Chapter 53

The junior disciple Jiang Yu, the next morning, visited Master Hu and learned that not only she alone had refining Qi, but there were several others of the same rank accompanying her.

After giving a series of precautions, Master Hu added, "There is a spiritual pressure in the Sword Pool; the sect's envoy is Xia Bing, who has not yet forged his destined sword.

The slot you are sending is for Tao Wenche, a disciple of the Enforcement Hall.

At that time, the two of them will try to protect you while you search for the high‑rank swords; which one you can obtain depends on you.

Jiang Yu felt a slight pulse at her brow. Tao? That's Senior Tao from the secret realm of Cangshan the last time; oh right, he is a direct disciple of Master Sang.

"Elder, after I have chosen a sword, may I leave early?

"The disciple has not been home for many years." Most of them are direct disciples; she feels out of sync being in the middle.

"Yes, provided the sword you choose is normal.

Have you asked Elder Daoxu for leave? Is your defense fully prepared?

"When you go to the mortal realm, try not to get involved in worldly disputes." Master Hu did not object; disciples who reach the ninth layer of refining Qi are granted family‑visit leave, and many return with a more complete mindset, better suited for Foundation Establishment.

"Yes, Elder Daoxu said to return within a year if possible; the sect's spiritual energy is abundant,

The defensive artifacts and talismans prepared are sufficient, and the major exam even awarded a top‑grade Flipping Heaven Seal. Jiang Yu's understanding is that among peers, dueling is really a contest of wealth; whoever holds more treasures has the advantage.

Last time she obtained the belongings of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, which contained quite a few items.

Master Hu thought for a moment and gave her a set of refining insights.

Jiang Yu thanked him and left, and by noon she successfully applied for a refining leave at the Inner Affairs Hall.

When it came time to receive the Foundation‑Establishment pill, she was told she must first complete half of the eight apprentice tasks before she could obtain it.

Jiang Yu couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Yao, this wasn't required before, was it?"

Deputy Yao gave a reason: "But you still need to go out for refining; being away for several years and leaving the tasks unfinished looks bad.

Otherwise, finish the rotation at a certain peak this month before you leave?"

Jiang Yu found it forced, "Isn't it always that after refining one returns to finish tasks? Even those who are establishing foundations abroad still complete all eight after returning.

The outstanding refining‑Qi tasks, everyone will voluntarily make up.

"Or, you could offset one task with a thousand merit points.

Or we could look for a peak that still has a vacancy, and I'll slot you in.

In any case, you were too lax before, not completing tasks yet cutting in line to take two Foundation‑Establishment pills.

Jiang Yu, heed Uncle Yao's advice: you're only at the ninth layer of refining Qi, no need to rush Foundation Establishment; reaching great perfection is far better than coveting others' benefits." Uncle Yao's face was all "I'm looking out for you."

"Uncle Yao, wait a moment, the benefits are the sect's welfare for disciples; I haven't taken anyone else's." Jiang Yu thought, "Is Master Sang's invitation really that ineffective?"

Even though she is young, she sensed something fishy here, fearing that her schedule had been tampered with.

"It must be the Ye family." Jiang Tu said angrily.

Jiang Yu stopped talking with that uncle and immediately prepared to leave the Inner Affairs Hall.

But Uncle Yao behind the counter was slightly stunned, gave a contemptuous smile, and sent out a messenger talisman.

The steward beside her shook his head, not wanting to get involved, but Yao was so troublesome; perhaps it could…

Soon, a Ye‑surname Foundation‑Establishment cultivator from Red Dragon Valley received two messenger talismans from a Yao‑surname cultivator.

After reading them, he was shocked, quickly replied, then ran to knock on Elder Ye's door to report the matter.

Elder Ye's eyes suddenly turned icy; he said to the newcomer in a deep voice, "You're bold, daring to use my name to obstruct a disciple's receipt of the pill.

Now Master Sang himself has sent a personal greeting, and you still dare to block the person; it's astonishingly foolish.

Now that trouble has arisen, you finally come to me?"

"Grandmaster, I was wrong. That day I went to the Inner Affairs Hall, happened to see Jiang Yu applying for a Foundation‑Establishment pill, and I subtly hinted to Sister Yao to delay her.

I truly didn't expect Master Sang to send a greeting, nor that a Yao‑surname would not know that Master Sang had already greeted.

Fortunately, the Inner Affairs Hall staff, fearing to offend Master Sang, promptly intercepted Jiang Yu's pill distribution.

"Are you sure you left no trace of words?"

"Sure."

"Hmm."

"Grandmaster, Sister Yao has been transferred; could you…

"I can't; I have no authority over Inner Affairs Hall personnel.

In a couple of days I'll find an excuse to invite Uncle Yao's nephew for a meal, as compensation.

"So Jiang Yu, let her peacefully establish her foundation?" Our own disciples suffer mining hardships; who gives them the right to claim better.

Elder Ye glanced at him, "What are you trying to do, abandon halfway?"

"Do you know this junior disciple carries a Nascent Soul Sword‑Qi Talisman, capable of slaying a Foundation‑Establishment cultivator on Er Mountain?"

"Disciple, I do not know."

"Hmph, do not make any further moves.

Ye Lin should endure some hardship; the Tan family's youngster Seventeen nearly disfigured himself.

Considering the ruinous deeds he did in previous years, this time I compensated with many treasures and spirit herbs, only reducing his punishment to five years." Elder Ye felt deeply pained; he had hoarded those treasures for so long.

"How have you been teaching? The Ye family has only three Golden Core cultivators, yet they act wildly.

Gather all Ye‑surname members in the valley; all must return to kneel at the ancestral hall. No order, no entry into the valley, go." His temper flared.

The Ye‑surname cultivators dared not utter another word, hurriedly retreated.

After he left, another person appeared in the room, serving tea to Elder Ye, "Master, excessive Qi harms the body.

I will seize the front‑stage position at this sword‑testing tournament and bring you a piece of Geng‑metal.

Additionally, I will prevent Jiang Yu from successfully entering the Sword Pool to choose a sword.

"Alas, she's just a child; do not endanger her life, lest you cause trouble for yourself." Elder Ye, who had been in seclusion without results, now sacrificed his reputation for a junior, feeling truly uneasy.

The person is Elder Ye's youngest disciple, Deng Yuanwu, who knows his master's thoughts best: "Disciple understands; I would never lay a hand on a junior."

Over here, Jiang Yu received the Foundation Establishment Pill she deserved.

Because she has not been at the sect recently, she also used merit points to redeem several daily pills for the Foundation Establishment stage in advance, such as attack talismans and Heavenly Thunder Seed.

She just went back to Incense Burner Peak to pack her things.

Jiang Tu urged her, "How about choosing another cultivation technique?"

"After establishing the foundation, you might as well not come back; Grand Void Sect disciples have so many tasks, it really hinders cultivation."

"Spirit Stone pills won't let you stay idle; outer‑sect disciples have two tasks a month, which is a hundred times easier than being a free cultivator."

"Inner‑sect disciples get only one task a month, and it's not heavy." Jiang Yu ignored him.

Jiang Tu kept persuading, "But you've been targeted by the Ye family; I don't think Elder Ye will let you go easily."

"Look, as soon as he shows any intention, someone will make things difficult for you, using the Foundation Establishment Pill as proof."

"And you, claiming to be a candidate for the fasting steward, are actually not valued at all."

"The sect has spiritual veins; renting a spiritual‑energy cave residence outside is very expensive."

"We have space."

"We only farm crops; there's no three‑harvest‑a‑day miracle, no spiritual energy surpassing Incense Burner Peak." Jiang Yu left him at the residence to eat, and went herself to the main‑peak library.

By some ghostly impulse, she used merit points to go up to the second floor to select a cultivation technique.

The Dao Void Immortal on the fourth floor quickly received the news, and the Lin Immortal who drinks with him sighed, "He's been wronged, leaving a fallback for himself."

"Are you blaming me for cutting your …?"

"A bit."

"Candidates will not receive special treatment."

While they were chatting, Jiang Yu had already browsed two bookshelves on the second floor.

She didn't need to choose a Celestial‑Tier technique; it was like the sword formula she regularly practices, covering everything from mundane sword methods to cultivation sword arts, with detailed commentary and analysis, very suitable for her.

After searching for a long time, she finally managed to find one; the moment she released her spirit, a top‑grade yellowed paper book thwack— smashed onto her head.

Jiang Yu: …