Chapter 48: Encounter with the Huanhuan Sect

Zhang Yunlu didn’t overthink it; after washing up, she changed into her school uniform and went to the rooftop, channeling spiritual power as she formed a hand seal.

A faint spiritual glow clung to her fingertips.

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

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

“Done.”

She released the seal and turned to walk downstairs.

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

She would release it later and draw in lunar essence to refine it.

Although Zhang Yunlu found the “Purple Altar Observing Qi Method” tedious to cultivate, she couldn’t deny its effectiveness—and she had no intention of abandoning it.

She didn’t go home; instead, she went straight downstairs and, as usual, bought some breakfast, eating as she hurried 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 spirit-manipulation to control four brooms sweeping the street.

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

“Good morning, Uncle Ming,” Zhang Yunlu replied.

She had once asked Uncle Ming why he didn’t use a cleaning spell—it would be faster and easier.

He said it gave the work more ritual.

Hmm… even sweeping needs ritual?

After the greeting, Zhang Yunlu continued walking.

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

“What’s wrong with this girl? She smiles so coldly.”

High in the sky, Li Fengping revealed his form, still shaken.

Almost, almost collided with her again.

He’d encountered Zhang Yunlu face-to-face twice: once while tailing her, and he ended up with a black eye.

That time he’d brought it on himself—he admitted it. But the second time was pure coincidence, yet he was detained by the head of the Discipline Hall.

Though brief, it felt like an eternity; he truly thought he’d be silenced.

Both encounters brought nothing but trouble—better to avoid her.

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

After a while, she arrived near school, only to see an unexpected figure outside the gate—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 gate.

Students passing by afterward glanced at him several times.

Pity, regret, schadenfreude, resentment—various expressions.

His decision to become a pseudo-Foundation Establishment cultivator had spread throughout the school; some pitied him, some rejoiced, others thought his actions unfair to fellow students and despised him.

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

“Forget it.”

For over a decade, he’d cultivated methodically, all to enter a prestigious academy… and keep cultivating methodically.

Joining the Dragon Elephant Pillar Heaven Sect would be best; if not, finding a job after graduation wouldn’t be bad.

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

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

His pseudo-Foundation Establishment shattered, yet he remained unharmed—could he say it was all due to the mysterious “Huo” granting him fortune? Though inexperienced, he knew that would be foolish.

“Better quit my job first.”

Not knowing what else to do, he’d just quit his job—he could no longer handle it, now that he’d regressed to Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

…………

“I’m telling you, Uncle Shu, my fish is delicious—even Master loves it!”

Chi Jiu Yu wore denim overalls today, an orange T-shirt underneath, and a baseball cap, enthusiastically boasting her cooking skills to Xu Xing.

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

“After I ate the nine fish Master gave me, she got so mad she hung me up and beat me—only after I caught some more fish and cooked them for her did she forgive me.”

Same strength level—yesterday morning she was half-dead, today she’s bursting with energy; such incredible resilience.

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

“Don’t you have a storage ring? Why not put them in there?”

“These fish can’t be kept in darkness,” Chi Jiu Yu 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, though most of the talking was done by Chi Jiu Yu.

She seemed to have endless words.

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

“Folks! I’ve arrived in Xuanjian City—hit follow, and this afternoon I’ll find the ancient cultivators who just emerged!”

A stunning female cultivator descended from the sky atop a rainbow of colored mist, her purple palace gown clinging to her graceful figure, every movement radiating irresistible charm.

Many passersby turned their gaze toward her.

A smartphone hovered beside her, live-streaming.

In Xu Xing’s perception, threads of essence and desire flowed from the phone screen into a sachet hanging at her waist.

So this is how modern Huanhuan Sect cultivators practice? “Uncle Shu!”

“What?”

“I’m telling Master when I get back!”

“…,” Xu Xing paused, “What are you thinking? I’m just curious about her cultivation method.”

“Just a Huanhuan Sect seductress. I could take ten of her kind,” Chi Jiu Yu sneered.

At the Immortal Sect Grand Tournament, the Huanhuan Sect ranked last.

Yet these people weren’t the least disappointed—they laughed and recorded videos, utterly lacking ambition!

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

Jiang Yujiu didn’t hear their conversation; even if she had, she wouldn’t care.

If you’ve joined the Huanhuan Sect, why care about such things? Then you’re simply not suited to be a Huanhuan Sect cultivator.

Today’s Huanhuan Sect seductresses, due to their unique cultivation method, must constantly chase trends to maintain their popularity.

Simple logic: no popularity means no viewers; no viewers mean no essence or desire.

Thus, the entire Huanhuan Sect is cutthroat; if not for the Ancestor’s rules—like banning 18+ content—they’d be even more insane…

No choice: essence and desire are inseparable from their cultivation path—this only improves after merging with the Dao.

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