Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan

Shen Sang Ruo whispered, “I’m fine, Senior Sister Su,” but Su Xi Yu ignored her and pulled her close to check her from head to toe. When she found no wounds, she finally relaxed. [Junior Sister Sang Ruo really is soft all over!]

Everyone crowded around and asked her to explain how she got the Frostheart Purifying Pill.

Just then a huge crash sounded outside, like someone kicking a stone door open by force. Daoist Wu Wei shouted at the top of his lungs: “Chang Li! Chang Li! Chang Li!”

He yelled again: “Get up already!”

He bellowed: “Your disciple’s poison is cured. She can cultivate again. Stop that useless seclusion and come with me now.”

Seeing Immortal Lord Chang Li forced out of closed-door cultivation, Shen Sang Ruo sighed in her heart: [Daoist Wu Wei really does things the rough way.]

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s dark face eased a little only after he saw Su Xi Yu.

Su Xi Yu hurried to report: “Master, it was Junior Sister Sang Ruo who found the Frostheart Purifying Pill and helped me detoxify. Junior Sister Sang Ruo also…” She went on and on, praising Shen Sang Ruo for everything, until it turned into a full-on tribute, as if there was no one like her under heaven or on earth.

She finished with feeling: “Junior Sister Sang Ruo is truly the best. She’s the finest junior sister I have ever met.”

She thought with firm certainty: [No one in this world could dislike Shen Sang Ruo. If someone does, the problem is them. They are blind!]

Shen Sang Ruo said with a shy smile, “Senior Sister Su, with such praise I feel a little embarrassed.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li listened patiently, then said, “Good that the poison is gone. From now on, cultivate hard and regain the realm you lost. Do not shame this Immortal Lord.”

Su Xi Yu clasped her fists and answered with steady resolve: “Disciple obeys.” Her eyes shone with the joy of getting back what was lost. After so many years, she could finally lift an alchemy furnace again.

Now that Su Xi Yu could cultivate, she could pass the Formation barrier and go outside. That meant there was more hope to save Ninghua Sect. What Shen Sang Ruo did not only helped Su Xi Yu, it also did a great service for Ninghua Sect.

Immortal Lord Chang Li fixed his gaze on Shen Sang Ruo. He had not misjudged her back then. She was fated to be part of Ninghua Sect. She should be the disciple of Immortal Lord Chang Li. Look at this: they were not even true sect mates yet, and their bond was already this deep.

Shen Sang Ruo greeted him with a smile: “Immortal Lord Chang Li.”

He said, “This Immortal Lord will remember that you saved Xi Yu.” He swept her with his Divine Sense and asked, “No need for more words. How goes your cultivation of Sunset Glassfire Art?”

With the founder of the technique standing right there, she would not waste such a rare chance for guidance. She said frankly, “Lately I did meet a few problems with Sunset Glassfire Art. I hope Immortal Lord will point me in the right direction.”

She listed every bottleneck she had hit. After a few simple hints from Immortal Lord Chang Li, her mind cleared.

Shen Sang Ruo touched her chin in sudden understanding and said, “So that’s it. Many thanks for your guidance, Immortal Lord.”

The question that had troubled her for so long was finally solved. Her path would be clear again. If she consolidated for a while, she might even push toward Late Golden Core.

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s expression held real praise as he said, “To comprehend so far on your own is excellent. Passing Sunset Glassfire Art to you was the best choice.”

Sunset Glassfire Art fit Shen Sang Ruo perfectly. With her talent and insight, she was a one-of-a-kind prodigy. Immortal Lord Chang Li had always been a proud man who did not care to be modest. He dared to say that once Shen Sang Ruo fully grasped Sunset Glassfire Art, she would stand at the peak of the Cultivation World.

Shen Sang Ruo smiled and said, “Immortal Lord flatters me. I do have one more request.”

He asked, “What is it?”

She answered, “I want to forge a life-bound weapon that fits Sunset Glassfire Art. Please give me some advice.”

He nodded and said, “I was just about to speak of that.” Turning his palm upward, he revealed a blue pearl and said, “This is a Heart-Link Pearl.”

He flipped his hand, pushed the Heart-Link Pearl toward her, and let it fall into her palm as he said, “Take this to the east, to the Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins. Find Immortal Maiden Azure Luan. She will help you.” When he said “help,” a strange look flashed in his eyes, but he pressed it down at once.

The Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins were marked on the map in her past life, and she had been there before. Finding it would not be hard.

Immortal Lord Chang Li curved his lips into a smile and said, “Do not worry. You will not return disappointed.”

If his Crimson Feather Fan had not turned to ash during the great disaster at Ninghua Sect back then, he would have given it to Shen Sang Ruo directly as her life-bound artifact.

She tucked the Heart-Link Pearl safely into her Cosmos Pouch and said, “I understand.”

Su Xi Yu stepped forward to take Shen Sang Ruo’s hand and said, “I’ll go with Junior Sister Sang Ruo.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li shot her a look and said, “With your current realm, you would only hold her back.”

Su Xi Yu froze, then blushed and said, “I actually forgot about that.” Years of poison had pushed her cultivation down to zero. Right now she was about the same as a cultivator who had just reached Guiding Qi into the Body. If she went along, Shen Sang Ruo would have to protect her.

Immortal Lord Chang Li added, “Stay in Ninghua Sect and cultivate. That is your best choice.”

Shen Sang Ruo squeezed Su Xi Yu’s hand and said with a warm smile, “It’s fine. I will wait for the day you are strong again. Then I will go with you to see the world outside Ninghua Sect.”

Su Xi Yu’s eyes lit up as she said, “Deal. Wait for me.”

She swore to herself: [I have to train hard and catch up to Junior Sister Sang Ruo as soon as I can.]

Then she brightened and said, “Right, I can’t go with you, but my pills can. Come on, let’s head to the Treasure Pavilion.”

Dragging Shen Sang Ruo along, Su Xi Yu rushed toward the Treasure Pavilion. Ye Huai and the other two followed behind.

Immortal Lord Chang Li turned and went back into the closed-door cultivation room to continue his seclusion.

Several senior brothers and senior sisters stuffed Shen Sang Ruo’s storage pouch until it was full before they were willing to let her leave. This time she did not refuse and accepted everything. In her heart, she already planned to send these treasures to Linglong Pavilion to trade for Spirit Stones, so she could prepare funds for Ninghua Sect’s return.

Shen Sang Ruo stayed in Ninghua Sect for two more days. During that time she got along well with Su Xi Yu and the others.

Su Xi Yu pulled her along to show off her Exotic Flame Alchemy, but she lost control of the heat and blew up the alchemy furnace. The thunderous blast startled Daoist Wu Wei so badly that he fell off his stool. Those who were close had it worse. Some ended up with soot-black faces, others got big lumps from flying shards.

Too trusting of Su Xi Yu, Shen Sang Ruo had not even thought to shield herself with Spiritual Power, so she took a face full of ash.

Shen Sang Ruo wiped at the soot and said, “Senior Sister Su…”

Su Xi Yu laughed weakly and said, “Accident. Haha, that was an accident.”

The most miserable was Song Wei Yan. Su Xi Yu’s Heavenly Flame singed off another patch of his remaining hair. He howled, “My hair! Su Xi Yu, I hate you!” and rushed at her.

Su Xi Yu ducked behind Shen Sang Ruo and cried, “Junior Sister Sang Ruo, save me!”

The two of them ran in circles around Shen Sang Ruo like they were playing a game of eagle and chicks, while Shen Sang Ruo, forced to play the hen, looked helpless. Ye Huai, with a blackened face, and Bai Ruo An, sporting a giant lump on his head, looked just as tragic.

The mood here was lively and full of laughter, but far away, another scene was unfolding.