The Quest Master keenly sensed the scent of a reward but had no enthusiasm at all.
The Bloodthirsty Banner Demon was notorious for their evil deeds and cruel methods, leaving countless righteous people maimed or forced into hiding.
The devastation to the Qi Sea was even more despairing than those who had fallen in battle.
This quest line ultimately yielded a Water Spiritual Root Nascent Soul Guest Elder and formed a close friendship with Canghai.
It was a must-do to boost Penglai Island’s reputation.
Yun Liu thought for a moment and lightly jotted down some previously shared difficulties about the Retrospective Pill for Qin Xing.
He was too lazy to do the quest himself but wasn’t about to take their stuff for nothing.
Along with it, he gifted Canghai a Fresh Three-Leaf Datura that he had carefully cultivated back in Canglang Gorge.
Canghai glanced at it and immediately realized where he had gone wrong.
His expression softened, and he stood up to express his thanks, marveling at the youth’s generosity.
When he arrived, he hadn’t expected much; as a fellow Elixir Cultivator, he understood the value of cherishing key formulas.
“Thank you, Pavilion Master. If there’s ever anything I can help with, Canghai will not refuse!”
Yun Liu shook his head, indicating no need to take it to heart.
Respect earns respect in return; one must never narrow their path.
Canghai carefully wrapped the precious Spiritual Flower with gentle spiritual energy and stored it away, then lightly smacked the back of his unworthy apprentice’s head before bowing together in thanks.
The more he looked at the white-robed youth, the more he admired him. He had originally planned to persuade his new junior colleague to join the Hul Immortal sect, so as not to waste time in the Sword Sect.
But now, Canghai already regarded Yun Liu as an equal in realm.
Most frightening was that this young man had never revealed his strength before rising—restrained, self-disciplined, with an incredibly firm Dao heart.
Clearly, after enduring that Great Tribulation, having been humbled by a young prodigy’s rise, he learned the truth of “the tallest tree catches the wind” and had matured, embodying the hidden sword edge.
Yun Liu had no renowned teacher guiding him; his only (former) master and half-guardian was the infamous Frost Sky Sword Demon from a thousand years ago—one who despised alchemy.
His soul was vigorous and naturally complete, almost utterly overshadowing Liusu, the rare genius that Hul Immortal had spoken of.
The Dan Boy covered his head, nearly losing his crown again, and made a face behind his teacher’s back before heading downstairs to play.
The two were endlessly nagging each other—so boring!
The Sea of Clouds was renowned in East Pole Province, its peak forests breathtakingly beautiful.
The Dan Boy lived on the island and had never seen the vast realms of the Nine Provinces.
He was quite satisfied here.
Though full of misfits and oddballs, compared to the Boundless Sea’s countless heavens, it was only that Yellow-Haired guy who was just passable.
Liusu wandered among the pavilions, bought a string of candied hawthorns, then popped a meat pie in his mouth, eating with relish.
“Hey, rotten fish and shrimp.”
Liusu sat on Broken Wind Terrace as a breeze blew, suddenly hearing familiar laughter behind him and angrily turned around.
“Who’re you calling that?”
The annoying Blonde-haired girl was hugging the Seven-Star Sword, smiling at him.
A strange little yellow chick squatted on her head.
“Anyone who talks back, I say it’s them.”
Liusu grumbled, “You’re the rotten fish and shrimp, just a mere Qi Refining apprentice. Don’t come chatting me up, or I’ll turn you into an idiot!”
The Dan Boy, about the same age as Xiao Shiran and even younger than Ji Shiyu, was already a Foundation Establishment Elixir Cultivator of Penglai Island.
She had just learned to refine second-grade spiritual medicines before leaving—an apprentice Mystical Dao Elixir Cultivator.
Canghai and the Hul Immortal were her most doting masters.
Could she not be proud?
Ji Shiyu stuck out her tongue and laughed, “You good at fighting? So what? Fighting means nothing out here—you need power, backing, just like my master.”
One person attains Dao, and the Ji clan rises to the heavens—that was probably the Yellow-Haired guy.
It was said her “godfather” had been promoted and was climbing to the peak of life.
The proudest was the little country girl from the Happy Farm, genuinely happy for Yun Liu.
She had to kick every dog on the roadside—how could she miss an opportunity to tease a fallen foe?
Just as Ji Shiyu refused the Five Peaks Elder’s goodwill, declining promotion and following her resignation, determined to go down the same path as Yun Liu, she heard that Jueyun Peak was now stationed at Shenhua Pavilion.
So no need to travel anymore?
From then on, not only could she mooch meals at Jueyun Peak, but also continue working at Rosy Fragrance Pavilion, playing with a group of pretty sisters and the gentle Mistress of Xiangfang Pavilion.
Awesome!
Liusu sneered. So this was just showing off.
“Don’t get cocky. The Pavilion Master is your teacher, not yours. None of your business. What cultivation level are you? What rank alchemist? Don’t you have any self-awareness?”
“Hmph, that’s not the point. The point is what’s his is mine. Little Yun’s my one and only precious apprentice. And you? How many disciples does your master have? Where do you rank at home?”
Ji Shiyu beamed proudly. With her brotherly-sisterly bond with that Shenyou kid, the Shanhai Pavilion was practically like family now.
This was her exclusive good fortune (confidence face)!
“You!”
The soul interrogation from the Blonde-haired girl stunned Canghai Island’s youngest disciple.
“What ‘you’? You’re a Little Yellow Hair, a Foundation Establishment who lost to me in Qi Refining, and you have the face to come challenge me? Go back and cultivate!”
“Hah? I’ll say it again, you’re the one who lost. If I hadn’t gone easy on you, you’d be out cold already!”
Liusu stomped and cursed; verbally, he was no match for Ji Shiyu.
“Just comfort yourself with that. Fire and passion, fleeting and hazy~”
Ji Shiyu waved her hand, finished teasing the little girl who ruined the scene, then ran off as if she hadn’t heard a thing, completely lost in her own world.
She slipped into Rosy Fragrance Pavilion, changed into her work clothes, and prepared to report the good news to the boss.
Little Yun was gone, but the East Extreme Pavilion Master had returned.
Life went on as usual.
The ever-energetic Ji naively thought nothing would change and helped move her workplace to Jueyun Peak.
Seeing the silly girl so enthusiastic, Ao Tian couldn’t bear to dampen her spirits.
After all, the agreement didn’t include a cheap daughter or a beaker ex-wife.
What seemed so close might still be very far away…
Ji Shiyu was overjoyed, still preparing for Foundation Establishment, planning to savor Shenyou kid’s first blood—a first-grade celestial spiritual medicine made by her master!
At this moment, the mood among other Shenhua Sect disciples was very different.
After Yun Liu left, turmoil broke out atop Xixu Peak.
The little senior aunt left in gloom, ignoring the frantic Grand Elder.
She hugged her sword case and retreated to the refrigerator at Tianxiang Peak to sulk.
She only had two chances left and had to think carefully before answering, absolutely refusing to lose Liu’er just like that.
More trouble followed.
The young Yun ran off, and before the elders could react, the villainous young lady erupted first.
The Vermilion Saint Princess unleashed her female authority, issuing dire threats: if today’s matter wasn’t settled, she’d withdraw her investment and no longer treat the Shenhua Sect as a National Religion Patron.
Her husband ran off, promotion was worthless, cultivation was pointless!
The Grand Elder was sweating profusely, still unclear what exactly the Yun family youth was dissatisfied with about the sect.
One clueless fool had already fainted from provoking him—what more did he want?
That wasn’t all.
Then the Outer Sect Star, carrying a pig’s trotter, hopped about, imitating the act of returning the Cloud Robe Sword Emblem before skipping away with his pet Wulou.
The scene spiraled out of control; the Outer Sect Instructor and Inner Sect Elders were stunned, and chaos instantly erupted.