Chapter 32: Spread

Jiang Yu heard Sui Lv Zhenjun let out a cold snort, and she staggered, lunging toward the storehouse door behind her.

"Senior Uncle." Master Lin flicked away the spiritual light, promptly steadying her form.

Sui Lv gathered the little bit of spiritual energy she had released, "The little girl still needs more practice."

"Yes." Jiang Yu snapped out of it, wondering how she could be completely unguarded just because the other was a sect elder.

Master Lin said a fair remark: "Senior Uncle, I almost lost my balance, let alone someone at the Qi Refinement Stage."

Moreover, Senior Uncle Fu Ju is almost fully recuperated, so you need not be overly concerned.

"I'm not worried about her injury; I'm worried about you youngsters."

After the great battle ends, why linger there instead of withdrawing promptly?

Carelessly, you'll be schemed against by the Xuantian and Lingxu sects again, right?

Fu Ju and the others, any word on when you'll return?" Sui Lv Zhenjun raised a finger, signaling Jiang Yu to step back.

Jiang Yu didn't want to hear the seniors discuss matters; she quickly retreated to the storehouse, still wondering what Jiang Tu should do.

At least it's there, so she has a companion.

Coincidentally, the little turtle Jiang Tu thought the same.

The sect leader entered with a group of Core Formation cultivators, learned that this array was built by the Demon Sect five years ago, its teleportation range over 1,400 li, and immediately sent several members through to the other side to dismantle it.

Then they communicated with Master Hu, causing it to shrink into its shell, refusing to move—utterly bored.

Fortunately, the remaining people dismantled the array quickly, and it cautiously eyed Master Hu.

Master Hu, noticing its flickering gaze, laughed as he approached, "Jiang Tu, if you don't open the array soon, we'll all withdraw."

Then, can you crawl back to the sect on your own?

Don't underestimate me; I was born able to fly, but I'm too shy to fly before others.

"Where's Jiang Yu? Why isn't she coming down?" the little turtle transmitted via spiritual sense.

Master Hu told it that the person was sent back to the sect and asked it to decide quickly whether to go.

Of course it should go; even members of the Hehuan Sect are being taken away, so why stay here?

Jiang Tu never imagined that when the array gate opened, Sect Leader Lin Quan seized it, saying, "The turtle shell is quite beautiful."

Lord Ling, find a junior disciple to discuss a price; I'll purchase this turtle.

"No, what you call negotiation is actually a sly snatch," Master Hu brushed off, reclaiming Jiang Tu.

It was nearly frightened to death, having thought Sect Leader Lin Quan had seen its true form, but the man received a flying‑sword message and fled in a flash.

Even so, once it emerged from underground it urgently contacted Jiang Yu, urging her to be sure to meet it at the sect gate.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yu watched the elders welcome Sui Lv Zhenjun, then stayed at the sect gate without leaving.

Upon receiving Jiang Tu's message, she immediately turned back, constantly glancing toward Mount Er.

Before long, Master Hu and a few others returned by sword, and she handed back the array plate and the little turtle, reminding them not to leave the sect gate soon, then headed to Tai'a Peak.

Jiang Yu also summoned a flying boat, hurrying to the Spirit Medicine Garden; her mission was still unfinished.

"From now on, I'll have to keep my distance from your sect leader; he finds the eyes of my turtle shell especially bright.

I suspect he wants to pry open the shell; from now on, don't leave me to act alone," Jiang Tu explained in detail.

Jiang Yu wholeheartedly agreed, repeatedly promising there would be no next time.

They exchanged the brief events that had occurred, saying, "So it turns out the one surnamed Tu killed someone from the Demon Sect, which is how we learned of this array."

The Demon Sect's ambition is considerable; they surely aren't limited to just one small teleportation array.

"The sect will definitely conduct investigations everywhere; your cultivation is too low to handle it."

"Oh right, there's no Creation Divine Mud; I found Zhang's treasure map and a seventh‑grade beast hide, so we can go treasure hunting later."

"However, you must first figure out why the Empress Dowager's great cultivation instantly recognized you as a Shou Zhai candidate," the little turtle Jiang Tu told her to focus on.

"I guess it's this," Jiang Yu said, taking off the jade‑green bamboo token from her belt, which was the fourth‑floor library access token given by Elder Dao Xu after many consultations.

Jiang Tu recognized the token; holding it, he could also follow Jiang Yu upstairs.

The fourth floor, by the window, has a large tea‑seat area where one can sit, read, sip tea, and enjoy the scenery—nothing too splendid.

It quite supported the idea: "Being a library elder is nice; read books daily, and occasionally teach junior disciples."

The remaining time can be spent cultivating; you'll be chosen through your effort.

"It's not that simple; Elder Dao Xu doesn't just teach a few of us."

Disciples learning special techniques all fall under his instruction; transmitting the Dao requires massive knowledge reserves and extraordinary comprehension.

And the so‑called candidate status surely depends on who can reach Core Formation first.

The Qi Refinement Stage may be the biggest elimination phase, mostly testing comprehension," Jiang Yu thought, noting that recalling the Empress Dowager elder after years of wandering couldn't be that simple.

The little turtle Jiang Tu couldn't help but say, "Then do you want to compete, or not?"

"Competing is inevitable, but we must finish the mission first.

Everything must wait for orders," Jiang Yu said, as she had to stand guard in the Spirit Medicine Garden for a month.

"Did Master Lin not tell you?"

"He was questioned all the way by Elder Sui Lv."

"Don't you want to take him as your master? Fear losing protection early?"

"No one can protect another for a lifetime, and he doesn't value me; he's taking disciples for Senior Brother Lin."

"But he's a good person and takes good care of me."

The little turtle Jiang Tu rolled his eyes, "Isn't that the good‑person card you keep mentioning?"

However, Jiang Yu had other considerations; Senior Brother Lin actually has strong opinions and might not agree with Master Lin's method of taking disciples.

After that, Jiang Yu didn't hear any rumors of anyone wanting to take her as a disciple.

But after a month of apprentice duties in the Spirit Medicine Garden, when she was about to leave, the garden steward Senior Uncle suddenly said to her: "Jiang Yu, you have completed your rotations of the Spirit Field, Tea Garden, and Medicine Garden."

Next, should I go to the market shops for a month, and then finally take a turn at the Elixir Energy Talisman Formation Four Peaks?

Jiang Yu really does plan it that way: "Hmm, after resting a few days I'll go to report."

Having stayed in the sect all the time, it's also time to change the environment at the market, to practice observation in the shops and listen to gossip—it sounds good.

Jiang Shishu, which do you think—should I choose a big shop or a small one?

"You'd better avoid both big and small ones," Jiang Shishu said very seriously.

Jiang Yu, slightly stunned, gave a deep bow and asked for advice.

Jiang Shishu, in a solemn tone, said: "A few days ago the Dragon Clan sent twenty Dragon‑Saliva Herbs, and rumors spread among the disciples that you received a million spirit stones."

At first everyone took it as a joke, but the matter of the Taiyi Sect giving you several hundred thousand generous gratitude gifts has suddenly spread in recent days.

Tai'a Peak investigated and found that the gift was from the real person Du Heng, spoken drunkenly by a disciple officer after drinking, but punishing that person hasn't stopped the news from leaking.

Combining those two matters, the rumors in the market have become even more outrageous; someone is already inquiring who you are.

"Then I really can't go right now. Thanks for the reminder, Jiang Shishu." Jiang Yu had nothing valuable, only offered a portion of the spirit‑rice sweet wine she brewed.

Jiang Shishu, delighted with the good wine and gladly accepted it, wrote three points more flattering in her task evaluation, and welcomed her to frequently take on herb‑garden missions.

Jiang Yu readily agreed, and then upon arriving at the outer peak where the External Affairs Hall is, many familiar and unfamiliar fellow sect members proactively greeted her.

She thought to herself that it was bad news; her appearance was probably already spreading through the market.

Yet she chose the Dan Peak rotation; the External Affairs Hall didn't approve, and instead assigned her another task, requiring her to team up with someone she dislikes.

And Jiang Yu's speculation was accurate: several groups in the market with designs had already bought her portrait, now rubbing their fists, waiting for her to descend the mountain.

But one person saw the outcome.

Inside the Ye Family Refining Shop in the market, Ye Lin sneered, "Hmph, a bunch of idiots; that girl will definitely not come to the market."

"Go, find someone to sell this information to Qiu Laoyan."

The shopkeeper beside him skimmed the jade slip's contents and immediately urged, "Young master, you shouldn't—what if she gets abducted and killed…"

"She's incompetent, none of my business. Go quickly!" Ye Lin was eager for Jiang Yu to get into trouble.

"But Miss Seventeen is also involved," the shopkeeper said, referring to the seventeenth miss, who is actually Sister Ye, once injured by Xiao Wugui.