Did he see through my disguise?
The thought flashed through Yun Ze's mind, followed by a rapid review of every detail of his interactions with the man, finding no flaws.
He shouldn't have been able to see through my disguise!
Unless... he was trying to trick me?
With his current strength, there was no way he could escape from the man's grasp in this situation. He could only play along for now!
Yun Ze slowly raised his hands, a hint of a smile in his voice. "Senior Brother Chen, what are you doing? Did this junior brother displease you in some way?"
"...Hahaha, no, no."
Chen Xiao pondered for a few breaths, then burst into laughter, sheathing his Qingfeng sword.
He placed a hand on Yun Ze's shoulder. "Junior Brother, your reaction is lacking."
"You are currently a top-tier disciple. While not as exceptional as Wei Lanshu, who holds a special-tier position, you still face many disciples of the same generation. If you aren't careful, you could easily fall into a trap!"
"It was my carelessness, Senior Brother."
Yun Ze breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother!"
"Ah, it's nothing!"
Chen Xiao lowered his hand and pointed to the wooden house on the right. "Here, you'll live in this room from now on. I'll be next door. If you have any questions, just knock."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Yun Ze replied and watched Chen Xiao turn to leave the cave dwelling.
"Senior Brother, where are you going..."
"Oh, I'm going to see Master. I have some cultivation questions I'd like to ask him."
Chen Xiao turned back to look at Yun Ze. "By the way, Xiao Yun, your current position is rather awkward. Those Grand Elders are all waiting to take that exceptional disciple as their own, and they won't easily accept others.
As for the Hall Masters of the inner sect, they only accept inner disciples, meaning those at the Foundation Establishment stage and above.
If you want to live more freely in the sect, you'll eventually need a master. Think about it carefully, understand?"
Yun Ze knew what Chen Xiao meant.
It was essentially asking him to become Ji Kun's disciple, and Ji Kun arranging for him to be placed with Chen Xiao likely had the same intention.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I will consider it carefully."
"Good. You must be tired. Go back and rest early."
"Yes."
Yun Ze watched Chen Xiao walk towards the solitary peak, unsure if he was truly going to see Ji Kun or if there was something else.
He turned his head and looked at the small house on the left. After a few moments of thought, he finally walked towards the house on the right.
It was only the first day, and Chen Xiao clearly still harbored suspicions about him. It wasn't wise to act rashly. He should observe for a while longer.
Since Chen Xiao was gone, he could go back to his room and investigate that Immortal Jade!
Yun Ze quickly entered the wooden house and found its furnishings to be extremely simple.
Besides a wooden table, a wooden bed, and a wooden cabinet, along with dust covering the entire room, there was nothing else.
There wasn't even bedding on the wooden bed.
It made sense, though. Qi Condensation cultivators were no longer afraid of the cold or heat, so why would they need blankets? Having a place to sit was enough.
Yun Ze didn't rush to clean. After checking that there were no formations or traces of spiritual energy flow within the room, he took out the two Immortal Jades from his Qiankun bag.
This was one of the essential precautions!
As the two Immortal Jades were in his hands, Yun Ze immediately noticed the difference.
One of the Immortal Jades, which could be used to control water, remained unchanged. However, the other Immortal Jade seemed rather strange.
Faint, mysterious patterns flickered on the Immortal Jade, flashing once every breath, as if something was trying to break through and conceal them.
Yun Ze attempted to draw out a strand of sword qi and strike the Immortal Jade. Before the sword qi could even touch it, it dissipated the moment it neared the jade!
The faint, flickering patterns flashed with a bright light, and the Immortal Jade trembled slightly.
But that was all.
After the sword qi vanished, the Immortal Jade returned to its flickering state, as if nothing had happened.
Yun Ze frowned, completely unsure of the situation. He could only put the two Immortal Jades back.
Regardless, this was a good thing. At least he didn't have to worry about being injured by sword qi.
But could this Immortal Jade only absorb sword qi?
Yun Ze felt there was more to this.
He took out the letter written by Bu Bu and unfolded it. There were only three lines of text.
The first line read:
After reaching Foundation Establishment, you may circulate the following technique and absorb it into your Sea of Qi. Remember not to reveal this method outside of the Immortal Jade! Remember, remember!
The second line was the technique Bu Bu mentioned.
The technique wasn't difficult. Simply put, it involved controlling the spiritual energy within one's body, transforming it into the Five Elements, and using the power of the Five Elements to communicate with the Immortal Jade. Only then could the Immortal Jade be absorbed into the Sea of Qi.
This method was simple, but it required reaching Foundation Establishment before one had the capability to execute it.
Yun Ze memorized it silently and then looked at the third line.
If you reach the ninth realm of the Sea of Qi, come find me first. Do not reach Foundation Establishment!
The ninth realm of the Sea of Qi?
Yun Ze chuckled after reading the third line.
What did this girl think of him?
The ninth realm of the Sea of Qi?
That was 256 times the size of an ordinary Sea of Qi!
Each advancement required 256 times the effort of an ordinary person to progress. Who would expand their Sea of Qi to such a degree?
Even for a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, a five-realm Sea of Qi was sufficient.
The ninth realm?
She must have a hole in her head!
After laughing, Yun Ze burned the letter to ashes. After a simple tidying of the room, he sat cross-legged on the wooden bed.
He took out all the Qi Forging Pills from his Qiankun bag. There were fourteen Qi Forging Pills in total. He wondered how much they would expand his Sea of Qi.
Yun Ze looked at the bottles containing the Three-Turn Qi Forging Pills and the Six-Turn Qi Forging Pills.
He didn't know the difference between the ordinary Qi Forging Pills and these Three-Turn and Six-Turn ones, yet their prices were so vastly different.
He would take the ordinary ones first. Later, he would go to the Alchemy Hall to inquire about the differences between the three. If the differences weren't significant, it might be better to sell the Three-Turn and Six-Turn Qi Forging Pills and exchange them for ordinary ones.
Yun Ze took one ordinary Qi Forging Pill and quickly entered a state of cultivation, paying no further attention to anything else.
Since Chen Xiao hadn't killed him just now, he wouldn't make a move against him anytime soon. He was safe for the moment!
...
Solitary Peak, 1001 meters.
This was the boundary separating the outer sect from the inner sect. Above this point was the inner sect, and below was the outer sect. It was also the furthest point outer sect disciples could reach.
There were nine cave dwellings here, all prepared for outer sect elders.
Chen Xiao arrived in front of one of the cave dwellings and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Disciple Chen Xiao seeks an audience with Master!"
"Enter."
Ji Kun's voice came from within the cave dwelling. Chen Xiao stepped inside, passing through a defensive formation, and entered a mountain cave.
This cave dwelling was built into the mountain. Unlike his own residence, which was two wooden huts, this was a true cave dwelling carved out of part of the mountain.
Ji Kun was sitting in the center of the cave, with the second-grade spirit sword he had just won resting on his lap. He looked up with a smile, gazing at Chen Xiao.
"Xiao Chen, what is it?"
"Yun Ze..."
Chen Xiao first uttered a name, then frowned and remained silent for a few breaths before speaking again. "Master, I don't think Yun Ze is as simple as he appears. He might know the truth of the matter!
Perhaps we should..."
"Should what? Kill him? In the Gui Wu Sword Sect, kill a disciple with the potential of Seven Swords?"
Ji Kun asked three questions in a row, and Chen Xiao could not answer any of them, only standing there with a frown.
"Xiao Chen, you're overthinking things."
"Overthinking?"
Chen Xiao didn't understand what Ji Kun meant.
"Your Master originally didn't intend to accept him into the sect. However, he has connections with that little girl and the Immortal Mansion envoy, so I had no choice but to accept him.
As for the issue you raised, your Master has naturally considered it carefully."
Ji Kun stroked his sword, looking down at its blade. "Let me ask you, if he knew the truth, would he kill you?"
"He most certainly would."
"Yes."
Ji Kun pointed at Chen Xiao. "Then... who are you?"
"Me? An outer sect disciple of the Gui Wu Sword Sect, at the ninth level of Qi Condensation."
"No, you are his senior brother."
Ji Kun's lips curved into a smile. "Within the sect, one who challenges a senior brother without following the rules, and then attacks them, what is their fate?"
"They shall be pierced by ten thousand swords!"
Chen Xiao replied, but still frowned. "But Master, what if I..."
"What if you are defeated?"
"Yes!"
Chen Xiao knelt down. "Master, Yun Ze is a cunning brat with extraordinary talent, and he wields a second-grade spirit sword. It wouldn't be difficult for him to defeat me across realms!
Please teach me, Master!"
"You are simply too timid!"
Ji Kun waved his hand, and two jade bottles flew out from his sleeve. "One of these bottles contains Foundation Establishment Pills. Find an opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment, but be sure to keep it quiet.
As for the other bottle... it is the Myriad Soul Pill."
"Myriad Soul Pill?"
"Made from the spiritual souls of ten thousand children, for you to nurture your artifacts."
Ji Kun replied indifferently, then smiled. "Speaking of which, if that brat truly knows the truth, turning him into a human puppet would be excellent!"
"Thank you for your generous gift, Master!"
Chen Xiao put the two bottles of pills into his storage, bowed his head, and then looked up at Ji Kun. "Actually, Master, your disciple has a method that can prevent Yun Ze from knowing the truth, and still make him want to attack me!
Then we can kill him, and his spirit artifacts and Qi Forging Pills will belong to Master!"
"Oh?"
Ji Kun's interest was piqued. "Tell me about it."