Chapter 97

Soon after delivering Ao Ze and Xuantang Xingjun into the secret valley, on the way back Jiang Yu felt a bit odd and asked, "Master, aren't you and the elders going to try recognizing a Fish Card together?"

"We just tried, it won't work. When I was traveling in Eastern Continent, there was a legend that the opening nine hundred years ago—when Nascent Soul cultivators entered the Great Luo Cave Heaven—their soul lamps were all extinguished; none survived."

"Since then, for the two openings that followed, the Fish Cards that descended could not be successfully recognized by Nascent Soul cultivators," Sui Lv Zhenjun also expressed regret.

"But this is a Tai Chi Fish Card from two thousand years ago," Jiang Yu felt a sudden thump in her heart.

Sui Lv Zhenjun said, "The cave heaven's seal has changed; it has nothing to do with the Fish Cards that pass through."

Jiang Yu pondered, and at the same time heard Jiang Tu's transmitted voice: "Could it be that Old Xuan killed them?"

He may not be speaking the truth; perhaps a thousand years ago he entered the Great Luo Cave Heaven, learned that the Cloud Mist Immortal Sect had been destroyed, and killed many Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Jiang Yu, should we be frank with the elders that Old Xuan's mortal body is inside the Great Luo Cave Heaven?"

She paused briefly and replied, "What about the spiritual sword? Saying the cave heaven might expose the sword's space.

Moreover, it would violate our original agreement; we have promised not to disclose where his mortal body is.

"The Heavenly Oath binds both parties."

As Jiang Tu sighed at Old Xuan's cunning, Sui Lv Zhenjun flickered his light and led them flying toward the Inner Affairs Hall.

He personally inspected Elder Yuan, changed Jiang Yu's identity records, transferred the Xianglu Peak residence, and allocated two million merit points to her.

She was very surprised, "So many?" Converting it, that's twenty million low‑grade spirit stones.

"This is an advance; if the returns exceed expectations after completion, there will be an additional amount," Sui Lv Zhenjun believed. Any cultivator who can seize more treasures, a Celestial Origin cultivator will certainly not be weaker than an Eastern Continent cultivator.

Jiang Yu immediately exchanged with Jiang Tu and Ao Ze, including herself, for twenty years' worth of pills, costing only a few ten‑thousand merit points.

Moreover, at Jiang Tu's strong request, she also selected several defensive, offensive, and flight artifacts or higher‑grade magical treasures, as well as advanced array talismans, and even bought several remote‑communication jade devices.

Unfortunately, when asked, the Nascent Soul pill is unsuitable for the Yao Race; it must be custom‑made according to individual traits, otherwise she would have to buy two.

The Inner Affairs Hall master saw that she hadn't blinked and had already spent tens of thousands of merit points, and couldn't help admiring her good fortune; after a round of traveling, she instantly became a nouveau riche.

Moreover, she was taken as a disciple by Grand Elder Yuanhou, so she can walk across the sect without any problem in the future.

He also specifically reminded, "Junior Sister Jiang, it's best to place the pills in a jade box and affix a sealing talisman to preserve their quality longer."

"Thank you, Elder Yuan, for your guidance," she said. As someone at the Core Formation stage addressing the master respectfully calls them 'junior sister', Jiang Yu would never blurt out 'senior brother' in a blunt way.

Sui Lv Zhenjun said, "Jiang Yu's merit points are currently confidential; when she redeems supplies in the future, only you and Wudaozi will handle it personally."

"I will strictly follow Uncle Master's decree," Elder Yuan now looked at Jiang Yu as if she were a precious treasure.

After all, regarding the Great Luo Cave Heaven's Fish Cards, she obtained the information ahead of other Core Formation members in the sect.

Even if he cannot recognize the master, her own disciples still have priority.

When Jiang Yu left with the master, she was escorted by Elder Yuan and Elder Wudaozi, who said, "Master, will you always be this… enthusiastic in the future?"

She had previously been mentioned by senior brothers and sisters because she cultivated and learned quickly; now many peers passing by pay her a lot of attention, due to her status, and without relying on strength she always feels a bit insecure.

Sui Lv Zhenjun couldn't help but laugh, "What are you thinking? If they didn't oversee the Inner Affairs Hall, they would never have the chance to prioritize recognizing the Fish Card."

"In the future, if you don't bring back such great benefits, you'll just be an ordinary direct disciple."

He paused, then added, "Your Library Hall trial slots have been cancelled."

"The Thunder Fire Technique must be cultivated according to plan; otherwise you'll forever remain my named disciple and not be included among direct transmissions."

"Sect rules cannot be abolished because of one person."

"Let's go; I'll take you to Sui Shou Peak to select a cave dwelling."

Sui Shou Peak, one of the twelve main peaks, is the residence of Nascent Soul cultivators, with exceptionally dense spiritual energy.

Upon entering the formation gate, Jiang Tu couldn't help but leap out, and casually said to Sui Lv Zhenjun, "I also want a private cave dwelling."

"Later, to host friends like Ao Ze and the Eclipse Moon Tiger, can they come?"

"Of course; aside from my and the other two disciples' residences, you can pick whichever you like."

"Here is the restriction token for entering and exiting the formation gate."

After Jiang Yu selects a location, she can have the Inner Affairs Hall construct a pavilion, or she can open a cave dwelling on the mountain herself.

"These are the spirit stones for settling a home; I still need to visit the Fallen Moon Sect—if you have questions about cultivation, consult Dao Xu," Sui Lv Zhenjun handed Jiang Yu a storage bracelet, left a transmission imprint, and departed the sect.

Jiang Tu probed his divine sense and saw two hundred thousand low‑grade spirit stones, exclaiming, "What a generous Nascent Soul master, awesome!"

"Location selection, where will you live?" Jiang Yu hadn't planned to use those spirit stones.

"Hehe, of course wherever you are, that's where I live."

"Just now I also wanted to get closer to Sui Lv Zhenjun."

"Will you carve a mountain cave or build a house?" Jiang Tu said casually; living alone would be so boring.

If it weren't for the need to keep Ao Ze hidden from outsiders, he would definitely live with him.

"Let's go to a subsidiary peak of Sui Shou, build a wooden hut by the mid‑lower riverbank, convenient for your swimming," Jiang Yu flew to the main peak's mid‑mountain, saw several pavilions all quite beautiful, but she preferred a simple courtyard house for easy upkeep.

Most importantly, she didn't want to live right under the master's watchful eye.

She sent messages to a few familiar peers, planning to host guests after the house was built, when a disciple guarding the formation gate at the mountain foot sent word.

He said that Tao Wencheng from Er Peak and Deng Yuanwu from Red Dragon Valley were coming to visit; she clarified that Sui Lv Zhenjun was out, not expecting they wanted to see her.

Jiang Yu declined to meet, citing ill health, but the other party insisted on leaving a substantial gift as a warning before departing.

The gate‑keeping disciple dared not accept it and quickly contacted her again.

Jiang Yu would never go down the mountain; "If he doesn't take it, even if he chases it to Red Dragon Valley, he'll have to return it."

The gate‑keeping disciple relayed that Deng Yuanwu could only depart, taking the items with him.

"Senior Brother Deng, why bother? The one at fault is Ye Lin; yet you shoulder the blame," Tao Wencheng was merely accompanying as a guest.

Deng Yuanwu also didn't want to, but the master asked him to visit to ease tensions, since Jiang Yu was no longer the helpless junior disciple she once was.

"Hopefully, she isn't vindictive," he hadn't realized he had once provoked Xue Miao to trouble her, not out of fear of Jiang Yu.

Rather, he worried that Sui Lv Zhenjun was protecting his own interests, causing his own Core Formation to be delayed, just like the master, who hadn't been able to refine a Nascent Soul pill for two years.

Deng Yuanwu didn't know that Ye Zhenren hadn't told him why he hadn't been able to refine a Nascent Soul pill; it was simply because both attempts at Nascent Soul formation had failed, and the sect's pill master advised him to nurture his body for several more years before trying again.

"Jiang Yu has always followed the sect's regulations; it's Ye Lin who is too vengeful." Tao Wenche especially dislikes several Ye family youths, arrogant.

He did not know that accompanying Deng Yuanwu on this trip caused Jiang Yu to once again place him on the do‑not‑associate list.

However, Jiang Yu is still grateful for his maintenance on Ten Thousand Demons Mountain two years ago.

So, while going down the mountain to buy wood supplies, she ordered several first‑class health‑nourishing meals and asked the Dining Hall disciples to deliver them to Tao Wenche, Senior Sister Gu and Guan Xuner.

Meanwhile, Ye Lin, who was working at the mine, received the news of Jiang Yu's return to the sect that day and constantly felt that she would take revenge on him.