Chapter 210: Preparation Complete

The other cultivators won't be so relaxed…

So, as long as one wants to, it's still possible? Ning Ruo's bright eyes flickered slightly.

Swirling steam rose as the milky-white broth bubbled; opposite them, Chi Jiuyu was communicating with her soul blade.

Since it was time to eat, Chi Jiuyu prepared to put her away.

But the blade's sentience returned a response: it didn't want to waste time, it wanted to train, to grow stronger.

"…"

Shit! Train my ass! You just want to show off in front of Yue Ying—you're never this eager normally! And… if Yue Ying sees what those 'training sessions' involve, I might get a concussion today!

The woman and her blade continued exchanging thoughts silently.

Chi Jiuyu wanted to protect her own head.

The golden-green longsword wanted to impress.

Just as Chi Jiuyu was still racking her brain, trying to persuade her soul blade…

Xu Xing put away Yue Ying.

The golden-green longsword seemed to pause.

'Fine, then I'll listen to my master—no more training.'

After the sentience's thought came through, the golden-green longsword obediently returned to Chi Jiuyu's possession.

"…"

Looks like my earlier bluff had a tiny side effect.

Chi Jiuyu pondered for two seconds.

Then it suddenly clicked.

Forget it—this isn't the time to think about that.

She picked up a large chopstickful of fish slices and swirled them in the pot.

'Auntie Xu, this fish is amazing—its bones dissolve completely!' She couldn't help sharing her discovery mid-meal.

She'd seen with her own eyes how the fish bones, fried until golden and crisp, dissolved instantly when Master Lingzu tossed them into the boiling broth.

This broth was made with just a little fish bone and a pinch of salt.

Xu Xing didn't reply.

Soon the fish meat changed color; Chi Jiuyu waited three more seconds before swiftly scooping it into her bowl.

She didn't dip it in any seasoning—just used another pair of chopsticks to lift it straight into her mouth.

The fish meat was still slightly chewy, yet incredibly sweet and fresh; her spirit platform cleared instantly, as if her entire being had been washed from within to without.

It felt…

'Master Lingzu, why does this fish meat feel just like that fruit?'

'Because this fish was raised on Some Some Some Xuanzhu fruit,' Ning Ruo said gently.

So this fruit is called Some Some Some Xuanzhu fruit…

No wonder it felt so similar!

'Regular consumption of Some Some Some Xuanzhu fruit purifies the spirit and nourishes the soul; the fish raised on it have the finest flesh,' Ning Ruo continued. 'If you like it, take some with you when you leave—perfect for your master to taste too.'

'Thank you, Master Lingzu,' Chi Jiuyu blinked. 'But my master only likes raising fish—he doesn't like eating them.'

'Then take them back to raise for him. They're quite beautiful, aren't they?'

'They're pretty, sure, but my master's fish suffer terribly—so no, thanks.'

Chi Jiuyu was unusually firm this time.

Take the fish Master Lingzu gave her back to her master to raise? That'd be stupid—it's not like a fruit you eat and it's gone.

If she took the fish back, her master would keep them forever.

Who knows, someday she might accidentally offend her again, and then…

Her anger might double just from seeing that fish?!

Forget it, forget it!

She looked up and saw her auntie watching her, expression oddly amused.

Without a doubt, he'd guessed what she was thinking.

Chi Jiuyu wasn't alarmed—in fact, she felt a little proud.

Hehe! That's the wisdom of Yu! …………

The meal ended over an hour later.

As the only junior present, Chi Jiuyu took the initiative to clean up.

She tidied the room, washed the dishes, and sliced a fruit platter for Xu Xing and Ning Ruo.

This time, she didn't use her soul blade—she cut the fruit herself.

After spending over ten minutes finishing everything, the slightly bloated Chi Jiuyu ran outside.

Outside, the snow had grown much heavier; the courtyard was once again blanketed in thick white.

Puff! Chi Jiuyu collapsed onto the snow, leaving a 'big' shape.

Her fair, smooth face was flushed red—overwhelmed by the spiritual energy; the fish meat had been too rich in spirit.

'Huh~!'

She exhaled slowly, her white breath tilting the falling snowflakes.

She pulled out her phone, opened the messaging app, and created a group chat.

【Sect of the Sword Sovereign】

After thinking, Chi Jiuyu deleted the last few characters—【Sect of the Sword Sovereign】

This is much better!

I originally wanted to name it something down-to-earth, like the group Uncle-Master's disciples have, but I couldn't think of anything right away.

After creating the group, I sent invitations directly to Bie Xuening and Zhang Yunlu.

【【Lucky Little Zhang】joined the group chat!】

Zhang Yunlu joined immediately but said nothing.

After a while.

【【My Most Respected Master】joined the group chat】

My Most Respected Master: "Did your account get hacked?"

Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "No."

Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "I just thought, since Uncle-Master's disciples all have a group for communication, why don't we make one too?"

Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "Before, it was just the two of us. Now it's different."

Lucky Little Zhang: "…"

Is there really that big a difference between three and two?

Seeing Zhang Yunlu pop up, Chi Jiuyu chuckled and took a photo of the sky and sent it.

Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "The inner sect of Ling Yin Fang is beautiful—there's even snow!"

Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "Master, shouldn't we plant a tree like this in our Xiang Jianzong? /excited"

My Most Respected Master: "The inner sect of Ling Yin Fang is a paradise realm; according to its seasonal cycle, it shouldn't have snowed yet."

Bie Xuening ignored her suggestion outright.

Chi Jiuyu pouted: You disagree? Fine—I'll plant one myself once I become Master! Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "I don't know—I just came in with Uncle-Master and it started snowing."

Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "And—oh! The Ancestor of Ling also wrote huge characters in the sky welcoming Uncle-Master!"

She waited a while, but still got no reply.

Huh? Why isn't Master responding again? Nearby, Xu Xing and Ning Ruo each carried a chair outside and sat beneath the eaves, admiring the snowscape.

A snowman over five meters tall sat round and plump in the courtyard.

Because it was so tall, it wasn't particularly cute.

Chi Jiuyu lay beside the snowman like a salted fish; if not for the occasional puff of breath blowing away snowflakes drifting toward her, you'd think she'd passed out.

On the distant horizon, a sliver of dawn light had already pierced the night sky, signaling the coming transition from night to day—the dawn was near.

Almost simultaneously, Xu Xing and Ning Ruo both looked up at the central trunk of the divine tree in the paradise realm.

Both could feel that the thing quietly brewing had finally been completed.

First chapter update.

(End of chapter)