Chapter 265: Invitation to Join

Qiao Huizhu suddenly realized at this moment and said, "Xiaoqiao, I'm right here!"

Xiaoqiao heard her sister's voice, paused slightly, then said, "Sis… you… is this really you?"

"How did you end up looking like this?"

Under Xiaoqiao's astonished gaze, Qiao Huizhu stripped off the 【Jinlan Bao Yi】 she wore over her body, revealing her true appearance.

The senior brother Zhan beside her was utterly stunned.

At this moment, he was awestruck by Qiao Huizhu's beauty.

In Senior Brother Zhan's eyes, Xiaoqiao's appearance was already exceptional—she was the number one beauty of the Free and Easy Immortal Sect.

Many male disciples within the sect had feelings for Xiaoqiao, and some even competed fiercely for her attention.

Yet this sister of Senior Sister Qiao was even three times more radiant?

Unbelievable!

Upon seeing Qiao Huizhu, Xiaoqiao rushed forward and embraced her tightly.

The two sisters wept together.

Qiao Huizhu asked, "What exactly happened back then?"

"After I arrived at Hongshi City, I tried contacting you repeatedly, but received no reply!"

"What about our Twin-Soul Talisman?"

Both Qiao Huizhu and He Pingsheng stared at Xiaoqiao.

When the two sisters had parted years ago, they had possessed a Twin-Soul Talisman.

Yet that Twin-Soul Talisman had never functioned.

Xiaoqiao said, "This isn't a place to talk. Sis, Brother-in-law… come with me to the Inner Sect!"

"To my cultivation hall!"

"Alright!" Qiao Huizhu nodded.

The three of them each transformed into streaks of light, soaring across the vast river to the high mountain where the Inner Sect lay.

After passing over several peaks, they finally arrived before a palace atop a summit.

He Pingsheng glanced at it—the palace was small, yet exquisitely crafted.

Above the palace's entrance hung a plaque bearing three characters: Shenguang Hall.

The three activated the formation array and entered the great hall, then seated themselves according to rank.

Xiaoqiao said, "This is the Biyun Peak Spirit Talisman Courtyard of the Free and Easy Immortal Sect!"

"My master is the peak lord of Biyun Peak, and this hall was passed down to me by her!"

Qiao Huizhu asked, "What realm is your master in?"

Xiaoqiao replied, "My master, Biyun Immortal, is a late-stage Golden Core cultivator—she's already at Level Ten!"

"Like our aunt, she's a master of talisman crafting!"

He Pingsheng said, "Xiaoqiao, after we parted at Lishan, how did you get here?"

He Pingsheng felt it best to understand first.

Though this woman was Qiao Huizhu's cousin, over a decade had passed—everything that had happened needed to be asked.

One, to show concern.

Two, to see how she'd fared these years.

Also, to assess the risks and learn about the Free and Easy Immortal Sect.

Xiaoqiao said, "How else could I get here? I agreed with my sister to come first to Liang State and wait at the border!"

"But then the border between Liang State and Qi State was sealed off!"

He Pingsheng nodded.

He knew about this.

Xiaoqiao continued, "Even though it was sealed, I kept waiting—but I waited a full month with no word!"

"I thought you couldn't make it, so I moved locations!"

"Just then, I encountered a demonic cultivator!"

"That demonic cultivator ambushed me from the shadows, but luckily I had several talismans on me and barely held him off!"

"I barely escaped, but lost my storage bag!"

"All the elixirs, talismans, and other items inside were stolen by that demonic cultivator!"

"I fled in panic, wandered through the deep mountains for four months, and finally reached Hongshi City!"

"So, Sis, naturally, my Twin-Soul Talisman couldn't reach you!"

Hearing this, He Pingsheng and Qiao Huizhu understood.

They nodded.

A silence fell between the three.

Then Qiao Huizhu asked, "Sister… I have another question!"

Xiaoqiao: "Go ahead."

Qiao Huizhu said, "I heard the Free and Easy Immortal Sect has a Golden Core Elder, called something like 【Bai Elder】, a lecherous old man!"

"You…"

"I'm worried…"

"You didn't fall into his clutches, did you?"

Qiao Huizhu spoke cautiously, revealing no further details.

Xiaoqiao took a deep breath and said, "No!"

"When I first joined the Free and Easy Immortal Sect, I was originally assigned to Bai Elder's side—he intended to take me as his final disciple!"

"But before I could formally become his disciple, I heard that Bai Elder had perished!"

"Then I became a disciple of my master, Biyun Immortal!"

Hearing this, Qiao Huizhu exhaled in relief.

She looked at He Pingsheng with her beautiful eyes and smiled faintly: Thank heaven for my husband—if he hadn't killed Bai Shangli, Xiaoqiao would have surely fallen into his grasp.

"Sis!" At this moment, Xiaoqiao grew curious: "How did you know I was in the Free and Easy Immortal Sect?"

"Huh?"

"This…" Qiao Huizhu suddenly didn't know how to answer.

She'd forgotten to prepare an explanation.

"Oh…" He Pingsheng quickly stepped in: "Xiaoqiao, this is a long story!"

"Your sister and I tried every means to find you, but we never got any news!"

"Then your sister came up with an idea—to open a pill shop in Hongshi City!"

"We named the shop after you: 【Xiaoqiao Pill Shop】. Later, one of your Free and Easy Immortal Sect disciples came by, and that's how we learned you were here…"

He Pingsheng's story was flawless—no one could find fault with it!

"Oh…" Xiaoqiao nodded: "So that's how it happened!"

"Sis, I'm sorry…"

"Actually, for years I've been searching for you!"

"I even used the Free and Easy Immortal Sect's intelligence network to inquire about conditions in Qi State!"

"I heard they tightened their encirclement—I thought… I thought…"

"You two had perished!"

"So in recent years, I stopped looking for you."

As she spoke, Xiaoqiao burst into tears.

Her emotion was genuine, utterly unfeigned.

Qiao Huizhu embraced her, patting her shoulder: "Don't blame yourself—you didn't know I was still alive!"

"Hehe… now it's good—you've reached Foundation Establishment Level Nine!"

"Mmm… yes…" Xiaoqiao said, "My master treats me exceptionally well… hehe… Sis, do you have a place to stay?"

"If not, why not join our Free and Easy Immortal Sect?"

"My master is an expert in talisman crafting—far superior to our Tianfu Mountain!"

"I remember you had a natural talent for talisman crafting!"

"Sis, I'll speak to my master—you can join directly!"

"No no no…" Xiaoqiao glanced at He Pingsheng: "Brother-in-law, you come too—you both join together!"

"Okay?"

He Pingsheng smiled wryly: "I'm a Five-Element Spirit Root—would they even accept me?"

"Don't worry!" Xiaoqiao patted her chest: "I'll beg my master—she'll definitely agree!"