Chapter 96: Xiang Jianzong!

Is this still the same Chi Jiuyu who likes to pedal a tricycle?

Zhang Yunlu was a little dazed; she felt she probably needed to get to know Chi Jiuyu all over again.

"In short, you don't need to worry about Little Yunlu at all — the sect will arrange everything for her."

"Thank you." Zhang Xiu thanked him sincerely.

"You're welcome, it's all what I should do."

How did this become something you should do? "Alright, Uncle-Master, let's head back!"

Chi Jiuyu, who had just finished showing off, was very satisfied — wasn't all her effort to memorize this content precisely for moments like this! "Brother, I'll come back to visit you." Zhang Yunlu added.

"Emm…"

How should she put it in somewhat tactful words to explain to Little Lu that she was actually not Jin Dan, but Soul Transformation, and was just about to take the elder's token and go pay her respects at Longxiang Qingtianzong?

"Actually, I'm also about to—"

Her vision blurred, and the three figures had already vanished from sight.

Huh? They left just like that.

Uh… that's fine too.

She could organize her words properly, then explain the whole story to Little Lu in one go.

After all, she had grown up too; there was no need to keep hiding things from her, and it would give her some precaution when out and about.

Returning to the bedside, Old Jiang was sleeping very deeply, but his complexion was gradually getting better.

His wrinkled skin was slowly smoothing out, and his bare scalp was beginning to sprout fine strands of hair.

Huh? This pill actually has the function of growing hair too? …

……

On the other side, Xu Xing did not take the two of them straight back to the Xiang Jianzong.

Instead, he went directly above Xuanjian City.

The enormous Secret Realm looked like a small red planet, hidden behind the sky.

"Uncle-Master, are you going to put this away?"

"No, let's settle the rewards first."

Rewards?

Zhang Yunlu, standing beside them, paused, and saw that line of golden text appear once more before her.

【The third trial has ended; rewards will be issued based on performance within the Secret Realm】

【Name: Zhang Yunlu】

【Realm: Qi Refining Layer Nine】

【Ranking: One】

【Reward obtainable: thirty percent of the Secret Realm specialty, Tongxuan Grass】

【Note: Consuming the Secret Realm specialty Tongxuan Grass grants the buffed state from within the Secret Realm for ten minutes; consecutive consumption enhances the effect】

Soon, the golden text faded, replaced by a storage ring.

First place gets thirty percent, second place twenty percent, third place ten percent; the remaining trial-takers are ranked according to the time they spent inside the Secret Realm, splitting the rest of the Tongxuan Grass.

The storage ring fell into her hand. Zhang Yunlu channeled a wisp of spiritual power and looked inside — dense rows of Tongxuan Grass were neatly arranged.

"Senior, I…"

"Take what's yours, you earned it through your own effort, right, Uncle-Master!" Chi Jiuyu said with a grin.

"That's right."

Might as well keep you by my side from now on as my mouthpiece.

Xu Xing shook his head slightly and raised his hand with a beckoning gesture.

The Secret Realm hidden behind the sky trembled, then began shrinking at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In just a few seconds, the planet-like Secret Realm shrank into a thumb-sized red bead, and broke through the sky into reality.

"This is for you."

The red bead that the Secret Realm had become was tossed by Xu Xing, thrown straight at Chi Jiuyu.

"Eek, eek!"

In a flurry of flailing hands, Chi Jiuyu mobilized her full magic power, nerves taut.

The Secret Realm bead landed in her hand, but its weight was not as exaggerated as expected — light as a feather, like an ordinary plastic bead.

"Thought it would be heavy." Chi Jiuyu muttered, pinching the bead and giving it a shake. "Uncle-Master, you're really going to give me this Secret Realm?"

"Didn't I tell you before? The whole reason Senior Sister asked you to come was for this." Hearing this, a touch of gratitude welled up in Chi Jiuyu again, but the moment she thought about how she was about to be disciplined, that touch of gratitude vanished without a trace.

"Alright, back to the sect."

As the words fell, the three of them vanished once more.

Meanwhile, down below in Xuanjian City, everyone looked up at the sky.

They all felt as if a weight had been lifted.

That thing was finally gone.

Although they knew it was merely a Secret Realm a big shot had set up for trials, with no real danger.

Still, having a Secret Realm like a small planet, looking as if it could fall at any moment, hanging in the sky the whole time — it was always oppressive.

In the city center plaza, Li Qingyang looked up at the sky, his whole body seemingly frozen.

Jiang Jing beside him was the same — as Nascent Soul cultivators who had also practiced pupil-technique divine abilities, and with Xu Xing having no intention of concealing things.

The one who just appeared in the sky and took the Secret Realm — was that Senior Brother Sandao?! How could that be? Isn't Senior Brother Sandao just an outer-gate Silutang steward?

He must have seen wrong!

Jiang Jing's expression was complex, clutching a storage ring in her hand.

She understood well—the vision of a Nascent Soul cultivator could hardly be wrong.

But… suddenly, a childhood friend had become a supreme elder?

Jiang Jing looked at Li Qingyang, wanting to confirm one last time: "Vice Head of Silutang, can you… hmm?"

Yet Li Qingyang's reaction was even more extreme—he trembled uncontrollably, his eyes filled with uncontainable regret.

He staggered back two steps and collapsed onto the reclining chair.

"Damn it! I'm such an idiot! What the hell did I do?!"

No way, it can't be that bad? Jiang Jing stared blankly.

…………

The Xiang Jianzong is one of the oldest and most powerful sects among humanity.

The main seat of the Xiang Jianzong lies in the center of Jianzhou, far from Xuanjian City; most cultivators take the teleportation arrays installed across the lands to get there, except for those with profound realms.

Zhang Yunlu had once planned to visit the Xiang Jianzong's main seat after the college entrance exam, but due to a twist of fate, she arrived here sooner than expected.

The towering gate spans the widest highway, its material resembling Bai Yu, adorned with ancient and mysterious patterns.

At its peak are two vermilion characters, bold and powerful—Jian Zong! Looking inward through the gate, one sees a range of rolling mountains, each peak neither too high nor steep, dotted with classical buildings, and occasional beams of light darting in and out.

Four of these peaks rise slightly higher than the surrounding mountains, each crowned with a distinctive statue.

A long sword, a chain-bound shackle, a bamboo scroll, and an ancient, simple tripod.

These four peaks are the Outer Sect's Sword Bearing, Silutang, Transmission of Law, and Dan Ding peaks.

Streams of light frequently pass between the peaks, and giant mysterious mirrors float among the mountains, broadcasting news.

"We're here! That's the Outer Sect of the Xiang Jianzong—most areas are open to the public; they make a fortune every year just selling tickets!" Chi Jiuyu explained with glee.

While listening, Zhang Yunlu's gaze was drawn to the sky—a massive island hovered high above, surrounded by clouds of spiritual energy.

No—it shouldn't be called an island; it was a continent, its area several times larger than Xuanjian City.

From below, its grandeur could only be sensed through gaps in the drifting mist.

Seven divine auras flowed downward from the base of the floating continent, like magnificent waterfalls descending from the high heavens—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—each bearing lines of text.

Upon closer inspection, the text was clearly individual names.

It was a ranking list, recording the standings of Xiang Jianzong cultivators from Qi Condensation to Dao Comprehension.

At the very top of the green aura list—the Nascent Soul ranking—was Chi Jiuyu's name.

Number One Nascent Soul of the Era: Chi Jiuyu!

But she personally hated that color, so she didn't take the chance to show off during her explanation.

"Above is the Inner Sect—only Xiang Jianzong inner disciples may enter. The Dan Ding Pavilion, the Transmission of Law Tower, and the headquarters of Silutang and Sword Bearing Hall are all there."

"There's also the largest star-jump array on the entire Central Continent!"

"Once you reach Foundation Establishment, I'll take you on my starship to explore the stars—it's far more interesting than the Central Continent!"

First chapter.

Cold hasn't improved; today's still the same, tomorrow I'll get up early for IV drip.

So the remaining two chapters will be posted later.

(End of chapter)