Chapter 15: 15. Chapter 15: A Big Event?

Chapter 15: A Big Event?

The one arriving was, naturally, Su Huanli, who could be considered Song Jiulai's only sect friend besides A-Wu.

Su Huanli possessed a refined and elegant appearance, dressed in tight-fitting martial attire that exuded an air of heroic grace.

A-Wu greeted her respectfully, "Senior Sister Su."

Then, pointing at Wu Dahu and Ma Xiaoniao in front of him, he said, "These are the new disciples of the sect."

Su Huanli looked at Wu Dahu and Ma Xiaoniao, her expression turning slightly subtle.

It wasn't that she looked down on her junior sister or the sect, but rather that cultivators in this world were rare. Furthermore, since the Flying Sparrow Sect lived among mortals, whenever someone with a spiritual root was born, the first choice for sending them to an immortal gate was usually the Flying Sparrow Sect.

For all these years, the Longevity Sect had failed to find any disciples other than A-Wu.

Where did these people come from all of a sudden?

Moreover, she sensed more than just these two.

Not far away, there were dozens of disciples emitting the aura of the early Qi Refinement stage.

In a small place like this, it was simply inconceivable.

Additionally, the scent clinging to these two felt somewhat familiar—why was there such a heavy smell of medicinal powder?

And it was the same kind she frequently used.

She had sculpted the puppets herself, so she was naturally familiar with it.

However, no matter how clever Su Huanli was, she would never have imagined that someone on the Yunzhou Continent could achieve something as illegal and heaven-defying as granting consciousness and spiritual roots to puppets. Coupled with the fact that the ingredients used were common spiritual herbs, she felt a slight suspicion, but not a profound one.

A-Wu said to Wu Dahu and Ma Xiaoniao, "This is Senior Sister Su from the Flying Sparrow Sect."

At a glance, Wu Dahu and Ma Xiaoniao could tell that Su Huanli was certainly not an ordinary senior sister. They immediately followed suit and called out obediently, "Senior Sister Su."

Su Huanli merely gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Then, she flew straight toward Song Jiulai.

As soon as Su Huanli left, Wu Dahu and Ma Xiaoniao immediately burst with questions: "She's a senior sister from the Flying Sparrow Sect. Senior Brother, what realm is she in?"

Just now, they had vaguely felt a sense of pressure emanating from Su Huanli.

It was likely the legendary realm suppression; she was definitely higher than them.

A-Wu hissed, "It's one thing for you newcomers to be ignorant, but prying into someone else's realm is bad behavior."

Su Huanli was no ordinary person; she was nearly at the Foundation Establishment stage!

The reason her relationship with the Longevity Sect was so good was because the previous Sect Master of the Longevity Sect had given Su Huanli a helping hand in the past.

The cultivation world emphasized karma, so Su Huanli was very friendly toward the new Sect Master.

As long as Song Jiulai wasn't tactless, she was more than willing to help with minor, harmless matters.

Furthermore, she had a good personality; otherwise, how could a cultivator nearing Foundation Establishment play around with those in the early Qi Refinement stage?

The hierarchy in the cultivation world was even more starkly realistic than modern theories of aristocratic bloodlines.

"A-Jiu!"

Sensing Song Jiulai's aura, Su Huanli called out to her directly.

She flew to the top of the sect and saw the newly joined disciples below.

The more she looked, the more surprised Su Huanli became.

Could Song Jiulai truly be some kind of "Child of Destiny"? To be able to recruit fifty beginners with spiritual roots all at once was a rare occurrence.

Even a large sect like the Flying Sparrow Sect only had a few hundred cultivators.

However, their Sect Master was already at the Golden Core stage.

Moreover, she felt that the spiritual energy of these cultivators was very faint, and it was constantly masked by a scent of spiritual herbs and medicine.

If she hadn't come this close herself, she might not have even noticed there were fifty early Qi Refinement disciples here.

Were they all newcomers, which was why their realms were so shallow?

Even Su Huanli, who hadn't reached Foundation Establishment, could only scratch her head.

It was indeed a blind spot in her knowledge.

The key was, these disciples were quite strange.

Normally, when disciples saw a high-level cultivator, their eyes would immediately drop, and most wouldn't dare to look directly at them.

Yet, these people were filled with nothing but curiosity toward her.

What they didn't know was that when players met other cultivators, they would definitely say something cheeky; otherwise, how could they hold back?

But just as someone pointed at Su Huanli and was about to speak, a system warning arrived first.

【Cultivators have keen ears and sharp eyes. Speak with caution!】

The meaning of this sentence was that the other party could hear everything, so one must not say things that shouldn't be said.

If they caused trouble, they would "G" (die/game over) on the spot, and even the Sect Master wouldn't have time to save them.

The players immediately shut their mouths.

It was fine; they couldn't say it in the game, but they could gossip wildly in the group chat once they logged off.

Su Huanli also saw Song Jiulai. She was standing on the roof with an elegant posture. Seeing Su Huanli arrive, she didn't act as flighty as usual; instead, she smiled at Su Huanli, her tone even softening slightly: "Senior Sister Su, you've come."

Su Huanli felt something was off.

She scratched her head, feeling conflicted: "You..."

She didn't know how to describe it, but she felt that even the way Song Jiulai turned around today seemed intentionally slow—a bit performative.

Song Jiulai said softly, "Senior Sister, please follow me."

She then flew down from the roof and entered her room.

Su Huanli naturally followed her down.

Once they entered her room, Song Jiulai let out a "phew" and relaxed completely: "Hi, Senior Sister, did you come to see me for something?"

Su Huanli was surprised: "What were you doing just now?"

Song Jiulai's personality had always been free-spirited, which suited her well.

She still remembered when she came to visit A-Wu, she had seen Song Jiulai squatting in front of the sect, munching on a steamed bun and scratching her butt.

At that time, she didn't have the image of a "Child of Destiny" predicted by prophecy at all.

But Su Huanli suddenly felt that this "Child of Destiny" was quite to her liking.

Song Jiulai: "Hi, well, since many newcomers have joined, I had to act a bit more composed in front of the new disciples."

Otherwise, people would look at them and think the Longevity Sect was doomed.

Su Huanli understood immediately: "That makes sense. Next time, I'll make you a lantern so that you'll glow whenever you fly up."

Song Jiulai: "Hahaha, that works too!"

In truth, Su Huanli felt that Song Jiulai's personality wasn't suited to being a Sect Master, but since it was a prophecy, there must be something extraordinary about her.

"I came to tell you something. I feel my realm starting to loosen; I fear I might reach Foundation Establishment soon. My Master wants me to go down the mountain to train elsewhere. I won't go too far, but it will take a month or so before I return. During this time, if anything happens, look for my junior sister, Water Bottle."

"Huh? Senior Sister is going to reach Foundation Establishment?"

Song Jiulai's eyes widened as she looked at Su Huanli, showing intense envy: "Senior Sister, you're progressing so fast! But congratulations in advance. When you return, I'll prepare a grand gift for your Foundation Establishment."

"What kind of grand gift could you prepare for me?" For ordinary cultivators, Foundation Establishment was quite common and not exactly something worth a massive celebration, but since someone said they would prepare a grand gift, Su Huanli was still quite happy: "Then when I return, I'll bring back some demon beast inner cores or hides for you."

Song Jiulai wasn't shy: "Then thank you, Senior Sister!"

Only then did Su Huanli bring up the matter of the new disciples: "Since you've recruited so many disciples, the Myriad Immortals Sect's Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony is approaching. Do you know about the requirement to pay taxes in advance? With these fifty disciples, you'll have to pay ten extra mid-grade spirit stones. Are you aware of that?"

Song Jiulai also looked worried: "I'm thinking of ways. Anyway, there's still about a month left. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Seeing her optimistic attitude, Su Huanli didn't bother arguing and continued to share some news.

"Since the Myriad Immortals Sect is holding the Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony this time, all the major sects of the Yunzhou Continent will send representatives. Every city will set up a cultivator gathering, and the nearest one to us is Liuxian City. There will be many things in the market that you don't usually see, some of which are specialties from other sects. When I rush back, I'll take you there."

Song Jiulai's eyes lit up.

This was a big event!