Ji Juqian really was a little worried that Little Junior Sister didn’t understand, and thought she had shut herself in her room to sulk.
So that very night he secretly probed with his spiritual sense, and unexpectedly discovered that Little Junior Sister really was sitting in meditation and cultivating, and had already reached the second level of Qi Refining.
Only three days!
Such speed could not help but astonish Ji Juqian.
However, as Little Junior Sister had so emphatically reminded him, he was her own Eldest Senior Brother under the same Master, and the reserved Ji Juqian decided to keep this matter to himself for now. He even warned the other Senior Brothers not to disturb Little Junior Sister.
The other Senior Brothers naturally had no intention of disturbing Little Junior Sister either.
After all, at their very first meeting Little Junior Sister had walked off with so many of their spirit stones and little treasures. Inexplicably, for the time being they didn’t much want to see Little Junior Sister again.
It was just that, not wanting to see her was one thing, but when a whole month had passed…
Little Junior Sister didn’t appear!
Another two months passed!
Little Junior Sister still didn’t appear!
And then three whole months had gone by!
When they still hadn’t seen Little Junior Sister appear, the several Senior Brothers at the sect actually began to panic a little.
It was a strange feeling, as if the sect had taken in a Little Junior Sister, yet inside and out there seemed to be no trace of a Little Junior Sister.
The matter of taking in a Junior Sister seemed to have happened, yet it felt unreal, like a dream.
Because for so long they hadn’t seen her, yet their things had genuinely diminished.
So, three months later, no matter how Eldest Senior Brother tried to stop them, the other three Senior Brothers insisted on coming to Luoshuang Peak to have a good look at Little Junior Sister.
When they came, they were even thinking in their hearts, could Little Junior Sister be fake? Just someone who had come to swindle them out of spirit stones and pills.
Maybe Little Junior Sister was long gone by now, having run off with their things…
“You don’t trust me?” Ji Juqian said helplessly, blocking them at the gate of Little Junior Sister’s courtyard.
This time Second Senior Brother spoke first: “It’s not that we don’t trust you. Aren’t we just worried about Little Junior Sister?”
“You say Little Junior Sister shut herself in her room for three months right after joining. Don’t you, as her Eldest Senior Brother, worry that something’s gone wrong with her?”
Gui Chao’an’s heart ached over his spirit stones. Last time, when giving Little Junior Sister her welcoming gift, he had given the most of the three Senior Brothers, and even now it still stung.
“Little Junior Sister is fine. She’s just in seclusion cultivating. Don’t disturb her!” Ji Juqian stated the facts with a blank face.
As Little Junior Sister’s closest Senior Brother, how could he leave Little Junior Sister unattended?
During these three months, every night he would quietly probe Little Junior Sister’s courtyard with his spiritual sense, and only leave once he was sure all was well.
He didn’t know why Little Junior Sister wouldn’t come out either, but he could be certain that in these three months, apart from eating spirit fruit and pills, Little Junior Sister spent nearly every moment cultivating.
“Eldest Senior Brother, I’m not trying to criticize you, but Little Junior Sister just joined the sect. Even if she really went into seclusion, it would be a night or two, three days at most. How could it take three months without coming out?”
“Isn’t it just one look? How much time could that take? How would it disturb Little Junior Sister’s cultivation?” Gui Chao’an spoke up again.
People with low cultivation couldn’t stay in seclusion long at all, and besides, Little Junior Sister had no cultivation at all when she entered.
Without seeing Little Junior Sister even once, he always felt his pills and spirit stones had gone down the drain, and he grew more and more uneasy.
For once, Third Senior Brother and Fifth Senior Brother nodded along in agreement as well. Compared to the spirit stones they’d already given, they were still a little worried about Little Junior Sister’s situation.
Seeing this, Eldest Senior Brother’s expression darkened, and he grew all the more convinced that Little Junior Sister was right: the other direct disciples weren’t under the same Master as them after all, and there was always a layer of separation.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so aggressive now.
After all, he had assured them again and again that Little Junior Sister was fine, so why wouldn’t they believe him?
Eldest Senior Brother was just wondering how to put it.
Suddenly.
Behind him came a creak.
The door that had been shut for three months finally opened at this moment.
The little figure seemed to have grown a tiny bit taller, and she had changed into a set of sect robes. The two little tufts on her head had now become one, making her look just like a little Daoist nun.
With bright eyes, white teeth, and a round little face as delicate as carved jade, she looked playful and cute no matter how you looked at her.
Ye Ruyue stretched both arms up in a big lazy stretch, then raised her eyes to the several Senior Brothers in front and broke into a big smile: “Morning, Senior Brothers!”
“Oh, you’re in such a hurry to see me. Is there more good stuff for me?”
Could she fleece them again?
That one sentence nearly scared the several Senior Brothers into turning tail and running.
But before they could run, what slightly surprised them was: “Little Junior Sister, you’ve actually reached the third level of Qi Refining.”
It seemed within reason.
After all, Little Junior Sister had Five Spiritual Roots, which were considered trash, and reaching the third level of Qi Refining in three months was already quite good.
But it also seemed a bit strange.
After all, Little Junior Sister had been in closed-door seclusion for three months…
Only Eldest Senior Brother was utterly shocked! His face was full of disbelief!
Third level of Qi Refining? Little Junior Sister’s cultivation hadn’t advanced but regressed?
How was that possible?
Ji Juqian’s eyes went wide as saucers, and with a face full of disbelief he looked Ye Ruyue up and down, over and over, weighing it again and again.
Then he let out a light breath of relief.
He had the highest cultivation present, so on careful observation, one would find that Little Junior Sister’s aura was already completely different from three months ago.
So Little Junior Sister’s cultivation was definitely more than the third level of Qi Refining!
As for why others saw the third level of Qi Refining, it was probably that Little Junior Sister had used some magical artifact to hide her cultivation and cover it up.
Whatever the reason Little Junior Sister did this, as her closest Senior Brother, he would naturally say nothing and simply respect Little Junior Sister’s wishes.
“Little Junior Sister, you really are great. It just so happens that these past few days I refined a few more bottles of Spirit Gathering Pills, so let them be your reward for this breakthrough.” Xing Xi spoke gently, and with an encouraging look he took out several bottles of Spirit Gathering Pills and handed them to Ye Ruyue.
He was truly praising and encouraging her. In his eyes, although Little Junior Sister’s Five Spiritual Roots were considered trash, and her breakthrough speed was far slower than that of her Senior Brothers, Little Junior Sister truly worked hard.
People who work hard deserve praise and affirmation.
Such a gentle, delicate thought. Seeing it, Ye Ruyue nodded inwardly. As expected of the sect’s gentlest, most magnanimous Third Senior Brother, he understood her so well!
When Bi Yue saw that Xing Xi had given something, he scratched his head and thought, then fished a small red hair ribbon out of his spatial ring: “Little Junior Sister, this is Senior Brother’s reward for you.”
“Don’t think it’s just a little hair ribbon. It’s a small magical artifact too. Once you infuse it with spiritual power it can grow bigger. It’s a Spirit-Binding Ribbon!”
Although it was a small trinket, Bi Yue had originally prepared it for Hua Sijin. It was just that Bi Yue hadn’t expected Junior Sister Sijin to be away for so long this time and still not back, so he might as well give it to Little Junior Sister.
After all, Little Junior Sister was going to tie up her little tuft, and this red hair ribbon would surely look very nice on her.
And Little Junior Sister worked so hard, yet her cultivation was still so low. It made one’s heart ache for her.
Clearly, when Ji Juqian saw that Third Junior Brother and Fifth Junior Brother had both given something, he had to follow suit.
But he had long been prepared. He took out a stack of talisman paper and gave it to Ye Ruyue: “Eldest Senior Brother has nothing else. These talisman papers are for you to protect your life.”
At the sight, Ye Ruyue’s whole face lit up with smiles.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you Eldest Senior Brother, thank you Third Senior Brother, thank you Fifth Senior Brother. You’re all so good.”
Whatever it was, a small magical artifact, or pills, or talisman paper, as long as she received a gift she was happy.
It had to be said, although the Senior Brothers of the Xuanyun Sect were all cannon fodder, every one of them treated people extremely well.
So well that she couldn’t bear to think of their endings…
Except Second Senior Brother!
Aside from the fact that Second Senior Brother had been the greatest accomplice when the sect was all but destroyed, now that he had seen her break through, he didn’t so much as make a gesture. As expected, he was the most repressed and contrary man.
Ye Ruyue had the most objections to Gui Chao’an.
At this moment Gui Chao’an sensed it too, because he had already seen Little Junior Sister staring straight at him with a complex look of sadness and heartache!
It made his skin crawl.
He couldn’t help cursing lowly in his heart. Were Third Junior Brother and Fifth Junior Brother out of their minds?
Things had been fine when they first came. Weren’t they all just planning to see whether Little Junior Sister was actually at Luoshuang Peak?
Why, for no good reason, had it now turned into a gift-giving scene?
Little Junior Sister had only just learned to cultivate, and was only at the third level of Qi Refining. What was there worth giving her things for?
And if this went on long-term, from now on, whenever Little Junior Sister broke through and advanced, would he have to prepare a gift every time?
There was no such thing!
Even Junior Sister Sijin had never had such treatment, all right?
Thinking this, Gui Chao’an unconsciously clutched his own pocket tighter.
Not giving!
Absolutely must not give!
To avoid continuing to be a sucker in the future, such a precedent absolutely must not be set!
As long as he didn’t give this time, then from now on, no matter how Little Junior Sister advanced, he could get away without pulling anything out!
Losing face was losing face. After losing face this time, next time he wouldn’t feel embarrassed.
He had to harden his heart and nip future trouble in the bud!
Gui Chao’an’s air of tension, as if he were facing a mortal enemy, was sensed even by the three Senior Brothers beside him.
Actually, they all felt Little Junior Sister was still young, and her talent wasn’t good. Coaxing her with a little thing now and then was no big deal.
If Second Senior Brother really didn’t want to give, it was fine. Between Senior Brothers and Junior Sister, they wouldn’t really fuss over so much.
Xing Xi was just about to speak up and smooth things over.
Just then, Little Junior Sister suddenly stepped forward and said with a grin: “Ha! I know! Second Senior Brother wants to take me down the mountain to look around, right?”
“You should have said so earlier. I knew Second Senior Brother treats me very well. Seeing that I haven’t left my room for three months, you specially came to take me out for a stroll. Second Senior Brother is so good!”
Only after Foundation Establishment could one go out for training, but just going to the affiliated town below Xuanyun Sect’s mountain to look around, that was fine any day, and ordinary disciples could do it too.
Gui Chao’an was left speechless again.
Heavens above, he had no such thought at all, all right?
But!
Looking at Little Junior Sister’s eyes bright as stars, full of expectation, and then looking at the other three Senior Brothers, who were also gazing at him with approving eyes.
That meaning clearly said, since you didn’t pull out a gift, why not take Little Junior Sister down the mountain for a stroll!
It was rare for Little Junior Sister not to mind these things, and to be full of expectation, wanting only you to accompany her and play!
Do you have the nerve to refuse?
Gui Chao’an gritted his teeth!
Right. Wasn’t it just accompanying Little Junior Sister down the mountain for a stroll? No one was asking him to open his wallet!
Thinking this, this Second Senior Brother finally nodded.
“Only one shichen. I have things to do, I can’t stroll long!” Gui Chao’an set the time limit.
Ye Ruyue didn’t mind either, nodding frantically: “Got it, I’ll definitely follow Second Senior Brother’s arrangements.”
“All right, then come down the mountain with me.”
“Okay…” Ye Ruyue was instantly overjoyed.