Chapter 366: 『Huo』 Requests to Add You as a Friend

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you when we go on our next mission together."

Rather than letting Xiao Yunlu go ask around, it's better if she tells you herself.

If you ask Ye Shijie Li, who knows what distortions you'll get!

After saying this, Chi Jiuyu lay down again as before, this time with her chin resting on the table.

She reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and flipped through various messages on the Spirit Net.

Zhang Yunlu sharply noticed the difference.

"Ye Shijie, did you get a new phone?"

"Mm."

Finally noticed it!

Chi Jiuyu immediately launched into an enthusiastic explanation.

"The Jingyue third-gen flagship stores fifty percent more Qi than the previous model, and it's equipped with a short-range teleportation module—just five seconds of guidance, and you can teleport anywhere within a hundred meters."

"Most importantly, the touchscreen response speed is over three times faster than the previous generation!"

"Supposedly, their fourth-gen flagship will even try embedding a miniature rune-carving factory, so you can create runes with one tap without learning anything!"

"So cool!"

Is this even a phone?

And aside from the touchscreen response speed, none of these features should be useful to you, right?

Five seconds for a hundred meters…

Even a Qi Condensation cultivator moves faster than that!

"…" Zhang Yunlu fell silent for a moment. "Ye Shijie, did you take their ad?"

If she remembered correctly, this phone's reviews on the Spirit Net weren't that great…

"Of course not." Chi Jiuyu pulled out an unopened phone box and handed it over. "Here, I bought one for you too."

Not just here—she'd also bought one and sent it immediately to Senior Min.

After all, that phoenix feather was given to me by Senior Min!

"What about the old one?"

"I threw it away."

In the back-and-forth, Zhang Yunlu reached out and took it.

"Did you sell your phoenix feather?"

"Huh? How did you know?"

No wonder.

Every time Ye Shijie gets a big influx of Spirit Coins or Contribution Points, she goes on a spending spree.

Doesn't matter if she needs it or not—she just wants something new.

"Hasn't Ye Shijie always been like this?"

"Hmm… so it's really that obvious?"

How long has it been? Xiao Yunlu is almost reading her habits already…

I'm supposed to become the Zong Sect's leader someday—this easy to read won't do.

I need to pay more attention to my behavior… what's that saying again…

Don't let joy or anger show on your face!

Yes! Yes!

Don't let joy or anger show on your face!

From now on, she must learn to be a Jiuyu who doesn't let joy or anger show on her face!

"Ye Shijie?"

"It's fine, just open it and see—if you don't like the color, I'll go change it." Chi Jiuyu said coolly.

"…"

Ye Shijie's doing it again—what's she thinking about now…

Honestly, every so often, Ye Shijie randomly does something inexplicable.

But it's fine—she'll snap out of it in a few days on her own.

Just as she was about to open the packaging box, Zhang Yunlu's peripheral vision caught the pond where the Spirit Fish were kept—and she froze completely.

"…"

Chi Jiuyu couldn't hold it anymore—why did Xiao Yunlu suddenly go blank?

But soon, she too froze.

"Master?" Zhang Yunlu's voice carried disbelief.

Huh??

What did Xiao Yunlu just say?

Her Spirit Transformation Stage hearing was extraordinary—she'd heard every word Zhang Yunlu spoke.

But she still wanted to confirm it once more.

Zhang Yunlu had already stood up: "Is it…"

Chi Jiuyu could no longer contain herself—she rose and turned around.

Sure enough, beside the Spirit Fish pond stood a slender, serene figure, her expression as calm and unreadable as ever.

"Master—!"

All thoughts of "don't let joy or anger show on your face" vanished in an instant—Chi Jiuyu dashed toward Bie Xuening.

But perhaps due to overwhelming emotion, the mighty Soul Transformation cultivator came too close and tripped over his own left foot, falling flat on his face before Bie Xuening.

「……」

Looking at Chi Jiuyu, sprawled before her, sniffling and weeping uncontrollably.

Bie Xuening suddenly felt speechless.

This rebellious disciple has a talent for ruining the mood.

……

……

The Master Jianzun Ancestor and Xiang Yuanjun Ancestor have returned.

And although Hong Honored Ancestor lagged behind a bit, he also returned with them.

But… why didn't the Master Jianzun Ancestor return with them to the Tai Xuan Realm?

There are too many mysteries in this matter.

The news spread quickly; for high-level cultivators of the Xiang Jianzong and the Tai Shang Dao Sect, they knew almost the instant the five returned to the Tai Xuan Realm.

Not long after, inside the main hall of the Xiang Jianzong's inner sect.

Bie Xuening stood at the highest point, briefly instructed her two disciples, then came here.

Below her, numerous Cave-True Sword Lords—including Jing Hai, Li Ke, and Lin Ji—along with nearly all the Tong Xuan Sword cultivators and the Sect Master, stood respectfully in two orderly lines.

The hall was so vast that even with so many people inside, it did not feel crowded.

"Ask whatever questions you have," Bie Xuening's calm voice echoed through the hall.

Unless online, she almost never wasted words.

"May I ask, Senior Aunt, when will Master return?" The speaker was Li Ke.

This was also the question most on everyone's minds in the hall.

Four Ancestors fell out of the world—why did only three return?

"My younger brother will return a few days later, but not for long." A few more days…

"Senior Ancestor, the Starfront battlefield recently…"

"Ancestor, the Xiang Jianzong's Battle Network has fully recovered…"

"Ancestor…"

Knowing Master Jianzun Ancestor disliked such tedious matters, they only raised a few still-important issues.

Even so, it took considerable time before Bie Xuening finally answered all the questions one by one.

Then she did not linger, turning and vanishing from the Xiang Jianzong's inner sect main hall.

When she reappeared, she stood in a bamboo grove.

Inside an old, weathered courtyard.

The door stood open, revealing dense, woven threads of white sandalwood incense; sunlight filtered through gaps in the bamboo, passed through the windows, and fell softly inside, appearing hazy.

Not a single word, not a single hair, not a single detail inside is wrong!

Ding dong!

A message alert sounded, but Bie Xuening ignored it and stepped inside.

Inside, the light was soft; several simple meditation cushions lay in the center, upon which sat a woman full of vigor, with sharp, piercing eyes.

On her knees rested a pure white longsword, its pommel tied with a sprig of winter plum.

Dappled light, streaming through the paper windows, fell upon her, making her porcelain-like skin seem almost translucent.

"Junior Sister Ji."

"Master Jianzun," Ji Yue smiled. "You've finally returned."

"No, my younger brother will return a few days later," Bie Xuening walked to the cushion opposite her and sat down.

Only one year had passed in the Tai Xuan Realm—insignificant against the backlash of failing the Immortal Gate trial.

So much so that Ji Yue hadn't even noticed Xu Xing had not returned.

Perhaps truly moved, Bie Xuening said, unusually: "It's been a long time since I've seen Junior Sister Ji looking like this."

Ji Yue smiled: "You've met my two disciples, haven't you?"

"Mm. I should thank you, Junior Sister Ji."

During my absence, it was thanks to you that they were taught.

Ding dong!

Another message alert sounded.

Bie Xuening paused, then finally took out her phone and glanced at it.

Didn't I set my group messages to Do Not Disturb?

【【Huo】requests to add you as a friend. Source: Account search】

Hm?

…………

Meanwhile, inside the Boss Group.

Master Mei Zu: "Congratulations to you all on your return 🎉"

Master Mei Zu: "/Yellow Duck spinning"

Master Mei Zu: "/Fireworks"

Master Mei Zu: "@Master Jianzun @Xiang Yuanjun @Hong Honored"

Master Mei Zu: "Where's Elder Brother? Why hasn't Elder Brother returned? /confused"

Xiang Yuanjun: "Because Elder Brother was the one targeted, he'll return a few days later."

Xiang Yuanjun: "You will suffer bloodshed today."

Master Mei Zu: "??!"

Not at all! Has this servant offended you? Isn't it better that I, of the Taishang Dao Sect, keep an eye on you?

Xiang Yuanjun: "My hand slipped."

Master Mei Zu: "..."

Seeing Hong Zun: "Sigh~ This truly is an undeserved calamity."

Ba Zun: "I heard, I heard—did Seeing Hong Zun manage to soothe Sister Qian Shuang? /side-eye smile"

Qi Zun: "I feel it's not just Sister Qian Shuang /side-eye smile"

Dan Zu: "/side-eye smile"

Min: "/side-eye smile"

Seeing Hong Zun: "..."

Seeing Hong Zun: "The mortal world isn't worth it /weeping"

Seeing Hong Zun: "Also, I must clarify something: I had prepared a reply. It's all my little sister's fault for tricking me!"

Ba Zun: "Did everyone prepare one? Or only Sister Qian Shuang?"

Seeing Hong Zun: "Of course everyone prepared one."

Seeing Hong Zun withdrew a message.

Seeing Hong Zun: "Damn it! Why am I even telling you this!"

Ba Zun: "/side-eye smile"

Master Mei Zu: "Where's Master Jianzun? Why isn't Master Jianzun speaking? @Master Jianzun"

Master Mei Zu: "/Little Yellow Duck Summoning Technique"

Master Jianzun: "What do you want?"

Master Mei Zu: "I miss you /Little Yellow Duck clutching heart"

Master Mei Zu: "I specially asked Ling Zu to send you greetings /sweet"

Master Jianzun: "Go die somewhere! /spitting out little yellow duck made of sword qi"

Master Mei Zu: "/Little Yellow Duck raising shield to block"

Master Mei Zu: "Your emoji pack is outdated—always the same few. I've got new versions."

The group's atmosphere remained light.

Except Min, who had been unaware of the situation, now stood in shock.

Is this Master Jianzun?!

How could Master Jianzun possibly be like this!

Dan Zu: "By the way, Min Dao Friend, you must be quite astonished, right? /side-eye smile"

Qi Zun: "No need to guess—it's a sure thing /thumbs up"

Ba Zun: "Min Dao Friend has been helping the Xiang Jianzong seal Hun Tian Yi these past days. I think it'd have been better to just settle everything in the group—face-to-face is harder to discuss /side-eye smile"

Master Jianzun: "You talk too much."

But no new emoji followed.

Before her two disciples designed new emojis, she decided to temporarily disable the Little Yellow Duck emoji set!

Seeing Hong Zun: "By the way, did you guys create another group?"

Ba Zun: "How did you know?"

Seeing Hong Zun: "/image"

There, clearly, was a screenshot: it showed Seeing Hong Zun adding Huo as a friend, followed by Huo inviting him to join the "Communication Group." (End of Chapter)