Chapter 28

The commotion of Yang Jian's tribulation also caught the attention of Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao, who were both surprised to see that it was the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

"Big Sister, I didn't expect your disciple's disciple to be undergoing the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. It seems he has a chance to attain the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm." Qiong Xiao stood gracefully beside Yun Xiao, her figure slender and beautiful, dressed in a crimson silk dress.

Yun Xiao had an ethereal temperament, like an orchid in an empty valley; she wore white robes, and her every gesture exuded a transcendent elegance. Beneath her curved willow eyebrows, her eyes shimmered with intelligence and gentleness.

"Indeed, most acquired beings undergo the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation and can only cultivate to the True Immortal realm at best. The Six-Nine Heavenly Tribulation is already rare, but I never expected Yang Jian to be able to trigger the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. He has at least the potential of a Da Luo Golden Immortal."

Suddenly, Yun Xiao remembered something.

"By the way, why is Bi Xiao not seen in such matters? She should have popped up by now."

Qiong Xiao said: "Big Sister, Bi Xiao said a few days ago that she wanted to go into seclusion."

"Seclusion again? Speaking of which, Third Sister has been in seclusion so often lately; when did she become so diligent in her cultivation?"

Hearing Yun Xiao's words, Qiong Xiao was also puzzled and had to explain.

"Perhaps Third Sister saw that the disciples and grand-disciples you took in are so formidable, which ignited Bi Xiao's fighting spirit?"

Yun Xiao had a calm and introverted personality and was meticulous; she did not quite believe that Bi Xiao had suddenly had an epiphany and learned to cultivate diligently.

"I always feel it's suspicious. I'll go take a look."

Seeing Yun Xiao heading to Bi Xiao's cave dwelling, Qiong Xiao followed.

Arriving in front of the cave, they sensed that there was indeed someone inside.

Yun Xiao was puzzled in her heart.

Could it be that she was overthinking?

It was somewhat inappropriate to disturb someone during seclusion.

But after thinking for a moment, Yun Xiao still spoke up.

"Third Sister, are you inside?"

"Third Sister?"

Seeing no reply, she assumed Bi Xiao might have already wandered into the void, entering a state of detachment from the world, and planned to leave.

Suddenly, the cave door opened.

They saw Bi Xiao walking out from within.

Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao stepped forward.

"Third Sister, we didn't disturb you, did we?"

Glancing at the two, Bi Xiao said: "Big Sister, Second Sister, I am fine."

Noticing that something was wrong with Bi Xiao—she had no expression when speaking, was too formal, and was like a puppet.

Yun Xiao's eyebrows furrowed: "Wrong, you are not Bi Xiao. Who are you?"

Seeing that she had been exposed, the Bi Xiao turned into a puppet and moved its mouth.

"I was instructed to sit in the cave dwelling; I know nothing else."

Yun Xiao's beautiful face was filled with anger. No wonder Bi Xiao had been running to the cave dwelling so often lately; it turned out she was using a puppet to replace her while she ran off to play.

"Big Sister, what should we do now? Should we go out and find Bi Xiao?"

Recognizing that this puppet was the one previously gifted to Gu Xiu by Our Lady of Wudang.

Knowing that Bi Xiao had asked for it from Gu Xiu, Yun Xiao said: "We don't know where Third Sister has run off to. Let's wait a few days for her to return on her own. For now, let's go find my disciple."

She immediately had the puppet follow them to find Gu Xiu.

Because Yang Jian had become an immortal, Yang Chan prepared a table of dishes to celebrate.

Since becoming an immortal, Gu Xiu had not eaten meals, at most eating some monster meat. Seeing that these were made with immortal plants and spiritual fruits from the Three Immortal Islands, he sat down to taste Yang Chan's cooking.

It had to be said that besides being good at brewing tea, Yang Chan was also good at cooking.

After eating and drinking his fill, while he was thinking about how to counter the Chan Sect, Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao arrived together.

They even brought a puppet with them.

Gu Xiu naturally remembered this puppet; it was the one Bi Xiao had borrowed from him.

"Master, Aunt-Master, why have you come?"

"Gu Xiu, how did this puppet end up in Bi Xiao's hands?" Yun Xiao asked as soon as she arrived.

Gu Xiu told the truth.

"Oh, Aunt-Master Bi Xiao said she wanted to borrow it to use. Disciple saw that I didn't have much use for it, so I lent it to her. What's wrong?"

"Bi Xiao used this puppet to replace her in seclusion, fooling us, while she snuck out again."

This left Gu Xiu speechless; so that was what Bi Xiao used the puppet for.

It had to be said that she was indeed Bi Xiao.

"Master, I didn't expect Aunt-Master Bi Xiao to borrow the puppet to replace her in seclusion. When Aunt-Master returns, I will have a good talk with her."

"Bi Xiao's playfulness isn't something that can be fixed with just a few words. In any case, don't keep helping her sneak out in the future." Yun Xiao finally understood why Bi Xiao often went to find Gu Xiu, even more frequently than she, the master, did; it turned out there was a motive. No wonder the two suddenly became so close.

"Master, I can't take the blame for this. I never helped Aunt-Master sneak out. This puppet was an accident. However, I don't think we need to watch Aunt-Master too strictly. Aunt-Master has the cultivation of a Da Luo Golden Immortal; she's just bored on the island and is only playing around the East Sea. There won't be any danger."

Gu Xiu didn't know how the Investiture of the Gods would turn out, but since Bi Xiao felt bored on the island, walking around the East Sea was fine. After the Investiture of the Gods, if everyone was still alive, they could strive for progress; if they were on the list, they wouldn't be able to play even if they wanted to.

If it weren't for plotting the Investiture of the Gods and finding a way out for everyone, Gu Xiu would have wanted to travel the mountains and rivers and be a carefree immortal.

Cultivating immortality was for the sake of being carefree and unrestrained; if one only stayed in seclusion and cultivated hard, even with high cultivation, it would lose its meaning.

"I knew you would speak up for Third Sister. I really don't know whose disciple you are." Yun Xiao said with some resentment.

Gu Xiu smiled: "Master, I am naturally your disciple."

Yun Xiao chided: "Stop being glib with me. Take this puppet back and don't give it to Bi Xiao again."

"Yes, Master."

Seeing Yun Xiao leave, Gu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief; he had finally managed to bluff his way through.

Yang Chan walked over: "I really envy the sisterly bond of the Three Xiao Fairies. This kind of noisy life is actually quite nice."

"That is true." Gu Xiu agreed with this, but he didn't know how long this peaceful and comfortable life could last.

"Yang Chan, I'll leave things here to you. I'm going to Jinao Island."

Seeing that Jiang Ziya would be coming down the mountain in a few years, Gu Xiu planned to go to Jinao Island to see if there was anything that needed to be done.

……

Leaving the Three Immortal Islands and heading toward Jinao Island, he met Daoist Duobao on the way.

Gu Xiu remembered that Duobao had been ordered by Tongtian to go to Penglai Immortal Island to have Yuyixian replace Dingguangxian's position, and now that he was returning alone, it meant the trip to Penglai Immortal Island had not gone smoothly.

"Uncle-Master Duobao, are you returning from Penglai Immortal Island?"

Daoist Duobao stepped on auspicious clouds, a kind smile always hanging on his face, and nodded: "I am indeed returning from Penglai Immortal Island. This trip did not go smoothly."

"In other words, Yuyixian is unwilling to replace Chang'er Dingguangxian as one of the Seven Attendant Immortals?"

"That is not it." Daoist Duobao shook his head and sighed.

"Yuyixian seems to know that he killed Chang'er Dingguangxian, so he is currently on the run and is not at Penglai Immortal Island."

"It is a pity. Yuyixian is a Golden-Winged Peng that lived on Penglai Immortal Island. He had previously come to Jinao Island to listen to your Grand-Master preach, but he had never officially joined the Sect of the Cut-off Heaven. This was an opportunity, but I didn't expect him to flee Penglai Immortal Island because he killed Dingguangxian and feared punishment."

The Peng clan was inherently cruel and unruly.

There was the fierce reputation of Kunpeng that intimidated the Primordial.

Later, there was the Golden-Winged Peng in the Journey to the West, which swallowed a whole country in one gulp, showing its level of cruelty.

It was indeed a pity that such combat power could not be recruited.

But thinking that Yuyixian would later be tricked by Shen Gongbao into participating in the Investiture of the Gods, he wasn't worried.

"Uncle-Master need not worry. Yuyixian has quite a bit of karma with our Jie Sect; I believe we will meet him before long."

Daoist Duobao nodded and smiled: "Nephew is right. Is Nephew heading to Jinao Island?"

"Nothing to do today, so I wanted to go to Jinao Island to visit my fellow disciples."

Daoist Duobao smiled broadly: "Nephew, let us go together."