Chapter 218: Sending Jiu Yu Back to the Sect

The two stepped outside to find Ning Ruo already waiting in the courtyard.

"Xu Dage, Jiu Yu."

Chi Jiu Yu, who had been chattering moments before, instantly fell silent and bowed respectfully.

"Elder Lingzu."

"I'll first take Jiu Yu back, then head to Qing Xu," Xu Xing said.

I'll also let my sister know along the way.

Ning Ruo gave a slight nod: "Xu Dage, travel safely."

Since she couldn't leave Ling Yin Fang, her ability to assist during the upcoming practical phase was extremely limited—this was all the concern she could offer.

"Mm."

Beside her, Chi Jiu Yu subtly tilted her head aside.

Yet after speaking those words, Ning Ruo suddenly turned to look at her.

"Jiu Yu."

Chi Jiu Yu jolted, quickly turning back: "What is it, Elder Lingzu?"

"I'm giving you a gift."

"Huh?"

Another gift?

Hadn't she already received so many? Even Chi Jiu Yu, who prided herself on being broad-minded and thick-skinned, felt a touch of embarrassment.

But Ning Ruo gave her no chance to speak again; she lightly raised her hand, and a faint glow ignited in her palm.

Soon the light faded, revealing a branch like crystal and glass, adorned with several flawless leaves as white as jade.

Three Some Some Some Xuanzhu fruits, emitting white radiance like tiny lanterns, hung from the branch.

It looked like a flawless work of art.

This was unmistakably a branch of an Some Some Some Xuanzhu tree! "Some Some Some Xuanzhu trees are easy to cultivate—I'm giving you this branch."

"That's too much…"

Chi Jiu Yu's gaze flickered toward Xu Xing.

"Take it—you've always wanted to plant one in the Xiang Jianzong, haven't you?"

Huh? She hadn't said that aloud before.

How did Uncle know? Never mind! "Thank you, Elder Lingzu!"

She bowed deeply, then carefully extended both hands to gently receive the Some Some Some Xuanzhu branch from Ning Ruo.

The leaves swayed, clinking together with a crisp "ding-ding" sound.

She immediately held her breath.

"No need to be so careful—the Some Some Some Xuanzhu branch is far sturdier than you imagine."

Aside from its fruit being an excellent spiritual medicine, the Some Some Some Xuanzhu branch is also top-grade material for forging swords.

Though it looks fragile, even with all your Current Realm strength, you couldn't damage this branch in the slightest.

At most, a few leaves might fall.

"Better to be careful," Chi Jiu Yu murmured.

She took a long jade box from her storage ring, opened it, summoned a trace of magic power to suspend it before her, and slowly placed the Some Some Some Xuanzhu branch inside, then closed the lid.

"Phew~ I've already sent you the method for tending and cultivating the Some Some Some Xuanzhu tree—remember to check it when you get back," Ning Ruo added.

"Mm-hmm!"

They had already added each other as friends.

Seeing everything was settled, Xu Xing spoke softly: "Let's go."

Ning Ruo still smiled faintly and gave a slight nod: "Xu Dage, take care."

In the next instant, without a sound, without a trace of power fluctuation, Chi Jiu Yu—arms cradling the jade box—and Xu Xing vanished.

Cold moonlight mingled with the Some Some Some Xuanzhu tree's glow, gently falling as Ning Ruo stood motionless.

After roughly half a minute, a faint sigh seemed to sound.

And Ning Ruo's figure had already disappeared.

…………

Xiang Jianzong.

Dark clouds loomed over ten thousand li, howling winds roaring boom!

The sky suddenly tore open; silver serpents of lightning ripped through layers of storm clouds, instantly illuminating heaven and earth as bright as day.

Torrential rain poured down like ten thousand silver waterfalls descending from the heavens, shrouding the land in a curtain of rain.

Two figures appeared out of thin air.

"Huh? It's raining today?!" A light voice, muffled by the thundering downpour, was barely audible.

The two were none other than Xu Xing and Chi Jiu Yu, who had been inside Ling Yin Fang's inner gate just an instant ago.

Normally, the Xiang Jianzong didn't interfere with weather phenomena, so such torrential rain was common each year.

"Uncle, look—so many people are harvesting lightning!"

Above the sky, streaks of swordlight darted—clearly sword cultivators.

Fierce Lei She roared, striking down repeatedly, yet the sword cultivators reached out and seized them; no matter how they writhed, a mere surge of magic power instantly refined them into tiny purple lightning pills the size of thumbs.

These lightning pills, refined from natural thunder strikes on the Central Continent, could assist sword cultivators in practicing thunder-affinity sword arts.

And aside from those harvesting lightning,

Even if you don't need them, you can sell them—there's still decent demand for these things.

Xu Xing glanced at the divine aurora scroll descending from the clouds above the rain curtain.

Aside from the Qi Refinement list, the top ranks on the other lists remained unchanged.

"Let's go."

Immediately, the two vanished again.

When they reappeared, they were already inside the Sword Master's Hall.

The spacious, well-lit training ground was lined with stone pillars burning with flame; on the far wall was a massive character: "Sword."

At the center of the hall sat one person: Bie Xuening.

Seeing her gaze fixed on her, Chi Jiuyu's heart tightened, a sense of unease creeping in.

"I didn't offend my master, I didn't offend my master, I didn't offend my master…"

After repeating this self-reassurance several times in her mind, she finally felt somewhat relieved.

Gathering her courage, she stepped forward: "Master, I brought you…"

Before she could finish, Chi Jiuyu's vision blurred.

"Gift."

As the words "gift" fell, before her stood a wall hung entirely with yellow duck ornaments.

Huh? She froze in surprise.

Turning around, she saw Yue Ling still holding the controller, utterly focused before the screen.

"..."

Wait, it's been so many days—why are you still playing?

…

…

Inside the hall, Xu Xing walked toward Bie Xuening.

He walked until he stood about two feet before her, then sat cross-legged.

"Senior sister."

"When do we leave?" Bie Xuening said directly.

"We leave immediately."

"Mm, better to go early and return early," she paused, "let me see the Ascension Platform."

At this, Xu Xing opened his palm.

A small, exquisitely crafted golden-white Ascension Platform appeared, hovering above his palm.

Its appearance matched the Ascension Platform core in the desert Secret Realm, but it was only half the size of his palm.

Bie Xuening took the Ascension Platform and examined it closely.

"... Excellent. An incredibly intricate structure."

In every aspect, it had reached a highly refined state; she saw no possible improvement.

"I have nine such Ascension Platforms here. Afterwards, I will go to Qing Xu to find suitable worlds to deploy them."

After all, this is only the first batch of prototypes—no need for many.

"What about the Immortal Washing Pool?"

"The Immortal Washing Pool isn't urgent, so I didn't bring it—it's still at Ling Yin Fang, and Ning Ruo will produce another batch later."

Ning Ruo…

Bie Xuening slightly furrowed her brow, then quickly relaxed: "I will send more sword qi to Ling Yin Fang later."

The third update has one more coming, but it'll be later.

The operations officer matter is not being considered for now—wait until we form a group later.

(End of chapter)