Chapter 19: Junior Brother
The vast heavens and earth were covered in silver, with snowflakes dancing and silver blossoms adorning the trees.
In front of the cultivation room, the snow reached up to her knees. Although her gray clothes were not affected by the cold and snow, Jiang Yuebai's little face was stung by the howling north wind.
She struggled to step out of the corridor courtyard, but the heavy snow had sealed the mountain, leaving no way out.
"I made an agreement with Grandpa to meet in three days, why hasn't he come yet?"
The cold wind howled, and Jiang Yuebai stood at the door, huffing and rubbing her hands. She didn't know how to return to Huaxi Valley. With such heavy snow, she would be buried halfway if she tried to walk.
Jiang Yuebai looked back at the courtyard and saw the old man in charge of this place sitting on a rocking chair in the corridor, eyes closed, resting.
"Grand... Junior Brother, how can I return to Huaxi Valley in such heavy snow?"
The old man opened his eyes, "You, this little girl, Tao Fengnian is quite interesting. You have only broken through to the first level of Qi Refinement and he still wanted to send you to enter closed door cultivation in the cultivation room. He must have too many spirit stones to spend. Let me see what breakthrough you made in these three days."
The old man had a strong impression of Jiang Yuebai. Except for the rich and well-connected inner disciples, no one would close up in the cultivation room at the first level of Qi Refinement.
The old man took a closer look and took a cold breath.
"Wow, are you at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refinement? Your spiritual energy is so abundant, not much weaker than that girl, Lu Nanzhi."
Jiang Yuebai had just broken through, and her spiritual energy had not yet been condensed. Coupled with the sufficient spiritual energy from her five spirit roots, the old man misunderstood.
"Reporting to Junior Brother, I have five spirit roots, and I'm about to reach the third level of Qi Refinement."
"That's still incredible. What technique are you cultivating? To have such powerful strength from a solid foundation is like playing around. Although it's easy to cultivate at the early and middle stages of Qi Refinement, your speed is really..."
"Junior Brother, you haven't told me how to return to Huaxi Valley yet?"
"Cough, Tao Fengnian came here a couple of days ago, but last night's heavy snow was unusual, and the spiritual plants in the various valleys were affected. As the head of Huaxi Valley, he must not be able to come to pick you up, and I cannot leave my post either..."
The sound of a fairy crane's cry came from outside the courtyard. Jiang Yuebai hurriedly bid farewell and went out to find the crane.
As Jiang Yuebai left, the door of the cultivation room behind the old man was pushed open, and Hong Tao, tall and full of spiritual energy, walked out. His profound gaze was fixed on the fleeting figure in the distance.
Just now, he had heard Jiang Yuebai's voice from inside.
At first, he heard that she had reached the third level of Qi Refinement, and Hong Tao thought it was impossible. She had only reported to the miscellaneous disciples a half month ago when she just stepped into the first level of Qi Refinement. How could she break through twice in half a month?
Among this group of disciples, besides Lu Nanzhi, no one could achieve such progress.
But after thinking calmly, Hong Tao suddenly realized that this little girl must have broken through the first level of Qi Refinement long ago and had been hiding her cultivation.
Considering Tao Fengnian's personality, it wasn't surprising.
From her entry into the sect until today, regardless of when she broke through the first level of Qi Refinement, in just one and a half months, she had reached the third level of Qi Refinement. This speed surpassed even Xie Jingshan.
As per Tao Fengnian's character, it's not surprising.
From the time she joined until today, regardless of when she broke through to the first level of Qi Refinement, in just one and a half months, she reached the third level of Qi Refinement. This speed even surpasses Xie Jingshan.
If she didn't have any special encounters, it must be her great determination, akin to the style of the Heavenly Origin Sect's founding ancestor.
Thinking of this, Hong Tao felt embarrassed. Last time, he had treated the little girl rudely at the miscellaneous disciples' hall, and now he felt reluctant to face her.
"Manager Hong, your progress is flawless, are you about to make a breakthrough?" The old man's eyes were sharp as he scrutinized Hong Tao.
Hong Tao nodded. Indeed, he had already reached the later stage of Qi Refinement, and he could enter seclusion to build the foundation at any time. However, before building the foundation, there was one more step to go.
"Due to the recent heavy snow, I believe the disciples are all practicing in their cottages during the cold winter. There isn't much to do in the internal affairs hall. Manager Hong can take this opportunity to do whatever you want."
"Once you build the foundation, it will truly mark your entry into the path of cultivation. The worldly connections will fade away, and you will be bound by the laws of heaven and earth. You must be more cautious in your actions, as many things need to be carefully considered."
Things to do...
Hong Tao's gaze drifted far away, looking beyond the vast mountains, wondering if Wanniang was still waiting for him to return home.
Outside the courtyard.
Xie Jingshan looked at Jiang Yuebai, his eyes almost popping out.
"You... you... you... you're despicable!"
Xie Jingshan gritted his teeth. He specialized in the Heavenly Eye Technique, which allowed him to discern others' cultivation levels based on their spiritual energy. Just three days ago, this stinky girl was only at the first level of Qi Refinement.
How did she suddenly reach the third level of Qi Refinement!
Moreover, she grew half a head taller!
This is too much!
She always followed Senior Brother Li Elder, asking questions left and right. If he didn't follow and inquire, he felt inferior.
She always emphasized that she, Jiang Yuebai, had poor aptitude and low comprehension.
Today, Xie Jingshan finally realized that this stinky girl was misleading him, lowering his guard, and secretly cultivating, shocking everyone!
He practiced all night, buried himself in study, woke up earlier than Lu Nanzhi, practiced more than Lu Nanzhi, and even forced himself to eat half a bowl more than Lu Nanzhi.
You should know that Lu Nanzhi was much younger, yet she had a bigger appetite than a fully grown male cultivator.
He thought that with thick accumulation and gradual progress, he could eventually surpass Lu Nanzhi. Today, he came specifically to close up and break through to the third level of Qi Refinement.
Who would have thought that before he could even start seclusion, this unremarkable stinky girl struck him first, taking the initiative to attack!
Xie Jingshan felt wronged and wanted to cry!
J
iang Yuebai didn't know why she was called despicable. How come Xie Jingshan looked shorter after not seeing him for a few days?
No, it's her who grew taller.
Jiang Yuebai straightened her back, looking at the proud and noble white crane next to Xie Jingshan, her eyes filled with envy.
"Are you here to close up in the cultivation room?"
Xie Jingshan glared at her and secretly stood on tiptoe to straighten his back.
"What cultivation room? I never cultivate or need to close up. My cultivation advances on its own. I feel oppressed by the rules and regulations. I'm just here to have fun."
"Since that's the case, can you take me back to Huaxi Valley? Everyone says that Inner Disciple Xie Jingshan is the most righteous. Last time you helped us miscellaneous disciples, I knew you were a chivalrous and righteous person who would never stand by and watch someone die, right?"
Jiang Yuebai's eyes sparkled like stars, making Xie Jingshan blush, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"I don't... I'm not as good as you said."
"Yes, you are! You're just too modest." Jiang Yuebai said firmly.
"Cough~ Let's go then. I don't need to cultivate anyway, so I have nothing to do. I'll accompany you for a while."
Xie Jingshan stepped onto the back of the white crane and reached out his hand to Jiang Yuebai, revealing a special red mole in his palm.
Jiang Yuebai glanced at the outstretched hand but took two steps back and leaped lightly to land beside Xie Jingshan.
The back of the white crane was broad enough to easily accommodate two children.
"Your body technique is quite good," Xie Jingshan put his hand into his sleeve, "Hold on tight. Qingfeng, let's go to Huaxi Valley."
The white crane spread its wings and cried out, flying into the sky against the wind and snow.
In the strong winds at high altitude, Jiang Yuebai was almost suffocated, and her whole body leaned backward. It was only when Xie Jingshan pulled her sleeve that she was pulled back.
Xie Jingshan's jade pendant at his waist emitted a blue light that dispelled the cold wind, enveloping them in a bubble-like protective shield.
The white crane soared over the mountaintops, ascending into the clouds.
The majestic and awe-inspiring scenery of mountains and valleys unfolded before them.
"As expected, we have to fly up into the clouds to witness the magnificence of heaven and earth! Grandpa's paper crane is really too shabby—"
Jiang Yuebai shouted to the sky, looking around with a curious expression, as if she had never seen such a sight before.
Xie Jingshan stood tall with a hint of a smile, feeling a bit relieved after the previous frustration.
The white crane flew at an extremely fast speed, and within the time it took for a joss stick to burn, they arrived at the entrance of Huaxi Valley.
They jumped off the crane, and Jiang Yuebai bowed ninety degrees to express her gratitude.
Xie Jingshan raised his chin slightly, about to speak when Jiang Yuebai's expression changed.
"By the way, you're still at the second level of Qi Refinement, right?"
Xie Jingshan's scalp tightened, sensing that something was not right.
"In that case, shouldn't you address me as Senior Sister from now on?"
Xie Jingshan: !!!
"Thank you for the escort today, Junior Brother. Senior Sister will leave first. You should hurry back for seclusion. Hahaha~"
Jiang Yuebai rushed into the valley, leaving Xie Jingshan dumbfounded and defeated.
Xie Jingshan was furious and picked up a handful of snow from the ground, throwing it at Jiang Yuebai.
"You treacherous, ungrateful, despicable person!"
The snow fell silently, but Jiang Yuebai was nowhere to be seen.
"Qingfeng, let's go back. I won't come out of seclusion until I break through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement!"
The white crane cried out and flew high into the sky.
Pitter-patter.
The snow avalanched down the low hill by the road, covering the guarding spirit toad in white.
Croak~
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