Both Hua Jian and Linglong had at least ten ways to deal with a Ling Shi.
“Rob directly?” Linglong hesitated, feeling robbery would damage their reputation.
If possible, she preferred a peaceful solution.
“Only robbery. You think you can buy your way in? If you want to waste money, give it to me and I’ll grab one for you—keeps the water from flowing to outsiders.” Hua Jian rolled her eyes.
Huiyue City’s setup was clearly to sow discord.
Peace was impossible—only undeniable strength could win entry.
“Plus, I get to test my Spirit Tool upgrades…”
Funny enough, Hua Jian hadn’t even used the planting technique she bought from the old woman but had already applied it to her Spirit Tool.
After barely mastering precise spiritual energy control, Hua Jian could slightly modify some Spirit Tools, adding new functions without affecting the originals.
At her current pace, learning the planting technique still had a long way to go.
If learning progress were a percentage bar, she was barely at 10%, but that 10% had already benefited her greatly.
This 20 Spirit Stone investment wasn’t wasted—though difficult, only a genius could tap into that value.
Her previously inaccurate Spirit Tool firearm now had spiral spiritual runes, like rifling.
The power was still mediocre, but at least it could hit where aimed at combat distances.
If she improved more, Hua Jian believed she could make a sniper rifle for the cultivation world.
With a sniper, she could block bridges… cough, better compensate for her weak attack power!
“Time is tight and the mission heavy; we’ll gather more intel soon!”
…
“Tell me! Tell me!”
“Such a treasure doesn’t belong to trash like you! Hand it over and you might keep your life!”
In a dark alley, a terrifying scene unfolded.
A skinny boy was cornered by several men, punched and kicked, but he clenched his fists tightly and said nothing.
He couldn’t yield.
Once he gave up the token, they would have no mercy—he and his sister would be done for.
These men were scum from the bottom of society, working for big shots above.
He was just a newcomer in Huiyue City—if he disappeared, no one would care.
“Hey, how shameless! You really think you’ll get anything good at the Auction? The Su Family young master’s letting you keep the token. Just hand it over and leave with your Spirit Stones!”
“But now the big young master’s impatient. You’d better hand it over.”
The leader of the black-clad men sneered.
Various factions in Huiyue City tried to gather scattered Auction qualifications to eliminate unplanned competitors.
Of course, the Su young master hiring them wasn’t just to reduce competition but to keep a token for himself.
After all, one token allowed only three entrants. Someone of his status couldn’t risk losing.
The boy surrounded was a lucky dog who had obtained an Entry Token.
But whether that token brought fortune or misfortune was uncertain.
Right now, he was experiencing solid misfortune.
“Innocent men suffer for the possession of treasure,” his strength was insufficient to guard all his tokens, so good luck quickly turned to bad.
“Don’t think we don’t know where your sister is. Push us too far and you and your sister won’t end well.”
The black-clad man rubbed his nose, stifling a sneeze.
Since earlier, his nose itched; a strange floral scent floated in the air, and a faint white mist appeared before his eyes…
So quiet—why was he the only one speaking? Where were his men?
“Not good.”
“Just realized? Too late!”
Bang!
The man felt a sharp pain at the back of his head, vision blacked out, and he collapsed unconscious.
His weaker men were already dealt with—each had been injected with poison through thin vines wrapped around their calves.
“Empty show.”
A figure slowly emerged from the mist, multicolored eyes lowering to the still cautious boy.
“Brother, how will you repay me for saving your life?”
“I understand your conflict with those men. Do you really think you can guard that token?”
Hua Jian circled the boy, who was weak—just reached Ling Shi Realm, even weaker than Miss Yao.
Thinking he could protect the token was pure delusion.
“They’re right; that token isn’t yours. Hand it over quietly and leave this place of trouble.”
After Hua Jian’s words, the boy gritted his teeth, finally saying, “You’re with them! You won’t spare me!”
“You’re mistaken, I’m not with them.”
Hua Jian waved her hands; how could she be allied with those thugs?
After dealing with the boy, she still needed to strip those thugs and squeeze their value.
“They’re not worthy of being on my side. And I’m trustworthy. As long as you give me the token, I won’t harm you or your family.”
Hua Jian had no personal grudge.
She only wanted the token.
If he cooperated, she might even reward him.
“I won’t!”
Hua Jian guessed why those thugs treated the boy so harshly.
Their ‘drink no toast, drink penalty wine’ attitude was infuriating.
Unlike those thugs who only knew physical torture, Hua Jian could be gentle.
She didn’t believe the boy could hide the token forever!
“Such a pity. Luckily you met a good person like me, or you’d have taken another beating.”
Hua Jian waved and released the boy, then turned to deal with the thugs.
After stripping them of valuables, she glanced at the boy’s strange expression and left without delay.
As she left, the surrounding white mist gradually dissipated, and the faint floral scent faded.
The boy looked at the thugs lying on the ground, uncertain if alive, took a deep breath, and staggered away.
One thought occupied his mind: he had to check where he hid the token to see if it was still there.
And he must send his sister away quickly—she couldn’t stay here any longer.
But he didn’t notice a pair of multicolored eyes watching him closely.
Seeing him leave hurriedly, those eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
This was the art of ‘letting go to catch.’
…
Near midnight, the boy reached a hidden corner in the city and dug up the buried token.
Seeing it safe, he finally breathed a sigh of relief—fortunately, no one had found or taken it…
Slap!
Before he could rejoice, a sharp rush of air struck the back of his head.
The next moment, he was knocked unconscious and collapsed.
“Simple, but it feels like I’m frying fish…” Hua Jian scratched her head, feeling things had gone too smoothly.
She thought she’d have to outwit the enemy in a tense battle and snatch the token with a narrow victory.
Instead, she made a move, and the enemy fell.
Alright, time for my victory speech.
Too easy.
This is what it feels like to go from playing a high-level game to trashing the low-level ones—so comfortable!
Feeling guilty for ‘frying fish,’ Hua Jian hesitated but decided not to rob the boy.
She pulled out three Spirit Stones and stuffed them in his pocket.
She left a note warning him to run—the place was full of danger.
Done with that, she tied the boy’s nape lightly with fine vines to help him wake from his fog and unconsciousness.
She then donned the Spiritual Garment Linglong gave her to conceal her figure.
Yet, she still felt someone watching her after putting on the robe…
…
“All done. Here’s the token!” Returning late to the inn, Hua Jian found Linglong not cultivating but staring blankly at a Jade Slip.
Rare sight—little dragon girl daydreaming?
Hearing Hua Jian’s voice, Linglong snapped back and handed over the Jade Slip.
Hua Jian curiously probed its content with divine sense.
Next second, her eyes widened in shock.
“You… this…” She clutched the Jade Slip, stammering without forming a complete sentence.
The Jade Slip contained nothing else but the improved blueprint for the Spirit Tool firearm she’d been puzzling over.
Or rather, the method for manufacturing spiritual energy bullets.
“Inscribing spiritual techniques onto physical matter is a classic method of Spirit Tool crafting. Our Yaochi once had a secret Spirit Tool, the Luoxing Arrow, that used this technique,” Linglong softly explained.
That was long ago, and the legacy had been lost through several great upheavals over thousands of years, leaving only an incomplete method.
The Jade Slip Hua Jian held contained this incomplete inheritance.
“Why did you suddenly give me such a valuable thing?” Hua Jian couldn’t understand why Linglong had handed over such a treasure.
This couldn’t be a reward for stealing the token, right?
She felt their relationship wasn’t so transactional.
If Linglong wanted to give her something, she would have done it earlier.
“It’s not me. It’s… an elder.” Linglong started to say but abruptly changed her words.
Such a high-level inheritance wasn’t hers to decide.
But an elder who had been shadowing them did have it.
“An elder? We know them?”
Linglong nodded.
“Alright, no more questions.” Hua Jian already guessed who gave her the gift.
No wonder the little dragon girl never traveled alone—she had such a big shot with her.
And that big shot likely wasn’t just accompanying Linglong but also watching and recruiting Hua Jian.
Did the elder like what I did tonight and rewarded me for it? Hua Jian wondered.
Reviewing her actions, she thought the key was how she treated the boy—she didn’t ruthlessly strip him but took the token and tidied up after.
Maybe that small kindness pleased the hidden Spirit Lord and earned her the reward.
The elder’s gift was truly extraordinary; just a glance gave Hua Jian many new ideas.
Though not all feasible, it was far better than being clueless.
This was the benefit of having a powerful background—when problems arise, just ask an elder for a solution.
So good!
“You big sect disciples have it easy, getting stuff like this so casually…” Hua Jian muttered sourly.
Linglong’s expression didn’t change and naturally took the compliment.
“Yaochi differs from other Saint Sects, and you differ from other disciples.”
Meaning clearly: other Saint Sects couldn’t produce such treasures, and other Yaochi disciples couldn’t get this inheritance.
Hua Jian got the Jade Slip only because she was Hua Jian, a candidate disciple favored by Fenghua Venerable.
“But I’m not yet a Yaochi disciple. Is it okay for me to have this?” Hua Jian rubbed the Jade Slip, eyes hesitant.
Such a thing was a secret Saint Sect technique.
Could she really be given it as an outsider?
Would she have to join Yaochi after learning it? Or else get exterminated?
For Hua Jian’s worries, Linglong lightly poked her forehead.
“This inheritance is incomplete. If you can complete it, Yaochi will thank you.”
Linglong saw Hua Jian easily thought the worst.
Fenghua Venerable’s inheritance was openly allowed for study inside Yaochi.
Any interested person who found it in the library could practice it—even outer disciples.
But the results were uncertain, as it lacked many key details, a fragmented legacy.
One could learn some things, but what was learned might not relate closely to the technique itself.
Actually… it was almost less useful than the planting technique Hua Jian bought from the old woman.
That gave her precise spiritual control, which she already felt improving.
Before, her local spiritual energy was consumed bit by bit.
Now, she could use it in tiny decimal fractions.
Her goal was to increase that precision by several more decimal places to meet the planting technique’s requirements.
Difficult, but hopeful!
“Suddenly, my life feels so much fuller…” Hua Jian thought about her current tasks and realized she’d gone from a few main quests to many side quests.
Learn the planting technique, study Yaochi’s Spirit Tool legacy, modify her Spirit Tool, and investigate the herb incident’s truth.
The combination pressured her.
I was supposed to rest after the secret realm, but I’ve only rested a few days and life’s gotten busier?
“Sorry, it’s my fault for dragging you into so much,” Linglong obediently apologized.
Half of Hua Jian’s busy life was because of her.
Tonight Hua Jian worked hard to get the token until late…
Feeling guilty, Linglong thought an apology wasn’t enough and decided on a more sincere reward.
She took out a finely crafted wooden box from her Storage Pouch.
Opening it revealed a jade-white pill wrapped in white velvet.
“This pill will improve your constitution and enhance your talent. Consider it my thank-you gift.”
Linglong held the pill to Hua Jian’s lips, seeming ready to feed it to her.
“Ah? Such a precious thing? I can’t take it.” Hua Jian instinctively wanted to refuse.
This pill looked even better than the last shenqi pill she’d taken.
One bite must be worth thousands of Spirit Stones.
She wasn’t used to this kind of luxury…
“If you don’t want to waste its potency, eat it quickly. Once out of the box, its medicinal power starts to fade,” Linglong said sternly, shoving the pill into Hua Jian’s mouth.
Hua Jian finally didn’t resist and took it.
Perhaps accidentally, when swallowing, she bit Linglong’s finger.
For a moment, she stiffened like struck by lightning.
The pill melted into a sweet warm current flowing into her abdomen, while Linglong blushed as she withdrew her finger.
Neither spoke in embarrassment until Hua Jian, feeling warmth all over, grew restless.
Linglong quickly reminded her to sit cross-legged and absorb the pill’s power.
“Oh, okay.”
Hua Jian quickly sat on the room’s meditation cushion, beginning to absorb the pill’s medicinal energy.
Linglong’s pill was potent, raging wildly inside Hua Jian’s body.
Soon Hua Jian was drenched in sweat, breathing fast.
Linglong watched with a strange expression.
The pill’s main effect was to expel impurities from the cultivator’s body, laying the foundation for the Silver Body path.
But after so long, Hua Jian only sweat, with no sign of impurities.
Only the room’s floral fragrance grew stronger—what was going on?
Just then, a red figure quietly appeared in the room, waving a hand to gather all the fragrance into her palm.
With the fragrance concentrated, Fenghua Venerable’s palm energy shimmered with a beautiful color.
“Junior Uncle, Hua Jian is…” someone asked.
“Born flawless. Looks like Senior Sister is still hiding many things from us,” Fenghua Venerable looked at Hua Jian sweating profusely, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes.
She felt tricked.
The Yaochi Sect Leader definitely knew Hua Jian’s secret but didn’t tell her, letting her guess.
“Even hiding it from your own junior sister, sigh…”