Jiang Bingbing drew ten talismans.
Only when her spiritual power was completely depleted did she decide to rest.
Before going to bed, she asked, “Senior? Are you cultivating?”
“I’m going to take a bath and sleep now. You need to seal your five senses and can’t eavesdrop or peek, okay~”
After saying this, she waited a moment.
The other party didn’t respond.
It seemed that when it came to bedtime, this senior was quite conscientious—a person of quality!
“Heya—”
Jiang Bingbing hugged her pillow and rolled into the bed.
She giggled.
Her lack of curiosity about him was all an act!
Who told this person could hear her inner thoughts.
Jiang Bingbing didn’t even dare to think about anything related to him.
She still remembered that face of his—stunningly beautiful, handsome enough to outrage gods and mortals alike!
She really couldn’t let her thoughts wander. What if she ended up saying many presumptuous and lewd things? If her lustful side were seen by the senior, it would ruin her image in his mind.
Only now did she dare to think about this and that.
For example.
[Who is he?]
[Why did he save me, and how did he do it?]
[Since he’s so good-looking, his name must be very pleasant too!]
[What is the Upper Heavenly Palace like?]
That night.
Jiang Bingbing dreamed of the handsome face of the Scarlet-Robed Sword Cultivator. She turned over, wiped her drool, and smiled delightedly.
…..
The Sword Sect’s morning bell rang precisely at mao hour.
Jiang Bingbing yawned, slowly got out of bed, and rummaged through the wardrobe to pull out a set of pink dress to wear.
She stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself.
“Huh, why do I feel like I’ve grown taller?”
The original body was quite short, probably less than 160 cm.
It seemed she had grown a little taller.
Probably because she had entered the Qi Refining stage.
Was she starting to grow?
Jiang Bingbing couldn’t be bothered to think too much about it.
She boarded the flying hamburger and flew toward the Heavenly Virtue Hall. On the way, she saw many disciples practicing sword techniques in the square.
Twice as many as usual.
When she arrived at the Heavenly Virtue Hall and saw Zhuge Tienan’s dark circles, Jiang Bingbing cackled, “How did you turn into a panda?”
Zhuge Tienan complained, “Don’t even mention it. There are only three months left until the Sect Competition. The senior brothers and sisters from Beast Taming Peak started cultivating before mao hour, making so much noise I couldn’t sleep well at all.”
Sect Competition?
Jiang Bingbing flipped through the talisman manual while absentmindedly asking, “Isn’t it just a martial arts competition?”
“Is there any need for everyone to try so hard?”
“You!” Zhuge Tienan rubbed her sore eyelids. “Of course we have to try hard. If it weren’t for the fact that Qi Refining stage disciples can’t participate, I’d be trying hard too.”
Jiang Bingbing looked curiously at her classmate Tienan.
“Everyone who participates in the Sect Competition receives five hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. The top one hundred get five hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones, and the top fifty get one thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.”
“The top ten receive even greater benefits!”
“Most importantly, the top ten not only get to soak in the Spirit Spring at the back mountain for ten days but can also go to the Treasure Pavilion and pick three treasures to take out.”
“Who wouldn’t take it seriously?”
So that’s how it was.
After hearing this, Jiang Bingbing felt a bit tempted too. Soaking in the Spirit Spring might allow her to reach Foundation Establishment immediately.
Since Qi Refining stage disciples couldn’t compete, there was nothing she could do.
However—
The current state of the Sword Sect disciples gave her an idea for a good way to make money.
Sect Leader Zhang was lecturing above.
Jiang Bingbing communicated with Fen Jue using her consciousness.
“Sword Cultivator Senior, are you there? Are you there?”
“Hello? Hello?”
“……” Fen Jue felt a hint of smugness amidst his speechlessness.
Had this little one finally become curious about him?
Fen Jue put on a dignified tone and asked in a deep voice, “What is it?”
Jiang Bingbing: “Are there any monster beasts that don’t need to sleep, or ones that repeat certain actions, or are very diligent and hardworking?”
Fen Jue didn’t ask what she wanted them for.
He just frowned in thought.
After a moment.
He said, “Yes, and they’re not far from the Sword Sect.”
“Really?” Jiang Bingbing’s eyes sparkled. “What are they called? Can I defeat these two types of monster beasts?”
“Gold-Gold Beast and Ox-Horse Beast,” Fen Jue said unhurriedly. “Probably. These two monster beasts are very weak, have no special abilities, and their meat is tough and inedible, so basically no one specifically hunts them.”
“Great! Heaven helps me!”
“Ox-Horse Beast, what a name.”
Jiang Bingbing was impressed by the naming genius. If she weren’t in class, she’d want to rush out and make preparations right now.
Fen Jue couldn’t guess her intentions. “What do you want these two monster beasts for?”
“To make money, of course! I won’t tell you now, you’ll find out later!”
Annoyed at being kept in the dark by this little girl.
Fen Jue simply closed off his five senses and ignored her.
Whenever he talked to this little liar, he never won.
…
Immortal Lord Qingxue was in seclusion cultivating.
The eldest senior sister went to the Merit Hall to receive a mission and went down the mountain again. The second senior brother was either cultivating or studying recipes. Hua Kongque was wandering around all day and couldn’t be found at all.
These past few days after school, Jiang Bingbing would finish drawing a hundred talismans before resting.
Fen Jue was somewhat satisfied.
This little girl wasn’t as lazy as he imagined.
Time passed day by day.
Jiang Bingbing could now skillfully draw low-grade Five Thunder Talismans, Clear Heart Talismans, and Speed Talismans.
Her Storage Bag contained over eight hundred talismans.
All were the fruits of her recent diligence.
She couldn’t help but sigh: It’s easy to want to lie flat, but lying flat comfortably is actually quite difficult.
More days passed.
In the small courtyard full of peach trees.
The young girl fawned and acted cute coquettishly.
“Gold-Gold Beasts and Ox-Horse Beasts aren’t powerful, but they’re active in the monster beast mountain range. If I encounter other powerful monster beasts, could I trouble you to help me, Senior?”
Jiang Bingbing shyly rubbed her little hands.
Fen Jue: “…” This little liar was playing the game of only seeking help when needed.
Seeing Fen Jue remain silent.
Jiang Bingbing pinched her throat to act cute. “Please, please~”
Fen Jue still didn’t speak.
She wrinkled her nose, squeezing out a few tears.
“Wah~ You know, I left my mother when I was little. It’s okay if Senior doesn’t help me. Anyway, if I can’t defeat them in the monster beast mountain range, I’ll just run. If I can’t run, Bingbing will only be able to repay Senior’s kindness in the next life~”
“…” Fen Jue was speechless, struggling to utter four words, “I’ll help. Shut up.”
“Oh~”
Jiang Bingbing raised a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.
“Thank you, invincibly awesome Sword Cultivator Senior!”
Fen Jue closed his eyes, out of sight, out of mind.
…
Because she was going to the monster beast mountain range.
Jiang Bingbing went to the main hall and read many books.
The cultivation world she was currently in was called the Eight Desolates Continent. From north to south, the monster beast mountain range ran through the entire continent.
The Sword Sect was located at the southernmost part of the Eight Desolates Continent. The further north in the monster beast mountain range, the more powerful the monster beasts inside.
Some low-level Qi Refining Cultivators would also enter the mountain range for training under the guidance of their sect elders.
Now.
Having received this Sword Cultivator Senior’s promise, Jiang Bingbing felt a weight lift from her heart—he was her solid backing.
The day before departure.
Jiang Bingbing was unusually not drawing talismans. Instead, she sat cross-legged under the peach tree, holding a pot of osmanthus wine and drinking.
Moonlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting a mysterious, lustrous silhouette on Jiang Bingbing’s face.
“Senior, are you cultivating?”
Silence.
No one spoke to acknowledge her.
Jiang Bingbing curved the corners of her lips and took another casual sip of osmanthus wine.
Just as she thought the other party wouldn’t respond, that captivating voice calmly said, “No.”
Jiang Bingbing let out a soft “ah” and asked nonchalantly, “What’s your name, Senior?”
“Always calling you ‘Sword Cultivator Senior’ is a bit awkward.”
To be fair.
Fen Jue should have scolded her for being presumptuous.
The Sword Sect was founded by him, and now a little girl was straightforwardly asking for his name.
Yet he didn’t find it abrupt.
Compared to her merely wanting to know his name, his curiosity about Jiang Bingbing was even greater.
“I can tell you, but you need to answer a question of mine.”
Jiang Bingbing blinked, a sweet smile spreading at the corners of her mouth. “Alright, go ahead.”
“Fen—”
“Just the single character ‘Jue.'”
“Fen Jue…” she murmured softly, resting her chin on her palm, her fingertips tapping idly. “…What a lovely name.”
The darkness in Fen Jue’s eyes deepened.
He said, “Now it’s your turn to answer my question.”
Jiang Bingbing smiled gently, lowering her eyelids to conceal the hazy intoxication in her eyes. “Ask away.”
“Why do you pretend to be foolish?”
“Is someone from Jade Immortal Peak trying to harm you, or is it the Sword Sect?”