A golden-tailed merfolk requests an audience
Sang Ying eventually left the Flowing Light Sword Sect with Duan Hanyi, while Wuming was forcibly kept in the sect by her and Jiang Zhuoxue.
"Your skills are great now, but they're not strong enough for me. I heard you've found a suitable Cultivation Method at a stall down the mountain. You should stay in the sect for now and cultivate diligently." Bringing Duan Hanyi along was already unexpected for Sang Ying; adding Wuming would definitely not work.
Moreover, her concerns were not unfounded. Even if Sang Ying and Jiang Zhuoxue could protect Duan Hanyi, they would probably be no Wuming for Wuming.
The situation in the Upper Realm is unclear, and the Dragon Race is extremely xenophobic. Recalling how Jiang Zhuoxue was abandoned by the Dragon Race and sent down to the Lower Realm, Sang Ying couldn't help but feel worried.
Although they were going to return the Dragon Abyss Sword, they didn't know how the Dragon Race would treat them. Neither of them dared to be too confident.
Sang Ying genuinely wanted Wuming to cultivate properly at the Flowing Light Sword Sect. Previously, Wuming couldn't access Spiritual Qi in the Hidden Nether Realm, but he was still able to fuse with dragon blood on his own. This was enough to prove that he was a talented person, and as long as he got the right fortuitous opportunity, he might just be able to rise to the top in one step.
Sang Ying didn't want to bury his abilities. Rather than letting him face danger in the past, she preferred to let him stay and seek better opportunities for cultivation.
Wuming to do anything else, Wuming could only follow Sang Ying's instructions and stay at the Sword Sect to await their news.
Before heading to the Immortal Spirit Realm, Duan Hanyi patted his old friend on the shoulder and said, "You should cultivate here well. I'll wait for the day you've completed your cultivation and bring my nephew and the others over."
The Teleportation Array lit up again, but this time, there were only three people standing inside instead of four.
The Immortal Spirit Realm and the Twin Orchid Realm are not far apart, so the three of them only felt slightly disoriented before they arrived in the Immortal Spirit Realm.
Duan Hanyi took a deep breath of Spiritual Qi that was even richer than in the previous two worlds, feeling every inch of her skin being nourished at that moment.
Sang Ying glanced at him amusedly. Just as the three of them came to a stop, a familiar voice called out, "Senior Sister, you're finally back!"
Sang Ying looked in the direction of the voice and saw Dong Fuzhu, who had grown a lot, waving excitedly at her with two other people.
Sang Ying also waved to them. Dong Fuzhu immediately smiled and quickly came to her side with Lan Fusheng and Bai Kejin.
"Senior Sister is finally back! We knew you were going back to the sect, and we've come here so many times already." As soon as Dong Fuzhu heard that Sang Ying was coming back, she and the other two came to the Teleportation Array every day, afraid of missing her.
Fortunately, she was lucky; she finally got what she was waiting for today.
Lan Fusheng and Bai Kejin also bowed to Sang Ying as equals, saying, "Senior Sister."
"The sect leader and elders have been waiting for Senior Sister for a long time. It is said that an important friend of hers is also waiting to see her," Lan Fusheng reminded her.
Sang Ying was slightly surprised to hear that there were other people waiting to see her.
The group quickly boarded the small flying boat that Dong Fuzhu and the others had brought, and headed towards Ten Thousand Daos Born.
Sang Ying then introduced Duan Hanyi to them, without mentioning Duan Hanyi's former sect. After all, Heavenly Mystery Palace was once very prestigious, and Duan Hanyi's identity was somewhat unusual.
It's not entirely safe to talk about it outside.
The flying boat quickly arrived at Ten Thousand Daos Born. Dong Fuzhu and the others made arrangements and took Duan Hanyi down to settle in. Then they led Sang Ying and Jiang Zhuoxue to the main peak to meet the sect leader and the two elders.
Jiang Zhuoxue was somewhat surprised that she could also go along.
However, after he reached the main peak, he found himself ultimately blocked outside the main hall.
He looked helplessly at Dong Fuzhu and the other two. "So, why did you have to make me come along?"
Dong Fuzhu chuckled, "We were just thinking that since you like Senior Sister so much, you'd definitely want to stay with her all the time."
Jiang Zhuoxue didn't pretend not to see the cunning in Dong Fuzhu's eyes; he still appreciated those words.
The atmosphere outside was very harmonious, but the atmosphere inside the hall was somewhat somber.
Sang Ying bowed to the three people at the head of the table. This was her first time meeting the sect leader, Jing Shouyue. He lived up to his reputation as a Confucian scholar; he indeed possessed a refined and elegant demeanor.
"No need for formalities. I already knew of your existence from Elder Xiao and your master. Now that I see you, you truly live up to your reputation as Jiulian's disciple, just as outstanding as him," Jing Shouyue said.
Sang Ying quickly replied with a few words of gratitude, and then listened silently as the sect leader continued.
"We know you are going to the Cloud Mulberry Realm. The Cloud Mulberry Realm is notoriously exclusive, and our sect has never expanded its influence there. We don't know much about the affairs of the Cloud Mulberry Realm either. Now that you are going, you must be very careful." Jing Shouyue paused for a moment. "The sect also knows that this is a good opportunity, so we have arranged for Dong Fuzhu, Bai Kejin, and Lan Fusheng to go with you. However, they only have six months to train outside. If you have other plans along the way, you can send them back early."
Sang Ying wanted to look up and ask several times, but after meeting Jiulian's disapproving gaze, Sang Ying could only suppress her doubts.
Jing Shouyue wasn't familiar with Sang Ying, so he didn't dare say too much. Finally, he casually said, "By the way, the golden-tailed Jiaoren inside the Thousandfold Formation wants to see you. Your master has already agreed. Before leaving the sect, you should go and meet her."
After hearing all this, Sang Ying was finally dismissed.
She had barely stepped out the door, and before she could even exchange a few words with Jiang Zhuoxue who had come up to her, Jiulian followed her out.
He glanced sideways at Jiang Zhuoxue, seemingly expressing his displeasure at the dragon who wanted to abduct his disciple.
Then he said to Sang Ying, "Come back to the peak with me, I have something to tell you."
Helpless, Sang Ying could only bid a brief farewell to her three junior brothers and sisters and leave with Jiang Zhuoxue.
Now, Jiulian was no longer as polite to Jiang Zhuoxue as before. After bringing the two back to the peak, he directly pulled his disciple into the house, leaving Jiang Zhuoxue waiting outside.
Fortunately, Jiang Zhuoxue wasn't angry. He found the house where Sang Ying used to live and went to rest there.
"Master, did the Sect Leader hide something else in his words today?" Sang Ying asked cautiously after entering the room.
Jiulian flicked her wide sleeves and sat up straight. "What could the Sect Master possibly be hiding? He's just worried about the safety of the disciples. Just do as he says, and don't worry about anything else."
After saying that, he suddenly took something out of his Storage Bag and tossed it to Sang Ying: "I made this when I was bored these days. You can take it and play with it."
Sang Ying took it and, upon closer inspection, realized it was a defensive magical Law Artifact.
This Law Artifact is of very high quality; even Spirit Transformation cultivator would likely find it difficult to escape once trapped inside.
If this thing were out in the open, it would definitely be the highlight of an auction. But Jiulian easily gave it to her.
For some reason, Sang Ying felt a pang of sadness. She had only ever felt such blatant favoritism and care from people like Sang Ying Jiulian.
"Thank you, Master." Sang Ying accepted it nonetheless; once Jiulian gave it away, there was no reason to take it back.
Sure enough, seeing Sang Ying's decisive action, Jiulian's expression immediately improved.
He continued, "Now that you've received the invitation from that golden-tailed Jiaoren, you should go see her as soon as possible."
Hearing his overly obvious hint, Sang Ying couldn't help but ask, "What is the connection between that golden-tailed Jiaoren and the Cloud Mulberry Realm?"
"You're quite clever. Do you know that in the entire Lower Realm, there's only one place where Jiaoren can be born?" Jiulian's voice was slightly low. "That is the Endless Sea of the Cloud Mulberry Realm!"