"I depleted almost all the Foundation Establishment materials in the Nine Heavens back then. You should know about this, right?"
Mu Si Yue spoke calmly, as if recounting a trivial matter.
"I know."
"So, many prodigies from noble families and sects had issues with me."
"That's understandable."
"I beat them all up. For those who were still unconvinced, I beat them up several more times."
"...Senior Sister is mighty!" Yun Ze paused for a few breaths, but these were the only four words he could think of to describe Mu Si Yue.
"But some fellows just can't be beaten into submission."
Mu Si Yue continued, "I beat them from Foundation Establishment all the way to Nascent Soul. Every time they lost, they would pawn something to me. They could retrieve it from me once they managed to defeat me."
Hmm?
This plot sounds familiar!
"Like Valley Master Wei?"
"More or less, but they were all stronger than that little phoenix."
Mu Si Yue went on, "Some of them reached the Nascent Soul stage. After breaking through, they stopped coming to me.
A battle between Nascent Soul and Golden Core was one thing; winning would be regaining face. But if they came to me again at the Nascent Soul stage, even if they won, they would have no face to show.
So, they devised a new method."
"What method?"
"They couldn't defeat me, but I have junior brothers and sisters."
"Huh!?"
Yun Ze suddenly felt something was amiss. He then heard Mu Si Yue continue...
"If they couldn't get revenge on their senior sister, they would have their own junior brothers and sisters seek revenge on my junior brothers and sisters, trying every means to suppress me.
Xiao Han Shi joined the sect a hundred years after me, so I escorted him to the Foundation Establishment Secret Realm.
An event was held that year. The ninety-nine prodigies, regardless of whether they were from the immortal or demonic paths, did not contend for the Source Qi. Instead, they immediately went to surround him.
It wasn't to kill him, but merely to force him to beg for mercy."
"An... and the result?"
Perhaps it was the wind, but Yun Ze felt a chill creep up his spine, causing him to stutter.
"The result? That year, only Xiao Han Shi established his foundation with Source Qi. Everyone else withdrew early."
"Hiss!"
Yun Ze gasped.
Brother Xiao is terrifyingly powerful!
"I have another junior sister from the next batch," Mu Si Yue said again.
Yun Ze then asked, "What about her?"
"She gained ninety-nine disciples."
"Huh!?"
Yun Ze's face was filled with question marks, and he doubted if he had heard correctly. "Disciples!?"
"Speaking of which, my junior sister is of your clan. She also has the surname Yun, named Yun Xiao. She has a photographic memory from birth and knows a hundred things from knowing one."
Mu Si Yue explained, "She was also the Master's last direct disciple. She entered the Nine Hundred Great Daos at the Qi Refining stage, and after Foundation Establishment, she condensed a thousand Daos in a single day!
A casual remark from her could make others attain enlightenment and break through.
When I sent her to the Foundation Establishment Secret Realm back then, no one dared to trouble her. They only sought her guidance humbly.
But who would have thought that all ninety-nine of them would become her disciples, calling her 'Teacher Yun'?"
Yun Ze's lips twitched, unsure what to say, but his mind roared.
Freaks! Prodigies! Monsters!
What kind of disciples did Emperor Zun Gui Wu accept! Why were they all more outrageous than the last!
However, looking at it this way, Brother Xiao seemed to be the most mediocre among them.
"It's a pity..."
"What's a pity?" Yun Ze asked.
"Her innate spiritual root is insufficient. It's only a single-attribute, low-grade Yellow rank. The worst spiritual root. To enter the Foundation Establishment Secret Realm back then, she forcibly expanded her Qi Sea to the seventh realm.
Now, she's still stuck at the Core Condensation stage, unable to advance."
"Then why..."
Yun Ze really wanted to ask why they didn't give her a piece of immortal jade, which would have compensated for her insufficient spiritual root and improved her cultivation speed.
But thinking that this was a matter concerning Gui Wu Emperor Zun's family, he didn't dare to say much.
"Why not give her immortal jade?"
Mu Si Yue guessed what Yun Ze was going to say and chuckled, shaking her head. "If there was anyone my Master was most likely to pass down immortal jade to, my junior sister would be the top choice.
But she refused."
"Refused?"
"Yes."
Mu Si Yue looked into the distance, as if recalling something. "She only believes in herself, and she only relies on herself.
The pills she used to expand her Qi Sea were refined by herself. The cultivation techniques she practiced were created by herself. Before she became a disciple, she relied on herself for everything.
Even when she became a disciple, it was Master who coerced and enticed her, promising a way to improve her spiritual root, that he succeeded in luring her to become a disciple.
That girl... is even prouder than I am."
Such a person must live a very tiring life.
Yun Ze's mind involuntarily conjured this thought, but he instead asked, "But Senior Sister, after so many years, their junior brothers and sisters should have established their foundations by now.
I shouldn't encounter them... right?"
"You won't encounter their junior brothers and sisters, but they should all have successors," Mu Si Yue said calmly.
Yun Ze's heart fluttered. "But I shouldn't be considered..."
"Do they know?"
"No... they don't."
"Even if I say you're not my successor, will they believe it? They've been holding back for five hundred years without an outlet. Now that they see you brought by me, will they care about such things?"
Yun Ze pondered for a few seconds, then finally spoke.
"...Senior Sister, perhaps it's better not to trouble you? I'll wait here for Grandmaster Zu. His flying sword should be able to carry three people!"
"If you wish to do so, it's not impossible, but..."
Mu Si Yue turned to look at Yun Ze, her eyes fixed on his. "You will never truly fit in with us.
Friends? Brothers? Kin? These relationships are possible, but never family."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Yun Ze fell silent.
"You still have time."
Mu Si Yue turned her head and spoke again. "It will take seven more days to reach Zhong Xuan Tian. You have enough time to consider."
"No need to consider."
Yun Ze spoke almost instantly. "I am willing to go with Senior Sister!"
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Not afraid!"
Yun Ze replied with two words. "It's just some prodigies! Senior Sister can beat them! Brother Xiao can beat them! Why can't I dodge them!"
Mu Si Yue tilted her head. "Dodge?"
"Yes!"
Yun Ze said matter-of-factly. "If I can't beat them, can't I dodge them! If they all come for me, I'll drag them and run!"
"...As expected of you."
"Thank you for the compliment, Senior Sister!"
Mu Si Yue stopped talking and turned to continue on their way.
Dodge...
As long as he could dodge, wasn't that also a way?
Seeing Mu Si Yue remain silent, Yun Ze casually took out the Heavenly Ranking.
He wanted to see where Xiao Shu was on the Heavenly Ranking now.
He poured spiritual energy into it, and the Heavenly Ranking appeared.
The first and second positions were still held by those two. The third was still at the peak of the eighth realm of the Qi Sea, not having broken through to the ninth realm.
Indeed, only a few had the courage to attempt the ninth realm of the Qi Sea.
Yun Ze scrolled down and soon found his and Xiao Shu's names.
[Twenty-one: Yun Ze, early stage of Qi Refining seventh level, peak of Qi Sea seventh realm.]
...
[Thirty-six: Wei Lan Shu, peak of Qi Refining fifth level, mid-stage of Qi Sea seventh realm.]
Qi Refining fifth level!
In just three months, Senior Sister Mu had actually helped Xiao Shu reach the peak of Qi Refining fifth level.
With her current cultivation, as long as she didn't clash with those fellows, she should be able to protect herself without much issue. It was just unknown if she could reach Foundation Establishment within three years.
It was strange.
Even from this distance, he could still sense Xiao Shu's presence. It was likely that even if she entered the secret realm, this sense wouldn't disappear.
When he entered the secret realm, he should find her first. They could look out for each other.
Yun Ze continued to scroll down the Heavenly Ranking and found that the last person on the list was only at Qi Refining sixth level, mid-stage of Qi Sea fifth realm.
It seemed that even if that Tan Chen Yu had advanced to the ninth realm of the Qi Sea, it didn't give these cultivators a sense of security. And not many people had chosen to advance their Qi Sea realm and enter the Foundation Establishment Secret Realm to seek opportunities.
Yun Ze put away the Heavenly Ranking and looked into the distance...
Zhong Xuan Tian.
Xiu Jia, where Bu Bu wanted to go, was also in Zhong Xuan Tian.
It was a pity that time was too tight this time. He probably wouldn't have time to see her. He wondered if he would have time to see her after coming out of the Foundation Establishment Secret Realm.
In three years, he wondered what her cultivation level would be.
...
Zhong Xuan Tian, outside the Foundation Establishment Secret Realm.
"Achoo!"
Bu Bu suddenly sneezed, startling a young boy next to her. He turned and looked at her with a hint of grievance...
"I say, little ancestor, what's wrong? I'm at a crucial moment, I can't be disturbed!"
Bu Bu frowned, remained silent, and simply looked at him indifferently.
Seeing this, the young man quickly turned back and continued fiddling with a silver-gray light sphere in his hand, muttering, "Really! I could break the restriction myself, but she insisted I do it. Fine, I'll do it, but she doesn't even give me a good look.
I, Xiu Long, am the future head of the Xiu family! When have I ever suffered such humiliation! If it weren't for..."
"If you say one more word, I'll send you home."
Xiu Long immediately shut his mouth, not daring to say another word.
Foundation Establishment Secret Realm.
He was supposed to come to this secret realm as well.
But as soon as his father heard that the guy from the collateral branch had reached the ninth realm of the Qi Sea, he made him establish his foundation early and refused to let him come here. He even set up spatial formations around him to prevent him from escaping.
If this person hadn't made a move, he would probably still be trapped in the courtyard.
Regardless, he had finally come!
Perfect, let's see how terrifying the legendary ninth realm of the Qi Sea truly is! Is the eighth realm of the Qi Sea really no match?
*Zzzzt*
The light sphere in Xiu Long's hand instantly shrank, collapsing from the size of a watermelon to that of a soybean.
A pleased expression appeared on his face. He turned to look at Bu Bu. "Bu Bu, I..."
"Hmm?" Bu Bu let out a soft hum.
Xiu Long lowered his head and quickly changed his words. "Little ancestor, the restriction is done. We can enter now! Do you want to enter after seven days, or..."
"Seven days later."
Bu Bu turned to look northwest.
"I'm waiting for someone. If he comes, we'll go in then."
"It's that fellow named Yun Ze, right?"
Xiu Long looked displeased. "I don't know what's so great about that fellow that you keep thinking about him. If I see him, I'll definitely make him..."
His voice abruptly stopped.
Xiu Long felt a killing intent envelop him and dared not speak further. He could only squat to the side, silently playing with the silver-gray ball the size of a soybean.
This person was serious when she got anxious; she would really kill him!
...
As night fell, atop a solitary peak.
Su Ling'er was meditating and cultivating with Luo Shang as usual.
However, after less than an hour, she opened her eyes and casually flicked a handful of powder onto Luo Shang's face.
"Come out."
A figure immediately landed before her, kneeling on one knee. "Young Lady."
"How is the substitute prepared?"
Before the figure could speak, someone emerged from the shadows and stood beside him.
It was another 'Su Ling'er'!
She also knelt on one knee towards Su Ling'er. "Greetings, Young Lady."
Regardless of appearance, posture, or voice, they were identical! Even their eyes seemed to be carved from the same mold!
"Not bad."
Su Ling'er nodded in satisfaction and turned to look at the shadow. "Then, let's go."
"Yes!"
The figure summoned a flying sword, dived into the shadows, and carried Su Ling'er away towards the southeast!
...
At the same time, on the border of Northwest Xuan Tian.
A person on a flying sword was about to cross when he was stopped by an envoy from the Immortal Mansion guarding the border!
"Halt! Who goes there!"
The person quickly hovered in mid-air and cupped his hands towards the front. "Gui Wu Sword Sect, Chen Xiao!"
"Someone from Gui Wu Sword Sect?"
The Immortal Mansion envoy approached Chen Xiao and, after a brief check of his token, asked, "What is the purpose of crossing realms?"
Chen Xiao revealed a harmless smile and casually handed over a bag of spirit stones.
"I'm visiting relatives across realms. Please grant me passage, Envoy."