Sometimes things were just absurd. He had never encountered anything like this in over a decade, yet now it had happened twice in quick succession.
"Bro, do you know that senior from just now?"
"I do." Zhang Xiu was feeling rather speechless himself. "That senior was a Dao Integration expert from the Supreme Dao Sect, stationed at the Ancient Cultivator Response Department. I reported to him not long ago."
This was a Dao Integration expert. In the past, if one had shown such goodwill, Zhang Xiu would have done everything he could to get Yunlu into the Supreme Dao Sect.
But that had been before the Sword Sect senior had taken an interest in nurturing Yunlu...
And when Zhang Xiu had submitted his work report that day, this Dao Integration expert from the Supreme Dao Sect had made his dislike of the Sword Sect perfectly clear.
But if he disliked the Sword Sect, why had he come to be stationed at the Ancient Cultivator Response Department within the Sword Sect's territory? After all, even an Immortal Sect couldn't force a Dao Integration cultivator to do anything.
Surely he hadn't come here just to cause trouble?
Though Zhang Xiu didn't know how they had managed to conceal things just now, if True Monarch Purple Universe discovered that he and his sister had been in contact with the Sword Sect senior, their fate probably wouldn't be pretty.
What a headache.
Still, on the surface, Zhang Xiu earnestly advised her:
"This is a good opportunity. You need to make the most of it. When you get to school tomorrow, you can ask the teachers and seniors there for advice. Just remember, don't reveal Senior Purple Universe's name."
Could anyone refuse the goodwill of a Dao Integration expert?
There was obviously only one answer to that question.
Sigh~
He really shouldn't have bothered that Sword Sect senior so often. But when it came to Dao Integration cultivators, this was already beyond anything they could handle.
At this point, all they could do was have Yunlu ask the Sword Sect senior for advice. Hopefully, she'd understand what he meant.
Zhang Xiu rubbed the storage ring on the finger of his left hand.
The Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect... It seemed he really ought to make some preparations.
The senior had given them a stepping stone, but the Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect was, after all, an Immortal Sect. Below Dao Integration, no cultivator could guarantee they'd get in.
Zhang Yunlu looked thoughtful as she lowered her gaze to the Purple Enclosure Qi Observation Method in her hands.
After all that had happened, neither of them felt like celebrating anymore, so they went straight home.
A wisp of purple qi drifted away across the sky.
At the same time, a human-powered tricycle rolled down the street, drawing many curious glances.
In the history of the Central Continent, this kind of antique had only existed for a brief period before being quickly replaced.
Once cultivators reached Foundation Establishment, they could fly by manipulating objects. And when it came to comfort and appearance, tricycles couldn't hold a candle to cars.
So nowadays, only a few isolated places still used them.
Xu Xing sat silently in the open-backed carriage while Chi Jiuyu pedaled furiously up front. The human-powered tricycle actually overtook car after car running on a spiritual-electric hybrid engine.
Especially the drivers who kept leaning on their horns and liked to hurl insults. After overtaking them, she would "kindly" raise her middle finger in greeting.
"Watch the road. Don't speed," Xu Xing reminded her.
"Don't worry, Martial Uncle. I've got plenty of experience. I won't speed!" she replied confidently.
A few minutes earlier, after they'd left the school, Chi Jiuyu had said she'd brought a vehicle and bragged about how good she was at driving.
But he hadn't expected her to pull out a human-powered tricycle.
Soon, they passed an intersection, where a disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall stood in the middle of the road directing traffic.
He saw a human-powered tricycle whiz past and froze for a moment. Then he watched several cars race after it, trailing close behind.
He glanced at the speed detector beside him.
Um...
They weren't speeding.
At a time like this, nobody dared to break the rules.
Were cultivators these days training themselves this way?
After a while, thanks to Chi Jiuyu's efforts, the tricycle reached the villas in the residential community. Seeing it parked at the entrance, a security guard started toward them to shoo it away.
But he had barely stepped out of the guard booth when car after car arrived and pulled up behind the tricycle.
Some of those models were the kind he only dared dream about.
W-what was going on?
Chi Jiuyu hopped off, not even out of breath, and poured a bottle of water over the chain.
Hiss!
Steam rose as the red-hot chain cooled back to its bright silver-white sheen. Clearly, it was made from some special material.
She turned to look at the cars and waved.
"All right, next time, get a faster car. You're that slow, and you still have the nerve to yell at people?"
As she spoke, she stowed the tricycle in her storage ring.
"Martial Uncle..." She turned around and realized Xu Xing had already walked off. "Wait for me!"
She vaulted over the barrier and hurried after him.
Behind her, countless eyes from the cars fixed on her.
Xu Xing wasn't walking fast, and Chi Jiuyu soon caught up. She grinned. "Martial Uncle, are you wondering why I rode a tricycle?"
"I'm not."
"..." Chi Jiuyu choked on her words for a moment, but quickly forgot what Xu Xing had just said. "Actually, I was trying to stamp out the bad habit of road rage."
"Look at those drivers. They could get into a fight with someone at the drop of a hat. What I did stopped a potential conflict before it could even start."
And it gave her a bit of fun on the side. Two birds with one stone!
Amid her nonstop chatter, the two arrived outside the villa. Xu Xing handed her a small wooden token.
"This is the formation's control token. Keep it safe and don't lose it."
Chi Jiuyu would be waiting for him so they could return together, which meant she'd have to stay here for the time being.
The place was spacious enough. She could pick a guest room for herself later.
"Oh." Chi Jiuyu obediently took it, though she didn't think much of it.
A formation that couldn't even stop a Qi Refining cultivator—did it really think it could keep her out?
"Don't get careless. I modified this formation. You might not be able to break in."
Modified?
She was itching to give it a try, but considering she'd only just met her Martial Uncle today, she held back the urge to test it.
The air in front of them rippled slightly, and a passage opened in the formation surrounding the entire villa. Xu Xing walked inside, and Chi Jiuyu followed behind him.
"I'd originally prepared some gifts for you."
Gifts?
"But after meeting you, I realized your situation was a little different from what I'd expected." Xu Xing's tone held a hint of approval. "A Creation Dao Foundation, an indestructible Golden Core, and even your Nascent Soul is of exceptionally high quality."
Of course! She was just that amazing!
"I have an opportunity here that would suit you very well. Your senior sister must have considered that when she sent you here."
So her master was involved too?
Chi Jiuyu focused intently and followed close behind Xu Xing, but he still wouldn't tell her what it was.
"Martial Uncle, hurry up and tell me."
"It's not time yet. You'll understand when the time comes."
"..."
What an infuriating riddler.
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