Chapter 386

All true statements—how could you call it pretending?

Because her line of sight was blocked by the crab claw, the body cultivator woman did not see Chi Jiuyu's face.

Seeing her slander the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect so brazenly, she immediately leapt to her feet, her over-two-meter height exuding overwhelming pressure.

She participated in the last Xian Sect Grand Competition and faced off against fellow disciples who also cultivated martial arts techniques—she must have been Jin Dan or even Nascent Soul.

And in the last Xian Sect Grand Competition, aside from that fool Chi Jiuyu, the Xiang Jianzong had no particularly outstanding competitors—could it really be that coincidental…

This remark was actually the result of deep deliberation—who says body cultivators are brute fools?

But her inner annoyance vanished the instant she saw who was behind her.

"C-C-C… Chi Jiuyu?!"

How could it be Chi Jiuyu?!

She's always been solitary—where did she get a junior sister?!

Chi Jiuyu raised an eyebrow and stood up, waving the crab claw in her hand: "Who are you?"

Which of those remarks wasn't true? How was I pretending?

As she spoke, her entire body floated upward, arriving at the same height as the body cultivator woman.

Otherwise, standing like this, she'd be noticeably shorter, and her aura would vanish entirely.

"…"

The body cultivator woman felt extremely embarrassed.

Others saying those things would've been inappropriate, but if it was Chi Jiuyu, those remarks weren't actually wrong.

Just then.

"The two guests in the Dingzi spectator seats of the Dueling Platform, please take your seats immediately and do not affect the viewing experience of other guests!"

Chi Jiuyu looked up in confusion and saw the voice came from a voice-recording array carved into the wall.

emm…

Could this be talking about me?

"The guest holding two crab claws."

"…"

Well, it really is me.

Chi Jiuyu sat down obediently.

"And the strong guest in front."

"…" The body cultivator woman paused, but did not sit down. "Sorry, I didn't recognize you as Chi Jiuyu."

She had been in the Starry Sky for three years, so she hadn't paid much attention to the affairs of the Central Continent.

"Huh?"

Wait, who the hell are you?

Under Chi Jiuyu's bewildered gaze, the body cultivator woman turned and walked away.

Staying any longer would be too awkward.

Besides, it's said Chi Jiuyu holds grudges fiercely—better leave quickly.

"…" Watching her back, Chi Jiuyu fell into thought for a moment. "Xiao Yunlu, do you think I should follow her?"

This incident came out of nowhere—according to her nature, she would never back down.

But…

She apologized after recognizing me—this proves my 'fame' still holds weight.

"She must have misunderstood, and the Yuling Star Hotel forbids fighting…"

"True…" Chi Jiuyu nodded.

Forget it.

After all, as her master's disciple, these bizarre little incidents happen nearly every mission—she's already used to them.

Given that she showed decent attitude after recognizing me, I'll let it slide.

Meanwhile, on the Dueling Platform.

The Wu Xiu charged through the torrent of spells, reaching the spell cultivator's side, his blood qi surging—he landed a few plain, unadorned punches and knocked the man unconscious.

The duel ended with the Wu Xiu's victory.

Cheers erupted from the spectator seats.

Duels between Wu Xiu and spell cultivators remain highly entertaining, and they're less 'spiritually polluting' than most body cultivators.

"Wu Xiu…"

Up above, in a VIP box.

Through special one-way glass, Xu Xing was watching toward the Dueling Platform.

The Wu Xiu, having endured too many spell attacks, still had his blood qi boiling—he looked like a steamed crab.

After the Wu Immortal City founded by Kui was destroyed and all its disciples killed, Wu Xiu gradually declined.

Among the current Tai Xuan Thirteen True Immortals, Hong Zun has the most disciples, followed by Xu Xing.

But once, Kui's disciples outnumbered even Hong Zun's.

After that single battle wiped them all out, he fell into utter despair—so even after driving the Cang Clan out of the Central Continent, he never established a martial Dao immortal sect; instead, he came to the Starry Sky and protected humanity in another way.

"Let's wait and see."

In the past, Xu Xing had also wanted to pass on the martial Dao lineage—whenever he met a young man with decent temperament suited for martial cultivation, he would impart a Wu Xiu technique.

Aside from those who switched paths, a few did successfully achieve Dao Union.

But that was all.

Whether the martial path system can ever flourish again must be left to time to verify.

Finally, Xu Xing glanced at Chi Jiuyu and Zhang Yunlu at the edge of the audience seats, then looked upward once more.

It would be a good chance to observe the current Star Guardian's response capabilities.

And also to see how far these two can go.

…

…

One day later.

Before a peculiar facility shaped like a semicircular arch, several people were lining up. The person at the front selected their destination coordinates, then stepped into the swirling, deep blue vortex within.

Yu Ling Tianmen, a star-system-spanning teleportation facility.

Compared to jump-level teleportation arrays, though its range is shorter, it is far more stable and can remain active for extended periods.

Moreover, its construction cost is lower.

Generally, any life planet with over a million permanent residents will have one to three Tianmen built within it; even richer life planets may have more.

The Yu Ling Interstellar Hotel, in particular, has built a full eighty-one Star Gates, allowing guests to travel freely across the Yu Ling Star System for sightseeing.

Chi Jiuyu and Zhang Yunlu were also in line.

The two had rested and wandered for a day, and their visit application to the Star Guardian had already been approved, so now they were ready to complete their mission first.

Soon, it was their turn.

A touchscreen, activated by the Ling Chi array, slowly floated before Chi Jiuyu.

【Please input your destination coordinates—】

"Where was our mission location again?" she turned to ask Zhang Yunlu.

Wu Yi Cuo Yi Shou Yi Fa Yi Nei Yi Rong Yi Zai Yi Kan!

She remembered, but for some reason, she still wanted to ask.

"Yu Yao Star System, fourth planet."

"Oh oh!"

Input coordinates, number of people, click confirm.

"Coordinates confirmed. Have a pleasant journey."

A sweet, gentle voice sounded, and the barrier before them opened a passage wide enough for one person to pass through.

Only after both had entered did the barrier close again.

"What if we replaced this voice with mine?" Chi Jiuyu suddenly wondered.

"That's recorded by a He Dao Great Expert."

"Then wait till I reach He Dao and become Zong Sect's leader!"

"But Yu Ling Interstellar Hotel belongs to Ling Yin Fang."

Whether or not she becomes Xiang Jianzong leader hardly matters—it's whether Ling Yin Fang agrees that counts.

"Pfft, then I'll open my own one day!"

Amid Chi Jiuyu's muttering, the two stepped into the ever-spinning, deep blue vortex of the Yu Ling Tianmen.

…………

Yu Yao Star System.

It was one of the more peripheral star systems under Zong Sect's control within the Yu Ling Star System.

Through stellar alchemist ecological modification, the third and fifth planets were transformed into special resource planets for cultivating unique spiritual herbs.

The first planet was used to nurture certain minerals.

As for the fourth planet, it too had undergone ecological modification by stellar alchemists, with unsuitable regions sealed off; its current permanent population hovers around five million.

Not especially wealthy, but far from "barren"—it was an average planet.

Its official designation was Yu Yao Fourth Planet.

But local residents preferred to simply call their home planet "Yu Yao Star."

That wasn't wrong, since the entire star system had human settlement only on the fourth planet.

Yu Yao Star, capital.

Before Yu Yao No. 2 Star Gate stood a middle-aged man in formal attire, his hair meticulously styled.

Planet Guardian You Hao, Mid-Spirit Transformation cultivation level.

Perhaps due to long-held authority, he carried an aura of quiet, commanding dignity.

Besides his subordinate, no one else was present.

Soon, as figures emerged from the vortex, their expressions grew more serious; You Hao straightened his collar again, then hurried forward.

His subordinate dared not lag behind.

As the two hurried to the front of Yu Yao No. 2 Tianmen, Chi Jiuyu and Zhang Yunlu stepped out from within.

"Welcome, emissaries of Zong Sect, to our humble planet," the subordinate quickly spoke, introducing, "This is You Hao, Guardian of Yu Yao Star."

You Hao extended his hand at the right moment, ready to shake Chi Jiuyu's.

"Yu Yao Star?" Chi Jiuyu frowned at Zhang Yunlu. "Isn't it Yu Yao Fourth Planet? Did we get lost?"

She'd never taken a mission like this!

"You didn't get lost," You Hao calmly retracted his hand and smiled. "Since only the fourth planet in the entire Yu Yao Star System has a large permanent population, we all simply call it 'Yu Yao Star.' It's my fault for not clarifying."

"Oh oh, I see," Chi Jiuyu scratched her head. "Sorry about that."

"Emissary, you're overstating it—it's entirely my fault for not explaining clearly," the subordinate hurried to say.

"..." Chi Jiuyu paused briefly, then nodded. "Makes sense, huh? No problem, no problem."

Hmm?

That remark left the deputy momentarily at a loss.

He opened his mouth, hesitated to speak, but had no idea what to say.

At the crucial moment, You Hao took the initiative and picked up the conversation: "You two envoys must be weary from your journey. Perhaps you'd like to rest a bit first. I've already had arrangements made…"

"Actually, it wasn't really all that tiring. We're staying at the Yuling Interstellar Hotel, and the rest has been quite pleasant, wouldn't you say?"

The final question was directed at Zhang Yunlu.

"Mm." Zhang Yunlu gave a slight nod.

Yuling Interstellar Hotel?

You Hao's expression didn't change, but his heart gave a sudden lurch, and an inexplicable unease crept over him.

That unfilial son couldn't possibly…

No, impossible. The Yuling Interstellar Hotel is so huge—how could they possibly run into each other?

Besides, he'd arranged for A-Ming to keep an eye on things. There was absolutely no way anything would go wrong.

He consoled himself with these thoughts for a moment.

"Indeed, the mission is important. Please come inside, envoys. I'll have them bring over the cultivator records right away." (End of chapter)