Chapter 7: Humph

"First, tell me the order of mutual restriction among the Five Elements." Junior Master Guan did not answer her immediately.

Jiang Yu blurted out: "Wood restrains earth, earth restrains water, water restrains fire, fire restrains metal, metal restrains wood."

Junior Master Guan stroked his beard and nodded: "Look, among those with dual spiritual roots, about half have earth-wood, metal-fire, water-earth, metal-wood, or water-fire roots. Could it be that their cultivation is delayed because of the Five Elements' mutual restriction?"

Jiang Yu paused, then said: "No, on the contrary, I've heard that among sword cultivators there are many with metal-fire spiritual roots."

"That's right, mutual restriction means the Five Elements can orderly restrain and bind each other, not exclude or annihilate.

As long as you find the balance point, they can coexist and progress together.

And the predecessors have long studied this thoroughly, and their techniques are constantly being improved.

The Cave Mystery Classic, which perceives the profound meaning of the Five Elements, you with a metal spiritual root balancing water and fire would benefit more; go to the Library Pavilion to seek out such techniques for study, and you will naturally understand.

"The Daoist path emphasizes neutrality, peace, and harmony—do not rush or be impatient." Junior Master Guan finished speaking; which one to choose depends on the disciple's own will.

Jiang Yu gave a deep bow and took her leave; upon exiting the Hall of Transmission, the sun was already setting behind the western mountains, and she did not know whether she would be allowed into the Library Pavilion.

Just as she was considering using the Lightness Technique to hurry back to Kind Water Valley, she suddenly heard an immortal crane's cry.

Turning around, she saw that two junior disciples were leaving together on a single crane at the main gate.

And the little girl who tended the spirit beasts waved at her: "Senior Sister, this is the last immortal crane; if you don't rent it, you'll have to run back yourself.

Drawing a lower-grade divine travel talisman also costs one or two spirit stones; how could that be as convenient and swift as riding a crane?"

"What the junior sister says makes sense, but Kind Water Valley is only over three hundred li away; using the Lightness Technique will get you there in a little over an hour.

"Give me a discount." Cultivation isn't about suffering, but tools can be bargained for, so Jiang Yu decisively produced one spirit stone to rent it.

Seeing the little girl frown, she added: "When I came out, all the dormitories were already locked.

If you don't rent it, you won't even earn a single spirit stone."

"Hmm, okay, but this won't become a precedent.

"When you arrive, gently pat it three times, and it will return on its own." The little girl took the spirit stone, patted the immortal crane's head, and saw Jiang Yu off.

Until Jiang Yu flew far away, she then tapped her spirit beast pouch, releasing the sole immortal crane to lead it back to the Hall of Transmission, shouting loudly: "Rent the last immortal crane—quick hands get it, slow hands lose it!"

"Little girl, stop shouting; the students attending the lecture have already left." Junior Master Guan, who was talking with someone, waved at the little girl.

She sighed: "Grandfather, when will the new disciples come to class?

The older disciples hardly rent immortal cranes anymore; just now I ran into someone who cut the price in half.

Jiang Yu still didn't know people were treating her as an older disciple; at this time the road was sparsely traveled, she rode the crane while reading the sect rules, and upon reaching the valley mouth she happened to see Lu Ruochan piloting a boat carrying several disciples back.

As everyone entered the duty room to sign in, suddenly a piercing scream shattered the valley's tranquility.

"Lu Ruochan, stay behind to keep watch." Junior Master Xiang flashed forward and ran off.

Several disciples followed and ran into the valley, but the distance was too great; in their divine sense they only saw many disciples running toward the riverbank.

Jiang Yu suddenly felt a bad premonition; the very moment she accelerated, she heard the little black turtle's mental transmission: "Come quickly."

By the time she rushed into the riverside crowd, she happened to see Junior Master Xiang slapping an immobilization talisman onto the turtle's back; the little black turtle seemed to have become third-rank—what was going on?

Not far away, a sixth-level Qi Refining disciple was cleaning the wounds of a fifth-level Qi Refining disciple covered head to toe in injuries.

Upon closer inspection, they were merely superficial wounds; thank goodness, thank goodness.

Jiang Yu stepped forward before Junior Master Xiang could ask, saying: "Senior Uncle, this is my… spirit beast.

May I ask it what happened? When I left, the golden bell talisman I had placed on it was gone.

If it's at fault, the disciple will certainly compensate the senior sister for medical expenses."

One who is immobilized cannot move either in divine sense or body, nor can they speak.

"Junior Sister, why isn't your spirit beast restrained? It's wantonly injuring people here, which is truly hateful.

"Everyone often walks by the riverbank; if it suddenly lunges out to attack, wouldn't that be dangerous?" The sixth-level Qi Refining disciple spoke up, immediately accusing her.

Many younger disciples looked at Jiang Yu, while the older ones remained expressionless, and Junior Master Xiang stayed silent.

Jiang Yu was willing to settle the matter peacefully, but that didn't mean she would let them pin a crime on her; after explaining properly, she really would offer the medicine for wounds: "Senior Sister, my spirit beast is training at the riverbed, and it has double golden bell shield protection.

As everyone knows, turtles like stillness and dislike movement; left undisturbed, they can sleep motionless for a month.

Junior Master Xiang, I request a public playback of the mirror light recording, so everyone can see clearly."

"Senior Sister Ye." The injured fifth-level Qi Refining disciple instinctively grabbed the hand of the sixth-level Qi Refining disciple.

It was them, while practicing by the riverbank, unintentionally breaking the golden bell shield at the riverbed.

When the little black turtle startled awake and wandered about, Senior Sister Ye said it was an ownerless demonic beast, perfect for the two of them to test the water arrow technique.

As a result, the two of them ended up getting badly beaten instead.

The sixth-level Qi Refining Senior Sister Ye gestured for her to stay silent, only saying: "Playback it is; your spirit beast injured Junior Sister Cheng so severely, you can't think of staying out of it."

She assumed that in the low-ranking disciples' quarters there was no mirror light array that consumes spirit stones.

Upon hearing that, Jiang Yu knew she had not deceived her, and said to Junior Master Xiang: "Senior Uncle, may I remove the talisman to see if the little turtle is injured?"

Senior Sister Xiang nodded, then scanned the crowd and asked: "Did anyone see what happened?"

As two junior disciples were about to speak, they were stopped by someone slightly older standing beside them.

Senior Sister Ye's eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness, then she glanced at Jiang Yu.

Meanwhile, as Jiang Yu lifted the talisman, she sent a mental transmission to the little black turtle: "Are you badly injured? How did you drop a rank?

Did they strike first, or did you injure them first?"

"No, they struck first, and I already showed mercy." Humph, with its peak fifth-rank cultivation, if it truly went for the kill, those two second-rank junior cultivators would be dead already.

"Your voice? Your cultivation?" Jiang Yu wondered, the little black turtle is a voice actor? It instantly switched to a cute baby tone.

The little black turtle opened its mouth and spat out a date-pit-sized jade stone, then transmitted: "You're a Foundation Establishment cultivator now; you ought to be more careful."

Jiang Yu: "……"

She turned and walked up to Junior Master Xiang, saying nothing as she handed over the jade stone.

"A mirror stone?" Junior Master Guan raised his eyebrows; it turned out her claim of being able to replay the footage had basis.

Jiang Yu also didn't expect the little turtle to have this item, but seeing Senior Sister Ye's body instantly go rigid and the five‑layer refined Qi on the ground loudly cry out in pain, she realized the two were in the wrong.

Uncle Xiang was about to press the key to open the recording stone when he heard the disciple surnamed Ye say, "Uncle, while practicing the technique I discovered a demon beast; it has no master, so we naturally want to investigate."

Now junior sister's face is heavily scarred, and the disciple wants to ask, "Is a demon more important than a person?"

This junior sister did not report or register the spirit beast; should she bear responsibility for this?"

"Senior sister can practice the technique by the river; why can't I let the spirit beast rest in the river?"

Moreover, the sect rule states that those who keep a spirit beast must apply for an identity badge within three days.

From the start I also said, if the spirit beast is at fault first, I will take responsibility.

"I ask Uncle Xiang to open the recording stone to argue right and wrong," Jiang Yu was relieved that when she returned riding a crane she had reviewed the sect regulations.

But Uncle Xiang said, "No need to look further, both of your sides are at fault.

One side discovered an unidentified demon beast in the valley but failed to report it in time; the other side released a spirit beast without applying for its jade badge."