Chapter 625

Why is it exactly 184 points!

As her senior sister, she'd gotten fewer Ascension Points than little Yunlu!

This feeling of her "senior sister's dignity" being ground into the dirt left her momentarily speechless…

When Zhang Yunlu noticed Chi Jiuyu suddenly falling silent, she realized something.

Given her senior sister's temperament, if her score had been higher, she would've immediately "comforted" her, then "casually" revealed how many Ascension Points she'd earned.

Now she was silent—that could only mean one thing—

She'd earned fewer Ascension Points on this mission than she had…

"Senior sister, Master has come out of seclusion."

Zhang Yunlu tactfully changed the subject.

"Come out of seclusion?!"

Chi Jiuyu's attention was instantly diverted.

Of course, it might also be that her "supreme wisdom" had finally kicked in.

"Master came out so soon?"

Master had entered seclusion just a few days before she began her mission.

Calculating the time…

Although she'd spent three years on her mission in the Military Realm's Grand Universe, according to the original mission briefing, the Xiang Jianzong should've only passed three months or so, right?

Not to mention centuries or millennia—even a few years of seclusion were necessary to maintain the dignity of a "true immortal"!

But even so, after three years without seeing Master, she did miss him a little…

After all, she was Master's most loyal senior disciple!

Thinking of this, Chi Jiuyu took out her phone from her storage ring and instantly charged it to full with a charging technique.

As the screen lit up, just like before with Zhang Yunlu, notification sounds kept coming one after another.

There were ad pushes, account change alerts, messages from Lin Xuanxuan, Ye Zhiwei, and Zhao Ruohan, and even one from Master Mei Zu!

Oh!

Master Mei Zu?!

My most respected Master Mei Zu: "The gift I promised you is with your uncle—remember to pick it up."

My most respected Master Mei Zu: "Also, say 'thank you'/serious"

This was what Master Mei Zu had done when adding her as a friend—she'd seen Chi Jiuyu's note for Master and changed it using her phone.

After all, she was just a tiny Soul Transformation fish—how could she possibly resist Master Mei Zu, a true immortal?

No choice, no choice.

Anyway, Master was "the most most respected," so strictly speaking, even Master Mei Zu's changed note still couldn't top Master's.

But the gift…

Still with her uncle?

She'd only mentioned in passing that Spirit Ancestor and Xiang Yuanjun had given her gifts—she hadn't expected Master Mei Zu would actually give one too…

Future Sect Leader of the Xiang Jianzong: "Thank you, Master Mei Zu/curtsey"

To eat someone's food and take their gift makes you owe them—especially since Master Mei Zu, aside from changing her note, got along well with her!

Almost the instant she sent the message, a reply came back.

My most respected Master Mei Zu: "No need to thank me."

"…"

Didn't you just tell me to say thank you?!

She muttered a couple of complaints under her breath, exited the chat with Master Mei Zu, and was about to send a message to Bie Xuening.

My most most respected Master my lord: "/shared location"

My most most respected Master my lord: "Your uncle and I are right here."

My most most respected Master my lord: "Hurry up! /little yellow duck holding sword pointing"

Chi Jiuyu: "…"

She'd just thought of sending a message, and Master's came ahead of her—clearly, Master was still paying attention to her disciple!

Future Sect Leader of the Xiang Jianzong: "Coming!"

After replying, she put away her phone.

"Let's go! Let's go meet Master!"

She could reply to the other messages later—they weren't particularly important anyway.

"Mm."

Zhang Yunlu nodded slightly.

The two immediately summoned their swords and rose into the sky, heading toward the location Bie Xuening had shared.

However…

As soon as Chi Jiuyu flew forward a short distance, she veered wildly to one side.

"Eh eh!! Holy shit!"

She was about to crash into a nearby patrol device…

Fortunately, Zhang Yunlu reacted instantly and rushed over to catch her.

"Holy shit! That scared the hell out of me!" Chi Jiuyu breathed heavily.

If she'd really fallen, wouldn't her entire reputation be ruined?!

Sigh~

After "sword racing" in the Weapon Realm for three years, she'd grown used to that wide-open, boundless feeling of the Weapon Realm — coming back now, she actually wasn't used to it!

She scratched her head, a little embarrassed, and said to Zhang Yunlu:

"Looks like we'll need some time to adjust."

"Then I'll carry you, Ye Shijie."

She did have a 'Sword-Flight Passenger Transport Qualification Certificate.'

"That's not really necessary either."

Then she saw the cyan-gold longsword beneath Chi Jiuyu's feet suddenly widen, and Chi Jiuyu plopped right down on the cyan-gold longsword.

"I'll just hand the main control over to the sword spirit!"

As long as she supplied magic power, her natal sword could carry her straight to the destination.

Super convenient!

Zhang Yunlu looked at the door-sized cyan-gold long… greatsword, then looked at her own sword.

"Alright."

Before long, the two vanished from the vicinity of the Ascension Hall.

……

……

Xiang Jianzong's Outer Gate, Sword-Trial Town.

It was the same small town Xu Xing had visited with Bie Xuening after coming out of seclusion and returning to the Xiang Jianzong this time.

Right in the middle of the town was a lotus lake, and at the center of the lake sat a Sword-Trial Stone for Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment sword cultivators to test themselves.

At this moment, the little town was bustling with people coming and going.

Along the bluestone-paved road, quite a few Xiang Jianzong disciples whose realms weren't very high were setting up stalls, selling snacks or souvenirs and the like.

Before long, two figures descended from the sky, landing outside the town.

One of them sat on a door-sized cyan-gold greatsword — the bizarre sight drew quite a few gazes.

But she clearly didn't care, still chatting away to the person beside her:

"I remember when you were at Foundation Establishment, Little Yunlu, you came to test yourself on the Sword-Trial Stone here too, right?"

The Sword-Trial Stone had never been cut through by anyone…

That gimmick really stoked people's competitive spirit, so most sword cultivators, once they reached Foundation Establishment, would come here to give it a try.

"Mm." Zhang Yunlu looked at the bustling little town. "Too bad I only cut in five inches — can't compare to you, Ye Shijie."

"Aw, you'd just broken through to Foundation Establishment back then, totally normal!"

The vast majority of Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't even cut in a single inch!

Chi Jiuyu said as she hopped down from the broad sword body, then recalled her natal sword back into her Secret Realm to nurture it.

"If you tried now, you could chop right through it without breaking a sweat!"

The two walked into the town.

Zhang Yunlu smiled. "Any random Nascent Soul cultivator could chop through it, right?"

"I was just trying to say you've become a totally different person from before." Chi Jiuyu said casually.

But after walking a few more steps…

Wait!

Chi Jiuyu suddenly realized.

"You're at Nascent Soul?!"

Before Zhang Yunlu could answer, she went on talking to herself:

"Well, it wouldn't make sense not to reach Nascent Soul in under three years…"

Although she herself hadn't slackened in cultivation these three years and had grown quite a bit stronger than before the mission started, her realm was still unchanged at the early stage of Soul Transformation.

Hiss~!

At this rate, Little Yunlu wouldn't catch up to her, would she!

Thinking of this, a trace of urgency welled up in her heart.

But she didn't show it on her face, still chatting and laughing with Zhang Yunlu as they walked into the town.

They made their way through the bustling crowd, stopping along the road to buy some snacks she found novel and had never seen before.

Finally, on the other side of the town, the two spotted Xu Xing and Bie Xuening standing by the lake.

Chi Jiuyu promptly stuffed the remaining snacks into her mouth.

Not caring that they were hot, she chewed furiously a few times and painfully swallowed them down.

Stepping up close.

"Disciples greet Master, Martial Uncle." the two said in unison.

The words had just fallen.