The entire Formation Pavilion fell silent, with only Lan Yue's devilish laughter echoing through the air.
One of the elders shook his head helplessly. He had known that once little Lan Yue arrived, none of them could expect any peace.
Sure enough, almost everyone, including the elders, had pricked up their ears, ready to eavesdrop on a few stories about Elder Whitebrow.
Lan Yue did not keep the amusement to herself. Seeing Luan Ning watching her eagerly, she gave her a brief rundown as well.
After all, the news would certainly spread until everyone knew. Perhaps plenty of people already knew about it.
One more person knowing made no difference, and neither would one fewer.
"Speaking of which, I've heard some news too." Luan Ning chuckled, her baby face actually looking a little sleazy.
Lan Yue caught the scent of a kindred spirit. She finally understood why she had always felt some indescribable affinity between them. This was the unspoken understanding between gossip-loving girls!
"Come on, tell me! I'll share any gossip I get with you in the future too." Lan Yue was bursting with curiosity.
"Doesn't Elder Whitebrow supposedly have eighteen Dao companions? Those companions of his have founded a sect." Luan Ning leaned closer, looking mysterious.
"Is there anything special about their sect?" Lan Yue only knew that those people had planned to establish a sect. She did not yet know its name or where it was located.
After all, digging up gossip cost mental energy too. The more thoroughly she investigated the details, the more mental energy she used.
"Their sect is called the Dust-Forgetting Sect." Luan Ning's tone grew even more mysterious.
"They were wounded by love, so they decided to forget the mortal world?" At that thought, Lan Yue felt indignant on behalf of those beauties.
Elder Lu really was inhuman. How could he hurt so many people all at once?
"No, no, no, no." Luan Ning shook her head repeatedly, laughing helplessly.
"Is this sect really that funny?" Lan Yue wondered.
"The people who founded the Dust-Forgetting Sect weren't wounded by love and determined to forget the mortal world. I heard from a senior sister in another sect that they're planning to help other people forget the mortal world," Luan Ning explained.
"How do they help people forget the mortal world?" Lan Yue was momentarily bewildered.
"The beauty trap!" Luan Ning's eyes lit up, her heart overflowing with admiration.
"The beauty trap? Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Lan Yue nearly choked on her own saliva. She thought she must have misheard.
[Lan Yue: I remember Elder Whitebrow seduced and abandoned his first Dao companion back then. He treated her as a substitute from beginning to end, dragging her through an epic, agonizing romance. That companion was furious, which was what led her to build up her business and make it thrive.
This is simply an unprecedented head for business! She brought in seventeen partners in one go. Not only would they never have to worry about cultivation resources again, they could even sit around enjoying hotpot together whenever they had nothing else to do!]
[Lan Yue: So this powerhouse who cast aside romantic love soon found a new direction and a new business goal? Such power-truly terrifying! If she lived in the modern world, what couldn't this fairy sister accomplish? She'd definitely be the next richest person alive!]
"Got any more news?" Lan Yue rubbed her hands together and chuckled too.
She loved gossip that cost her no mental energy at all. It was simply too sweet and delicious!
"Of course there's more, but a junior sister from another sect told me this in secret. You absolutely can't tell anyone else." Luan Ning lowered her voice.
"Yes, yes, yes! I absolutely won't tell anyone. From now on, you can share your gossip with me without worrying!" Lan Yue's eyes sparkled brightly.
The two girls making promises there had completely forgotten that however softly they spoke, anyone nearby who could extend their spiritual sense would be able to hear them.
They had only recently begun cultivating and had little awareness of such precautions. They had no idea that everyone on the entire peak had their attention fixed on them.
[Lan Yue: Come to think of it, Luan Ning has so many friends! She's only just joined the sect! Is this the legendary constitution that gives you friends everywhere under heaven? No, I have to cling tightly to this powerful backer. Then will I ever have to worry about finding gossip again?]
Lan Yue felt she had discovered a whole new approach to enjoying gossip. What was the fun in doing it all alone? Gossip was best enjoyed with good sisters!
In the future, not only would she come for gossip herself, but if Luan Ning agreed, she wanted to bring Yun Xi along too! Best friends should enjoy themselves together!
Hearing Lan Yue's thoughts, Luan Ning felt rather embarrassed instead. She was really just a nobody, hardly some powerful backer.
Still, she was happy that Lan Yue liked her so much.
"Here's what happened. That junior sister of mine has an aunt who was wounded by love. She's been depressed for years, and her cultivation hasn't advanced at all." Luan Ning spoke softly as she walked.
"Her entire Lineage was beside itself with worry. To them, this aunt was practically their central pillar, a Nascent Soul Cultivator capable of protecting the whole Lineage."
"Over the years, they invited lots of people to counsel her. Only then did they discover how terribly her previous Dao companion had belittled her."
"He was clearly a male cultivator who had taken several hundred years just to barely reach Foundation Establishment, yet he relied on her affection for him to spend all day saying she wasn't pretty and that nothing about her was any good. Who knows where he got all that confidence every single day?"
Hearing this description, Lan Yue was startled. "Isn't that PUA?"
"What's PUA?" Luan Ning froze for a moment.
"Ahem, the name isn't important. It's when either the man or the woman uses affection to control the other person, even belittling their partner in the process until they lose their confidence and can only depend on the abuser. It's absolutely despicable behavior!"
"Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly what happened to my junior sister's aunt. If only they'd known that term sooner, they definitely wouldn't have let her get so heartbroken!" Luan Ning's eyes shone. She felt she had learned another piece of life-saving knowledge!
"What happened to your junior sister's aunt afterward?" Lan Yue was very curious about what connection the sect founded by that powerhouse of a woman could have to this aunt.
"Did the Dust-Forgetting Sect help her forget the mortal world?" Lan Yue thought it might be something like a counseling service, selecting beautiful people to help others ease their worries and resolve their troubles.
Who wouldn't like having such a gorgeous beauty speak gently to them, help them analyze their difficulties, and guide them out of their predicament?
If she had more spirit stones in her pocket, she would definitely go take a look herself!
"Hehe, I don't think she forgot the mortal world." Luan Ning chuckled again, a trace of envy in her eyes.
Under the curious gazes of those around them, she lowered her voice again. "Doesn't the Dust-Forgetting Sect have lots of beauties?"
"The handsome male cultivators stayed as they were, while all the beautiful female cultivators started dressing as men, each more dashing than the last. They took turns keeping my junior sister's aunt company and making her happy."
"So..." Lan Yue stared blankly.
"So now my little junior sister's aunt has eighteen handsome men courting her, and she's living a life fit for immortals!" Luan Ning was so excited that she momentarily forgot to control her volume. Everyone around them whipped their heads toward her.
At that moment, Lan Yue could practically hear saliva pouring out of her eyes.
So that was how the Dust-Forgetting Sect helped people forget the mortal world!
Waaah, I want that too!
What kind of heavenly life is this?
"You two, what are you doing over there? Why are you fooling around here instead of going to the formation classroom to learn the fundamentals?"
The elders on the other side could hardly bear to listen any longer. It was not that they found the content offensive, of course, but that it shook their resolve to cultivate far too much!
Never mind those disciples itching to go-even shameless old fellows like them wanted to try that heavenly life!
To think such a miraculous sect existed under heaven! As expected of the people who had run circles around Elder Whitebrow, they really had good heads on their shoulders!
"E-Elder!" Both girls jumped in fright and lowered their heads in shame.
"The path of cultivation requires a calm mind first and foremost. If you're this fond of playing around, how will you ever amount to anything?" the elder before them said earnestly.
"Since you've chosen the Formation Pavilion, you must work even harder and devote yourselves to serious study. Only then can you make progress in the art of formations!"
The elder's words left both girls terribly ashamed. Even Lan Yue reflected on herself. She seemed to have gotten far too carried away lately. She had come to a world of immortal cultivation, yet had barely put any effort into cultivating!
After all, the chance to cultivate was an opportunity countless people could never obtain, no matter how desperately they begged for it!
"Elder, we're sorry. We'll go to the classroom and study right away. Sorry for disturbing you!" Lan Yue and Luan Ning apologized in unison.
Yet just as they were about to leave, an ethereal voice transmission drifted over from behind them.
"Ahem, you needn't be so nervous. I believe I just heard you mention a place called the Dust-Forgetting Sect. This sect seems rather unusual. Give me its address. The Southern Spirit Sect needs to go investigate."
Before you continue