Want Me to Give You a Ride?

The Elder Council meeting ended quickly.

Xiao Ran browsed the group chat the entire time and did not listen too closely, but his Art of Resonance allowed him to multitask, so he still paid attention to the meeting.

Just as before the previous meeting, when he had been staring at the Sword Hedge while also listening to Chunwa and Qiuchan introduce each attendee.

This meeting covered three matters.

First, the prevention of Wraiths.

In addition to continuing to reinforce the Mountain-Guarding Grand Array, Zongzhi Mountain would launch the Seventh Disciple Census internally.

The focus would be on examining the physiques of the sect's disciples and instructors. Anyone showing traits resembling Apostles or Wraiths would be forcibly expelled or arrested for investigation.

Second, the investigation into Ye Fan.

The Discipline Hall would have Luo Sheng lead an investigative team to thoroughly investigate Ye Fan's origins, the source of his Cultivation Method, and his connection to the Apostles.

Third, Xiao Ran's disposition.

First, Xiao Ran would be awarded Heavenly Merit and could claim five hundred Spirit Stones.

Second, having passed the Disciple Challenge, Xiao Ran was to be respected as a Martial Uncle by all disciples of the sect.

Third, the news of the two Wraith incidents and Xiao Ran's Heavenly Saint Aptitude would be sealed away. The report to the Dao Alliance would be delayed, creating a stable and safe environment for Xiao Ran's rapid growth until he successfully achieved Sword Succession and became a Sword-Wielder capable of standing on his own.

Finally, True Person Yinyue would complete Xiao Ran's Body Dissection and Herbal Bath within two days, cleansing his marrow and stabilizing his meridians, securing his Elixir Foundation, and helping him complete Sword Succession as soon as possible.

Xiao Ran gave it some thought.

With the first three decisions, the sect had given him more than enough face.

As for the final Body Dissection and Herbal Bath, they dressed it up as marrow cleansing, meridian stabilization, and Elixir Foundation reinforcement, but in truth, it was simply a physical examination.

Since everyone knew it was unavoidable anyway, phrasing it that way still showed him sufficient respect.

These decisions had been drafted by Disciplinary Elder Huangfu Qun and approved by the votes of the other elders.

From this vote, Xiao Ran also saw Zongzhi Mountain's unparalleled unity and its deep regard for talent.

The Huangfu father and son seemed either fierce in attitude or full of hidden schemes, yet unexpectedly, they were incomparably loyal to the sect.

The Huangfu Clan could also be considered an Ancient Noble Clan. If they settled at the Dao Alliance Headquarters, their lives would certainly be more prosperous than they were at Zongzhi Mountain.

Zongzhi Mountain lay deep in the Wild Heartland. As the one whose strength had declined most severely among the Dao Alliance's five great rogue powers, its number of disciples, the number of subsidiary sects under its command, and the territory and population of the Mortal Realm under its protection ranked second among the Five Great Powers, behind only the Divine Martial Kingdom and utterly crushing the Great River Gate, Saint Demon Sect, and Chaos City.

This miracle was no less remarkable than Xiao Ran's homeland in his previous life, which had fed 21 percent of the world's population with only 7 percent of its arable land, starting from a backward foundation with nothing to its name.

Xiao Ran had not understood before, but now he did.

This was unity.

The Disciplinary Elder dared to challenge the Sword-Wielding Elder, whose strength far surpassed his own.

Inner Sect Disciples dared to challenge the direct disciples of their seniors.

The Alchemy Elder and the Sword-Tempering Elder had seen only the tiniest glimmer of brilliance in him, yet they gave him sufficient respect and never looked down on him because of his Cultivation Level.

And there were oddballs like Chen Gongxing, who holed himself up in the inner sect and refused to advance even if beaten to death, using that to test the quality of the inner sect's core disciples...

Not to mention his precious Master, who seemed lazy and uninhibited, yet had ventured alone into dangerous territory to find a divine pill for him.

This was unlike the dark Cultivation World Xiao Ran had imagined, where hierarchy was rigid and the strong were revered. It was even more unlike the Dharma Ending Era, where people devoured one another.

Having lived in the Mortal Realm for three years, Xiao Ran understood better than anyone in the sect that this was a world rapidly collapsing.

Time waited for no one. Paradise would eventually become ruins.

Only by quickly becoming a powerhouse capable of standing on his own could he gain enough of a voice before true hell arrived and protect the people who had to be protected.

The square before the Affairs Pavilion.

After the meeting ended, Elder Gu, who managed the sect treasury, had waited outside the Affairs Pavilion for a long time. He personally delivered five hundred Spirit Stones and a Heavenly Merit Banner to Xiao Ran.

In the Dharma Ending Era, this was an enormous sum.

Even Chuyan, who had been born a princess, had her eyes light up at the sight of money. She wanted to borrow some from him to buy clothes and cosmetics, then conquer the Sword-Wielding Elder with her beauty.

Xiao Ran lent her only one Spirit Stone and told her to buy some pork and fatten up. With those skinny arms and legs, she would have no strength to work.

In public, Chuyan was of lower seniority and held back her outburst, revealing only an innocent smile that practically screamed, "Fuck your mother."

Chunwa and Qiuchan were of sufficiently high seniority and older than Xiao Ran. As beastfolk, they feared nothing. With a jolt, they climbed onto Xiao Ran's shoulders again.

One on the left and one on the right, their little bottoms hung half in the air as four chubby little legs swung rhythmically back and forth, thumping against Xiao Ran.

"Can you help us plant strawberries when we go to Hundred Herbs Peak this time?"

How could he plant strawberries for little girls? Xiao Ran sternly refused.

"No!"

The two girls would not let it go.

"Help us, come on. It's not like you'll lose a piece of flesh."

"If we plant strawberries, Master will definitely scold us. But if you plant them, Master will be happy to death."

The moment True Person Yinyue was mentioned, Xiao Ran became unbearably anxious. He had even less mood to plant strawberries.

Before heading to Hundred Herbs Peak for his Body Dissection, he instinctively checked the System Panel to confirm what he had in his pockets. Not a single thing could go missing after the dissection.

Host: Xiao Ran.

Cultivation Level: Qi Refining (Peak Great Perfection).

Master: Lingzhou Yue.

Filial Piety Points: 18.

Skills: Art of Resonance; Max Level Farming; Max Level Architecture; Max Level Cooking Skill; Max Level Brewing.

Storage: Spirit Stones ×503; Black Salvation Ring ×1; Direct Disciple Space Ring ×1; Direct Disciple Sword ×1; Ring-Opening Buckle ×1; Kite Talismans ×4; Zongzhi Mountain Disciple Uniform ×1; Original Fragment of Myriad Resonance ×1; various Grain and Herb Seeds; various Flatbread and Tea.

Shop: Can be opened through Mind Concentration.

Seeing that his Filial Piety Points had fallen to just eighteen, Xiao Ran felt hollow inside.

He kind of missed Master...

True Person Yinyue walked out of the Affairs Pavilion, seemingly noticing his concern.

"Do not worry about your Master. By the time you wake up, she will be back."

With one sentence, she swept away one worry while creating a new one for Xiao Ran.

In an instant, Xiao Ran's face went dark.

"What do you mean... by the time I wake up?"

True Person Yinyue ignored him. With elegant poise, she turned around and looked at Chuyan. Excellent Spiritual Meridian and Bone, innocent and lovely appearance—she nodded in satisfaction.

"What is your name?"

Chuyan looked up at the Master of her Master's Master, conquered by that elegant and alluring air.

If I had the bearing of such a goddess, why would I have to worry about attracting the Sword-Wielding Elder?

She understood. She would go back and place a Flourishing Flower Mark on her brow.

No—she suddenly felt that she was short and somewhat delicate. She might not be able to carry it off on her brow.

Better to place it on her lower abdomen. Then, while bathing, she could let the Sword-Wielding Elder catch a glimpse of it intentionally or unintentionally. The Elder would surely be unable to restrain herself and commit an irreversible mistake, turning raw rice into cooked rice...

Chuyan reasoned all the way through it, stopping just short of bearing the Sword-Wielding Elder's child.

True Person Yinyue's brows furrowed slightly.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

Chuyan's expression rippled. She hurriedly clasped her hands in salute.

"Chuyan greets Grand-Aunt Master."

True Person Yinyue nodded slightly.

"You are a decent seedling. Return to Sword-Wielding Mountain first and look after the fields. When your Grandmaster returns, tell her to come see me at Hundred Herbs Peak."

Chuyan had just been humiliated by Xiao Ran with a single Spirit Stone. Now, seeing the black lines across Xiao Ran's forehead and his despair as though he were awaiting execution, her mood immediately improved.

"Yes."

After giving Xiao Ran a tiny, pointy tongue poke, Chuyan flashed away on her sword, leaving the Main Peak.

True Person Yinyue also rose on her sword and asked Xiao Ran,

"Want me to give you a ride?"

Want me to slaughter you? Slaughter you?

Slaughter you? Xiao Ran's face went black, then white. He hurriedly said,

"Thank you for your kind offer, Grand-Aunt Master, but this disciple has now reached Qi Refining and can fly on a sword himself."

True Person Yinyue smiled faintly, flicked her sleeve, and shot away.

"Then keep up."

"Yes."

Xiao Ran followed her into the air on his own sword, speeding through the mountains and clouds.

For him, having experienced Kite Riding and learned the Art of Resonance, and now having reached Qi Refining, Sword Flight was not particularly difficult.

The two little girls still clung to his shoulders, their little bottoms hanging halfway over the thousand-zhang-high sky. The freezing wind did not frighten them in the slightest.

Chunwa and Qiuchan frowned together.

"Why are you shaking?"

Xiao Ran gave a cold laugh.

"What do you mean, shaking? This is Resonance Sword Flight. The sword blade resonates with the air as it flies. It's very advanced. Children who do not understand should not spout nonsense."

But Chunwa said,

"I meant why your body is shaking..."

Xiao Ran's face darkened. Refusing to admit that True Person Yinyue had scared him, he only said,

"It's my first time flying on a sword. I'm shaking because I'm too excited!"

"Oh, your first time. No wonder."

The two girls nodded, thoughtful and seemingly enlightened.

"Everyone shakes the first time."