Chapter 108: Leap of Anticipation

It was the red‑flame tiger that chased Jiang Yu during the Tian Nan Trial, and the Refining Qi cultivator who saved the tiger.

The difference is that both the cultivator and the tiger progressed from the Refining Qi Realm into the Foundation Establishment.

"Hehe, the red‑flame tiger still remembers your arrow‑grudge." At that time, Jiang Tu and Jiang Bai were hidden in the shadows.

Qin Zhuo immediately placed the red‑flame tiger into a spirit‑beast bag, saying, "It was deserved; I was careless in the moment."

"You are Jiang Yu, my apologies." Wen Xin, who was composed, changed attitude the moment she heard he was a disciple of Sui Lv Zhenjun.

It is rumored that Sui Lv Zhenjun values this named disciple highly and will soon accept him as an official direct disciple. "I am Wen Xin of the Profound Heaven Sect; I have heard my great‑uncle and elder brother speak of you.

My great‑uncle served as a judge at the Tian Nan Trial Conference.

"Then, could Senior Brother be Daoist Wen Luo? Great‑uncle, is it Daoist Wen Jian?" Jiang Yu first thought of the Profound Heaven Sect cultivator who obtained the Tai Chi Fish Token at the Falling Moon Market.

The second was Daoist Wen Jian, one of the judges at the Tian Nan Trial Arena.

Senior Sister Wan said that this Daoist Wen and a Daoist from the Spirit Ruins Sect had evaluated many trial cultivators before the Water Mirror, and their intentions were not purely benevolent.

What she did not know was that that year in the Treasure Gathering Hall, the person who incited Xue Miao to resent her for taking away the fish token was also Wen Luo of the Wen family.

"Exactly." Wen Xin nodded, "my cousin is also my elder brother, Jiang Daoist, are you visiting relatives in the mortal realm? Haven't you received any sect missions?"

"I am on a sect mission. Do you two also have missions?" Jiang Yu wondered whether they were here because someone pretended to recruit disciples under the Profound Heaven Sect's name, or were searching for the Tai Chi Fish Token.

For safety, she did not want other cultivators to know where her relatives were; cultivators who do not treat mortals as people are not limited to demonic cultivators.

She went straight to the point and asked, "Or did you discover my formation here and come to investigate?"

Qin Zhuo halted Wen Xin with a glance and said, "Mission: in recent years evil cultivators have been abducting mortals; we happened to see someone here, so we came to check."

"I wonder, Jiang Daoist, have you ever met other cultivators?"

"It seems our missions are similar; I encountered a demonic cultivator, but he ran away too fast, I couldn't catch him.

I still have to continue searching here, so I won't waste the two of your time." Although everyone was standing outside the main gate, Jiang Yu, having other business, simply saw them off.

Wen Xin had no choice but to follow Qin Zhuo out; as soon as they stepped out of the narrow alley, she sent a voice message, "Senior Brother Qin, his first mission must be to find the Tai Chi Fish Token.

The Grand Void, Falling Moon, Returning Origin, and about seven or eight other sects have jointly announced a public search south of the cultivation world.

You think, if she sets a formation around a mortal dwelling, might there be a fish token inside?

"She wouldn't look for the fish token." Qin Zhuo knows this because he heard Senior Brother Wen Luo tell their master that Jiang Yu also has one in her hand.

The Tai Chi Fish Token recognizes only one person in a lifetime; if she has already recognized a master successfully, there is no need to seek another.

Wen Xin was puzzled, "Why?"

Qin Zhuo did not wish to explain, so the two kept walking, hoping to get lucky and find the Tai Chi Fish Token. "In a moment, don't appear before Xue Miao again, lest you provoke her further."

"Missing the treasure twice, even if I ignore her, she still gets angry.

Do you want to lure her to meet Jiang Yu?" Wen Xin asked, as clear as a mirror.

Qin Zhuo suddenly stopped, and Wen Xin almost bumped into his back, "Sister Wen, don't create extra trouble; this time the Grand Void gave each sect a warning—it's a matter of personal sentiment, neither big nor small."

Moreover, Grand Void Sect disciples are scattered everywhere and can come to aid Jiang Yu at any time.

If she fights Xue Miao, it would spark a clash between the two sects, and accountability would quickly fall on you.

He couldn't help but wonder whether the Wen family all especially enjoy scheming.

Qin Zhuo didn't know that as soon as they left, Jiang Yu tore down the formation banner here and received a message from Xia Bing asking for her exact whereabouts.

She has now entered Foundation Establishment, and her titles have been adjusted accordingly.

In fact, Jiang Yu is somewhat unaccustomed; aside from keeping the same address within branches of the same ancestral master, whenever a cultivator's level changes, master‑uncle, senior brother, and senior sister all change their titles.

She replied, "Senior Sister Xia, have you also received a mortal‑realm mission?"

Xia Bing said, "Yes, I just arrived within Tang Country; Master Uncle Sui Lv gave me an extra task—to team up with you."

Jiang Yu suspected the master was looking for someone to protect her; after she reported her address and waited for her cousin, who had resigned and moved out, she left the capital city with them.

But whether by luck or some other reason, just after she sent the people off, Jiang Tu said, "On the other side of the mountain, I saw cultivators with a few children, hidden in a cave."

"Let's go." Jiang Yu immediately bid farewell to her cousin's family, and without much ceremony flew over the ridge, pinpointing the cultivators' hideout.

Jiang Tu, eager to try, asked, "Should we charge in?"

"No, send a message to master‑uncle," Jiang Yu said, fearing these people might panic, flee, and kill a villager or two in a nearby village.

She didn't need to kill them specifically; just passing by, she could toss a fire talisman or two to vent her anger and instantly reap a swath of mortal lives.

Jiang Tu added, "But there are only three late‑Refining Qi cultivators inside; one sword strike could end their lives."

Swish, Jiang Yu burst from her hidden spot, rushed to the cave entrance, and violently used fire talismans to blast open the entrance barrier.

The seven or eight children inside ran deeper, and Jiang Tu leapt after them.

Meanwhile, the three cultivators, panicked, charged at Jiang Yu.

But those few sword qi were no match for Jiang Yu's spiritual sword slash; in three swift blows she snapped the magic swords in their hands.

Jiang Yu pressed the attack, hurling a few basic fire talismans, and the three mid‑Refining Qi cultivators were bombarded into a frantic, inescapable scramble.

To be safe, she didn't annihilate them outright; instead she cast a forbidden spirit net over them, instantly sealing their spiritual power.

The three realized they couldn't muster any magical power and instantly despaired, "Senior, spare us!"

"What's up with those children?" Jiang Yu asked carefully, trying to see if any of the people from the hidden portraits were present.

"Senior, we are disciples of the Grand Void, about to bring our junior brothers and sisters back…" one of them quipped nervously.

Jiang Yu unleashed a sword qi; with a sharp "Ah!" the man burst into a spray of blood, "Just recently they claimed to be from the Taiyi Sect—who are they fooling? Where is your group's Foundation Establishment?"

The team responsible for Jiang Country had already been captured by various sects on the twenty‑eighth day of the great year.

The remaining two exchanged glances, realizing they could no longer stand firm, "Senior, after the captain received a message, he ordered us to disperse and hide.

Then we wait for the cultivation world side to come and fetch our junior brothers and sisters."

Jiang Yu didn't ask further, quickly sent a message to Xia Bing, "Sister, should I kill them?"

Xia Bing replied instantly, "For now, the mission prefers no killing; gather the living and take them together to the Harmony Sect for an explanation."

"They won't settle the score; it's pointless," Jiang Yu flatly doubted, thinking it must be about recruiting and cultivation.

As for those at the Qi Refinement stage, they only know that the squad leader will send the children away en masse; whether they are being sent to Hehuan, they have no authority to inquire.

She swept the three with a cold, sharp gaze, and within a few breaths heard Jiang Tu shout: "Jiang Yu, come quick, look, we've made a fortune!"

Dragon turtle—indeed a wealth‑attracting divine beast!

Jiang Yu swiftly used a secret method to seal the three's dantian, sealed the cave entrance with her own formation, and then sent a wave of people onward into the depths.