Chapter 100: The Collapse of the Back Mountain

Qi Shuoyuan sent a jade pendant message, and soon Meng Jiao arrived.

“Let Ajiu stay here with your senior sister; grandfather will go check it out first.”

Watching Qi Shuoyuan leave, Ji Jiuxuan glanced toward the source of the noise and couldn’t help but recall the deep pit on the back mountain from a few days ago.

She had forgotten about that pit with Yu Heng’s return these past days and hadn’t expected it to collapse after holding on for so long.

This noise must be from that pit on the back mountain, right?

It had to be.

“Don’t worry, Ajiu. Indeed, it’s because the formation there disappeared; no one can discover it was you,” a casual, gentle voice sounded at that moment, soothing Ji Jiuxuan’s mind.

“But why is the noise so loud?” It felt as if the entire back mountain had collapsed.

Her intuition was correct. At this moment, a large section of the main peak’s back mountain had caved in, revealing a huge deep pit.

Qi Shuoyuan stood at the edge, investigating carefully, and his conclusion was that damage to the formation caused the collapse of the entire back mountain. Other traces had been handled perfectly; nothing could be seen at all.

Such a situation inevitably aroused suspicion.

“This doesn’t feel right. Judging by the residual formation traces inside, this was definitely done by someone,” the elder said, staring at the deep pit with some doubt but also entering a state of vigilance.

What kind of formation lay beneath the back mountain, who did it, and why it collapsed—no one knew.

Even Zhou Guangsheng and the old ancestor, who came over, couldn’t find anything.

If it had been just Ji Jiuxuan before, maybe some traces could still have been found. But now, after the phantom processing, discovering anything seemed impossible.

Ji Jiuxuan looked at Meng Jiao, whose face shone with a bright smile.

“Senior sister, did you purposely wait at the academy to hear for me just now?”

Her heart warmed with happiness.

Meng Jiao sat on a nearby stool, looking at the delicious food on the table.

“Want to know? That depends on your sincerity.”

The little junior sister’s cooking skills were truly exquisite—even the chefs at the Second Senior Uncle’s restaurant couldn’t compare. Just watching made one drool.

She took out a set of bowls and chopsticks from her space and began to sample the dishes on the table.

Her movements were unrestrained and generous.

“Senior sister, these dishes have cooled down. I’ll get a fresh batch.”

Just as Ji Jiuxuan was about to clear them away, her hand was stopped.

“No need. They haven’t cooled much,” Meng Jiao said, eating more enthusiastically.

“Last night, some demons appeared outside, and I was worried about you, so I waited out there.”

But with Yao Chaoxi back, she felt more at ease. Such a dependable person meant the little junior sister’s safety was without concern.

Remembering how Yao Chaoxi had acted just now, Meng Jiao couldn’t help but ask, “Did your senior sister Yao just now get jealous?”

Yao Chaoxi seemed aloof, but Meng Jiao could tell at a glance.

Ji Jiuxuan, switching the dishes on the table and bringing out others from her space, hadn’t caught on and asked in puzzlement, “Jealous of whom?”

She hadn’t seen anyone else today—jealous of whom?

Meng Jiao smiled and gently tapped her nose.

“No one.”

“Earlier you mentioned going out to train again. The auction in Liang City is about to start, and Master will go attend. Do you want to come along?”

Although these times were turbulent, after the recent competition, the sect leader, second senior uncle, and master no longer restricted the little junior sister.

Danger and growth go hand in hand. Though young, it’s not unusual in the cultivation world for someone her age to go out and train early—cultivation starts young after all.

“Alright! But I’ll need to ask grandfather and master first.”

She indeed needed to go out to train soon. Otherwise, as her cultivation neared the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, without real combat experience, she would be at a disadvantage.

“Okay. If you decide to go, let me know. We’ll set off in three days,” Meng Jiao said with a smile. “After the auction, I’ll take you sightseeing. We’ll be back in time for the sect’s grand competition.”

“Good!” Although others still eyed her with suspicion, after this period of consolidation and use of formations, she had some ability to protect herself.

“I’m telling you, Liangzhou is full of interesting things. The annual auction is a grand event—definitely lively.”

Many people mean many troubles, but she wasn’t afraid of trouble. She recalled the second senior uncle said he’d attend the auction in Liangzhou too.

Just now, from her senior sister’s words, he was going with the little senior uncle.

“Senior sister, is second senior uncle going?”

Usually, the two senior uncles wouldn’t both be away from the sect at the same time. She’d never seen them travel together before.

“No, second senior uncle just returned and has many matters to attend. He said we’ll represent the sect this year.”

Recently, many things had happened in the sect. Demonic infiltration was no small matter. As the sect leader’s heir, many issues needed his attention.

With the back mountain incident settled, Meng Jiao patted Ji Jiuxuan’s head and smiled.

“Alright, it’s getting late. I’ll head back now.”

Looking toward the back mountain, reassured by the casual explanation, she went back to her room to rest.

The next day, when Ji Jiuxuan mentioned it to Zhou Guangsheng, he nodded.

“You should go out and train more.”

He then asked, “How’s your alchemy practice going?”

Before going to the Beast Domination Sect, her master had taught her alchemy. She practiced whenever she had time. She was now proficient at producing first-grade pills, easily crafting top-grade first-grade pills.

“Master, I can now produce top-grade first-grade pills.”

Zhou Guangsheng was very satisfied. Yao Chaoxi seemed a bit surprised too. The little junior sister was only four years old, yet her talents were excellent and she never slackened.

A four-year-old top-grade first-grade alchemist promised a limitless future.

She was happy for her.

“I’ll teach you how to make second-grade pills next. Remember to practice more during this trip.”

As if recalling something, he told Ji Jiuxuan, “Before you depart, I’ll take your senior sister to the Spirit Beast Garden. She can help with the resurrection of your rabbit.”

Her master had told her before, so Yao Chaoxi understood the entire process. She even felt it was a bargain that Wang Yumiao had died.

The people at Wang Yingfeng’s place were truly hateful, teaming up to bully the little junior sister. The folks from Wang Lingfeng were even more infuriating, tarnishing her reputation.

Yao Chaoxi’s gaze was so fierce she seemed ready to slash all those who had bullied her.

Seeing Ji Jiuxuan looking over, Yao Chaoxi’s eyes softened immediately, her voice soothing.

“Yes, my ‘Listening Strings and Questioning Spirits’ technique helps with the resurrection of the Moon White Rabbit.”

For a special spirit beast like the Moon White Rabbit, it could attract innate spiritual power, improving its aptitude.

Ji Jiuxuan joyfully said, “Thank you, senior sister!”

The Moon White Rabbit had been in the Spirit Beast Garden absorbing moonlight for some time. She missed it and planned to visit.

“You don’t need to thank me; you’re my junior sister!” Yao Chaoxi crouched down, looking into Ji Jiuxuan’s eyes. “I won’t be able to go to Liangzhou with you this time, but after things are done, I’ll come find you.”

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(The chapter ends)