Yun Xiao's Curiosity, Sending an Invitation

Three Immortals Island.

Misty clouds drifted, and immortal energy permeated the air.

Unlike the clamor and bustle of the outside world, this place was as peaceful and serene as ever.

But this tranquility was soon shattered by two hurried and excited voices.

"Big Sister! You've heard from Big Brother, right? That Senior Qin Feng from Azure Stone Palace is simply incredible!"

Bi Xiao, who had the most fiery temper, rushed into Yun Xiao's meditation chamber like a gust of wind, her pretty face flushed red with excitement.

Behind her, Qiong Xiao also had a look of yearning and admiration, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

"That's right, that's right! He single-handedly defeated the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect and even forced Yuanshi Tianzun's decree to be withdrawn. This is even more exciting than the stories in the storybooks! This is the true demeanor our Jie Sect immortals should have!"

For a long time, the disciples of the Jie Sect had suffered too much at the hands of the Chan Sect.

Qin Feng's sudden appearance was like a thunderclap on a stifling summer day, bringing a sense of heartfelt exhilaration to everyone.

Bi Xiao couldn't sit still any longer, tugging at Yun Xiao's sleeve and chattering incessantly.

"Big Sister, let's go visit this Senior! He stood up for our fellow disciple Shi Ji, which means he stood up for our entire Jie Sect. As direct disciples of Saint Tongtian, we should go and thank him, and show him our support!"

"Exactly! Let those guys from the Chan Sect see that this Senior isn't alone; the entire Jie Sect stands behind him!" Qiong Xiao was also itching to go, wishing she could ride a cloud and set off immediately.

However, facing the fiery enthusiasm of her two younger sisters, Yun Xiao, who was seated on a cloud bed, slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, as clear and cool as water, showed no ripples. She simply uttered a single word.

"Inappropriate."

Her voice was not loud, but it was like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguishing the enthusiasm of Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao.

"Ah? Why is it inappropriate?" Bi Xiao pouted, looking puzzled. "He did us such a huge favor, why is it inappropriate for us to go and thank him?"

"Exactly, Big Sister. Don't you always teach us that if someone offers you a drop of kindness, you should repay them with a gushing spring?" Qiong Xiao was also a bit confused.

Yun Xiao looked at her two simple-minded sisters and shook her head helplessly. She lightly raised her hand, signaling them to calm down.

Her gaze was distant, as if piercing through the endless void, and fell upon the newly established Azure Stone Palace.

"You only saw him stand up for our fellow disciple Shi Ji, and you saw his domineering stance against the Chan Sect, but you didn't see what lies behind that domineering attitude."

Yun Xiao's voice was unhurried, carrying a wisdom that could see through people's hearts.

"His actions, though seemingly arrogant, are actually meticulous. He put the Chan Sect in their place but left them an out, taking only their wealth and not their lives. This is a deterrent, not an act that would forge an irreconcilable enmity."

"His willingness to go this far for our fellow disciple Shi Ji shows that he is a person of deep loyalty and affection, and extremely protective of those under his wing."

"The most important point," Yun Xiao's tone grew slightly heavier, "he dared to defy even a Saint's decree. What does that tell you?"

Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao looked at each other and instinctively shook their heads.

The corners of Yun Xiao's mouth curved into a meaningful arc.

"It means that in his eyes, our status as direct disciples of the Jie Sect, and our title as disciples of a Saint, hold no weight whatsoever. He acts purely according to his own heart, without regard for external factors."

At these words, Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao were stunned.

They finally realized, yes, a formidable figure who dared to disrespect a Saint, would he care if they were direct disciples of a Saint?

In his eyes, their status was probably no different from stray cats and dogs on the street.

"The more such a master there is, the more pride they possess," Yun Xiao continued to analyze. "If we go barging in now, under the guise of thanking him and showing our support, he might not see it as goodwill, but rather as an offense and an intrusion."

"Perhaps he'll even think we're trying to leverage his influence and drag him into our Jie Sect's camp, which would annoy him for no reason."

Her words left Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao speechless, a cold sweat breaking out on their backs.

They finally realized how vast the gap was between themselves and their elder sister.

They only saw the surface-level excitement, while their elder sister had already deduced his character, his intentions, and all possible subsequent developments with perfect clarity.

"Then... then what should we do?" Bi Xiao was completely at a loss, looking at Yun Xiao like a naughty elementary school student who had made a mistake.

Yun Xiao smiled calmly, full of confidence.

"We won't go to him; instead, we can invite him to come to us."

As she spoke, she flipped her hand, and a jade slip, entirely white and emitting a soft immortal light, appeared out of thin air in her palm.

This jade slip was made from high-quality immortal jade collected from the depths of the East Sea. It was warm, translucent, and brimming with spiritual energy. Just this material alone was enough to make ordinary Golden Immortals fight tooth and nail.

Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao's eyes widened in amazement.

This was one of their elder sister's most treasured possessions, something she rarely even let them touch, and now she had brought it out.

Yun Xiao joined her jade-like fingers, a wisp of profound Dao Charm swirling around her fingertips, and she began to slowly carve on the jade slip.

She didn't use any magical power, but instead imprinted information onto it entirely with her own understanding of the Great Dao.

The entire process was devoid of earth-shattering phenomena, yet a Dao Charm of returning to simplicity flowed through it.

A moment later, Yun Xiao withdrew her fingers and handed the jade slip over.

"Send Caiyun to Azure Stone Palace to deliver this invitation."

Bi Xiao curiously leaned forward, her divine sense probing into the jade slip, and immediately let out a surprised cry.

The jade slip did not mention the Jie Sect once, nor did it contain any words that revealed the sender's identity.

The entire message was written in a tone of equality, even a hint of humility, addressing the recipient as "Palace Master Qing Shi, fellow Daoist" and sincerely inviting him to visit Three Immortals Island after three months to discuss the profound mysteries of the Great Dao.

The words were earnest, and the sender had adopted an extremely humble stance, showing immense respect to the other party.

"Big Sister, aren't you... being a little too polite?" Bi Xiao exclaimed, clicking her tongue.

"This isn't politeness, this is respect," Yun Xiao said calmly. "This is both an invitation and a test. If he's willing to come, it means he harbors no ill feelings towards us and can be befriended. If he doesn't, then our destined connection hasn't arrived yet, and we shouldn't disturb him again in the future."

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao exchanged glances, seeing deep admiration in each other's eyes.

Such skill, such magnanimity, such vision!

As expected of their Big Sister!

Azure Stone Palace.

Outside the mountain gate, an auspicious cloud slowly descended, revealing a fairy dressed in colorful robes with a beautiful appearance.

It was Fairy Caiyun, the attendant under Yun Xiao.

However, at this moment, this fairy, who usually held a respectable position on Golden Ao Island, was staring at the scene before her with a look of utter bewilderment, her pretty little mouth agape as if she could fit an egg inside.

Before arriving, she had imagined Skeleton Mountain to be a grim and terrifying place.

But this... what kind of blessed land was this?

The spiritual energy was so dense it felt like it could drip, the rare flowers and exotic grasses growing everywhere, any one of which could be comparable to an immortal pill, and the immortal birds and auspicious beasts roaming the mountains, each with a more noble bloodline aura than the last...

Fairy Caiyun felt her mind struggling to keep up.

Was this really Skeleton Mountain? Was there a mistake?

Even her masters' Three Immortals Island seemed... seemed to be lacking something compared to this place?

She could even sense, deep within the immortal mountain, the terrifying aura of formations lying dormant, making her very soul tremble.

Just as she was overcome with unparalleled shock, the mountain-protecting formation that enveloped the gate silently opened a passage.

A figure, cool and confident, slowly emerged.

The newcomer wore a simple dress, her figure graceful. It was Shi Ji.

At this moment, she was no longer the timid and self-abased person she used to be. Instead, she exuded the composure and demeanor of the mistress of the dojo.

"Are you a fellow Daoist from Three Immortals Island?" Shi Ji asked calmly, her gaze steady, neither subservient nor arrogant.

Fairy Caiyun snapped back to attention, immediately bowing respectfully.

"I am Caiyun from Three Immortals Island. By order of my Niangniang, I have come to pay respects to Niangniang Shi Ji and to deliver an invitation to Palace Master Qing Shi."

She dared not show any disrespect and presented the immortal jade invitation with both hands held high.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Shi Ji's eyes.

Three Immortals Island? An invitation in Yun Xiao Niangniang's own hand?

One had to know that the status of the Three Virtuous Goddesses within the Jie Sect was second only to a few individuals like Duobao Daoist, making them true core disciples with very high standards.

Now, they were actually sending someone to her, no, to her Dao Brother, with an invitation?

An indescribable sense of honor and pride surged through her heart.

All of this was because of her Dao Brother.

Because of his strength, because of the dignity he brought, those beings she once had to look up to were now willingly lowering themselves to seek friendship.

Shi Ji took a deep breath, accepted the jade slip solemnly, and nodded slightly at Fairy Caiyun.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist. My Dao Brother is currently in seclusion. Once he emerges, I, Shi Ji, will deliver Niangniang's invitation to him immediately."

Her voice was steady and clear, and the phrase "my Dao Brother" was spoken so naturally.

Fairy Caiyun heard this and her heart trembled again, her reverence for the mysterious Palace Master Qing Shi growing even stronger.

To be able to make Niangniang Shi Ji so sincerely refer to him as "mine," their relationship was self-evident.

After seeing Fairy Caiyun off, Shi Ji held the warm jade slip in her hand, remaining silent for a long time.

She could feel the weight that this small jade slip represented.

This was not just an invitation, but also a form of recognition from the higher echelons of the Jie Sect.

She looked up towards the closed quiet room deep within the palace, her beautiful phoenix eyes flashing with light.

Dao Brother, do you see?

Because of you, Shi Ji is no longer that bullied orphan.

This Primordial World finally has a place for us.