An Old Mother's Worries

Senior Sister Yuan Xi saw at a glance that Lin Qi had already reached the Fourth Stage Qi Refining, and her eyes brimmed with delight.

Unfortunately, the place was crowded, so she could only discreetly rub Lin Qi's little head. "Little Qi, you're amazing!"

"Senior Sister, you're even more amazing!"

Although Lin Qi could not discern Senior Sister Yuan Xi's Cultivation Level, she could sense that the aura around her was deep and powerful—several times stronger than when they had entered the Lübing Abyss.

Her eyes widened in delighted surprise. Could Senior Sister Yuan Xi have already broken through to the Golden Core stage?

A Golden Core cultivator at twelve—she was likely among the very best in the entire Tianyi Sect, wasn't she?

"You certainly know how to talk. Have you been well these past fifteen days?"

Lin Qi answered happily, "Very well. I even made a few friends."

Senior Sister Yuan Xi tugged Lin Qi around and inspected her from head to toe, checking whether she had been injured during her days in the Lübing Abyss.

Lin Qi basked in Senior Sister Yuan Xi's meticulous concern. Her smiling almond eyes swept over Tan Yueqing and Chen En's faces, and she even raised her brows at them as though showing off.

"Childish!"

Tan Yueqing felt she could barely stand to watch and turned her head away.

A flicker of envy appeared in Chen En's eyes. "It's wonderful to have a senior sister like that."

Once Senior Sister Yuan Xi finally let go of Lin Qi, Lin Qi pulled her over to introduce Tan Yueqing and Chen En.

Naturally, she did not mention their pooling resources to use the array disk.

After only a few casual words, everyone had arrived.

As before, Elder Yue flew ahead on his sword, followed by a group of disciples as they left the Lübing Abyss in orderly, floating procession.

Feng Ling had come to receive the two of them this time. Apparently, Luo Ci's movement technique training had reached a critical juncture, and True Monarch Qingyun could not leave.

After hearing this, Lin Qi observed a moment of silence for Luo Ci.

But she soon had no time to think about anyone else.

Feng Ling led them to Wind God Valley in the Tianyi Sect to see True Monarch Qingyun.

The moment Lin Qi stepped into Wind God Valley, lush with spirit herbs and surrounded by gentle breezes, True Monarch Qingyun smiled and beckoned to her.

"Little Qi and Yuan Xi are back."

True Monarch Qingyun sat cross-legged atop a clump of Swift Wind Divine Grass half a person tall. Her voice was warm as jade, and her bearing graceful and gentle, making people unconsciously lower all their guard.

Lin Qi followed blankly behind Senior Sister Yuan Xi until they reached True Monarch Qingyun.

True Monarch Qingyun's gaze fell first on Senior Sister Yuan Xi. She nodded in satisfaction. "You finally broke through to the Golden Core stage. What are your plans going forward?"

Senior Sister Yuan Xi answered calmly, "Master, this disciple wishes to leave the sect and gain experience for a time."

Lin Qi looked at Senior Sister Yuan Xi in surprise.

True Monarch Qingyun was not surprised at all. She only asked, "Have you thought it through?"

"Reporting to Master, this disciple made this decision after careful consideration."

True Monarch Qingyun lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "Wait a little longer."

"You have only just entered the Golden Core stage, and your realm is still unstable. Wait one month before going down the mountain to gain experience. By then, you can take Little Qi and Luo Ci with you as well."

Yuan Xi stared at her master in astonishment. "Master, this disciple is going down the mountain to gain experience. Little Qi and Third Junior Brother are only at Qi Refining—wouldn't it be too dangerous for them outside?"

True Monarch Qingyun's eyes were gentle as water. "But I am worried for your safety."

Yuan Xi: "...Master is worried for my safety, so you want me to take my junior brother and junior sister down the mountain with me?"

Yuan Xi admitted that she did not quite understand her master's train of thought.

Listening from the side, Lin Qi felt as though an old mother simply could not bear to let her eldest daughter stray too far away, so she wanted her eldest daughter to take two younger ones along—then she could never get too far from her.

True Monarch Qingyun lightly stroked her sleeve, her voice as gentle as ever.

"Your junior brother has exceptionally good fortune. At critical moments, he can escape calamity and turn danger into safety. Keeping him at your side can ensure peace."

"Your junior sister has a strong physique and is clever and quick-witted. She can lend you a hand."

Senior Sister Yuan Xi's face was full of black lines. "Master, are you sure?"

True Monarch Qingyun flipped her palm, and a stack of translucent soft gauze appeared in it. "I'm sure!"

"This is a water sash refined from Sea Shark Skin, a High-grade Spirit Treasure. Consider it my gift to celebrate your breakthrough."

Yuan Xi accepted the soft gauze and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Master."

True Monarch Qingyun continued, "In one month, Little Qi will also reach the Fifth Stage Qi Refining. It will be time for her to go down the mountain and take on a few missions. When the time comes, you may travel together."

Lin Qi, whose arrangements had been laid out crystal clear, immediately caught on. Hugging Senior Sister Yuan Xi's arm, she began to wheedle.

"Senior Sister, just take me with you! I promise I won't hold you back! I can even help you keep Third Junior Brother in line!"

Yuan Xi: ...When had she ever said she was taking Luo Ci along?

With both her master and junior sister pleading at once, Yuan Xi could only agree helplessly in the end.

After Senior Sister Yuan Xi left, Lin Qi asked True Monarch Qingyun curiously, "Master, do you not want to part with Senior Sister?"

True Monarch Qingyun looked at her with a smile. "Your master is merely worried about letting your senior sister travel too far alone."

Relying on the fact that she was a child, Lin Qi boldly said, "But Master, that isn't fair to Senior Sister."

"She is a Golden Core cultivator going out to gain experience, yet she has to bring along two Qi Refinement cultivators like us. We'll only hold her back. Master, I don't want to be a burden to Senior Sister."

True Monarch Qingyun did not get angry. The smile in her eyes only deepened as she patiently asked, "Then why did you still go along with me just now?"

Lin Qi hesitated before speaking. "Because Master must see further ahead than we do. You would never harm Senior Sister."

True Monarch Qingyun had considered so much for her and Luo Ci when they had only just entered the sect. How could she possibly restrict Senior Sister Yuan Xi's growth for selfish reasons?

True Monarch Qingyun beckoned Lin Qi over.

Lin Qi obediently walked before her.

She reached out and patted Lin Qi's little head, smiling in satisfaction. "Yuan Xi's care for you has not been in vain."

Lin Qi's little face was full of sincerity. "Senior Sister thinks of me in everything she does. As long as I still have a conscience, I cannot let down her kindness."

"Master knows you are a good child." True Monarch Qingyun's fingertips lightly brushed over the Phoenix Feather at Lin Qi's waist.

She explained to Lin Qi, "Your senior sister bears a blood feud, so she is exceptionally diligent in her cultivation. Her talent is good as well. She broke through all the way to the Golden Core stage with scarcely any setbacks."

Lin Qi asked in confusion, "Isn't that a good thing?"

True Monarch Qingyun raised her eyes and asked in return, "Do you think that is a good thing?"

Lin Qi immediately fell silent.

"Even one blessed with great fortune cannot possibly have smooth sailing throughout their entire cultivation journey."

"A cultivator's path is, by nature, a rugged road. Only by encountering trials of every sort along the way, strengthening one's power, and tempering one's heart and mind can one become a powerhouse in their own right."

A trace of worry touched True Monarch Qingyun's gentle, kindly brows.

"Your senior sister is trapped by resentment and hatred. Though her Cultivation Level has grown over the years, her state of mind remains stuck where it was. Moreover, her constitution is unusual and easily draws the covetous eyes of others. Within the Tianyi Sect, I can still protect her peace, but once she leaves the Tianyi Sect... I fear she will fall prey to the human heart."

Lin Qi recalled Senior Sister Yuan Xi's words: "I have no choice but to work hard."

She had thought it was because of her senior sister's constitution. She had never expected there to be a blood-soaked feud behind it all.

Had True Monarch Qingyun not said it herself, Lin Qi would never have been able to tell that Senior Sister Yuan Xi was trapped by hatred.

Seeming to understand yet not quite, Lin Qi asked, "Master, what do you want me to do?"

There will be another chapter tomorrow afternoon.