

Yun Xi immediately acted obedient and said, “Senior Sister just loves to laugh at me. I know what I can and can’t do.”

Mu Ning Zhu sighed. “I don’t think you do. Yesterday, you fought the hardest, and you kept diving straight into the demon beasts.”

Yun Xi pulled a bitter face. “Senior Sister, honest to heaven, I didn’t do that on purpose. That five-colored python whipped me into the demon beasts.”

Qin Tong Shuang curled her lips and tried to smooth things over. “Martial Uncle Mu, don’t blame Yun Xi. It was her first time fighting so many demon beasts. The fact that she came back whole is proof of her strength.”

“Hah. Next time, don’t be so reckless. This time, we had to thank Senior Brother Sheng. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made it in time to save you,” Mu Ning Zhu said, her tone easing.

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister Mu. There won’t be a next time,” Yun Xi promised immediately.

She could tell Mu Ning Zhu truly treated her like a junior sister and took care of her. With Qin Tong Shuang in the mix, it was like they had already placed Wei Yun Xi within their group.

Their conversation had barely ended when Sheng Yu Hong appeared. He said to everyone, “Fellow disciples, we do not need to go out and meet the enemy today. You can move freely, but do not leave Bao Hua City.”

“Yes, Senior Brother (Martial Uncle).”

Smiles appeared on everyone’s faces. At least it meant they did not need to add more wounds to their bodies.

Mu Ning Zhu turned her head. “Come on. Let’s turn in the mission and exchange for spirit stones first.”

“Okay.”

“Martial Uncles, count me in,” Long Dao Yu immediately squeezed over. He still wanted to act with people he knew well. Zhang Yan also joined their small team, and the five of them headed toward the City Lord’s Manor.

In front of the City Lord’s Manor, there was a long line of people exchanging rewards. Clearly, because fighting had paused, everyone wanted to cash in the demon beast corpses in their hands as soon as possible.

While waiting, Yun Xi also saw Yu Qing Cheng’s group. A circle of admirers surrounded them, and they were obviously very popular.

Qin Tong Shuang, Long Dao Yu, and Zhang Yan had never seen disciples of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion before, so Yun Xi quietly explained a bit to them. In the end, she added, “Don’t look into their eyes. They have charm techniques. Be careful you don’t fall for it.”

“Oh! Got it.”

All three listened and immediately shifted their gaze away.

Yu Qing Cheng seemed to sense something and looked toward Yun Xi’s group. Yun Xi put on a standard sweet smile and nodded in greeting.

Yu Qing Cheng’s phoenix eyes filled with laughter as well. He returned a seductive smile, making Long Dao Yu shiver as he whispered, “The Hundred Flowers Pavilion disciples really are charming. Just one smile made half my body go numb.”

Qin Tong Shuang said coldly, “No backbone.”

“Exactly!” Yun Xi immediately echoed, giving Long Dao Yu a look like she hated to see him so hopeless. He grinned and begged for mercy.

“I’m just saying. I’ll definitely stay far away from them.”

Laughing and chatting, they exchanged their rewards. They also visited Lin Tai Pavilion to restock some supplies, then returned to the outpost.

Yun Xi stayed behind closed doors drawing talismans and did not go out. That afternoon, everyone received good news: the beast tide had completely withdrawn. Bao Hua City’s city-protecting grand array had been opened, and entry and exit were free again.

Sheng Yu Hong shared the latest information.

“The Divine Transformation Stage Ancestors of the western region reached an agreement with the great demons of the Bao Hua Mountain Range to share the newly emerged secret realm.

“However, the secret realm has not fully stabilized yet, and cultivators cannot enter. Several Divine Transformation mighty experts and demon-cultivator mighty experts joined forces to stabilize it for now and seal it.

“When the secret realm stabilizes, cultivators will be arranged to enter. At present, it seems this secret realm allows cultivators of Golden Core Stage or higher to enter. The upper cultivation limit is unclear, and the exact opening time is unknown.”

The Hao Ran Sect disciples discussed it in low voices.

“Looks like we won’t get a chance.”

“Yeah. It takes Golden Core Stage to enter. There must be a lot of treasures inside.”

“Don’t be so down. The opening time is unknown. What if we reach Golden Core Stage first?”

“True. Then let’s work harder.”

When the discussion quieted, Sheng Yu Hong continued.

“Disciples assigned to guard the outpost will remain and complete their guarding mission. Injured disciples may leave after recovering in the outpost. All other disciples may arrange things as they wish. After returning to the sect, you may go claim the rewards for resisting the beast tide.”

“Yes.”

After everyone answered, they dispersed in small groups.

Yun Xi decided to return directly to the sect. The purpose of her trip had already been achieved, and she wanted to go back and enter seclusion.

Mu Ning Zhu asked Yun Xi, “Junior Sister Wei, what are your plans?”

Yun Xi smiled. “The mission I accepted was to come find you all. Since you’re safe, I’m going back to the sect.

“I gained a lot this time. I want to return and go into seclusion to stabilize my cultivation and improve my combat strength. I won’t always be lucky enough to get saved by fellow disciples.”

“In that case, we’ll travel back to the sect together. It’ll be safer,” Mu Ning Zhu said.

“Okay.” Yun Xi agreed readily.

Long Dao Yu wanted to stay a few more days with his idol, Martial Uncle Sheng, so he did not choose to travel with Yun Xi’s group.

When the South City Gate opened the next day, Yun Xi set out on the road back to the sect with Mu Ning Zhu’s group.

After leaving the sect’s territory, Mu Ning Zhu chose to travel by sword flight. Qin Tong Shuang had a flower-shaped flying artifact. Zhang Yan had a flying sword. Even if their cultivation was not enough for true sword flight, they still had tools for travel.

Yun Xi could only accept her fate and take out her only spirit sword. Then she wobbled as she controlled it into the air, trembling as she followed behind them.

The corners of everyone’s mouths lifted, but no one dared to laugh at Yun Xi. In the end, Mu Ning Zhu flew over beside Yun Xi and taught her the trick to sword flight.

Yun Xi clenched her teeth and persisted. She knew she had to learn sword flight. It was a required skill for cultivators. No one would take care of her when she needed to run for her life.

Luckily, she had a wind spiritual root and was naturally compatible with wind. Once she learned to use wind to steady her body, sword flight became smoother. Then she tried to speed up so she could match Mu Ning Zhu’s flying pace.

After two days, Yun Xi basically mastered the essentials of sword flight. Because sword flight consumed spiritual energy, they would land to rest after flying for a while.

When they reached areas where sword flight was not possible, they walked instead.

Three days later, they reached Wan Ruo Forest. It was a dense woodland. Once they passed through it, they would reach Wan Ruo City, a necessary stop on their way back to the sect.

Flying over Wan Ruo Forest was unrealistic. They would be attacked by the flying beasts living there. So everyone consciously put away their flying artifacts and entered the forest on foot.

Before nightfall, the four of them had walked one fifth of the way through. Then they found a place to camp, planning to continue at daybreak.

That night, none of them slept deeply. They used meditation instead of rest, and Zhang Yan took first watch.

In the middle of the night, the four of them were startled awake by the sound of fighting.