Chapter 48: Encounter with the Hehuan Sect

Zhang Yunlu didn't overthink it; after washing up, she put on her school uniform and went to the rooftop, channeling her Qi and forming a hand seal.

A faint spiritual glow clung to her fingertips.

Soon, a slender strand of pale purple qi was drawn out, circling around Zhang Yunlu once before she swallowed it whole.

The purple qi sank downward, reaching her dantian, already brimming with spiritual energy.

"Done."

She released her seal and turned to go downstairs.

Since she had no vessel to store the cultivation material, she could only use her own body as the container.

Later, she would release it and draw in lunar essence to refine it.

Although Zhang Yunlu found the "Purple Rampart Observing Qi Method" tedious to cultivate, she couldn't deny its effectiveness, so she had no intention of abandoning it.

She didn't go home; instead, she went straight downstairs, bought some breakfast as usual, and ate while hurrying toward school.

Not far along, Zhang Yunlu suddenly sensed something flash past her vision; when she looked up, there was nothing.

Only a middle-aged sanitation worker was using the Art of Controlling Objects to maneuver four brooms sweeping the street.

"Good morning, Xiao Lu," the man smiled and greeted her.

"Good morning, Uncle Ming," Zhang Yunlu replied.

In the past, she had asked Uncle Ming why he didn't use a cleaning spell—it would be faster and easier.

Uncle Ming said it gave the work more ritual.

Hmm… even sweeping needed ritual?

After the greeting, Zhang Yunlu continued walking.

Uncle Ming watched her go, scratched his head, and muttered in confusion.

"What's with this girl? She smiles like ice."

High above, Li Fengping materialized, still shaken.

Almost, almost collided with her again.

He had encountered Zhang Yunlu face-to-face twice: once when he was tailing her, and he ended up beaten into a pig's face.

That time was his own fault—he admitted it! But the second encounter was truly accidental, yet he was detained by the Silutangtang.

Though brief, it felt like every second was agony; he truly thought he'd be silenced.

Both encounters with her brought nothing but trouble—he'd avoid her.

Zhang Yunlu knew nothing of this; though she had grown much since her trial, she wasn't powerful enough to detect a Nascent Soul sword cultivator deliberately hiding.

After a while, she arrived near the school, but outside the gate, she saw someone unexpected—Xiao Fan.

Didn't he drop out? The thought flashed through Zhang Yunlu's mind.

They weren't close, so she had no intention of greeting him and walked straight through the school gate.

Students passing by later glanced at him several times.

Pity, regret, schadenfreude, resentment—various glances.

His decision to become a False Foundation had spread throughout the school; some pitied him, some rejoiced, and others believed Xiao Fan's actions were unfair to other students, so they despised him.

Soon, few people remained outside the school; after much hesitation, Xiao Fan sighed.

"Forget it."

For over a decade, he had trained methodically, all to enter a prestigious academy… and continue training methodically.

Joining the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect would be best; if not, finding a job after graduation wouldn't be bad.

So after falling to Qi Condensation Ninth Layer, he came near the school, hoping to return to classes.

But once he arrived near the school, he hesitated—how could he explain his situation?

His False Foundation shattered, yet he remained unharmed—could he say it was all due to the mysterious "Huo" granting him fortune? Though his experience was shallow, he knew that would be incredibly foolish.

"Better quit my job first."

Not knowing what else to do, he'd quit his job first—he was already at Qi Condensation Ninth Layer and could no longer handle it.

…………

"I'm telling you, Uncle Shu, my fish is delicious—even Master loves it."

Chi Jiuyu wore overalls today, an orange T-shirt underneath, and a baseball cap, enthusiastically boasting to Xu Xing about her cooking.

In her right hand, she carried a large transparent box filled with water, two golden spiritual fish swimming inside.

"When I ate the nine fish Master gave me, she got so angry she hung me up and beat me—finally, I caught some fish and cooked them for her, and she forgave me."

Same strength level—yesterday morning she was half-dead, today she's bursting with energy; truly a cockroach-like resilience.

And this morning, she insisted on eating fish and dragged Xu Xing along to buy some.

"Aren't you wearing a Storage Ring? Why not put them inside?"

"These fish can't be kept in darkness," Chi Jiuyu shook the box, making the two spiritual fish dart in panic, "it ruins the texture!"

"I recall the vendor said these are ornamental fish."

"He knows nothing! These fish are delicious!"

As they walked, they chatted, but most of the time, Chi Jiuyu talked.

She seemed to have endless words.

After walking a while, they stopped at the roadside waiting for a red light.

"Folks! I've arrived in Xuanjian City—hit follow, and this afternoon, I'll find the ancient cultivator who just emerged from seclusion!"

A stunningly beautiful female cultivator descended from the sky atop a rainbow-hued mist, her purple palace gown clinging to her graceful figure, every movement radiating endless charm.

Many passersby turned their gazes toward her.

Beside her floated a smartphone, live-streaming.

In Xu Xing's perception, fine threads of vital energy and desire flowed from the phone screen and entered a sachet hanging at the female cultivator's waist.

Is this what the Hehuan Sect's cultivators are like now? "Senior Uncle!"

"What's wrong?"

"I'll tell my master when I get back!"

"..." Xu Xing paused. "What are you thinking? I'm just curious about her cultivation method."

"Just a succubus of the Hehuan Sect. I could take on ten like her!" Chi Jiuyu sneered.

At the Xian Sect's Grand Competition, the Hehuan Sect ranked last.

Yet this group felt no shame at all—instead, they giggled and recorded videos, utterly lacking any ambition!

As a sword cultivator with lofty ideals, she looked down on this with contempt.

Jiang Yujiu didn't hear the two of them, but even if she had, she wouldn't have cared.

If you've joined the Hehuan Sect, why care about such things? That only proves you're not a suitable Hehuan Sect cultivator.

Nowadays, the Hehuan Sect's succubi must constantly chase trends to maintain their popularity due to their unique cultivation method.

It's simple: only with popularity do people watch; only when people watch do vital energy and desire arise.

Thus, the entire Hehuan Sect is utterly obsessed—had Hehuan Laozu not set some rules, like banning 18+, the sect's cultivators might have grown even more insane...

There's no help for it—vital energy and desire have always accompanied the Hehuan Sect cultivators' path; this situation only improves somewhat after reaching the Dao Union realm.

Please collect and follow!! (End of chapter)