Chapter 367: Good Friends Should Share Anxiety Together

Jianzhou Sword Sect, inside the cultivation room.

Two figures sat facing each other.

Zhang Suannai had two Long Swords resting on her lap, with a Beast Pill and three bottles of Pill placed in front of her. Her expression was solemn: "Sixth Senior Sister, please protect me during my cultivation!"

"Hah~~"

The woman opposite her yawned.

"Sixth Senior Sister!"

Zhang Suannai's expression became even more solemn: "In the entire sect, I only trust you! Regardless of whether the breakthrough is successful or not, if I do anything shameful after taking the Restoration Pill while I am not in my right mind, you must keep it a secret for me!"

"Hah~~"

"Sixth Senior Sister! Please swear an oath!"

"Hah~~"

The woman opposite her kept yawning, ignoring her completely.

Zhang Suannai could not help but feel helpless.

She had already sought out Third Senior Sister yesterday, but Third Senior Sister's attitude was even more detestable than Sixth Senior Sister's; she had bluntly stated that if she did anything stupid, she would definitely record it, post the appropriate parts in the "Share Blessings Together, Quit the Group During Hardships" chat, and keep the inappropriate ones to blackmail her, though she would certainly ensure her safety.

Zhang Suannai had gotten up and left right then.

It was only today that she had found Sixth Senior Sister again.

But looking at Sixth Senior Sister like this...

Zhang Suannai's heart gradually sank.

Fortunately, she held leverage over Sixth Senior Sister—

About a dozen years ago, when Sixth Senior Sister was attempting to reach the Eighth Stage, she had not trusted any of her senior brothers, senior sisters, or junior brothers in the slightest. Only the then-Junior Sister was young, so Sixth Senior Sister had chosen to ask the teenage Junior Sister to guard her. However, she had not expected that although Junior Sister was young, she had already grasped the essence of the Sword Dao.

The video recorded on a feature phone at that time was still stored in Zhang Suannai's cloud drive.

She had known it would come in handy one day.

However, she could not explain it to Sixth Senior Sister right now.

For one, Sixth Senior Sister had not yet indicated that she definitely intended to harm her, and she might not necessarily make a fool of herself. If Sixth Senior Sister did not have that intention, or if she did not make a fool of herself, wouldn't this leverage be wasted?

Secondly, Sixth Senior Sister had a fiery temperament. If she threatened her first, it would not only make her angry but might also provoke her rebellious psychology. She might change her mind even if she hadn't originally wanted to record her embarrassing moments. She might even go out of her way to make her make a fool of herself just to offset the leverage.

Therefore, she would play the emotional card first and keep her trump card hidden.

"Sixth Senior Sister..."

Zhang Suannai's tone softened: "More than ten years ago, when you were attempting the Eighth Stage, I was the one guarding you. When you were not in your right mind, you shouted that you liked Seventh Senior Brother and said so many strange things. All these years, I have kept the secret for you and never told anyone..."

"Don't worry."

Sixth Senior Sister finally spoke.

Zhang Suannai felt slightly more at ease.

This was it—

If she made a fool of herself and was held over a barrel by Sixth Senior Sister, she would use the leverage in her hand to trade with her. If she didn't make a fool of herself, or if she did but Sixth Senior Sister didn't hold it over her, she would keep this leverage to hold over Sixth Senior Sister in the future.

A perfect plan.

Zhang Suannai took a deep breath, pointed a finger, and a bottle of Pill flew up; with another point, another bottle of Pill flew over.

For a Sixth Stage breakthrough to the Seventh Stage, modern Auxiliary Potion had almost no effect, not even for comfort, and the effects of Secret Sect formulas were pitifully weak. Since that was the case, she might as well choose to trust the Sword Sect's Sword Heart Pill and Sword Intent Pill—these two types of Pill were not for assisting in advancement, but for helping Sword Sect disciples comprehend the Sword Dao. However, those with profound Sword Dao in the Sword Sect had always had the ability to use the Sword Dao to advance their cultivation.

"!"

Zhang Suannai closed her eyes tightly, her Sword Heart communicating with the spirit.

After closing her eyes, the world became even clearer; the flow of air and subtle sounds were all within the range of her Spiritual Sense. The Spirit Power from different sources around her was subjectively dyed with different colors, circling around her.

The nineteenth day of the first lunar month.

Chen Shu and the others returned to Yujing.

Brother Jiang had already started playing ranked matches.

He had played one on the Northern Continent island nation a few days ago, flew back right after, and had another one in a few days.

However, he had not been training specifically for the Arena matches, and with his current strength, there was no need. Recently, he had still been following his original training routine while cooperating with the research team for their studies, and he still returned to the Dormitory every day.

Thus, Brother Jiang was in the Dormitory.

And because it was heard that Chen Shu had returned to school early, Meng Chunqiu had also returned, which caused Sushe to regain its popularity two days ahead of schedule.

"Morning, Brother Chen, Brother Jiang."

Meng Chunqiu greeted them with a beaming smile: "Did you have a good New Year?"

"Very good," Chen Shu answered with a smile.

"Quite good," Jiang Lai also said honestly.

"It seems everyone had a good time." Meng Chunqiu's smile became even brighter. Ever since he decided to embark on the path of cultivation last year, relying on his heaven-defying talent, he had reached a level in just one year that ordinary geniuses could not reach in several years. He was highly valued by the Imperial Family, and when attending the annual meeting, no one dared to look down on him anymore.

Originally, his way of convincing himself was: I pursue poetry and literature, I don't care about these things.

Now, he found that he didn't need to convince himself anymore.

The feeling of being valued by others was truly good.

The feeling of being looked up to by younger brothers and sisters was truly good.

Meng Chunqiu waved his fan, feeling proud and content: "Cultivation has been bitter lately, and the peach blossoms at Xinzheng Temple have bloomed again. Why don't we give ourselves a day off and go enjoy the peach blossoms?"

"When?"

"How about tomorrow?"

"I can."

"I... can too."

Jiang Lai stammered, looking at Chen Shu, then at Meng Chunqiu, and finally said, "Brother Chen, Brother Meng, I don't know what's going on lately, but a strange tattoo suddenly appeared on my body. You two are experienced and knowledgeable, could you help me see what's going on..."

Meng Chunqiu was stunned: "A tattoo?"

Chen Shu raised an eyebrow: "Let's see."

"..."

Jiang Lai didn't act coy and instantly took off his clothes.

The tattoo he spoke of was on his left waist, a pattern less than a palm in size; the colors were not deep but varied, and the pattern itself was quite wondrous, looking like a hazy nebula—at first glance one might think it was moving, but looking closely, it wasn't.

Meng Chunqiu leaned over to get a closer look.

Chen Shu didn't lean in as close as he did, but he still stared intently.

In all likelihood, this was also a mark from a deity, representing the recognition, inheritance, and assistance of a deity.

It was just that the style of this mark was very ethereal; Chen Shu had one on his own body, had seen those of Dharma Master Tongdeng, Master Xuanzhen, and Zhang Suannai domestically, and had seen those of the Demon Race's Fellow Daoist Huang, the North Continent Barbarians, and the Lanya Night People abroad—though they were all different, they were all relatively concrete patterns.

"Can you tell anything?"

Jiang Lai blinked his eyes as he stared at them and added, "It seems it can change positions at will; I can make it be wherever I want it to be. It appeared suddenly after I woke up from a sleep, and it doesn't hurt or itch."

"Did you have a dream?" Chen Shu asked.

"Ah?"

"Did you have a dream that night?"

"It seems... no." Jiang Lai thought for a moment.

"Oh..."

"Does it have any connection?" Jiang Lai asked hurriedly.

"It seems not."

"Don't be surprised." Meng Chunqiu stood up straight and spoke before Brother Chen could, "Not long after I decided to cultivate, one appeared on my body too. This is recognition and a gift from a deity; there is no need to be afraid."

"Ah?"

"Yes." Chen Shu nodded, "I have one too."

"Let me see yours." Jiang Lai stared at them with burning eyes.

"In broad daylight, under the bright sky, gathering in a room to take off clothes—it's not like we're bathing, what does that look like?" Meng Chunqiu waved his hand and refused.

"Brother Meng's words are reasonable." Chen Shu also nodded in agreement and said quite bluntly, "We aren't as perverted as you, taking off clothes just like that."

"..."

Jiang Lai couldn't help but fall silent.

He never expected that the two roommates he trusted so much would treat him like this.

He then silently put his clothes back on, saying as he dressed: "If that's the case, I seem to have seen similar patterns on others before; I thought they were their tattoos at the time and didn't pay attention... but what is its use? Which deity does it come from?"

"The use is to help you cultivate quickly after you advance to the High-Tier." Meng Chunqiu said, looking faintly at Chen Shu, "As for which deity it comes from, I'll leave it to Brother Chen to answer for you."

It was a tone that said, "I know, but I'm giving you the chance to show off."

Jiang Lai immediately looked at Chen Shu.

"..."

Brother Meng is really good at putting on an act.

Chen Shu pursed his lips: "Brother Meng comes from the Imperial Family and is well-informed; looking at that tone, you must already have a plan in mind, so please, Brother Meng, answer Brother Jiang."

Jiang Lai turned his head to look at Meng Chunqiu again.

"Eh!" Meng Chunqiu waved his fan, shook his head, and said, "Brother Chen, do not decline!"

"Brother Meng, just say it quickly!"

"Let the two of us each say one sentence!"

"I don't know."

"... I don't know either."

Jiang Lai's head was spinning.

Finally, Chen Shu analyzed it rationally: "From its appearance, this mark doesn't have much connection to any major system, but that doesn't prove anything; it only shows that we cannot tell which system it belongs to from its appearance, and it doesn't necessarily mean there is a connection between the two."

"However, the one most likely to have taken a fancy to you is the Martial God of the North Continent, but I already saw a mark belonging to the Martial God on one of the North Continent people at the previous Imperial Exchange Meeting; of course, one cannot rule out the possibility of a deity splitting off two marks."

"There is one more possibility—"

"A deity in the starry sky."

"These are all guesses; regarding this, apart from the deity themselves, no one else knows."

Chen Shu paused for a moment and decided to voice the little bit of anxiety he had once felt, transferring it to them: "Finally, I have one more guess."

"What?"

"Let's hear it."

Both of them looked at him, one expectant, the other pretending not to be.

Chen Shu narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice: "The deities have been gone for a long time, yet they suddenly choose peerless geniuses in the world, plant marks, allow them to quickly reach the Ninth Stage, and make them more powerful than normal Ninth Stage cultivators under the nourishment of Divine Power—you two, guess rationally, just a guess, is there any shocking conspiracy in this?"

Meng Chunqiu hissed as he sucked in a cold breath.

Jiang Lai also fell into a deep silence.

The two looked at each other, their eyes fluctuating incessantly.

Chen Shu was very satisfied to see this, but he didn't show it; he only exchanged a few more words with them before refusing to say anything more—if he said too much, Brother Meng would quickly dispel his own and Brother Jiang's doubts based on his trust in his own ancestors, and then it wouldn't have the effect of making them anxious.

Let them be anxious for two days first.