The disciple immediately shut his mouth, wishing he could burrow into the ground.
Damn it, I spoke too quickly and forgot that Qixiazi is an Artifact Refiner, whose temper is inherently unpredictable.
Qixiazi snorted coldly, then turned to look at the two people opposite her. After getting a clear view of them, she raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you two also from Qinghua Peak?"
Supported by Ji Yun'er, Luo Zhuyuan gritted his teeth and replied, "Yes."
Qixiazi flicked her sleeve. "Since you're all disciples of Qinghua Peak, what's this about fighting? It's just a spar between fellow disciples, no need to go to the Discipline Hall."
Luo Zhuyuan said sharply, "Ji Sui'an has already left Qinghua Peak! How can this be considered a spar between fellow disciples?"
Can't he see how badly injured I am? Is Qixiazi blind?
Qixiazi's eyes lit up, her ears catching only the words "Ji Sui'an has left Qinghua Peak," completely ignoring Luo Zhuyuan's question.
She grabbed Ji Sui'an's hand and said warmly, "I always knew you'd come around someday! Come on, Sui'an, now you can finally become my disciple!"
Ji Sui'an tried to pull her hand back but couldn't break free.
With her other hand, she poked Yun Luoyu, who was standing by indifferently, and gave an awkward smile. "Elder Xiaguang, I already have a new master. This is my senior brother, Yun Luoyu."
Qixiazi's world collapsed.
Her lips trembled, and her hand unconsciously tightened its grip. "Not even second in line for me?!"
Yun Luoyu was the first to find this unbearable. He pried Qixiazi's hand open. "Elder, please restrain yourself."
Qixiazi looked despondent, swaying unsteadily, but unwilling to give up, she asked, "Who is your new master?"
Before Ji Sui'an could explain, Yun Luoyu slightly lifted his delicate chin and spoke first. "Piaomiao Peak, Ji Qingya."
Ji Sui'an silently closed her half-open mouth and nodded.
"Huh?" Qixiazi instantly revived, stroking her chin. "Ji Qingya is decent enough." Much better than Xuan Xiao.
She glanced at the sky and said urgently, "I have urgent business and need to leave the sect for a while. No need to go to the Discipline Hall. Next time you spar, remember to use the martial arts arena!"
After saying this, she shot a warning glance at Luo Zhuyuan before flying away from the Deacon Hall.
After Zhenren Xiaguang left, Luo Zhuyuan gritted his teeth and said, "Ji Sui'an, you really are lucky."
If any other elder had come out today, how could Ji Sui'an have gotten off so easily!
Ji Sui'an spread her hands. "Then blame your own bad luck."
"You!" Luo Zhuyuan was so furious that he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Ji Yun'er quickly supported him, anxiously taking out an Alchemy Pill. "Senior Brother!"
The surrounding disciples clearly saw the pill and immediately erupted in gasps of astonishment.
"Heavens, it's a Sixth-Grade Pill!"
"There were rumors that Yun'er Junior Sister refined a Sixth-Grade Pill—it turns out it's true!"
Ji Sui'an looked at her, and an intense surge of anger suddenly rose in her heart.
She tightened her grip on the sword in her hand, using all her strength to keep from slashing it forward.
Yun Luoyu keenly sensed her sudden change in mood and patted the back of her hand. "What's wrong?"
Ji Yun'er took out a bottle of pills, walked closer to Ji Sui'an, and smiled gently. "Senior Sister, I recently obtained an Exotic Fire and refined a Sixth-Grade Pill. You were my senior sister before, and you will continue to be so in the future. Since all the senior brothers on the peak have received one, Yun'er naturally will give Senior Sister a share as well."
Yun Luoyu frowned. "You're bringing out a Sixth-Grade Pill to embarrass yourself?"
Ji Yun'er's smile froze on her face as Luo Zhuyuan snapped, "Yun'er, what Alchemy Pills are you giving her!"
Ji Sui'an raised her hand to accept them, chuckling lightly, "Then I thank you, junior sister."
Yun Luoyu grabbed Ji Sui'an's arm, "Why waste words with them? Let's go."
"Wait a moment," Ji Sui'an spoke up.
"?" Yun Luoyu looked puzzled.
But then he saw Ji Sui'an break free from his grip and stride directly toward Luo Zhuyuan, who stood not far away.
Luo Zhuyuan frowned as the young woman approached, "Ji Sui'an, what do you think you're doing?"
Ji Sui'an stopped in front of him, looking down at him from above.
The next second, a sharp slap rang out, and gasps echoed around them.
Luo Zhuyuan's face was knocked two inches to the side. He touched his cheek in disbelief, then roared, "Ji Sui'an, have you lost your mind?!"
Ji Sui'an let out a light laugh, her gaze icy, "Luo Zhuyuan, you deserved that slap."
Luo Zhuyuan stared at her, momentarily speechless.
In that moment, Ji Sui'an resembled the unparalleled genius from his memories—the one whom cultivators across Zhongzhou could only look up to.
Ji Yun'er clenched her fists tightly, "Senior sister, you…"
Before she could finish, Ji Sui'an cut her off, "Ji Yun'er, a slap like that will land on your face sooner or later too."
Ji Yun'er's expression changed. How dare she! Did she still think she was the favored, heaven-blessed girl who had everything handed to her?!
"Let's go," Ji Sui'an said, pulling Yun Luoyu, who wore an inexplicable smile, and turned to leave.
On the way back to Misty Peak, Yun Luoyu crossed his arms and snorted, "That brat was clearly here to provoke you. You should have slapped her mouth shut!"
Ji Sui'an patted his sleeve soothingly, "Ji Yun'er is wearing a Ninth-Grade Defensive Dharma Robe, and she carries Soul Imprints from Xuan Xiao and Ji Xunzhou. If we had laid a hand on her today, we wouldn't have made it out of the Deacon Hall."
She spoke calmly, but Yun Luoyu's heart churned with turmoil.
He was somewhat speechless, "But you're not…"
He didn't know much about the disciples in the sect, but in his impression, Ji Sui'an was still the arrogant, heaven-blessed daughter of Lingyun Xianzong—the most beloved daughter of the sect leader and the first disciple doted on by the foremost Sword Cultivator, Xuan Xiao.
Ji Sui'an knew what he wanted to ask and answered frankly, "They prefer Ji Yun'er now."
Yun Luoyu lowered his head, muttering sullenly, "Sorry."
Ji Sui'an was taken aback, "Why apologize?"
Yun Luoyu looked embarrassed, "That day when we first met, I said Master's taste in disciples had worsened. I didn't mean it like that."
Then he straightened his back stubbornly, "Of course, it's not like I care about you or anything. I just felt I was a bit rude that day!"
Ji Sui'an's smile was gentle and soft, like the mist rising from a cup of clear tea.
She said cheerfully, "I forgive you."
Yun Luoyu breathed a sigh of relief, his voice softening slightly, "Let's go, we're heading back."
Outside the small courtyard.
Ji Sui'an stopped, "Third Senior Brother, you can go back now. Don't forget we have to participate in the arena competition in seven days."
Yun Luoyu nodded and, before leaving, awkwardly shoved a Mustard Seed Bag into her hand.
Ji Sui'an looked at the Mustard Seed Bag in her hand, blinked, and put it away.
Third Senior Brother is a good person, she thought. Even though he often says one thing and means another, he's a good person.
Ji Sui'an turned and entered her room to meditate. With the arena competition approaching, she needed to restore her strength to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection as soon as possible.
The sun set in the west, and dusk gradually deepened.
Night fell.
Inside the room, Ji Sui'an was enveloped in swirling azure spiritual power.
"Hiss—"
An unfamiliar sound roused Ji Sui'an from her cultivation.
She frowned slightly, got down from the bed, and opened the door.
"Strange, there aren't many people on Ethereal Peak, and Spirit Beasts are even rarer. How could such a strong and unfamiliar presence appear here?"
And it clearly wasn't human.
After a moment's thought, Ji Sui'an still stepped outside.
The grand formation on Ethereal Peak had long run out of Spirit Stones to sustain it. Perhaps a Spirit Beast from another peak had wandered over.
Outside the courtyard, Ji Sui'an followed the presence eastward. She remembered the east side was a bamboo forest.
She walked eastward and, at the end of the trail, saw something wriggling beautifully under the moonlight… an earthworm?
Ji Sui'an rubbed her eyes in disbelief. "Where did this earthworm come from?!"
The "earthworm" seemed to sense the intrusion of a stranger and abruptly straightened its cylindrical body.
"Who dares to disturb my sleep, you reckless fool!"
A childish voice echoed through the quiet bamboo forest in the night, adding an eerie touch to the atmosphere.
Ji Sui'an took two steps back, glanced around, and swallowed hard.
There were no other living creatures nearby, so the one speaking…
Was this finger-sized earthworm?!