Chapter 31

Not mentioning Master Hu's interrogation result, just Jiang Yu and Wan Xiyue, sitting on the Cloud‑piercing Boat, transmitting voice took only a quarter‑hour, and they had already flown to the edge of Er Mountain.

No wonder it's a top‑grade flying artifact; a thousand li distance is as easy as nothing.

At this moment, Master Du Heng suggested: "Brother Lin, better send my junior sister and me straight to the market town."

Our sect has a minor secret realm opening soon; the junior sister truly cannot delay the entry time.

The toxins from the master and senior brothers were cleared two days ago, so the junior sister need not give up this trial‑refining opportunity.

If it weren't for the Wan Sword Sect's arrival, repeatedly pleading with the junior sister to help introduce Jiang Yu, they would have prepared to bring heavy gifts after the secret realm closes, to thank the brothers from Crossing Sword Peak.

To be frank, compared with the lives of Nascent Soul cultivators, the tribute this time is a bit meager, but the junior sister insists on sending three years' worth of pills and defensive implements, saying they are most practical and she will repay the favor later.

Unfortunately, arriving in haste, the junior sister cannot stay long, unable to spend more time with friends.

And they use the teleportation array for transfer, saving a great amount of time.

"Very well, I wish Wan Xiaoyou a full return," Master Lin said, turning immediately.

The sect, the market town, are not on a straight line with Er Mountain.

The Cloud‑piercing Boat quickly reached the market town; Jiang Yu waved farewell to Senior Sister Wan once more.

Watching her teleport away, she thought to herself she didn't know when they'd meet next.

But just after she stepped onto the Cloud‑piercing Boat, she suddenly heard Master Lin say: "Jiang Yu, I intend to take you as my founding disciple, the sole disciple."

"…", she was a bit bewildered—how could she be the only one?

Jiang Yu considered before speaking, "Elder, I seem to have caused trouble today; the mother dragon Lady Ao hasn't been found, and she might come looking for me again.

Moreover, this labor for the sect leader will surely have someone scheming behind the scenes.

If you take me as a disciple now, could there be future trouble? Also, Brother Lin, won't you also be admitted to the sect's walls?"

Master Lin laughed, "Lin Yuan is not suitable to be my disciple.

And before the Dragon King raises any issue, we must give the sect twenty stalks of Dragon‑breath herb; the Wan Sword Sect members are eagerly awaiting.

When the Cloud‑brocade Fairy took the spirit herb away, she also sent a message to the Wan Sword Sect disciples near Er Mountain, helping them search the mountain for you.

Furthermore, those in need will also come to purchase; do you know how much profit the sect can gain?

Jiang Yu shook her head then nodded; she had heard from Senior Sister Wan that "the Dragon Race doesn't want spirit stones; they inflate the value of Dragon‑breath herb to many times its worth.

Each time the human race comes to trade, each stalk requires at least five top‑grade Purifying Divine Pills, or equivalent‑value items, to exchange.

If there are buyers, the sect need not hand over spirit stones."

She had previously sent the spirit herb only to help Senior Sister Wan, without profit in mind.

Purifying Divine Pills are used by Nascent Soul cultivators to enhance their primordial spirit; they are wholly forged from thousand‑year‑old spirit herbs, yielding a low success rate, and each top‑grade pill costs at least thirty thousand spirit stones.

"But will the Dragon Race honor the contract?" Jiang Yu expressed doubt.

Master Lin nodded, "The sect leader never engages in loss‑making deals; first have them provide a hundred top‑grade spirit stones, and jade tokens from the Dragon Court as collateral, and sign a document—if they don't deliver, we won't redeem the items.

Spirit stones aren't crucial; if the jade tokens end up in human hands and aren't reclaimed, the Yao Race will mock them."

One hundred top‑grade spirit stones nominally equal one million lower‑grade spirit stones, but in practice no one wants to trade them; they are used for cultivation and array formation.

After a pause, he slowed his flight and said, "Your discovery of the swamp this time earned great merit; within two days more than one person will want to take you as a disciple.

If I truly wait until next year's Grand Examination, I won't be able to snatch you as my disciple.

In fact, ever since you teamed up with Lin Yuan and entered the sect to specialize in the Thunder‑Fire Technique, I've had this consideration."

"Why is that? My spiritual root is only average.

Future foundation establishment prospects are great, but reaching Golden Core is still far. As for increasing root value, Jiang Yu wouldn't foolishly boast; rapid cultivation is the real benefit."

To be frank, the personal transmission she currently holds can be consulted with Elder Dao Xu of the later Golden Core stage at any time.

Whether to take a master or not doesn't seem especially important to her; of course, having a master is better.

But Master Lin's taking disciples seems to have another purpose.

"Because my lifespan is nearing its end, and Lin Yuan, like his mother, is simple‑minded, not good at managing things, unable to guard what I leave him.

Finding him a junior sister who values loyalty and can scheme, supporting each other, might extend his path to immortality."

"As for whether you can reach Golden Core, it depends on each of your opportunities." Master Lin noticed Jiang Yu's strange gaze.

He then opened up: "In the Great Lake Heart‑refining stage, you were clearly scheming against Lin Yuan, letting you and Wan Xiaoyou go ahead.

In fact, at that moment the front.

But you and Wan Xiaoyou also kept your promise; even when you leapt forward, you didn't abandon him.

Now, for a friend, you say you'll give the spirit herb worth several hundred thousand spirit stones without hesitation, and you will never disregard Lin Yuan thereafter.

"That's not it. May I ask, is Brother Lin your direct nephew?" the other said, bringing up Brother Lin's mother, sounding intimate.

Jiang Yu, in her previous life, lived in an information‑exploding world and had heard of countless varied matters.

Master Lin didn't expect her to go off‑track, and frankly told her: "He is my son; my wife gave birth to him and passed away shortly after.

At that time I was emotionally unstable, couldn't raise the child well, so I had to send him to be fostered by an external family.

He's accustomed to calling me 'uncle'; the junior disciples didn't understand, so they thought he was my clan's nephew.

In fact, I was merely an orphan from the mortal realm before; I had no family.

He only joined the sect after meeting the sect leader; his surname was also given by the sect leader.

Not having a family is fine; it saves one from dealing with people like the Ye family, who are a hassle and never beneficial.

"Of course, I can't protect you for long; you also have the right to refuse."

I'll give you two days to consider; if you agree, send me a message." A flash of spiritual light appeared in Master Lin's hand, and he handed over a transmission talisman.

But the moment Jiang Yu reached out, the talisman paper suddenly flew up.

Master Lin instantly became wary, but upon hearing a voice say, "Ze boy, this girl cannot be taken under the gate for now."

He immediately relaxed, lifted the Cloud‑piercing Boat's protective light shield, and respectfully bowed toward the distance: "Uncle Sui Lv Zhenjun, you finally returned."

Jiang Yu also immediately performed a bow; legend has it that Sui Lv Zhenjun has been traveling for a hundred years without returning.

In just a few breaths, a middle-aged person who looked about the same age as True Person Lin drifted down to the bow of the boat, 'Don't bother with these formalities, little girl, your cultivation speed is not bad; I'll reward you with a toy.'

A somewhat old book flew into Jiang Yu's arms; she glanced at the runes on its cover and, delighted, hurriedly thanked him.

"What Dao Xu said is not wrong; you truly like ancient books."

Now, he recommended this child and several other disciples to me as a candidate for the library guard position.' The words that followed from Sui Lv Zhenjun were addressed to True Person Lin.

True Person Lin nodded, 'If she is selected, that would naturally be a good thing.'

If not, it's not too late to become my disciple.'

Jiang Yu couldn't help but wonder, when had she become a delicacy?

Not knowing whether to speak up and ask if it was appropriate, Sui Lv Zhenjun nearby changed the topic: 'I heard that in the past few years, the Dao and the demons clashed; how much damage did your sect suffer?'

You lot aren't so foolish as to listen to those four major sects' cajoling and go to the front lines to sacrifice yourselves, are you.'

"The sect leader provides the greatest material support, and in terms of personnel, we mostly pair seniors with juniors; often, after three months, we rotate personnel."

After the great war ended, our sect suffered the fewest casualties, and no Golden Core cultivator fell.

However, not long ago, over there something changed again—Martial Uncle Fu Ju and three senior fellow disciples were injured.' True Person Lin had just finished speaking when the entire flying boat lurched left and right.