Chapter 5: The Little Money-Grubber

The main peak of the Southern Dao Sect is a giant tree!

It has branches but no leaves, and its trunk is as thick as a mountain range, leaving one stunned and shocked.

Built upon it are halls and pavilions, spiraling upwards layer by layer, with a tall tower hidden in the clouds, so distant its top cannot be seen, as if it leads to a celestial realm in the heavens.

Su Xi exclaimed in utter amazement, "Master, is this really a tree?"

Rong Shou replied, "Jianshan, an ancient spirit species. The Southern Dao Sect has existed for 198,000 years, yet it has never changed in the slightest. No one knows its true age. Its wood possesses extremely high spirituality; even the thinnest branch can be directly refined and used as a spirit tool. It is known as the sect-protecting treasure that cannot be stolen."

"Deservedly so!" Su Xi's eyes were dazed with wonder.

Rong Shou caught a glimpse of her crafty expression and continued, "Built along the mountain is the sect's vital area—Yuntian Langhuan Gong, divided into twelve tiers of buildings and one tower. The first tier is the Zongmen Dadian, where many important sect affairs are handled. The second tier is the Zhanglao Ge, divided into inner and outer gates. The third tier is the Cangshu Ge, which contains classics related to cultivation; you may go there often to read. The fourth tier is the Gongdetang; all those who have rendered meritorious service to the sect will have their names recorded in the Gongdetang after they ascend, enjoying the offerings of the sect's disciples."

"Will Master also enter the Gongdetang in the future?" Su Xi asked.

Rong Shou beckoned to her.

Su Xi stood obediently before him, "Does Master have any instructions?"

Rong Shou flicked his finger lightly against her forehead, "If you continue to let your imagination run wild, I will send you to the back mountain to face the wall and reflect on your mistakes."

"Ah~" Su Xi covered her forehead and looked around, "Where is the back mountain?"

"Behind the Jianshan tree, where the Supreme Elder is in seclusion, and where the Zhenpai Xiongshou reside. With your small physique, you wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth." Rong Shou's dark eyes were bright and brilliant.

Su Xi shrank her neck, "Master has only just accepted this disciple; you wouldn't be so heartless and cold, would you?"

Rong Shou said, "That depends on whether you listen to your Master."

"I will listen. I have lived under others' roofs since I was small, so I am best at listening," Su Xi raised her hand to swear.

"..." Rong Shou looked at her fair palms, which were not without thin calluses, "For those who cultivate the Dao, if an oath is broken, one will suffer the tribulation of backlash."

Su Xi hurriedly pulled her hand back, "I was just joking, Master, please don't take it seriously."

The corners of Rong Shou's lips lifted slightly, and he flicked her forehead again.

A white-haired old man hurried over from within the main hall.

Rong Shou said to Su Xi, "The Great Elder of the inner gate and a cabinet elder of the Zhanglao Ge. During my cultivation, he handles many of the sect's affairs. You may also call him Senior Brother Hua Qing."

Su Xi blinked, looking at the white-haired old man, "Master, are you sure I should call him Senior Brother? Not something like Grand Uncle-Master?"

"If you dare to call him that, see if he dares to answer," Rong Shou said with a smile.

Su Xi looked back at Rong Shou with suspicious little eyes, then tentatively stepped forward to take the initiative to bow to Hua Qing, "Su Xi has met Senior Brother Hua Qing."

Hua Qing was struck as if by lightning, and it took him a long while to react. He asked Rong Shou in an uncertain tone, "Sect Master, who is this child?"

Rong Shou replied, "My personal disciple, Su Xi."

Having received Rong Shou's confirmation, when Hua Qing looked at Su Xi again, there was more scrutiny in his gaze, but Su Xi was covered in defensive spells that hid her innate talent, so he could see nothing.

"Congratulations to the Sect Master for taking on a personal disciple. The Sect Master's lineage finally has a successor," Hua Qing congratulated Rong Shou.

He then took out a Storage Bag and handed it to Su Xi, "Little Junior Sister, if you need anything in the future, you can come find me."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Su Xi took it with both hands, her delicate and spirited little face full of joy and excitement.

"What do you want with me?" The sound transmission talisman Rong Shou had received was sent by Hua Qing.

Hua Qing replied with a serious expression, "The Young Sect Master of the Heaven Sword Sect has reached the late stage of the Golden Core Small Perfection and is about to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage. He has invited the Sect Master to come and observe the ceremony."

Rong Shou said, "This Young Sect Master of the Heaven Sword Sect usually loves to uphold justice and has offended many people. There will surely be enemies coming to cause trouble during this advancement."

Hua Qing nodded, "It is called observing the ceremony, but in reality, he is asking the Sect Master to go and protect him during the tribulation."

Su Xi's bright, watery apricot eyes rolled, "Will there be any benefits for Master? We can't help for nothing."

Rong Shou glanced at this money-loving, sole disciple of his, "Do you want to go?"

"It's a chance to broaden my horizons," Su Xi said with a grin, revealing a pair of cute, playful little dimples at the corners of her lips, along with teeth as white as shells.

But as she laughed, Su Xi remembered something and asked, "Master, you are also at Small Perfection, does that mean you also have to undergo tribulation?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Qing's expression became incomparably grave, "In that case, the Sect Master absolutely must not go. Forming the Nascent Soul is only a minor heavenly tribulation; if the Tribulation Cloud senses the Sect Master's Small Perfection aura, it might descend as well. The major heavenly tribulation of the Hetipi requires the entire sect to protect the Sect Master; it cannot be taken lightly."

"It should be fine if I hide my aura well," Rong Shou replied.

"No!" Su Xi followed suit to dissuade him after hearing Hua Qing speak so gravely. He was her greatest backer now, and absolutely nothing could go wrong.

"Master, this disciple will go in your stead to protect that Young Sect Master during his tribulation. You should just cultivate well and prepare to face the major heavenly tribulation in your best state."

"..." Rong Shou raised his eyebrows slightly, "You will go in my stead?"

"Mm-hmm." Su Xi's little face was flushed, her eyes filled with worldly shrewdness, "Human relationships and social graces, this disciple understands them all. If we really encounter danger that requires Master to act, we have the sound transmission talisman. If not, Master saves the trouble of making a risky trip. Right, Senior Brother?"

Though, whether she would actually transmit if she only had the talisman was another matter.

"Right, right, right, what Little Junior Sister says is absolutely correct." Hua Qing felt that having a Little Junior Sister was actually quite nice.

Rong Shou watched the two of them, one old and one young, singing in harmony to oppose his going to the Heaven Sword Sect, and couldn't help but laugh, "Alright then, Hua Qing, you take her and go in my stead."

"Yes, Sect Master," Hua Qing agreed, "There is one more thing. For this outer gate recruitment, the deacons sent out by all sides have returned with the pre-selected disciples. Should the official selection follow the previous examinations?"

"Yes," Rong Shou replied.

"What about me? Do I have to take the exam again?" Su Xi asked.

"Of course not," Rong Shou replied. Otherwise, why would he bother covering for her? That would be a redundant effort.

Hua Qing smiled, "Little Junior Sister can go observe the ceremony; it's a good chance to get to know everyone."

Su Xi looked at Rong Shou, "Is that okay?"

"Mm." Rong Shou nodded, then said to Hua Qing, "I will be in seclusion in the back mountain; if there is anything urgent, you may find me."

"Sect Master, please cultivate with peace of mind," Hua Qing bowed. Just now, Rong Shou's true essence had shown signs of overflowing, and faint traces of the laws' spiritual radiance had appeared around him; he must be on the verge of a breakthrough. He also needed to notify the other elders to prepare for tribulation protection early.

"Master, this disciple will listen to Senior Brother and wait for you to come out of seclusion," Su Xi stood obediently.

"See that you do as you say, and don't cause trouble for the cabinet elder." Rong Shou ruffled her messy hair, smoothing it out in the blink of an eye.

Although they hadn't been together long, he could see that this disciple had as many tricks up her sleeve as a spirit beehive.

"Yes, Master," Su Xi replied with a playful smile.