Chapter 4

For her life, Jiang Yu is serious.

She is a brand‑new mid‑stage Qi Refinement rookie, and the chance of defeating a late‑stage Qi Refinement cultivator is truly minuscule.

Although she doesn't know why the other party doesn't seize the chance to kill and snatch the treasure directly, it's always wise to have extra defenses and means of escape.

While she is secluding herself to draw talismans, Lin Yuan ends up getting several cups of spirit tea for free.

When the floating ship arrives at the Grand Void Sect, Jiang Yu finishes her formation and exits the gate, only to see seven or eight message talismans from Lin Yuan.

Her divine sense probes the message, and her expression instantly turns strange.

Passing by, Lu Ruochan can't help glancing at her twice, and as they follow the people ahead down the stairs, Lu Ruochan sends a mental message to Lu Chenxia: "Could it be that cousin of hers again?"

If she weren't concerned about appearances, Lu Chenxia would definitely roll her eyes at her; Lu Ruochan certainly doesn't look like a sixteen‑year‑old adult.

Jiang Yu, walking last down the stairs, is spotted by Lin Yuan, who has been watching the entrance, as soon as she steps onto the deck.

He quickly sends a mental message: "Jiang Yu, that Jiang Bai shows no concealment at all; he must see your resolve."

He is right behind you at this moment.

Jiang Yu startles and turns around, yet she doesn't notice anyone watching her.

Jiang Bai, a yard away, mentally says to her fully on guard: "Don't worry, I won't ambush you; after we enter the sect, we'll discuss in detail."

She naturally knows he won't act now, but she still widens the distance and briskly walks into the crowd of disciples.

She sends a mental message to the approaching Lin Yuan: "You've drunk so much of his tea; you must know his background."

Lin Yuan nods: "Jiang Bai, eighth layer of Qi Refinement, originally a lone cultivator."

"Nothing left?!" she blurts out, instantly realizing she asked a foolish question; even in the mortal world, no one reveals all their details right after first meeting.

"Nothing left. Jiang Yu, forgive my bluntness, there are Core Formation cultivators overseeing the floating ship; whatever the matter, you truly need not avoid them.

The sect is quite safe; if you speak up about any issue, you might set off a hidden trap, making future entries and exits require extreme caution.

If needed, I can act as your intermediary." Lin Yuan has a good impression of her, and given her youth, his words carry a hint of guidance.

Jiang Yu feels grateful inside, "Thank you, Senior Brother Lin."

"What you said, Senior Brother, is truly heartfelt; I will resolve this matter as soon as possible."

Lin Yuan nods and signals her to follow him off the ship, then together with the welcoming Foundation Establishment attendant, they step into the Grand Void Sect's mountain gate.

Jiang Yu originally thought she would have to climb long stairs, but after the gate she finds a flat avenue, and no statue of the founding patriarch.

At the end, a grand hall stands before her, with several imposing cultivators stationed outside, scanning the newly admitted disciples.

And the very central, extremely solemn cultivator makes one dare not meet his gaze directly.

Jiang Yu guesses he might be the nominal sect head of the Grand Void Sect, Lin Quan Zhenjun, and those standing on his sides should be some of the sect's Core Formation masters.

Sure enough, two Core Formation masters from the floating ship stride forward to pay respects and report.

Afterwards, a Foundation Establishment attendant leads over a thousand new disciples to bow and greet the sect head.

The sect head offers a brief encouragement to the crowd, then orders the attendant to bring the selected inner‑gate disciples into the hall, while the outer‑gate disciples are led to the inner affairs hall.

Lin Yuan, who was beside Jiang Yu, was also called into the hall; she roughly counted and found that over two hundred people entered directly into the inner gate.

The remaining eight hundred plus disciples were divided by a few Foundation Establishment attendants according to early‑mid‑stage cultivation and gender, and taken to the inner affairs hall to receive their identity jade plaques, robes, pills, and other items.

When Jiang Yu and the same batch of mid‑stage Qi Refinement cultivators moved into the valley's rows of stone‑tile houses, two hours had already passed.

The escorting Foundation Establishment attendant reminds again: "The valley is a place of cultivation; no horseplay, no male cultivators staying overnight. If any issues arise, report to the duty uncle at the valley entrance."

When you reach the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, you must go to the inner affairs hall to return the key and choose a new cave dwelling.

None of you are children who haven't yet drawn Qi into your bodies; read the sect regulations carefully to avoid violations.

After the seven‑day acclimation period, you may either complete the two mandatory monthly tasks or go to the Transmission Hall to study; the choice is yours.

Remember to claim your monthly stipend on the tenth of each month with your jade plaque; there is an academic assessment at the end of each year.

"Senior Uncle, today is the fifth day of the ninth month; can we still claim again on the tenth?" a bold disciple asks.

The other disciples: …

The Foundation Establishment attendant's stern expression cracks instantly: "What pleasant thoughts are you having? Disperse."

The disciples burst apart in a rush, holding up their keys to sense the location of their own cave dwellings.

The valley called Shan Shui is fairly large, with terrain higher in the east and lower in the west, and a river about a yard wide that runs south to north through the valley.

A few rows of houses on the east side of the river are already inhabited, reportedly by new disciples recruited within the sect's jurisdiction.

Jiang Yu inspects the front and back of the house, discovers the sect only set dust‑prevention and door‑opening restrictions, and sets up her own Five‑Elements defensive array inside.

This secluded three‑room courtyard is divided into washing, receiving guests, and sitting/lying areas; the yard has a patch of open ground for sword practice, and neighboring houses are five to eight meters apart, far more spacious than the place she shares with Senior Sister Wan.

What she didn't expect is that the senior sister living on the floating ship next door becomes her neighbor again.

Separated by a half‑person‑high low wall, she greets her: "I am Lu Ruochan; how should I address you, junior sister?"

"Shall we tour the sect together—the Grand Void's twelve main peaks, thirty‑six valleys, two massive ten‑thousand‑mu tea gardens? We can share a flying device and save spiritual stones."

"Senior Sister Lu, I am Jiang Yu; I already have an appointment," Jiang Yu says as an excuse, not expecting a wooden bird to fly over.

The wooden bird continues: "Jiang Yu, someone is looking for you; hurry to the duty room."

Lu Ruochan thinks to herself, "Didn't you say the sect has no relatives?"

To stop the wooden bird from chattering, Jiang Yu rushes to the valley entrance duty room, where she sees Jiang Bai coming from behind a long desk.

He says without looking outside, "Junior sister… please make a record for Senior Uncle Xiang."

Jiang Yu glances at him, then directly asks the female attendant: "Senior Uncle Xiang, the guest stay time must not exceed one hour, right?"

Senior Uncle Xiang looks at the two of them and says, "Correct, and the times you come here and leave Shan Shui Valley both require both of your signatures."

"You should know, although the Dao‑Demon War is winding down, the internal martial law in each sect has not been lifted."

"I'll sign." This rule is fine; Jiang Yu has naturally heard of it—years ago, a demonic spy infiltrated the Ten Thousand Sword Sect and secretly harmed many disciples.

The fact that it's still strictly enforced shows that more than just the Ten Thousand Sword Sect have been affected.

Jiang Bai also signs silently, follows Jiang Yu to her courtyard, and nods at the startled Lu Ruochan next door.

When they entered the central living room and saw Jiang Yu activate the formation, he said with a hint of hesitation, "Use my formation plate?"

"No need, using mine I am at ease."

"We hadn't met before; how can you be sure it's me, and not plot it slowly?" Jiang Yu communicated with him through divine sense.

Jiang Bai pondered for a moment, then cast another layer of barrier, "It's a long story."

"Then let's make the long story short."

"It."

"So short!"

Jiang Yu saw that in Jiang Bai's outstretched palm was a fish‑shaped wooden carving exactly the same as the one on her body.

Jiang Bai placed the fish carving on the table and reiterated, "I only want what's inside, and I swear with my Dao heart that I will never harm you."

Together they formed a Tai Chi shape; inside mine is spirit grass, yours is a spirit pond.

"Do you want to come in and take a look?"