Chapter 79: An Incident Occurs

After sending the message through her communication jade pendant, Min Chengjun’s reply soon arrived: “Little Ah Jiu, so you’re actually interested in the Gossip Record!” His voice carried a faint excitement. “I have plenty of other gossip here. Since your uncle is away from the sect, I’ll have someone deliver them to you. There’s also your parents’ biography—only ten percent of it is embellished, the rest is truly thrilling; I’ll send that along as well.”

She had thought her second senior brother would help persuade Ji Jiuxuan, but recounting the true stories of their eldest senior brother and others didn’t seem problematic. Yet she forgot that her second senior brother had created the Profound Heaven Gossip Record because he himself loved gossip. A grown man, outwardly strict and fearsome—his reputation alone made others wary, afraid to offend him lest they lose their entire sect—but who could have guessed that inside lived such a soul hungry for gossip? It was both amusing and helpless.

Fortunately, his fondness for gossip was restrained; he merely compiled them into volumes for reading. Ji Jiuxuan’s inquiry made Min Chengjun feel as though he’d found a kindred spirit; he was eager to send all his collected tales to the young girl. In his view, Ji Jiuxuan was clever enough to discern truth from falsehood in these stories. If she couldn’t, he’d explain them to her upon his return; it would be a perfect way to understand the intricacies of human nature. When she ventured out into the world, she’d be less likely to be deceived.

With this in mind, Min Chengjun immediately ordered more folk anecdotes to be collected, especially those that might broaden her horizons.

“Thank you, Uncle.” Nie Xingyuan happened to return just as the little girl sweetly thanked her second senior brother.

He stepped inside as if unaware and asked, “Ah Jiu, you’re still practicing the body-forging technique, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” She had been forging her body lately. Since she hadn’t reached the advancement stage yet, it wasn’t too difficult. Thinking of what lay ahead, her heart grew inexplicably bitter, yet she knew that in this world, only the strong are respected, so she had to persevere.

Each day, she walked wearing the gravity ring, channeling the Flower Plume Body-Forger’s technique. She had grown accustomed to this method, and could now move freely even as the gravity increased, without any discomfort.

“Let’s combine the two techniques then.” Ji Jiuxuan looked up in surprise; combine two techniques! How had her uncle thought of such a thing?

She was curious to see what effect Shadowstep would have when paired with gravity forging.

After finishing their pastries, Nie Xingyuan led Ji Jiuxuan to a clearing behind the main peak. Usually, this was where Nie Xingyuan and his senior brothers cultivated, but now, with the eldest brother and junior sister missing, and the second senior brother roaming outside, only he remained in the sect.

“Show me your Shadowstep.” The library’s techniques were always given to those destined for them, so Ji Jiuxuan’s Shadowstep was the same as his own.

“Alright, Uncle.” Ji Jiuxuan was not shy. She demonstrated her version of Shadowstep for Nie Xingyuan.

He was pleased to see such aptitude in one so young. After pointing out a few shortcomings, he watched her practice again and again. Ji Jiuxuan’s dantian, suppressed after the last accident, was different from normal. Though her cultivation required more spiritual energy—she had to accumulate vast amounts at each stage—this greatly increased her dantian’s capacity. With her ceaseless practice, her spiritual power rivaled even the Foundation Establishment stage.

Seeing that Ji Jiuxuan was adapting well, Nie Xingyuan made no attempt to stop her. When he felt she was ready, he taught her how to combine body-forging gravity with Shadowstep. At first, Ji Jiuxuan was very uncomfortable; she couldn’t execute Shadowstep properly, hindered at every turn.

But once she adapted, she truly felt the benefits. Previously, she had always thought Shadowstep was not fast enough, but now, with the added gravity, when she removed the gravity ring her speed increased dramatically.

Filled with delight, Ji Jiuxuan practiced even more diligently. Nie Xingyuan taught her with equal seriousness, sighing inwardly: how could the child of two prodigies be anything like the rumors spread in the sect? With her current Shadowstep, even Foundation Establishment cultivators might be left behind.

What began as an excuse to protect the little girl quickly turned into regular guidance whenever time allowed.

A few days later, after mastering the secrets of Shadowstep, Ji Jiuxuan returned to the library of the Listening Palace to read. Unbeknownst to her, even when Nie Xingyuan left, he instructed the Disciplinary Hall to patrol the area more frequently, with others protecting her in secret.

She had read nearly all the books in the library, and her mind grew increasingly clear. After so much reading, she found that many things were interconnected, as if a thread guided them. Sometimes, she felt certain elements in the techniques were unnecessary, and removing them might improve the methods. Adding certain things could increase their power.

After finishing all the books, Ji Jiuxuan felt a newfound clarity. She took out pen and paper to try writing down the thoughts in her mind, wanting to see if her ideas were correct.

Just as she closed her eyes, the books in the library glowed with light.

The commotion immediately caught Zhou Guangsheng’s attention; he looked nervously toward the library.

At last, was it happening? After so many years, finally someone truly grasped the meaning within!

Ji Jiuxuan opened her eyes; for an instant, her gaze held the same aura as the glowing books. She was just about to begin writing when her communication jade lit up urgently.

She laid down her pen. Feng Hanxiao’s voice came from the jade, “Xuanxuan, hurry to the Spirit Beast Peak! The Moon White Rabbit is being bullied!”

It sounded quite urgent.

Ji Jiuxuan knew that unless it was truly serious, such a message wouldn’t be sent. With no time to think, she gathered her pen and paper and rushed out.

In the courtyard, Zhou Guangsheng saw her charging out in haste. “Ah Jiu, what has happened?”

Since they met, the little girl had always been composed; nothing could disturb her calm. Sometimes, they felt she was too mature, like a little adult.

“Master, someone is harming Moon White. I’ll be back after I check.” With that, Ji Jiuxuan summoned her leaf-shaped boat and flew toward Spirit Beast Peak.

Who would harm Moon White? The sect strictly forbade disciples from hurting the messenger spirit beasts; if caught, the punishment would be severe.

Moon White was normally just lying around sleeping, never causing trouble—who could it be?

At Spirit Beast Peak, Feng Hanxiao held her Returning Dust Bow, an earthen spiritual arrow drawn taut. She glared fiercely at the person who had imprisoned the bruised and battered Moon White Rabbit, even stepping on it. “Wang Yumiao, I warn you—let it go, or face the consequences.”

Thanks to Disfavored Cat for the monthly ticket, thank you!~
Thanks to Dawn’s Morning Light for the tip, thank you!~
(End of this chapter)