Chapter 17: Want to Leave the Sect?

Rong Shou picked up the "Southern Dao Sect Precepts" and, while annotating with a vermilion brush, replied: "Though there is only a one-character difference between the outer sect and the inner sect, they are as different as heaven and earth."

The inner sect is single-minded, existing only for ascension.

The most important purpose of the outer sect is to help the inner sect select talent; as long as this can be achieved, the other infighting is of no consequence."

Su Xi sat cross-legged on the flat boat, suddenly... it seemed Master had recognized the Fifth Elder, but the meaning of this explanation was that he knew everything, yet cared about none of it.

"Listening to Master, this disciple seems more like outer sect material, loving to think about trivial matters all day long instead of focusing on cultivation."

"Want to leave the sect?" The vermilion brush in Rong Shou's hand snapped with a *crack*!

Su Xi was horrified: "... Where did this talk come from?"

She didn't!

"Xie Guanyu said you want to take him as your master because I do not impart techniques or teach lessons." Rong Shou pulled a folding fan from his sleeve and opened it with a *swish*.

On the snow-white silk fan face, a line of text was written—I, Su Xi, wish to take Xie Guanyu as my master!

There was even a red handprint!

Su Xi stared wide-eyed, even comparing it with her finger; it was exactly the same!

She hurriedly raised her hand to swear, "Absolutely a frame-up! I was kidnapped by him the whole way, and inevitably fell into a daze and slept during the journey; I was plotted against by him."

"As your master, I shall initiate you now and teach you the Dao of Qi refinement." Rong Shou immediately set up a barrier.

Su Xi secretly thought it was bad, but on the surface, she was still full of anticipation, "Thank you, Master, this disciple will study earnestly. Then, the 'Southern Dao Sect Precepts'..."

"Must be memorized all the same! Rule number one: strictly obey the master's orders!"

"Yes, Master."

Ming Yue Lou has three floors: the first floor is for common guests, the second floor for private rooms, and the third floor for superior suites.

Ming Yue Lou, which is usually as bustling as a tide with guests, had not a single customer today.

Xue Fuyi and the Fifth Elder, who was disguised as an old woman, entered the building. Looking at the quiet lobby, they exchanged a glance, then followed the plan and went up to the second-floor private room—the Mei room.

A man was already sitting inside; he was wearing a bridegroom's red robe, toying with an exquisitely crafted jade abacus in his hands.

It was Yue Hua, who was also the proprietor of Ming Yue Lou.

"Not open for business today." Yue Hua said without even raising his head: "Please leave."

"You manager, you took the deposit but aren't open for business, and didn't say so earlier. *Cough cough*~" Zhong Yi feigned two coughs.

Yue Hua raised his hand and tossed a piece of magic stone over, "The deposit is returned doubled."

Xue Fuyi caught the magic stone and said softly and gently to Zhong Yi, "Granny, since they aren't open for business, let's go."

Ming Hua only then raised his eyes and looked at Xue Fuyi, "I suggest you leave Hancheng as soon as possible."

"Why?" Xue Fuyi asked.

"See the guests out." Ming Hua did not offer further explanation.

Zhong Yi patted Xue Fuyi's hand, "Let's go."

After they left the private room, the door closed automatically, and a person emerged from behind the screen.

Xie Guanyu was holding a folding fan in his hand, toying with it, "This female cultivator is a bit interesting."

"You know her?" Ming Hua looked at him.

Xie Guanyu said: "She is Huayuan's clan sister; this is the third time we have met. Every time, she gives me a different feeling."

"Tell me in detail." Ming Hua raised his hand to set out wine and food.

Xie Guanyu sat down, "The first time I saw her, she was a Mortal-grade Spirit Root, the worst kind of aptitude. Ten days ago, she had become a Pseudo-Spirit Root."

"Pseudo-Spirit Root?" Ming Hua frowned, "Seizing a spirit root is not permitted even in Mo Yu, and in Ling Yu, it is something everyone would kill to stop. No, just now I saw she was only a Mortal-grade Spirit Root."

"Yes, she changed back to Mortal-grade. But her cultivation is already at Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage Small Perfection; isn't that very interesting?" Xie Guanyu poured and drank a cup himself.

"The way you put it, I'm starting to regret turning them away." Yue Hua poured him another cup of wine, "What about Huayuan?"

"Speaking of that, give me back my sound-transmission talisman."

"That won't do, I only have one left, and I'm counting on it to beg for your help in the future."

"Daring to sell my sound-transmission talisman, you should have thought of this day; hand it over."

"Alright, alright, I'll give it back to you." Ming Hua handed a sound-transmission talisman to Xie Guanyu, "Don't say, Rong Shou is truly generous; one sound-transmission talisman for ten top-grade Spirit Crystals."

"Split half with me." Xie Guanyu reached out.

"... Fine, fine, fine." Ming Hua immediately gave him a Storage Bag, "Ask you something, does Huayuan have any little secrets? Rest assured, my lips are very tight."

"Lips tight? Heh, then who told me the secret of Rong Shou's background?"

"I have memory lapses when I'm drunk; who knows what I said. What is the secret, anyway? Trading with items is fine too."

"No trade! I usually tell you to cultivate properly and improve your realm; now you deserve it for knowing nothing." Xie Guanyu looked at the sky outside the window, "I heard the Imperial Dynasty is a bit lively."

"The Imperial Dynasty, isn't it just the replacement of the old with the new, brothers and sisters killing each other by blood, and finally the fisherman reaping the benefits. In a few decades, another round will come; the old routine is very boring." Yue Hua replied.

As the two were chatting, the originally clear sky suddenly began to fill with dark clouds, and the momentum was fierce, giving one a sense of oppression like a blow to the head.

"It's starting." Xie Guanyu stood up, "Let's see if the Demon Lord can succeed in ascending this time; are you going?"

"The reason my cultivation is low but my life is long is because I know a place of trouble and avoid it. Especially since Rong Shou has come too; every time he and the Demon Lord fight, this main city has to be rebuilt. I have to hurry and pack up my belongings." Ming Hua replied.

"You with such small courage are actually the largest merchant on the entire continent."

"It's all thanks to the setting off by my peers; I am unworthy of the praise, haha~"

Xie Guanyu headed toward the place where the Tribulation Cloud was thickest.

The smile on Ming Hua's face gradually dissipated, "Huayuan... you brought her here to confirm whether she is Rong Shou's weak point, right? The Demon Lord's mysterious godson, could it be you? The next Demon Lord!"

Su Xi looked at the Tribulation Cloud in the sky, "Da Miao's transformation tribulation is completely a small witch compared to this one."

"Da Miao has passed the transformation tribulation?" Rong Shou glanced at the direction of the Tribulation Cloud and steered the flat boat to fly in the opposite direction.

Su Xi remembered the characteristics of her Dao Body, "Master, Master, this disciple wants to watch the tribulation."

"No," Rong Shou refused flatly.

"Why?" Su Xi looked at him, suddenly remembering that Rong Shou was also about to undergo his tribulation and needed to avoid the Tribulation Cloud.

"Disciple understands, then let us hurry far away."

"Return to the South Dao Sect to accompany your Master in seclusion." Rong Shou had finally realized that this disciple had to be kept by his side, otherwise she might run off and get lost in the blink of an eye.

Su Xi hurriedly said, "My cousin Xue Fuyi is still here."

Rong Shou said, "From now on, the Fifth Elder is expelled from the sect. That cousin of yours has not yet passed the assessment and is not considered a sect disciple. You and she are not close blood relatives either; avoid unnecessary karma, as it hinders cultivation."

"..." Su Xi was dumbfounded.

【Oh my, oh my~ Master is angry, the host has really messed up this time.】

【Is there any way? I still want to continue stealing Xue Fuyi's destiny, and there is also that demonic slave called Chi Jue.】

【Host, there will be plenty of time in the future; right now, we don't even know where Chi Jue is.】

Rong Shou glanced at the direction of the Tribulation Cloud again and whispered, "Consider yourself lucky."