Chapter 67: Secretly Reading the Chronicle of Gossip

“Hahaha, I just knew my luck would be good today!”

Heavenly Pivot Shadow: Harness the power of the Jade Pivot to turn the tide of fate, reaching its peak power beneath the moon; during the day, its might is restricted and thus diminished.

The system examined the technique closely and, puzzled, asked, “Host, why are you so happy? If you run into a powerful enemy in broad daylight, wouldn’t you be doomed?”

As far as the system was concerned, among the many techniques awarded through the lottery, this one was the most lackluster. Yes, it was powerful, but its strength could only be fully unleashed at nightfall.

“But it doesn’t have any other side effects,” she replied. In this world, most of the advanced techniques she knew of came at a heavy price. “A moonless night is the perfect cover—if I have to do something unsavory, it’s much easier to hide myself and avoid detection.”

Listening to Ji Jiuxuan’s explanation, the system found itself at a loss for words. “As long as you’re satisfied.”

Ji Jiuxuan had indeed considered the drawback: she couldn’t wield the technique’s full might during the day, but that didn’t mean she was powerless.

“System, didn’t you say that after winning a technique in the lottery, I still have to finish reading the books in the library first?”

The feeling of mystery was only growing stronger for her lately, as though she was on the verge of a breakthrough.

“Yes, but the rest is up to your own comprehension.”

She slept dreamlessly through the night, but the system found it odd that the one in Ji Jiuxuan’s ring had not come out to keep watch in so long.

Ji Jiuxuan awoke refreshed. Today, she decided to delay her lessons at the academy and first seek out her senior sister, to see if she knew who had brewed that red, wrathful Flamewine from the previous day—so furious, yet so protective of her.

Unexpectedly, Ji Jiuxuan ran into Nie Xingyuan at the entrance of Jiao Xia Hall, but there was no sign of her senior sister Meng Jiao.

“Uncle Master, you’re here too!”

Ji Jiuxuan greeted him cheerfully, prompting Nie Xingyuan to return her smile with gentle warmth, the very picture of a gentleman refined as jade.

Her two uncle masters both appeared so elegant, it was impossible to reconcile them with the fearsome reputations they had outside.

“Looking for your senior sister?” he guessed, seeing her craning her neck to peer inside the hall.

He crouched down to her level, his voice full of kindness. “Your senior sister is in seclusion. If there’s anything you need, you can tell me.”

If he didn’t keep these two apart for a while, he feared the young girl would go astray, and his foolish disciple would do better with more training.

Ji Jiuxuan was surprised, since her senior sister had never mentioned this, but retreats for cultivation were common in the world of immortals, so she didn’t dwell on it.

“Uncle Master, do you know who brewed that Flamewine in the wine trials?” The system had told her that the one who made the wine shared her bloodline, which was why the wine did her no harm in the trials.

Nie Xingyuan hadn’t expected that question and looked a little awkward. “Ah, that was made by your eldest uncle.”

He couldn’t help recalling the scene from years ago. Even the usually aloof eldest brother had moments of anger, and it just so happened he was brewing spirit wine at the time, resulting in the creation of the Flamewine.

Looking at Ji Jiuxuan, Nie Xingyuan hesitated to reveal the full story. If his eldest brother returned and found out, he would certainly be in trouble.

The answer was surprising. Meeting her uncle master’s gaze, Ji Jiuxuan sensed there was more to the story. “Uncle Master, tell me how my father came to brew that wine.”

“That would be better for you to ask him yourself someday.” Nie Xingyuan deftly changed the subject. “Ah Jiu, since the Beast Taming Sect didn’t grant you a good spirit beast this time, I checked with Beast Peak for you. The Divine Tempest Eagles just laid two sacred eggs. Would you like to take a look?”

His attempt to redirect the conversation told Ji Jiuxuan that he didn’t wish to explain further. She was still curious why her father, Ji Minghuai, had brewed the Flamewine in such fury, but she wasn’t the type to press for every detail.

Speaking of the Divine Tempest Eagle, she recalled it was her maternal grandfather’s spirit beast—the very one that carried them out of the Ancient Fallen Forest.

She didn’t know much about Little Slim Dragon’s circumstances; the fate of sacred beasts depended on the aptitude of their potential bondmates. It didn’t matter if she formed another contract—after all, Little Slim Dragon was too unpredictable, still dormant and showing no sign of awakening.

She looked at Nie Xingyuan in anticipation. “When can we go?”

Relieved that she had dropped her questioning, he replied, “Now?”

The Divine Tempest Eagle carried the bloodline of a sacred beast. Many in the sect had their eyes on it.

“Alright.” She eagerly took his hand. “Let’s go, Uncle Master. If we’re late and someone else snatches them, it won’t be good.”

Of the two Divine Tempest Eagles in Xuantian Sect, one was her maternal grandfather’s pet, the other was kept at Beast Peak to safeguard the sect. Both eggs had come from Beast Peak this time.

Whether she could obtain one depended on whether the beasts accepted her.

When Nie Xingyuan and Ji Jiuxuan arrived, another woman had just arrived with a young girl.

As they approached, the girl’s eyes brimmed with hostility toward Ji Jiuxuan.

Ji Jiuxuan was utterly baffled—she didn’t even know this person.

The woman looked arrogant, but she lacked the poise of Xiahou Meng, whom Ji Jiuxuan had met before. The enmity was almost tangible, as if some bitter feud existed between them.

“Elder Nie is here as well.” The woman’s face was full of displeasure as she looked over. “This must be Nephew Ji. You already went to the Beast Taming Sect to obtain a spirit beast—how can you shamelessly compete with others again?”

Ji Jiuxuan was even more bewildered; she didn’t know this woman at all, and even in the cultivation world, speaking to a child this way was just plain rude.

The more she ignored this woman, the more brazen she became. Seeing Ji Jiuxuan’s unsmiling face, she strutted like a showy peacock, an eyesore to behold.

The woman and the girl quickly strode past them.

Ji Jiuxuan was speechless. She sent a sound-transmission to Nie Xingyuan: “Uncle Master, who is that woman?”

Truly infuriating.

“Elder Wang Xunji from Wangying Peak,” Nie Xingyuan replied, clearly angered. “Ah Jiu, just wait—your uncle master will make sure you get justice.”

The other party hadn’t broken any rules, and the sect forbade private fighting. Wang Xunji was notoriously detestable; if she challenged someone to a duel on the arena, it would only bring trouble.

He could only resort to subtle means.

“Roasted Chicken?” Had those two not been so close by, Ji Jiuxuan would have burst out laughing.

So this was her father’s infamous old flame—the lovesick, delusional Sister Roasted Chicken from Wangying Peak who, upon seeing Ji Minghuai, could never walk away.

Clearly, her time spent reading the sect’s gossip records had not been in vain!

Nie Xingyuan glanced down at the girl, who was struggling to keep from laughing, and tapped her lightly on the head, both helpless and indulgent. “If you want to laugh, go ahead. If anyone dares lay a hand on you here, I’ll cripple them.”

His chilling gaze swept over in Wang Xunji’s direction—he truly wanted to tear her apart.

“Uncle Master, I’ve heard she’s a real handful.” Back in the day, she had challenged Ji Minghuai to a duel, and rumors spread that he had gone easy on her because he was in love.

Some even claimed her father adored her so deeply he nearly died for her, but under the sect master’s pressure, had to marry Qi Yanwei instead.

“Where did you hear all that?” Nie Xingyuan was puzzled by the girl’s gloating expression. The more he looked, the more curious he became. “You’re right, she is difficult.”

“Haha, just rumors, just rumors.” She dared not admit she had bought the sect’s gossip records—those were endlessly entertaining, with new editions every month, the perfect antidote to boredom.

“Don’t worry, no matter how troublesome she is, I won’t let you be insulted for nothing.”

Ji Jiuxuan was touched, but before she could say more, the others had already entered through the door ahead. She quickly asked, “Uncle Master, aren’t we here to choose spirit beast eggs? If they go in before us, won’t that put us at a disadvantage?”