Chapter 065
Chapter 65: Who Knows How Things Stand Now?
Shi Zi Chu slept peacefully inside the bamboo hut at the back mountain, oblivious to the turmoil unfolding outside.
After Yan Zhou Bai and Yao Ruo Ruo arrived at Jade Void Sect, Meng Xi Yu was sent by his father to welcome the two visitors.
As for Xing Lan, he had been summoned by Sect Master Meng via a transmission talisman to the grand hall on Jade Void Peak for an important discussion.
Meanwhile—
Chu Zhi Rou, transferred to the Heavenly Tribulation crossing grounds, was currently enduring bolts of heavenly lightning.
Senior Brother Xu Zhou Ye and the others stood anxiously outside the tribulation area, their faces filled with concern.
“Speaking of which, why hasn’t Master appeared yet? I clearly remember Master was present during my tribulation crossing,” Xu Zhou Ye remarked, his brows knitted together anxiously. Irritation flickered in his eyes as he continued, “Little Junior Sister is severely injured because of that poisonous woman Shi Zi Chu. This is definitely not a good time for her to cross the tribulation and form a Golden Core. Without Master protecting her—”
“Pah, pah, pah! Eldest Senior Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Little Junior Sister is blessed by fortune; she can successfully cross her tribulation even without Master’s help!” interjected Hua Ting Li, the fourth-ranked personal disciple.
“Little Junior Sister will certainly succeed!” Ming Xi Su added confidently, though anxiety lingered in the corners of his eyes.
Lu Cang, the fifth-ranked disciple, said reassuringly, “Little Junior Sister will absolutely make it through. Stop worrying over nothing.”
“If not for that vicious Shi Zi Chu, Little Junior Sister would never have been injured like this!” Xu Zhou Ye’s eyes grew fierce as he declared, “She and Young Master Jiang have an ambiguous relationship. I’ll soon report her to the Discipline Hall!”
Hua Ting Li laughed mockingly, “Eldest Senior Brother, Young Master Jiang has neither a dao companion nor a fiancée. A man unmarried and a woman unattached—even if Shi Zi Chu truly slept with him, the Discipline Hall wouldn’t care.”
Xu Zhou Ye glared at him coldly.
Hua Ting Li shrugged, showing no respect toward the Eldest Senior Brother.
Foundation Establishment to Golden Core tribulations were not numerous, and thus, Chu Zhi Rou successfully crossed her tribulation after nearly an entire day.
After the spiritual rain cleansed her, Chu Zhi Rou cast a dust-dispelling spell upon herself, revealing clean but slightly torn robes from the lightning strikes. Wrapped in the cloak Xu Zhou Ye offered, she smiled sweetly and joyfully at her senior brothers.
“Congratulations on forming your Golden Core, Little Junior Sister!” they said.
Chu Zhi Rou happily accepted their praises, her upturned eyes shimmering subtly with pride.
“Little Junior Sister, you entered the sect after Shi Zi Chu, yet you’ve already formed your Golden Core! That waste truly squanders her supreme spiritual root!” Hua Ting Li sneered.
“Fourth Senior Brother, don’t say that,” Chu Zhi Rou softly admonished him with a pout. “Second Senior Sister has a water spiritual root; it isn’t her fault.”
Though outwardly admonishing, deep in her heart, Chu Zhi Rou agreed completely.
Now that she had achieved a Golden Core while Shi Zi Chu was still stuck in late Foundation Establishment, their Master, an exceptional genius, would surely grow disgusted with Shi Zi Chu’s incompetence sooner or later!
Given time, Master would inevitably despise Shi Zi Chu and expel her from the sect!
Hua Ting Li watched his beloved Little Junior Sister pouting cutely and joked, “Little Junior Sister, a water spiritual root makes her a natural cultivation cauldron. She should go to Harmonious Joy Sect—perhaps her cultivation would progress faster there.”
“Oh?” a warm, scholarly voice sounded, carrying an imposing presence despite its gentleness.
Hua Ting Li turned, his playful grin freezing instantly.
Clan Chief Ye!
Ye He Qi smiled faintly, but his refined and striking features radiated icy displeasure. His peach-blossom eyes held a cold indifference.
Hua Ting Li quickly cupped his fists respectfully, stammering nervously, “Clan…Clan Chief Ye.”
Xu Zhou Ye and the others grew tense instantly, hurriedly greeting Ye He Qi.
Noticing Chu Zhi Rou’s sudden nervousness, Ye He Qi smiled gently, “It seems Venerable Xing Lan’s teachings are lacking.”
To openly declare water spiritual roots as mere cultivation cauldrons—such shortsighted idiocy!
Hua Ting Li dared not respond, knowing Ye He Qi himself possessed a water spiritual root. His earlier words had unintentionally insulted Ye He Qi as well.
Unwilling to linger among these fools, Ye He Qi maintained his noble and graceful smile, “Congratulations on your successful Golden Core formation, Zhi Rou. Your Big Brother is truly happy for you.”
Chu Zhi Rou, pleasantly surprised, beamed sweetly, her eyes brightening joyfully, “Did Big Brother come here specially because I formed my Golden Core?”
“You could say that,” Ye He Qi responded gently.
Observing Chu Zhi Rou’s evident delight and gratitude, Ye He Qi suddenly devised a plan.
“Ah, yes, I heard Clan Chief Chu seriously injured Daoist Shi. Venerable Xing Lan was enraged.” Noticing Chu Zhi Rou’s immediate panic, Ye He Qi sighed softly and casually remarked, “Who knows how things stand now?”
Leaving that ambiguous remark behind, Ye He Qi gracefully departed.
—
At Rising Succession Peak, main peak.
Shi Zi Chu woke up to find Xing Lan absent.
After circulating her energy for one complete cycle, she retrieved her star gem.
At the front mountain, side hall.
Meng Xi Yu arrived with Yan Zhou Bai and Yao Ruo Ruo just as Shi Zi Chu herself approached.
Yao Ruo Ruo immediately rushed forward, carefully supporting Shi Zi Chu as though she were a fragile treasure.
“Ruo Ruo, I’m alright,” Shi Zi Chu reassured with a gentle, helpless smile.
Seeing Yao Ruo Ruo’s worried, scrunched-up round face, she added, “Master prepared a medicinal bath for me. I’m already much better.”
Xing Lan’s handiwork was always impeccable.
Yao Ruo Ruo finally relaxed after helping Shi Zi Chu to her seat, exclaiming, “Zi Chu, you almost scared us to death!”
Meng Xi Yu and Yan Zhou Bai, sitting to the side, had no chance to interrupt.
Shi Zi Chu smiled warmly, though lingering fear flickered across her expression as she said, “That ruin was likely left by an evil cultivator—I underestimated how dangerous it was.”
Yao Ruo Ruo sat beside her, angrily declaring, “It’s all because of Ji Mo Li! You wouldn’t believe how outrageous Elder Ji Mo was! Now my mother got dragged into it!”
Shi Zi Chu noticed Yao Ruo Ruo’s anger and leaned slightly toward her, asking, “Did Master vent his anger at Limitless Sect?”
Yao Ruo Ruo stared worriedly at Shi Zi Chu’s beautiful yet pale face and hurriedly explained, “You really can’t blame Venerable Xing Lan for this.”
“After you and Young Sect Master Meng vanished through the teleportation array, we confronted Ji Mo Li…” Yan Zhou Bai recounted what had transpired outside.
They had learned from Ji Mo Li that Chu Zhi Sheng was the mastermind. Just as they intended to confront Chu Zhi Sheng, Venerable Xing Lan appeared. After explaining everything to him, the ruin collapsed, and the two trapped inside emerged.
Shi Zi Chu didn’t quite understand the rest.
“Venerable Xing Lan sent you back, then returned to Eternal Night Forest,” Yan Zhou Bai sighed deeply.
Yao Ruo Ruo continued, “Ji Mo Li was just a messenger. Venerable Xing Lan was fair, proposing Ji Mo Li accept three sword strikes from you as compensation to resolve the matter.”
She spread her hands helplessly. “Ji Mo Li brought Elder Ji Mo instead, who refused outright and demanded compensation through a duel with Ji Mo Li. Venerable Xing Lan immediately struck Elder Ji Mo severely injured!”
Shi Zi Chu leaned back, astonished.
Did they mistake Xing Lan’s peaceful temperament for weakness?
A sword cultivator in early Tribulation Crossing stage!
Elder Ji Mo was truly foolish beyond saving.
“Courting death,” Yan Zhou Bai summarized plainly.
Meng Xi Yu snorted coldly, “Refusing kindness only to face punishment.”
“Elder Ji Mo was gravely injured, so the old ancestor Ji Mo at the back mountain grew angry,” Yao Ruo Ruo scoffed. “But he’s merely at the peak of Great Ascension, unable to trouble Venerable Xing Lan. Thus, he’s targeting my mother instead.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded in realization.
So, a half-step Tribulation Crossing ancestor backed Elder Ji Mo.