Chapter 090
Chapter 90: It Seems You Dislike Me; I’ll Just Go Then
Seeing Shi Zi Chu’s expression of mild satisfaction, Meng Xi Yu spoke about what would come next, “Regarding the reckless gifting of contribution points, the Disciplinary Hall has already stepped in to investigate the Mission Hall. Chu Zhi Rou and the others are now being questioned there.”
In the Jade Void Sect, contribution points were even more precious than spirit stones. Every mission was hard-earned, and no fool would easily hand their points away.
Allowing contribution points to fall into chaos was detrimental to the sect’s growth.
Shi Zi Chu raised an eyebrow slightly as Meng Xi Yu’s gaze suddenly sharpened. [He truly deserves to be the young sect master.]
“Peak Master Kui Lian of Flame Sun Peak also paid a visit to the Disciplinary Hall,” Meng Xi Yu said, giving Shi Zi Chu a searching glance from head to toe. “Since when did you become involved with Peak Master Kui Lian?”
Peak Master Kui Lian had ascended smoothly to her position, undoubtedly aided behind the scenes by Venerable Xing Lan.
Yet Venerable Xing Lan usually didn’t interfere in such trivial matters, so the true mastermind was plainly evident.
Shi Zi Chu gave a mysterious smile.
Meng Xi Yu didn’t press further when she saw Shi Zi Chu had no intention of explaining.
“You needn’t worry about matters regarding the Ten Thousand Visions Realm; Father is already researching it,” Meng Xi Yu said. “When I get the information, I’ll come and review it with you.”
“Master is looking into it as well.”
Speaking of the Ten Thousand Visions Realm, Shi Zi Chu pressed her lips together gently and continued, “Tell Senior Uncle Meng that the lotus is fundamentally a magic artifact.”
Xing Lan might not give Meng Xi Yu face, but he certainly wouldn’t ignore Sect Master Meng.
Meng Xi Yu nodded.
After Meng Xi Yu left, Shi Zi Chu began walking toward the rear mountain. Just then, the communication talisman at her waist lit up again.
“I’ve uncovered quite a bit; would you like to see it?”
Ye He Qi’s warm and elegant voice emerged from the talisman.
Shi Zi Chu asked, “Is it about the Ten Thousand Visions Realm?”
“Yes.”
Shi Zi Chu considered for a moment before responding, “I’ll inform Master first.”
The brief exchange ended, and she went to find Xing Lan at the rear mountain.
Unfortunately, after searching everywhere and finding no one, Shi Zi Chu left a paper slip in the main hall and departed.
…
Disciplinary Hall.
Peak Master Kui Lian sat off to the side while the Hall Master on the main seat flipped through records, his astonishment growing the more he read. He couldn’t help but secretly marvel at how Chu Zhi Rou truly deserved to be Yu Wen Ying’s personal disciple!
“Flame Sun Peak handles the distribution of magic artifacts for all Jade Void Sect disciples,” Peak Master Kui Lian declared righteously. “Though these items were left by the previous Peak Master, their materials were taken from public funds. They must be reclaimed!”
Since Yu Wen Ying was dead, wasn’t it up to her to decide whether it was public or private?
In any case, Chu Zhi Rou couldn’t be allowed to benefit from these artifacts!
Chu Zhi Rou, kneeling on the cold stone floor, didn’t dare utter a sound. Her lowered eyes surged with hatred.
[That old woman Kui Lian is clearly jealous of me receiving Senior Uncle Yu Wen’s favor! She’s definitely acting out of spite because she couldn’t win his affection!]
If Kui Lian knew what Chu Zhi Rou was thinking, she’d probably slap her hard a few times.
“Peak Master Kui Lian is right,” the Hall Master closed the book. “Chu Zhi Rou, return those magic artifacts, and the Disciplinary Hall will clear you of guilt!”
Chu Zhi Rou clenched her teeth and protested, “Those were clearly gifted to me by Senior Uncle Yu Wen! On what grounds—”
Kui Lian impatiently slapped her across the face.
In the past, Kui Lian restrained herself for the sake of Venerable Xing Lan. But now, Chu Zhi Rou was just an outer sect disciple. How dare a mere outer sect disciple cause such a fuss?
The Hall Master coughed lightly, “Please calm down, Peak Master Kui Lian. Although Chu Zhi Rou is at fault, she is still a disciple of Rising Succession Peak.”
Kui Lian sneered coldly and gave a blunt ultimatum, “Return the artifacts, or I will take this directly to Venerable Xing Lan!”
Chu Zhi Rou instantly panicked.
Master was already angry. If this mess reached Master and Shi Zi Chu fanned the flames even slightly, wouldn’t she end up expelled?
[No! That absolutely can’t happen!]
With a clattering sound, several precious magic artifacts dropped onto the floor.
Even the worst among these artifacts was mystic-rank, and the finest reached heaven-rank.
One had to admit, Yu Wen Ying had been generous.
Peak Master Kui Lian almost vomited blood at the sight.
It was bad enough that the magic artifacts she’d painstakingly refined had been forcibly taken; even worse, Yu Wen Ying had used them to court Chu Zhi Rou’s favor?!
[Damn it!]
She would melt these artifacts down! Melt them all down!!!
“After verification, kindly send these back to me,” Peak Master Kui Lian said with clear disgust, then stood and left.
The Hall Master continued with the interrogation after seeing Kui Lian off.
The matters of the contribution points and yesterday’s incidents all required investigation and punishment.
…
Supreme Virtue City.
Ye Clan Study Room.
Shi Zi Chu had arrived swiftly using a teleportation talisman.
Sitting in a curved wooden chair, she began to look through the materials Ye He Qi had gathered.
Ye He Qi handled some documents nearby, and neither disturbed the other.
By the time Ye He Qi finished one stack, Shi Zi Chu had just finished reading.
“Is the Ten Thousand Visions Realm truly so dangerous?” Shi Zi Chu asked, setting down the jade slip and lifting her head toward Ye He Qi, her thoughts stirring.
[If Ye He Qi dies inside the Ten Thousand Visions Realm, would it affect me?]
“If it weren’t dangerous, it wouldn’t frighten so many venerables,” Ye He Qi smiled faintly. “You needn’t worry about the shared life and death talisman, Daoist Shi. As long as the lotus isn’t lost, even dying within the three thousand worlds would just result in cultivation regression at worst.”
“What does it take to truly die, then?” Shi Zi Chu questioned further.
“You must lose the lotus, fail your mission, and die inside the three thousand worlds simultaneously,” Ye He Qi explained. “Only when all three conditions are met will death be permanent.”
Shi Zi Chu instantly relaxed.
[If he meets all three conditions, he wouldn’t be Ye He Qi anymore.]
Seeing Shi Zi Chu visibly relieved, Ye He Qi’s smile grew gentler, “Perhaps we might still end up cooperating.”
Shi Zi Chu shrugged lightly, “With three thousand worlds in the Ten Thousand Visions Realm, we likely won’t even land in the same world.”
She was well aware of her own luck.
Ye He Qi chuckled quietly, not pushing the matter further.
Just as Shi Zi Chu prepared to leave, the communication talisman lit up yet again.
“I won’t disturb Clan Chief Ye further.”
Shi Zi Chu stood up and promptly left.
Leaving the Ye Clan estate, she activated the talisman again.
“Qing Qing, about the Ten Thousand Visions Realm—where are you? I’ll bring the materials to you.”
Jiang Wan Sheng’s cool voice sounded from the talisman.
Shi Zi Chu thought for a moment, then asked, “Are you at Jiang Clan?”
Jiang Wan Sheng softly replied, “Mm.”
Jiang Clan was in Upper Waters City, and with Aunt Lin expecting, it would be impolite not to visit.
“I’ll come to Jiang Clan.”
“I’ll wait at the gate for you!”
Ending their chat, Shi Zi Chu communicated briefly with Xue Gu as she left the city.
After teleporting directly to Upper Waters City, she quickly headed toward Jiang Clan.
At Jiang Clan, Jiang Wan Sheng held Shi Zi Chu’s hand tightly as they entered, a subtle joy shining from her brows.
Along the way, countless shocked gazes fell upon them.
Shi Zi Chu endured for a moment before gently freeing her hand and lightly patting Jiang Wan Sheng’s lingering fingers, “Materials.”
“Oh,” Jiang Wan Sheng responded, handing over a jade slip.
Shi Zi Chu read the slip as she followed Jiang Wan Sheng, finishing it just as they arrived at Lin Qing Yu’s residence.
Lin Qing Yu’s courtyard was understated yet luxurious. Shi Zi Chu spotted Aunt Lin lounging unchanged on a beauty couch, eyes half-closed in the sun.
“Aunt Lin.”
Lin Qing Yu opened one eye lazily, then closed it again. Her sweet, graceful voice drawled slowly, “Little girl, you’ve grown up; quite the transformation.”
Shi Zi Chu laughed as she approached, feigning playful complaint, “Aunt Lin won’t even open her eyes to look at me? It seems you dislike me; I’ll just go then.”
“You little rascal,” Lin Qing Yu opened her eyes, smiling gently yet exasperatedly at the grown-up girl. “Come sit here.”
Shi Zi Chu smiled happily as she walked over and sat beside her.