Chapter 319: Gossip

Just as she expected, now that she had a Sea of Consciousness, erasing the marks on the Jiezidai was even easier than refining Puppets.

However, aside from Lü Rufeng, the others had nothing but a pile of materials and Spirit Stones; there were very few items that could be considered rare.

Aside from a pile of spirit materials and his Magic Treasure, Lü Rufeng’s Qiankun Bag didn’t even have a Cultivation Technique!

But he really was loaded.

Compared to the others, Lü Rufeng had managed to accumulate one top-grade spirit stone and over ninety Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Song Jiulai’s eyes lit up at the sight.

She speculated, "These definitely aren’t his Spirit Stones."

Knowing Lü Rufeng’s character, these Spirit Stones were most likely from him and Yi Tianhe killing people and plundering their treasures.

Even as a Core Disciple of the Supreme Mysterious Sect, one would accumulate Spirit Stones faster than others.

But a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator couldn’t possibly be *that* fast.

System: "As expected, killing people for their treasures is still the fastest way."

That’s why so many Cultivators in the Cultivation World loved to do this sort of thing.

Why bother accumulating things through painstaking effort when you could just take them from others?

Song Jiulai, at least, had some principles.

But when it came to things that were delivered right to her doorstep, she had no qualms whatsoever!

’The more the merrier, the more the merrier! And I’m even ridding the world of evil!’

With that thought, Song Jiulai suddenly felt that her own glorious radiance was practically illuminating the entire Yunzhou Continent.

There was nothing else of interest, but one item in the Demon Cultivator’s Jiezidai did make Song Jiulai take a second look.

It was that Magic Treasure shaped like a lamp, with a jade-like texture.

It only looked to be Xuan Grade.

The wick was already half-burnt, a testament to the miserable treatment it had previously endured.

After all, it had been struck several times by Song Jiulai’s Palm Thunder.

But as Song Jiulai held the Magic Treasure in her hand, it felt cool to the touch and gave off an indescribable sensation.

In that very instant, a wisp of energy suddenly emerged from the lamp’s body and shot straight into Song Jiulai.

But before it could even react after entering her body, the Little Golden Dragon swimming around in Song Jiulai’s Dantian swallowed the wisp of grayish-black energy in a single gulp.

Then it flicked its tail and continued to stare eagerly at the still-incorporeal Little Green Dragon.

Bored, it roamed about the Dantian.

The Little Green Dragon had only condensed into a shadow at this point, circling Song Jiulai’s Dantian of its own accord.

Compared to the Little Golden Dragon, it was as if one was already sentient while the other had yet to gain awareness.

But upon closer inspection, one could see that Song Jiulai’s Dantian had already transformed into a swirling vortex, within which the faint outline of a pearl was visible.

This was a sign that her Golden Core was about to form; after all, Song Jiulai was already in Late-stage Foundation Establishment, just one step away from Core Formation.

But that energy was truly bizarre.

Song Jiulai commented, "Well, well."

System: "That little thing is pretty wicked. Is this a place you should be trying to enter? And you just rushed right in!"

Never mind the Little Golden Dragon, I’m still here too!

Song Jiulai: "..."

Perhaps the Magic Treasure hadn’t expected this situation. After its wisp of energy failed to invade Song Jiulai’s body, it went completely still.

Song Jiulai eyed the lamp-shaped Magic Treasure, narrowed her eyes, and tossed it into her Sect’s warehouse.

’I can’t figure it out right now, so I’ll just set it aside for the time being.’

"Disciple, it’s time to return."

Song Jiulai froze.

That was the voice of Chihe Zhenren, coming from the direction of her alternate avatar.

She had been busy for two days. In that time, her avatar had wandered around the Biyin Sect for two days, and she hadn’t bothered to watch the results of the later matches.

Her main goal had been to gather some of the Biyin Sect’s local specialty Spirit Grass and materials, seeing if she could find anything special to bring back for Chen Miaomiao.

Chen Miaomiao was now the key figure leading the Sect to prosperity, so Song Jiulai, as the Sect Master, naturally had to look out for her.

Hearing Chihe Zhenren’s call, Song Jiulai immediately returned to the back mountain.

The selections were now over, and when Song Jiulai arrived, she saw the nine chosen disciples.

The one at the Early Stage of Qi Refining was the gray-robed female cultivator.

As Song Jiulai returned, she merely glanced at the woman. The gray-robed female cultivator saw her.

Knowing that she was now Chihe Zhenren’s disciple, the woman didn’t dare show any reaction, lowering her head to conceal her true feelings.

However, Song Jiulai’s tardiness had drawn the ire of one individual.

It was none other than Yin Chu, whom she had met two days prior.

Yin Chu glanced at Song Jiulai. "Senior Chihe, this disciple of yours is rather undisciplined."

Chihe Zhenren shot him a look. "She will be accompanying us to the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect and leaving this place. Naturally, she had some personal affairs to attend to."

Ke Yuning let out a soft laugh. "My, must you bark at everyone you see?"

Yin Chu’s face instantly darkened.

’How dare Ke Yuning call me a dog!’

Song Jiulai wished she could give Ke Yuning an appreciative thumbs-up.

Chihe Zhenren flicked his hand, and a massive, light-blue, ship-like Magic Treasure appeared in the sky.

Perhaps because ships were well-suited for rest, they were a fairly common design for Flying Magical Treasures.

But this ship was different; you could tell just from its imposing aura.

Song Jiulai now understood why Ke Yuning, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, had also been waiting here.

Although those in the Nascent Soul Stage could cultivate teleportation, they were only just beginning their training in it.

They couldn’t use it to travel quickly to the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect.

’Just how far away is the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect, anyway?’

’Or was it for Wuming’s convenience?’

’Chihe Zhenren was able to take me directly to the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect and then teleport back. What Realm is he, exactly?’

Chihe Zhenren waved his hand, and the group flew aboard the ship one after another.

The ship was enormous, boasting a full nine decks.

They could stay wherever they pleased.

Once aboard, Song Jiulai sensed an Array formation operating within the ship.

Ke Yuning took Wuming directly to another part of the ship, the mutual loathing between her and Yin Chu palpable.

Meanwhile, Master Ziyan went to arrange for the new disciples to stay on the First Layer.

Chihe Zhenren, however, led Song Jiulai to the bow of the ship.

When the ship began to fly, it didn’t move at the incredible speed Song Jiulai had imagined. Instead, it drifted along at a leisurely pace, as if they were on a sightseeing tour.

Chihe Zhenren said, "We must first visit the other Major Sects and pick up their chosen disciples before we can return to the Sect City."

"Oh," Song Jiulai replied.

Chihe Zhenren turned to look at her. "I am your master now. Once we return to the Sect City and make the official announcement, everyone in the Sect will know. At that time, I will begin your instruction. If there is anything you wish to understand now, feel free to ask your master. There is no need to be so reserved."

Song Jiulai raised an eyebrow and asked, suddenly in the mood for gossip, "Master, who exactly are Senior Yin Chu and Elder Ke?"

"..." Chihe Zhenren hadn’t expected that instead of asking about the might of the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect, Song Jiulai would be more interested in gossip.

After a moment, he stroked his beard and smiled. "Yin Chu is the disciple of our Sect’s Third Elder. He is at the Early-stage Nascent Soul, and like you—oh, not quite like you, he was born with a Three-color Stone aptitude. As for Yu Ning, she is the most talented disciple the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect has seen in centuries. She successfully achieved Nascent Soul Formation in just a hundred years. She and Yin Chu don’t quite get along. The reason Yu Ning is an Outer Elder of the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect at such a young age is because of her mother."

Otherwise, it would be impossible for a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator to become an Outer Elder of the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect.

Realization dawned on Song Jiulai.

’So she’s a Second Generation Cultivator!’

’Then just how powerful must her mother be?’

Chihe Zhenren continued, "Her mother is the Third Elder."

Song Jiulai: "..."

’What is this, a soap opera?’

Although Chihe Zhenren appeared gentle and proper on the surface, Song Jiulai couldn’t help but feel that he was getting a little too enthusiastic with his gossip.

"The Third Elder intended for Yu Ning and Yin Chu to become dao companions, but neither of them agreed, so now they’re at odds. If you encounter them alone, try to avoid them. As for anything Yin Chu might say, just let him talk."